Montgomery County Real Estate — Living in Montgomery County MD

Corridor Cities Transitway

December 2, 2010 at 3:00 pm

Moving forward and more on the Corridor Cities Transitway…..

Though never considered a problem under federal law, the environmental impact of the CCT was required to be analyzed. According to a new state study, the routing of the proposed CCT would have a minor impact on the environment, partially due to the fact that the buses or trains would be traveling in the middle of existing roads. The impact on the natural environment and wildlife habitat would be minor, since the area is already built up.

The Maryland Transit Authority recently reviewed the route changes to better serve the new developments of Crown Farm and Science City, west of I-270 near Shady Grove, and putting a station closer to the Kentlands.

Justifying construction of a new station hinges on the future plans of Science City in Gaithersburg. Science City, also known as the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan, is slated to triple the jobs in the area, as well as resulting in approximately 9000 new housing units. Now the caveat – much of Science City development depends on having the transitway built first.

On December 15 a public hearing will be held to determine whether express buses or a light-rail would be the best mode of transportation. The Montgomery County Council endorsed the light-rail at a cost of nearly $1 billion dollars, as opposed to an estimated $530 million for a bus-way. However, due to monetary resources, bus rapid transit would be welcomed and supported just as well.

Plans to ease congestion on I-270 are also in the works: new interchanges to accommodate future widening, adding lanes and adding express toll lanes.

State transportation officials are seeking Federal money to build a light rail between Bethesda and New Carrollton (purple line) and a light rail in Baltimore (red line).

Filed Under: Montgomery County Real Estate

Montgomery County Corridor Cities Transitway – An Alphabet Soup?

May 19, 2010 at 11:31 am

Dealing with Montgomery County’s real estate growth is not an easy challenge. There is an alphabet soup of agencies and programs: the ICC (Inter-County Connector), MTA (Maryland Transit Administration), MSHA (Maryland State Highway Administration), MDOT (Maryland Department of Transportation). If you are thinking about moving to Montgomery County, you need to take into account development and transit plans.

One of the key programs on the drawing board to deal with the expected increase in homes in Montgomery County is the CCT – Corridor Cities Transitway, combining ETL’s (express toll lanes), LRT (light rail transit), and BRT (bus rapid transit) as an extension of the Metro subway Red Line. There is debate as to which of these is preferable.

Since the 1980’s this transit system – the I-270/US 15 Multi-Modal Corridor Study has been identified as part of Montgomery County’s planning goals. It was set up to analyze Frederick and Montgomery Counties most congested areas and the goal was to find solutions to ease the congestion along the 30 mile stretch from US 15 to I-270 at Shady Grove Metro. Solutions and options range from highway improvements, BRT and LRT, as well at ETL’s on I-270 at 370 up to Rt. 80 in Frederick

All proposed ETL’s, BRT’s and LRT’s will be managed lanes – separate from regular traffic lanes.

null

As more and more homes are being built in Clarksburg, this proposal has taken on more urgency. The proposal covers 14 miles extending from Shady Grove Metro to Clarksburg, with planned stops at King Farm, Crown Farm, Quince Orchard Park, NIST, Metropolitan Grove, Germantown and Clarksburg. The Gaithersburg Science City, now known as the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan, depends on this plan to alleviate traffic concerns in the Gaithersburg and Rockville areas.

In 2008, MTA estimated that the CCT ridership could be 26,000-30,000 on an average workday in 2030. Some studies have shown an incredible growth in Montgomery County housing development in 2030. Work continues on planned development along the corridor so that the right of way remains protected and consistent with adopted master plans.

The MTA is examining the feasibility and impact of changing the proposed alignment to better serve the Life Sciences area of Gaithersburg West.

About the Author: Bob Myers, Re/Max Realty Services has been a Realtor in Montgomery County since 1986. Call Bob at 301-910-9910 if you would like more information about homes in Montgomery County Maryland.
Search for all Montgomery County MD homes for sale:

Filed Under: Montgomery County Real Estate Tagged With: Corridor Cities Transitway, Montgomery County MD Development, Montgomery County MD Housing, Montgomery County MD Transportation

Gaithersburg Science City – Approved

May 10, 2010 at 5:22 pm

On May 4, 2010, the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a “scaled down” master plan. The area is now approved for 13 million square feet of development, as opposed to the originally proposed 20 million. The plan also calls for a maximum of 9000 residential units and 52,500 new jobs. For the history of this proposal, see our other article on Gaithersburg Science City (officially known as the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan).

