Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: August 2009

Want to know what your neighbors paid for their Crofton home? 

You don't have to dig through their trash bags at the curb and you don't have to watch for the information to be published in a local newspaper.  And no, I'm not going to suggest you just ask.  It's online at the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation website.

Just click on the image or the link above it, and scroll within the little box (red arrow) to find Anne Arundel County; then you'll probably want to search by Street Name or Property Sales (highlighted in green).  You'll be prompted to further define your search, so just follow the directions on your screen.

If you search by Street Name, this is the information you will learn about any property:

• Date of purchase
• Amt. of purchase
• Date built
• Amt. of assessment
  
• Size of lot (sq. ft.)
  
• Size of house (sq. ft.)
• Name of current owner
• Name of previous owner  
  
• Date of previous purchase
• Amt. of previous purchase

If you search by Property Sales:

You can search for sales during a specified time-frame and/or search all sales on a specific street... or you can search for a specific address.  You can include commercial, vacant, or improved properties, as well as residential ones.  When I search for Property Sales on my own street, for example, I find that two homes have sold since January 1 of this year, and one has been re-financed.

How could you use this information? 

1. You could determine if your neighbor's property is assessed about the same as yours... if several of your neighbors' assessments are less, you may want to use the information to appeal your own property assessment and tax bill.
   
   
2. If you don't know the names of your neighbors, this is a good way to find out - assuming the owners are also the occupants of the properties.
   
   
3. If you're thinking of buying or selling a home, you can get a first-hand look at nearby recent sales including those not listed with real estate agents.
   

Real estate agents, title companies and lenders refer to the public land records frequently in the course of doing business, but many non-real estate folks seem to feel almost guilty and browsing through this information.  No worry.  It's public record.  You're not spying.

Of course, if the idea of spying seems to have more intrigue for you, there's always the trash bag option.  Kidding, of course!

Distinctive brick gates mark the main entrance into "Old" Crofton on Route 3 in Anne Arundel County, but what's beyond those gates?  Well, here's your answer - Crawford Boulevard, the block-long tree-lined street that welcomes you into our community.

"OLD" CROFTON

"Old Crofton" is not the only local community with tree-lined streets, however.  Take a look at these other neighborhoods in the Greater Crofton Area:

NANCARLES
An upscale community in Gambrills on Rt. 450

HALLMARK WOODS
A Gambrills community of detached homes on acre-plus lots

THE RIDGES
A Crownsville community of custom-built homes

HUNTINGTON WOODS
The entrance to a Gambrills community of custom-built homes

AVILA
A Davidsonville community of custom-built homes

HABITAT Condos in Crofton Meadows, Crofton Maryland - Affordable Homes Near Fort Meade

There are some homeowners in Habitat who are younger than their homes - but that doesn't seem to bother them.  That's because Habitat is ideal for first-time buyers as well as empty nesters, retirees and anyone looking for a rock-bottom price and a Crofton address.  That's been the market for Habitat since Day One, when they were first built.

Habitat is located off Reidel Road in Crofton, easily accessible from Fort Meade and BWI on the north and from the Crofton Triangle on the south.  Commuting to D.C., Annapolis, or Baltimore is 30-60 minutes, depending on traffic and your precise destination.

Don't let the low price of these Crofton condos fool you... this is a nice community with homes ranging from about 800 - 1200 sq. feet.  Many of them overlook the Crofton Meadows pond (right).

Each Habitat building contains four condo units, each a distincty different floor plan, and four garages.  There are three 2-bedroom units and one 3-bedroom unit in each building, and each has a private patio area - or, in the case of the 3-bedroom unit located over the garages, a balcony.

There are four Habitat units on the market now (8/22/09):  Three 2-bedroom homes at $150,000, $185,000 and $199,500, plus one 3-bedroom home at $224,900. Chances are good that the monthly payment on these is less than you would pay for rent anywhere in the area.  Check out the listings of Homes for Sale in HABITAT today (updates automatically to the date you click on this link.)

NEIGHBORHOODS IN CROFTON MARYLAND:

• Homes for sale in CHARING CROSS
• Homes for sale in CROFTON COMMONS
• Search All Homes, Townhomes and Condos for Sale in Crofton, MD
• Create Your Own Custom Home Search
• Schools in Crofton
• Focus on Crofton (Blog) 

________________________________

MUST-READ INFO FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING A MOVE TO CROFTON MD:

Crofton, Maryland - A Wonderful Place to Live!

