Coming to Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake…

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!

Give Thanks for Snow in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland!!

The time has come.  Old Man Winter is knocking on the door!  This photo was taken from my home this morning around 8:00 AM in Deep Creek Lake/McHenry, Maryland.  The snow has not stopped falling ever since.  If the temperature and humidity hold strong, I’d say it’s a good possibility Wisp Resort will turn on the snowguns and begin building their base.   

The cold temperatures remind us of a few things we need to keep in mind to avoid any hassles this winter:

• Be sure your heat is set at a temperature that your pipes won’t freeze.
• Arrange for your snowplowing service to plow when there is more than 4” of accumulation.  This will make it possible for REALTORS® to show the property.
• Shovel walkways, entrances and sidewalks for easy access to the home and for Buyers to see what lies beneath.
• Provide a mat inside the front door for wet shoes and boots.
• Display pictures of the property showing what it looks like in spring, summer and fall.    

 To receive more detailed tips just email me Betsy.Spiker@LNF.com or visit www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com.  

Farmer’s Almanac says great winter ahead at Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

Are you ready for a cold and snowy 2009-2010 winter?  Well, if you enjoy skiing and snowboarding as much as I do your answer is YES!  Colder temperatures are great for setting up a hard packed base from which to accumulate perfect, deep snow bases for the slopes. 

The Farmer’s Almanac says we should expect an “ice cold sandwich” when winter finally settles in.  While nearly three-quarters of the country is expected to experience near or below average precipitation this winter, significant snowfalls are forecast for parts of every zone.  Residents of Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states can expect some major snowfall in mid-February, with possible blizzard conditions in New England.

Get your skiis shined up, your 4-wheel tred on and make time to visit the only ski area in Maryland – Wisp Resort.  Check for area updates and conditions at www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com.

Splendid Fall Colors adorn our Mountains in Deep Creek Lake

This photo was taken this week from the deck of the Long & Foster office where I work.  We are just a week or two away from the full changeover from green to red, orange, yellow and rust-colored leaves sprinkling the trees that surround us.  As bad as the aftermath of fall might seem, you just can’t say that the beautiful fall foliage doesn’t make getting the leaf blower out completely worth it!  Garrett County’s ever-famous fall festival is the 2nd week in October and I think the trees will be at their best right on time.  http://visitdeepcreek.com/?s=autumn_glory and always check for Deep Creek Lake area updates at www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com

Lodestone Golf Course Takes Shape at Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake

Wow, I don’t know much about golf courses (except that I had the privilege to visit The Masters last year) but this is a masterpiece in my eyes.  Built on top Wisp Resort mountain and overlooking Deep Creek Lake, Maryland there are some amazing mountain and water views in play.  Lodestone Golf Club is a Signature Hale Irwin course architected by Design Workshop.  Hale is a 3-time U.S. Open winner with a love for this area.  It didn’t take he and his team long to discover that the Wisp mountain had a landscape that could be disected into a beautiful course.  This course has some of the sexiest grass in the industry with bent grass fairways, bluegrass rough’s and fescue native areas.  Challenging for any level golfer; opening Summer 2010.  Nine holes are open for member play now.  Hope you can visit.  www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com 

Lodestone bunker

Thousand Acres Golf at Deep Creek Lake Update Summer 2009

The following information is from my friend and Thousand Acres developer Bill Franklin.

Be sure to contact me for further information on real estate opportunities at Thousand Acres or Lodestone Golf Club at Wisp.

“Play has started on the front nine!

We are allowing limited play on the completed front nine of the Thousand Acres golf course for friends of the project, members of the club, and for marketing purposes. We have had a staggering amount of grass growth this spring and summer. The tees and greens are in very good condition while the fairways are in good condition…some areas still need growth and fill in. The course is very playable and we have been getting some very good feedback. Flags and greens cups are in as are yardage markers. Our superintendent, Bob Raley, is very pleased with the greens conditions and anticipates lowering the height of cut from .125” to .100” by the end of the season. The current stimp rating is in the 7 to 8 range. Bob is targeting a stimp rating of 10 for the course. We have all the equipment on site for golf course maintenance and there is a regular mowing schedule in place…the greens show excellent striping. We have been paying particular attention to the course tie in along Poland Run on the lower side and the upper woods line on the upper side.

Bob will use different heights of cut in those tie in areas in order to blend in the transition of the course to the surrounding woods. Some of the attached pics show the tie ins.

Four EZGO gas carts are on site at the sales office which is where play begins. Taylor Made has provided us several sets of demo clubs, R9 series…..men’s right and left, women’s, and the flex and regular shaft clubs.

A very popular biannual magazine, Mountain Discoveries, has run a feature story on the Thousand Acres Golf Course.

I have advertised the Thousand Acres lakefront development in Mountain Discoveries since its inception many, many years ago. Mountain Discoveries has also created a panoramic movie of golf hole #3. Other golf holes should be posted soon.

