Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: April 2007

1697 WALLEYE DRIVE, CROFTON, MD 21114 -

Elegent updates define this Crofton townhome condo.  One-level living on two levels. 

MAIN LEVEL:  Huge master bedroom, state-of-the-art kitchen, laundry, updated bath, flooring, siding and windows.

LOWER LEVEL:  2 bedrooms, living/dining area, kitchen, laundry, bath - all recently re-done, fenced deck area and separate entrance.

This home is ideal for roommates, live-in companion or healthcare provider.  Check it out, and find out how this home works for you.

RENT TO OWN AVAILABLE through the Anne Arundel County Key Choices program.  Note: Zoned single family, so lower level should not be used as a rental unit.

Your Realtor in Maryland, Margaret Woda.  RE/MAX Vision.  (410) 451-1900

I don't know about you, but I sure enjoy fresh produce when it's in season. And the best is more likely found at a local Farmer's Market, not your nearby food chain store. I did a little research, and found this list of Farmer's Markets in Howard County:

EAST COLUMBIA LIBRARY

• 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia Thursdays, 2-6, May 4-Nov.16

GLENWOOD LIBRARY

• 2350 Rt. 97, Cooksville Saturdays, 9:30-12:30, June 3 - Oct.28

MT. PISGAH AME CHURCH

• 5901 Cedar Fern Ct., Columbia Tuesdays, 3-6, May 2-Oct.31

OAKLAND MILLS

• 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Tuesdays 11-1, June 6- ??

It looks like these all will be starting for the season in the next few weeks, so enjoy!

By the way, I help homebuyers find a home in Howard, Anne Arundel or Prince George's County.  Let me know if I can help you.

WHAT'S UP FIRST ANNUAL HOUSE TOUR

• Annapolis and the Eastern Shore
• View the area's finest new homes and condos
• May 1-31
• www.whatsupmag.com/ (410)267-9390

COLE BROTHERS CIRCUS OF THE STARS

• Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
• Wednesday and Thursday, May 2 and 3, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
• Featuring the motor thunderdrome, elephants, flying trapeze, horses, acrobats of China, jugglers, aerial gymnasts, clowns, K-9s, the human cannonball and much more.
• info@annapolisoptimist.org (410)295-5157

CROFTON SPRING CRAFT FAIR

• Crofton Country Club
• Sat., April 28, 10 - 4
• Crafts, plants, face-painting 

CINCO DE MAYO ON THE WATER

• Annapolis City Dock, aboard the Harbor Queen
• Sat., May 5, 8-11 p.m.
• Three-hour cruise wih festivities, food, and music
• www.WatermarkJourney.com (410)268-7601

SPRING CRAFT FESTIVAL/TRACTOR PULL

• Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville
• Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6, 9:30-3
• Handmade crafts, children's activities, food.
• www.aacountyfair.org (410)923-3400

AFRICAN-AMERICA HERITGE WALKING TOUR

• Annapolis, 99 Main S.
• Sat., May 5, 10:30 a.m.
• Unique walking tour traces the rich history of African Americans in Annapolis and their impact nationally and internationally.
• www.WatermarkJourney.com (410)268-7601

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE WALKING TOUR

• 99 Main St., Annapolis
• Sat., May 5-Sept. 29
• Unique walking tour traces the rich history of African Americans in Annapolis and their impact nationally and internationally.
• www.WatermarkJourney.com (410)268-7601

BAY BRIDGE WALK

• Bay Bridge, Annapolis-Kent Island
• Sunday, May 6, 9 a.m.
• 4.3 mile walk across Maryland's Bay Bridge.
• www.MdTransportationAuthority.com (410)537-1017

GERMAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL

• Blob's Park, Jessup
• Sunday, May 6, 2 - 7 p.m.
• Gemuetlichkeit for everyone.  Folk dance performances, live music for ancing, vendor, raffles.
• www.GeoCities.com/agas_dc (301)577-6488

WIN, PLACE OR SHOW

• Crofton Village Garden Club
• A Small-Standard Flower Show for Members and Invited Guests
• Horticulture and Design Divisions
• (410)721-3960 or (410)266-1391

CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK

• 475 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville
• Friay, May 11, 1-4 p.m.
• Find out if your child's safety seat is correctly installed.
• http://www.rtbc.org/ (410)798-4868

