From the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to the Baltimore Harbour, from Bowie to Fort Meade and Annapolis, Crofton residents have many options for celebrating July 4 beyond their back yard picnics:

BOWIE BAYSOX STADIUM
Friday, July 3 
Fireworks Immediately following the 6:15 p.m. game against the Akron Aeros

FIREWORKS CRUISE
Friday, July 3, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.
($40 Adults / $20 Children 3-11 / 2 & under free. Reservations Required).
410-268-7601 X111

ALLEN POND, Bowie
Saturday, July 4, 3-10:30 p.m.
Entertainment, food and fireworks

PACA HOUSE & GARDEN, Annapolis
Saturday, July 4, 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. Naturalization Ceremony
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Open House
William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS HISTORIC DISTRICT
Saturday, July 4
Parade 6 p.m.  Concert by the USNA Band followed by Fireworks over the harbor 9:15 p.m.

QUIET WATERS PARK, Edgewater
Saturday, July 4, 6:00 p.m.
Summer Concert Series
(Big Daddy Stallings, playing the Blues - Seating is on the lawn, so bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic basket)

FIREWORKS CRUISE
Saturday, July 4, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.
($45 Adults / $25 Children 3-11 / 2 & under free. Reservations Required.
410-286-7601 X111)

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE
Saturday, July 4, 12 Noon-10:00 p.m.
Open to the public
Gate/Midway opens at Noon
Fireworks 9:30 p.m.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, College Park
Saturday, July 4,
Food and Music in Parking Lot 1 off Campus Drive beginning at 7 p.m. and Fireworks at 9 p.m.

BALTIMORE INNER HARBOUR
Saturday, July 4
Special events throughout the day. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Saturday, July 4
Parade begins at 11:45 a.m. (Constitution Avenue and 7th to 17th St.)
Events throughout the day at the National Mall
Fireworks 9:15 p.m.

LONDON TOWN, Edgewater
Sunday, July 5, 12:00 -- 4:00 p.m.
Historic London Town and Gardens, 839 Londontown Rd., Edgewater
(Admission:  $10/adult, $9/senior, $5/youth, Free/6 and under)

ANNAPOLIS
July 5 and Sundays 'til October, Noon-5 p.m.
First block of West Street from Church Circle to Calvert Street

IMAGE:  Mike Lynaugh, with permission
VIDEO IMAGES:  istockphoto.com

Richard Iarossi asks a question that many others have, but didn't ask out loud, and I hope you'll click through to his post and add your comment.  Maybe someone among us has a good answer to why a credit card is needed for a "free trial".  This is something we all want to know.

You can count on me to play "Devil's Advocate" whenever someone posts on Activerain about how irresponsible it is to provide only one photo with a listing.  I'm always quick to comment that sometimes no photos could be the right choice if the listed home shows poorly.  But...

No, make that "BUT..."

Two weeks ago, I was working with a buyer whose priorities were the following:

1. A relatively private setting, given the limitations of a townhome
2. As new as possible within their price range
3. A location convenient for both parties' commute

As we dug through the huge inventory of homes available on MLS, we often eliminated those with one picture because we couldn't see the setting of the property - their #1 priority.

Then it hit home for me...  Any listing agent who doesn't post photos of the home's messy interior or poorly landscaped back yard could lose some buyers for whom property condition is not one of their top three priorities.

A few days after this, I found myself posting a dozen photos on the MLS that would not have met my high standards in the past.  There have been a number of showings, two luke-warm buyer prospects, and even a half-dozen views of my YouTube video for the property.  Apparently ugly photos haven't hurt this property, and maybe they've even helpd!

I guess it's true, after all... Ugly photos ARE better than no photos.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

IMAGE:  MWoda

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Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker in Crofton Maryland.  She specializes in serving the real estate needs of home owners and home buyers in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County.  You can contact her online or by phone at the Crofton office of Long & Foster REALTORS (410) 451-6245

FORECLOSURE TURNS LIVES UPSIDE DOWN FOR TENANTS

Hopefully we won't be reading or writing any more posts like the one I wrote in March 2008 titled Tenants Faced with Foreclosure - Lives Turned Upside Down - at least not for Maryland properties.  This is an update inspired by that post.

In addition to new federal legislation protecting tenants at foreclosure, new state legislation went into effect last month in Maryland requiring a series of notices to all occupants of residential properties at various stages of the foreclosure process.