Support from several council members stems from both preference given to life science jobs and in density reduction. There was an amendment made that widened the open space buffer at the corner of Darnestown and Muddy Branch Roads.

Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan

The newly approved master plan for the research campus requires neighborhood involvement in the county’s regular monitoring of transportation issues, funding for the Corridor Cities Transitway system from Shady Grove Metro to Clarksburg and several open spaces, including up to 46% of Johns Hopkins Belward Farm section.

There are still some major concerns regarding this undertaking. How will the county secure the funding to turn this vision into reality? Councilman Marc Erlich says that neither the county, nor the state have any ideas on how to fund the planned infrastructure – without it, none of the benefits of this plan will be possible.

Montgomery County Maryland continues to try to create high paying jobs and plan for the new homes and traffic that will come with it. Stay tuned for more on the implementation of this plan.

About the Author: Bob Myers is a real estate agent in Montgomery County MD since 1986, leading The Myers Team of Re/Max Realty Services. Call Bob at 301-910-9910 if you are interested in buying or selling a home in Montgomery County Maryland.
Search for all Montgomery County MD homes for sale:

Montgomery County MD Property Taxes: Let us Help You Appeal

April 25, 2010 at 2:18 pm

As the saying goes, the only two sure things in life are taxes and….well, let’s just talk about property taxes in Montgomery County!

How the Tax Rate is Determined – The real property tax rate is set each year by the County Council and applied to the assessed value of the property. The fully phased-in assessed value equals the full cash value of the property – according to the county – this is NOT market value. The real property tax is levied annually on all taxable land and improvements (the home and other buildings).

Other charges that may be included in your Real Property Consolidated Tax Bill are:

state and county taxes;

city levies, e.g. Rockville property tax;

solid waste and recycling charges (which vary, based on services provided);

stormwater management fee,

water quality protection charge which provides inspections and maintenance for county stormwater facilities, protecting streams, water supplies and property by keeping stormwater facilities functioning properly and continually capable of removing pollution, recharging ground water, protecting stream banks and keeping roads and property from flooding;

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) connection charge/front foot benefit charge for sewer and public water;

all properties in Maryland are levied an annual fee of $30 (included in WSSC charge) dedicated to the Bay Restoration Fund, in order to improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. Homeowners on septic systems are levied this on their county tax bill.

Maryland Real Property Tax bills are due bi-annually – twice a year. You will receive a copy of your tax bill and it is your responsibility to make sure that your mortgage company has received it and it is scheduled for them to pay out of your mortgage escrow account, if it is established as such. If it is not included in your escrow, you are responsible for payment by the due date.

Special Development Districts: There are several current and proposed development districts in Montgomery County, including Germantown and Clarksburg where the costs of infrastructure are paid back to the county, who has fronted the bonds. This is intended to make sure that new construction has the roads and other services to support the increase in homes.

Maryland is on a three (3) year assessment cycle. If you put your Montgomery County MD home up for sale, you are required to disclose your current property taxes and the estimated taxes a new owner would pay (which will in most cases be higher). You can find information for invidual properties below.

Montgomery County Property Tax Credit Information

Homestead Credit – To assist homeowners affected by a large assessment increase by capping the increase. It is not applicable the first year that the home was purchased

County Supplemental Tax Credit – For households earning less than $60,000.00

Homeowner’s Property Tax Credit – For those living on limited or fixed incomes, compared to the tax bill

Senior Tax Credit – One of the property owners must be age 70

Fire Sprinkler System Credit – A one-time tax credit to partially offset the cost

The County offers many tax credits and exemptions against the real property tax for which you may be eligible.

Appealing your Property Tax Assessment

If you feel that the estimate of your property value is wrong, the assessment appeal process is available to you. The Myers Team would be happy to help you collect information on comparables to support your appeal, just call us at 301-910-9910.

Property owners will normally receive a Notice of Assessment every three years that shows the old market value as well as the new market value. The new value reflects past sales and other conditions affecting the property from the time of the last assessment.

If you decide to appeal, the first step is to reply to the Notice of Assessment by signing and returning the appeal form within 45 days of the date of the notice. Following this, a personal or telephone hearing will be scheduled. Appeals can also be made in writing, eliminating the need for a hearing.