SPRING PLANT SALE

• William Paca House and Garden, 186 Prince George St.
• Saturday and Sunday, May 12-13, 10 - 4.
• Add history to your garden by choosing from 200+varieties of 18th century heirloom and modern variety plants available.
• www.Annapolis.org (410)990-4539

FUN FAMILY FITNESS FESTIVAL

• 923 Annapolis Rd., Gambrills
• Sat., May 19, 11 - 5
• A one-day, health fair that partners with clinics, hospitals, schools and churches throughout Anne Arundel County.
• 410-320-7321

DAY ON THE BAY

• Annapolis City Dock
• Saturday May 19 and May 26, 10-5:30.
• Cruise across the Chesapeake Bay to the quaint,  historic village of St. Michaels.  Fresh seafood, boutique shopping, historic sights and the Chesapeake Maritime Museum.
• www.WatermarkJourney.com (410)268-7601

BLUE ANGELS

• Annapolis City Dock
• Wednesday, May 23, 1 - 3 p.m.
• The U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform over the Severn River as part of USNA Commissioning Week festivities.
• www.WatermarkJourney.com (410)268-7601

PIRATES OF THE CHESAPEAKE

• Annapolis City Dock
• Friday-Monday, May 25-28, 10:45 -11:45 a.m.
• Enjoy a romping good time with Capt. Billy Baye as he and h is sidekick, Grumpy Stumpy the Pirate Craab, entertain audiences of all ages with games, music and imaginative tales of piracy.
• www.WatermarkCruises.com (410)268-7601

BAY LIGHTHOUSES CRUISE

• Annapolis City Dock
• Sunday and Monday, May 27 and 28, 12:15 and 3:15 p.m.
• Cruise by Thomas Point, Sandy Point Shoal and Baltimore Harbor Lighthouses and under the twin spans of th Bay Bridgs.  Live narration by Turn-of-the-Century Lighthouse Keeper.
• www.WatermarkJourney.Com (410)268-7601

All events subject to change without notice.  Information obtained from http://www.visitmaryland.org/ and www.annearundelcounty.com

OLD BOWIE ANTIQUES AND CRAFT SPRING FLING

• 100+ booths for antiques, collectibles and crafts; moon bounce, bands, pony rides and railroad museum.
• Rt. 564 and Chestnut Ave.
• Historic Old Bowie Merchants Association (301)262-3743
• Sunday, April 29, 10 - 5

MOTHER'S DAY TEA

• Celebrate a special lady with tean in a historic setting
• Historic Belair Mansion. 
• CityofBowie.org/museum (301)809-3089
• Sunday, May 12, 4 p.m.

BOWIE HERITAGE DAY

• A celebrtion of Maryland history and horseracing at one of Maryland's history and horseracing at one of Maryland's most historic sites; pony rides, music, tours.
• Belair Stable Museum
• CityofBowie.org (301)809-3089
• Sunday, May 20, 12 -4

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

• Wear you red white and blue and fill the stres of Bowie with patriotism.
• Belair Annex to Acorn Hill Park
• CityofBowie.org (301)809-3089
• Saturday, May 26, 12 noon

BOWIEFEST

• Rides, games, crafts for sale, food and entertainment
• Allen Pond Park, 3330 Northview Drive
• CityofBowie.org (301)809-3011
• Saturday, June 2, 11 - 6

My name is 2090 Montpelier Court.  I am located in Crofton, Anne Arundel County, Maryland - in the middle of a triangle formed by Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Annapolis.  I have my own website!  www.CroftonRancher.com.

I have a big back yard, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, and lots of updates.  My agent says that I'm priced lower than some of the townhomes in the area.

Please tell everybody about my website because I love my owners and I want to help them move to their new home.

Are you worried that your prospective seller won't like the truth, and it could cost you the listing?  In other words, if they don't like the message, they might "shoot the messenger" -

How do you handle it when you walk into a prospective seller's home and your reaction is something to the effect of...

• Whew, this house stinks!  I can't breathe!  I need fresh air!
• This place looks like an annex to the city dump!
• Has your bathtub ever been cleaned since you moved in (15 years ago)?
• You want how much for this house?  You've got to be kidding!
• One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine... How many cats do you have?

There really is no way to diplomatically handle situations like these, although I find that many sellers will acknowledge the truth without too much resistance when they know their house is not ready for prime-time.  (Which is not to say they have any intention of correcting the situation.)  Frankly, if these sellers shoot the messenger - i.e. don't list with you because of your candor - who cares?  Any listing with extreme "issues" is going to be a tough sell anyway.