The Thousand Acres at Deep Creek Golf website has been revamped with new pictures posted and you can hear our new ad on WTOP radio. A new rendering of the project, lakefront area, and HOA grounds is posted showing 18 finishing on the pond closer to Deep Creek Lake.

Most of you know that I live on Thousand Acres, as do my mom and dad. Our family has a very long history with Thousand Acres, and we are not going anywhere; we are staying right here. I am working everyday, as are many of our longtime employees, to assure that everything that takes place here is done to make this a successful project.

We have opened some new lots along golf hole 7 (Mountain View) and lakefront lots with one slip (South Shore).”

This is an exciting project with precompletion pricing at the moment.

Deep Creek Lake and Thousand Acres Golf/Lake Real Estate

Deep Creek Lake Sunrises are a sight to see…

It’s a fortune and a privilege to wake up most summer mornings to an amazing sunrise over the bridge and waters of Deep Creek Lake.  Right around 6:00 AM the sky begins it’s morning glory awaking me to a landscape that warms your body the minute you see it.  It makes it that much harder to jump in the shower for the fear of missing the sunrise in its entirety!  Oh, and for out of this world sunsets, take a short walk and watch the sunset overlooking the Deep Creek Dam.  Just as amazing as the mornings.  Visit Deep Creek and learn for yourself; you’ll be sucked right in.  www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com  

Sunrise over Deep Creek Lake

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Changes

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit for Closing will Move Market
WASHINGTON (May 29, 2009) – Consumers across the country can now take advantage of a Federal Housing Administration program to allow qualified home buyers to apply the $8,000 tax credit when purchasing a home. FHA will now permit its lenders to provide a short-term bridge loan that will let qualified home buyers use the tax credit to either make a larger downpayment above the FHA required 3.5 percent, cover closing costs, or buy down their interest rate.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
                                                # # #
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. News releases are posted in the Web site’s “News Media” section in the NAR Media Center.

 To summarize:

1.    The monetizing of the tax credit cannot be used for the 3.5% downpayment. It can only be used for settlement costs, downpayment in excess of the 3.5%, or to buy down the rate.

2.    The funds to monetize cannot come from anyone who may have an interest in the transaction. In other words, they cannot be the seller, the lender, the realtor, the builder, etc. They can be a family member, or any other non-interested party, or some other finance shop. The limit however is that any finance firm cannot exceed a 2.5% fee which would limit the interest of any consumer finance agency from participating.

3.    You cannot record a lien against the property for this financed amount unless the lender is one of the narrowly approved government sponsored non-profits.

4.    Repayment of the advance must come from the buyer – the IRS will still send the tax credit to the buyer and the buyer will have to repay the money to whomever loaned it. Again, no lien is allowed.

 This is a big change from what we all heard a couple of weeks ago. It will have little value, although a family member may be willing to loan the money if they can get it repaid. Additionally, there are 11 states that have approved non-profits participating and more may follow here.  (Dave Stevens, Chief Operating Officer, Long & Foster Companies)

More information: HUD has republished Mortgagee Letter 2009-15.  Mortgage lenders are not permitted to monetize the tax credit for meeting the minimum downpayment requirements.  Below is a copy and link to the letter.

http://portal.hud.gov/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/FHA_HOME/LENDERS/MORTGAGEE_LETTERS/2009_MORTGAGEE_LETTERS/09-ML-15%20USING%20FIRST-TIME%20HOMEBUYER%20TAX%20CREDITS.PDF

 Check out www.DeepCreekLakeProperty.com for market updates and real estate information.

PAWS night @ Wisp Resort

Many of us have an affinity for a dog or cat that has touched our lives.  My love for animals has been the driving force behind my support for the PAWS (Partners for Animal Welfare & Safety) non-profit organization.  Each year from March – May this group of volunteers plans a Passion for Pets Challenge.  They reach out to the community looking for guest bartenders to host various fundraising nights at local Garrett County establishments.  They’ve expanded the Challenge to 12 nights in 2009 where 2+ guest bartenders each night will be serving up beverages and cocktails for a cause.  I’ve participated as a guest ‘tender for many years and look forward to doing so each and every Challenge season.  The mission behind the Passion for Pets Challenge is to raise money for their spay and neuter program which is free to pet owners that can’t afford this service.  You can view their calendar at www.garrettpaws.org.  Or, better yet come out and see us this Friday, April 3rd from 6:00-9:00 PM at Wispers Bar in Wisp Resort’s lodge.  www.deepcreeklakeproperty.com

  

Betsy, Zeta, Mali & Karli

Westward Bound…

Eighteen years ago was the last time I had the amazing opportunity to experience the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  And Sunday, I will board the plane and have another chance to tackle those double black diamond runs.   Except, this time on a snowboard, which scares the crap out of me!  I’m only a 2nd year boarder.  Skiing from the time I was 4 years old at Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, I don’t think snowboarding will ever be as comfortable as skis.  Look out Vail – or should I say put your big girl pants on and give it your all!