Quick Links for Property Taxes in Montgomery County

General FAQs on Montgomery County property taxes

How to find the current property tax for a specific Montgomery County MD home

How to find the estimated property tax a new owner would pay

Montgomery County Property Tax Rates

More on Montgomery County MD real estate taxes

About the Author: Bob Myers is the leader of The Myers Team of Re/Max Realty Services. If you have any questions about the Montgomery County property tax or real estate in Montgomery County, feel free to call him at 301-910-9910. Bob moved to Montgomery County in 1986 and has lived in Derwood, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Boyds and Clarksburg.

Search for all Montgomery County MD homes for sale:

Filed Under: Montgomery County Real Estate Tagged With: Appeal Montgomery County MD Property Tax, Montgomery County MD Property Tax, Montgomery County MD Real Estate Tax, Montgomery County MD Real Property Tax

North Potomac Maryland Map of Neighborhoods and Points of Interest

April 24, 2010 at 2:08 pm

View North Potomac MD 20878 Neighborhoods in a larger map

This map includes links to neighborhood videos, information about North Potomac home values, North Potomac schools, shopping areas, parks and recreation.

Here is a sample of homes for sale in North Potomac. Call Bob Myers of the Myers Team for more information about any of these North Potomac homes for sale and for a private showing:

Showing properties 1 - 10 of 40. See more city of North Potomac real estate.
(all data current as of 2/6/2012)

$589,000 : 12600 War Admiral Way, North Potomac

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 17,395 sq ft
$755,000 : 15541 Ambiance Dr, North Potomac

6 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 10,848 sq ft
$659,000 : 12527 Gooderham Way, North Potomac

5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 4,336 sq ft

Lot size: 12,308 sq ft
$524,700 : 17725 Stoneridge Dr, North Potomac

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 19,463 sq ft
$475,000 : 11615 Pleasant Meadow Dr, North Potomac

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 1,742 sq ft
$668,000 : 11817 Riding Loop Ter, North Potomac

4 beds, 5 full baths

Lot size: 6,005 sq ft
$429,900 : 12310 Sour Cherry Way, North Potomac

3 beds, 2 full, 2 part baths

Lot size: 2,343 sq ft
$3,250,000 : 13531 Stonebarn Ln, North Potomac

5 beds, 5 full, 2 part baths

Lot size: 14.00 ac
$465,000 : 11604 Piney Lodge Rd, North Potomac

3 beds, 2 full baths

Lot size: 11,727 sq ft
$594,900 : 15817 Seurat Dr, North Potomac

5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 9,871 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Search for all Montgomery County MD homes for sale:

Filed Under: Featured, Maps, Montgomery County Real Estate, Videos & Maps Tagged With: North Potomac MD, North Potomac MD Map, North Potomac MD Neighborhoods, Zip code 20878, Zip Code 20878 Map

Westleigh Neighborhood in North Potomac

April 23, 2010 at 12:38 pm

Westleigh, located off Dufief Mill Road and straddling Darnestown Road, is a very desirable community situated near Muddy Branch Park just off the major commuting route of Route 28. The homes in this neighborhood on the north side of Darnestown Road have Gaithersburg addresses, on the south side they have North Potomac addresses, but all are in zip code 20878. You can see a sample of Westleigh homes in this video:

There are 681 single family homes in colonial and split level styles on ¼ to 1/3 of an acre lots, plus a dozen townhomes. There is a wide size range on these homes, from 1,475 to 4,618 square feet on the upper levels. Some homes were built in the middle to late 70s, others were built in the mid 80’s by NV Homes and Columbia Homes. The HOA fee varies from $50 to $140 per year. 2009 to 2010 Westleigh home sales range from $460K to $670K for the single families to the low $300s for townhomes.

This neighborhood has great access to parks, horse trails, walking paths and playgrounds, plus proximity to the Westleigh Recreation Club.

North Potomac Homes and Neighborhoods

The North Potomac neighborhoods in zip code 20878 are prized for their location, the top schools and the beautiful parks. N. Potomac home owners can join the Westleigh Recreation Club, located in the Westleigh neighborhood, for the pool, tennis and the Barracudas swim team.

The home values in North Potomac are slightly higher than comparable homes in other areas of Montgomery County because of the prized school assignment of Dufief Elementary School, Frost Middle School and Wootton High School. Wootton is ranked one of the top high schools in the nation. See more about Montgomery County MD Schools on our Schools page.