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, the annual Christmas tree lighting in front of Crofton Country Club, plus lots of organizations and year-round activities...

Top 3 Reasons to Buy Your Next Home in Crofton, MD

You know what they say about the most important things in real estate - Location, Location, and Location.  When the traffic gods are smiling, Crofton is only about 30 minutes to NSA, Annapolis, Baltimore's I-695, D.C.'s I-495 and BWI Airport.

Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Crofton MD Townhome

You probably already know that Crofton, Maryland, was named one of Money Magazine's Top 100 Best Places to live last year, based on its location, amenities, affordability and other criteria.  But why buy a Crofton townhouse, rather than a detached house?

Crofton Real Estate - Tee it up!

My dad always said that a golf course is the best place to raise children, and I have to echo his sentiment.   A child who runs home from school to get his golf clubs and practice is not hanging out in an alley experimenting with drugs.  An adolescent or teen who plays 18 or 36 holes... 

Crofton, Gambrills, and Odenton - One Community or Three?-

"The Greater Crofton Area" is generally considered to include Crofton, Gambrills, and Odenton - three distinctly different communities located in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis Triangle. (And, I might add, there are distinctly different neighborhoods within each community.)

De-bunking the myth that "My agent didn't do a damn thing to get my house sold... she just got lucky and now I have to pay her all that money for nothing!"

Since "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity," let's take a peek Behind the Scenes to find out what makes your agent (and you) so "lucky."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

As the curtain opens on this drama, your real estate agent is showing property to out-of-town buyers for the 3rd consecutive day.

Scene 1.  Phone rings...

Caller (You):  Do you handle homes in (Fill in name of your community)?

Agent:  Yes I do, how can I help you?

She speaks with you briefly and makes an appointment for later in the week.  Then the agent's attention returns to the buyers she's working with today.  They want to make an offer on one of the properties she showed them, so the next few hours are dedicated to preparing their offer, going over the details with them, and delivering their offer to the listing agent.   The buyers head home to await a counter-offer, and your agent now focuses 100% on your real estate needs!

Scene 2.  Back at the office...

1. Agent sends you a follow-up email to thank you for your call and confirm your pending appointment.
2. Agent searches and finds the public record on your property and takes note of the lot size, finished sq. footage of the house, zoning, assessment amounts, details of last property transfer, your property tax amount, and other relevant information.
3. Agent utilizes Google Maps or other Internet program for (1) a street view of the property and (2) an aerial view of the property which will indicate if the property backs to a major highway or a golf course, if it is on a corner or interior lot, if it adjoins a school or a junk yard... 
4. Agent contacts utility companies to determine the average monthly costs for your property.
5. Agent identifies nearby properties listed in the mls for sale and those under contingent contract and - based on the size, features, condition and location - chooses those most similar to your home.
   
6. Agent identifies nearby properties listed in the mls that are sold/settled and others that are pending settlement and again - based on the size, features condition and location - chooses those most similar to your home.
7. Agent checks the foreclosure list to determine if any nearby properties are pre-foreclosure, foreclosure or REO.
8. Agent checks the public record for recently sold properties in your community so she doesn't overlook any that sold without an agent.
9. Agent maps the selected properties to show their proximity to your home.
10. Agent prints out mls listings for the selected properties and sets them aside with the map to provide you copies or, in some cases, to keep in the file she is building on your property.
11. Agent researches market statistics for the zipcode where property is located and, depending on recent sales activity in the immediate neighborhood, she may also compile market statistics for your specific  neighborhood.
12. Agent calculates the average and median sale price, the average days on market, and the percentage of list price to sold price; she determines how many homes were on the market last month and how many sold so she can calculate the absorption rate; she determines how long homes were on the market before selling last month.
13. Agent does the same for at least three prior months (perhaps more) to identify any trends.
14. Agent creates colorful charts, graphs and tables to provide a clear visual representation of all this data.

Scene 3.  Next morning, in her car and armed with a camera... 

1. Agent takes photos of your property exterior from the street, including close-ups of curb-appeal problems like fungus on the roof, dead shrubs in front, visible clutter in the carport.
2. Armed with the list of six or more nearby properties (see above) and a GPS system, your agent drives past each property and takes notes... perhaps also some exterior photos of these comps.
   
