The Ups & Downs of Being a Hometown REALTOR® - Crofton, Maryland

From the age of five, give or take some years for college and a post-college foray into Virginia living, I have been a resident of Crofton, Maryland. My parents still live in the same house where I rollerskated in the garage and caught lightning bugs in mayonnaise jars.

Growing up, I decided that nothing could be so boring as to settle in one's childhood town. As they say, we make plans, God (or my mother) laughs.

Much to my surprise, when you get older, you see many things in a new light. And so after my first was born, I dragged my husband across the Potomac and back to Crofton to live near my folks as well as three of my five siblings. 

There are a lot of great advantages to settling in one's hometown. You know the ins and outs of neighborhoods, you remember the history of certain homes and streets, and you can talk to your clients about the schools and provide an inside "scoop" about your town. One of the great things about Crofton is that there are several "second generation" residents - it is not unusual for me to run into someone who was in Miss Nash's 3rd grade class with me or took piano lessons with me.

Then there are the sometimes not so great aspects of living where one grew up, like running into your mom's friend who you used to prank call at slumber parties, or the teacher that caught you skipping class by hiding out in the girl's room. Sometimes when someone has known you your whole life, they still see you in the same light. I wonder if the woman who I asked, "is your refrigerator running?" at two o'clock in the morning would list her house with me, for instance!

Crofton is a wonderfully unique community, full of long-time residents as well as many military families who come and go from year to year. I am happy to have come back home after trying a few other towns on for size. There is just no place like home!