(RE/MAX Blog)- While you may be crazy about your home, sometimes you simply can't resist the call of the mountains, lake or music festival. Don't worry. These days there's no need to rough it. With these outdoor must-haves, your campsite can offer all the comforts of home.

1. Hammock
For napping or catching nighttime zzz's, there's no need to actually sleep on the ground. All you need is two trees to set up your hammock and you can rock your way to relaxation. Buy one with a roof flap to weatherproof your siesta.

2. The biggest tent you can find
When car camping, why not? It's not like you have to squeeze a tent in a backpack and hike up a mountain with it. Treat yourself to an expansive shelter everyone can fit into, even the pup. Look for a tent with a mesh roof so you can enjoy the stars on clear nights.

3. Air mattress & accessories
With the help of a battery-charged inflator, you're only moments away from a cushy bed. And with high thread count sheets and a down pillow, you're ready for the great outdoors. Throw in a patch kit, just in case.

4. Accent lighting
Sure, you'll bring a headlamp and a few lanterns for utility, but nothing adds ambience to a campsite like solar-powered, hanging fairy lights – especially in parts of the country that lack lightning bugs.

5. Deluxe cooler
Make sure it's big enough for all the champagne for morning mimosas and evening microbrews, plus solid enough to keep your Kobe steaks and Ghirardelli chocolate bars (for gourmet s'mores) chilled.

6. Hand-crank blender
Margaritas hit the spot after hiking – or strolling to your hammock. With a few turns of the crank and slices of fresh lime, you'll be set to refresh. Be sure not to forget salt for your rims.

7. Stovetop espresso maker and accessories
Nature is so much better with a fine Italian roast. Pack a battery-powered, handheld milk frother and you're set.

8. Solar/car battery-powered gadget charger
Because you'll need the Starbucks finder app on your phone if you can't figure out how to start your camp stove.

Is your campsite actually more comfortable than your house? Maybe it's time to move. Start the search for your new home today.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Winter is over, spring is here and summer is on the way. If your a snow and winter weather lover, you may start to yearn for snowball fights, ice skating and the friendly face of a snowman in your neighbor's yard. Here's a few ideas on how to get your winter fix during the summer.

1. Snowy cinema

Snuggle up and watch a movie marathon of winter flicks. There are tons to choose from, from classics like "Dr. Zhivago" and "The Shining" to more kid-friendly favorites like "Ice Age" and "Frozen." And don't forget the Warren Miller pantheon of ski movies.

2. Lace up some skates

Release your inner Michelle Kwan or Apolo Ohno and spend a few hours at an indoor ice rink. You might even break out your winter hat.

3. Dive into chilly pages

Transport yourself to the tundra by reading novels set in frigid climes. "The Call of the Wild" is guaranteed to make you shiver, while "Snow Falling on Cedars," "The Snow Child," or, of course, the "Song of Fire and Ice" series (the inspiration for the Game of Thrones tv series) also have wintery themes.

4. Crank up cold tunes

You might be lying outside in flip-flops, but you can enjoy a winter-themed playlist with tunes like "Hazy Shade of Winter," by The Bangles, "Winter Time Blues," by Roscoe Chenier, "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," by Bruce Springsteen, and The Rolling Stone's classic "Winter."

5. Fake it

Warm-weather states like Florida engineer snow festivals for people in winter withdrawal. The Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee has two million hand-carved ice sculptures, an eight-lane snow tubing hill covered in snow and a nightly snowfall in the resort's atrium. For three days, the Sarasota Snow Fest offers 70 tons of snow for open play, four giant snow slides and an ice skating rink. Look up snow festivals in your area.

Ready to chuck your snow blower and move to a place where you might (eventually) miss winter? Or, do you miss organizing epic snowball fights? Begin the search for your perfect home. 

(RE/MAX Blog) - Sometimes, you decide exactly when you'd like to move. Other times, life swoops in and decides for you. Your company might transfer you, a family emergency might require relocation, or you might finally find the love of your life—three states over. Should you sell your house or hang on to it as a rental property? Here are 5 important considerations.

1. Are you gone for good?

Or do you need an exit strategy? If there's a good chance you'll return to your current home in a year or two, the money and time you spend selling your home and then buying a new one might make renting it out a smarter option.

2. How's the rental market?

Look at online rental sites to see what properties in your neighborhood and in similar condition to yours are renting for. Are there a lot of listings? Think about what you might charge and what you might have to do to bring your property up to the market standard. You can then get an idea whether your potential rental income will cover your expenses.

3. Where's the neighborhood heading?

A lot of factors feed into property values, from national trends to long-term construction plans. An agent can help you understand your property's potential for appreciation and whether or not it might pay to hang onto it.

4. How much is the hassle of being a landlord worth?

Unless you pay for a property management company (about 10 percent of the rental income), dealing with issues, emergencies and uncooperative renters (sometimes all at once, often in the middle of the night) can be trying. Ask yourself if it's worth the stress.

5. What are the tax implications?

Each situation is unique, so before you decide to rent out your home consider talking with a tax professional. They can help you figure out how much you can expect to pay in taxes on the rental income.

Are you're ready to sell? Find out your home's worth.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Summer is around the corner and the sunshine will be calling. Don't let mosquitos ruin your outdoor fun. Here are a few tips for keeping the bugs out of your backyard.

1. Look out for standing water
Standing water of any depth – whether it's the half-inch at the bottom of a planter or the six inches stagnating in your wheelbarrow – is an invitation for mosquitos (they need water to breed). Be careful not to overwater your lawn and to refresh water containers, like dog bowls, often.