Don't get me wrong... it will still be very disturbing to families when they find out the home they lease is being foreclosed upon - but at least they can be certain of having some advance notice to explore their options.

Disclaimer:  Before I continue, let me remind you that I am a REALTOR, not an attorney, and this should NOT be considered legal advice. It is an update to the unfortunate situation described in my earlier post, now that the Maryland Legislature has passed emergency legislation to help protect tenants in the event of foreclosure to the property they occupy.

Now tenants don't have to worry about anyone showing up at their door to say they just purchased the property at a foreclosure auction and they're O-U-T.  As of May 19, 2009, any person authorized to make a sale in any foreclosure action in Maryland must provide written notices to "ALL OCCUPANTS" at three steps during the foreclosure process:

• Notice must contain specific wording and information prescribed by law (outlined below)
  
• Notice must be in a separate document
• Notice must be in 12-point type
• Notice must be sent by first-class mail
• Notice regarding content must be on outside of the envelope, on the address side, in 12-point type, in specific wording prescribed by law.

This is the result of emergency legislation known as §7-105.9 of the Real Property Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.  The entire bill can be found online at

HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT IF THE HOME YOU LEASE AND OCCUPY IS FORECLOSED UPON:

First notice, titled "IMPORTANT NOTICE", at the time foreclosure action is filed, shall include the following information:

1. Foreclosure action has been filed against the property (Including name and address of Circuit Court); 
2. Foreclosure sale of the property may occur after 45 days from the date of the notice;
   
3. Occupants may want to consult an attorney;
   
4. Occupants may be evicted;
   
5. Name and contact information of the person authorized to sell the property;
6. Phone number (877-775-0357) for assistance;
   
7. Website (www.mdhope.org) for information.

Notice on envelope shall read “IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL OCCUPANTS: FORECLOSURE INFORMATION ENCLOSED. OPEN IMMEDIATELY”.

Second Notice, titled "NOTICE OF IMPENDING FORECLOSURE SALE", not earlier than 30 days nor later than 10 days before the foreclosure sale:

1. Foreclosure action has been filed against the property (Including name and address of Circuit Court);
2. Details of foreclosure sale, including date, time and place;
3. Occupants may be evicted;
4. Name and contact information of the person authorized to sell the property;
5. Phone number (877-775-0357) for assistance;
   
6. Website (www.mdhope.org) for information.

Notice on envelope shall read “IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL OCCUPANTS: FORECLOSURE INFORMATION ENCLOSED. OPEN IMMEDIATELY”.

Third Notice, titled "IMPORTANT EVICTION NOTICE", after judgment awarding possession and before any attempt to execute the Writ of Possession:

1. Judgment awarding possession has been issued (Including name and address of Circuit Court);
2. Date of eviction;
3. Name, address, and telephone number of purchaser or purchaser's agent;
4. You may contact this person or review file in office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court
5. You may consult an attorney to determine your rights;
6. Phone number (877-775-0357) for assistance;
7. Website (www.mdhope.org) for information.

Notice on envelope shall read "IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL OCCUPANTS: EVICTION INFORMATION ENCLOSED. OPEN IMMEDIATELY.”.

NO NOTICE IS REQUIRED in the event foreclosure sale is postponed.  Additionally, neither the landlord nor the property manager are required to notify you if/when the mortgage or deed of trust is in default (unless your lease specifies otherwise), so the first notice you receive may be the one described in this post.  Frustrating as that may be for you, it is better for you now than it was for tenants faced with foreclosure in the past.  If in doubt, read Faced with Foreclosure - Lives Turned Upside Down

What are you going to do?  The tenants in my original post didn't want to disrupt their children any more than necessary, so they looked for another rental in the same school district.  Of course, renting again is an option but maybe - just maybe - this might be a good time to buy, and maybe even purchase at foreclosure the home you now lease and occupy. 

If that idea appeals to you, the first step would be to contact a mortgage lender to find out if you qualify for a loan adequate to purchase the property.  If so, contact the person named in the notice you receive or attend the foreclosure auction to make a bid (armed with financing in hand).  If you need any real estate advice, feel free to contact me, or contact a real estate attorney for legal advice.

Originally posted at Focus On Crofton 6/23/09 as How Will You Know if The Home You Lease Faces Foreclosure?

