Company Presents Awards
BERLIN — PenFed Realty’s Mid-Atlantic region recently held its Eastern Shore Sales Associate Appreciation Luncheon and Awards Ceremony at Lighthouse Sound, recognizing its top REALTORS® on the Eastern Shore, and celebrating last year’s success.
PenFed Realty agents are pictured at last week’s luncheon and awards ceremony at Lighthouse Sound. Submitted Photo
“Our agents are the greatest assets for the company,” said Kevin Wiles, president of the Mid-Atlantic Region. “They contribute to the success and growth of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty. We are extremely proud of our award winning sales professionals. They provide dedicated service and expert representation to each and every client.”
Among those recognized were 2015 Honor Society Award winners. From the Ocean Pines they included Pam Brauns, Judy Froman, Mickey Lobb, Cindy Poremski, Sally Todd Stout, Jim Prete and Sandy Van Fleet.
The 2015 Leading Edge Society winner from the Ocean City office was the team of Jim and Leslie White.
Recognized in the 2015 President’s Circle were the Ocean Pines office’s Debbie Bennington and Sandy Galloway; West Ocean City’s Ed Balcerzak, who was ninth in Individual GCI; Salisbury/Captain’s Cove, Cindy Welsh; and West Ocean City, Tony Golden of The Resort Group, which was 20th in Team GCI.
Featured in the 2015 Chairman’s Circle Gold were Ocean Pines Office’s Sharyn O’Hare and The O’Hare Team, which was 15th in Team GCI, and West Ocean City’s Linda Moran and The Moran Team, which was 16th in Team GCI.
Earning 2015 Chairman’s Circle Platinum recognition was the Carol Proctor Team, which ranked ninth in GCI in the company.
“Our unique relationship with the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway brand combined with skilled performance and innovative techniques of our sales professionals, distinguishes BHHS PenFed Realty from other real estate firms. This commitment to representing clients of wealth makes us a preeminent force in the marketplace,” said Wiles.
Monthly Market Recap
BERLIN – Local REALTORS® were very busy in April, according to the latest figures from the Coastal Association of REALTORS® (CAR).
April’s housing statistics are shown, courtesy of CAR.
CAR’s local housing statistics for April 2016 showed an overall 24.2 percent increase in contracts, or pending sales, in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, compared to the same time last year. Most notable was a 40.8 percent increase of single family home contracts in Worcester County and a 50 percent increase in condominium contracts in Wicomico County.
Settlements showed an overall increase of 8.2 percent in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, compared to the same time last year. Among the highest increases were a 50 percent increase in condominium contracts in Wicomico County and a 33.3 percent increase in single family home contracts in Somerset County.
Days on market showed an overall decrease of 17 percent, reflecting a reduction in the amount of time it takes for a home to leave the market and hit the settlement table. Local inventory decreased by 10.3 percent. Listing and sale prices were up by 10 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively.
Linda Moran, president of CAR, said April’s numbers are indicative of a very active summer for local real estate practitioners.
“We’re so pleased to see such a boost in confidence among local buyers,” Moran said. “And our members are standing by, available to serve anyone interested in a second home or a permanent home on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.”
The trend of increased sales activity despite decreased inventory numbers is reflective of what’s happening in the national housing market, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®.
“This spring’s surprisingly low mortgage rates are easing some of the affordability pressures potential buyers are experiencing and are taking away some of the sting from home prices that are still rising too fast and above wage growth,” Yun said.
CAR’s monthly local housing statistics are pulled from the association’s Multiple Listing Service, which represents the activity of over 1,000 local REALTORS® in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties.
Restaurant Honored
OCEAN CITY — The entire team at Liquid Assets has announced receipt of the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s Stars of the Industry Award for Wine & Beverage Program of the Year.
“This represents our dedication to our passion. We are constantly trying to improve and challenge ourselves to deliver a higher level of product and service,” said Liquid Assets owner John Trader. “I am so very thankful for our staff’s efforts and this incredible recognition from our peers. But mostly, it is our customers that have supported us for over 30 years of innovation who continue to make it all possible. Cheers to them.”
Earlier this year, restaurants and restauranteurs were nominated in a variety of categories, with Liquid Assets receiving the nod for Best Wine & Beverage Program. The dining public was then given the opportunity to vote for their favorites online. Winners were selected and announced on Sunday, May 1 at the 62nd Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Gala – Moonlight in Morocco. Over 600 guests attended the gala at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, which included some of the top foodservice industry professionals from across Maryland. Liquid Assets was honored to take home the coveted award for Wine & Beverage Program for 2016.
Hospice Earns Award
SALISBURY – Coastal Hospice has been recognized for excellence, as reported by the families of patients in their care.
Stephen Williamson, Vice-President of Deyta Analytics sales and marketing, presented Coastal Hospice President Alane Capen and Coastal Hospice Admissions Director Tracy Fields with the Hospice Honors Elite Award.
Deyta Analytics, a division of HEALTHCAREfirst, named Coastal Hospice a recipient of the 2016 Hospice Honors Elite Award in April at National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Management Leadership Conference in National Harbor. Hospice Honors recognizes hospices nationwide that provide the highest level of quality as measured from the caregiver’s point of view.
Deyta Analytics surveys families and caregivers of patients after their passing to evaluate the quality of the hospice services they received. They choose the recipients of the Hospice Honors Awards by evaluating the hospice’s performance on a set of 24 quality indicators and comparing the results to all partnering hospices in the nationwide Deyta Analytics database.
“Hospice Honors is a landmark compilation of hospices that provide the best patient and caregiver experiences,” said Bobby Robertson, president and CEO of HEALTHCAREfirst. “I am extremely proud of Coastal Hospice for achieving this highest of honors, and I congratulate them on their success.”
Coastal Hospice President Alane Capen said, “Receiving an award based on the opinions of the families we serve is the highest honor we can achieve. Our mission is to provide the best medical care in the most compassionate way to the patients in our service, and it is rewarding to hear that our families feel we are fulfilling that mission.”