Do You Vacuum Your Lampshades? - 09/29/09 06:54 AM
That's not a trick question... go ahead, answer it!  Do you vacuum your lampshades? 
'Just curious, because I do a few times each year, but I've never seen that task on any list of housekeeping tips.
(If you're looking for an inspiring real estate post, please move on.  This is not going to be one of those.)
I took advantage of the opportunity to get a few things done around the house that are not part of my normal routine, when my husband was out of town a few days.  As I vacuumed the lampshades, I was amazed (as I always … (16 comments)

Why Read Localism Posts on Active Rain - 09/27/09 01:34 PM

I couldn't help noticing that some hyper-local posts have been appearing recently on the "Featured" dashboard of the Activerain homepage.  They don't generate quite the number of comments that general posts do, but maybe they should.
Featured posts are usually well written, full of good information, and - in the case of local posts about a specific neighborhood or community - they are a great source of ideas for our own writing.  Please... take a minute to read and comment on these, if you haven't already:
 
Diane Aurit's post, Lake Norman Overview September 2009, demonstrates for us that a … (47 comments)

Do You Qualify for a Short Sale on your Crofton home? - 09/27/09 08:07 AM
Owing more than your home is worth in today’s Crofton real estate market is just one of the factors determining whether a lender will approve your short sale.  That alone is not enough to qualify for a short sale. 
According to America's Home Rescue, you must first be able to satisfy your lender(s) regarding these three factors before most lenders will consider your short sale application:
1.  You are behind in your mortgage payments. 2.  You have a genuine hardship. 3.  You have no equity in the property.

In fact, some lenders have a much longer list and they all require … (3 comments)

Small Victories Make Me Love My Job - 09/26/09 07:45 AM
My rental client's application was accepted this week for a condo in Crofton, MD.  'Doesn't sound like a big deal in this world of high-stakes real estate buying and selling, but it was very important to him. 
It meant the difference between having a roof over his head or not - or, at the very least, between keeping his son in the same school or having to move to another neighborhood when his current landlord decided to sell.
Telling this client the bad news when his first rental application was rejected was tough... and the second... but the third time was … (15 comments)

Crofton Maryland Real Estate Update - August 2009 - 09/22/09 11:32 AM
Has the Crofton Maryland real estate market stabilized?  That's a question many people are asking these days, and there is no simple answer.  There are so many factors to consider, and here are a few of them tracked over a number of years:

 
If you prefer colorful graphs, I have some of those, too.  Here's one illustrating how many homes sold in the 21114 zipcode vs. how many active listings there were in recent months:

There were 46 new listings in Crofton during August, compared to 13 new non-contingent contracts. Ideally, the two numbers would be about the … (8 comments)

Hermitage - An Upscale Community Near Crofton - 09/22/09 07:15 AM


As you leave Crofton and head east on Route 450 towards Annapolis, you'll spot this entrance into the community of Hermitage - a community of 62 custom-built homes on spacious lots.
You can see from these photos that Hermitage is not a "one size fits all" community... in fact you'll find homes and settings for every taste, from colonials to ranchers, tudors to contemporary, and wooded to open space.  Yet it's not a hodge-podge, either, because the homes are far apart on winding and sloping roads that seamlessly take you past one home to the next.
There are no … (7 comments)

Crofton Maryland Real Estate - Civic Association Meeting Could Impact Your Property Value - 09/21/09 09:04 AM
The Crofton Civic Association annual meeting is tonight at Crofton Elementary School (7:30 p.m.) and the “hot topic” will be the future of Lake Louise.
Once the jewel of Crofton’s curb appeal, Lake Louise has been an eyesore for years. 
In the early days of my real estate career, prospective home buyers were always impressed at the lovely entrance into “Old Crofton” – the beautiful pond known as “Lake Louise” and the meticulously maintained lawns.  No more.  Now their first impression of our neighborhood can be summarized in one word, “OLD”. 
Contrast this with their impression as they drive into other nearby … (5 comments)