3. Agent photographs the neighborhood school, playgrounds or tot lots, golf course or beach (if any), community clubhouse (if any), nearby shopping areas or other assets of the area where property is located.  NOTE:  If the day is rainy or overcast, this will require a separate trip on another day.

Scene 4.  Later that day, back at the computer...

1. Agent carefully organizes and reviews all the material collected over the past few days.
2. Agent customizes a written listing presentation for you, merging the comps, graphs, tables, maps and other information specific to your property with "standard" information prepared by the agent at an earlier time.
3. Agent estimates the likely selling price of your property, based on the accumulated information and years of previous experience and training.
4. Agent estimates your net proceeds after all closing expenses, based on the accumulated information and years of previous experience and training.
5. Agent reviews the finished written product to confirm that it is clear, concise, and easily understandable - you would never imagine how many hours are invested in researching and analyzing these materials, or the expertise required for an accurate and reliable recommendation.
   
6. Agent binds these materials with a cover sheet and gathers other previously prepared (or purchased) brochures and written materials to give you, as well.

Your agent knows that "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."  Her thorough and accurate preparations are a key element in creating this "luck" for you... and the reason you pay her all that money - but not UNLESS and UNTIL she procurs a buyer whose terms are acceptable to you.

To be continued...

Behind the Scenes - The Listing Appointment

DISCLAIMER:  Your agent may or may not do everything listed above.  I took the time to write down these steps as I prepared for a listing appointment this week in Lanham, Maryland.

Neighborhoods in Crofton Maryland located outside the Crofton Gates - Charing Cross Townhomes.  

Charing Cross is a community of 122 spacious Crofton townhomes built from 1979 through the mid-80's in two phases by different builders.  The community is located on the north side of Rt. 424, just east of Rt. 3.  It is not inside the "Crofton Triangle" or the special taxing district, but it is located within the Crofton zipcode (21114) and residents do attend Crofton public schools.

The first section, as you drive into the community from Rt. 424 (left), was a pet project of John Moderno, a builder of upscale detached homes in nearby Gambrills prior to building Charing Cross.  The fronts of these traditional-style homes were brick, and the floor plans featured large rooms on every level.  Many special features were available for upgrading the new townhomes.

The style of homes in the next section (right) was quite different but still very nice. These, too, have brick exteriors, but the architectural details are less colonial.  Standard features on every home included a finished basement with fourth bedroom and a corner fireplace in the family room, plus a balcony on the main level.

While Charing Cross residents have access to all the pools, golf courses, parks and other amenities located throughout the Crofton area, community tennis courts are located within the community between the original and second section.  (Left)

There's not much turnover in Charing Cross, and no homes on are the market there now.  There have only been three sales in the community since January 1, 2009 and, during the same period last year, there were no sales.  Two of the properties sold recently in Charing Cross were in the second section (around $330,000) and the other was an Estate Sale, priced accordingly, in the original section. 

Neighborhoods in Crofton Maryland:

• Homes for sale in CHARING CROSS
• Homes for sale in CROFTON COMMONS
• Search All Homes, Townhomes and Condos for Sale in Crofton
• Create Your Own Custom Home Search
• Schools in Crofton
• Focus on Crofton (Blog) 

________________________________

MUST-READ INFO FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING A MOVE TO CROFTON MD:

Crofton, Maryland - A Wonderful Place to Live!

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, the annual Christmas tree lighting in front of Crofton Country Club, plus lots of organizations and year-round activities...

Top 3 Reasons to Buy Your Next Home in Crofton, MD

You know what they say about the most important things in real estate - Location, Location, and Location.  When the traffic gods are smiling, Crofton is only about 30 minutes to NSA, Annapolis, Baltimore's I-695, D.C.'s I-495 and BWI Airport.

Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Crofton MD Townhome

You probably already know that Crofton, Maryland, was named one of Money Magazine's Top 100 Best Places to live last year, based on its location, amenities, affordability and other criteria.  But why buy a Crofton townhouse, rather than a detached house?

Crofton Real Estate - Tee it up!

My dad always said that a golf course is the best place to raise children, and I have to echo his sentiment.   A child who runs home from school to get his golf clubs and practice is not hanging out in an alley experimenting with drugs.  An adolescent or teen who plays 18 or 36 holes... 