The North Potomac location is great – minutes from Kentlands shops and entertainment, Rio Washingtonian Center’s complex of restaurants, stores and lake plus easy access to Rockville.

About the Author: Bob Myers made the move to Montgomery County MD in 1985 and has lived in Derwood, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Boyds and Clarksburg. He has been a Realtor since 1986. Call him about properties for sale in the Westleigh neighborhood at 301-910-9910.

Here are Westleigh North Potomac homes for sale -- Call Bob Myers at 301-910-9910 for a private showing:

Showing properties 1 - 2 of 2. See more Westleigh tract real estate.
(all data current as of 2/6/2012)

$619,900 : 10917 Citreon Ct, North Potomac

5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 10,936 sq ft
$519,900 : 11312 Brandy Hall Ln, North Potomac

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Lot size: 11,312 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Search for all Montgomery County MD homes for sale:

Filed Under: Featured, Montgomery County Real Estate, North Potomac, Westleigh Tagged With: North Potomac MD, North Potomac MD Homes, North Potomac MD Neighborhoods, Westleigh, Westleigh in North Potomac MD

Gaithersburg West Science City – Are You For or Against?

April 22, 2010 at 10:37 am

In an effort to bring Montgomery County into the international forefront of science, research and development, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Montgomery County Executive and Johns Hopkins University’s president in February 2010, with the goal of bringing large biotechnology development to our area. The plan must go through the approval process, but the goal is to rival life sciences research and technology being done in Palo Alto, California or Research Triangle in North Carolina.

Initially known as Shady Grove Life Sciences Center, it is also referred to as Life Science City, Gaithersburg West Plan or Gaithersburg Science City.

Montgomery County, already home to Johns Hopkins, the Universities at Shady Grove, Montgomery College, NIH, FDA, NIST and NOAA, wishes to implement development plans that will compliment research and technology.

The proposed 900 acre, 20 million square feet commercial space would feature laboratory, office and retail, and is projected to bring up to 40,000 jobs and approximately 9,000 residences over the next 40 years.

null

The National Cancer Institute had already decided to relocate its headquarters into the Johns Hopkins Rockville campus, at the 107-acre Belward Farm at Gaithersburg’s southern edge. Hopkins purchased the property in 1989, agreeing that the development would be limited to research, medical care, academic and agriculture.

While very exciting on the one hand, skeptics and critics are wary of the impact on Gaithersburg West. Concerns stem from existing roadways being unable to support traffic, the strain on the public schools and other community impacts, as well as taxpayers having to pick up the financial slack. After delving more into the numbers, some politicians and community groups say that this project is too big and dependent on the proposed Corridor Cities Transitway that is included in the future county growth plan.

This debate will continue over infrastructure, economics and logistics of the Gaithersburg Science City project, while Montgomery County will continue to grapple with growth and development issues.

UPDATE – New Developments

As a result of a straw vote by the Montgomery County Council in April 2010, it was agreed that efforts would be made to preserve green space and reduce traffic, and it was informally agreed to cap commercial development at 17.5 million square feet, down from 20 million.

The council also agreed to change the name of the Gaithersburg West Master Plan to the Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan. This plan covers 4,360 acres and includes the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Also under discussion is the Corridor Cities Transitway, a 14 mile mass transit line that will connect Clarksburg in the upcounty area and Shady Grove in Rockville. The county council will require that half of the CCT be built before the second half of the Great Seneca plan could be built.

As always in our area, the major concerns are traffic and preserving open, green space. This debate and the revisions are far from over, but there may be a final vote next month on this revision. More to come…stay tuned! Please give us your comments below.
Search for all Montgomery County MD homes for sale:

Filed Under: Gaithersburg, Montgomery County Real Estate Tagged With: Gaithersburg Maryland, Gaithersburg MD, Gaithersburg Science City, Gaithersburg West, Great Seneca Science Corridor

Rockville’s King Farm Workforce Housing

April 15, 2010 at 10:25 am

The Village at King Farm is the first community in Montgomery County to offer affordable homeownership opportunities for people who work within Montgomery County. King Farm is an award winning planned community in Rockville in Montgomery County. It is close to employment areas, transportation, shopping and entertainment centers, and is within the Montgomery County school district. Each of the 49 units at The Village at King Farm is located in buildings where the first floors are retail businesses.