Crofton Condo at Short-Sale Price without any Short-Sale Hassles or Delays - 09/18/09 01:35 PM
You have less than two weeks to buy a Crofton condo before FHA purchase money for condos dries up on October 1.  (Assuming they don’t come to their senses before then and cancel a planned policy change.)
That’s because condo communities approved by FHA before 10/1/08 will lose their approvals, and the process for approving them again is expected to be lengthy.  And that is a good reason to buy a Crofton Condo NOW.  Any Crofton condo.  But…
THIS Crofton condo can be purchased at a price comparable to a short-sale at just $187,000, but it is NOT a short sale.  You can avoid all the … (8 comments)

I Know You From Activerain... - 09/18/09 06:30 AM
If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me "I know you from Activerain" at the Maryland Association of REALTORS Convention earlier this week, I could take my hubby out to dinner tonight!  Okay, that's an exaggeration, unless we're talking McDonalds, but it did happen several times.  I almost felt like a celebrity.
'Just got back from three days in Ocean City, Maryland, but I saw the Atlantic only briefly each morning through my hotel room window.  My days were spent in windowless rooms at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, where I attended several continuing ed classes. … (77 comments)

Training for Crofton Area Runners - 09/07/09 07:37 AM
“But I can’t run from my front door to the corner mailbox!”
That’s a quote from my daughter Susan a few years ago when someone challenged her to participate in the Cherry Blossom Run.  And she wasn't kidding, when she said that.  After her doctor advised that asthma was no excuse for saying “no” – in fact, it would be good for her – she went online and found a training program for beginning runners.  And yes, she did finish the race.  If she could do it, you can, too!
 
Now you can train with local resident and prominent runner, trainer and … (25 comments)

What's Showing at the Movies in Bowie this Weekend? - 09/05/09 04:40 AM
It's going to be a "staycation" for many families in the Bowie - Crofton area this Labor Day Weekend.  That could mean going to the movies, a last dip in the pool, shopping, looking at homes...
Regal Bowie Crossing Stadium 14, located near the Route 97 Exit off Route 50, has something for everyone, if going to the movies is on your wish list for the weekend.  Here's the what's showing:

 
All About Steve (PG-13) Extract (R) | Gamer (R) | The Final Destination 3D (R) | Halloween II (R) Inglourious Basterds (R) Post Grad (PG-13) Shorts (PG) District … (7 comments)

What's An Agent To Do When the Seller Wants More? - 09/04/09 02:17 PM
No, not more money...  more expertise than I have.
I can sell a run-down home, even one that must be sold "as-is" because the sellers have no financial resources for repairs... I can sell an over-priced home - not always, but often... I can sell a home when sellers are distressed for any number of reasons - whether it's divorce, job loss, illness... I can sell a home in a buyers' market or sellers' market, during inflation or a recession, war or peace.  I've encountered all of these during my 35+ year real estate career. BUT please understand...
I cannot provide … (67 comments)

Neighborhoods in Crofton Maryland - Chapman Farm - 09/04/09 08:42 AM
Chapman Farm is a community of more than 500 detached homes built in the 90's on the west side of Reidel Road in Crofton, Maryland.
It's a beautiful community of well-kept homes built around a designated "historic" home and outbuildings on a site now used as a community clubhouse and playground, with ample parking.
No doubt about it... home buyers love Chapman Farm!  Nearly 30% of all detached homes that went under contract during August in Crofton were located in Chapman Farms.  These homes ranged in price from roughly $485,000 to $585,000.  Now there are only four active listings remaining on … (2 comments)

 
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Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation Services

Margaret Woda

Crofton, MD

More about me…

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD 21114

Address: 2191 Defense Hwy., #120, Crofton, Bowie, and Davidsonville, MD, 21114

Office Phone: (410) 721-1500

Cell Phone: (301) 346-2923

Email Me

Real Estate and community information for home buyers and sellers, military transferees, and rookie agents in the greater Crofton area, including Bowie, Davidsonville, Fort Meade, Gambrills, Odenton, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

EHO



Margaret Woda




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