Archive for Deep Creek Lake Real Estate

« Older Entries

Ten Steps To A Successful Settlement

Posted in deep creek lake, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate with tags on September 15, 2011 by Betsy Spiker

I have spent my career making sure my clients are educated on all the complexities that arise during the purchase of a home. After my team of buyer agents find the perfect home for their clients, our work toward a successful settlement really begins. As a selling agent for over the last 12 years, I have prepared and taught my team the necessary steps to ensure a smooth home buying experience. Here are some basic guidelines to ensure a successful settlement.

 

Ten Steps To A Successful Settlement

 

1.) Get pre-approved by a reputable lender.

 

2.)Compare your housing desires with what you can afford to begin the process of locating a home that meets your needs and means.

 

3.)Consider the state of the market your shopping in and decide when the right time to buy is.

 

4.) Once you have identified the best property to buy and you are ready to move forward with the bid/contract process, ask your experienced buyer specialist to walk you through your responsibilities and your potential need for expert tax & legal advice.

 

5.)Contact your lender immediately after the contract is fully executed. A reasonable commitment date is 30 days from contract acceptance.

 

6.) Be sure to follow-up with your lender to make sure they are providing all necessary paperwork required to render a final loan. Ascertain that an appraisal has been ordered and the date scheduled.

 

7.)Check with your real estate agent to make sure they are providing the appraiser current comps to validate the price of the property.

 

8.) A good real estate agent will communicate with your lender every couple of days to ensure all elements of the loan process are in order and proceeding in accordance with the contract commitment date.

 

9.) After receiving formal loan commitment, coordinate with the lender or real estate agent to make certain any and all underwriting conditions have been satisfied and nothing further is needed from you.

 

10.) When you receive final loan commitment from your lender, select your title company and schedule the settlement date.  Remember that you must have a home owner’s insurance policy prior to settlement. 

Leave A Comment »

Celebrating Independence Day Deep Creek Lake-style!

Posted in deep creek lake with tags , , , , , , on June 29, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

Fourth of July weekend brings images of a Boston Butt slow smoking on the grill, corn on the cob, pork and beans, potato salad, sweet ice tea, and of course as the day ends and it gets dark, fireworks! Deep Creek Lake’s McHenry Cove become’s a parking lot full of boats jockeying for the best view of Wisp Resort and the famous fireworks show that they annually put on. The elevated highway, Route 219/Garrett Highway, which sits across from DCL and the Wisp is littered with hundreds of cars filled with excited families who have made this fireworks show a proud tradition for Garrett County residence and folks visiting from out of town. The fireworks start at 9:15 and continue on until 9:45. Save some energy from your busy day barbecuing and pull up a chair or a boat to enjoy an American Independence Day celebration here in Patriotic Deep Creek Lake.

Leave A Comment »

Coming to Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake…

Posted in deep creek lake, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Wisp, Wisp Resort with tags , , , , on June 18, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

The newest adventure activity to hit Deep Creek Lake, Maryland…a Canopy Tour attraction!  I had the great opportunity to experience Wisp Resort’s Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour for myself a few weeks ago.  It was a blast!  There are 5 zips plus a training zip at the beginning of the course.  It’s important to pay attention in the practice area and listen to all of the guides instructions, it will make your tour go smoother and safer.  

Remember to bring your handheld recording device or camera to bring the experience home with you.  It takes approximately 1 1/2 hours to get through the course and they can take up to 8 people and a Guide at a time.  The cost is $39/pp.  Happy zipping!

Leave A Comment »

Deep Creek Marina Hosts Malibu Boat’s National Demo Day

Posted in deep creek lake with tags , , , , , , on April 23, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

Driving to work this morning, I noticed that Deep Creek Marina has a huge fleet of rental boats in the water ready for action. The sound of snowmobiles buzzing across the lake has been replaced by the roar of boats being tuned up by Deep Creek Marina’s service department.  They have a huge new showroom and the largest inventory of boats on the lake. Pay them a visit on your next trip to Deep Creek Lake and let them take care of all your boating needs. Whether you want to buy or rent a boat, replace that old set of water skis or wakeboard, or have your boat worked on by five-star certified mechanics, Deep Creek Marina will get you on the lake safely and in style. 

