If you love camping and live in the Largo-Kettering Upper Marlboro area, there’s a hidden gem almost in your backyard.  Watkins Regional Park is well known for its annual Festival of Lights during Christmas season, but relatively unknown for its camping opportunities.

Watkins Regional Park also boasts 30 primitive campsites.  Primitive meaning there is no electric, water, or waste hookups for recreational vehicles (RV).  However, there is a facility with restrooms and showers inside the campsite area.

According to the park’s website, pop-up tent/trailer campers and self-contained “Winnebago” are allowed.  A Winnebago is actually a recreational vehicle (RV), but the website says no RV’s.  Sounds very conflicting to me. 

I camped here with my family this past summer.  We rented two campsites for only $12 (each) per night for residents and $20 per night for non-residents.  We set up 6 tents on both sites.  It was very comforting seeing the Park Police and maintenance crews making their rounds every few hours.  Other than the racoons lurking at night and the daddy long-leg spiders, we had a great time!  Here are a few photos from our two night stay at the campground.

Always a pleasure to see my county tax dollars at work again.  A few months ago "The County"  (Prince Georges's County, MD Government) installed new sidewalks, curbs, and driveway aprons in the neighborhood of Hollaway Estates.  Four months later they are resurfacing/paving Rosaryville Rd with new asphalt.  Hats off to "The County" for road improvements and infrastructure upgrades!  Also a shout out to the heavy equipment operators on the steam roller, asphalt finisher paver, Bobcat and dump trucks.  The worked at least two days in hot, humid, 100 degree weather. 

Over the last few weeks the county has been repairing sidewalks, curbs, and driveway aprons on Rosaryville Rd. in Upper Marlboro, MD (Hollaway Estates).  As a Prince George's county taxpayer I'm glad to see my dollars at work!  The contractors were truly skilled professionals.  They worked diligently and rapidly as they poured and laid the concrete each day.  The Bobcat operator whipped that vehicle around scooping up gravel, dirt and drilling holes like it was nothing to it.  Here are some photos I captured......

Marlboro Meadows is an older neighborhood in Upper Marlboro, MD.   

Located at the intersection of Route 301 and Village Drive, the Marlboro Meadows neighborhood had 39 homes that sold in 2020. 

The median vs. average sold price was $308K-$315K, respectively.  Most homeowners sold their properties for full asking price after an average of 32 days on the market.  The top selling price was $385K for a 4 bedroom remodeled Split Foyer style home as noted in the photo.

Two homes were sold as “short sales” and only one home sold as a foreclosure.  All other homes in Marlboro Meadows sold as “standard sales” indicating seller equity. 

The average age of homes here is 42 years.  The Split-Foyer and Colonial style homes have basements and were built between 1969 and 1997.  Most are all-brick, have original hardwood floors and were built solid.  Many sellers made many upgrades to their property to gain top-dollar before selling. 

If you are a Buyer looking to purchase a home in Marlboro Meadows, your mortgage payment on a $315K home would cost you around $2,060 per month if you put down $11,000 towards the purchase.

If you plan to sell your home next year in 2021, you can expect a gain of up to an additional 3% as compared to the 2020 selling prices. 

If you are thinking of buying or selling in the Upper Marlboro area give me a call at 240-535-1855.

Last week I listed this townhouse in District Heights, MD for $279,900.  It's over 1900 sqft. with 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and 1 half bath.  I had 2 offers within the first 5 days on the market.  That's an indicator of a seller's market, at least in the Regency Meadows Subdivision.  

Here's a video of this lovely property located at 5622 Rock Quarry Terrace, District Heights, MD 20747

If you are searching for similar townhomes in this price range in the Upper Marlboro, MD are please contact me at 240-535-1855.  Thanks.

This home located on Woodyard Rd. in Upper Marlboro is undergoing a major renovation.  It's been completely gutted and a 2nd floor is being added.  Can't wait to see the finished product!

