If you purchase a property and the property is transferred after January 1 but before July 1, you may file an appeal within 60 days of the transfer. After filing a written appeal, you will be scheduled for a hearing; or, if you prefer, your written appeal can be reviewed instead of having a hearing.
Your property is currently assessed at $386,500 - approximately 25% more than your purchase price of $275,000. A successful appeal may save you over $1600 per year in property taxes that you could spend updating your home or replenishing your retirement account.
You can download the tax appeal form at Maryland Property Tax Appeal Form. Item #3 should include a statement from you that reads something to the effect that...
"Actual market value of this property is lower than the tax assessment, as evidenced by the attached HUD-1 settlement sheet, appraisal and MRIS printout."
You can obtain a copy of the appraisal from your lender (if you don't already have one), and I'll be happy to provide another copy of the MRIS printout if you need one.
I urge you to file your appeal NOW, before you get bogged down in life and the 60-day deadline slips away. By the way, you will probably get a quicker response if you ask for a review, and not a hearing.
'Hope you're enjoying your first weekend as homeowners!
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
PCS-ing military personnel have two facilities for temporary housing in Annapolis, in addition to countless hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfast options.
The first is the Navy Gateway Inns and Suites located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. Parking is right outside the door of this historic 1904 building, which also houses the Officer and Faculty Club. There are 16 luxurious custom decorated suites plus two elegant custom-decorated Distinguished Visiotrs Suite.
Each custom suite is 500 square feet and features high-speed wireless Internet, a refrigerator and microwave, HD flat screen TV, Queen-size sleeper couch and a queen-size bed with posturpedic pillow-top mattress. (Note: the building will be closed for renovation in summer/fall 2012.)
Another option for military personnel and their family members (including DOD civilians) is the Navy Lodge Annapolis Station, located at 347 Kinkaid Road in Annapolis. This is a pet-friendly facility, unlike most civilian accommodations in the Annapolis area, and there is accessibility for wounded warriors and physically challenged guests. Reservations are required, and honored on a first-come first-serve basis.
Other nearby Navy Lodge locations include Bethesda, Patuxent River, and Washington, D.C. You can make online reservations for any of them by clicking on Navy-Lodge.com.
Be sure to touch base with me before you come so I can set aside a few days to give you a grand tour of the Annapolis/D.C. area and help you explore your housing options.
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
Sales were UPin Crofton, Maryland, last month, no matter how you look at it. Twenty two homes sold in December 2011, compared to just sixteen in the same month of 2010 – a 37.5% increase. December sales were up 22.2% in the 21114 zip code from eighteen during November 2011. There were seventeen homes sold during October 2011. Clearly this trend is going back in the “right” direction, after a dip from twenty two in September.
“Balance” is the barometer I use to evaluate the Crofton real estate market and predict its short-term future direction. This is done by determining whether new sales and new listings number about the same. (If new listings are double the number of new sales, for example, it's a bad thing for sellers and a good thing for buyers.) New pending contracts in December and new listings were very much on balance: fifteen new listings vs. fourteen new pending sales. If we could see this balance for several months, it would be good news for the Crofton real estate market.
Crofton home sellers and buyers can both find something to like in the December real estate report, as balance seems to be returning. Could we see a “normal” real estate market in 2012? I hope so, but the higher days on market in December gives me reason to pause in making that prediction.
If you're a statistics junkie and want more details about the Crofton real estate market, I'll be happy to share them with you. Just give me a call for the latest real estate information in the greater Crofton area, this zipcode, or your very own neighborhood - and what it means to you.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
You've probably heard people in the media mention real estate terms that you don't really understand. They seem to assume that everyone already knows what those terms mean and you're pretty sure you're the only one in the entire viewing audience who doesn't know the difference between FHA, HOA and REO.
Real estate agents sometimes do the same thing... but their ads and blog posts just leave you more confused than ever!
If you have questions about real estate distress sales, end your confusion today by watching this short video for a description of short sales, foreclosure, and REO properties.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
Rarely do I visit Activerain that I don't learn something new. Earlier this month, for example, I learned a new vocabulary word: weltanschauung. Boy, that would be a stumper in a spelling bee, wouldn't it? I'm not even going to try to pronounce it.
When I looked it up, here's what I found in Mirriam Websiter's online dictionary:
Weltanschauung is a noun, often capitalized, defined as “a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint.”The origin of this word is German – from Welt (world) and Anschauung (view). There are two ways to pluralize the word:weltanschauungs or weltanschauungen.
At this point, I would say something about this being everything you ever wanted to know about the word, weltanschauung, but there's more...
