GAITHERSBURG, MD– There was no shortage of RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents in the RE/MAX, LLC Top Producers report released in May 2017. The report, which contained a list of the top 100 producing individual agents and team leaders for the month of April and year to date, named fifty-seven agents with RE/MAX Realty Group/100 top producers. That is one out of every eight agents with the real estate brokerage. In addition, RE/MAX Realty Group/100 agents Lisa Plushnick and David Baxter, Sr. were both awarded the number one spot for the month of April in their respective categories.

Plushnick, who is an agent at the RE/MAX Realty Group Crown office, was named the overall number one individual top producer and the number one top producer in residential real estate for April 2017 in Maryland. Plushnick has over eleven years of experience in the real estate industry. Her professionalism, dedication and knowledge have resulted in outstanding reviews. She is highly recommended by former clients and is recognized for her expertise in the real estate market, exceptional negotiation skills, responsiveness, and a polished and charming communication style.

David Baxter, Sr., who is an agent at the RE/MAX Realty Group Columbia office, was ranked the number one individual top producer in commercial real estate for April 2017 in Maryland and the number two individual top producer for commercial real estate in Maryland for the year to date. Baxter, Sr. has over 15 years of experience and is also recognized by his clients for his professionalism, dedication, negotiation skills, excellent customer service and knowledge of the real estate industry.  He specializes in the sale, purchase and leasing of industrial, office and retail properties and vacant land in the Baltimore and Washington Metropolitan area. 

Additionally, RE/MAX Realty Group/100 agents Kara Hurley, Klaus Breitsameter, Suzanne Ward, Connie Fitzgerald, Philip Kelley and Wendy Slaughter were ranked in the top 25 producers in Maryland for the month of April in their corresponding categories. Klaus Breitsameter, Lisa Wills, Connie Fitzgerald, Wendy Slaughter, Andrew Werner, Jr., Richard Prigal and Mary Chambers were ranked in the top 25 producers in their corresponding categories for the year to date in Maryland. In Virginia, RE/MAX Realty Group- Springfield agent Donald Wilkes ranked at number two for top individual producer in commercial real estate for the year to date.

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. It is the seventh largest brokerage in the greater Washington area and one of 120 largest brokerages in the United States. 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. 

 

Fifty-seven RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents were named Top Producers in the RE/MAX, LLC report released in May 2017. The list contained the top 100 producing individual agents and team leaders for the month of April and year to date. See below for the full list of top producing RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents.

 

RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents named Individual Top Producers for April 2017 in Maryland for Residential and Commercial real estate. 

RE/MAX Realty Group: Klaus Breitsameter, Darin Rich, Deirdre Burrell and Ray Boss, Jr. 

RE/MAX Realty Group- Crown: Lisa Plushnick, Kara Hurley, Paulette Ladas, Linda Latta, Melissa Bernstein, Ben Samari, and Melissa Raffa

RE/MAX Realty Group - Columbia: David Baxter, Sr., Susan Klukas, Barbara Reiter, and Ana Lucia Porter

RE/MAX Realty Group - Dunkirk: Suzanne Ward

RE/MAX Realty Group - PAX River: Gabriela Agostinelli

RE/MAX Realty Group - White Plains: Julie Cronan and Lisa Wills

 

RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents named Top Team Leaders for April 2017 in Maryland for Residential and Commercial real estate 

RE/MAX Realty Group: Philip Kelley, Andrew Werner, Jr., Richard Prigal and Philip Wineman

RE/MAX Realty Group- Crown: David Goldberg

RE/MAX Realty Group - Columbia: Wendy Slaughter, Eric van Swol, Paul Duncan, Boyd McGinn, Concetta Corriere, Teri Deane, Susan Romm, and Scott Miller

RE/MAX Realty Group - PAX River: Connie Fitzgerald and Michelle Camaioni

RE/MAX Realty Group - White Plains: Mary Chambers, Edward Weibrecht, Jr., Frank McKnew, Michael Foster, Kathy White-Thorne, and Teresa Klopfer

