Stacey-Ann's Blog

Ryan Homes Back in Oak Creek Club

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:05:38 -0600

Ryan Homes has recently returned to Oak Creek Club in Upper Marlboro, MD. They are offering single family homes beginning in the $340,000s. Ryan is offering neo-traditional floor plans which feature a smaller lot size and a rear entry garage as well as traditional single family homes. There are several lots available including several that back to the golf course and others that face the entry lake and fountain.

The complete list of builders in Oak Creek:

Townhomes

NV Homes
Craftstar Homes

Single Family Homes

Ryan Homes
K&P Builders
NV Homes
Craftmark Builders

Oak Creek Club is Prince George's County premier country club community. The community features 24 hour guard gated entrance as well as a private 18 hole golf course and the fully restored Bowieville Mansion.

Planned amenities for Oak Creek Club include: a shuttle to the Morgan Metro station, a clubhouse, a swim & tennis center, and walking trails.

If you are interested in learning more about Oak Creek Club in Upper Marlboro or if you would like a personal tour give me a call.

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

Why won't you call me back?

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:08:28 -0600

This is a mini-rant. I have buyers who have looked at several homes and are close to making a final decision. A house came on the market last week that is in their price range and in a neighborhood they like and they want to take a look at it before making a final choice.

I called the listing agent on Saturday and left a message explaining that I wanted to show the home on Sunday afternoon. I called again on Sunday morning and left the same message. My call was never returned.

The buyer and I postponed the showing until this evening. I called the listing agent this morning and left another message. I then called her office and I was told that she was the only person who scheduled appointments and no-one else had the combo so I should try her on her cell. I even told the person that I had already left 3 messages and she said "Well I don't know what else to tell you." I called listing agent again, still no response.

The buyer wasn't feeling well this evening so she said we would try one more day but if we don't get a response then they will put an offer on one of the other homes.

I don't get it! Does she not want to sell the listing? Should I really need to chase an agent to show their listing?

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

Check your credit card fine-print

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:17:44 -0600

Recently my husband opened a mailing from one of his credit card companies letting him know that his interest rate was being raised from 10% to approximately 30%. Of course he was furious and instantly called the company. He was informed that there was nothing that could be done about the change. The woman even commented that since he didn't carry a balance she didn't know why it mattered to him. For him, it was the principle. My husband has had this card for 14 years. He pays his bills on time and does not carry a balance. However, he uses his card for EVERYTHING so this bank makes good money from his merchant fees. When he told the customer service agent that he would not accept this interest rate change she informed him that she would record that and that his card would automatically close when it expired. No attempts were made to work out a compromise.

It's amazing to thing that a company that has received billions of dollars in tax payer bailouts could make these unilateral decisions without care for how it impacts consumers.

Everyday on the news I hear stories of people who have their minimum payments triple over-night. One couple had their payment go from $300 to $990 another from $90 to $300.

It is important to ensure that you understand the agreement that you have with your credit card companies. Too many of us don't read or understand the fine print and then get caught when these changes are implemented.

Many companies are making these sudden changes now because congress has enacted rules about these practices that take effect early 2010, so the companies are trying to get these done prior to these planned regulations. Now is the time to be especially vigilant about reading the correspondence we receive from our credit card companies and don't be afraid to fight these changes.

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

My "baby" has the flu!

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:55:51 -0600

I agonized over whether to get the Swine flu vaccines for my kids. Eventually I decided to err on the side of caution. My 7 year old daughter was able to get the flu mist vaccine at school. However, my 4 year old has not had any access to the vaccine. He cannot receive the mist because he is prone to wheezing and there have been no shots available at the doctor offices.

This morning he woke complaining that his stomach hurt, then his head, and eventually he said that everything hurt. By the time we got to the doctor he had a fever of 103 and he has pretty much slept the day away. Now, the dreaded throwing up has started.

The doctor prescribed Tamiflu but the pharmacy told me the earliest I could get it was tomorrow. They showed no sympathy for the fact that this was a child. I called around and a different pharmacy said they could fill the prescription within an hour. I called pharmacy #1 to ask them to fax it over and suddenly they can have it done in an hour too (figures!). I am hoping that the medicine will help lessen the duration of the illness.

He got very mad when his sister said he had swine flue. He said "I do not! I have H1N1."

So, I am sitting here watching my baby like a hawk. This promises to be a stressful night (weekend?).

