It’s just fabulously cold this morning.

Posted via email from Craig Barrett’s posterous

Looking across the Patuxent from Goose Landing Marina to Golden Beach in St. Mary’s.

Just a really nice day :)

Posted via email from Craig Barrett’s posterous

Crisp, cool fall air, warm sunshine, slight breeze, sparkling water… It doesn’t get much better than this :)

Posted via email from Craig Barrett’s posterous

Right after purchasing my new home, I had the carpet replaced by Dave’s Discount Carpet.

They did a great job pulling the old carpet with the new installation, but I wasn’t thrilled with the transition moldings. I called Dave up. He replaced them without hesitation.

Dave’s Discount Carpet does residential and commercial work all over MD, VA, DC, DE, PA, NC, SC, FL, NY, and CT. Just about the whole Eastern Seaboard.

They do all the repair and new installations for all the Ruby Tuesday’s on the east coast.

Need carpet? Give Dave a call today. He’s a good guy… even though he is a Giants fan :)

Dave’s Discount Carpet

Dave LeBarbera
301-643-1490
2497 Old Washington Road
Waldorf, MD 20601

Posted via email from Craig Barrett’s posterous

Oakton Barn

More Open Space and Larger Lots

Oakton, Fairfax, and Oak Hill in Fairfax County have quite a few mature neighborhoods with nice large lots. Many of those neighborhoods have onsite septic systems as well, hence the need for the larger lots.

Land Available

In the market to build? There are lots for sale as well. Most of them require a ‘tear-down’ of an existing structure. The photo above was a barn on a two acre parcel I showed a client. The home was occupied and the seller had completed septic field engineering work to aid in any contingency period.

Convenient Location

With close proximity to public transportation and major roadways Oakton is a popular choice for housing. Public and private schools are nearby. Shopping centers are plentiful and are within reasonable driving distances. Tysons Corner Center and Fair Oaks Mall are two of the largest that come to mind.

Homes close to Washington, DC Military Bases and Installations

Military Making a Move

Did you receive orders for Andrews Air Force Base, NAS Patuxent River Maryland, NSWC Dahlgren, NSWC Indian Head, The Pentagon, or the Military District of Washington? Consider a move to Southern Maryland. You’ll find the area attractive with it’s central proximity to Washington, DC area Military Bases and Installations.

Spouse Working in Washington, DC

Another benefit to living in Southern Maryland is it’s proximity to major employers in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. So, if you’ve got a spouse that is looking for a job or has one in those areas, Southern Maryland can be a good choice. Mass transit is available throughout Southern Maryland, primarily though Maryland Transit Administration’s bus system.

Mr. Thompson cleaned and filleted the rockfish in no time!

Fresh Rockfish? You bet.

Anytime you’ve got a need for fresh rockfish, crabs, or just about any other kind of Maryland native fish or crustacean, go to Thompson’s Seafood Corner Market in Mechanicsville, MD. They’ll cook, steam, fillet, or prepare what they sell. Prices are reasonable, items are fresh, and service is always prompt.

Where they located?

Thompson’s Seafood Corner Market is across from Bert’s Diner.

28765 Three Notch Rd
Mechanicsville, MD 20659
(301) 884-5251

Fireworks after a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Game

Happy Fourth of July!

Celebrate the Fourth with Trace Adkins at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, MD.  The gates open at 6 p.m. Southern Maryland’s own John Lusky will be the opening act and take the stage from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. Trace Adkins will showcase the event from 8:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. A post-concert Fireworks Spectacular will wrap up the mid-summer evening program.

Tickets can be purchased at the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Box Office event website or calling the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Office at 301-638-9788.

Ticket prices are:

• $75 for the first six rows of the seating bowl
• $58 for the remaining seats in the seating bowl
• $55 for standing room only in front of the stage on the field (NO SEATS)

Southern Magnolia - Plant a tree in Maryland

What’s The Tree Program?

