Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: March 2009

If you live in Maryland, chances are you're a Terps Fan.  Moving to the area?  Buy yourself a red tee shirt so you can help fill the stands with red!

 

We've been Terps football fans and season ticket holders for a number of years, and this year the Lady Terps have really grown on us.

If you watched the Sports Highlights last night (Saturday), you may have seen a segment on NCAA Women's Basketball and the one-woman show of Marissa Coleman as she scored 42 points in the 78-74 victory over Vanderbilt in the Sweet Sixteen.  She willed and worked her team into the next round, where they will play #3 seed Louisville at 7 p.m. on Monday. (ESPN and ESPN2)

Most viewers were probably saying something to themselves like "Wow, impressive!"  On the other hand, I was kicking myself for never uploading the photos so I could finish the post I started last week after the first-round game at Comcast Center.  So now I'm going to actually post it, 'cause I had fun attending and fun bragging about our ACC Champs in the post.

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March 23, 2009

Watching Kristi Toliver shoot from anywhere and nail it...  dribble from one hand to the other seamlessly, or even behind her back... or pass (or receive a pass) in a direction she's not even looking is electrifying.  At one point in Sunday's first-round NCAA Tournament game against Dartmouth, she had personally scored the same 23 points that the entire opposing team had on the board.   With Kristi's shooting wizardry they were far enough ahead for Coach Brenda Frese to sit Kristi on the bench for the last 11+ minutes and give other players some tournament experience.

The other graduating senior on the team, Marissa Coleman, wasn't quite so "on fire" with her shooting this weekend, but no-one rebounds the way she does - and no one doubts her shooting game will be "back" for the next game.  Marissa seems to jump higher and with more authority than players other women on the court and she has the ability to pull that ball under her control in the midst of many other hands time after time.  During most games this season and throughout their parallel careers, she and Kristi have enjoyed a two-woman competition for the highest points scored in a game.  (Photo:  The Comcast Center jumbotron at the buzzer.  by Mwoda)

In their last home game of the regular season, on Senior Night at Comcast Center, this duo combined for 30 points before any other Lady Terp scored, and they ended up with a total of 59 points in the 86-74 victory over Boston College.  (Photo on the right was taken at Senior Night festivities after the game.  L to R:  Marissa, Coach Frese, Kristi.  The lighting just doesn't work when I take a picture of subjects on the floor with my point/shoot camera.)

Last August, when I didn't know what to get my husband for his birthday, I purchased season tickets for the Lady Terps.  The price was certainly right (I think they were a very affordable $65 for general admission tickets for the whole season).  It turned out to be a gift of my time throughout basketball season, as we put my business and other matters aside to attend nearly every home game.  Along the way, we had the opportunity to watch the Ladies win their first ACC Championship, and I can honestly say that we enjoyed every minute!  Of course, it didn't hurt that they won every game we saw.

In case you're not a big basketball fan, let me bring you up to date:  Maryland is the #1 seed in their region for the NCAA Championship and there's nothing that Terps fans would like more than to see Kristi and Marissa bookend their college careers with another National Championship as seniors, after winning one when they were freshmen on Kristi's buzzer-beater 3 pointer.

Tonight's second-round game at Comcast will be against Utah, who we saw play Villanova on Sunday.  If both teams play the same as they did over the weekend, I suspect the Lady Terps will be headed to Round 3 in Raleigh.

We're very fortunate that Crofton is located within a half hour of the University of Maryland.  Neither my husband nor I went to school there, but we still enjoy sporting events and other activities on campus.  If there's a college or university near you, check out what they have to offer.  You just may enjoy it as much as we do the games at Maryland!

 

Earlier post inspired by Marissa Coleman:  The Responsibility of Being Good

 

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Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker sharing her professional real estate experience and expertise with buyers and sellers of homes in the Washington, D.C. - Baltimore - Annapolis area including Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County.

Buying a home is still the right option for most people. 

In fact, this may be the best time in years for renters (or military personnel living in government housing) to make that move to home ownership because home prices are more affordable than they've been in years.  Not only that, interest rates are lower than they've been in decades.  You don't want to let this opportunity get away, especially if you plan to live in the same area for a few years.

There's so much media focus on falling home values that all the other benefits of home ownership are often overlooked.  For example:

LANDLORD TROUBLES -

• Rent is going up again
  
• Landlord won't make repairs promptly - or at all
• No pets are allowed and your children really want a puppy
  
• Landlord decided to sell (or rent to his brother)
  
• Can't decorate your new baby's nursery 
• Carpet is disgusting and landlord won't clean or replace it
  (or even allow you to do it)
  
• Property is going to foreclosure because landlord didn't pay the bank
• Landlord doesn't return your calls
• Landlord harasses you by frequent inspection visits

THE "REAL" COST OF OWNING -

• Rental payments simply give you a license to occupy the property without any financial benefits
• Interest payments on your mortgage are deductible on your Federal and State income tax
• Property tax payments on your home are deductible on your Federal and State income tax
• Principal payments on your mortgage reduce your loan amount and build equity
• Potential for equity growth through appreciation
• Net mortgage payment (PITI minus tax benefits) may be lower than current rent... or at least comparable
  
  

If you'd like to play with the numbers yourself and estimate your "real cost of owning," click through to find out How to Compare Rent to Mortgage Payments.

