Working with First Heritage Mortgage was one of the best decisions I made as a first-time…read morehomebuyer. Adam Barns and the Jeffrey Stempler team made the entire process smooth, simple, and stress-free from start to finish. Adam was always available to answer my questions, even on weekends, and consistently went above and beyond to make sure everything stayed on track. At one point, we needed to complete and submit our package over the weekend, and Adam had everything finalized within the hour. His responsiveness and dedication played a huge role in helping me secure the home I wanted. I highly recommend First Heritage Mortgage to anyone looking for a reliable, knowledgeable, and responsive lender. I would absolutely recommend them to my friends, family or anyone looking to buy a home.

Nick Muro and Roger Zuniga made the two months leading up to the purchase of our new home so…read morestressful and needlessly complicated that what should have been one of the most joyful moments of our lives was turned into a nightmare that we simply wanted to end by the time settlement came. Every document we received from FHM contained mathematical errors which corresponded to wildly incorrect estimates regarding our monthly payment and cash to table. Five days before closing, we were able to have the VP of this location step in to provide some oversight and make sure the deal got done on time. If it weren't for my own vigilance--as well as that of my real estate agent and the settlement agent--I am certain that this deal would have been a disaster. It was clear that Nick did not care about his role in our transaction. His complete unwillingness to take responsibility for his missteps demonstrate that he will not improve in the future. I strongly caution anyone who has other options to steer clear of FHM and I recommend that anyone who must use FHM get any loan officer other than Nick Muro.

We worked with Jim at Jim Bass Group to buy our home in Frederick in July 2023 - he helped us from…read morethe beginning by understanding our budget and helping us prioritize what features we needed versus wanted so that we were all aligned on what was important for this purchase. He understood exactly what we were looking for and provided recommendations as soon as the right homes became available. Once we found the home we wanted he worked extremely fast to get in a competitive offer and used his established relationships with lenders & other vendors to give us the best experience possible. The entire team was great to work with. His savvy negotiations saved us thousands!! We could not be happier with our experience finding a home that we love.

In the ongoing saga that is my relationship with the Jim Bass Group, I thought I'd offer an update…read more The short of it is that not only does Mr. Bass take his business integrity to new lows every chance he gets, he now seems to enjoy belittling those that dare even suggest that he is not God-like. Prior to selling my home I had a pipe burst. The JBG knew about the situation and during the repair work the agent that was selling my house made suggestions on the repairs, from color paint and carpet to the needed light fixtures. She even came to the home and talked to the contractor to keep him focused. This service was the only thing worth while the JBG did. Now the insurance company is requesting that the JBG provide a note saying that the work was complete. Yes, I have provided the insurance company with all pictures and receipts but they wanted validation from the JBG. I talked to a rep from the JBG and was told that do this and it wouldn't be an issue. Today Mr. Call me God Jim Bass called, berated me because of my past reviews and refuses do write the note. He made it perfectly clear it was pay back for my previous yelp reviews. Do not use JBG . In my experience They make no effort to get you a good deal, have no issue with lying and will gladly leave you hanging. If you want a real estate agent that is fair, honest, moral and had integrity history, my history, will show that Jim Bass is not the Group you want to work with.

Real estate agents-- what do they actually do? Show you a list of houses, fill out some boilerplate…read moreforms, and cash their commission checks. Do they provide any input a capable person could not research own their own. We purchased a investment home last year after Henry had shown it to us. We wanted to wait a year before we reviewed Henry to make sure he wasn't one of those real estate agents who disappears when the deal is done and follows up every year with a pre-printed holiday card or a refrigerator magnet with their face on it. I can say confidently that not only is Henry a great resource for information, but he also really went beyond the scope of his work many times throughout the whole home buying process. We had multiple properties in different locations throughout the Maryland area and he really did the homework and understood each property before each viewing. As we are planning to purchase our next property Henry has been fantastic throughout the year fielding our questions and even keeping us abreast on new developments. Furthermore, since he is an investor himself he knows the Maryland real estate investment market well and was able to shepherd us in the right direction with loans, housing, inspectors, etc. If plan to buy a him in the Montgomery County or surrounding area go with Henry, you won't regret it!

Henry helped my wife and I make our first home purchase. We now own a beautiful split level house…read morein northern Montgomery County, MD. Henry was attentive, quick to respond, dependable, and most importantly, he was available during weekends and late hours of the day on week days. It worked perfectly with my work schedule to tour houses. Henry did more than just help us find our home. During the purchase process he negotiated hard to get us the best price possible for the house. He even helped negotiate for a washer and dryer. I would use Henry again in the future for my real estate needs.

