We Missed This Snow Bullet
By · CommentsI don’t know about you, but I’m pretty tired of all the snow we’ve had in Crofton, MD this year. Three major snow storms and a couple of minor ones have wiped out the snow budget of many cities and counties.
We just missed another of the major storms to hit the East Coast last night, and I’m thankful. Thankfully, for us anyway, it passed us to the North. I was talking to my brother today, he lives in New Jersey, and had two feet of snow on the ground early this morning.
Not many of us are going to forget our recent back to back storms that were measured in feet, not in inches.
Let’s just hope that we’re done for the season.
Anne Arundel County Schools Looking To Waive 5 Snow Days
By · CommentsAs you know, students in Maryland are required to attend school for 181 days per school year. Enter 2009 and 2010, where students have had 10 days off for snow…already, and it’s still February. What recourse do the schools have? Well, they can apply to the State for a waiver, and Anne Arundel County Schools superintendent has done just that.
There are no guarantees, but the State can grant a waiver of up to 5 days, thus, reducing the school year to just 176 days, instead of the required 181.
If the State doesn’t grant the waiver, I can’t begin to imagine what a mess its going to be for parents and students at the end of the school year.
Anne Arundel County, MD has dispensed with the policy of charging transfer and recordation taxes on the sale price, and the amount forgiven by the bank. They will now use only the sales price when calculating the County transfer and recordation taxes in short sale situations.
Anne Arundel County officials changed the policy after the Attorney General of Maryland, Doug Gansler, issued an opinion that counties should not be charging transfer and recordation taxes on the amount of money forgiven by the lender in a short sale situation.
Previously, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties had also abandoned that policy. Anne Arundel County was the last remaining holdout.
Recycle your Christmas Tree
By · CommentsI hate to be the spoilsport but we all know those Christmas Trees don’t last forever. Heck, most of them were cut down long before Christmas and by now they’re pretty well drying out. Maybe another week left in them but that’s about all.
What do you do to get rid of the once live Christmas Tree? If you’re living in Anne Arundel County Maryland, its pretty easy to recycle. After you un-decorate the tree, all you need to do is to put it out with the other recycling. If its too big (over four feet) you should cut it in half so the recyclers can get it in the truck. Recycled Christmas Trees are made into mulch by the county.
While you’re at it, a lot of other Christmas waste can be recycled as well. Wrapping paper, catalogues, cardboard boxes, etc.
For more information about recycling in Crofton and Anne Arundel County MD, you can visit the County website at www.aacounty.org/DPW/Wastemanagement or call the County office at 410-222-6100.
Crofton Community Association General Membership Meeting
By · CommentsThe Crofton Community Association General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2010. The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM at the Crofton Elementary School, located at 1405 Duke of Kent Drive, Crofton, MD.
The snow date for the meeting is January 26, 2010.
The first meeting of the year is usually well attended because the budget for the next fiscal year will be presented. The budget, which has been mailed to all residents, contains a modest 2.3% increase.
Crofton MD is one of the Special Tax Districts located in Anne Arundel, MD. An additional tax is charged to residents of the Crofton Community Association and is collected by the County. This tax surcharge is used to pay for the Crofton Police Department, recreational activities, administration and maintenance of public areas.
While Crofton MD is a large, spread out community, only those residents living in Crofton Triangle are members of the Crofton Community Association. The Crofton Triangle is loosely defined as being within the borders of three roads. Rt. 3, Rt. 424, and Rt. 450.
Join your friends and neighbors on January 26th for a lively discussion on CCA activities.
Odenton MD, 21113
| October – 2009 | 2009 | 2008 | % Change |
| Sold Dollar Volume | $9,971,899 | $6,563,522 | +51.93% |
| Average Sold Price | $302,179 | $328,176 | -7.92% |
| Median Sold Price | $294,999 | $319,500 | -7.67% |
| Total Units Sold | 33 | 20 | +65.00% |
| Average Days on Market | 92 | 106 | -13.21% |
| Average List Price for Solds | $315,348 | $352,530 | -10.55% |
Several of the Odenton, MD home sales statistics looked better in November, 2009 compared to November, 2008.
More units are being sold, but in the lower price ranges. 32 of the 33 sales were in the price range under $500,000, while fully 25 of the 33 listings were under the $350,000 price range.
During the month of November, 2009, 41 new listings were added to the Odenton, MD home inventory, while 33 were sold.
In a peek at the near term future, 31 homes went under one of the various contract categories. Despite that, more houses were added to the Odenton MD inventory in November, than went off.
From the data, it looks like first time home buyers were fueling the Odenton, MD home sale increases in November, 2009. That makes sense since there was an urgency to buy because the $8,000 tax credit was set to expire on November 31st. That has since been changed by Congress taking some of the sense of urgency off first time home buyers.
It certainly was a nice month for Odenton real estate sales. Let’s see if the trend can continue now that some of the pressure is off 1st time home buyers getting into a home quickly. They have an extra four months now to still qualify for up to an $8,000 tax credit.
If you’re not already working with a Realtor® to find that perfect Odenton, MD home, I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 any time.
SOURCE: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc.
Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
If you’re SEARCHING for a home anywhere in Maryland, click here to view ALL ACTIVE LISTINGS.