If you look at the right column on the home page of Activerain, you'll see a little box titled "Important Links". As many times as I've seen and used that box, I never before noticed a link to Weltanschauung until I went searching for it today. It turns out that Activerain has a page by that name, with the header "Weltanschauung: the guiding principles and philosophy of an organization; a world view."
If I were Gomer Pyles, I'd probably be hitting the side of my head with my hand and saying, "Well, I'll be!"
How on earth did I learn about "weltanschauungen" on Activerain, you ask? Well, this is one of the topics included in the 2012 BIG Back to Basics Jumpstart Blog Challenge. You'll probably be reading a lot about this word and Activerain page throughout January, because every participant in this blog challenge has to write about it twice in 21 days.
Did you learn anything new on Activerain today?
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
Crofton Library is the heart of our community for many residents.
This Saturday, January 14, babies under two are invited to Babies in Bloom. It will be a fun half-hour for babies and caregivers, designed to stimulate early infant development with stories, songs, rhymes and fingerplays.
Family Game Day will take place from 2–4 p.m. on Tuesday, January, 24, when school is closed for elementary and middle school students.
Then, on Wednesday, January 25, there will be an e-Reader Workshop at 7 p.m. This will be a great opportunity to get help learning to use the Kindle, Nook, iPad or other eReader you got for Christmas.
Crofton Library is located at 1681 Riedel Road, Crofton, MD 21114. Regular hours are Monday-Thursday 9–9, Friday and Saturday 9–5, closed on Sundays.
By the way, I noticed today that flags were flying from all three poles. Great to see that again!
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
Andrew Capelli, with Stewart Title in Troy Michigan, is truly one of the Hidden Gems in the Rain. He commented on one of my posts, so I clicked through to his Activerain profile. It was my intention to welcome him to Activerain and find a recent post of his to reciprocate the comment.
As I started reading, I was drawn from one post to the next, and really enjoyed his writing style. This one about "Talent Vs. Attitude" is one of many short, conversational posts that are worth reading.
Watch for a re-launching of the Hidden Gems in the Rain group next month (March, at the latest). Andrew is going to be the first one I've posted in a long time, because he's too good of a blogger to go unnoticed.
By the way, I've disabled comments on this re-blog so you can click through to the original post for commenting.
Michigan, my home, has seen its fair share of economic challenges over the last few years. Michigan lost about a million jobs since the beginning of the last recession- That's roughly half of the jobs lost by the entire country. Not surprisingly, Michigan was the only state to decline in population between the 2000 and 2010 Census.
Michiganders have, by and large, kept their optimism, however. Over 70,000 jobs were added back to the state in the last year, which is a great sign. And the push is on to add more. More jobs in the state mean more people moving here- which means more business for Stewart Title, sparking my particular interest. In surveying the scene, I have noticed an interesting split in the psychology of job recruitment.
In following the mindset of many of the people involved with economic development, the emphasis seems to be on talent. "Talented", as defined by the economic developers, essentially equates with "trained" and runs the gamut from skilled tradespeople (e.g. machinists) up to engineers and doctors. The thought is that by recruiting and offering a "talented" workforce, more businesses will be attracted to create and maintain a physical presence in Michigan. It makes sense- given a choice between talented or untalented workers, who wouldn't opt for talent?
I attended a seminar on Friday of last week, however, about setting goals for 2012. Part of the speaker's presentation was about 4 steps to success. These were:
1) Mindset (a combination of belief and a sense of urgency)
2) Strategy (having a daily, weekly and monthly plan)
3) The ability to set appointments; and
4) Consistency
The speaker specifically noted that none of these steps involves talent. In the context of these steps, talent is completely unnecessary!
I thought about the 4 steps in relation to "talent" and decided to categorize them under the umbrella of "attitude." And I wondered: Would it be feasible to recruit and offer an entire workforce of people with the right attitude? What if our schools didn't just teach "skills"- What if they also taught work ethic and disposition? We learn an awful lot from our jobs, but how often is attitude actually taught, not just expressed as part of a corporate vision?
Obviously, to have both talent and attitude is optimum. And attitutde alone won't help a layperson work in a factory, design a building or perform surgery. But maybe there is a premise being missed by the economic developers. As I continue to monitor Michigan's progress, I will be curious to see if touting our talent is enough to let employers experience our attitude!
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
One of the first items on a long list of guidelines for participation in Activerain is this: Do not advertise yourself or your services in the comment section of another member's blog post. The link goes to a 2008 post on this topic by Rich Jacobsen, and there are several others linked from his post that you should read - or re-read, if it's been a while. I'm sure many other posts have been written on this topic since then, but we have a constant influx of new members who may not realize the guidelines even exist. ( ... or how they're sometimes interpreted.)