 

RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents named Individual Top Producers for the year to date in Maryland for Residential and Commercial real estate

RE/MAX Realty Group: Klaus Breitsameter, James Winn, and Susan McFarland

RE/MAX Realty Group- Crown: Lisa Plushnick, Kathy Xu, Kara Hurley, Paulette Ladas, and Mercedes Fitzgerald

RE/MAX Realty Group - Columbia: David Baxter, Sr. and Jeffrey Berman

RE/MAX Realty Group - PAX River: Karen Taylor

RE/MAX Realty Group - White Plains: Lisa Wills, Julie Cronan, Gary Mead, and Trish Nicely

 

RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents named Top Team Leaders for the year to date in Maryland for Residential and Commercial real estate. 

RE/MAX Realty Group: Andrew Werner, Jr., Richard Prigal, Philip Kelley, Allan Prigal, and Jason Hageman

RE/MAX Realty Group- Crown: Johnice Comer

RE/MAX Realty Group - Columbia: Wendy Slaughter, Shun Lu, Boyd McGinn, Concetta Corriere, and Eric van Swol

RE/MAX Realty Group - PAX River: Connie Fitzgerald and Michelle Camaioni

RE/MAX Realty Group - White Plains: Mary Chambers, Michael Foster, Frank McKnew, Terry Davis, Kathy White-Thorne, and Teresa Klopfer

 

RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents named Individual Top Producers for the year to date in Virginia for Residential and Commercial real estate. 

RE/MAX Realty Group- Springfield: Monica Sims

Donald Wilkes, also from RE/MAX Realty Group - Springfield, was named the number two individual top producer in Commercial real estate for the year to date. 

 

RE/MAX Realty Group/100 real estate agents named Top Team Leaders for the year to date in Virginia for Residential and Commercial real estate. 

RE/MAX Realty Group- Springfield: Herbert Riggs and Mark Wilkes

RE/MAX Realty Group/100 would like to congratulate all the real estate agents who have been ranked as top producers by RE/MAX, LLC and commend them for their hard work and success in the real estate industry.

Learn more about RE/MAX Realty Group/100. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- As you tour homes, do you stop in the backyard and visualize your friends and family fighting over the first burgers off the grill while the dogs play in the yard? If outdoor entertaining is a priority in your new home, here are four things to look for.

1. Space

You may be dreaming of an extensive outdoor kitchen, complete with weatherproof appliances and a table with a built-in cooler. Or, your budget may limit you to a Hibachi and camp chairs. Regardless, make sure there's enough space to host the backyard soiree of your dreams.

2. Shade

Western facing backyards will provide the perfect sunset backdrop for your barbecues. Yards on the eastern side of a property may leave you overexposed to the sun.

3. Flooring

If you're looking to lounge around barefoot, take note of the patio or deck's condition. Make sure it's been refinished so you can avoid splinters.

4. Fire pit

A fire pit can help stretch the seasonal use of your outdoor space by providing a cozy place to gather around after dark. But don't let it be a deal breaker – fire pits can be added at any time (and may be on sale if you wait to purchase one toward the end of summer).

    

(RE/MAX Blog)- Imagine you finally find the house of your dreams. It has everything you hoped for in a home, from the right countertops to the right landscaping. You spend hours envisioning the parties you'll throw in the backyard and the baths you'll take in the clawfoot tub. But fate intervenes. For some unfortunate reason – perhaps a fierce bidding war or a fickle owner who decides to stay put – deal falls through. How do you recover? Here are some tips.

1. Get right back in the saddle

If you must have a pity party, do it quickly. Perhaps a quick toast to what could have been, then dive straight back into search mode. In today's market, things move fast. You don't want to miss an even better home while you're mooning over photos of the lost listing.

2. Don't dwell on one dwelling

Delete the listing of the home that got away. Erase the pictures you took with your phone when you toured. Do your best not to compare new homes to the one you lost. There are lots of homes with lots of new possibilities. Keep an open mind.

