Marthas Blog

It's Sunday Open House Time Once Again

This Super Bowl Sunday there are 7 open houses in the
Annapolis zip codes 21401, 21403 and 21409.  
To view this Sundays Opens click on the Open House Sign

                    Please remember... when visiting an Open House the agent holding the open is representing the Seller. 

If you are already represented by an agent that should not be a problem as many open house agents honor that relationship. Just let them know when you arrive.  HOWEVER if you do not have an agent and really would like Buyer Representation when purchasing a home you need to have a agency relationship in place before visiting. 

As an Annapolis Area Realtor® who specializes in buying and selling of residential real estate I am available to represent you in the purchase of any home available for sale whether listed with my brokerage or another brokerage. None of todays homes are my listings but if they were I, like the agents holding today's opens, would be representing the Seller. 

If you would like Buyer Representation when buying a home give me a call. 410-440-7839.
I will be happy to explain how it works, how I can be of service and to represent you in the purchase of your new home.

                                          It's going to be a great year to buy a home!





 

Buying Your First Home Is A Beginning in Homeownership Not Necessarily An End

Today was spent showing property to a sweet newly married couple on a very tight budget. They so want to buy a home and stop paying rent. After a couple conversations about paring down their wish list and opening their eyes to possibilities of what could be a perfect first home we ventured out. 

The day was beautiful. They were so excited and as we visited each home I could tell they were looking at each one as a beginning in home-ownership and not an end. Yes, I could see they truly understood what I had been trying to tell them.

We all start somewhere in home-ownership. And as the years pass and we look back at that first home it has a special place in our home-ownership journey. It mey not have been the biggest, and it probably wasn't the fanciest but it was where we started and grew. We love it for what it was/is...our first home.    

Tonight she texted me and they really, really like one home a lot. I will be checking out some answers on a few items and if all is well we will move forward with an offer.

It is such an exciting time when a first time home buyer understands that

Buying Your First Home is a beginning in home-ownership and not necessarily an end.

It's Sunday Open House Time Once Again

This weekend there are 18 open houses in the
Annapolis zip codes 21401, 21403 and 21409.  
To view this Sundays Opens click on the Open House Sign

Please remember... when visiting an Open House the agent holding the open is representing the Seller. 

If you are already represented by an agent that should not be a problem as many open house agents honor that relationship. Just let them know when you arrive.  HOWEVER if you do not have an agent and really would like Buyer Representation when purchasing a home you need to have a buyer agency relationship in place before visiting. 

As an Annapolis Area Realtor® who specializes in buying and selling of residential real estate I am available to represent you, as your buyers agent, in the purchase of any home available for sale whether listed with my brokerage or another brokerage. None of todays homes are my listings but if they were I, like the agents holding today's opens, would be representing the Seller. 

If you would like Buyer Representation when buying a home give me a call. 410-440-7839.
I will be happy to explain how it works, how I can be of service and to represent you in the purchase of your new home. 

                          It's going to be a great year to buy a home!





 

Crownsville offers a variety of homes and lifestyle. From waterfront, water access, estate homes and everything in between, Crownsville is a great area to call home. And it is conveniently located for heading to Annapolis, a quick trip to Rt 97 towards Baltimore and even Washington DC is easily obtainable.

Sales in December were up 30% from November 2011 and held strong over December 2010. The number under contract is a healthy 24. All in all sales in Crownsville are holding there own.

Keep in mind that Crownsville offers homes in price ranges starting from $24,900 for a mobile home to $2,995,000 for an estate home in Cranberry Woods. With this range in home prices the average sales price will fluctuate quite dramatically from month to month depending on the overall price range that sold. The above report is an overall statistical reading from the Multiple List (MRIS). For a detailed report targeted to your particular price range in buying or selling a Crownsville home please give me a call.  410-440-7839 or drop me an email martha@homesaroundannapolis.com

                 our home is currently listed for sale this market report is in no way a solicitation of that listing 

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Building Your Home Buying Plan of Action

Whether you are a first time home buyer or a seasoned home buyer being organized with your thoughts, steps to take and paperwork, a home buying plan of action per se, will greatly reduce the stress level that inherently by nature of being human seems to come with making a home buying decision. Yes it is always stressful when making one of the biggest personal investments one makes in their lifetime. So lets get started.