Perhaps plan your next weekend getaway for May 1st.  This is Malibu Boat’s National Demo Day hosted by DCM. Come take a test ride on select 2010 Malibu models.  Here’s a feature video on DCM that the Spiker Team shot this week:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2WgVrayb4Y.     

Don’t forget the Deep Creek Lake State Park Ramp Cook-Off is scheduled for this Saturday April 24th.  Check www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com for this week’s featured listing: a lake view log home atop Wisp Resort by the new Lode Stone Golf Club http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-129415.html. 

Leave A Comment »

Rare and adventurous opportunity at Deep Creek Lake…

Posted in deep creek lake with tags , , , , , , on April 2, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

So this is it, the last weekend of skiing at Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland.  March’s warm temperatures have encouraged us to put away the skiis, sleds, snowshovels and boots but there’s a pretty cool opportunity presenting itself this weekend with the help of the awesome weather brought by Mother Nature and Wisp Resort’s promise to keep us skiing until Easter. 

Imagine this…taking runs on the ski slopes in 80 degree temperatures, then suiting up in your spring wetsuit to take the first passes of the season on DCL with your wakeboard or waterskiis.  All in the same day, that is.  I’m sold!  A very cool proposition we’ve been given by some local thrill seekers.  That’s where you’ll find me tomorrow.  Slopes at 11:00 and lake at 12:00.  Watch for videos on www.deepcreeklakeproperty.com.  Happy Easter! 

2 Comments »

Swallow Falls State Park, Deep Creek Lake MD…

Posted in deep creek lake with tags , , , , , on March 18, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

 

There’s a story in ‘em ‘er woods…or more like it, a whole lot of stories!  Swallow Falls State Park is just outside of Deep Creek Lake, Maryland and stretches to about 257 acres along the scenic Youghiogheny River.  Hiking trails will lead you to 2 large falls, Swallow Falls and Muddy Creek Falls, as well as several smaller whitewaters.  Tall Hemlocks dominate the silent woods, which are estimated to be 300+ years old.  

As a native to Garrett County, Maryland I’ve walked these paths on many occasions but I learn something new about the historical park each time I visit.  On my most recent trip to Swallow Falls, I noticed a few things about the trees that adorn its forests.

Youghiogheny Grove is a 37-acre area of virgin Hemlock and White Pine and is the last stand of its kind in Maryland.  Another grove of trees a little closer to the river is known as Towering Giants.  Because of their age, the trees’ root systems are shallow and particularly vulnerable to storm damage.  Some of the treetops and limbs have been stripped over the years, but to look up and see the sunlight glistening through them is a spectacle you’ll want to experience. 

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/swallowfalls.html

Leave A Comment »

Deep Creek Lake Ski Season Update…

Posted in deep creek lake with tags , , , , on March 8, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

What an amazing weekend we’ve just experienced at Deep Creek Lake!  The skies were blue and the slopes were nothing but corduroy.  We couldn’t have asked for better conditions.  If you think you’ve had your fill of winter, the last 4 days of sunshine will make you appreciate the exhilaration of spring skiing. 

A record snowfall of 262+ inches will easily carry us well into April (and probably even June!), but the one month alarm has just sounded.  Wisp Resort will remain open through Easter weekend allowing us 4 more weekends of fun on the slopes.  The fresh powder we’ve had has been a dream, but there’s also something to be said for skiing without all those layers.  Then again, who’s to say we won’t see one more snowstorm!  :)

Check out our first video clip, Deep Creek Lake area events & happenings and our user-friendly search engine: www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com.

Leave A Comment »

Public Notice for Users of Deep Creek Lake…

Posted in deep creek homes, deep creek lake, deep creek lake homes, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate with tags , , , , , on March 4, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

News Release…Record Snow Fall at Deep Creek Lake May Result in Unprecedented Spring Melt

Deep Creek Hydroelectric Station to Lower Lake Levels; Lake Users Encouraged to Take Extra Safety Precautions

March 3, 2010, Oakland, MD – Sooner or later the record snow fall at Deep Creek Lake must melt and that could cause a record spring runoff.  To a limited extent, Deep Creek Lake levels can be controlled by the Deep Creek Hydroelectric Station which operates under a Water Appropriation and Use permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).  Under the permit conditions, the Station, which is owned by Brookfield Renewable Power, uses water to generate hydropower, but keeps Lake levels within a defined “rule band” with upper and lower limits.  This year’s unprecedented snow fall will likely result in an unprecedented snow melt, particularly if temperatures warm quickly. 

