Ramblings of a Baltimore area Realtor

Fall is a special time in the garden.  I personally love the fall, love the cooler weather, crispy days, the bounty of the summer labors and most of all I love the fall colors.  But don't put away your garden tools just yet.  Fall is the perfect time to plant cool-season crops and get a head start on the landscaping for next year.  And, if you are planning on selling your home next year (and hopefully the market will have improved by then) you'll want to prepare the outside of your home as well as the inside.

Fall brings with it relief from the heat, humidity and intense sunshine.  Many of the annoying pests of the summer also go away in the fall which (for me anyway) means I can enjoy my time in the garden more.  When you are choosing plants for fall keep in mind autumn bloomers like Joe Pye Weed, Autumn Fire and Black Eyed Susans which add color and fill in patchy areas and keep your garden lush later into the growing season.

If you like Perennial flowers that come back year after year you will want to choose plants that will be in their glory in the autumn months like the ones mentioned above.  Many of the great fall perennials start to bloom during the summer months and continue into the fall.  Russian Sage has spikes of purple flowers mixed in with spiky silvery foliage.  This great perennial grows in large mounds and blooms from July well into September.  Other traditional favorites are Mums and Asters that come back year after year and add great bursts of color through the fall.  If you regularly deadhead flowers in your gaden  they will continue to bloom until the first frost and add cheery color to your  yard. 

Fill in the empty patches with annuals like pansies that add that little something.  Pansies are great for spring and for later fall to add variety and change in your garden. 

As in spring, fall gardening begins with soil preparation.  Start by putting the remnants of your summer garden to bed.  Pull up vegetable plants and old vines, and then apply an inch or so of compost to the garden.  Add a thick blanket of mulch to conserve soil moisture and deter weeds from sneaking back in. 

In warmer climates, there's still time to set out fast-maturing, cool season vegetables like radishes, spinach and lettuce.  These vegetables grow best in the cool temperatures.  If you have a cold frame,  you can even extend the growing season into the late fall or early winter.  Many herbs also love the cool weather, especially chives, parlsey, savory, cilantro, rosemary and sage. 

Landscaping adds value to your home and curb appeal and this goes a long way to getting the home buyers off the street and into your driveway and ultimately in your home. 

If you are thinking about buyer or selling a home, consider giving me a call.  I'll be happy to walk you through the home buying and home selling process.

June Piper-Brandon, Broker - Advance Realty Anne Arundel - http://www.gb-advancerealtyusa.com

This week we've seen so much upheavle in the financial market that home buyer's and seller's alike seem to be paralyzed by fear.  Do we try to sell our house?  Do we try to hold on?  Do we buy now or wait?  So many choices to choose from.  Thoughts are straying to Halloween and the holidays after that.  The market remains fairly stable with some increases in sales with the drops in interest rates, and a few more buyers searching for their first or next home.  I'm surprised I'm not seeing more individuals making the decision to buy with some of the seller funded downpayment programs going away at the end of September and with the increasing number of down payment assistance programs available.  The weather has started to cool down with moderate days and cool nights and people are thinking about the end of summer and back to school and I think this may be having some cooling effect on the number of home buyers looking for new homes.  The number of new listings has increased slightly and the number of homes going under contract has also increased.  The numbers show a slowing in the market over all compared to this time last year.    It will be interesting to see how this all changes with the changes in the FHA and Jumbo loan limits and adjustments in the interest rates.  Overall, it's still a great time to buy.

These figures are taken directly from our MRIS system and are believed to be accurate.

Glen Burnie, MD

New Listings       24 (decrease 3 from last week)          

Under Contract    13 (increase 2 over last week)

Settled Sales      8 (increase of 2 from last week)

Anne Arundel County

New Listings        204 (decrease 4 from last week)         

Under Contract     91 (increase of 1 over last week)

Settled Sales        89 (increase of 33 over last week)

Glen Burnie offers many affordable housing opportunities for those relocating to Ft. Meade and Annapolis.  Glen Burnie is located north on 97 from rt 50 or north on Rt. 2 from Annapolis Naval Academy and east along 32 and north on 97 from Ft. Meade.  It is a relatively easy commute from either base and only a couple short miles from the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Station too.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home give me a call today and we'll talk about the market conditions and what your home could possibly be worth in today's market place if you are thinking of selling.  If you are considering buying a home, there is no better time than now to buy.  The tax savings and wealth building a lone is worth the plunge into todays market.