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

I just got the best compliment from my buyer

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:12:58 -0600

I have been working with a buyer who is purchasing a home in Maryland for $69,000. In Maryland it is pretty rare to see single family homes under $100,000. This home is a foreclosure that is in move-in condition and only needs a bit of work to be gorgeous. My buyer plans to fix it up and use it as a rental property.

The transaction has hit quite a few hurdles with the seller not being able to turn the water on for the home inspection and then having errors on the deed. We were originally supposed to close on October 14.

We finally closed today! The buyer brought me a wonderful basket of home-made fruit jam and jellies.

I called her this evening to tell her how much I appreciated the basket. She said "I know you are not making a lot of money on this deal but you treated me as though I was a million dollar buyer".

She just made my night. Sometimes this job can be exhausting, but its all worth it when you have a happy client in the end and they are appreciative of the work you put in to get them there.

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

Hillwood Museum and Gardens, Washington DC

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:42:38 -0600

Hillwood Museum & Gardens is located in NW Washington, DC. Hillwood Museum is the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Hillwood showcases Mrs Post's stunning collection of art, French & Russian porcelain, Faberge eggs, jewelry, and much more.

Hillwood Museum also features breath-taking gardens including a Japanese water garden, a rose garden, and a putting green.

If you are in the Washington, DC area be sure to add a visit to Hillwood Museum & Gardens to your itinerary.

Check out more photos of Hillwood Museum & Gardens

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

Execution Day for the DC Sniper

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:05:34 -0600

The DC Sniper, John Muhammad, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Virginia tomorrow.

I still remember the terror that gripped the area when this rampage was ongoing. I had returned from my grandfather's funeral in Jamaica on the day the shootings began. I lived less than 3 miles from one site and frequented many of the other sites targeted that day. In the weeks that followed I remember feeling like a hostage in my home. I was on maternity leave with my 3 month old daughter. My husband didn't want us going for walks, or to the grocery store, not even to the mailbox. The randomness of the attacks made them all the more terrifying.

I remember my feeling of relief when they were apprehended. I immediately packed up the baby and headed out the door. A sense of normalcy was restored to my world.

As the weeks followed I became disturbed as I learned more about the snipers. John Muhammad appeared to me to be a deeply psychologically disturbed individual and his accomplice, Lee Malvo, was just a child.

Despite those 3 weeks of terror and the many lives they destroyed, I feel no joy in knowing that he is about to be executed. It's hard for me to feel joy in the loss of any life - regardless of their acts.

I do hope that for the friends and families of the victims this provides some sense of relief and allows them the closure that they need to begin to heal.

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

When did healthcare reform become curse words?

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:08:28 -0600

I usually steer clear of political discussions but some days I do feel compelled to weigh in.

This morning as I was driving in to work I was listening to an interview with Republican Dick Armey and I began to feel very insulted. He is opposed to a government run healthcare. He discussed how ridiculous it was to mandate that health care be offered to people with pre-existing conditions. His quote was "why should the government force a health plan to cover someone with liver disease because they drink or someone who got diabetes because they eat like a pig?" I couldn't believe the insinuation that health concerns are always the fault of the individual. What about the childhood diabetic? What about people like me? What did I do to deserve my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis?

As one of those people with a pre-existing condition, continuous health care coverage is very important to me. There was a time where I did not have employer sponsored health care and neither did my husband. We paid $1700 per month for our family's health care. When I did finally get employer sponsored care our premiums went down to $550 per month. However, that new plan was refusing to pay for my routine MRI. They also refused to allow me to go to the lab that I usually go to and where all my records were. Instead, I had to go somewhere new where the radiologist's comments indicated that he could not comment on the progression of the MS because he did not have any comparison scans. Had I been allowed to go to my regular radiologist my 5 previous scans would have been on file for comparison.

I was in a position where I could pay the exorbitant premiums at the time. There are many families that are not so lucky. Had I been forced to let my insurance lapse, future health care plans could have refused to cover anything related to my MS. This has potentially devastating financial consequences.

I find the current health care reform debate very angering. The debate is focusing on political control and grandstanding and not on the American people who truly NEED a reform of the current system. I personally get very angry when I hear members of congress discuss not wanting government run healthcare. All members of congress have access to cheap, excellent, well-run, government health-care. Why should they be so quick to prevent the rest of us from have access to the same quality of health-care that they enjoy?

In this great country, children should not be dying because they can't afford to go to the dentist and poor people should not be dying on the floor of the hospital because they are uninsured.

