Yes, of course rely on it, BUT only as part of an overall plan. As you know, sellers are required to provide a Disclosure, or a Disclaimer, as part of the Contract of Sale for residential property in Maryland. Many sellers do disclose, which basically means they fill out a series of yes and no questions about the operation of systems in the house. The forms are standard and mandated by the State. There are exceptions from filling out the forms for estates and banks who never lived in the property.

It’s important to remember that sellers are answering questions based on whether they’re aware of any issues. Houses are big, and there could absolutely be issues going on that they aren’t aware of. Let me give you an example. I live in a decent size house and I’m probably only using about one quarter of the electrical outlets, maybe less. Am I aware of any issues with the other outlets? No…but then again, I’m not using them either.

Do not rely on property disclosures as the sole source of information about the property. An objective home inspection, by a licensed Maryland home inspector is the way to go. After all, this is one of the biggest financial transactions you’re going to undertake for a while. While home inspections aren’t perfect, they are surely better than Seller’s Disclosures. They’re even a far sight better than Uncle Harry walking through because he “knows a lot about houses.” I have no problem recommending qualified home inspectors who I have worked with over the years.

If you’re planning on buying the house…get an objective assessment of the condition via a home inspection. And while sellers aren’t “required” to make changes, it certainly is a great negotiation tool if they want their house to go to settlement.

If you’re not working with an agent to buy your home in Crofton, MD, I can help. Rich Iarossi, 443-995-9595.

It’s all about the Active Adult lifestyle. Spectacular 55+ Active Adult condo in a secure, elevator building. Maintenance free unit includes 2 full and one half bath. Kitchen area, living/dining room combo. Community social room, and exercise room. Walk to shopping and restaurants. Garage parking. This location has it all for that lifestyle change you’re looking to make.

BONUS: Underground garage space and storage unit.

See the full MLS listing here.

Contact me at 443-995-9595 Cell, or 410-451-6255 Office, to see this wonderful condo.

This house for sale at 1658 Patrice Circle in Crofton, MD is just about perfect. Four large bedrooms and two and a half full baths are just the cornerstone of this beautiful Crofton Colonial. Granite counter tops, upscale appliances and stunning hardwood floors make the kitchen into a working showplace.

Need a place to gather with family and friends. The stunning two story family room on the main level will certainly fit your needs. Also on the main level you’ll find a formal living room, formal dining room, library, half bath, laundry room, and of course…the kitchen of your dreams.

If privacy is your thing than you need to check out the fully finished basement. Here are a couple of pictures to this Crofton, MD beauty, but you can see many more here at the property site for the listing.

The 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

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, 21144

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

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

Houses in Crofton MD are selling. Houses that are priced right, and in good condition, that is.

Last week 8 houses went to settlement. What was interesting was the diversity of the price ranges. $205,000 for a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, all the way up to $615,000, for a 5 bedroom, 4 bath house.

Five of the eight houses sold were in the $300,000 to $359,000 price range. I’m sure a couple of these were first time home buyers getting in before the $8,000 tax credit expires next month.

All in all, for the week ending 10/24/09, 8 houses sold and 12 new listings came on the market. No houses went under contract during the week.

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

Odenton, MD real estate sales in September, 2009 compared to the same month in 2008 were not trending upward.

The number of units sold was almost the same so the reduction in average prices is reflective of the price ranges that are active. 24 of the total 26 homes sold in Odenton, MD during the month of September, 2009 were under $400,000.

Crofton, MD, a neighboring community had 8 homes sold over $500,000.

The Odenton, MD homes for sale inventory remains high at 198. It grew slightly since 42 new listings came on the market while 26 were settled.

Taking a peek at the future it looks like the trend is turning around. 38 homes went into one of the contract stages.

Interestingly, houses are selling faster in Odenton, MD in September of this year compared to last, even while the inventory continues to grow.

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

You will not be disappointed with this new Crofton MD real estate listing. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own an outstanding townhouse styled condo, located in the Georgetown section of Crofton.

Built in 1966, this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse boasts hardwood floors on the main and upper levels. Remodeled master bath. Main level private brick patio is excellent for entertaining or grilling. Finished recreation room with fireplace, wet bar, and built in bookcases. All applicances convey. New roof, HVAC, HWH for trouble free living. Storage room in lower level. Not a short sale or foreclosure, fast settlement is available.

Ask your agent whether you qualify for the $8,000 1st time home buyers tax credit.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to view this property, give me a call at (443) 995-9595, or call your local Crofton MD real estate area agent.