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Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker in Crofton Maryland.  She specializes in serving the real estate needs of home owners and home buyers in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County.  You can contact her online or by phone at the Crofton office of Long & Foster REALTORS (410) 451-6245

You'll find more than one way to "cut and paste" or "copy and paste" on ActiveRain - and one will save you time.  Of course, this may depend on your browser, but here is my experience in Firefox:

In a Word document and many online editors, you have these two options (and maybe others)...

CUT or COPY

1.  Highlight and right click or
2.  Highlight and Ctrl C

On Activerain, you can cut or copy using either #1 or #2.

PASTE

1.  Right click or
2.  Ctrl V

On Activerain, use #1 if you want to paste your text, font formatting and images instantly.

#2 (Ctrl V) opens a box (see image on the right) for you to paste the highlighted text without transferring the font formatting and/or images.  (To see original format of the post copied and pasted in this screenshot, visit How to Get Your Free Crofton Area Map)

Using #2, you have some extra steps such as re-formatting your fonts to be in bold or italics, and re-inserting your image in the new location.

I am so grateful to Justin Smith for teaching me this little time-saver.  Every single time I use it, I send positive vibes across cyberspace to thank him again.  Maybe this tip will help you save time, too.

A minute here, a minute there... pretty soon it adds up to "real" time.

This post is included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

With GPS and Mapquest, who needs a map to get around in the Greater Crofton area? 

If your answer is “I do!”, you’re in luck because I just happen to have a box of Crofton area maps in my office.  Simply ask, and you shall receive.  I also have a limited number of full-color maps for the area between Baltimore and Washington, which are ideal for anyone relocating to work at Northrup Grumman, Fort Meade, BWI or anywhere in this area.

Since you’re reading this online, the easiest way to get your map is probably to click on Contact Margaret Woda and type your request into the message box.  If you prefer, just call me at 301–346–2923.  I can either leave a map at the reception desk at Long & Foster for you to pick up or mail it to you, whichever you prefer.

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Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker in Crofton Maryland.  She specializes in serving the real estate needs of home owners and home buyers in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County.  You can contact her online or by phone at the Crofton office of Long & Foster REALTORS (410) 451-6245.

The rules changed on June 1 for condominium unit owners and associations in the Greater Crofton area and throughout Maryland.

Until then, condo associations were responsible for upkeep and structural repairs to both the common elements and units, while unit owners were responsible only for personal property within their units.

A copy of the master insurance policy was provided to unit owners at the time of purchase, along with other condo documents, so unit owners would know the extent of the association's insurance coverage and they could purchase supplemental insurance accordingly.  That's no longer the case.

The new law (HB 287) has two requirements you should know about:

1.  Condo associations must maintain property insurance on the common elements and units, but NOT any upgrades or replacements made by unit owners. 

2.  Unit owners are now responsible for any damage that originates in their own unit, up to the $5,000 deductible of the association's master policy. 

How does this affect you, a Maryland condo owner?  Let me give you some examples: 

• If a broken pipe in your unit causes water damage in your unit, another unit or the common elements of the condo, you will be held responsible. 
  
• Should a fire begin in your unit and spread to other parts of the building, you will be liable up to the $5,000 deductible of the association's master insurance policy.

Maryland condo buyers will be notified of this obligation at the time of initial or resale purchase AND condo associations will provide written reminders to unit owners annually.  (Agents, take note of this and be sure to use the new condo forms provided by MAR or your local association whenever you sell a condo.)  A Maryland condo buyer who does not receive this notice may terminate his/her purchase contract.

How will Maryland condo owners cope with this new responsibility?

I'm not an insurance expert, so let me defer to local real estate attorney Benny L. Kass.  He indicates that the answer lies in a condo owner's own insurance policy.  He suggests you obtain an HO-6 policy from your favorite insurance company because it will cover any personal losses and supplement the condo association's master policy.

If you're new to Maryland and don't have a local insurance agent, check with one of these agents in the Greater Crofton area for more information:

• Allstate, Hyacinth Tucker 
• Nationwide, Ed Reilly
• State Farm, Alicia Popham

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Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker in Crofton Maryland.  She specializes in serving the real estate needs of home owners and home buyers in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County.  

Earlier this week, I had a conversation with someone about the safety of real estate agents.  He asked whether this is a concern for agents, and what agents do to protect ourselves.  (Hopefully he was simply interested, and not a bad guy trying to figure out how to get around our safety precautions.)