Step One

 Every home buying decision starts with ones comfort level in what their monthly mortgage expenses are going to be. Everyones lifestyle and willingness to put X $$ amount in a monthly mortgage is a very personal decision. Committing to a mortgage is a long term commitment and making the right choice and decision up front is important. To start this first step of your home buying plan of action you have a couple options. 1) contact your real estate agent and ask for the names of some good reputable lenders. What you do not have a real estate agent yet??? Then you and I need to talk and soon. 2) contact a lender directly. Once you have chosen a lender you are comfortable with you need to sit down and go over all your mortgage options and come up with a home buying plan of action that works for you and your financial lifestyle. Think of this as your purchase power. The power to know you are buying within your comfort level and lifestyle and will not be stressing your future love of your new home because you really spent outside your power level. This will also allow you to fully concentrate on finding the best home for you within that power.  

Step Two

• Do you need to be closer to your work? To schools? need water access for your love of boating? Closer to other family members?

• You are tired of renting, outgrown your present home, want to raise dogs, current home too big or too small?

• Is it because moving to another area would truly fit your lifestyle better? You feel this is the best time to make that move.

• More storage? Bigger yard? More bedrooms? Less bedrooms? 

• Must have a garage? Must have a fenced yard? A man cave is a must. A scrap booking room is also

• Has to be a single family, a condo, a townhouse, a big kitchen, a formal dining room.

Homes are situated on lots ranging in size from just under an acre to almost 3 acres and homestyles are remincesant of the 1970 style of  ranchers, split foyers and Colonials as well as more currents styles of the 1990's until now. Each home is served by their own individual well and septic and there is no HOA in Hardesty Estates.

The schools serving the community are Davidsonville Elementary, Central Middle and South River High.

Shopping and recreation are not far away. Homestead Gardens is just up the street, and the Annapolis Mall can be reached by heading straight down Riva Rd. From that point shopping is endless all around the Annapolis area. And we don't want to forget the Edgewater area (RT 214E) for shopping as well.

Currently home prices are ranging from the low $400's to the mid $600's.

You can view current homes for sale as of this writing Here.

If you would like to see what Hardesty Estates is all about give me a call 410-440-7839 or drop me an email martha@homesaroundannapolis.com. I would be happy to show you around.

Back in 1925 the now defunct Washington Herald newspaper bought 460 acres along the Severn River in the Crownsville area just outside Annapolis for $120,000 from the Hall and Kyle farming families. The newspaper marketing people advertised the area as a summer resort and divided the land into 25 x 100 lots. Subscribers could purchase a waterfront lot for $200 and any of the rest for $25.00.  Some buyers built small cottages and many others just pitched a tent on their lots.

By the 1930's Herald Harbor was thriving with its wonderful beach, a dance pavilion and a summer beauty contest where contestants had the opportunity to win $5000, a new car and a couple of lots. There was even semi- professional boxing matches, greyhound dog races and when the county legalized slots machines even more people were drawn to Herald harbor.

When the Bay Bridge opened in 1952 many people lost interest in the resort called Herald Harbor as they flocked to Ocean City instead. And then the county phased out slot machines. Those that hung in eventually were living there year round and when public water came to the area  many either renovated or built larger homes

Herald Harbor has lost much of it's water access with just a small beach still available that is within walking distance of most homes. Through the years many builders flocked to the community building affordable homes for buyers. In the 1970's it was the modular revolution and the 1990's brought the stick built split foyers and Colonials.

Today Herald Harbor is a wonderful eclectic community of summer cottages next to waterfront mansions. Home prices are some of the most affordable in the Annapolis/Crownsville area. The community offers a park, a boat ramp and is a great walking community. A small General Store and Fire Department greets you at its entrance along with a Day Care Center and Community Hall. And just outside the community is Smiths Marina where the launching and/or docking of larger boats is perfect. And just a few miles away there is a fabulous public golf course, the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds and a huge ball park. Oh and HOA is voluntary in Herald Harbor.

Shopping is available towards Annapolis which is down Generals Highway. there you will find the Annapolis Mall, and just around the corner on Housley you will find a Safeway, Best Buy, PetSmart and Home Depot among many other stores.Commuting is some of the best in the area with Rt 97 just 3 minutes away and Rt 50 within 10 minutes.

Originally called Scotts Plantation, Belvoir Farms history dates back to the American Revolution when Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimuier, a famous General in the French Army camped with his troops on the grounds when he was en route to join George Washington in Yorktown Virginia for the final campaign of the American Revolution. The great-grandfather of Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star Spangle Banner, was once an owner of the home that was named Belvoir and Francis Scott Key visited the home while a student at St Johns College. Ann Arnold Ross Key, grandmother of Francis Scott Key and his Aunt Elizabeth Ross Key Maynadier are buried on the grounds of Belvoir Farms.