Crofton, Gambrills, and Odenton - One Community or Three?-

"The Greater Crofton Area" is generally considered to include Crofton, Gambrills, and Odenton - three distinctly different communities located in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis Triangle. (And, I might add, there are distinctly different neighborhoods within each community.)  

Caramel syrup, cooler mix, ice, whipped cream and caramel drizzle...  it all adds up to a Caramel Cooler at Caribou Coffee.  We declined dessert earlier tonight at Four Seasons Grille after a wonderful dinner, but then walked next door for a cup of coffee.  My husband instead succumbed to the temptation presented by a giant poster picturing summer coolers, and now I do believe he's hooked!

Caribou Coffee is located at The Village of Waugh Chapel in Gambrills, about 3 minutes North of Crofton and perhaps 10 minutes east of Fort Meade.  Until tonight, it was one of the few stores there which I had never visited. 

I always assumed it was similar to Starbucks, but never gave it much thought since I'm not much of a coffee-drinker.  Actually, this location of Caribou Coffee is larger than any Starbucks I've visited nearby, with a huge lounge area beyond the counter area as well as casual seating as you walk into the store.  I'm guessing they must have wi-fi, since I saw several people with computers open as well as others reading or chatting.

Outside they have a beautiful patio area with umbrella tables, separated from the patio at Four Seasons Grille by a curving brick wall.  On a beautiful evening like we had tonight, there were lots of people out there - including a few from Titan Cigar, located next to Caribou Coffee.

When I got home, I checked out Caribou Coffee's website and found more info than I could ever want to know about that Caramel Cooler my husband enjoyed tonight:  Calories (420), fat grams, cholesterol, calcium, sodium, calcium, and caffeine, to name just some of them. 

Then I started exploring the website a little farther and found they have 8 "classic" beverages, 6 cold ones and 6 coolers, 5 flavors of smoothies, and a "snowdrift."  They also have 8 flavors of espresso, 5 lite lattes, 7 "wild" beverages and at least 7 teas.  Each has its own page with the same type of info that I found for the Caramel Cooler.  Oh, by the way, did I mention they do have coffee... and feature a different one each day?

Now I'm kicking myself that I never visited Caribou Coffee before tonight because it would be a very comfortable place to sit down with clients and recap the days showings.  It really doesn't matter that I'm not a big coffee fan because chances are my clients will be.  Even non-coffee drinkers will find a Caramel Cooler refreshing!

Crofton Area Restaurants and Carryouts

Shoreline Seafood in Gambrills is where we get our steamed crabs - but they have so much more to offer.

Sure, there are plenty of places to get crabs and other seafood in the area... this is Maryland, after all, and we're only a half hour from the Chesapeake Bay.  But we don't have time to go crabbing, and there's no place cl

oser to home than Shoreline Seafood in Gambrills for buying our steamed crabs.  It's located just north of Crofton in the median strip of Route 3, near Johns Hopkins Rd. before you get to The Village at Waugh Chapel.  If you're coming from Fort Meade, just take Route 32 to South on Rt. 3, and look for Shoreline Seafood in the median strip just after The Village at Waugh Chapel.

Although we first visited Shoreline Seafood to pick up steamed crabs, we quickly realized they carry a full menu of seafood for carryout, plus some other things including...

SOUP -  Cream of Crab, Cream of Shrimp, Chesapeake Bay Crab Soup, Rockfish Chowder, Seafood Chowder, New England Clam Chowder, Oyster Stew (made to order), and Oyster Chowder.  (Our favorite is the Chesapeake Bay Crab Soup, but the Cream of Crab is a close second.)

SANDWICHES and SUBS - Fried Oyster, Large Fried Shrimp, Fried Hand Shucked Clam Strips, Jumbo Soft Crab, Shrimp Salad, Tuna Salad, Flounder Fillet, Whiting Fillet, Catfish Fillet, Cod Fillet, Regular Crab Cake, Backfin Crab Cake, Salmon Cake and the usual burgers or chicken sandwiches.  (Of course, we like the crab cake sandwiches.)

Of course, you can order various SEAFOOD DINNER PLATTERS from Shoreline Seafood, as well, but they're too numerous to mention!  Another option is their BUCKETS, which we've never tried - but we will before this summer is over.  I have my eye on that Shrimp Bucket which comes with 50 Lg. Breaded Shrimp, Fries, and 2 lb. Cole Slaw for $32.95.  That oughta be just right for about 4 people.