The purpose of the Work Force Housing (WFH) program, which became effective in December of 2006, is to promote the construction of housing intended to:

(1) allow households with incomes between 71% and 120% of the Washington DC area median income to have greater housing choices in the County;

(2) increase the availability of housing in the County for public employees and other workers whose income cannot support the high cost of housing near their workplace and who, as a result, are increasingly priced out of housing;

(3) assist County employers in reducing critical labor shortages of skilled and semi-skilled workers by providing housing that will be accessible to their workplace; and

(4) reduce traffic congestion by shortening commute distances for employees who work in the County.

The WFH Program compliments Montgomery County’s nationally recognized Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) program and other County programs designed to promote affordable housing. Incomes of households served by the WFH program exceed those served by the MPDU program.

The WFH Program provides households an opportunity to purchase a home at a below-market sales price in exchange for certain controls on the property, including

restrictions on the price homeowners can charge when they resell the WFH Unit, and

restrictions on the amount of appreciation they will receive upon resale. In exchange for these controls, households are able to own a home in a desirable area of Montgomery County.

The sales prices for the WFH units are determined by the County and are calculated at a level that are intended to be affordable to households at the income levels served by the program. Because the sales prices are calculated at a level affordable to an “average” household, the actual sales price may or may not be affordable to your specific household; however, these sales prices are not negotiable. Owners of WFH units are required to live in the unit as their primary residence.

Households interested in purchasing a WFH unit must first submit an application to The Village at King Farm Sales Office, along with certain supporting documentation. The application is computer-based and can be filled out either online or with the sales representative.

What a great opportunity and place to call home! If you work in Montgomery County and want to own your home, the advantages are numerous. For more information see The Village at King Farm or call (301) 740-8888.

About the Author: Eileen K. is a native Marylander who has lived in Prince Georges, Montgomery and Carroll Counties.

Take a look at King Farm homes for sale in Rockville – Call Bob Myers at 301-910-9910 for a private showing:

Showing properties 1 - 10 of 14. See more King Farm tract real estate.
(all data current as of 2/6/2012)

$826,000 : 313 Treemont Way, Rockville

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,646 sq ft

Lot size: 6,487 sq ft

$579,000 : 526 Lawson Way, Rockville

3 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,350 sq ft

Lot size: 2,315 sq ft

$695,000 : 1651 Piccard Dr, Rockville

5 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,242 sq ft

Lot size: 3,185 sq ft

$799,000 : 808 Royal Cres, Rockville

5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,945 sq ft

Lot size: 4,271 sq ft

$679,900 : 1004 Gaither Rd, Rockville

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,040 sq ft

Lot size: 3,870 sq ft

$598,000 : 540 Longhorn Cres, Rockville

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,212 sq ft

Lot size: 2,218 sq ft

$629,000 : 516 Longhorn Cres, Rockville

4 beds, 2 full, 2 part baths

Lot size: 2,218 sq ft

$899,000 : 203 Saddle Ridge Cir, Rockville

4 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 4,448 sq ft

Lot size: 7,018 sq ft

$499,000 : 112 Pasture Side Pl, Rockville

2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,876 sq ft

Lot size: 1,420 sq ft

$590,000 : 529 Redland Blvd, Rockville

3 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,350 sq ft

Lot size: 2,574 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Search for all Montgomery County MD homes for sale:

Filed Under: King Farm, Montgomery County Real Estate, Rockville Tagged With: King Farm, King Farm Rockville, Rockville Maryland, Rockville MD Housing

Corridor Cities Transitway

Montgomery County Corridor Cities Transitway – An Alphabet Soup?

Gaithersburg Science City – Approved

Great Seneca Science Corridor Master Plan

Montgomery County MD Property Taxes: Let us Help You Appeal

Montgomery County Property Tax Credit Information

Appealing your Property Tax Assessment

Quick Links for Property Taxes in Montgomery County

North Potomac Maryland Map of Neighborhoods and Points of Interest

Westleigh Neighborhood in North Potomac

North Potomac Homes and Neighborhoods

Gaithersburg West Science City – Are You For or Against?

Rockville’s King Farm Workforce Housing

Search for Your Next Home in Montgomery County – Get Listings Sent to Your Inbox

Relocation Guide to Montgomery County

Get Your Free Relocation Kit

Join our Facebook Communities

See What Our Clients are Saying About Us

Get the Inside Scoop! Sign Up for Updates

Get More Montgomery County Real Estate Info

Search this Site

Join the Conversation!