The time for reform is now!

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

For Rent! 8004 Darcy Road, Forestville, MD 20747

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:49:58 -0600

Stacey Baugh | Long and Foster | 301-924-1100

darcy road, Forestville, MD

Beautiful single family home

3BR/2.5BA Single Family House

$1,900/month

Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Parking	None
Pet Policy	No pets
Deposit	$1,900

DESCRIPTION

Well maintained raised rambler with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Beautiful hardwood floors and wood-burning fireplace on main level. Lower level walks out to large, fenced yard and features fully finished rec room, built in bar, laundry room, and office. Close to major arteries including 495, and accessible to shopping and military bases.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Hardwood floor	- Living room	- Bonus/Rec room
- Office/Den	- Dining room	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Basement	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Yard
- Cable-ready	- High-speed internet

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Back
Living Room	Basement bar
Basement fireplace

Contact info:

Stacey Baugh

Long and Foster

301-924-1100

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Nov 2, 2009, 3:29pm PST

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

Mold in Front-Load Washing Machines

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:43:05 -0500

We bought our new front loading washing machine about 2 years ago. In the past year I have begun to notice a musty odor coming from the machine. I have a strong sense of smell so I am always smelling things that nobody else is smelling so I ignored it. Eventually I begun to notice that the towels in the house also had a musty smell. I thought that maybe they were not fully dry and then when I folded them damp it was creating that smell. We would run the dryer cycle 2 sometimes 3 times and nothing seemed to make the towels smell fresh. Now you can smell the musty smell just by walking into the laundry room.

Imagine my horror when I saw on the news yesterday that these front-loaders appear to have a problem with mold. The woman doing the story was experiencing the same problems we have and she found that there is mold under the rubber around the door of the machine and behind the soap dispenser.

Sure enough, when we checked ours there was mold in all the places she had indicated. How gross is this! I am washing the mold INTO my clothes.

The woman indicated that she wipes the machine down after every wash with bleach and then leaves the door open until it is completely dry. What is the point of a washing machine that requires more cleaning maintenance than the clothes I am trying to wash?

We did all the recommendations and it still smells.

I have been reading more about it today and this is an extremely common problem.

Other suggestions to remove the smell include:

Dismantle the entire washer and clean the drum regularly
Cleaning the machine with special cleaners sold at home improvement stores
Run the washer empty with bleach
Use only HE detergents
Use only powder detergents and no liquid fabric softeners
Run the washer with boiling water and vinegar

I am now going to implement the different suggestions to hopefully solve this problem.

I am really annoyed because had I been informed of this I would have never paid MORE money to buy a front loadig washine machine that was going to be so high maintenance.

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

I turn 35 today!!!

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:52:58 -0500

Today is my 35th birthday. WOW!

Somehow for me 35 just sounds so much older than 30 (my younger husband gently reminded me that it IS older than 30). I have never been one of those people who feared getting older because my mom always said that we only had two choices - get older or die. This is definitely the better option for me.

For some reason though, 35 seems so grown up to me. It feels like I have crossed into a new demographic and a new phase of development. The things that you value in your twenties are not necessarily as important now. The value now is on quality time with family and friends. Now that my career(s) are a bit more established that doesn't stress me out anymore. Now it's about managing it all (career, kids, marriage) well.

I think the reality of being grown up hit me when the doctor gave me an order for my first mammogram. YIKES!!!!!

I learned that I share my birthday with Julia Roberts & Bill Gates (just the birthday none of the money). More interestingly, I share my birthday with the other 2 professors who teach psychology with me. There are 4 professors in the department, the three women have their birthday today and the one man had his birthday yesterday. Strange huh!

So I'm off to enjoy my birthday - despite the rain!

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

I was supposed to be at ReBar Camp

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:24:17 -0500

For weeks I have been planning to attend the DC ReBar Camp that is going on today. I rearranged my schedule so that it would be possible and made plans with a friend/neighbor to carpool.

The camp is actually being held in Herndon, VA not Washington, DC as advertised. Herndon is well over an hour from my home. I estimated in rush hour traffic it would have taken me about 2 hours to get there. I was still ready to brave the commute.

This morning the phone rang early and it was my carpool buddy indicating that she had been looking at the traffic and she didn't think it was feasible for us to get there. It had been raining all night and it was raining buckets at that point. Those of you familiar with the DC area know that it is notorious for horrendous traffic. The level of traffic difficulties at least triples when there is rain. There were accidents all over the place and traffic was at a standstill on the beltway. We figured it would have taken closer to 3 hours to get there and they were expecting more rain for the evening rush hour.