The State of Maryland and the Maryland Plant a Tree Program are partnering with businesses, communities and citizens to help fund and plant new tree cover. Maryland State agencies are working to plant 1 million new trees by 2011, and are asking private citizens to join in by planting 50,000 trees by 2010.

Why Should I Plant a Tree?

Trees protect water quality, clean our air and provide wildlife habitat. One large tree can eliminate 5,000 gallons of stormwater runoff each year, and well placed trees can help reduce energy costs by 15 to 35 percent. Trees also enhance our quality of life, beautifying neighborhoods and highways, providing sound barriers and shade, and helping increase property values.

Plus, if you choose a tree on Maryland’s recommended tree list, you’ll be able to save$25 at participating retailers!

Click here to print your $25 coupon and click here to see Maryland Plant a Tree Program participating retailers.

What Kind of Tree Should I Plant?

Your decision to plant a tree should start with an objective: do I want a flowering tree, do I need shade for my home or business, a living screen from adjacent properties? Then determine which trees will meet your objective and thrive in the planting site conditions.

Need help determining what kind of tree? Use Maryland’s Site Planning Tool. Did you know planting shade trees east and west of your home can cut cooling costs 15-35%?

FAQ’s and Additional Information

For additional information such as time of year to plant, how much to water, when to prune, fertilzer or deer resistant trees go to their frequently asked questions. You may also calculate the benefit of planting a tree.

Benefits calculated are: overall, stormwater, property value, energy, air quality, and reduction of atmospheric carbons. Just enter your zip code, type of tree, how many, base diameter, and where it will be planted (residential,  multi-family residential, small, large, industrial commercial or vacant land or park).

Received orders and need to sell?

Homeowners’ Assistance Program

The Department of Defense released guidelines last week for a $555 million program designed for Military homeowners who must sell their homes for a loss after receiving transfer orders, wounded who need to move for medical reasons, surviving spouses of those killed in action or DoD personnel suddenly ordered to relocate. The program is also available to the widows of DoD civilian employees killed in the line of duty. It builds on a program to help homeowners near military bases being closed.

The department could reimburse you for part of your loss from selling your home; assist you, if you don’t have funds from the sale of your home to pay-off your mortgage; purchase your home by paying off the mortgage; or help, if you default on your mortgage.

For an overview and specific information on the benefits go to DoD’s Homeowners’ Assistance Program Benefits Overview page.

Who is Eligible?

The law provides some monetary relief to eligible service member (including Coast Guard) and federal employee homeowners who suffer financial loss on the sale of their primary residences when a base closure or realignment announcement causes a decline in the residential real estate market and they are not able to sell their homes under reasonable terms or conditions.

Homeowner Assistance Program and American Recovery Reinvestment Act

The HAP program has been expanded to include BRAC ’05 personnel, Warriors in Transition or Surviving Spouse, and Permanent Change of Station (PCS). There are specific eligibility requirements and some of the benefits are temporary.

The reason for the expansion of the program, according to the HAP website:

The program was temporarily expanded to assist three major service member homeowner groups whose medical or professional situations require them to sell their primary residences and relocate beyond a normal commuting distance. The intended beneficiaries are homeowners who cannot ‘ride out’ the depressed real estate markets until their home values can recover-they are moving because of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order, or they are moving because of an injury or death of a service member spouse.

How Do I Apply or Where Do I Get More Information on Eligibility?

To apply, go to DoD’s Homeowners’ Assistance Program application page for the application package and a checklist of items you will need to include in your package.

Not sure if you’re eligible or need additional information? Go to DoD’s Homeowners’ Assistance Program eligibility page. They’ve included a fairly comprehensive set of FAQ’s that should address any concerns or questions you might have. If you have additional questions or need more information beyond the FAQ’s, go to their Contact Page and select the appropriate region to contact the HAP field office that covers the territory in which your property resides.