The truths I have trouble delivering are the ones that may offend very nice people who are very very proud of their homes and convinced that it is the best on the block.  Delivering these messages with tact is important if I don't want the seller to go searching for another agent who doesn't tell them the truth.  And more important, I really don't want to offend them because their home is ideal for them and their families.  But my job is to help them find a buyer, and I can't lose sight of that.  Once again, it's not what you say, but how you say it, that really matters -

The truth:  Yikes, this color reminds me of  ___________! 

Your message:  Mr. and Mrs. Seller, this color is perfect with your things, but statistics prove that neutral homes sell more quickly and for more money.  Let me give you the name and phone number of a painter who can help you neutralize your home before we put it on the market so buyers can imagine their own things in this home - and that's our objective, right? 

The truth:  This furniture is way too big for this room.   

Your message:  Mr. and Mrs. Seller, that furniture will be perfect in your new home, but there's too much of it for this home.  Why don't you move some of the pieces (be specific) to storage while your home is for sale so buyers can focus on how their own furniture might fit in this room.  And the side benefit is that the room will look much larger to buyers with just one couch instead of two.  The larger it looks, the higher the sale price!

The truth:  Pictures, pictures, pictures - not an inch of wall or furniture-top to spare.

Your message:  Mr. and Mrs. Seller, you have a wonderful family.  I'll bet you really enjoy these pictures... why don't you tell me about them.  You know, I'm afraid that buyers will want to stop and look at your pictures when they walk through, and that may distract them from making a buying decision.  Why don't you pack these photos and put a neutral paint on these walls so prospective buyers can focus on the updates in your home.

Proud homeowners want you to be impressed by their homes.  They need you to validate their choices in decorating, storage, landscaping, etc.  Yet you can tell them the difficult truth about needed changes without it coming out of your mouth sounding like a personal opinion.  These sellers are eager to please and eager to sell, and they will appreciate your communicating with them how buyers are likely to react to their homes.  The prospective buyer then becomes the messenger, not you.

Your sellers can't afford to shoot any prospective buyers, so you'll be safe.  You'll get the listing.  And everyone will live happily ever after.

SENTINELS OF FREEDOM 

If not me, who?  If not now, when?  At some point in our lives, many of us have been faced with these questions.  "Someone else" and "when I have more time" have sometimes been my answers.  Do I hear an echo?  Does that sound like anyone you know?

Last month, at the RE/MAX International Convention, I learned about Sentinels of Freedom - a grass roots effort founded by a RE/MAX agent in California to provide life-changing opportunities for men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have recently suffered severe injuries and now need the support of grateful communities to realize their dreams.  RE/MAX Founder, Dave Liniger, has personally and corporately taken on this challenge, and I was one of the RE/MAX agents, broker-owners, and regional officials who participated in training last weekend at RE/MAX International Headquarters to become Team Leaders in our own communities.   

What does this have to do with real estate, you might ask?  Well, REALTORS are good for our contacts, if nothing else.  Heck, when my daughter played the role of Louise in "Gypsy" in a community theater production a few years ago, I even had a client who could tell me where to find good "stripper" costumes!  I'm betting that other ActiveRainers have lots of contacts, too, and that's where you come in. 

Are you or someone you know:

• A potential employer for a Sentinel and/or their spouse?
• A builder, developer, landlord, or investor who can help obtain housing?
• A car dealer or donor who can help obtain transportation? 
• A civic leader who can help rally community support?
• A recently retired military officer (within 5 years) who can break through the military bureaucracy?
• A veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan or other recent "hot spot" who can be a friend and mentor?
• A financial planner who can provide good financial guidance?
• A doctor, casework, counselor or other professional whose services might be needed?
• A retail who can help provide necessities such as civilian clothing, home furnishings? 

My Team is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland - less than a half hour from Ft. Meade/NSA, Andrews AFB, and the USNA.  But I promise to pass on your contact info if you want to join or contact a team in another area of the state or country. 