If you've been on Activerain more than a week, you've probably seen some comments that are ads having nothing to do with the post or even real estate. But let's move on to a kinder gentler spam, which is far more common on Activerain...
Other advertisements are more subtle and the commenter has no intention of offending the author of the post or anyone else. Take, for example, this little graphic that I used in all my posts and comments when I first joined Activerain. Jeff Belonger soon contacted me to offer an unsolicited head's up that this was offensive to other Activerainers, and I needed to cease and desist if I wanted to get along and not be black-listed.
I could argue this is not really advertising, since it doesn't include my name, company, or contact information, but let's be honest here... I was trying to create an association between my comment, my name, and my state. That makes it advertising, whether or not I initially thought of it in that context. Jeff was right to contact me, even though I felt very defensive at the time.
It's not uncommon to see comments on Activerain that include an image of a website header, personal logo, or photo (of the agent, their team or something totally random like this artichoke in bloom). These ads may not include a name, company or contact information but they are kinder gentler spam, which is intended to piggyback on someone else's post to promote the commenter. In some cases, they not only exceed the comment in size, they're larger than the original post.
I don't believe these commenters disrespect the Activerain guidelines... more likely, they just don't realize that what they're doing is interpreted by some as advertising. And, in fact, they may be violating Activerain guidelines.
Self-policing is the only way to maintain the integrity of Activerain for members and readers. In addition to following the guidelines ourselves, we need to click on "Report a Concern" when we see spam in a comment and/or send a friendly email to the commenter and/or delete comments that contain advertising, or all of the above. No, it's not pleasant to receive such an email, but we should be open-minded to friendly constructive feedback. This is a wonderful community where most members are committed to maintaining all the things we love about Activerain. The community guidelines are a big part of this.
Remember, kinder gentler spam in Activerain comments is still spam.
Flower Photo: (C) Sunny Frank, with permission
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
This post appeared on the Feature Board last week, just as I was preparing for an appraisal on my listing in Davidsonville, MD. I've attended hundreds of appraisals over the years, but never thought to send the sellers a "what you can expect" email. Now I'm inspired by Michael's post to create one for my clients in the greater Crofton area, combining his information with a few other items from my own checklist.
Bottom line is this: You might want to Bookmark Michael's post for future reference whether you're a new or experienced agent, or simply a homeowner trying to re-finance your own home. Only on Activerain will we find such helpful advice from an appraiser's perspective.
You’ve just signed all of the paperwork for your refinance, handed the loan officer the check for the appraisal, and now you’re wondering what is going to happen next. Good news-the appraisal inspection is painless, and usually takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes to complete. However, there are a few things that you should do to help the process move along as smooth as possible.
Preparing for the appraisal inspection:
Create a detailed list of the recent improvements, which should include the following: when completed, cost of the improvement, before and after pictures if available.
Make sure each room is accessible; the appraiser is required to inspect each room.
If there is a crawl space, this area will also have to be made accessible for inspection for an FHA appraisal.
Give the appraiser room to do their job. Errors are more likely to occur when the appraiser isn’t able to concentrate on their inspection.
Keep all pets restrained. I’ve been bitten twice by a dog, and once by a cat; the owners had assured me that their pets were friendly-not so much!
If you live within a development that has a homeowners association, have the name and phone number of the contact person available, along with a fee statement.
If the appraisal is for an FHA loan, then the area leading to the attic will have to be cleared and made accessible-the appraiser is required to make at least a head and shoulders inspection of the attic area.
Walk through each room and straighten up as if you were getting ready for company to visit. Appraisers are objective and can look past many things, however, the underwriter reviewing the appraisal photos may feel differently.
Complete any unfinished projects-most appraisals are done “as is”, and any projects that haven’t been completed, will have to be adjusted for within the appraisal report.
A copy of any agreements regarding easements (shared driveways and/or garages,etc.) should be made available.
Concerns about value:
For years I’ve been a big proponent of developing a relationship with a Realtor. I’m not talking about a real estate agent who happens to be a relative that lives half way across the state. I’m talking about one that does a lot of work within your neighborhood.
By building a relationship with a professional Realtor (this is all they do and they do it well), they’ll be able to give you great insight as to what’s happening within your neighborhood, and they would be glad to let you know what similar homes are selling for.
Once the appraisal is complete:
You have a right to a copy of your appraisal, so ask for it. If you should find any errors or have any concerns, talk with your loan originator. This is hard for borrowers to understand, being that they paid for the appraisal, but the mortgage company is the appraiser’s client, and they can’t discuss the appraisal with anyone else unless given permission.
Trying to understand an appraisal can be like trying to read the “Dead Sea Scrolls,” so ask questions and get clarification when needed-you paid for it!