To avoid serious and potentially damaging high water conditions at the dam and on the Lake, the Maryland Department of the Environment has approved Brookfield’s request to draw the Lake level down two feet below its permitted March lower limit.  The draw down, which began on March 1, will take place gradually, with a maximum of 0.5 feet reduction per day. David Barnhart, General Manager for Brookfield’s Mid-America Operations said, “Together with MDE, we are doing what we can to anticipate and mitigate the impacts of the spring thaw.  As this winter proves, you never know what Mother Nature will throw you and an early, sustained thaw may result in higher than usual water levels.” 

The lowered water levels beneath the ice cover, combined with warming temperatures, pose unpredictable risks to recreational users of Deep Creek Lake.  Carolyn Mathews, Manager of the Deep Creek Lake Recreation Area advises, “People should remember that there are always hazards to recreating on naturally-formed ice.  Lowering the Lake to make additional storage space for the anticipated above normal spring runoff may destabilize the Lake’s ice and we urge everyone to take special care to stay safe.”  

The MDE, Brookfield, and the Department of Natural Resources continue to monitor the Lake levels and weather conditions to determine whether additional actions for safety of recreational users may be required.  Lake levels can be found at www.deepcreekhydro.com.

(Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Brookfield Renewable Power Inc., Maryland Department of the Environment)

1 Comment »

Real estate market looking up at Deep Creek Lake…

Posted in deep creek lake, deep creek lake homes, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate with tags , , , on March 1, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

YES, this statment is proving to be true!  There have been 17 residential sales thus far in 2010, with sales prices ranging anywhere from $80,000-825,000.  On top of that, there are 32 additional residential properties that are under contract or pending sale with asking prices of  $42,900-2,250,000.  This is potentially 49 sales for the 1st quarter of 2010.  Nothing to shrug off considering the low consumer confidence we’ve seen over the last 18 months. 

For comparison, there were 18 home sales during the same time last year ( 1/1/09-3/1/09), 32 sales in 2008, 49 sales in 2007 and 67 sales in 2006.  Our average list price to sales price ratio is still 91%, which is considerably good when looking at the nation’s averages.  (Source for # of units sold: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, MRIS)

You can see some of Deep Creek Lake’s recent sales here: http://www.deepcreeklakeproperty.com/deepcreeksold.pdf. 

1 Comment »

You can take Mali away from Deep Creek, but you sure can’t take Deep Creek out of Mali…

Posted in deep creek lake with tags , , , , on February 23, 2010 by Betsy Spiker

Well, if you haven’t noticed from past blogs, it’s obvious that I’m a dog lover!  When we brought our first ever French Mastiff home in May 2008, we thought our lifestyle of living between Deep Creek Lake and the beach would suit her to a tee.  What we discovered, after several trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, was that Mali didn’t care for the heat, the sand or the ocean water!   In fact, it was all we could do to coax her onto the beach, which made it a long day for both her and us.  As evidenced by the photo above, Mali would simply plop herself down by the sand fence in hopes we would take her back to the house. 

However, when her first winter came around it was quite evident that she was a snow dog.  The 2009/2010 winter at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland has given us a whopping 19′ of snow thus far.   Our last big storm left Mali’s head barely above the snow when she went out to play.  There was a time early this winter that she used to go off the back deck to do her business; now the steps leading off the deck are blocked by a 5′ barrier of white splendor.  The photo below was taken just this weekend following her bath.  Rather than dry off by the fireplace, like our terrier, she preferred to roll around in the snowdrift soaking wet! 

A friend of mine sent me this poem today.  Thought I would share…

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him
and never say it’s not quite as good as his mother’s
..then adopt a dog.

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour,
for as long and wherever you want  …
..then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn’t care
about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies
..then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who is content to get on your bed just to
warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores
..then adopt a dog !

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn’t care
if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if
every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves
you unconditionally, perpetually ..
..then adopt a dog.

BUT, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come
when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair
all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only
comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence
is solely to ensure his happiness …
..then adopt a cat!

Now be honest, you thought I was gonna say… marry a man, didn’t you?

1 Comment »

« Older Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.