If you have ask yourself whether it is good time to continue to rent or buy a home here a few steps that could help you decide or you can visit www.akilsellshomes.com for information on buying vs renting from Resmedia   1. What will monthly costs be, and can I afford the payments? Keeping mortgage payments under 30 percent of your monthly income is a good rule of thumb. If you can't keep mortgage payments below that, you may be better off renting for awhile. 2. What other debt do I have? Total rent or mortgage payments plus credit obligations should not exceed 35 to 40 percent of monthly income. 3. What is my credit score? Can I qualify for a good interest rate? A high credit score indicates strong creditworthiness, and that qualifies you for better interest rates on a mortgage. Maxing ... 06/26/2010

The city of Bowie is planning significant improvements to the local parks. I know my kids are excited. Allen Pond is their favorite with the theater and large pond of ducks and wildlife so we are very excited. You can find more at www.akilsellshomes.com on the city of Bowie. Allen Pond ParkAfter receiving input from the community, a consultant has proposed a plan to rehabilitate and improve Allen Pond Park. See more information about what's planned at the following link: Allen Pond Master Plan Whitemarsh ParkA similar effort has begun for Whitemarsh Park. Lardner/Klein, Landscape Architects was recently awarded a contract to develop a master plan for Whitemarsh Park.  After a series of community meetings, the firm will offer a plan for enhancing Whitemarsh Park. Details about the progre... 06/22/2010

How lucky are we to have the Bowie Baysox right here in Bowie MD, not to mention the fact that we live about a half hour from major league baseball in both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore! No list of Fun Things to Do in Bowie MD would be complete without telling you about our very own Class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in the Eastern League.  Their home is the Prince George's Stadium, located off MD Route 301 near the intersection with MD Rt. 50 and 3.   Since opening in July 1994, the stadium has hosted two AA All-Star games (2000 and 2004), the annual Allen Iverson Celebrity Softball Classic, the 2002 MLL Lacrosse All-Star Game, the U.S. Congressional Ball Game for charity, the Maryland Terps Baseball Team during renovations at their home field in College Park, and the 2008 US... 06/22/2010

Beginning in January 2010 I implemented a $150 donation to charity with every closing. Following the successful closing of 3603 Maroon Lane, Bowie MD I am happy to report that the following donations will be made: My Choice: $50 to the Interfaith Community Against Domestic Violence  - The purpose of this organization is to educate, train, and support faith communities in responding to and preventing domestic abuse.  The organization encourages faith and secular communities to work together to: Eliminate intimate partner abuse; Protect victims and children; Support the healing of victims, children, and abusers. The Buyers' Choice: $100 to Angie Houtz Memorial Fund -  This fund provides scholarships to Maryland college students who have shown a committment to both academics and community ... 06/22/2010

I hear lots of agents complain about mortgage brokers.  Some are described as incompetent, others are disliked because of excessive fees.  I have worked with some horrible mortgage brokers (some horrible direct lenders too).  However, I have also worked with an absolutely, fabulous mortgage broker, Bridget McGhee! I met Bridget McGhee of Allied Home Mortgage through active rain.  We met for lunch and instantly we hit it off.  I liked the way she did business and decided I would give her a try and send her a client.  The client loved her!  She wasn't able to qualify to purchase at the time but the client appreciated how Bridget took the time to ensure that she understood the mortgage process and also the fact that she was willing to work with her to get her ready to buy. Since then, I ha... 06/20/2010

I believe the incredible tumbling of prices has slowed down.  I think home values are still going down, but not at the fast pace of a couple of years ago.  Two to three years ago, if I pulled up ten homes in a certain price range in a certain area, eight of those homes would be a distress sale. . What made this worse, these homes were priced at a price range that most first time home buyers could afford Today, only two out of those ten homes would be a distress sale.  Frist time home buyers now have choices other than mold infested foreclosures  to choose from.  Nowhere is this more evident in Bowie Md.  This past week I showwed seven homes in Bowie.  Only one of the seven homes was a foreclosure.  Three of the homes were in immaculate shape.  The buyers chose a single family home off o... 06/19/2010

