Thinking of selling your family home and moving to a 55+ community in Montgomery County, Maryland? Here is a step-by-step plan from local senior real estate specialists.
Moving to a 55+ community can be an exciting change. It also comes with more rules than most buyers expect. Before you sign anything, use this due diligence guide to get a clear picture of what the community expects of you and what you can expect in return. Is Your 55+ Community Legal? Here is…
A new home inspection catches problems before the walls close. See which inspections to schedule on new construction in Maryland, and when.
How you “hold title” means how your name (or names) appear on the deed, and it matters more than many buyers realize. It affects who owns what share of the property, what happens if an owner passes away, and in some cases how the property is protected from creditors. You’ll usually be asked to decide…
When you buy a home, you’re buying more than the house itself. You’re also buying the legal right to own it, which is called “title.” Before closing, a title company searches public records to make sure the seller actually has the right to sell, and that there are no unpaid liens, judgments, or other claims…
In a sideways market, prices move little and both buyers and sellers are tempted to wait. What the spring 2027 outlook means for buyers and sellers, and whether waiting is really the best move.
When the housing market slows, it does not fall evenly. Why close-in Montgomery County neighborhoods like Bethesda have historically held their value better than outlying areas.
Weather forecasters use a persistence forecast: predict that tomorrow will look like today. Applied to Montgomery County real estate, it points to slower sales, longer market times and roughly flat prices.
The first in a series on how home inspections work. A plain-English guide to the seven inspections on the Maryland contract addendum, and what to do when the inspector says to call a structural engineer.
Seven trusted websites for health, money, learning, staying connected and senior housing, hand-picked by Seniors Real Estate Specialists Charlie Chapman and Debbie Browne, plus four Montgomery County, Maryland resources for older adults.
When you buy a new home, how long do you envision living there? Five years? Ten? Twenty? A lifetime? All the memories that fill up a house happen there. But a new home is also something else: an investment. So how does that investment actually perform over time? This report looks at the price appreciation…
You may have seen the headlines saying mortgage rates have climbed to the highest point since January 2025. And if that’s left you reluctant to buy a home, here’s what you need to remember… That’s not necessarily the number you’d get. It’s a common misconception that the rate you see in the headlines is the…
Price cuts are turning up everywhere right now, and they read very differently depending on which side of the deal you’re on. Sellers tend to worry a cut means walking away with less than they hoped. Sometimes that’s true, but more often it just means the market moved faster than the listing did. Buyers, for…
In our first three reports we looked at how detached homes, townhouses, and condominiums across Montgomery County have appreciated since 2016 — not by the average sale price, which shifts with whatever mix of homes happens to sell, but by tracking the same home selling more than once. The countywide answer was about 59% for…
Tips, donation resources, consignment options, and haul-away services for downsizing and decluttering in Montgomery County, MD.
Selling your house this fall is absolutely doable. But there’s something you need to know about this time of year. Buyer activity typically starts to slow while the number of homes for sale climb – and you need the right strategy to get attention in this type of market. The good news? There’s a lot…
This is important information if you’re considering a move to Leisure World, or considering selling a Leisure World home. The latest Leisure World News carries an important piece from the Board Chair on the community’s Capital Improvement (resale) fee — its history, why it exists, and the discussion now underway about raising it again. Read…
We tracked 34,099 Montgomery County townhouse sales from 2016 to September 2026. A typical townhouse has gained about 53%, here is what drove it and what it means for buyers and sellers.
Everyone quotes the “average sale price,” but that number rises and falls with which homes happen to sell. This is the third report in our series: first detached homes, then townhouses, and now condominiums. To find out what an individual condo has actually gained, we went back through every closed condominium sale in Montgomery County…
September 10, 2026 Ten-plus years of detached-home sales, 2016 through September 2026 Everyone quotes the “average sale price,” but that number rises and falls with which homes happen to sell. To find out what an individual house has actually gained, we went back through every closed detached-home sale in Montgomery County from January 2016 through…
It’s easy (maybe even necessary) to joke about how much stuff our parents accumulate over the years. For instance, there’s an entire “Millennial Inheritance Community” on Instagram devoted to humorously showcasing the unusual, overwhelming, and sometimes enormous collections people have inherited, or expect to someday. Depending on your family dynamics, you may even tease your…
If you ask younger adults what debt is most likely to stand between them and buying a home, many would probably point to their student loans. It’s easy to understand why. It costs a ton of money to go to college, and many students start their adult lives with a bill they’ll be paying off…
Homes in Montgomery County fall into four pricing groups. Here is how to tell which group a home is in and how much to offer.
Brought to you by Charles Chapman & Debbie Browne, The Encore Team at RE/MAX Realty Services Fall 2026 – Ages 55 and Better Montgomery County Recreation has released its Fall 2026 lineup for residents 55 and up — hundreds of classes, clubs, trips and events at nine senior centers across the county. Almost all of…
There’s no question that technology has changed the way people search for homes. Years ago, buyers mostly relied on listing photos, a few short remarks, and eventually seeing the house in person. Today, buyers can explore properties through virtual tours, algorithm-powered estimates, flood maps, walkability scores, noise ratings, school data, commute times, and all sorts…
If you own a home in Montgomery County and you’re 65 or older, there’s a good chance you’re leaving real money on the table every single year. Maryland and Montgomery County offer a layered set of property tax relief programs specifically designed for senior homeowners. Last year alone, the combined county credit averaged $1,381 per…
Whether you own a home in Montgomery County, are thinking about selling, or are planning to buy, understanding how the market has moved over the past fifteen years is one of the most useful tools you can have. Price trends tell you whether your equity has grown, whether now is a favorable time to sell,…
Buying your first home means a lot of new decisions at once — budgeting, mortgages, and a process that can feel unfamiliar. Here’s a quick guide to the basics, and Charlie and Debbie are happy to walk through any of it with you directly. Mortgage Planning Start with a clear plan: set a realistic budget,…
Here is the Spring 2026 Active Senior Communities update for Montgomery County, Maryland. Active Senior Community Home Sales Homes are available now in Montgomery County’s active senior communities. Charlie and Debbie offer regular tours of senior communities and available homes — reach out any time to see the current listings or set up a tour….
The debate over whether it’s smarter to rent or buy a home is as old as the housing market itself. The truth is—it depends. The right choice varies by market conditions, location, timing, and your personal situation. But while the short-term answer might shift, the long-term benefits of homeownership remain steady. Owning a home offers:…