Homes in the Tall Oaks subdivision of Bowie, MD are currently listed for sale between $425-450K.

Tall Oaks Crossing of Bowie is a quiet and well-maintained community located on the western edge of the City of Bowie, Maryland. Its spectacular one mile wooded entrance is sometimes referred to by its residents as the “Surprise Community of Bowie.” It is situated on approximately 203 wooded acres. Tall Oaks Crossing’s two tennis courts, two 2,240 sq. ft tot lots, large picnic grounds or open play areas, miles of well-maintained hiker/biker trails and a lake (which was originally constructed as a water retention pond), are some of the amenities that make the residents proud to be a part of the community.

There are roughly 90+ advertised subdivisions in the 20772 and 20774 zip codes of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.  This includes areas such as Largo, Kettering, The Town of Upper Marlboro and Greater Upper Marlboro. Here's a list I compiled that may help you recall a neighborhood you may have driven by and liked.

Balmoral

Beachtree

Beacon Hill

Bellehaven Estates

Belmont Crest

Brandywine Country

Brock Hall

Brookwood

Cameron Grove

Canter Creek

Charles Hill

Cherry Tree Estates

Chester Grove

Claggett Landing

Collington Estates

Croom Acres

Croom Station

Dower Ridge Estates

Dower Village

Drumsheugh

Duvall

Edward Estates

Enterprise Forest

Equestrian Estates

Estonian Estates

Eversfield

Foxchase

Graystone at Marlborough

Greens of Marlton

Heritage Glen

Hollaway Estates

Kettering

Kings Creek Ests

Kingston Manor

La Dova Heights

Largo

Largo Knolls

Linwood Knolls

Little Washington

Manor Knolls

Marlboro Downs

Marlboro Meadows

Marlboro Pointe

Marlboro Ridge

Marlboro Riding

Marlborough South

Marlton

Marwood

Maryvale

Melwood

Melwood Springs

Norbourne Park

New Orchard Estates

North Roblee Acres

Northhampton

Oak Creek

Oak Creek Club

Oak Creek Golf Course

Palisades

Parkside At Westphalia

Perrywood

Poplars

Poplar Ridge

Presidential Heights

Queen Anne Estates

Queen Anne Knolls

Queensland

Ramblewood

Rambling Hills

Roblee Acres

Rosaryville Estates

Rustic Ridge

Sherwood Forest

Smith Home Farm

Springdale

St. Johns Wood

Stratford Estates

Strawberry Hills

The Highlands

Tyrol Estates

Village of Oak Grove

Villages of Marlborough

Villages of Mellwood

Vista Woods

West End Farms

Westphalia Estates

Westphalia Woods

Williamsburg Estates

Winshire

Woodyard Estates

The county is building a new multi-use recreational facility in Brandywine, MD which is expected to open by the end of summer.  At a cost of more than $36 million, The Southern Area Aquatic and Recreation Complex (SAARC) is the first Multi-Generational Community Recreational Center in Prince George’s County.

The 75,000 square-foot project includes a huge swimming pool, a gymnasium, a fitness room and flexible programmable space. It is being constructed on property owned by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) – Brandywine Area Park – located just north of the intersection of Missouri Avenue and Brandywine Road. Future phases of parkland development may include additional site amenities, an expansion of the natatorium, and additional recreation space to accommodate performing arts and ceramic arts.

Personally, I'm looking forward to participating in a Yoga class and water aerobics once this place opens!

This past weekend's home showings took my Buyer and I to Clinton, MD to see several properties.  This 4 bedroom, Split Foyer style home was completely renovated and listed for $299,900.  The interior of the home showed well.  However, my Buyer didn't like the back yard.  She was completely "spooked out".  It had a creek running through the property and this old ugly barn/shed.  The back yard also had weeds and many soft spots.  Experience tells me there are drainage issues in that yard and the potential for snakes to crawl around.  Well, that was definitely a show stopper!  Our search for a home continues...…...