Good evening attached are the May 2010 market stats for Bowie zip codes of 20721 and 20720 from MRIS       ZIP Code: 20721 Bowie, MD From: 05/01/2010 to 05/31/2010                Statistics generated on: 06/08/2010   ResidentialUnit SalesNumber of Bedrooms Active Listings   Time on Market Price Class 2 Or Less   3 4  or More   CondoCoop GroundRent Residential   CondoCoop GroundRent of Units Sold(No. of Units) Under $100,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 -30 Days 10 $100,000 - 149,999 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 31-60 Days 6 $150,000 - 199,999 0 0 0 1 0 6 4 0 61 - 90 Days 5 $200,000 - 249,999 0 2 3 1 0 18 6 0 91-120 Days 0 $250,000 - 299,999 0 0 4 1 0 30 1 1 Over 120 Days 7 $300,000 - 349,999 0 0 4 0 0 24 2 0 Total 28 $350,000 - 399,999 0 0 7 0 0 26 0 0   $400,000 - 449,999 0 1 0 0 0 11 0 0 Type of Financingof ... 06/18/2010

The real estate market in Belair at Bowie (zip code 20715) has gone through some rough times in the past year, with way too many foreclosures, short sales and unsold homes. The Bowie real estate statistics for May contained some good news, however, probably the result of sales prior to the tax credit expiring on April 30, 2010. Median Sale Prices and Average Sale Prices - Both UP over May 2009 AND the previous month, April 2010. Units Sold - UP compared to May 2009 AND the exact same as April 2010.  (These are closings of contracts written in previous weeks and months.) Days on Market - DOWN from May 2009, but UP from the previous month, April 2010. Homes for Sale - Currently there are 105 homes for sale in the 20715 zipcode (detached and townhomes combined), and 300 in all Bowie zipcod... 06/17/2010

Woodmore - Prince George's County Premier Gated  Golf Community   With a 67-acre lake and the manicured greens of a tournament class golf course winding through the community, Woodmore boasts a combination of elegant and truly custom homes with several Villages of distinct character and refinement.   With a 67-acre lake and the manicured greens of a tournament class golf course winding through the community, Woodmore boasts a combination of elegant and truly custom homes with several Villages of distinct character and refinement.Unlike most communities offering "semi-custom" homes, Woodmore's custom homes are specifically required to have unique designs acclimated to the surrounding wooded, golf-course, and lakeside environment. No two detached homes in Woodmore are alike. There are si... 06/16/2010

Today the Balk Hill community hill held its first neighborhood cookout. The community came out and enjoy food, sun and entertainment. Here is a picture below. The Balk Hill community is centrally located southern part of Bowie close to Largo, Upper Marlboro and right route 202 and 495.   For information on this community and other areas feel free to visit www.akilsellshomes.com.                www.akilsellshomes.com 06/12/2010

Given this a beautiful Saturday morning. A great time for lawn and gardening. I have attached an article from about.com on how to improve your curb appeal. Have a great day     A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house or take it seriously based on its curb appeal—the view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. You can help make sure they want to come inside your house by spending some time working on the its exterior appearance. It's difficult to look at our own house in the same way that potential home buyers do, because when we become accustomed to the way something looks and functions, we can't see its faults. Decide right now to stop thinking of the property as a home. It's a house—a commodity you want to sell for the highest doll... 06/12/2010

If you happen to live in the Balk Hill community of Bowie today. The HOA is having their first neighborhood cookout for everyone to meet and greet. Free food for the family and friends.       WWW.AKILSELLSHOMES.COM                                             www.akilsellshomes.com   06/12/2010

Bowie MD Short Sale Homes...     What is going on with short sales homes for sale in Bowie? Here is the snapshot of the market for June 9, 2010.   Condo's For Sale:  12 Short Sale Condo's available ranging in price from $99,000-$248,000   Bowie Short Sale Townhouses for Sale: 30 short sale townhouses available ranging in price from $140,000- $300,000     Bowie Short Sale Detached Homes for Sale: 87 short sale detached homes available ranging in price from $185,000- $1.5mil.       Under Contract Short Sale in Bowie     Condo- 4 short sale condo under contract   Townhouses: 56 short sale Townhouse under contract   Detached Homes: 104 short sale homes under contract.   What do these numbers mean to you as seller?   Well simply put Bowie Real Estate market is very active, lots of competitio... 06/09/2010

