(RE/MAX Blog)- Fire pits were the number one outdoor design element for 2016, according to a survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects. And now that the weather will be warming up, it may be the perfect time to enjoy fire pit snacks. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Porksicles

Bring a little snap, crackle and pork to your pit by wrapping strips of bacon along the length of a stick and roasting slowly over the flames. Beware: The aroma might attract neighbors.

2. Aloha bites

Add some Hawaiian flavor to your night with skewers of ham and pineapple roasted over the open flames. The fire caramelizes the fruit, while escaping juices soak the meat.

3. Deluxe weenie roast

Hot dogs on a stick are classic, but why stop there? Up the flavor by slicing a sausage, stuffing it with cheese, wrapping it with bacon and then sticking it over the fire. Or, wrap hot dogs in canned biscuit dough and cook up outdoor pigs in blankets.

4. Peppers al fresco

Scrape the seeds out of baby bell peppers, season with salt and pepper, stuff with your favorite cheese, skewer and roast over the flame until the peppers blister.

5. Elvis s'mores

The King himself would swoon for marshmallows and bacon roasted over the fire, smooshed between slices of banana, smeared with peanut butter and bookended by graham crackers.

6. Grasshopper s'mores

Try adding a few York Peppermint Patties among the marshmallows on your stick.

Looking for a patio with room for a fire pit? Start your search today.

(RE/MAX Blog)- You swoon at the curb appeal and your heart flutters at the sight of the kitchen countertops, but is the home you're considering buying really The One? Before you make an offer, be sure you love these six, hard-to-change things about your potential new place.

1. Square footage

Too small and you may quickly outgrow your new space. Too big can mean unnecessary energy bills and money spent furnishing space you never use. Aim for "just right."

2. Drive time

Be sure your daily commute won't leave you sitting in traffic, rethinking your relationship with your house. Consider driving to work from your potential home a couple times during rush hour to make sure you know what you're getting into.

3. Walkability

Being able to stroll to shops, restaurants, parks and public transportation can really boost your quality of life. If it's important to you, check out your potential home's official walkability score at www.walkscore.com.

4. Community

Does the neighborhood include features that you feel are critical to your particular lifestyle, like yoga studios, late night takeout options or a safe playground for your kids (or pups)?

5. Planes, trains and automobiles

If you travel frequently, be sure you love how close your potential new home is to the airport, main highways or public transportation. Not a fan of planes flying overhead – or late night trains? Keep that in mind when scoping out areas as well.

If you're crazy about these five aspects of the house, it might really be true love. Start the search for your new home today. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- As you compose your list of "must-haves" for your next home, make sure you're up for the work and added maintenance expense each item may require. Here are a few things to think over.

1. Wood-burning fireplace
Snuggling by a cozy fire can be sublime, but beware of the splinters that come with maintaining a wood-burning fireplace. There's the bill from the annual chimney sweep, the cost of wood and the hassle of keeping critters from camping out in the pile. Plus, a fireplace can raise your energy bill. A chimney sucks up most of the warmth from a fire, along with some of the room's heated air, according to the EPA.

2. Extensive landscaping
A beautiful garden may draw you to a home, but keep in mind how much work it will be to maintain once you move in. Perhaps you find trimming topiaries a soothing form of meditation. If not, a home with less landscaping may be a better fit.

3. More square footage
Vast rooms with cathedral ceilings come come with soaring energy bills. Unused rooms leech heating and cooling energy from the rest of the house. Keep this in mind if you're considering purchasing a home to grow into.

As you think about what you really must have to make you happy in your next home, talk to a Realtor. He or she will be able to help you understand the cost of different features as well as evaluating them for potential resale value. 

Begin the search for your new home today. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- In some hot housing markets, including a letter with your formal offer to buy a home is all but required. Unfortunately, Hallmark doesn't make a card for the occasion (yet). Here are a few tips:

1. Get emotional
Take advantage of this opportunity to sail beyond the facts and figures to convey a personal connection to the home. Pick one or two features and talk about how they fit into your vision of the perfect home. For example, “Holiday meals are important to my family. Your large kitchen has everything I need to re-create my grandmother's recipes, and would fit all of my relatives who like to gossip while cooking." Or, “During our showing my children escaped to climb trees in your back yard. They fell in love with the home as much as I did."