Over the years the home and land was owned by numerous prominent names in history both locally and nationally. Eventually it was sold to a prominent Marylander whose son inherited the property in the 1970's and proceeded to grow tobacco and then turned it into a well known strawberry farm before finally being sold to developers in the 1980's. Today Belvoir is a beautiful community of approximately 100 estate homes on 1-3 acre lots. Each home is custom built and range anywhere from 4000 square feet to 10,000 square feet. Though not considered waterfront property Belvoir Farms does have the distinction of owning a slice of waterfront land on Maynadier Creek complete with boat slips.

Belvoir Farms location offers incredible access to not only Baltimore via Rt. 97 but to Washington via Rt. 50 and also Annapolis. Nearby can be found a championship public golf course, the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds ,  the Annapolis Mall and Annapolis Towne Centre

Heritage Harbour is located on a peninsula on the southwest side of Annapolis and very near the Annapolis Mall. Offering one thousand acres of which approximately half is dedicated open space, Heritage Harbour offers an active adult community like no other around Annapolis.

It's location is perfectly suited for jaunts to Historic Annapolis or the Naval Academy. Washington DC is a short drive up Rt 50 and Baltimore the same on Rt 97. Heritage Harbour offers a Community Lodge with every imaginable amenity. Designed as a health spa and recreation facility there is always something to do at the Lodge. A leisurely walk, drive or shuttle bus will bring you there in no time to enjoy the library, swimming pools, jacuzzi, sauna, exercise rooms, billiards, fireplace lounge, a kitchen and bar facility for private parties are just a few of the wonderful amenities. On the other side of the community is the Clubhouse which is adjacent to the tennis courts and 9 hole executive golf course. Inside the glubhouse is a pro shop, a lounge with light food and drinks, dressing rooms and a golf pro to assist with golf lessons and other assistance you may need.

Heritage Harbour consists of 1683 single family homes, townhouses and condominium style homes. The single family homes are currently selling  between $315,000 and $450,000. Townhouses from $210,000 to $430,000 and condos from $150,000 to $450,000. A lifestyle and price range to meet any of your needs.

With so much to do and a wide range of activities to partake in Heritage Harbour has you covered with a full time staff to assist you.

Want to learn more about Heritage Harbour? As an Annapolis Area Real Estate Agent who lists and sells in Heritage Harbour I can help. Just give me a call.

I would be happy to assist you with the information and knowledge you need to make a sound real estate decision about moving there.

When you think of Davidsonville what comes to mind is wide open land, open skies and horses grazing in the sunlight. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Annapolis and a hop skip and jump from Rt 50 towards Washington DC, Davidsonville is ideally suited for those who enjoy acreage with their home. Needless to say Kings Retreat offers all of the above and more.

Developed in 1985 Kings Retreat is a community of approximately 30 homes just off of Davidsonville Rd, better known as Rt 424. Lot sizes in this wonderful estate community range from 2 to 6 acres with each home custom built and sited. With lot sizes this large many homes in Kings Retreat have in ground pools, tennis courts and room for a barn and a horse or two.

Kings Retreat means country living which also means all homes are on private well and septic. Schools for the community include Davidsonville Elementary, Central Middle and South River High. There are many private schools, churches, a fabulous garden center, country store and easy access to major shopping malls and eateries.

Homes in Kings Retreat are priced $700,000 and up. As in many Davidsonville communities Kings Retreat is well loved by its current residents and homes offered for sale are few and far between.

Looking for some land with your next Annapolis purchase?  Well then... Eagles Passages may be just the community for you. The  approximately 165 executive size colonial homes are situated on one-acre home sites in the rolling countryside of Davidsonville located just minutes from Annapolis.

Developed by The Halle Companies, one of Washington DC's most successful builders and later by Koch Homes, a premier Builder in Anne Arundel County. Each builder brought they're beauty and style to this fabulous community where over 500 acres are dedicated wooded open space of which part is home to an environmentally protected nesting eagles sanctuary. Eagles Passages also has many recreation areas including its own tennis courts and community swimming pool. All homes are served by private well and septic. Public schools for the community are Davidsonville Elementary, Central Middle and South River High.  

Home prices in Eagles Passages are $700,000 and up with many homes offering exquisite custom touches situated on magnificent lots.

The lifestyle at Eagles Passages offers the convenience of commuting to Washington DC or Baltimore MD and a quick sprint to the sites and shopping of Annapolis.

For more information on this wonderful community or a private tour call or email me today. I am an Annapolis Area Real Estate Agent who would be happy to acclimate you to all the wonders of Eagles Passages.