June Piper-Brandon, Broker - Advance Realty - http://www.gb-advancerealtyusa.com/ or http://www.homesdatabase.com/junepiperbrandon

I am catching up on my reading this dreary Friday afternoon and I'm inspired to write about real estate etiquette. 

How many times have you taken a listing and the seller calls after a showing for the feedback only to have to tell your seller that Mr or Mrs Agent hasn't responded to your numerous requests for feedback?  How many times have your seller's complained that Mr or Mrs Agent didn't show up for their appointment and they didn't call to cancel and your sellers have been circling the block with the dog in the car waiting for the agent and their buyer to show up and leave?  The best feedback I got was - "I never made an appointment to show that house" (well someone called the showing service and used your name and showing code to book an appointment and if it wasn't you then who was it?)

So, for a quick reminder:

Do

• Knock first before entering a home - and knock hard, you don't want to be confronted by a dripping naked seller coming out of the shower because they forgot you were coming
• Leave your card on the kitchen counter so the seller knows you were there - if the seller then calls you do not speak to them about the property refer them back to their agent
• Turn off all the lights and lock the all doors - don't be the agent to walk out and leave the front door wide open (and please remember to put the keys back in the lockbox - don't be that agent that gets to house 5 on a tour only to discover  you've kept all the keys for the last 5 houses you've been in) and don't let the dog or cat out if those are your instructions.
• Call if you are not able to show up for any reason, or if you get to the house and your clients decide they really don't want to see it or that it's too far down the street than they would like.
• Return calls or emails for feedback when asked.  Sellers want feedback, they need feedback and so do agents so they can better advise their clients.
• Report any problems that you see, such as leaky toilets, air conditioners dripping, broken locks, gas leaks, squatters, break ins etc to the listing agent so they can take care of potential problems.

Don't

• Wait until the last minute to schedule a showing and be mindful of the lives of others
• Speak negatively about the property in front of the owner or other purchasers that might be present
• Show up more than 15 minutes late - if you are going to be later than your window of time, please call and notify someone.  That later time might not be convenient.
• Park on the grass, the lawn, the patio or any place other than the driveway or street
• Take the keys with you once you've shown the house, please put the keys back in the lockbox.

Some of these are just common sense, but most of these do's and don'ts come from feedback I've received from sellers and I've experienced in my 20 plus years of being an agent.   I'm sure there are more to add, if you have any please comment!! 

June Piper-Brandon, Broker/Office Manager - Advance Realty Anne Arundel - http://www.gb-advancerealtyusa.com

The Flying Geese Quilt Guild is an organization that is dedicated to the preservation of the art of quilting and sharing their knowledge of quilt making with the public.

The Flying Geese Quilt Guild meets on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Fallston Volunteer Fire Hall located at 2201 Carrs Mill Road, Fallston, MD.  The doors open at 6:30 and the meeting runs from 7:00 until 9:00 pm.  Each month they have a program that includes either a local or nationally known speaker, sewing room sale or holiday party.  Membership costs $35 a year, if you are just visiting there is a $5 charge for attending programs.

Quilt Show 2008 will be held October 18 and 19th, 2008 at the Harford Technical High School located at 200 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD 21015 (Map).  October 18 hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, October 19 hours are 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Entry to the show is $7.00

The Raffle Quilt shown here is called Geese Around the Garden tickets will be available at the show. 

Lauraville is located in North East Baltimore City.  It is a community featuring many home owner opportunities. Lauraville is a middle-class neighborhood of large and modest sized homes. What separates Lauraville from most neighborhoods is its people. Teachers, poets, nurses, actors, lawyers, classical musicians, bankers, factory workers, secretaries, the young, the old and everyone in between come to the area for different reasons, but they stay because the neighbors care for one another.  

Greater Lauraville neighborhood association provides information and services for the community and provides a link to many government offices.