It just didn't seem to make sense to take on 5-6 hours worth of commuting time. We would have gotten there very late and then had to leave very early just to make it work.

Instead, I am at my computer catching up on some website work and wishing that I was in Herndon becoming more tech savvy.

I'll just have to sign up for the virtual camp instead and hope that the rainers who attend today will share some of what they learned.

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

Costs involved in buying a home

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:17:00 -0500

I work with mostly first-time homebuyers who are not familiar with the process of buying a home and who may be confused about how much money they may need to be able to buy.

DOWN PAYMENT - The minimum down-payment is usually 3.5% of the purchase price. However, this can range from as little as 0% to as much as 20% of the price depending on the type of loan. There are some programs available that assist with down-payment. The Down Payment on your DREAM program in PG County is an example of a down-payment assistance program for first-time home buyers purchasing a vacant foreclosure in the County.

CLOSING COSTS - Closing costs are the costs associated with purchasing the home, acquiring the mortgage, purchasing title insurance, as well as any state or city taxes involved. These costs vary by location and depending on your mortgage arrangements but usually run between 3% and 6% of the purchase price. Sometimes arrangements can be made to have the seller assist the buyer with some or all of the closing costs.

EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT - This deposit is submitted with the offer. The deposit is held in escrow and credited towards the buyer's down payment and/or closing costs. However, this check is cashed following acceptance of the offer. The seller may be entitled to the deposit if the buyer defaults on the contract. This deposit is usually a minimum of 1% of the purchase price and the amount may need to be increased in competitive situations.

HOME INSPECTION - This is paid for by the buyer at the time of inspection. The costs involved vary depending on the size and purchase price of the home but cost approximately $250-$500.

TERMITE INSPECTION - Many mortgages require a termite inspection. This can either be billed to the closing company and paid at the settlement table or paid for up front. The costs range from $35-$55.

OTHER INSPECTIONS - Any additional inspections that the buyer is interested in having done are paid for by the buyer. These may include radon inspections which can cost between $125 and $200, mold inspections, well water tests, septic system evaluations, chimney inspections, and anything else the buyer is interested in investigating prior to committing to purchase the home.

APPRAISAL - A few lenders will have the appraisal paid for at closing. However, many lenders will have the buyers pay for this up-front. That way if something goes wrong with the contract the lender is not stuck with the cost of the appraisal. This can vary in cost from approximately $350-$550.

If you are interested in learning more about purchasing a home or for more information about the down-payment assistance programs available in Prince George's County, MD don't hesitate to contact me.

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

Back on the Market - 11410 Fort Washington Rd $150,000

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:32:43 -0500

Stacey Baugh | Long and Foster | 301-924-1100

Fort Washington Rd, Fort Washington, MD

Must see to appreciate. Cottage style single family home located in Fort Washington, MD. 2 bedrooms and updated bathroom.

2BR/1BA Single Family House

offered at $150,000

Year Built	Unspecified
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	0.46 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Must see to appreciate. Cottage style single family home located in Fort Washington, MD. Features 2 bedrooms and updated bathroom. Fireplace in living room. Some updates begun and need to be completed. Detached 2 car garage and storage sheds. Large land. Room for expansion. Home in As-Is but move-in condition. Close to parks, marina, and National Harbor. Short sale. Third party approval needed.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Hardwood floor	- Living room	- Dining room
- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven
- Microwave	- Attic	- Dryer
- Laundry area - inside	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking

- Storage space(s)

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior	Garage
Back	Back yard
Storage sheds	Newer appliances

Contact info:

Stacey Baugh

Long and Foster

301-924-1100

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 13, 2009, 6:23pm PDT

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!

Whatever voted most annoying word

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:46:28 -0500

Whatever voted most annoying word in conversation in a Marist College Poll. The next five most annoying words or phrases were:

"you know"
"it is what it is"
"anyway"
"at the end of the day".

Personally I find "you know" inserted after every other word to be way more annoying than "whatever".

What words or phrases annoy you?

Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh

Long & Foster Real Estate

www.staceybaugh.com

staceyannbaugh@gmail.com

240-481-3565 (C)

301-924-1100 (O)

FINALLY! A DOCTOR WHO MAKES HOUSE-CALLS!