When I was looking for an apartment last year, I came across a listing with J. Alexander Management…read moreCompany on Craigslist, but sadly couldn't find any reviews of the organization online. For both the benefit of potential renters and to provide praise, as well as what I hope is constructive feedback to the management company, I offer the following on their New Hampshire and First Apartments. The Pros: -Exceptionally reasonable rent, with utilities included. -Tastefully updated unit with important historic details maintained (period-appropriate bathroom tiles, beautifully finished solid-wood parquet floors). -Very responsive and timely support and maintenance team. It was a pleasure every time I spoke with the property manager Arlene who was both incredibly personable as well as professional, even when I was complaining. -Eco conscious water fixtures, toilet and a maintenance team dedicated specifically for water issues (I requested a new shower head when I moved in and was replaced within 24 hours). -While it was not an option until my last month, they now accept credit card payments. This was an amenity I wished for every time I had to find a stamp to mail a rent check. -Very close to the 64 (Ft Totten to Federal Triangle) and 60 (Georgia Avenue Petworth) bus lines, as well as a ten minute walk to the Ft. Totten metro stop (Yellow, Green and Red). I lived here without a vehicle for a year, but would have enjoyed it more if I had one. That said, there was always street parking available in the area every time I had guests with vehicles, or when I was in a rental. The Cons: -No central air conditioning in unit. Because I was not intending to stay, I went without rather than purchasing it out of pocket. I would suggest providing tenants the opportunity to borrow or rent a window unit. -Not a reflection of the management company, but there are no convenient grocery stores. While there is a small bodega grocery a stone's throw away, it is filthy and I only used it in emergency situation. I believe that once further development occurs at Ft Totten Square, this will no longer be an issue. -Again, this is not a reflection of the management company, but it is worth noting for the sake of potential renters. This neighborhood is not rapidly gentrifying like the southern area of Petworth/Park View. With the exception of the cluster of rentals and newly remodeled condo homes at 1st and New Hampshire, the rest of the neighborhood seems to be working class families. While I never perceived any real danger or threats, I did have a couple incidents which were likely a result of me being a more-than-a-little-swishy gay man. -The mail was very, very unreliable. While living there I had most of my mail and all of my packages sent to my work address. In addition to items never showing up, I consistently received packages and letters address to other tenants/building. Additionally, the mailboxes were very small and every letter, postcard or magazine that was delivered to my apartment was severely damaged. Opportunities for Improvement: -The trash area and recycling was a constant issue. While I believe the management company did they best they could, the other tenants maintained no sense of stewardship for either the environment or this shared space. -While it is obvious that they care about the landscaping around the units, hiring a professional for design and installation would have been a wish choice. At the time I moved out in May, the whole front area looked like someone crazy Uncle Greenthumb was set loose. Lovely plants but the haphazard planting was unflattering to the property. -Ventilation in the hallways. The hallway to my apartment would constantly smell like cumin, bacon, musky incense and/or cigarettes. -Consider an upgrade to laundry facilities. One two occasions over the year lease, I experienced issues that seemed to be related to breakers in the laundry room. Both times the issue was fixed within a couple hours, however the first time it occurred I was trying to get out of town and ended up schlepping a giant bag of wet clothes to a nearby laundry mat, rather than waiting for the repair.

Before finding Lynda, I endlessly browsed new home listings online and cruised local counties…read morecanvassing neighborhoods and open houses, becoming increasingly convinced that I'd never find the home I wanted in my price range. I worried that I'd just have to settle for something less than ideal. It was going to be my first home after all--how much could I really expect? Enter Lynda Bloom, endorsed by a friend who told me, "I wouldn't think of hiring anyone else. Just give her a call." So, I did! Why not? Not only did she corral my very disparate ideas of what type of home I was considering, but she already knew which areas in Montgomery County might fit my ten (yes, TEN!) criteria. Her familiarity with the neighborhoods, their management, history and evolution was undeniable and sourced directly from her passion, knowledge, and years of experience. This was all evident in just the first phone call! She sent listings, I gave feedback, and we gathered a number of properties to visit that weekend after our first call. Lynda observed and listened after each viewing, and in a very short time, she knew exactly what to look for. When I was unable to make visits, she prescreened properties on my behalf! In a surprisingly short period of time, she and I were walking into a home I couldn't find a reason to say no to. She provided guidance and valuable information throughout the home buying process, which helped me attain quick approval for a loan and make an offer I was comfortable with. I could not have done any of it without her. Lynda's experience and eye for quality makes her a wonderful resource, providing a level of service that is hard to find. Lynda not only helped me find the perfect home, but also provided recommendations for a lender, inspector, insurance, and settlement company. As a stubborn skeptic, I took her recommendations into account, but also shopped around and did my own independent research. Each time, without fail and after many headaches, I came circling back to those she recommended and could not be happier with each choice. As a trusted professional and a caring person, Lynda is a joy to know. Save yourself the headaches and give her a call!

Lynda Bloom helped my husband and me buy our new home recently. We have been impressed by her…read morecompetence and hard work. She patiently answered all our questions, which were many because we came from a different place with different real estate rules. She answered and returned our phone calls and emails day and night. She knows a great deal about the business. When we occasionally asked her a question for which she didn't know the answer, she found out and told us immediately. She was kind and patient, making us feel like she genuinely cared about us. She told us about things we should know about. We are grateful for her fine professional help.