2. Connect with the seller
Find one or two similarities between your family and the seller's, based on what you can discern from the home. Show you have something in common, but be careful not too dig too deep (nobody wants to sell to a stalker). For example: “We're so excited that your home not only has a beautiful, fenced yard, but also a dog door. Our lives revolve around our two rescue pups, Sonny and Cher, who would literally leap for joy in a yard of their own."

3. Don't be afraid to flatter
Tell the seller why you adore specific features that have been upgraded: “We love those colorful tiles you used on the kitchen back splash. They remind us so much of our honeymoon in Portugal."

4. Don't whine
This is not the place to play the sympathy card. No sob stories about why you sold your last place, or how many deals have fallen through. You want the seller to feel good reading your letter.

5. Grammar matters
Check spelling and grammar. Have a grammar-nerd friend triple check it for you. You want the seller to know you put time and care into your honest appeal.

Still searching for the dream home? Begin the process of finding your perfect home with us today.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Demolishing your seventies kitchen and upgrading to stainless steel and granite can produce all kinds of happy feelings. It can also produce piles of materials you might not be sure what to do with. Here are a few ways to remove all those building by products.

1. Donate

If your stuff's in half-decent condition, there's probably a drop-off donation center willing to take it. Habitat for Humanity has a national network of home improvement stores stocked by donations. They take everything from light fixtures and appliances to counter tops and windows.

2. Reclaim, reuse, recycle

Roll up old carpet and use the Carpet America Recovery Effort website to find a company near you that will reclaim, recycle or reuse it. Check with your municipality to find out if they recycle any other types of construction material. The Construction and Demolition Recycling Association can help you locate local companies that will take materials such as asphalt shingles, gypsum drywall and concrete.

3. Options for paint

PaintCare is an organization that works on behalf of paint manufacturers in states with paint stewardship laws to set up places to safely recycle and dispose of unwanted paint. Many municipalities have drop-off days for oil-based paint, which is considered household hazardous waste.

Is your home remodeled and ready to sell? Find out your home's worth today.

(RE/MAX Blog)-  You may not think "real estate" when you think about modern technology, but several advances are making the lives of homebuyers, home sellers, and agents a lot easier – not to mention adding peace of mind with added security measures. Here are a few.

1. Drones

Fitting a small camera onto a helicopter drone lets agents capture aerial images of homes, properties and neighborhoods to feature in sales listings. Drones can also be useful for checking out things like roof damage without a ladder. The Federal Aviation Administration loosened its guidelines on commercial uses for drones in June, making it easier for more agents to adopt the technology.

2. Digital signature platforms

Years ago, an agent could spend hours driving back and forth to collect buyer and seller signatures on forms. Today, they can toss their pens and manage everything from the office – or wherever they may be – thanks to digital signing platforms. The government passed laws that make electronic signatures as valid as physical signatures. Platforms like DocuSign let agents securely send documents for clients to authorize with a simple click on a computer – or a phone.

3. Electronic lockboxes

Smart lockboxes on homes have several features that can make showing a home more secure. These new boxes allow smart phones to work as keys, which means they also can track who enters and leaves the home. Some boxes can also be programmed to host real-time information about the home and the neighborhood which visitors can access using their smart phones.

4. Wireless video monitors

Security cams help agents (and homeowners) keep an eye on vacant properties without having to physically stop by to check things out. Cameras can provide interior and exterior views, allowing agents and homeowners to monitor everything from maintenance issues, like whether leaves or mail deliveries are piling up on the porch, to basic security, like seeing if someone is parked outside.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Is the chaos on your countertop out of control? Here are a few tips to conquer the clutter.

1. Use it or move it
If you don't use a mixer, food processor, or other tool more than once a week, stash it in a cupboard. Counter space is precious real estate.

2. Wall-to-wall organization
Mount a rack on your wall for storing all those things that tend to pile up on your kitchen table and counters ­– like mail, to-do lists and receipts.

3. Look up
The space on top of your wall cabinets and fridge are great places for wire baskets that let you see the contents, or fabric bins that hide things from view.

4. What's behind Door #1?
Place over-the-door storage racks inside pantry doors to free up counter space.

5. Hang ten
Or even a dozen. Keep lightweight items such as aprons, oven mitts, large utensils and towels off counters by mounting wall hooks.