By the way, Shoreline Seafood also does CATERING for large functions such as corporate events, organizations, churches, and more.

Be sure to call ahead and reserve your order so it will be ready when you arrive at Shoreline Seafood to pick up your carryout order.  410-721-7767.  Since most people do order ahead, the long line disappears very quickly.

J&D Contracting may be the answer to your prayers if your Crofton home needs a face-lift or a complete makeover - or anything in between.

Let's face it... Crofton is an "established neighborhood" - code for "older" (and better).  Most of us have a list of projects on our wish-list, ranging from an exterior paint job to building a new deck, from kitchen and bath updating to finishing (or re-finishing) the basement.

In my household, we have always been do-it-yourselfers - My husband Larry has been known to build a screened-in porch, fireplace, attic bedroom, and more.  Frankly, one of the reasons for NOT hiring a contractor was the fact that we didn't know who to call, and couldn't imagine how expensive it might be to have the work done.

That was before we got to know Jimmy Furr and Dave Ramsey, the principals at J&D Contracting.  Now that we do know who to call, we have them on speed-dial.

My daughter Susan is the one who discovered J&D Contracting when she was the House Director for Delta Delta Delta at the University of Maryland, College Park.  The house was a 1930-era home that had been band-aided together for decades. As a Tri-Delta member, Susan had a special love for the house and spent five years there working with the Executive Office and local House Corps members to fix years of neglect.  J&D Contracting oversaw most of that work, and we never ceased to be amazed at the quality of their workmanship, their professionalism, and their fair pricing. 

It wasn't long before I began referring Jimmy & Dave to my real estate clients - Sellers hired them for home-inspection repairs and buyers chose them for both major and minor improvements.  Over the past 7 or 8 years, I've never heard anything but rave reviews for J&D Contracting. 

I'd hire J&D Contracting again for any work in my home, and I'm happy to provide a reference for them.  At left is a picture of the updated bath they completed at my house in May.  This wasn't a simple case of replacing fixtures - we utilized hall and closet space to expand the bathroom, removed decades of old wallpaper, installed new tile, etc., and I couldn't be happier with the results.  A few weeks later we called them again to strip wallpaper from our stairway and install a new railing (see above photo).  Before they moved on to their next job, for another homeowner in Crofton, they installed new crown molding in our living room.

Jimmy and Dave and their crew are so pleasant to have around, we really missed them when the work was complete.  But I think we'll find something else... we always do!

To contact J&D Contracting, call Jimmy at (301)440-8581.  He'll come out to talk to you and see what you want or need and get back to you promptly with a detailed written proposal. 

What are you waiting for?

CROFTON COMMONS in CROFTON, MD is ideally located for anyone working on post at Fort Meade or anywhere in the D.C.-Baltimore area... and it's only about a half hour to either the D.C. or Baltimore beltways.

CROFTON COMMONS is a community of about 90 homes built in the '70's.  Like other townhomes in the area at the time, they originally sold around $60,000.  All of the homes have a basement, as far as I know, and most are 3 bedroom homes with about 1400 sq. ft.  There are also a number of 4-bedroom end units with nearly 1650 square feet - equal to or larger than many detached homes in nearby Crofton Meadows and Four Seasons Estates.

Location, location, location "rules", when it comes to choosing a home in CROFTON COMMONS because it is located within the "Crofton Triangle" and Crofton Special Taxing District.  The "Crofton Triangle" is bounded by Rt. 3 on the West, Rt. 424 on the north, and Rt. 450 on the south, with Routes 424 and 450 intersecting at (more or less) the eastern point of the triangle.  Most homes within this area, including those in CROFTON COMMONS, are part of the Crofton Special Taxing District which has its own community police force and maintenance services to keep the public areas of the community looking beautiful.

Four homes have sold in CROFTON COMMONS since the first of this year, listed between $314,500 and $345,000; they sold between $290,000 and $334,250.  The two end units sold over $330,000, and both interior units sold close to $300,000. During the same period last year, only two homes sold, and the price disparity was huge for those two similar-size interior units... $289,500-$339,900.

There is one active listing in CROFTON COMMONS now, an interior unit priced at $330,000.  Based on the description, it is a lovely home backing to woods.