On September 27, 2008 starting at 11:00 am the Greater Lauraville Fair will start.  There will be something for everyone including a free petting zoo,  beer from The Brewer's Art, sack races, free puppet shows by Black Cherry Puppet Group, crafts, fine art,  wine from Chameleon Wine Cellars,  Ray of Hope Choir & Dancers, Zeke's Coffee,  Pie-Eating Contest,  Fried Fish & Chicken, and so much more...

11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 4100 Harford Road in Herring Run Park between Harford Rd and Walther Ave.

You don't want to miss it!

This week we've seen so much upheavle in the financial market that home buyer's and seller's alike seem to be paralyzed by fear.  Do we try to sell our house?  Do we try to hold on?  Do we buy now or wait?  So many choices to choose from.  School is now back in full swing and this week we're expecting the first interim report cards already and thoughts are straying to Halloween and the holidays after that.  The market remains fairly stable with some increases in sales with the drops in interest rates, and a few more buyers searching for their first or next home.  I'm surprised I'm not seeing more individuals making the decision to buy with some of the seller funded downpayment programs going away at the end of September and with the increasing number of down payment assistance programs available.  The weather has started to cool down with moderate days and cool nights and people are thinking about the end of summer and back to school and I think this may be having some cooling effect on the number of home buyers looking for new homes.  The number of new listings has increased slightly and the number of homes going under contract has also increased.  The numbers show a slowing in the market over all compared to this time last year.    It will be interesting to see how this all changes with the changes in the FHA and Jumbo loan limits and adjustments in the interest rates.  Overall, it's still a great time to buy.

These figures are taken directly from our MRIS system and are believed to be accurate.

Glen Burnie, MD

New Listings       27 (decrease 10 from last week)          

Under Contract    11 (decrease 4 over last week)

Settled Sales      6 (increase of 5 from last week)

Anne Arundel County

New Listings        208 (increase 4 from last week)         

Under Contract     90 (decrease of 15 over last week)

Settled Sales        56 (increase of 12 over last week)

Glen Burnie offers many affordable housing opportunities for those relocating to Ft. Meade and Annapolis.  Glen Burnie is located north on 97 from rt 50 or north on Rt. 2 from Annapolis Naval Academy and east along 32 and north on 97 from Ft. Meade.  It is a relatively easy commute from either base and only a couple short miles from the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Station too.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home give me a call today and we'll talk about the market conditions and what your home could possibly be worth in today's market place if you are thinking of selling.  If you are considering buying a home, there is no better time than now to buy.  The tax savings and wealth building a lone is worth the plunge into todays market.

June Piper-Brandon, Broker - Advance Realty - http://www.gb-advancerealtyusa.com/ or http://www.homesdatabase.com/junepiperbrandon

Lutherville is a small community nestled between Towson and Timonium in Baltimore County, Maryland.  I love Lutherville, I live here!!  Lutherville is conveniently located just outside 695 and is an easy commute to Hunt Valley, Baltimore City, Aberdeen Proving Ground and many from Lutherville even commute to Washington DC.  I commute every day to Glen Burnie, MD. Lutherville features homes in all price ranges and from new construction through to homes listed on the National Register for Historic Places. 

Why Lutherville?  Lutherville has great schools, strong community association and is conveniently located and has all the ammenities for a wonderful life.  Lutherville has one of the best all Volunteer Fire Departments.  And, the Fire Museum  

On October 4, 2008, the Lutherville Community Association is hosting the Lutherville House Tour.  The tour will include eleven homes that were built between 1850 and 1910 and starts at 10:00 am and ends at 4:00 pm.  Tickets for the tour are $20 and all the proceeds will be donated to the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Department.  There are many locations for you to pick up the tickets

Lutherville has much to offer to many in different price ranges.  There are many historic homes, but there are also more modest homes.  And, before anyone asks, as much as I would love to live in an historic home, we live in a modest cape cod home that was built in 1957.  My next door neighbors home is for sale, it is a 3 bedroom rancher sitting on a nicely landscaped lot.  For more information about this home or others please click on the link. 

Don't take my word for it though.  Check out the community, take a look at the test scores for the schools and check the crime statistics for yourself.  Go on the home tour, then have lunch at Szechuan House Chinese restaurant, or head up the road to Andy Nelson's BBQ. 