If all the organization in the world won't make you love your kitchen, it may be time to explore your options in a new home. Start your search today with RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- Buying a new home is exciting – and a big deal. If you're searching for the perfect place, or you've already found it and are under contract, the next step in the process can feel more tedious: moving.

Moving can be stressful, a bit expensive and plenty chaotic. But with some planning, help from friends and a little organization, it doesn't have to be as hectic as you imagine. Here are some tips to take the stress out of your move:

1. Make a plan of attack – Whether you're moving across town or across the state lines, you'll probably want to rent a truck. Do you have willing helpers to assist in the move, or will you need to hire some help? If you're moving farther away, you'll probably want professional help. Figure out what your moving needs are, and ask friends or your real estate agent for references to a trusted mover. Also, stock up on boxes, packing tape, permanent markers and packing peanuts/bubble wrap.

2. Prioritize your packing – As you start packing your current home up, designate a few boxes for each room that you'll need quick access to. For example, you'll want to keep personal toiletries, shower curtains and liners, a first-aid kit and other necessities easily accessible for the bathroom. Label these boxes "Open Now" so you know which boxes are filled with the essentials – and which ones can wait until later.

3. Don't go it alone – Packing is a monumental task. Invite some friends or relatives over, buy some pizza and make it a packing party! Delegate the tasks you feel most comfortable entrusting others with, like packing up DVDs, books and other non-fragile items. A little help goes a long way to saving you some time – and sanity.

4. Don't take it all – If you realize you have 10 boxes of clothes and you haven't worn half of them in a few years, it's time to part ways. Create three piles: a "keep" pile, a "sell" pile and a "donate" pile. If time permits, hold a moving sale to unload some of the items you don't want anymore. Bonus: Selling items before you move gives you extra money that you can put toward moving expenses. Added bonus: You reduce the clutter.

5. Forward your mail – Believe it or not, people forget to do this all the time! It's easy to change your address with the U.S. Postal Service. Simply visit the USPS website, and in a few steps you're done!

6. Turn off your utilities – Check with your local utility providers, as well as other services (trash pickup, newspaper delivery, cable/Internet, phone), to inform them that you're moving. They'll need to know an exact date for your move so they can transition or cut off service. You don't want to be billed for charges after you move!

7. Change your address everywhere else – Contact your bank, credit card companies, healthcare providers, schools, etc. to give them your new address. Although your mail will be forwarded, you still want to update your contact information as soon as possible to avoid missing important bills or letters.

8. Be flexible – Closing day can be unpredictable, and sometimes there are delays. If you're scheduling movers or arranging for help, you might want to pick a day or two after closing to avoid a moving-day headache.

9. Consider hiring a professional house cleaner – Sellers don't necessarily leave their homes in sparkling condition when they leave. If time and budget permit, hire a house cleaner to make your new home move-in ready. It's one less thing for you to worry about!

Start the search for your new home.

GAITHERSBURG, MD–The 2017 housing market will present an array of new challenges to homebuyers and sellers currently looking to buy a new home or sell a home. Mortgage rates, which have increased over the last few months, are expected to continue to rise and the number of homes for sale in the Washington Metropolitan Area is expected to decrease, according to Ken Crowley, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group. Crowley said this will lead to a unique situation. While homebuyers may need to settle for a home due to the lack of inventory in the housing market, sellers will face their own set of challenges. They will need to place extra emphasis on their home’s appearance, condition and selling price.

“The rising mortgage rates and low inventory will be a major obstacle for homebuyers, especially those who start their search expecting to find their move-in ready dream home,” said Crowley. “Since homebuyers may not have the luxury of finding and purchasing their dream home, sellers will want to focus on the state of their home and asking price. A home in good condition and priced appropriately will sell in any housing market.”

For homebuyers concerned with the rising mortgage rates, there are options that may help offset the higher borrowing costs. For example, Crowley expects adjustable-rate mortgages to become more popular as rates increase.

Learn more about your options when buying or selling a home.

RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group is a locally owned and operated full-service real estate brokerage with offices located throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia. The brokerage has over 400 Realtors® and specializes in Residential and Commercial real estate. RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group is a proud supporter of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® and other charities.