Ahhhh.... inspiration for a blog post! 

Agent safety is not just about protecting ourselves from bad guys posing as clients... We could walk into a "crime in progress" while showing homes, run our car off the road into a ditch, etc.  And yet we've all heard horror stories about agents as crime victims, haven't we?

Of course, each agent has his/her own routine, and I've tweaked mine over the years to accommodate safety concerns. Let me share this routine with all you rookie agents, and the rest of you can follow along or move on to a more fun topic:

BEFORE LEAVING THE OFFICE:

1. Always meet clients at the office, whether they are a stranger or someone you know... even if it's less convenient than meeting at the property or their home.

2.  Make a photo-copy of client(s) ID the first time you meet with them and put it into their folder.  I've never had anyone refuse this request... people are accustomed to being asked for ID when they make a purchase or travel.

3.  Require a loan pre-approval for any buyer with whom you leave the office.  This provides independent verification of the buyer's identity, where they live, where they are employed.  I have a feeling that most axe-murderers and rapists won't subject themselves to that scrutiny because they can probably find an agent who doesn't require pre-approval.

4.  Attach a photo-copy of that pre-approval and ID to your itinerary every time you show them property and leave all that info in your mailbox or desk at the office before you leave.  If you don't get back on schedule, your family and colleagues will know where to start looking for you.

5. Invite clients to ride in your car rather than riding with them, if you plan to travel together.  'Foolish to give up control of where and when you're going.

Remember, Fair Housing Laws require us to treat all customers and clients the same.  That means we do this for everyone - not just the occasional stranger who gives us the creeps. 

WHILE SHOWING PROPERTY:

6. Keep your cell phone accessible and carry it into every property, rather than leaving it in the car.

7. Carry your car keys with you at all times while showing property so you can hit the "Panic" button on your remote door opener in the event you need help.

8. Always position yourself higher on steps, while showing property, so no one can push you down from behind.

9. Let others precede you into a room so no one can push you in and secure the door.  (Stay out of closets!)

10. Stay away from the edge of swimming pools.

You won't even think of these as safety precautions after you've made them part of your property-showing routine.

A safety-aware routine is probably our best protection from danger until/unless someone comes up with a "Lo-Jack for real estate agents" and or some kind of wireless alarm system that goes to a monitor, like a home alarm system does.  Now there's a good idea!

Whether you're a "Terps Parent" or a savvy real estate investor, this home will catch your eye for many reasons.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION -

• 2 blocks from campus, near "The View", where students can catch the campus shuttle or take the walking path directly to campus.
• Just blocks from Greek Row and Rt. 1 night spots and restaurants.
• Just blocks from Metro to D.C.
• Easy access to the Beltway (Route 495) and I-95.

FINANCIAL INFO -

• Owner financing with 10% down (investor financing is usually 20-25% down).
• The price is $349,900.
• Potential rental income $3000+ month.
  
• Currently licensed in College Park as a rental property.
• If you're a "Terps Parent", why pay rent for your kids' when their roommates could be paying you?

THE PROPERTY -

• Built in 1990 by Procopio - none of those lead-based paint or maintenance issues of older College Park homes.
• Five big bedrooms + den - or six bedrooms.
• Currently tenant occupied, so it doesn't show well, but it's in good condition.
• Central air conditioning
• Plenty of parking

For more information about this property, contact Margaret Woda at Long & Foster (410) 451-6245 or ask your buyer's agent to show you MRIS # PG7083920.

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Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker in Crofton Maryland.  She specializes in serving the real estate needs of home owners and home buyers in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County. 

This is a lousy real estate market, right?  That's what the statistics say... what the media says... what many consumers and agents say.

If that's the case, how come there were four contracts on one home that my clients wanted to buy on Tuesday?  It was a beautiful townhome located in Piney Orchard, a planned community in Odenton, MD.

No, I don't think the market has turned around.  I DO think the same qualities which always made some homes sell more quickly than others are still doing just that, even today:

PRICE & CONDITION

The home was in awesome condition and priced "right" - an unbeatable combination in any market.  Gosh, I wish the owners of my listings would try it!

My buyer clients, who didn't get that popular townhome, are going to make an offer on another one tomorrow morning. Let's hope they have better luck this time.

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Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker in Crofton Maryland.  She specializes in serving the real estate needs of home owners and home buyers in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County.