Community amenites for anyone living in the Crofton Triangle include two nearby parks, public tennis courts, and two membership opportunities for a nearby pool (Crofton Country Club and Crofton Swim & Tennis).  It's a very active community, with annual traditions that include a Halloween Parade, Armed Forces Day Parade, Spring and Fall Crafts Fairs, and Santa's arrival on a firetruck for a community party at Crofton Country Club.  There are scout troops, senior groups, garden clubs, and every kind of organization you could want to join.  And Crofton Country Club golf course runs through the heart of the triangle, within walking distance of CROFTON COMMONS.

If you're looking for an affordable home near Fort Meade, you'll want to check out what's on the market in CROFTON COMMONS.

Affordable Homes Near Fort Meade - CROFTON COMMONS in CROFTON

• Homes for sale in CROFTON COMMONS
• Search All Homes, Townhomes and Condos for Sale in Crofton
• Create Your Own Custom Home Search
• Schools in Crofton
• Focus on Crofton (Blog) 

Must-read information for anyone relocating to the Fort Meade area in Maryland:

• Fort Meade - What to Expect When You Arrive - 02/10/08
  Families of civilian employees and military personnel relocating to Fort Meade will find a post that covers 5,415 acres, with nearly 70 miles of roads ...  
  
  
• Commuting Guide for Fort George G. Meade and NSA - 04/24/09 
  If you have PCS orders to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland, a map of the huge D.C. – Baltimore area may seem a bit overwhelming as you try to decide where to look for a home when you arrive.
  

• Welcome to Fort Meade! - 12/12/07
  I'm sure you have already checked out the website for Fort Meade, so I won't attempt to tell you about the base or its services.  Instead, let me tell you about the surrounding area and five critical steps for Fort Meade-area home buyers.

To view other posts tagged "Fort Meade" just click on this link:  Relocating to Fort George G. Meade Maryland

_________________________________________________

Thank you for your service to our country! 
I look forward to having an opportunity to serve you and your family. 

As a Navy wife, I experienced several PCS moves myself - not to mention finding, buying and moving my family into a new home while my husband was deployed. I "get" military pay and how the various allowances impact your qualifying to buy a home.  And I know how to help military families move into their own home without any cash "up front" - something you cannot do as a renter. 

I serve military families throughout the, D.C. - Baltimore - Annapolis area, specializing in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland. You can contact me online or by cell/text at 301-346-2923 to help your family relocate to Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, the U.S. Naval Academy, or any other military installation in D.C. or Maryland.

A HEALTHY STEP is located in The Village of Waugh Chapel at 1300 Main Chapel Way in Gambrills - just 5 minutes from Crofton, MD.

I pictured "grandma" shoes or "nun" shoes, for some reason, when a store called "A HEALTHY STEP" opened near retirement condos in the Village at Waugh Chapel.  I had absolutely zero desire to visit that store.  My mistake! Now I have to laugh at that misconception.

Their shoes may be "fine-quality men's and women's American and European comfort footwear," as their website claims, but they're really good looking, as well - at least some of them are. These red shoes have become my uniform shoes... I wear them or a matching pair in brown nearly every day, with slacks or summer dresses.

I might never have discovered A HEALTHY STEP had I not walked past the window while killing time before my nail appointment at nearby Robert Andrews a few weeks ago.  My plan was to get some exercise by walking to the other end of the shopping center and back, but I spotted so many cute shoes in the window at A HEALTHY STEP - I never finished that walk.  Curious about prices, I stepped inside to check out the prices and left with two pairs of shoes.  Since then, I've been back to buy more of the same shoes in other colors.  They were THAT comfortable!

If you live near Fort Meade (Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton) and haven't visited A HEALTHY STEP yet, I encourage you to check it out.  You'll find high quality footwear. friendly knowledgeable customer service, custom orthotics, and, oh yes, "cute" and "trendy" shoes for women.

(They do have men's shoes, too, but I didn't pay much attention to them.  Sorry, guys, you'll have to visit there and let us know what you think.)

Fall is just around the corner, and I'll be visiting A HEALTHY STEP for more cute shoes that just happen to be practical, too.  It's located just about midway between Robert Andrews Salon and Home Goods.

Thank you, David Lewis, for founding A HEALTHY STEP and opening it right here in the Crofton area.  I'm sorry it took me so long to step inside and find out that you sell cute and trendy shoes, too - not just practical ones.

P.S.  If you're looking for an excuse to visit A HEALTHY STEP, remember that August is "Foot Health Month" and August 6 is "National Wiggle Your Toes Day."  Seriously!