A Crash Course for Active, Soon-to-Be or Wanna-Be Buyers and Sellers of Real Estate 1. If in doubt, paint it. 2. Buy below your means. 3. If you’re shopping for a million dollar plus home on the water in the Annapolis area, you’ll probably drive by many less-than-million-dollar homes to get there. Just the way it is. 4. Homes do not sell themselves, no matter how beautiful they are. 5. Buyers don’t care if you’ve already fixed, painted or repaired 98 items out of 100. They only care about the 2 you didn’t. 6. Buyers will over-estimate the cost of home repairs by a factor of 10. Do them yourself before you list your home and save 90%. 7. Everything you do right prior to selling your home will reduce your days on market by a factor of 10. 8. Hire a Realtor who will tell you what to do ri... 02/24/2010

I learned that I lost a Severn Classmate on Facebook this week. This late night message landed me right on the floor. Another Severn Alum from California, John Norton, read the obituary in the local on line Newspapers and contacted the Severn Alumni Director, Denise Tray Rosson. It was after hours so Denise sent me a message through Facebook. We have a Hidden Private Severn Facebook Group for classmates and other Admirals  in the1974 range so I posted the information there. If you are an Admiral who has found this, contact Cheryl Ritchie at Facebook.com/GoldenResults or via EMail at GoldenGirl@GoldenResults.com to be invited  and admitted to this Special Severn Seventies Group. Anyway, yesterday I attended the Celebration of Life for Claudia Clanton. The Severn Experience is one that la... 02/21/2010

Lunch at Gordon Biersch, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (Anne Arundel County, Maryland) Today I met my friend that I've known the longest (something like 35 or more years now) for lunch at Gordon Biersch in the Annapolis Towne Centre in Annapolis, Maryland.  She owed me lunch for a favor I did for her and that's where I wanted to go to lunch because I wanted to have one of their world famous Märzen Barbecue Burger with Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries!!! Gordon Biersch - The Interior Gordon Biersch Restaurant - The Menu Gordon Biersch - Outdoor Seating - Too Cold for February? Lunch was great.  We even had desert.  It was a real treat.  But after lunch we took a walk in the afternoon sun.  It was warm - nearly fifty degrees for a change.  There was still plenty of snow around.  But, it's starting... 02/21/2010

Market Report - Homes for Sale in The Downs, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401 (Anne Arundel County, Maryland) As of today, February 21, 2010, there were 5 homes for sale in The Downs in Annapolis, Maryland. There were no homes under contract.  There was 1 homes sold in the last 90 days. The average list price for homes in The Down is $1,547,000. The average days on market is 135. View Larger Map Homes currently for sale in The Downs include: 1708 Trinity PlaceOffered at $$725,000 1696 Cantebury CommonOffered at $870,000 834 CoachwayOffered at $1,700,000 814 CoachwayOffered at $1,790,000 1584 Lancaster GreenOffered at $2,650,000 Homes sold within the last 90 days in the Downs include: 1690 Coventry PlaceSold for $950,000 with no subsidy For listing details, please visit Homes for Sale in The D... 02/21/2010

Market Report - Homes for Sale in Windgate, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401 (Anne Arundel County, Maryland) As of today, February 17, 2010, there were 9 garden units and 3 townhomes for sale in the Windgate community in Annapolis, Maryland. There is 1 townhome and no garden units under contract.  Three were 2 garden units and no townhomes sold in the last 90 days. The average list price for garden units is $264,622 and the average list price for townhomes is $368,163. The average sold price for garden units is $265,500 with an average subsidy of $6,000. View Homes for Sale in Windgate, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 in a larger map Garden units currently for sale include: 2002 Phillips Terrace #5Offered at $249,000 2056 Quaker Way #10Offered at $249,900 603 Burton's Cove Way #4Offered at $250,000... 02/17/2010

If it were not for the dirty snow - gross!   I was in Annapolis MD over the weekend to watch my buddy try to eat a 6lb milkshake and a 1.5lb sandwich at Chick and Ruths and decided to snap a few photos. I had to toss most off them because the snow was all brown and dirty. I did manage to snap a keeper or two.   02/16/2010

The place Chick and Ruths Delly in Annapolis MD The time - Approx 2PM The deal - 6lb milkshake and a 1.5lb sandwich in one hour Who - Ethan Fox The Prize - a T-shirt The results - Starting out Ethan was feeling confidant after rigorous training including yoga stomach stretching techniques and drinking a gallon of water earlier in preparation. When the food was delivered there was much fanfare. Announcements on the intercom, pictures and customers cheering. Ethan had to fill out a form so his information could be displayed properly on the website, then it was down to business. Lets take a second to dissect exactly whats involved here. First is the milkshake. One half gallon of vanilla ice cream, one half gallon of milk and 16 ounces of syrup! This is serious now...     The sandwich is 1.... 02/16/2010