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MD 

MRIS, the regional multiple listing service for 25 local Associations/Boards of Realtors in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C. and West Virginia, has just released sales statistics for March 2007.  It's not surprising to anyone working in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to see that everything is down EXCEPT days on market, when compared with last year.  What is surprising is the fact that it's barely down - the sales figures are really almost stable.  I'm certain that agents in other markets around the country would be very pleased to have numbers like these:

• Total sold dollar volume is down 2.91% from March 2006 to $ 250,453,279
• Average sold price is down 1.08% from March 2006 to $ 395,037
• Median sold price is down 3.96% from March 2006 to $ 326,000
• Total units sold is down .94% from March 2006 to 634
• Average days on market are up 82.26% from March 2006 to 113

Here is some more information that some people will find interesting:

• New listings taken in March 2007:  1316
• New contracts taken in March 2007:  738, including 208 contingent contracts
• Sold/settled units in March 2007:  634

Of the 634 homes settled, the majority (246) had been on the market over 120 days, while 178 sold within the first 30 days of listing.  544 of buyers for the 634 homes settled used Conventional financing and only 35 used VA or FHA loans.

In my specific marketplace, Crofton (zipcode 21114), sales statistics differ slightly from the county-wide numbers:

• Total sold dollar volume is up 9.43% to $ 17,875,623
• Average sold price is up 1/2% to $ 364,809
• Median sold price is down 4.91% to $310,000
• Total units sold is up 8.89% to 49
• Average days on market are up 97.73% to 87

While average days on market in Crofton have increased since March of last year, they are exactly the same as February 2007 and down significantly from January (113). 

Of the 49 homes that sold and settled in Anne Arundel County during March, almost half (21) had been on the market less than 30 days, while 14 had been on the market for over 120 days.  Again, Conventional financing was the most popular, with 43 settlements, while only 2 buyers used VA or FHA loans.  That is good news for home sellers, since sellers' closing costs tend to be lower for Conventional loans than any government loans.  It's also somewhat surprising, given Crofton's proximity to Fort Meade, the U.S. Naval Academy and Andrews AFB.

Statistics are published monthly by the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (MRIS) at http://www.mris.com/reports/stats/ if anyone would like to check on another zipcode or obtain greater details.  You don't have to be a MRIS member to access this information.

CROFTON MD 21114 

Who says that online marketing doesn't work?  Well, its effectiveness depends on two primary factors:  Target marketing - i.e. appropriate marketing for the online venue - and follow-up.  Let's talk about TARGET MARKETING online for now, and leave follow-up for another day. 

When you list a home, you probably give some thought to the best way of reaching likely buyers and target market accordingly.  Let's use mailings as an example:  In the case of a starter home, you might decide to send photo postcards to a nearby rental community.  When you list a waterfront home, you might send mailers to people who live in water-view homes in the area.  When you list a four-bedroom colonial with a big yard, you probably mail to nearby townhouses with tot lots in the community. 

The same principals apply to online marketing.  Here are some of my targeted online ads, just to give you some ideas:

If someone is looking for information about Crofton, Maryland, they might find my profile and photos on city-data.com, as one relo buyer from New Jersey did last month:

"Crofton residents enjoy the cherry tree-lined streets in Spring, a crafts fair and Boy Scout-sponsored chicken barbeque at the Village Green in Fall, an annual Christmas tree lighting in front of Crofton Country Club, and lots of organizations and year-round activities for every age group from kids to seniors. It's a wonderful place to live, and conveniently located about a half hour from Annapolis, Baltimore, and the Nation's Capital. If you'd like to take a closer look at living in Crofton, contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX VISION in the Crofton Village Green. She's been helping homebuyers and sellers in the area for over 30 years. You'll find the RE/MAX VISION office just off Rt. 3, in the Crofton Village Green. (Independently owned and operated) (Equal Housing Opportunity)"

If a military family is looking for an agent to sell their home in Crofton, Maryland, they might find my profile and photos on militaryavenue.com, as a prospective seller did earlier this month

"As a military wife, I experienced many of the things that you and your family face when you get orders. And, as a REALTOR for over 30 years, I have helped military families relocate in and out of the Baltimore/Annapolis/D.C. triangle. Nothing would please me more than an opportunity to work with you now, to help make this transfer a pleasant experience for you.  To see photos and descriptions of current home listings, just click on the link above to visit my website. You'll also find area schools and many other local resources, as well as helpful information for home buyers and sellers.  If you're leaving this area, I'll help you get top dollar for you home and handle all the details of your home sale for you.  Contact me today for a FREE relocation package featuring home listings and area information."