When you look at the many reasons people buy instead of renting (or living in Government housing), I think you'll agree it's still a good decision for most people to buy a home in today's market.  That's true in most parts of the country, and certainly in the Fort Meade and Greater Crofton area where our economy is stabilized by having "government" as our local industry.

Learn about the $8,000 Tax Credit for first-time buyers

Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker in the Washington, D.C. - Baltimore - Annapolis area.  She specializes in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County.

Military families stationed at Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, the U.S. Naval Academy and other military installations in the Crofton area and throughout the D.C.-Baltimore region will be glad to learn they may now be eligible for relief to their housing woes, compliments of the recent stimulus package.

It comes in an expansion to the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). administered by the Army Corps of Engineers.  The program was intended initially to assist military homeowners affected by base closings under BRAC 2005.  It has since been extended to help those affected by the credit and foreclosure debacle, and now it will also help  these service members:

• Military personnel with PCS orders who are unable to sell their homes
• Wounded warriors required to relocate for medical reasons, and
• Surviving spouses of fallen service members  

The Department of Defense (DOD) will reimburse these individuals up to 95 percent of the loss if their home was purchased before July 1, 2006.  According to Military.com, DOD could also elect to purchase the homes for up to 90 percent of the fair market value.  (Here's my question:  “fair market value” at the time of their move or at the time they purchased the property?  It's not clear in anything I found on this topic.)

 

The Homeowners Assistance Program website has been updated to reflect these new programs, but indicates that DOD is in the process of establishing policy guidance on applicant processing and benefits. Until that time, you may download, complete and mail your application to the appropriate HAP district (Savannah for personnel on the East Coast). However, no action will be taken on the applications until final details are worked out.

If you are entitled to this relief, it could help you avoid the worst from this housing crisis and buy a home at your destination assignment.  That's good for you, the housing market, and our economy.

I'll watch for updates on this program and keep you informed, so check back often to the Maryland Real Estate Blog at www.mwoda.com.

 

Source:  Focus on Crofton, USACE.com, MOAA.com and Military.com

Margaret Woda is a licensed Associate Broker in the Washington, D.C. - Baltimore - Annapolis area.  She specializes in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, and the U.S. Naval Academy.  If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County.

 

If you're relocating to the D.C. - Baltimore area and waterfront living appeals to you, check out Anne Arundel County, Maryland. 

We have 533 miles of shoreline on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries including the Severn River, South River, Magothy River and countless streams, creeks, inlets, and coves.  In fact, nearly 30% of Anne Arundel County IS water, according to Wikipedia.

 

(CLICK HERE to see my real estate show about waterfront property in Anne Arundel County)

 

 

I took these photos while showing property in Anne Arundel County during recent months.  As you can see, the views can be very limited or very expansive.  And the water view is not any property's only asset.

The size, features, condition, location and price of any home play an important role in the buyer's decision, whether it's waterfront or not.  Water depth and distance to the Chesapeake Bay are considerations for some waterfront buyers, as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview of 2008 Critical Area Legislation

 

FIND A WATERFRONT HOME NOW:

Waterfront homes for sale UNDER $2,000,000

Watefront homes for sale OVER $2,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

... or enjoy the water without the waterfront price tag when you live in a community that has water access such as Cape St. Claire, Hillsmere Shores, Arden on the Severn and many many more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of Anne Arundel County's water privilege, water view, and waterfront properties are located within 30 minutes of Fort Meade and BWI Airport.

Some are within a half hour of Baltimore or Annapolis, and within an hour of D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

A client of mine is under contract now for one of these properties... do you care to guess which one, based purely on the view?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If you enjoyed reading this post, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County by Margaret Woda.

Serving home buyers and sellers in Crofton and the neighboring communities of Annapolis, Bowie, Crownsville, Davidsonville, Fort Meade, Gambrills, Millersville, and Odenton.

Our grandchildren love to visit Back Lake Park when we're watching them.  It's located about a block from our house on Swinburne Avenue, adjacent to the 12th hole of Crofton Country Club.

It always bring back memories for us to watch them throwing sticks into the pond or playing on the slide because we brought their dad and his siblings to the same park when they were small.  The equipment has been replaced and the park been renamed after Tom and Barbara Swann, but it's not much different than it was three decades ago.

When you live in Crofton, chances are that you'll build similar memories for your family at Swann Park, Bell-Branch Athletic complex and Crofton Park.

Welcome to Crofton!

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.  Margaret Woda

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For more information, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County by Margaret Woda.

Serving home buyers and sellers in Crofton and the neighboring communities of Annapolis, Bowie, Crownsville, Davidsonville, Fort Meade, Gambrills, Millersville, and Odenton.