Market Report - Homes for Sale in Georgetown Grove, Annapolis, Maryland, 21403 (Anne Arundel County, Maryland) As of today, February 16, 2010, there is 1 home for sale in the Georgetown Grove community in Annapolis, Maryland. There is 1 home under contract and 1 home sold in the last 90 days. The average list price is $369,900. The average sold price is $458,000. View Homes for Sale in Georgetown Grove, Annapolis, Maryland 21403 in a larger map Homes currently for sale include: 12 Windwhisper LaneOffered at $369,900 Homes currently under contract include: 53 Windwhisper LaneOffered at $380,000 Homes that sold recently include: 41 Windwhisper LaneSold for $458,000 with no subsidy For listing details, please visit Homes For Sale in Georgetown Grove. Georgetown Grove consists of 66 single ... 02/16/2010

Market Report - Homes for Sale in Riva Trace, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401 (Anne Arundel County, Maryland) As of today, February 14, 2010, there are 3 homes for sale in the Riva Trace community in Annapolis, Maryland, There are 3 homes under contract and 6 homes sold in the last 90 days. The average list price is $367,900. The average sold price is $322,617. View Homes for Sale in Riva Trace, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 in a larger map Homes currently for sale include: 2707 Summerview Way #201Offered at $249,900 112 Cranes Crook LaneOffered at $364,900 2700 Gingerview LaneOffered at $515,900 Homes currently under contract include: 207 Spring Race CourtOffered at $560,000 105 Summer Village DriveOffered at $424,900 130 Summer Village DriveOffered at $324,900 Homes that sold recently include:... 02/14/2010

Historic Annapolis Office SpaceCALL ME TO VISIT THIS PROPERTY.I HAVE OTHERS, SO IF YOU DON'T SEE WHAT YOU WANT TELL ME AND I'LL FIND IT FOR YOU!GUARANTEED!!! 12 School StreetAnnapolis, MD 21401   Click Here for Virtual Tour Spectacular Renovation Just CompletedClass A Office Space$24.50Class A ideal for law firm or lobbyist. Property has been completely renovated, to include sprinkler systems, new electric, CAT 6 wiring, new carpet, wood floors on the first fl all new recessed lighting and new handicapped equipped bathroom, crown moulding,and high end finishes thoughout. Convenient to the court house. 7 garage permits avail. tenants exp. Space avail. 2740 Sq. ft Great opportunity to be downtown in a professional office building, walk to court house or gov't buildings. Rent for session.... 02/10/2010

As evening came on, Rocky and I walked Riva Trace Parkway from one end to the other.  We walked past Spring Race Court - where the plow had not yet ventured. We walked all the way to the interesction for Riva Road and Riva Trace Parkway. Rocky and I stopped at Riva Road.  There were very, very few cars on Riva Road.  After this, Rocky and I walked back the other way to go in for the night. The next morning, the sky had cleared.  It was cold - only about 19 degrees at 7:00 a.m. when the sun started to rise.  Below is the entrance monument for Ginger Cove - Annapolis' ideal life-care retirement community. Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church looked radiant in the morning sun. I thought this picture showed it all ... a great morning dawns ... there's plenty of snow ... I doub... 02/07/2010

As I sit here inside and warm, it's still a raging snow storm outside dumping epics amounts of snow on Annapolis, Maryland and the surrounding area.  In the two photos below, you see that I setup a yard stick before the snow began to fall yesterday.  When last measured (Saturday, February 6th at approximately 2:30 p.m.) the snow depth on the patio table exceeded 25 inches. The yard stick is positioned in front of the covered umbrella.  A close up photo is below. This is the second storm to hit the area this winter and leave Annapolis, Maryland under a blanket of heavy snow.  It reminds me more of New England than of the mid-Atlantic.  While the last snow storm - before Christmas - set everyone back in their holiday shopping, this pre-Superbowl Sunday storm won't have quite the same effe... 02/06/2010

ANNAPOLIS MARYLAND REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT.  WHAT DID THAT HOUSE SELL FOR?  One of the most publicized real estate market monthly reports published by the National Association of Realtors® is the "PENDING SALES"report.  Pendings are homes under contract projected to close within 60 days.  We at Homefinders.com prefer to look at FACTS.   That means homes that have actually closed.  We also want to consider the difference between the list price and the SOLD price.  Also, how much, if any, seller's subsidy was paid???   The seller's subsidy is money credited to the home buyer at closing which can be used to defray the buyer's closing costs.  In Anne Arundel County, MD, closing costs are approximately 4.%-5% of the purchase price.                  The chart below includes all detached sin... 02/02/2010

