Ellicott City Realtor Catonsville Realtor

Top Seller Tuesdays - Spend a Little, Get a Lot!  Weekly Advice on Preparing Your Home for Sale.  A series of weekly tips for sellers that are simple, quick and designed to bring you top value.

• Begin the repair process by making your own home inspection.  Walk around the yard and through the house and take notes about the problem areas, needed repairs, items to discard or store, and things to replace.

If you'd like more information about preparing your home for sale, feel free to contact me.

Market Report Monday - Carroll County Real Estate Market Update, May 2010.Click on Full Screen to view this report.
If you have any questions about this report, feel free to give me a call, or click here to request more information.

Carroll County Real Estate Market Update, May 2010

Thursday Q & A - Your Maryland Real Estate Investing Questions Answered

Q:  I've found a property that seems like a really good investment deal.  The only problem is that the Seller wants a quick settlement and doesn't want a lot of contingencies in the contract, or to have to do any bank related repairs.  Is it still a good deal?

A:  Is it still a good deal? It could be, however, it's only as good as what you can sell it for later.  This has a direct effect on what you're buying it for now.  If the Seller doesn't want any contingencies, tell him you have to have an inspection and that you'll take a few DAYS to get it done.  That way, should anything come up, you're done with it quickly and both you and the Seller can move on.

Buying your first investment property can be tricky.  If you have questions, or need advice, please feel free to contact me.

Single Family Homes districted for Howard High School.  Centennial High School and Howard High School both made Newsweek's 2010 America's Top High Schools List, which ranked the schools based on 'how hard school staffs work to challenge students with advanced-placement college-level courses and tests'.

If you are looking for a home districted for either Centennial High School or Howard High School in Howard County, you will find that the homes districted for Centennial High School will be in the more expensive price range of $450,000 and higher.  You may find a home that is less than that, but they will be few and far between.

If you are looking for Howard High School homes, you will find you actually have many options for less than $450,000.  Finding Howard High School homes can be a challenge, however, because of the way that the Howard County Public High School System creates the attendance area maps .

You can see from the map that Howard High School homes are located in Elkridge, Columbia, and Ellicott City.  These homes will vary in price, age and condition.  The homes may be older, but the nicest properties will feature many updates to the roof, heating, cooling, kitchens and bathrooms.

The best way to find a Howard High School Home is to first search by zip code:  21045, 21075 and 21043.  Then, you can use the Howard County Public School System's School Locator tool to find out if any of the homes on your search results are districted for Howard High School.

 

Click here to search by zip code for homes that may be Howard High School Homes.  Use the search tool to narrow your results by price and number of rooms.  Then, verify the school district using the School Locator Tool mentioned above.

Unfortunately, there is no easier way to search for Howard High School Homes.  Many agents do not take the time to list the schools in the Multiple List Service, and limiting your search by school, neighborhood or even city may leave homes off of your list.

Of course, I am happy to prepare a list of homes for you.  If you'd like a list of Howard High School Homes, or any other school for that matter, feel free to contact me.

Please note that school district maps and information are provided by the Howard County Public School System, and school ranking was provided by Newsweek.  This information is subject to change and should be independently verified.

Click on Full Screen to view this report.
If you have any questions about this report, feel free to give me a call, or click here to request more information.

Baltimore County Real Estate Market Update, May 2010

Click on Full Screen to view this report.
If you have any questions about this report, feel free to give me a call, or click here to request more information.

Howard County Real Estate Market Update, May 2010

This Weekend's Open House Report - Open Houses in Catonsville, Ellicott City, Elkridge and Columbia

The following is a list of the open houses in our area this weekend.  If you see a home you like, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

• Catonsville Open Houses 

 

• Ellicott City Open Houses

 

• Elkridge Open Houses

 

• Columbia Open Houses

Please note, that these are the open houses that are recorded in the Multiple List Service as of Friday afternoon, and may not include all properties open this weekend.  Open house information was provided by the Listing Agent, and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Featured Listing Friday - Beautifully Decorated Hampstead Home - 4 Bedrooms, Now Under $300,000!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home has been well cared for by original owner. Features a large First Floor Family Room with Brick Fireplace and Skylights. European style kitchen cabinets and wood floors, with recent stove and microwave. Deck overlooks rear yard.

• 4 Bedrooms
  
• 3 1/2 Bathrooms
  
• Finished Lower Level Rec Room with Full Bath
  
• Large Bedrooms
  
• Tastefully Decorated
  
• Manicured Landscape
  
• Covered Front Porch
  
• Off Street Parking

 

See more at www.4286NorthWoodsTrail.com







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Thursday Q & A - Your Maryland Real Estate Investing Questions Answered

Q:  I'm thinking of purchasing an investment property that was built in 1942.  What are the concerns about lead based paint?

A:  Any property built before 1950 has to be registered with the EPA because of the concern over the presence of lead based paint.  There are still Agents listing properties and representing Sellers that haven't taken this step.

My advice:  if you are purchasing a pre-1950 property as an investment property, make the Seller register the property with the EPA.  Otherwise, you  could be buying a lead paint problem.  AND...if there is a tenant in the property, you are putting yourself in a legally vulnerable position.

If you'd like more information on investing in Real Estate in Maryland, please feel free to contact me.

What Kind of Home Can I Buy in Catonsville for Under $300,000?  I get asked this question a lot.  When you know what's most important to you, finding a home in Catonsville that fits your budget doesn't have to be a challenge.

The answer to this question begins with whether you are looking for a home in Catonsville that is a Single Family Home, a Townhome, or a Condominium.  Keep in mind when you are searching, that although I provide neighborhood names here, not every home in Catonsville is in a named subdivision.  If you are searching online for a Catonsville home, the best way to search is by zip code: 21228 and 21229.

If you are looking for a Catonsville Single Family Home under $300,000, the neighborhoods where you will have the most success are

• Meridale Little Farms
• Westview Park
• Catonsville Heights
• Catonsville Manor
• Woodbridge Valley
• Edmondson Ridge
• Colonial Gardens. 

The home you are likely to find will be an older home on a smaller lot, but if you are lucky, you can find one that has been renovated and/or updated with a newer kitchen and bathrooms and features off street parking.  Keep in mind that these homes will be ‘starter homes', with 2 or 3 bedrooms, and 1 or 2 bathrooms.

Click here for a current list of Catonsville Single Family Homes under $300,000.

 

If you are looking for a Catonsville Townhome under $300,000, you are going to find that they are most likely to be the ‘rowhome' style, built in the 1930's up until the 1990's, and will generally have 3 Bedrooms and 1 Bathroom.  The nicer units will have 2 Bedrooms, a finished basement, and will probably not have a garage, although you might get lucky, as there are a few communities that have garage townhomes in Catonsville.  The neighborhoods to look in include:

• Academy Heights
• near Prospect Avenue
• Medwick Garth
• Westowne
• Eastshire.

Click here for a current list of Catonsville Townhomes under $300,000.

 

And if you are looking for a Catonsville Condominium under $300,000, those units are very rare.  They will probably have 2 Bedrooms and 1 or 2 Bathrooms, and will be located in:

• Westchester
• Catonsville Mews
• Kenwood Gardens
• Catonsville Gateway.

Click here for a current list of Catonsville Condominiums under $300,000.

I grew up in Catonsville myself, and I've been helping people find Catonsville homes for more than 25 years.  If you'd like more information about homes in Catonsville, please feel free to contact me.