If you have any questions, or Minnesota real estate appraisal needs (divorce, bankruptcy, tax appeal, or estate planning) please contact Michael at 612.599-2581, or use the form on the contact page.
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
Most long-time Activerainers will tell new members that one of the unexpected benefits of reading other people's posts and exchanging comments with them is the many friendships developed among members from coast to coast and seemingly everywhere in between. When we have an outgoing referral to a destination where one of our Activerain friends lives and works, it's only natural to pick up the phone or send an email and make the referral directly to them. It's reassuring to both you and your client, when you can say "I'm going to put you in the hands of a trusted friend to help you buy a home in your destination city" - or to sell one, if that's the case.
What if you don't know someone in your client's destination city or hometown? Well, you can contact an Activerain member in the same state and ask if they can recommend someone, or you have two other options:
Do a search on Activerain for your clients' destination city if they're buyers, or their hometown if they're sellers, and read the Activerain profile and a few blogs of agents you find in that area. Contact one or several until you find an agent who you believe is a good match for your client and negotiate a referral fee.
Activerainer Eric Anderson called me within about 2 minutes of my emailing three agents in the Fort Bragg area, a few years ago, and ended up listing a home for one of my long-time clients. He not only helped my client sell his home in that area, he helped me retain a good relationship with this client who subsequently bought and sold another home with me when he returned to Maryland.
Use the Activerain Referral Exchange. It's so easy! Just look for the list of Important links in the right column of your Activerain homepage. Click on Referral Network to learn more, and don't leave without signing up for Referral Alerts (screen shot on the right) to notify you any time a new referral is posted by another Activerain member. When you Post a Referral, a notice will go out to all the agents who have signed up for referral alerts in that area.
It's always important to respond quickly to a referral alert, since many agents will receive this notice. The referring agent will probably click through to your Activerain profile, read some of your blog posts, and consider the content of your response. If you joined Activerain three years ago and have fewer than 10,000 points, you're not as likely to win this referral as an active participant... perhaps even someone whose name they recognize as a frequent commenter on their posts. I've made and received referrals through this resource, and it works!
If you're learning about the Activerain Referral Exchange for the first time today, thank James Scurrah who inspired this post through an email conversation we had over the weekend about referrals.
By the way, why don't you stop by his blog and show him some Activerain love? He joined back in 2008, but only recently started participating seriously in November 2011, with several re-blogs. I'm betting 2012 is the year he will find his own blogging voice AND some Activerain referrals.
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. ________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
Real Estate and community information for homebuyers, sellers, and rookie agents in Bowie, Crofton, Crownsville, Davidsonville, Fort Meade, Gambrills, Odenton, Millersville, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Proven systems - combining local expertise, professional experience, and technology - to give you a competitive edge when you buy or sell a home.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
If you purchase a property and the property is transferred after January 1 but before July 1, 
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker
I looked it up, here's what I found in Mirriam Websiter's online dictionary: 
Crofton Library is the heart of our community for many residents. 
One of the first items on a long list of guidelines for participation in Activerain is this: 
se. Take, for example, this little graphic that I used in all my posts and comments when I first joined Activerain. Jeff Belonger soon contacted me to offer an unsolicited head's up that this was offensive to other Activerainers, and I needed to cease and desist if I wanted to get along and not be black-listed. 
It's not uncommon to see comments on Activerain that include an image of a website header, personal logo, or photo (of the agent, their team or something totally random like this artichoke in bloom). These ads may not include a name, company or contact information but they are kinder gentler spam, which is intended to piggyback on someone else's post to promote the commenter. In some cases, they not only exceed the comment in size, they're larger than the original post. 
Posted by 
You’ve just signed all of the paperwork for your refinance, handed the loan officer the check for the appraisal, and now you’re wondering what is going to happen next. Good news-the appraisal inspection is painless, and usually takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes to complete. However, there are a few things that you should do to help the process move along as smooth as possible.
For years I’ve been a big proponent of developing a relationship with a Realtor. I’m not talking about a real estate agent who happens to be a relative that lives half way across the state. I’m talking about one that does a lot of work within your neighborhood. 
st long-time Activerainers will tell new members that one of the unexpected benefits of reading other people's posts and exchanging comments with them is the many friendships developed among members from coast to coast and seemingly everywhere in between. When we have an outgoing referral to a destination where one of our Activerain friends lives and works, it's only natural to pick up the phone or send an email and make the referral directly to them. It's reassuring to both you and your client, when you can say "I'm going to put you in the hands of a trusted friend to help you buy a home in your destination city" - or to sell one, if that's the case.
Use the Activerain Referral Exchange. It's so easy! Just look for the list of Important links in the right column of your Activerain homepage. Click on 
;)
;)
;)