If someone is simply looking for an agent in Crofton, Maryland , they might find my profile on ContactAgents.com, as another prospective seller did:

"33 years real estate experience in the D.C./Baltimore/Annapolis triangle including USNA, NSA, Ft. Meade and Andrews AFB.  Begin your home purchase or sale with a visit to Margaret's user-friendly website with easy access to current home listings to help buyers find a home and recent home sales to help sellers price a home.  You'll also find instant real estate calculators, links to local resources and helpful real estate tips.  Then, when you're ready to move up to the next step in your home purchase or sale, contact Margaret for the personalized service you want and deserve."  

As you can see, my online marketing is not cookie-cutter.  You can't write one ad and then place it everwhere you advertise, because it won't necessarily "fit" the visitors to the website where you advertise.  One thing that all my ads have in common, however, is a link to my website.  Since I recently upgraded my website (thank you Tom Glynn for all your help), more people are actually contacting me and not just visiting my website.  And that's where follow-up takes over...      (to be continued on another day!)

LINKS:

• Buy Crofton
• Search for a Crofton home

Margaret Woda, RE/MAX Vision, Crofton MD 21114

 Crofton Maryland Real Estate and Homes for Sale

It's 9 a.m.  The phone rings with a warning that prospective buyers are coming between 10 and 12.  You rush the kids through their cereal and send them to perform their assigned chores.  Mary makes all the beds; Jerry loads the dishwasher, takes out the trash, and wipes down the kitchen; you check all the bathrooms to make sure no one left yesterday's clothes on the floor and quickly polish the faucets with Windex. 

Your spouse closes the closet doors, pulls open the drapes and blinds, turns on all the lights, turns off the TV, and changes the radio station from talk radio to soft rock.  There is barely enough time for everyone to grab their sweaters and get out the door by 10.  Oh - don't forget to confine the pets.  Whew!  You can only hope this buyer is the one who will make an offer. 

Determining whether prospective homebuyers are "real" or "fraud" is up to the agents.  You assume they wouldn't waste their time or yours.  That's one of the reasons you listed your home with a real estate agent and agreed to pay those "big bucks".  You KNOW that a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) has to let every caller in to see the house - including the people looking for decorating ideas, the people who can't afford your home, and even criminals who are "casing the joint".  (Note - that's one of the reasons I do not hold Open House.) 

So how do agents separate legitimate buyers from the pretenders?

1.  Come into the office -

If a prospective buyer is not willing to come into the agent's office, chances are they're not serious buyers.  I generally begin by asking buyers for photo identification and leaving it in my office before I get into a car with them.  I figure that an axe-murderer, rapist or robber probably won't be inclined to provide this identifying information.  As far as I'm concerned, these folks will have to visit open houses and FSBO properties - they're not getting into a car with me!  (P.S. - That's one of the reasons I do not hold Open House.)  Of course, I have a standard questionnaire that must be completed at the first interview - Fair Housing Laws require me to treat all prospective buyers alike, and this standard practice provides documentation that I do exactly that.

2.  Loan pre-approval -

If a prospective buyer has a loan pre-approval from one of the lenders I recommend, the loan officer that I know and trust has verified to the extent possible that this individual is who they say they are by verifying employment, assets, and cash on hand.  If someone walks into the office with a loan pre-approval in hand, as far as I'm concerned, they might as well not even have one.  This prospective buyer may or may not be pre-approved, and may or may not be who they say they are.  They could be frauds!  And, assuming they are who they say they are, an agent should show them only homes for which they are financially qualified to buy.

3.  Match properties to qualifications -

Having completed the first two steps - verifying the buyer's identity and financial capabilities - the next step is to determine their other qualifications.  Does this home purchase require something to happen before they can buy such as selling their current home, getting a new job, receiving an inheritance that is in probate?  Is this move necessary, such as relocation for a new job, or optional, such as a move-up to a larger home?  Do they want/need to settle in 30 days, a year, or somewhere in between?  Does your home have the features they are looking for in a home?  You rely upon agents to know these answers before they bring strangers into your home... don't you agree? 

While I can't promise that all real estate agents take these same precautions before showing your home, many do.  Frankly, these three steps are essential for any buyer's agent for two reasons:  1) The safety of you, your family AND the agent; and 2) so you and the agent don't waste time with prospective buyers who won't or can't buy your home.

Determining whether homebuyers are for real BEFORE agents show your home is a reasonable expectation for you as a home seller.  Agents, if you're reading this, take note.