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist
©2009 – RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved
Severn MD Real Estate – Market Statistics, November 2009
By · CommentsSevern MD, 21144
| October – 2009 | 2009 | 2008 | % Change |
| Sold Dollar Volume | $5,557,950 | $6,335,268 | -12.27% |
| Average Sold Price | $264,664 | $422,351 | -37.34% |
| Median Sold Price | $275,000 | $380,000 | -27.63% |
| Total Units Sold | 21 | 15 | +40.00% |
| Average Days on Market | 108 | 102 | +5.88% |
| Average List Price for Solds | $294,895 | $457,322 | -35.52% |
Severn, MD home sales statistics seem to be running counter to most other communities in the area in November, 2009 compared to November, 2008. While there was a slight increase in the number of units sold, the dollar volume was lower. Compared to Crofton and Odenton, this was pretty unusual for November 2009.
More units actually sold, but in the lower price ranges. All 21 sales in Severn, MD were in the price range under $500,000. This significantly affected the Average Sold and Median Sold prices. Both of those important statistics were down significantly.
During the month of November, 2009, 36 new listings were added to the Severn, MD home inventory, while 21 were sold.
In a peek at the near term, 26 homes went under one of the various contract categories. Despite that, more houses were added to the Severn MD inventory in November, than went off.
From the data, it looks like first time home buyers were fueling the Severn, MD home sale increases in November, 2009. That makes sense since there was an urgency to buy because the $8,000 tax credit was set to expire on November 31st. That has since been changed by Congress taking some of the sense of urgency off first time home buyers.
Severn, MD is one of those communities looking for an increase in sales when the influx of Ft. Meade workers come into the area as a result of BRAC. 2010 should be the time we begin to see those buyers.
If you’re not already working with a Realtor® to find that perfect Odenton, MD home, I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 any time.
SOURCE: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc.
Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
If you’re SEARCHING for a home anywhere in Maryland, click here to view ALL ACTIVE LISTINGS.
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist
©2009 – RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved
Crofton MD Real Estate – Foreclosures
By · CommentsCrofton MD, despite the high average family income, is not immune to foreclosures. Like the general population, most foreclosure activity is dictated by employment status. And while Crofton MD employment is better by about 3.5 percentage points over the national average of 10%, we do still have a number of layoffs to deal with in the Crofton MD real estate area.
If you’re interested, you can obtain a list of foreclosures, by zip code, from your real estate agent. If you’re not already working with an agent, I can email you a list at your convenience. Contact me at:
Rich Iarossi
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
443-995-9595 Cell
410-451-6255 Office
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
November was an explosive month for Crofton, MD real estate sales. Don’t be fooled by the over the top sales though, there is good reason to believe that the 1st time home buyer tax credit caused the blip in sales.
The Crofton MD real estate market is pretty stable and mature. Whenever you see an increase in sales of 166% comparing the current month to the same month the previous year, you have to question why. That type of increase is very unusual, for any market.
Yes, when looking at the November 2009 statistics for home sales in Crofton MD, we see that 40 units sold. November of last year only 15 units sold, showing an increase of 166%.
Why the tremendous increase? You have to remember that the original 1st time home buyer $8,000 tax credit was set to expire…..November 30th. The government stepped in late in the game and extended that deadline into 2010. When they did that the pressure was off, but, many 1st time home buyers already had offers in, with settlement dates before November 30th.
Since the vast majority of sales were below $350,000, most real estate professionals believe that it was the 1st time homebuyers, who were looking to close before November 30th, that fueled the 166% increase. We don’t expect to see that type of increase in December.
Crofton MD still has a great inventory of wonderful homes to choose from. If you’re looking to purchase or sell a home in Crofton MD, or the surrounding area, I can help.
If you’re SEARCHING for a home anywhere in Maryland, click here to view ALL ACTIVE LISTINGS.
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist
©2009 – RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved
Buying a Crofton, MD Foreclosure
By · Comments
It doesn’t take much research to know that there are a large number of foreclosures on the market, including some Crofton, MD homes for sale. Picking up a foreclosure property in Crofton, MD could be a great investment, but buyers do need to be careful.
If you’re interested in including foreclosure properties in your home search, make sure you have a qualified, local Realtor to assist. The process to buy a foreclosure does differ a bit from a regular residential resale. Also, buyers agents usually get paid from the seller in a transaction. Even if the property is a foreclosure, where the owner is a bank.
There are three distinct phases of foreclosure activity. Once an owner stops paying their mortgage the lender will file for a notice of default. Remember all those documents you signed at closing. One of them gave the lender the right to do this. At this stage its really called a preforeclosure.
The bank has an obligation to post a public notice in the paper several times before they can go to court and take the property back. Once the court ordered foreclosure is complete, the bank can sell the property at auction on the courthouse steps in Annapolis, MD. Thats right, the auctioneer is on the courthouse steps and announces each property for sale. If there are no buyers at a price acceptable to the bank, the property reverts back to the lender, and will soon go on the market.
Banks aren’t real estate companies, so their properties are listed for sale with a local brokerage. These are called REO properties, meaning Real Estate Owned.
Most buyers agents will tell you that they prefer working with a foreclosure than a short sale any day. Banks seem to have their act together on foreclosures, while short sales still have serious process problems, in many cases.
I can help if you’re interested in looking at foreclosures anywhere in the Annapolis MD area. If you’re not already working with an agent, give me a call at 443-995-9595.
Crofton, MD has 10 bank owned foreclosures for sale, and more in the preforeclosure stage. If you would like a listing of the Crofton, MD foreclosures, just eMail me at Rich@RichSellsHomes.com.
If you’re SEARCHING for a home anywhere in Maryland, click here to view ALL ACTIVE LISTINGS.
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist
©2009 – RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved