Tammi's Blog

Toys For Tots - Perry Hall Collection Center - Long & Foster

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:39:51 -0600

Long and Foster’s PERRY HALL Sales Office

Designated TOYS FOR TOTS Collection Site

All Long & Foster Sales Offices Will Serve As Toy Drop Off Sites For Annual Toys for Tots Campaign:

Perry Hall, Md. November 2, 2009 –Long & Foster’s Perry Hall office is proud to announce the launch of its annual toy drive to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots Campaign.

Toys may be dropped off seven days a week between 9am and 6pm weekdays and 3pm weekends, at Long & Foster’s Perry Hall office located at 8712 Belair Rd. (Belair and Silver Spring Rds., behind Wendy’s) prior to December 11, 2009.

Long & Foster’s Perry Hall office sales manager, Sharon Blough said. “We are proud to participate in The Long & Foster^® Companies 19^th annual toy drive throughout its seven-state Mid-Atlantic region and the District of Columbia in support of the U.S. Marines Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. We hope you will be generous with your donation to help less fortunate children throughout our community.”

Wes Foster, Chairman of The Long & Foster Companies said, “We take great pride in being able to once again assist this worthy cause and to help give the needy children in our communities the Christmas they deserve. For nearly two decades, Long & Foster and its affiliated businesses have remained committed to helping provide a better holiday season to children in need in the communities we serve.”

Between now and Dec.22, each of the company’s more than 200 sales offices throughout seven states will accept donations of new unwrapped toys for distribution to financially and/or physically disadvantaged children. Long & Foster employees at the company’s corporate headquarters in Chantilly, Va. will also participate in the annual holiday event.

Once the toys are collected and presented to area Marines, they are distributed to local churches, social welfare agencies and to less fortunate children throughout Long & Foster’s service area.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program began with a single campaign in 1947. Last year, 18 million toys were distributed to underprivileged children nationwide by The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves program. Long & Foster collected more than 25,000 toys which were distributed to charitable and service organizations in the communities Long & Foster serves.

About The Long & Foster ^® Companies

The Long & Foster ^® Companies is the parent company of the largest, privately owned residential real estate company in the U.S., Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc., and is the Mid-Atlantic region’s leading provider of homeownership services. In addition to its real estate arm, The Long & Foster^® Companies consist of Prosperity Mortgage^® Company; Walker Jackson® Mortgage Corporation; Long & Foster^® Insurance Agency, Inc., and Long & Foster^®Settlement Services. The total 2008 sales volume and sales equivalents for all The Long & Foster Companies was $48.9 billion.

Tammi L. Copsey, REALTOR®
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
8712 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236
(410) 529-1900 office * (410) 529-5954 fax
(410) 258-5123 Blackberry
tammi.copsey@lnf.com
http://www.tammicopsey.com

Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:13:30 -0600

Today I have chosen to re-blog a post by an ActiveRain member, Russel Ray (San Diego Home Inspector) on the subject of Home Safety and Recalls.

As always, Russel gives great information and a step by step account of how you can make your home safer!

Thank you Russel for always giving such great advice that my clients and I can use! You rock!

Via Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector (Russel Ray, Property Consultant):

With Halloween behind us but Thanksgiving and Christmas knocking on our doors, it's time for a reminder about recalled products, safety, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Be the most knowledgeable Realtor, home inspector, mortgage lender, etc., in your service area and impress your family, friends, and business associates by knowing about recalls and safety concerns before they hear it on the news. I'll teach you how.

For those who are not familiar with the CPSC, they are the ones charged with protecting the public from lead paint, hazardous toys, unsafe appliances, and the like.

There are literally thousands of recalls and safety concerns that have been released since the Consumer Product Safety Commission began operating in 1973, and they all are listed. I recommend that you subscribe to all CPSC press releases. This will alert you to all recalls and safety concerns in all categories. Simply

Remember that not every recall makes the news or your local paper. But you'll think it is pretty substantial when you or a loved one suffers property damage, personal injury, or death.

Following is a detailed tutorial on how you can check on recalled products for your home and then sign up for the CPSC notices of recalled products. You can get notices before your neighbors hear about them on the nightly news.

First, make a list of your appliances: refrigerator, dishwasher, water heater, range, washer, dryer, etc. Then write down the manufacturer name, the model number, and the serial number. You should already have it for insurance purposes, but if you don't, well, we're getting two things done at once. We're multitasking!

Remember, though, that the very nature of numbers and letters means that numbers or letters might not have been read correctly. For example, the letter “O” and the number “0” can look the same, as can the letter “l” and the number “1.” Also remember to record spaces and dashes and any preprinted letters and numbers. It is possible to conduct research with only partial information, such as the manufacturer’s name and the type of appliance, but further evaluation might be required by a manufacturer’s representative or other specialist familiar with the equipment involved.

Now just follow the steps below.

Connect your Internet browser to the CPSC web site: http://www.cpsc.gov and then click on “Recalls and Product Safety News.”

Up pops a new window, “Recalls and Product Safety News,” where you can find recent recalls or recalls by month and year, product type, company, product description, or product category, such as toys, household products, outdoor products, etc. Product type, for example, will show you all the dishwashers.

Let’s do it. Click on “Product Type.”

Up pops a screen “Find Recalled Products by Product Type.” Over at the right you’ll see “Optional.”

Let’s do a search on Kenmore dishwashers since I know there was a recall issued on February 25, 2005. In the “Optional” box, type the first three letters of dishwasher, “dis,” and click on “Simplify search.”

The left side of the window is refreshed to show you all the product types that include the three letters “dis.” There are six categories shown. Click on “Dishwashers” and then click on “Find.”

Up pops a window “Results of Your Search.” You should see thirteen lines (as of 11/11/09); the eleventh line is Kenmore (yellow arrow). However, look at the date of the recall: February 15, 1993. Remember in Step #5 that I told you I knew there was a Kenmore recall on February 25, 2005? This is why I don’t use the “Product Type” category. In using the “Product Type” category, you will have to read all twelve of those dishwasher recall documents to make sure you haven’t missed any Kenmore recalls. Kenmore currently is manufactured by Whirlpool corporation, so the fifth line (as of 11/11/09), “Whirlpool Corporation Recall of Dishwashers (February 25, 2005; Revised April 8, 2005)” is the one we want (blue arrow).

Click on that line, and a new screen pops up, “NEWS from CPSC.” Scroll down and you’ll see that Whirlpool and Kenmore brands are involved. So you can see that if you just rely on headlines, your search could be faulty. Same thing with your local newspaper headlines. It’s important that you know that brand names are not necessarily manufacturer names.

Let me show you a better way that will give you all the information you need even if you don't know the manufactured. Click on your browser’s “back” button once and then click on "Conduct a New Search."

Now click on "Back to Recalls Page" at the bottom of your screen.

Now click on “Find Recalls by:” “Company.”

Up pops the “Find Recalled Products by Company” page; looks very similar to the screen shot in Step 6.

Under “Optional”, type the first three letters of Kenmore, “ken,” click on “Simplify Search.”

The screen is refreshed to show you all the companies that include the three letters “ken” in their names.

Click on “Kenmore” and then click on “FIND”.

The screen is refreshed to show “Results of Your Search.” You should see 30 lines (as of 11/11/09) of products that Kenmore has recalled. Note that the headlines show “Kenmore” in only eight of them yet you know that all 30 have the word “Kenmore” somewhere in the text of the recall notice. Therefore, just look for the ones that have “dishwasher” in the headline since you know that our search on “Kenmore,” coupled with “dishwasher” gives you what you want.

The list is in reverse chronological order, and you'll see that there are only four dishwasher headlines: May 16, 2007; February 25, 2005; May 29, 1996; and February 15, 1993. Now you can check your dishwasher's model and serial numbers to see if it was involved in one of the recalls.

Now, to complete our task, let’s go back to the CPSC home page. Click on your browser's "back" button once and then click on "Conduct a New Search," just like in Step 9. Then click on "Back to Recalls Page" like we did in Step 10.

Now click on “Join our recall notification list.”

Type your email address in the box.

There are many subscription choices, including subscribing to recalls involving only selected products, e.g., infant/child products, sports and recreation products, outdoor products, household products, and specialty products. I recommend subscribing to “All CPSC press releases, including recalls (list name: releases),” which is the second choice (red arrow). Click on the radio button (yellow arrow) and then click on subscribe (green arrow).

By subscribing to all press releases, you’ll get not only recall notices but great safety information, too. You'll never miss anything, regardless of how insignificant it might seem and regardless of whether or not the recall makes the evening news or the pages of your local newspaper.

As long as your email address is active, you’ll never miss a recall or safety concern notice, and the nice thing is that the CPSC encourages you to spread their recall notices and safety information far and wide, so you can use them to keep in touch with your prospects and clients, and even use them in your marketing campaigns. What coule be better than FREE marketing materials?

Lastly, go back and check on your own appliances from that list you made at the very beginning.

If you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me.

Please feel free to re-blog this to give it as wide a distribution as possible and help save lives and property.

♫♫☼☼♪♪☼☼♫♫

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It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time with Long & Foster Perry Hall!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:33:33 -0600

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!

This evening my office, Long & Foster Perry Hall participated in our bi-monthly volunteer work at Oak Crest Retirement Living. The residents of Oak Crest gather in the dining hall to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to benefit the Maryland Food Bank. This event is one of the most fun and rewarding things I have been involved in. The residents look forward to it and so do we!

This evening we made a total of 744 sandwiches in under one hour!
These folks know their way around a PB&J!!

Here are a couple of photos of tonight's event:

From left to right: Melissa Lockwood, Tammi Copsey (me), Sharon Blough (Manager), Pat Bomhoff, Ellen Reinhard, Arelene Del Gallo

Pat was dishing out peanut butter to the residents and ended up wearing some...

Boxes full of sandwiches...

In the top photo we are standing in front of this sign...I had to share it with everyone!

The article below is from the Oak Crest website is from March (which marked the one year anniversary of our commitment to assistance...at the time we had assisted in making 5000 sandwiches!

Oak Crest and Long & Foster Team Up for Maryland Food Bank

3/6/2009 5000 Sandwiches Made in One-Year History of Program

PARKVILLE, MD – Once a month, a dedicated group of people gathers in the Renaissance Gardens Terrace Dining Room of Oak Crest Village. Instead of watching television or going home after work, they are donating their time to make sandwiches for the homeless.

Surrounded by dozens of loaves of bread and Ziploc bags, and equipped with a healthy dose of teamwork, the volunteers prepare more than 700 sandwiches that are sent to the Maryland Food Bank for distribution at the next day’s lunch service.

For an entire year, it has been a labor of love and fellowship between residents, staff and community volunteers. On the evening of January 14, the crew achieved a milestone of sorts. They made the 5,000th sandwich in the history of the program.

“It just goes to show you what a difference a group of people can make a little at a time,” stated Alison Krull, volunteer coordinator at Oak Crest and creator of the program. “It’s been said that ‘we can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.’ That’s what we try to accomplish every month for those served by the Maryland Food Bank.”

Along with staff and residents, Oak Crest partners with a diverse group of volunteers from the business community and youth organizations, namely the Perry Hall Office of Long and Foster (8712 Belair Road) and Boy Scout Troop #146 (Epiphany Lutheran Church).

Sharon Blough, vice president and Perry Hall branch manager for Long and Foster, leads a team of local Realtors and staff who volunteer at Oak Crest throughout the year. They were on hand for the making of the 5000th sandwich.

“Knowing that this effort benefits people in Baltimore through the Maryland Food Bank truly makes the project meaningful,” described Blough. “Collaborating with Oak Crest has been a natural fit since our first community service project at their campus several years ago. Our employees have learned so much from their enthusiastic residents.”

For more information about this and other activities coordinated by the Oak Crest volunteer program, please contact Alison Krull at 410-665-1000.

About Long and Foster: Located at 8721 Belair Road, the Perry Hall office of Long and Foster is the home to a dedicated team of professionals providing real estate, mortgage, title and insurance services. For more information, please contact Long and Foster at 410-529-1900.

About Oak Crest Village: More than 2,200 people live at Oak Crest Village, an Erickson full-service retirement community that promotes a vibrant lifestyle. Erickson Retirement Communities is one of the leading national developers of full-service retirement communities. Headquartered near Baltimore, MD, Erickson has built an innovative network of communities that combine a maintenance-free active lifestyle with an ever-expanding host of amenities, social activities, and wellness and medical centers, proven to improve both physical and mental health. Erickson was named by FORTUNE as being one of the Top 100 “2009 Best Companies to Work For®.”

For more information about this story, please contact Jeff Getek, public relations manager, at 410-882-3262, ext. 3189.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/4

To all of our Veterans and Active Duty Military - THANK YOU!

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:20:19 -0600

To all of our Veterans and Active Duty Military - THANK YOU!

To all who have served our great country...
To all who have put our freedoms above their own safety...
To all who have who have given the supreme sacrifice for our freedom...

THANK YOU!

A special thank you to a yound lady I am honored to call my friend,
Nikki Mendicino (NikkiUSA)
"Every Veterans Kid Sister"

She is an inspiration and a true friend to the Veterans of this country.
I encourage you to visit her site to learn about her work for our Veterans!

Don't Stop the Music (my version of singing in the "rain")

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:35:14 -0600

Don’t Stop The Music…

I’ve always liked music. The previous sentence is a complete understatement…I don’t like music…I LOVE MUSIC!

I won’t bore you with small talk about this as one photo should be proof enough:

Yes, that’s a walk-in closet in my home that houses most of my collection. My loving husband rebuilt an old cedar closet so my music would have a home...

With that said, there has always been one genre that escaped me…Jazz. I never felt like I could connect, relate or that it fit my life in some small way.

That is, until I found Jamie Cullum.

My introduction to this “Twentysomething” was hearing his version of “The Wind Cried Mary” by Jimi Hendrix in 2004. His interpretation of this classic song made me perk up and listen…and I liked what I heard. It had an upbeat, airiness that left me with a different feeling about the song. It challenged me and inspired me…it made me connect. It also made me an instant fan.

Jamie has a new CD, The Pursuit, coming out on 2/2/2010 and he has been actively promoting it on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

His post today mentioned a song that would be appearing on the new album and I knew I had heard it before…

”Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna?

My mind couldn’t wrap around how this song (that my teenage nieces listen to) could be interpreted into jazz, but I had to head on over to his YouTube channel to see if my guess was correct. It was and it is amazingly well done!

Am I going to share it with you? You bet!

I hope that you enjoyed it and that I’ve made a fan out of at least one person who reads this.

If nothing else play it for your teenager(s) and spark their curiosity…who knows, they might learn to appreciate another genre of music, expand their minds and suddenly think you’re the coolest thing since sliced bread for knowing a Rihanna song!

What does this have to do with real estate? Not much, really, but I must admit his music makes an excellent soundtrack for an Open House!

Enjoy your day!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

A Real Estate Agent Must be Present to Open the Lock Box

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:58:26 -0600

I've chosen to re-blog this because it is an important topic to all home buyers. The question of "can you provide me access to this house without you being here?" gets asked a lot and the simple answer is NO.

A real estate agent should ever give you a code to see the house by yourself...ever.

A good agent will do everything in their power to accomodate their buyers showing time requests...move their schedule around when they can and/or provide you with all times they are available to see if one works for you. Ultimately, they need to be there with you for many reasons, but the one that counts most is to ensure you are properly represented.

Remember, it is our professional license, our reputation with our peers/clients/brokers and possible fines (from multiple entities) on the line.

Please know that it just isn't worth it...not for you (the consumer) or us ...

Via Ed & Cindy Knight (Realty Executives e-Group):

A real estate agent Must be present to open the lock box. So, if your agent is giving you the lock box code because they are to busy or to lazy to show you the home, than I suggest you find another one. Why? Because they are actually placing you at risk of trespassing. You may not know this but as a member of the local MLS when we list a home we sign a contract with the seller that states "Broker, broker's representatives, agents and sub-agents are hereby granted access to the property". No where does it say that the buyer has permission to enter the home - so by doing so you may be trespassing.

It seems this is becoming an epidemic and not just in Macomb County. In fact, this exact topic was addressed this month in the MAR Publication legal section. Then yesterday we received a call from a buyer asking for the lock box code on one of our listings. When we told him "a real estate agent agent must be present to open the lock box". He stated "the broker down the street gave me the code with out coming to the home". Really? Well today I sent off an e-mail to that broker stating that this is not only unprofessional but it is placing these buyers at risk not to mention the sellers they represent in the event something happens. The broker did contact me and said this was not acceptable practice and that he would look into it.

Our MLS listing contract also states "Owner(s) shall indemnify and hold Broker, Broker's representatives, agents and sub-agents and cooperating broker harmless from any and all liability for any reason as a result of injury to persons or damage or loss to property arising out of the showing". But does that protect you? What happens if no agent is present and something comes up missing, is damaged or if someone gets hurt? If you are not with an agent where does that leave you??? Can you then be held liable for damages?

Over the past few months several of our agents have come back with stories...

They have found buyers wondering around in the home without an agent, that gained access via a lock box code.

One of our agents would not allow a buyer in a home because their agent was not present. The buyer got right in her face and said "Fine I'll just wait till you leave and said some choice words"

Ed would not allow a buyer in the home he was showing only to find the same buyer inside the next home he was showing because the agent gave him the lock box codes.

We have even had buyers tell us that their previous agent just gave them the lock box to view homes on their own. These buyers were going in flooded basements, mold filled homes and even walking around with flash lights in the dark.

One buyer we know of viewed the home himself, had the agent write the offer and closed without the agent ever viewing the home

Sorry to say folks these agents are not working in your best interests. If they are to busy to take the time to show you homes how will they handle the offer and the closing? How can they give you professional advice on the market and the home? You may want to check and see if they are representing you or the seller. Better yet if you decide to sell with them in the future will they allow buyers access to Your home too without being present??

While preparing for this post I did some checking and obviously the public agrees a real estate agent agent must be present to open the lock box - here's one from Trulia and Yahoo. However, there was also a blog where this guy actually gave investors step by step directions on how to gain access to bank owned homes without a REALTOR®. Shame on the agents that gave him the codes.

What do you think? Is this okay or is it Trespassing?

Can the police, ambulance or firefighters find your home easily from the street?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:08:30 -0600

Can the police, ambulance or firefighters find your home easily from the street?

This content was originally posted in 2007, but I am sharing it again as the holidays are near and it is one of the busiest times of year for home accidents and injury.

Protect yourself (check your house and/or business), visit loved ones and the elderly to check their house numbers as well!

In the words of Benjamin Franklin ~ “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

I ask this because I just spent the better part of 30 minutes trying to locate a home on a very long street and couldn’t find it. Why you ask? Not one house number was visible from the street. They weren’t on the mailboxes or curbs and the ones that were on homes weren’t able to be read from the street/vehicle.

Yes, I eventually found what I was looking for, but what if it had been an emergency vehicle, a potential home buyer trying to find your open house or a customer trying to reach your business?

Baltimore County has recently (late 2007) made changes in respect to Building Numbers and I’ve placed them below to make homeowners in Baltimore County aware of the change.

Baltimore County – Changes to Requirements for Building Numbers

Additionally, please remember that a change made last year with respect to the placement of address numbers on Baltimore County properties is in effect and all property owners are required to comply with the following (capitals indicate material added to existing law):

The owner of improved property shall prominently display numerals or letters, AT LEAST THREE INCHES IN HEIGHT, designating the address assigned to the property:

(1) in a conspicuous space on or about the property;

(2) on a conspicuous background; and

(3) in a location that is unobstructed and clearly visible:

(I) from the street named in the address of the property; AND

(II) FROM ANY STREET, ROAD OR ALLEY PROVIDING PUBLIC VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.

This requirement is enforced by the Baltimore County Fire Department as a health and safety measure and failure to comply could result in a $100 fine.

HELPFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Permit information, permit approval status 410-887-3900

Building Plans Review 410-887-3987

Building Inspection 410-887-3953

Electrical Inspection 410-887-3960

Plumbing Inspection 410-887-3620

Zoning Information 410-887-3391

Development Management, PDM 410-887-3335

MD Codes Administration “Accessibility” 410-514-7220

State of Maryland Flood Plain 410-631-3914

Dept. Environmental Protection & Resource Management:

Food Service Plans Review 410-887-4068

Sediment Control 410-887-3226

State of Maryland Elevator Inspection 410-767-2350

http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Permits/Building_Plans_Review/bldgcode04907.pdf
This link will take you directly to the Baltimore County Building Code.

One more reminder…do your research before you build, you don’t want to break these laws as they could cost you the sale of your home (and a lot of money) in the future.

Please share this information with your friends, family and associates…it is important that emergency workers can find your home, no matter where you live! Thank you!

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension and Expansion Information

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:07:44 -0600

Home buyer tax credit extension and expansion…

It has been made official and expanded! This is great news!

So what does this mean for you, the homebuyer?

Deadline for current credit is November 30, 2009.
Deadline for new and improved credit is April 30, 2010; as long as the home is under contract by April 30, 2010 the deal must close within 60 days (July 1, 2010).

Eligibility and amount of new credit:

$8,000 for first-time homebuyers (those who have not owned a home in the last three years).
Up to $6,500 credit for homeowners who have lived in the home they are selling (or have sold) as a principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight.
Buyers with income exceeding $125,000 for single and $225,000 for married couples are not eligible.
Homes valued at more than $800,000 are also ineligible.

Below is a chart prepared by the National Association of REALTORS® that details the changes from the expiring credit to the new credit:

The following website is a great resource to explain the tax credit and has many answers to FAQ:

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/home.html

Questions about the $8,000 Tax Credit – a few questions answered from the site:

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq1.php

Who is eligible to claim the $8,000 tax credit?
First-time home buyers purchasing any kind of home—new or resale—are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs and the title to the property transfers to the home owner. A limited exception exists for certain contract for deed purchases and installment sale purchases. See the IRS website for more detail.

However, the law also allows home sales occurring by June 30, 2010 to qualify, provided they are due to a binding sales contract in force on or before April 30, 2010.

Persons who are claimed as dependents by other taxpayers or who are under age 18 are not qualified for the tax credit program.

What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?
The law defines “first-time home buyer” as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse.

For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, IRS Notice 2009-12 allows unmarried joint purchasers to allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer

How is the amount of the tax credit determined?
The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit?
Yes. For sales occuring after November 6, 2009, the income limit for single taxpayers is $125,000; the limit is $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The phaseout range for the tax credit program is equal to $20,000. That is, the tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.

How is this home buyer tax credit different from the tax credit that Congress enacted in early 2009?
The tax credit’s income limits were increased, the documentation requirements were tightened, and the program's deadlines were extended.

How do I claim the tax credit? Do I need to complete a form or application? Are there documentation requirements?
You claim the tax credit on your federal income tax return. Specifically, home buyers should complete IRS Form 5405 to determine their tax credit amount, and then claim this amount on line 67 of the 1040 income tax form for 2009 returns (line 69 of the 1040 income tax form for 2008 returns). No other applications are required, and no pre-approval is necessary. However, you will want to be sure that you qualify for the credit under the income limits and first-time home buyer tests. Note that you cannot claim the credit on Form 5405 for an intended purchase for some future date; it must be a completed purchase. Home buyers must attach a copy of their HUD-1 settlement form (closing statement) to Form 5405 as proof of the completed home purchase.

Questions about the $6,500 Tax Credit for repeat buyers – a few questions from the site:

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq2.php

Who is eligible to claim the $6,500 tax credit?
Qualified move-up or repeat home buyers purchasing any kind of home are eligible to claim this credit.

What is the definition of a move-up or repeat home buyer?
The law defines a tax credit qualified move-up home buyer (“long-time resident”) as a home owner who has owned and resided in a home for at least five consecutive years of the eight years prior to the purchase date. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse. Repeat home buyers do not have to purchase a home that is more expensive than their previous home to qualify for the tax credit.

How is the amount of the tax credit determined?
The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500. Purchases of homes priced above $800,000 are not eligible for the tax credit.

Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit?
Yes. The income limit for single taxpayers is $125,000; the limit is $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) above those limits. The phaseout range for the tax credit program is equal to $20,000. That is, the tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.

What types of homes will qualify for the tax credit?
Any home that will be used as a principal residence will qualify for the credit, provided the home is purchased for a price less than or equal to $800,000. This includes single-family detached homes, attached homes like townhouses and condominiums, manufactured homes (also known as mobile homes) and houseboats. The definition of principal residence is identical to the one used to determine whether you may qualify for the $250,000 / $500,000 capital gain tax exclusion for principal residences.

It is important to note that you cannot purchase a home from, among other family members, your ancestors (parents, grandparents, etc.), your lineal descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.) or your spouse or your spouse’s family members. Please consult with your tax advisor for more information. Also see IRS Form 5405.

If you are thinking about buying, it is a really good time to make a move!!

Interest rates are still among the lowest in history! Now is the time to “get off the fence” and get into your new home!

Your cell phone number going public...is this rumor true?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:29:16 -0600

Your cell phone number going public...is this rumor true?

Today, I've witnessed the following piece of information posted on numerous websites:

"All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 1-888-382-1222 It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number."

If you've been around the internet for any length of time, you've probably heard this story told in many different forms. Well, that's what it is...a story that originated in 2004 and has been passed around every year since.

Here is a screen shot from Snopes.com (the link follows) that dispells this rumor.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

And here is a screenshot and link to the FCC site with information on this subject:

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/02/dnccellphones.shtm

Even though both of these sites say it is false, you can still put your cell phone number on the Do Not Call List: https://www.donotcall.gov

Isn't this good to know?

Are you a Veteran or Active Duty Military? Applebee's is saying THANKS!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:39:10 -0600

On Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Applebee's is offering a free meal to Veterans and Active Duty Military with proof of service...
what a wonderful gesture!!

The menu (six meals to choose from) and details of the promotion can be found on their website:
http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx

Please pass this message along to anyone who has served or is serving their country!

Applebee's locations in Maryland:
http://locator.applebees.com

I have received no compensation from this blog post and I am not affiliated in any way with Applebee's.

It's Time to "Fall Back"!!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:05:33 -0500

It’s Time to “Fall Back”!

Daylight Savings Time ENDS on Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 AM!

Set your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday! An hour gained…to rest, relax, sleep in, play time, work time…however you choose to spend it!

Protect your investment, your home and your family! Change the batteries!

REMINDER: Change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms!

Changing batteries twice a year when you change your clocks ensures that you will be protected should a fire occur and double your chances of surviving a house fire! The most common cause for faulty fire detectors is dead or missing batteries! Once you’ve changed the batteries, you also want to take a moment to clean dust from the device and to push the test button to make sure it is working!

This is especially important this time of year as the weather grows colder and you begin to use fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, heating systems and whole house humidifiers! If you have not done maintenance on these items in preparation for winter, let the ending of Daylight Savings Time be your reminder to do maintenance on these items.

Enjoy your hour! Happy Fall! Old Man Winter is right around the corner!!

HOW TO IMPRESS POTENTIAL BUYERS (AND THE HOME INSPECTOR)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:17:12 -0500

IMPRESS POTENTIAL BUYERS AND THE HOME INSPECTOR

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure ~ Benjamin Franklin

Today’s buyers have a lot of homes to choose from and they are being very discerning about the home that they ultimately purchase. This comprehensive list will aid you in understanding items that are noticed by buyers when they view your home. It will also help you understand what is checked for in the home inspection process.

Careful examination and repair of the items on this list prior to listing your home with a REALTOR® will aid you in selling quicker, for a higher price and eliminate last minute problems, repairs and expenses. It is recommended that all repairs be done by a licensed/insured home contractor.

EXTERIOR:

Give your home “curb appeal” and clean up the outside of your home (from the curb to the edge of the backyard! A home that is well maintained on the outside is a good invitation for potential buyers to visit the inside of your home! You never get a second chance to make a first impression ~ Will Rogers

Trim trees, bushes and vegetation back from foundation, roof, siding, chimneys, air conditioning and heat pump units.
Check condition of landscape components (retaining walls, landscape timbers, etc).
Remove mulch or grading near siding and foundation vents.
Check condition of wood in direct contact with soil, including fences and gates.
Remove any fire wood, rotting wood or debris that is near your home.
Check that landscape lighting/irrigation systems work.
Check that ponds, fountains, and waterfalls, and related utilities, work properly.
Check for loose/missing/rusted guardrails and handrails at stairways, decks, balconies and porches.
Check that any exterior outlets are weatherproofed and not in permanent use for any landscape lighting.
Check for loose wiring (electric, cable, phone) and poor wire terminations.
Check for holes and damage to siding, doors, windows, and trim.
Clean all debris off roof and clean out dirty gutters and basement entrances.
Caulk around doors, windows, siding, porches and any other place there is cracking or settlement or a hole around an entrance pipe or vent. Do a neat job; poor workmanship will cause concern from buyers.
Sand and paint areas of wood that are chipping or blistering.
Point up failing mortar joints in bricks or chimney.
Check your grading, downspouts and water splash pans for proper water run off from house. Keeping the water away from your home will avoid foundation moisture problems.
Repair cracks in sidewalks and seal driveways.
Check on your roof for flashing and gaskets deterioration around vent pipes, chimney and make sure a chimney cap is in place.
Check for loose/damaged/lifted shingles.
Check attic ventilation and condition of vent screens.
Check all entrances for safety problems.
Check that doorbells work.
Replace missing siding, attic vents or other missing items.
Check for trip hazards in walkways, driveways, and stairways (deterioration, vegetation, etc.).

INTERIOR

Replace all burned out light bulbs.
Remove all paints, gas, solvents, etc. from crawl space, basement and attic.
Make all areas accessible for inspection including attic, basement, crawl space, heat and air conditioning units, garage foundation walls where possible and under steps. This is the perfect time to dispose, donate or have a yard sale of those unwanted/unused items in storage areas.
Clean out your wood stove or fireplace and have that chimney or flue cleaned by a chimney sweep professional.
Clean, vacuum dirt, dust, etc. from furnace, water heater, appliances and other units.
Check condition of towel holders and bathroom tissue holders.
Check condition of bathtubs, showers, and shower doors, and replace old shower curtains.
Check for loose kitchen and bathroom countertops.
Check for damage to walls and ceilings that need to be patched and painted.
Check for moisture stains on ceilings and walls; around doors and windows; near sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and showers and near the dishwasher.
Check for loose, broken or missing baseboards and door and window moldings.
Check for cracked tiles or deteriorated grouting in kitchen and bathrooms.
In the kitchen, clean ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators and other appliances that will be left for the new buyer. Get appliances serviced and keep the paperwork to show the new buyers.
Check that kitchen appliances work.
Check that filters are in place and clean (range hood, heating/cooling, bathroom fans, etc.)
Check/clean/replace the filter on your heating/cooling system (should be done monthly).
Check/clean/replace the filter on your whole house humidifier.
Check for soot, cobwebs, and wildlife in the fireplace and lower areas of the chimney.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends that the fireplace and chimney undergo a Level II inspection any time real estate ownership is transferred, and I recommend having that done prior to the Buyer's inspection.
Check that the fireplace damper opens/closes easily.

PLUMBING SYSTEM (Including kitchens/baths/laundry areas):

Check that stoppers work in bathtubs and sinks.
Check for clogged drains.
Check that faucets don't drip or leak around the base.
Check stop action on faucet handles.
Check condition of caulk or grout in bathtubs, showers, shower enclosures, sinks (including kitchen).
Check insulation on water pipes in foundation crawl space and attic.
Check for safe and easy access to water shutoff valves (water heater, sinks, toilets, etc.).
In bathrooms, replace old and discolored caulking around tub, shower and sink areas. Do a professional job.
Check the bath vents and fans for proper working condition and ventilation.
Tighten the toilet to the floor and check for leaks and cracks in toilet and tank areas. Repair or replace tank filling and flushing systems if needed.
Check for leaks in plumbing, under your sinks and all visible connections.
Make sure the drains are running smoothly and the fixtures are not leaking.
Make sure all drains have stoppers.
Check your sump pump for proper operation and make sure the well is clean and the cover is installed. Eliminate any odors.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Check for safe and easy access to electric panels and main circuit breaker.
Check that ceiling fans work on all speeds.
Check for burned out lights, including ceiling fans.
Check for damaged or loose outlets and light switches, including covers for outlets and switches.
Check for loose wiring (electric, cable, phone) and poor wire terminations.
Check that appliances are plugged in and operating.
Unplug anything that is unnecessary to facilitate outlet testing by the Buyer's property inspector.
Remove extension cords and outlet multipliers.
Check that outlets work.
Install GFCI receptacles near all appropriate areas, kitchens and bathrooms. Check existing GFCI receptacles for proper operation.
Check for outdated two-prong outlets and upgrade them to three-prong outlets.
Check that exhaust fans work in kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry area.
Check that any electrical junction boxes have covers.
Have your furnace, air conditioner and heat pumps serviced or placed on a service contract. This is a great selling point and peace of mind for you and your buyer.
Replace the filter in the furnace and any other air cleaning units.
Replace all burned out light bulbs.
Test all smoke detectors and install CO detectors if needed. (Check code in your area).

DOORS AND WINDOWS

Check ease of operation for doors (including closet doors and cabinet doors), drawers, and windows, including windows/doors nailed or painted shut.
Check for missing, loose, or damaged hardware on doors (including closet doors and cabinet doors), drawers (stops and guides), and windows.
Check for loose glass panes in windows and doors, as well as glass with holes or cracks in them.
Check for condensation in the windows (foggy or containing moisture).
Check that latches/locks work on doors (including closet doors and cabinet doors), drawers, and windows.
Check for damage to screen windows.
Make sure all the doors, windows and sliding entrances are in good working condition. Clean the tracks and thresholds.
Repair or replace any missing or torn screens or broken windows.

MOISTURE ISSUES:

Moisture in the home is a primary reason for buyers not to purchase your home.
Moisture causes wood rot leading to structural damage.
Moisture in foundation causes foundations to fail and severe structural damage.
Moisture at the bottom of door jams, window sills, garage doors, entrances and exit areas should be corrected.
Moisture from cracks in foundation should be corrected by finding the source and fixing the problem. Patch up all cracks in the foundation walls and floor. Water proofing companies can inject sealants in many cracks eliminating water intrusion.
Moisture causes mold and mildew which cause allergies and asthma problems for many. Black mold can cause serious illness. Eliminate all signs of mold and mildew by eliminating the moisture source and installing proper ventilation.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Pets (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc) should be caged or removed from the home (family, neighbor, friend, pet spa) during showings and the home inspection. Many people have allergies or phobias of pets.
Neutralize pet odors and air out the home prior to listing it for sale. These odors can trigger allergy and asthma attacks. FACT: pet odors are a major cause for a buyer to not consider the purchase of your home.
Be aware of product failures that may be present in your home such as aluminum wiring, polybutylene pipes, EIFS (synthetic Stucco), etc. If these items are present, you should consider consulting a licensed contractor for a price quote and repair of these items prior to listing or selling your home.
Certain items should be inspected annually due to their inherently dangerous nature. These include gas-using appliances, pool/spa equipment, roof, and the fireplace and chimney. If they have not been inspected within the last 12 months, having it done now can make escrow go more smoothly.
Check for manufacturer installation guides, operating instructions, or user guides that you can provide to the buyer, especially for kitchen appliances; heating and cooling system; water heater; security, irrigation, fire suppression, central cleaning, and water modification systems; water well; and septic system.
Many property inspectors exclude inspection and testing of some specialized systems, such as security and irrigation systems. Once you get the Buyer's inspection report, note what the Inspector did and did not do or could and could not do. Offer to meet with the Buyer to demonstrate how those systems are operated and maintained, and provide the contact information for any companies that regularly service the systems.
Check for receipts and warranty papers for any work done on the property, particularly for inspections and work done to prepare the property for sale.
VACANT HOMES: be sure all utilities are turned on: water, electric, water heater, furnace, air conditioning, breakers in main panel.

3440 Yorkway, Dundalk, MD 21222

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:32:39 -0500

Tammi L. Copsey | Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. | 410-529-1900

3440 Yorkway, Dundalk, MD

This one gets an A+ for charm!

3BR/1.5BA Single Family House

offered at $210,000

Year Built	1949
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	5,249 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

This one gets an A+ for charm!

A 22x11 covered front porch, landscaping, large fenced yard, pond, 2 car driveway, CAC, neutral interior, bright/sunny kitchen, garden window, large closets, hardwood floors, neutral carpet, 28x9 side deck and a storage shed.

Seller offering closing help with acceptable offer!

Don't miss this one!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Hardwood floor	- Living room
- Dining room	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Washer	- Dryer
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard
- Swimming pool

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Not affected by the water main break in Dundalk!

- Almost entire house updated recently (2003-2008)!!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior Front	Living Room
Dining Room	Kitchen
Master Bedroom	Exterior Rear

Contact info:

Tammi L. Copsey

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

410-529-1900

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 19, 2009, 6:11am PDT

21237 E Boundary Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21237

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:20:58 -0500

Tammi L. Copsey | Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. | 410-529-1900

2112 E Boundary Avenue, Baltimore, MD

PRICE REDUCED AND BUYER CLOSING HELP!

4BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $275,000

Year Built	2002
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	6,899 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

SELLER OFFERING $5,000 TOWARDS CLOSING!

4 BR, 3 FB split foyer, Baltimore County location/taxes, yet minutes from the city!!

Exterior features include: zero maintenance (trex) deck with view of the city, fully fenced back yard, two driveways allow parking for up to 8 cars!

Interior features include: Open floor plan, sunny kitchen with pantry, sliding glass doors, master bedroom with full bath, vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, recessed lighting, storage, finished lower level offers a 7x5 custom wet bar(glassware included), adjustable lighting and a possible 5th bedroom.

Location is close to parks, shopping, Baltimore City and major roadways!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Family room
- Living room	- Office/Den	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Washer	- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside
- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior Front	Living Room
Kitchen	Lower Level
Lower Level	Deck

Contact info:

Tammi L. Copsey

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

410-529-1900

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 19, 2009, 5:44am PDT

Do you understand Social Networking and Social Media?

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:23:06 -0500

Do you understand Social Networking and Social Media?

I know I didn't (and admittedly I'm still learning every day). If you want to know more, I would like to share some links and videos that really kick started my understanding of the phenomenon.

Social Media Revolution

This video has some amazing facts and future predictions regarding social media. Eric Qualman is the author of the video, a great book and writes a great blog.

Common Craft

This website has some amazing "how to" videos spanning a great deal of topics, but their social media videos are so simple to watch and understand. This website is set up for educators to purchase the videos for use in their classrooms and teachings; however, they do have sample versions of thier videos on YouTube and on their website. The following video "Social Networking In Plain English" is a great explanation and in such simple terms...I do recommend their other technology videos as well. They make this stuff EASY!!

Mashable

This website has been a great resource for all sorts of social media, technology, websites and news! I highly recommed following them on Twitter or becoming their fan on Facebook! Always up-to-date, relevant information that will help anyone who wants to harness the power of social networking!

I have not done this yet (next adventure of mine), but this is a great Mashable article on creating a Facebook Fan Page and why every business should have one: http://mashable.com/2009/09/22/facebook-pages-guide

Twellow

As a fan of Twitter and those that I follow there, I must give a shout out to Twellow. This free service is like a Yellow Pages for Twitter. You can search people by name, search for a location, search for an occupation, interests...anything. I wish I could remember where I learned about this service so I could thank them. It really has changed the way I look at Twitter and the way I use it. I searched for people in my area and found a bunch of amazing folks, businesses and events. I "retweet" events that are relevant to my interests and those interests of people I know...it has been a great social and business tool :)

I hope that you've found this information useful and I welcome you to connect with me!

Disclaimer:
I am not associated with any of these websites and have not received any compensation for my endorsement of their products. My intent is to educate my peers and the public by giving the thanks to the companies I found helpful in my quest for education. Thank you!

The Magic of Disney...a recap of our vacation!

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:37:58 -0500

The Magic of Disney…a recap of our vacation!

Disney Magic is an understatement! There truly is something magical that happens when you participate in anything Disney has to offer…it’s not just a catch phrase!

The magic began upon our arrival at the Orlando airport at 9:55 AM and didn’t have to worry about the horrific process of baggage claim! The Disney Magical Express picked us up and whisked us off to the WDW Coronado Springs Resort and our bags were waiting for us in our room when we got there. The best part…we were told check-in was at 3:00 PM, but our room was ready and waiting almost immediately! The “cast members” were so helpful and pleasant explaining what had changed since our last visit and the truly did make us feel welcome! “Be our guest” is a core of the Disney philosophy and they honestly do make you feel as if you are a guest in their home and not just some tourists from Baltimore…

Coronado Springs is a beautiful resort and has just been recently updated. The rooms were gorgeous and had a very comfortable feel to them. I especially like the double sliding doors that enclosed the bathroom/dressing room area, much better than the typical single door on hinges you find anywhere else. For Disney, it’s all about the details…

In this resort, they had something for everyone! Convention center, gym, hair salon, spa, two restaurants, café, gift shop, nightclub (gorgeous place), three pools, marina, game room, 1.1 mile walking path and amazing scenery! The main pool was amazing! It was built to look like a dig site, complete with a Mayan pyramid and The Jaguar water slide…a 123 foot slide that shoots you out into the main pool! At the site of the main pool was the largest hot tub/spa I’ve ever seen…held 22 people! It was a great place to relax your legs at the end of the day and to socialize with everyone at the resort! It was our favorite spot and we met some amazing people!

Animal Kingdom:
We had never been here and it exceeded our expectations! We arrived for the Opening Ceremonies and almost immediately we turned into “big kids”. It’s no mistake that this happens, but it never ceases to amaze me! Minnie, Goofy and Pluto put on a show at the first view of The Tree of Life and Mickey makes his appearance under the tree to welcome everyone to the adventure! It’s one of those wondrous Disney moments that instantly bring out the kid in you!

The park itself is very clean, well maintained and has a ton of animals no matter where you looked. The best part was the “cast members” who were constantly around to give you facts and tidbits about the animals you might not have known. They love what they do and they constantly monitor the animals. Our favorite attractions in this park: Festival of the Lion King (great show and was more than we expected to see), Flights of Wonder (an amazing bird show that had excellent WOW factor!), It’s Tough Being a Bug (hysterically fun and a great break from the hot weather!), Dinosaur (huge fan of dark rides and this one didn’t disappoint!), Kali River Rapids (you WILL get wet, you MIGHT get soaked…we got the “dummy” seat both times and were drenched! It was awesome!), Expedition Everest (great ride and much more adventurous than the Disney rides of my youth!) and of course all of the “Safari” type adventures.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

We had not been to this park since 1990 and were amazed at how much it has grown/changed. We began our adventure in this park with the “One Man’s Dream” attraction…it makes you appreciate the vision of Walt and how his vision has continued to remain intact. Our favorite attractions in this park: Lights Motor Action Extreme Stunt Show (pretty amazing to watch and it gave us a new found respect for stunt men), Tower of Terror (we loved this ride and adored the cast member in the gift shop…he is in his 60’s, it is more than obvious he LOVES his job!), Toy Story Mania (a little wait, but so much fun we did it again…pretty awesome technology involved here!), The Rock N Roller Coaster (YES! A dark ride with Aerosmith as the soundtrack – yes, it is very fast and very fun! We LOVED this ride!) and Fantasmic (a phenomenal show filled with water, fire, lights, fireworks and well worth the wait…not performed every day, so check schedules!).

Epcot and World Showcase:

This part is so under-rated! We had been here before, but never truly appreciated it they way we did this time. It was awesome! We never miss any of the attractions here if we can help it…each of them is great in it’s own way. Our favorites from this trip: Turtle Talk with Crush (an interactive show with Crush from Finding Nemo…to say this is hysterical is an understatement. It is truly interactive and is not just for kids – we had tears in our eyes from laughing so hard!!), Soaring (this blew me away with how real it felt…absolutely wonderful!), Spaceship Earth (always a favorite), Mission: SPACE (a great simulator ride and highly enjoyable) and Test Track (pretty cool, fast and just a lot of fun!).

World Showcase is always a favorite of ours! We don’t have kids, so we get to enjoy this one the way it should be enjoyed…sampling food, sampling wine/alcohol from other countries and the amazing shopping! We had a great time in England watching the band “British Invasion” in the park across from Rose & Crown Pub. Our bartender at the pub was a blast and was having tons of fun recommending native beers and drinks! He was also fascinating to talk to about England…we want to vacation there anyway and he just made us want to even more! China was our favorite “beauty spot” as the garden area is amazing! France found us sampling champagne and we absolutely loved Pommery Pink Pop Rose!, Canada is a beautiful area and has some great entertainment going on!, Norway gives us Maelstrom and Laila perfume (which is the hubby’s favorite scent now) and then we did Mexico and the San Angel Inn for dinner. Our food was fantastic, the atmosphere was awesome and the service was great! Oh…the Mexican beer and margaritas…yes, they were authentic and awesome! We did see all of the pavilion areas, but these were our favorites on this trip…as well as Illuminations (Epcot’s fireworks/light show) is every night and it is well worth the wait. We always enjoy it and had great company/great spot to see the show!

Magic Kingdom:

What can I say…it’s still the most magical place on Earth! The original vision has never waivered, but they’ve pulled out so many extras over the years that no matter how many trips you make it you still find Disney magic at every turn!

Our favorite attractions: The Haunted Mansion (what can I say, 40 or so rides through this thing and I’m still amazed by it…so much fun!), Mad Tea Party (kids at heart, we had a blast making this thing spin until we couldn’t see straight and on more than one trip through we had the cast members cracking up…this ride can turn any adult into a child in moments flat!), Mickey’s Philharmagic (excellent 3D show that has some wonderful surprises…smell-o-vision anyone?), Monsters Inc Laugh Floor (how I got picked to be part of this show is beyond me, but it was hysterical fun!), Splash Mountain (always a great time), Thunder Mountain Railroad (tame, but a cool coaster that never seems to get old) and Pirates of the Caribbean (my favorite ride and the updates were an excellent choice...the show with Captain Jack Sparrow that takes place outside of this attraction was wonderful. This is one cast member that can’t walk the park and doesn’t do meet & greets…it became apparent why as the audience was mainly women ogling the guy…with good reason, he had the part down to a science and was quite authentic to Johnny Depp’s movie role).

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween:

This was our first time at this event and it will not be our last! We LOVE Halloween and this definitely got us in the spirit! This was an additional ticket to participate, but was well worth the money spent! Disney has finally given the Villains a place in the spotlight!!

The entire park is transformed into a Halloween display…the statues were changed, pumpkins everywhere, Halloween window displays, cast members in costume/makeup and some rides (Haunted Mansion was awesome) have some extras you won’t get any other time of the year! Even the Disney characters are in costume which makes for some fun photos! We saw many “guests” in costume as well and we wished we had known to do this! We weren’t expecting to go trick-or-treating while in Disney, but that is exactly what this event is about! They give you a trick-or-treat bag and you can really rack up some candy...and if you don’t get enough while walking through the park, they also hand out a bunch more during the parade! It was candy overload…candy, candy, candy!!

The Villains Meet & Greet stage show was a blast…meeting them afterwards was an excellent bonus! The Happy HalloWishes fireworks/light display was phenomenal! Never have you seen Cinderella’s Castle look so spooky and ominous! It was fabulous! The Boo-To-You Parade was so well done that the song will be stuck in your head long after you’ve arrived home…trust me on this one! Be sure to position yourself near the parade route to see the Headless Horseman lead off the parade– such an awesome sight to see and well worth an extra few minutes to find a spot before the parade begins!

Trust me, this is a DO NOT MISS celebration if you love Halloween!!!

Our “magic” at the Magic Kingdom did not end there…

We were also lucky enough to experience breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside the castle! This is the hardest ticket to get at Disney, but is quite an experience in why Disney has such rave reviews! From the moment you enter the castle, you are treated like royalty and can see evidence immediately of why this is such a hot ticket to get! Suits of armor, stained glass, amazing architecture…and a private photo shoot with Cinderella! It’s pretty elaborate and looking around shows you a few surprises (the mice from Cinderella hovering in a corner overlooking your photo shoot and the ornate crowns at the tops of the lights). Upon arriving on the second floor, you are taken to your table which is pretty elaborately decorated (ours had castle confetti for our anniversary) and set in purple/white. They bring each table a bowl of fruit and a plate of pastries to start off your meal, but the food isn’t what you are there for…it is the Princesses! All of them are there – Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine…and they each come to your table for a photo op! If you have a daughter, this will be heaven for them! Each girl is given a wishing star and wand; each boy is given a sword. There is a wishing ceremony to make all your dreams come true and a photo opportunity with the Fairy Godmother outside of the castle! It was definitely an experience we are glad we had!

We ended our trip with a visit to the La Vida Health Club for a massage by Niki Bryan Spa (Amanda and Debbie were wonderful!). It was an excellent massage and just what my body ordered after 10 wonderful days in Disney! We also made a pit stop (for two hours) at Seista’s Bar at the marina of the resort. Our bartender, Katie, was wonderful and turns out she is originally from Maryland! This was such a perfect ending to our vacation and thanks to Amanda, Debbie and Katie for making it so special!

Food:

We were part of the Disney Dining Plan which was included in our trip. Let me say that this was more food than we could possibly eat and if you ration your snacks correctly, you can go even further than you think. Our favorite places we ate: Cinderella’s Royal Table/Magic Kingdom (see previous description), Boma/Animal Kingdom Lodge (excellent buffet style dining and DO NOT miss the ribs…everything was delicious), Tusker House Character Breakfast/Animal Kingdom (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy were all present and made this breakfast extra special…food was great and a wide variety), Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater/Hollywood Studios (not only was the atmosphere unique, but the food was great!), Maya Grill/Coronado Springs (great atmosphere, amazing waiter and the flan was to die for!) and San Angel Inn/Epcot Mexico Pavilion (what can I say, this was excellent!!!!).

EXTRA:

This blog would not be complete without thanking our wonderful travel agent, Jeanine Grande of World Travel Service on Joppa Road. She is a Disney fan and frequent traveler so her advice and experience helped us to further enjoy our vacation! She told us every special, got us tickets to Universal and Sea World and made all reservations for our meals (Disney Meal Plan…this was FREE and more food than we could eat while we were there). Her knowledge and experience served us well and we would recommend her to anyone who is traveling anywhere!

Jeanine Grande
4132 E. Joppa Road, Suite 105
Baltimore, MD 21236
Direct: 410-256-7660 x 105
FAX: 410-529-8979
jeanineg@worldtravelservice.com

Tell her Tammi & Bill Copsey sent you!!

For more photos, please visit my album on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?page=3&aid=33406&id=1052342550#/album.php?page=1&aid=33406&id=1052342550

Sunday, October 4 OPEN HOUSE!! 2112 E Boundary 21237

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:26:48 -0500

Join me for an Open House!!

Date and Time: Sunday, October 4, 2009 from 12 PM – 2 PM
Location: 2112 E Boundary Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21237 (MLS # BC7136116)
Directions: 695 (towards Essex) to Exit 34, merge onto Rt.7/Philadelphia Road, turn right on Summit Avenue, continue to Boundary Avenue
Host: Tammi Copsey (Listing/Sellers Agent) of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Open House Remarks: All are welcome – public, agents and brokers!
Agents – all brokerage agreements will be honored! You and your clients are encouraged to tour the home!
Please park in one of the two driveways and knock first before entering!

I look forward to seeing you there!!

Wonderful split foyer in Baltimore County 21237

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:40:38 -0500

JUST LISTED!!

2112 E Boundary Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21237
MLS# BC7136116
$285,000.00

4 BR, 3 FB split foyer, Baltimore County location/taxes, yet minutes from the city. Open floor plan, zero-maintenance deck, fenced back yard, 2 driveways allow parking for up to 8 cars. Finished lower level offers a 7x5 custom wet bar (glassware included), adjustable lighting, full bath and a possible 5th bedroom. Close to parks and major roadways.

Come see this beautiful home today!!

View a tour on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBfBY1OJDUs

Listed by:

The Home Buying Process and Why You Need an Agent

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:19:59 -0500

The Home Buying Process and Why You Need an Agent

Discuss Buyer Agency and What It Means for You
Quiz: Do you know the different types of agents or agency in Maryland and why this information is vital to you in the home buying process? If your answer is NO, please contact me and I will be happy to explain why it is important to have a qualified REALTOR® representing you.
Determine Needs & Desires in a Home
Homework Assignment – make two lists:
List #1 – items your home MUST have
List #2 – items that you would LIKE to have

There IS a difference and you should be prepared to know which items would be “deal breakers” and which ones won’t.
Determine Purchasing Power
Homework Assignment - make another list:
List #1 – your current monthly bills
List #2 – your budget for luxury items (restaurants, entertainment, etc)

At this time, it is important to discuss how much you would be comfortable spending on a mortgage if you were to be out of work for any length of time or an emergency should arise. The unexpected happens…but, if you prepare now, you won’t be worried about losing your home if it does.
Mortgage Approval
Homework Assignment – Be a SERIOUS home buyer…find a local lender you trust and get PRE-APPROVED for a mortgage.

Why should the lender be local to your area?
Simple. You want someone who knows the local economy, knows the mortgage programs offered in your state, will be accessible when needed, is willing to build a great rapport with your agent and will be responsive to your needs during the home buying process. All of these factors will go a long way to make the process smoother and get you to reach your goal of home ownership!

You will notice that so far, I haven’t spoken about searching for a home or previewing homes. The reason for this is simple…you need to be prepared and well informed before you preview homes. By doing this, you will take a lot of the guessing game away from the home buying process and a lot of the heartache that comes with not being prepared. If you would like assistance, please contact me!

Preview Homes
Take a tour of my website, email me, or call/text me at (410) 258-5123, to schedule an appointment to begin your home search.
Make Offer to Purchase
Yeah! This is getting exciting, isn’t it? There are important questions raised during this time…
How much have similar homes sold for in this area?
Am I offering too little?
Too much?
What happens if they reject the offer?
What happens if they counter offer?
WHAT HAPPENS FROM THIS POINT FORWARD?

But wait…there’s much more to this process…

Contingencies:
a. Home Inspection – should you have one and why?
b. Financing – how do you keep your lender informed?
c. Other Contingencies – what other items could stand in the way of the sale and why?
Contract Acceptance
WOOHOO! Your contract has been accepted…NOW WHAT?
Home Inspection
Do you know what happens during the inspection?
What the inspector looks for?
What information about the house your inspector can give you that will be important in the future?
What items need to be addressed immediately and why?

That’s where I come in…I will be with you through the inspection, negotiate items to repair and guide you through the experience.
Select Settlement Attorney
Arrange Termite Inspection
Obtain Hazard Insurance
Contact Utility Company
Pre-Settlement Inspection
Settlement/Close escrow...or as I like to call it "the key ceremony" :)
Moving Day!!!!

It's nice having new eyes...

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:15:32 -0500

It's nice having new eyes...don't take that as a literal statement...read on:

This weekend my husband bought a new Nikon D60 Digital SLR camera and I've been using it to look at the world in a different way. There is so much beauty in this world...even in objects you wouldn't normally think of as beautiful...

I don't like spiders, but I can certainly admire his beauty and the hard work he put into this intricate web!

Unintentional art? This was in my new neighbors tree (along with streamers and confetti covering the ground), so I'm sure it wasn't intentionally placed there, but the random placement and contrast from the tree make it one of the most interesting finds on my walk yesterday...

My husband spotted this and we both agreed that it was screaming to be photographed (and would make a perfect test of the camera's ability to capture contrast). Not sure why the tire is there, but it makes for an interesting photo.

There was something about this that was begging to be photographed...so I did.

The playground near my house...empty...when I was a kid, this photo would have been filled with kids. I love the colors and contrast in this photo.

Stone landscaping and a lonely flower trying to find the light...it called to me.

Do I need to say why I took this photo?

This guy was sitting on a white railing and he was so small I almost missed him...

When we arrived back at my house, I found an object that belonged in this post...my Grandmother's camera. I thought it made an appropriate subject and a fascinating look at how far we've come with technology.

A serious question for any photographers out there...does anyone have any experience using a camera such as the one photographed above? My husband and I would love to take some photos with it (last known use was in 1979 and it worked). If anyone has any suggestions or pointers, please post respond in the comments!

Thanks for reading and I will be posting more random photos soon!

Tammi L. Copsey 2009

18 Rose Petal Court, Parkville, MD 21234 -- OPEN HOUSE!!

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:22:29 -0500

OPEN HOUSE!! SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2009 FROM 12 PM - 2 PM!! EVERYONE IS WELCOME AND ALL BROKERAGE AGREEMENTS WILL BE HONORED!

Tammi L. Copsey | Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. | 410-529-1900

18 Rose Petal Court, Baltimore, MD

Great opportunity to own in Parkville!

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $207,000

Year Built	1976
Sq Footage	1,200
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	1,700 sqft
HOA/Maint	$50 per month

DESCRIPTION

3 BDRM 2 Full Baths Townhome in sought after Parkville neighboorhood. New installed carpet in Living/Dining, stairways, bedrooms and family rooms. New stove, faucet and counter top in kitchen to accent recently installed dishwaser. Backs to wooded common area. 2 assigned parking spaces. Very short walk to Park & Ride for those easy commutes. Close to shopping.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Tile floor
- Family room	- Living room	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Basement
- Washer	- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside
- Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Open House!! Sunday, 8/9/09 12PM - 2PM - everyone is welcome! Contact me for more details!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior Front	Living Dining
Kitchen	Bedroom #1
Bedroom #2	Lower Level

Contact info:

Tammi L. Copsey

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

410-529-1900

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 6, 2009, 6:12am PDT

I want to buy a house in Maryland, should I call the agent on the sign?

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:51:49 -0500

“I want to buy a house in Maryland, should I call the agent on the sign?”

If you are buying or selling a home in Maryland, you need to understand agency and how you are being represented. Please read the text below to see how the State of Maryland defines the agency relationships between agents, buyers and sellers.

(The following link and text are used with permission from the Maryland Real Estate Commission)
Understanding Whom Real Estate Agents Represent

Agents Who Represent the Seller
Seller's Agent: A seller's agent works for the real estate company that lists and markets the property for the sellers, or landlords, and exclusively represents the sellers or landlords. That means that he or she may assist the buyer or tenant in purchasing or renting the property, but his or her duty of loyalty is only to the sellers or landlords. The seller pays the seller's agent's fee as specified in a written listing agreement.
Cooperating Agent: A cooperating agent works for a real estate company different from the company for which the seller's agent works. The cooperating agent can assist a buyer or tenant in purchasing or renting a property, but his or her duty of loyalty is only to the sellers or landlords. The cooperating agent's fee is paid by the sellers or landlords through the seller's agent's company.

Agents Who Represent the Buyer
Presumed Buyer's Agent (no written agreement): When a person goes to a real estate agent for assistance in finding a home to buy or rent, the agent is presumed to be representing the buyer and can show the buyer properties that are not listed by the agent's real estate company. A presumed buyer's agent may not make or prepare an offer or negotiate a sale for the buyer. The buyer does not have an obligation to pay anything to the presumed agent.

If for any reason the buyer does not want the agent to represent him or her as a presumed agent, either initially or at any time, the buyer can decline or terminate a presumed agency relationship simply by saying so.

Buyer's Agent (by written agreement): A buyer or tenant may enter into a written contract with a real estate agent which provides that the agent will represent the buyer or tenant in locating a property to buy or rent. The agent is then known as the buyer's agent. That agent assists the buyer in evaluating properties and preparing offers, and negotiates in the best interests of the buyer or tenant. The agent's fee is paid according to the written agreement between the agent and the buyer or tenant. If you as a buyer or tenant wish to have an agent represent you exclusively, you must enter into a written buyer agency agreement.

Dual Agents
The possibility of dual agency arises when the buyer's agent and the seller's agent both work for the same real estate company, and the buyer is interested in property listed by that company. The real estate company, or broker, is called the "dual agent." Dual agents do not act exclusively in the interests of either the seller or buyer, or landlord or tenant, and therefore cannot give undivided loyalty to either party. There may be a conflict of interest because the interests of the seller and buyer may be different or adverse.

If both seller and buyer, or landlord and tenant, agree to dual agency by signing a Consent For Dual Agency form, then the real estate company (the "dual agent") will assign one agent to represent the seller or landlord (the seller's "intra-company agent") and another agent to represent the buyer or tenant (the buyer's "intra-company agent"). Intra-company agents may provide the same services to their clients as exclusive seller's or buyer's agents, including advising their clients as to price and negotiation strategy, provided the clients have both consented to be represented by dual agency.

If either party does not agree to dual agency, the real estate company may withdraw the agency agreement for that particular property with either the buyer or seller, or both. If the seller's agreement is terminated, the seller must then either represent him or herself or arrange to be represented by an agent from another real estate company. If the buyer's agreement is terminated, the buyer or tenant may choose to enter into a written buyer agency agreement with an agent from a different company. Alternatively, the buyer or tenant may choose not to be represented by an agent of his or her own but simply to receive assistance from the seller's agent, from another agent in that company, or from a cooperating agent from another company.

No matter what type of agent you choose to work with, you have the following rights and responsibilities in selling or buying or renting property:

Real estate agents are obligated by law to treat all parties to a real estate transaction honestly and fairly. They must exercise reasonable care and diligence and maintain the confidentiality of clients. They must not discriminate in the offering of properties; they must promptly present each written offer or counteroffer to the other party; and they must answer questions truthfully.
Real estate agents must disclose all material facts that they know or should know relating to a property. An agent's duty to maintain confidentiality does not apply to the disclosure of material facts about a property.
All agreements with real estate agents should be in writing and should explain the duties and obligations of the agent. The agreement should explain how the agent will be paid and any fee-sharing agreements with other agents.
You have the responsibility to protect your own interests. You should carefully read all agreements to make sure they accurately reflect your understanding. A real estate agent is qualified to advise you on real estate matters only. If you need legal or tax advice, it is your responsibility to consult a licensed attorney or accountant.

Any complaints about a real estate agent may be filed with the Real Estate Commission at 500 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. (410) 230-6200.

Now really IS a great time to buy!

Don’t forget…the 1^st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of $8,000 expires on

December 1, 2009!

This is available to 1^st time home buyers (defined: "first-time home buyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.). In order to qualify for this true tax credit, your home must be settled by December 1, 2009. A normal transaction takes approximately 45 days. You should have a written contract on a home no later than October 16 to make sure you meet the deadline!

Pickin' & Grinnin'

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:14:45 -0500

Let me introduce you to my new business cards and ultimately the reason for this blog...

Since mailing them out to my contacts, I have gotten a few responses and the most common one is:

"Why do you use guitar picks as your business cards?"

It's a valid question and one I am more than happy to explain...

REASON #1
Music is and always has been an enormous part of my life. It is because of music (and musicians) that I am who I am today.

One of my first jobs was in music retail -- at the age of 15 - volunteering to stock the racks in exchange for promotional LPs and then finally working for them for a few years. Upon moving to Maryland in 1989, my first job here was again in music retail and management. It has been an on-again-off-again love affair...with retail work, that is.

My love of music found me a regular fixture at Hammerjacks and the Baltimore concert scene. I have seen over 400 concerts in my life and met almost every musician I've ever wanted to meet (Paul McCartney, Paul Weller, Aerosmith and Prince are goals not yet met...but a girl can dream...) I've also been priviledged to see behind the scenes on numerous tours, met many people in the concert industry and become friends with several of the musicians I once admired from afar.

REASON #2
To be different, stand out and show a little bit of my unique personality. It's that simple.

REASON #3
They are a tribute to my friends in the music world who supported me and became my biggest cheerleader during a life changing career move. I am forever in debt to those who gave me to courage to fulfill my dream of working in real estate and becoming a REALTOR®. THANK YOU ALL!!! (You know who you are!)

ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION I'VE RECEIVED:
"Where did you get them and how much did they cost?"

Well, I am a firm believer that word-of-mouth referrals being the best advertisement a company/business can get...

In Tune Guitar Picks Inc.
P.O. Box 941
Onley Va, 23418 U.S.A.
(757)787-7879 Office
(757)787-9579 Fax
Website: http://www.intunegp.com
Product/Pricing: http://www.intunegp.com/index-1.html
Order Info & Templates: http://www.intunegp.com/index-4.html
JOIN MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/reloc.cfm?c=2&id=BBED4E9A-8D14-4933-BBD6-96FF432AC32D

Bert and his crew have a great system in place to make sure you get exactly what you want! They are consummate professionals who worked with me every step of the way -- from design to delivery! They come highly recommended! Tell them Tammi Copsey sent you!

Wanna Be a Hawaii Real Estate Agent? Get Your Wallet Out!

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:18:30 -0500

I'm re-blogging this because it is important information for new agents ANYWHERE! Great blog post, Sally (and thank you for allowing reblogs)!!

Via Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate (Century 21 Liberty Homes):

So, you want to be a Hawaii Real Estate Agent? You have an interview with a Broker at XXX company and the only thing on your mind is $$$$. Well, there's always commission because you're an independent contractor. There is no two week or twice a month paycheck. You get paid when you sell a home.

You have income, taxes and expenses.

What they don't tell you before you get into real estate is that you will need money to start up with. "In order to make money you have to put out money". Like with any business you have to have ‘start up' money to get going and keep putting money into your business just like any other.

The following list will give you an idea of what to save up for so you aren't going into the industry blindly and KNOW what YOUR expenses and responsibilities are as a Real Estate Agent.

In the beginning:

Real Estate School

State Exam (If you pass the school)

Licensing (If you pass the school and exam)

Starting Out and Ongoing Stuff:

Multiple Listing Service, Realtor® Dues, Local Board Dues

Business Cards (and if you want a professional shot go to a photo studio)

Signs (Open House signs to start with) and if your company does not provide property signs you'll need a few of those too.

Announcements and postage (you do want to get the word out to family and friends to start with)

A good PC and equipment. (you will spend the majority of your time on your pc so make sure it's in good working order or buy a new one)

Office Supplies (this can range from paper clips to a great all in one printer, scanner, fax, copier)

Your Website (research different website companies, designers and so forth to see which will best suit your needs.

A good blogging site. (ActiveRain is just $29.95 a month for a Rainmaker account!)

A good virtual tour site (my favorite is www.realestateshows.com )

Additional Education (process, financing, escrow, listings, purchases, marketing and more!)

Gas, Car, Insurance, Upkeep (you will be using your vehicle more than usual ...obviously)

Advertising (depending on the type there are costs for newspapers, magazines, books, websites)Savings in the bank of at least three to six months as it will take some time to create business.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

Some companies may charge office and desk fees.

For every dollar you make there are taxes to pay. In Hawaii we have to pay not only federal and state estimated self employment taxes quarterely but have our General Excise Tax to pay as well.

Make sure you know everything there is to know BEFORE you pursue a career in Real Estate. You have responsibilities as an independent contractor and you pay your own taxes and expenses. READ MORE HERE>>> Real Estate is NOT JUST A PAYCHECK Be proactive in your research so you aren't going into the industry blindly and thinking you're making oodles of money with no expenses or responsibilities.

Oh, and the biggest item you will need of all.

TIME. LOTS of TIME.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

Let's Rock!

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:01:17 -0500

A FULL TIME real estate agent working with home buyers and sellers in
Baltimore County, Harford County, Baltimore City and surrounding areas!

If you are buying or selling a home, contact me to set up a consultation at no cost!

Having a Blackberry ensures that you have access to me 24/7, anytime, anywhere!

Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Perry Hall Office
8712 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 21236
(410) 529-1900 Office
(410) 258-5123 Blackberry
PIN # 31DDDA44
1(800) 514-7355 Toll Free
(410) 529-5954 Fax
http://tammicopsey.lnfre.com
tammi.copsey@longandfoster.com

Tammi's Blog

Toys For Tots - Perry Hall Collection Center - Long & Foster

Are you sure your house is safe? Find out here.

Today I have chosen to re-blog a post by an ActiveRain member, Russel Ray (San Diego Home Inspector) on the subject of Home Safety and Recalls.

As always, Russel gives great information and a step by step account of how you can make your home safer!

Thank you Russel for always giving such great advice that my clients and I can use! You rock!

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time with Long & Foster Perry Hall!

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!

This evening we made a total of 744 sandwiches in under one hour!These folks know their way around a PB&J!!

Here are a couple of photos of tonight's event:

The article below is from the Oak Crest website is from March (which marked the one year anniversary of our commitment to assistance...at the time we had assisted in making 5000 sandwiches!

Oak Crest and Long & Foster Team Up for Maryland Food Bank

To all of our Veterans and Active Duty Military - THANK YOU!

To all of our Veterans and Active Duty Military - THANK YOU!

To all who have served our great country...To all who have put our freedoms above their own safety...To all who have who have given the supreme sacrifice for our freedom...THANK YOU!

Don't Stop the Music (my version of singing in the "rain")

Don’t Stop The Music…

I’ve always liked music. The previous sentence is a complete understatement…I don’t like music…I LOVE MUSIC!

I won’t bore you with small talk about this as one photo should be proof enough:

Yes, that’s a walk-in closet in my home that houses most of my collection. My loving husband rebuilt an old cedar closet so my music would have a home...

With that said, there has always been one genre that escaped me…Jazz. I never felt like I could connect, relate or that it fit my life in some small way.

That is, until I found Jamie Cullum.

Jamie has a new CD, The Pursuit, coming out on 2/2/2010 and he has been actively promoting it on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

His post today mentioned a song that would be appearing on the new album and I knew I had heard it before…

”Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna?

My mind couldn’t wrap around how this song (that my teenage nieces listen to) could be interpreted into jazz, but I had to head on over to his YouTube channel to see if my guess was correct. It was and it is amazingly well done!

Am I going to share it with you? You bet!

I hope that you enjoyed it and that I’ve made a fan out of at least one person who reads this.

If nothing else play it for your teenager(s) and spark their curiosity…who knows, they might learn to appreciate another genre of music, expand their minds and suddenly think you’re the coolest thing since sliced bread for knowing a Rihanna song!

What does this have to do with real estate? Not much, really, but I must admit his music makes an excellent soundtrack for an Open House!

Enjoy your day!

A Real Estate Agent Must be Present to Open the Lock Box

Can the police, ambulance or firefighters find your home easily from the street?

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension and Expansion Information

Home buyer tax credit extension and expansion…

Your cell phone number going public...is this rumor true?

Are you a Veteran or Active Duty Military? Applebee's is saying THANKS!

It's Time to "Fall Back"!!

HOW TO IMPRESS POTENTIAL BUYERS (AND THE HOME INSPECTOR)

3440 Yorkway, Dundalk, MD 21222

21237 E Boundary Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21237

Do you understand Social Networking and Social Media?

The Magic of Disney...a recap of our vacation!

Sunday, October 4 OPEN HOUSE!! 2112 E Boundary 21237

Wonderful split foyer in Baltimore County 21237

The Home Buying Process and Why You Need an Agent

It's nice having new eyes...

18 Rose Petal Court, Parkville, MD 21234 -- OPEN HOUSE!!

I want to buy a house in Maryland, should I call the agent on the sign?

Pickin' & Grinnin'

Wanna Be a Hawaii Real Estate Agent? Get Your Wallet Out!

Let's Rock!

This evening we made a total of 744 sandwiches in under one hour!
These folks know their way around a PB&J!!

To all who have served our great country...
To all who have put our freedoms above their own safety...
To all who have who have given the supreme sacrifice for our freedom...

THANK YOU!