3. Don't settle

Don't let your frustration push you into a hurried purchase of the next available property simply to get the process over with. Stay true to your shopping list of features you need and want.

4. Re-evaluate your budget.

Take another look at what you can spend and what the homes you're looking at have been selling for. Do you need to add cushion to be more competitive when making an offer? Or do you need to start looking at a less expensive neighborhood to find a home that has everything you want?

5. Talk to your agent.

Your RE/MAX agent will be full of advice for surviving the lows – and highs – of your real estate journey. Start your search today. 

RE/MAX Realty Group/100 has eight office locations and 400-plus agents who can assist you with all your real estate needs. 

Contact us today. 

(RE/MAX Blog) - A great lawn can serve as a green calling card for your home. Here are a few things you can do this spring to help your lawn – and curb appeal – flourish.

1. Test before you invest
Find out the acid and alkaline levels of your soil with a testing kit from the hardware store before you shell out bucks for fertilizer and seed. The test will help you determine the right products to help your lawn flourish.

2. Give it some air
Grass and soil can get compacted during the winter, making it difficult for oxygen and nutrients to reach root systems. Aerating, or poking holes in the lawn, helps. You can hire a lawn service to do this, buy a rolling tool, or use inexpensive strap-on attachments for your shoes that aerate the lawn as you march around.

3. Seed or weed
Spring is prime time for seeding sparse areas of your lawn or applying a natural herbicide to prevent crabgrass and other weeds from sprouting. Don't do both, as the herbicide will also kill the grass seeds.

4. Mow tall
For the lushest lawn, set your mower to the tallest setting and cut only about the top third of the grass. Taller blades promote healthier root systems and help shade the ground soil, preventing it from drying out.

Ready to plant a "For Sale" sign in your lawn? Contact us today. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- Did you know? Housewarming parties started in medieval times when they were held to, literally, warm the house as the new homeowners moved in. Neighbors would come with firewood and light up the hearth not only for warmth, but to chase off any bad spirits that might have been lurking about.

In modern times, it's more customary to bring a gift (no experience with the supernatural required). Here are some ideas with a medieval spin.

1. Bread

The gift of a loaf of bread is traditionally given with the wish that the home would never know hunger. These days, you might want to check with your hosts' gluten sensitivities before kneading away. An electronic bread maker could be an updated option.

2. Salt

Salt is given with the wish that life in the home always has flavor. While a bag of salt suits the bill, you can class it up by giving a fun set of salt and pepper shakers.

3. Roosters

Roosters used to be given to serve as a feathered home security system. Depending on zoning laws, and whether or not the hosts are morning people, consider rooster themed dishtowels or crockery instead.

4. Wine

A gift of wine conveys wishes of joy and prosperity. Wine-related gifts, like stoppers, glasses and decanters can do the same.

5. Candles

These are given with the hope that the people in the home always live in light and happiness.

6. Wood

Wooden gifts symbolize a wish of stability for the home and the people who live there. Salad bowls and cutting boards are useful options that can also be works of art.

And what not to give?

Knives. Tradition holds that the gift of a knife may cut a friendship.

Is it your turn to make a move? Start the search for your new home.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Here's a look at the traditions behind painting a door red.

Painting a front door red can be about more than personal preference. Here's a look at the history behind this popular color.

1. During the Civil War, a red door meant a home was a safe haven for escaped slaves traveling the underground railroad.

2. Scottish homeowners paint their door red to signify they've finished paying off their mortgage.

3. Red doors are also popular in Chinese culture, where red is considered a very lucky color. Many celebrate the New Year with a fresh coat of red paint on their door.

4. And rumor has it Albert Einstein painted his door red so he could easily remember which house was his.

5. If red isn't your thing, an old Southern tradition suggests blue to ward off ghosts. Since ghosts can't cross water (as everyone knows), they'll be afraid to cross through a water-colored door into your home.

Ready to open the door of opportunity for your next home? Start the search for your new home here.

(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.