June Piper-Brandon, Advance Realty - http://www.gb-advancerealtyusa.com

So, you have decided that you want to buy a home.  What next?  Where do you go from here?  Do you know what you need to do?

First thing you need to do is get prequalified for a mortgage.  Be sure that the mortgage company or bank you choose is reputable.  If you are uncertain how to go about getting prequalified, hire a buyer's agent.  Did you know that buyer's agents generally receive payment at settlement from the seller.  That's right, the seller pays for you to be represented.  Isn't that great?

A buyer's agent will help you identify a lender who will be able to get you prequalified.  They will also help you identify your wants and needs in a new home and help you through the process. 

In the meantime you can get a free report called "10 Ways to Prepare for Home Ownership", here.  And start your way on to achieving your dream of homeownership.

June Piper-Brandon, Advance Realty - http://www.gb-advancerealtyusa.com

Labor Day is past and the white shoes are in the back of the closet and thoughts are straying to Halloween and the holidays after that.  The market remains fairly stable with some increases in sales with the drops in interest rates, and a few more buyers searching for their first or next home.  I'm surprised I'm not seeing more individuals making the decision to buy with some of the seller funded downpayment programs going away at the end of September and with the increasing number of down payment assistance programs available.  The weather has started to cool down with moderate days and cool nights and people are thinking about the end of summer and back to school and I think this may be having some cooling effect on the number of home buyers looking for new homes.  The number of new listings has increased slightly and the number of homes going under contract has also increased.  The numbers show a slowing in the market over all compared to this time last year.    It will be interesting to see how this all changes with the changes in the FHA and Jumbo loan limits and adjustments in the interest rates.  Overall, it's still a great time to buy.

These figures are taken directly from our MRIS system and are believed to be accurate.

Glen Burnie, MD

New Listings       37 (increase 16 from last week)          

Under Contract    15 (increase 2 over last week)

Settled Sales      1 (decrease of 5 from last week)

Anne Arundel County

New Listings        204 (increase 17 from last week)         

Under Contract    105 (increase of 5 over last week)

Settled Sales        44 (increase of 9 over last week)

Glen Burnie offers many affordable housing opportunities for those relocating to Ft. Meade and Annapolis.  Glen Burnie is located north on 97 from rt 50 or north on Rt. 2 from Annapolis Naval Academy and east along 32 and north on 97 from Ft. Meade.  It is a relatively easy commute from either base and only a couple short miles from the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Station too.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home give me a call today and we'll talk about the market conditions and what your home could possibly be worth in today's market place if you are thinking of selling.  If you are considering buying a home, there is no better time than now to buy.  The tax savings and wealth building a lone is worth the plunge into todays market.

June Piper-Brandon, Broker - Advance Realty - http://www.gb-advancerealtyusa.com/ or http://www.homesdatabase.com/junepiperbrandon

My family and I really enjoy the Red Robin restaurants.  We have eaten at Red Robin in Parkville, MD, Columbia, MD and Fayetteville, NC.  Tonight we were lucky enough to be invited to the Sneak Preview for the new Red Robin opening in Bel Air, MD.  The restaurant is conveniently located in Harford Mall at 602 Bel Air Road, Bel Air, MD 21014.  Our reservation was for 6:30, so we arrived at 6:25 and were immedicately greeted at the door by cheerful seaters and ushered to our seat.  David waited on our table tonight and he was excellent.  Our glasses were kept full, we had fabulous onion rings and for dinner we sampled Prime Rib Dip, Cheese Burger and bbq chicken wrap.  Dinner was wonderful, hot when delivered to the table.  For the life of me I don't know how anyone would have room for more than the fries that came with the meal but Red Robin offers bottomless fries.  After dinner we rolled back out to our car and made the drive home.  I can't wait for the restaurant to open officially so we can go back.

Bel Air is located in Harford County and can be reached from I95 at exit 77 (Route 24) and close to Aberdeen Proving Ground.  Harford County has numerous neighborhoods with homes for sale at prices to fit most budgets.

June Piper-Brandon, Advance Realty Anne Arundel - http://www.gb-advancerealtyusa.com