Annapolis MD Real Estate - Status for Week Ending 01/23/10 Annapolis, MD added 43 new active listings to the current inventory last week, which is only one listing less than the previous week. The least expensive was a detached 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Primrose Acres. If you have an extra $4,995,000 laying around you can pick up a fantastic Colonial located in the Wardmour section. Annapolis, MD rental market is one of the more robust in the area. Last week 13 new rental listings came on the market, and applications were registered for 7 of the current rental inventory. Three of the new rentals were actually priced under $1,000, unusual for the area. 32  properties moved or changed status into some sort of Contract status, while 17 sold and went to settlement. Three listings that sold ... 01/31/2010

Yesterday afternoon and evening another seven-plus inches of snow fell on Winter's Chase in Riva Trace in Annapolis, Maryland.  The last time we had this much snow was right before Christmas.  It's hard to believe that we've had two major snow storms this winter.  It hardly seems like we live in the Mid-Atlantic and Annapolis because it feels more like New England and Boston.  So Rocky and I took a walk this morning.  While the temperature was only 19 degrees, the early sunny morning was nothing other than spectacular.  Then entrance monument to the community says it all ... Winter's Chase Way is snow covered but plowed.  Unlike the December storm, this time the plow drivers were on top of it. Even Riva Trace Parkway was plowed and the sidewalks were shovel.  That's Rocky (lower right) ... 01/31/2010

These photos were taken during a lazy Sunday morning stroll in beautiful downtown historic Annapolis, Maryland... Boat owners love to dock in the Annapolis Harbour, where passers-by can admire their boats.  This area is known as "Ego Alley".   "Ego Alley" ends here at the City Dock where you'll usually find tourists feeding the ducks or snapping photos.   Annapolis Real Estate, December '09: Real estate activity in Annapolis (21401) was up an impressive 68% to 37 sold/settled properties last month from the previous year (December '08).  An analysis of Days on Market provided more good news - only 120 days, which was down over 18% from a year ago.  Home prices held relatively steady in Annapolis during this period while dropping throughout much of the region:  Median price went up slight... 01/29/2010

What is my Windgate Townhome or Condo worth? Fill out the form (to the left) for a free, no obligation online market evaluation and interactive report that is specific to your Windgate Townhome or Condo in Annapolis, Maryland.Stephen Howell is pleased to offer cutting-edge technology that will help you answer: How many unsold homes in are there in my neighborhood? How fast are homes selling right now in my area? How do actual selling prices compare to listing prices in my area? How do I get the most money for my home in a down market? You'll be able to access this week's housing market statistics and trends to help you better gauge market conditions. So, if you are thinking about selling your home, take advantage of this free no obligation online market evaluation and interactive report... 01/25/2010

Annapolis MD Real Estate - Status for Week Ending 01/23/10 Annapolis, MD added 44 new active listings to the current inventory last week. The least expensive was a rowhouse in Eastport listed for $104,900. If you have an extra $2,999,000 laying around you can pick up a fantastic Annapolis MD Victorian, on a large lot. Annapolis, MD rental market is one of the more robust in the area. Last week 9 new rental listings came on the market, and applications were registered for 4 of the current rental inventory. 18  properties moved or changed status into some sort of Contract status, while 12 sold and went to settlement. The contract status changes tends to be a future indicator of settlements to come in the near future. While only two listings expired last week, 14 were withdrawn by the sell... 01/24/2010

Market Update for Scotts Crossing, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, January 23, 2010. There were 2 active garden unit listings on the market this morning.  The average asking price was $246,450 while the median asking price was the same.  There were no garden units under contract.  And, there were 3 garden units sold in the last 90 days with an average asking price of $251,567 and an average sold price of $240,000 (90.94% of the original asking price). If you have a home to sell in Scotts Crossing and want a professional consultation on current market conditions or if you are interested in purchasing your next home in Scotts Crossing and want to tour any home currently on the market, please contact me at 410-923-3217 or e-mail me at showell@cbmove.com or visit my website at LiveInAnnapolis.co... 01/22/2010

Market Update for Rivergate, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, January 12, 2010. There were 2 active garden unit listings on the market this morning.  The average asking price was $226,750 while the median asking price was the same.  There was 1 garden unit under contract.  The asking price was $294,900.  There were no units that had sold in the last 90 days. If you have a home to sell in Rivergate and want a professional consultation on current market conditions or if you are interested in purchasing your next home in Rivergate and want to tour any home currently on the market, please contact me at 410-923-3217 or e-mail me at showell@cbmove.com or visit my website at LiveInAnnapolis.com. Information is believed to be accurate, but should not be relied upon without verification. 01/12/2010