2. That includes your gutters
Make sure your gutters are clean and water drains freely. Otherwise, you're the proprietor of a very long singles bar for mosquitos.

3. Switch your bulbs
In some areas of the country, depending on the breed of mosquitos, swapping out the bulbs you use in your outdoor lights for yellow bug bulbs can mean fewer insects swarming the lights.

4. Trim away
Mosquitos like to hang out in the shade and feast on plant nectar. Keep your lawn short and hack down heavy vegetation near your patio and house to make your property less appealing.

5. Blast the buggers
Mosquitos aren't powerful fliers. Strategically placed fans around your deck can blow them away, and a ceiling fan above your covered porch can help too.

6. Hang a net
When done correctly, mosquito netting can drape your patio or outdoor eating area in elegance while keeping the bugs at bay.

7. Light candles
Citronella candles, lamps and coils can help repel mosquitos.

8. Bring in the big guns
Work with a professional pest control company who can install misters to work all season, or spray your yard once for a special occasion.

Are mosquitos just the beginning of your yard's problems? A move to greener grass may be in your future. Start your search for a new home.

Two RE/MAX Realty Group office managers have graduated the Maryland Association of REALTORS Leadership Academy. After seven months of hard work and dedication to the program, Lisa Wissel and Kendra McCourt completed the academy. Wissel and McCourt received their certificates of achievement on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.

Broker/Owner, Ken Crowley, credits the company’s success to a great leadership team, and dedicated staff and agents.

“Our managers, staff and agents are always looking for opportunities to expand their knowledge. It is one of the reasons we have such a strong team,” said Crowley. Their motivation to grow in their careers has greatly and positively impacted our company. We have an incredible group of professionals with the brokerage.”

Wissel and McCourt have both been in the real estate industry for over twelve years. Wissel has been the office manager of the RE/MAX Realty Group location in Columbia for nearly four and a half years. McCourt, who is the office manager of the RE/MAX Realty Group location in Dunkirk, joined RE/MAX Realty Group in 2004 as a real estate agent after making the decision to leave a career in education.

The Maryland Association of REALTORS Leadership Academy is a personal development program that focuses on building strong leaders in the real estate industry. The program runs from October to April. It consists of seven educational sessions that are held monthly at the Maryland Association of REALTORS building in Annapolis.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Planning to remodel? While the total cost of your project will depend on its scope, materials and the fees of any professionals you hire, here are some suggestions for beginning to craft a renovation budget.

1. Determine where the money will come from

Will you use savings? Or will you take out a home equity loan? Once you determine your source of funding, determine how much you want to spend on the project – and stick to that limit.

2. Set your priorities

Before you pull out a calculator, clarify your reasons for renovating. Divide those reasons into "wants" and "needs." For example, reconfiguring your bathroom so that your currently questionable electrical and plumbing will pass an inspection is a "need." His-and-her water closets, a whirlpool tub and built-in towel heaters are "wants." Setting priorities will help you make decisions as you move through the renovation process.

3. Step away from the computer

Visit show rooms, model homes and design stores in addition to checking out pictures online. Before investing in materials and appliances, be sure to see and feel them, or samples of them, in person.

4. DIY or contractor?

The biggest question to answer when creating your budget is deciding whether to do the work yourself, or to hire a contractor. Doing the work yourself is usually less expensive – unless, of course, something (costly) goes wrong. Using a contractor, however, can mean your project is completed to professional standards and usually in a shorter time frame. Be sure to calculate the value of your time (and your back and knees) and the inconvenience of having a bathroom or kitchen out of use during the project when deciding whether to opt for DIY or a pro.

5. Expect the unexpected

Whether you plan to do the work yourself or hire a contractor, add on an extra 15 to 20 percent of your total budget for unforeseen expenses. Added costs inevitably arise, especially if you're dealing with an older home.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Getting ready to buy a house? Before you head out on your first home tour with your agent, arm yourself with the following advice.

1. Double check your credit

If you're thinking about buying, you should already be "keeping score." Know your credit score, and make sure to rectify any credit reporting errors before lenders take a look. Read more in 4 Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success.

2. Understand the added cost of certain features

As you make your list of "must-have" home features, be sure you consider the added expenses that may come with them. Your math should include things like the cost of landscaping maintenance for extra acreage and energy costs that come with added square footage. Read more in 3 Home Features That May Not Be Worth the Work (or Expense).

3. Discover where your dollars go

Get up close and personal with your monthly budget and track every single thing you purchase over 30 days. Review your credit card and bank statements to categorize where you spent each dollar (e.g., entertainment, food, clothing). Several online sites and software programs can help you track and categorize spending. This will help you identify where you can cut back to put more money toward a monthly mortgage payment. Read more in 6 Budgeting Tips to Help You Save for a Down Payment.

4. Research mortgage options

You don't always need to invest a 20 percent down payment. Explore your options, like a Conventional 97 from Fannie Mae. Just 3 percent down is enough to help you qualify for this program, as long as it's for a fixed-rate mortgage on a single-family home for under $417,000. Read more in First-time homebuyers: You're closer to a down payment than you think.

If you're ready to buy a home, an experienced agent can help you calculate how much house you can afford, then find a home you'll love within your budget. Start the search for your new home today.

Looking for a home with the ideal lawn to host an Easter Egg Hunt? We can help!

We have eight office locations and 400-plus real estate agents that will work tirelessly to ensure you find the perfect home for you.

Learn more at www.ournexthouse.com. #RealEstate #REMAX#HomeBuyer