Bowie, MD SOLD Homes May 2010 Houses SOLD:  98 Average LIST price:  $321,999 Average SELLING price:  $319,707 Average DAYS ON MARKET: 84 LOWEST SALE price:  $146,900 - 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo located in Vistas at Bowie New Town built in 1989 - foreclosure HIGHEST SALE price:  $705,000 - 4 bedroom, 5.5 bath single-family located in Fairwood built in 2008   Bowie, MD ACTIVE listings (as of 6/3/10) ACTIVE Houses:  476 Average LIST Price:  $343,715 LOWEST LIST Price:  $79,900 - 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo located in The Vistas at Lake Arbor built in 1990 - foreclosure HIGHEST LIST Price:  $1,999,999 - 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath single-family home built in 1985 Current Average Days on Market:  126   Bowie, MD UNDER CONTRACT listings (as of 6/3/10) UNDER CONTRACT Houses:  165 Average LIST Price:  $305,4... 06/03/2010

Bowie Memorial Day Parade 2010 The parade was fun for the entire family.  The kids were covered in political campaign stickers but it was a good chance for us (the grown-ups) to to learn more about the candidates running for some of the less high profile offices. There were multicultural groups, antique cars, fire engines, police officers on horses, and much more. Each member of the family had a different favorite group: Mine - There was a jump rope troop that did stunts while walking down the parade route My Husband - The marching bands My Son - The Steel Drum band & The group above My Daughter - The Chinese dragon & The Cheerleaders   Though it was a cloudy day with a threat of rain, a good time was had by all.  The Bowie Memorial Day Parade will definitely become an annual family eve... 06/03/2010

Maybe you haven't heard yet, but if someone you know is struggling with an unaffordable mortgage, they may be eligible for a new program that offers $3,000 for going through a successful short sale and avoiding foreclosure. It's called Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives, or HAFA, and the program's aim is to save as many people from foreclosure as possible. To learn all the details and exactly how HAFA can help, download my free report:       Keji Ogunleye Fairfax Realty,Inc 301-794-9400(0), 301-613-2043(D)  Contact Keji Via email  06/02/2010

Bowie MD:  Bowie Homes for Sale from $169,000, 3bedroom, 2bath    Foreclosure Market Update as of June 2, 2010   39 Single Family Homes available For Sale: Price Range  $156,000- $689,000   15 Townhouses available For Sale : Price Range $169,000-$274,000     11 Condo's available For Sale : Price Range from $79,000- $292,000     For More Information on Bowie Homes For Sale Click Here   Keji Ogunleye Fairfax Realty,Inc 301-794-9400(0), 301-613-2043(D)  Contact Keji Via email  Bowie Homes For Sale 06/02/2010

Bowie, MD has been one of those areas hardest hit by foreclosures. Homes that complete the foreclosures process become bank owned properties and are listed with a local real estate brokerage for sale. The purchase of a bank owned property isn't much different than a normal resale. Bank owned properties are usually sold "as is," and the offer has to go to someone in the bank for a approval. A few extra addenda here and there and you can be the owner of a bank owned property. Right now there are sixty one bank owned properties for sale in Bowie, MD. Details on each of them can be viewed on the map below. If you're not already working with an agent, I can show you any active listing in Maryland...including those Bowie, MD bank owned foreclosures. Richard Iarossi, REALTOR® Long and Foster® ... 05/30/2010

Bowie's Memorial Day Parade  will take place on Saturday, May 29th beginning at 11:00 AM.    The Bowie Memorial Day Parade is held regardless of the weather and features marching bands, antique cars, dance groups, and much more!   The parade begins at the Bowie High School Annex on Belair Drive and finishes on Sage Lane in the Market Place Shopping Center Parking Lot.   Sussex Lane Park & Acorn Hill Park will have available snacks, food, drink, and restrooms for the convenience of those watching the parade.   Bring the family to this wonderful event and join the City of Bowie in showing support for the brave men and women who serve the United States.   05/27/2010

This is response to Bob Haywood's blog Introducing The Active Rain Realtor Nationwide Survey. My market is Prince George's County Maryland.   Question 1: My market area is Moderate. my phone is ringing occasionally,some sellers are selling and some buyers are buying. Question 2: My current Housing Market Conditions .... Our sellers are reducing prices and buyers are buying.      Prince George's County Maryland Real Estate Market is booming. According to the latest Market report,787 houses in Prince George's County Maryland were sold compared to this time last year when 424 Prince George's County Maryland houses for sale were sold. That is a 85.61% increase.      Average sold price of a Prince George's County Maryland house was $197,801 down from $245,146 in April 2009 a 19.31% price dro... 05/23/2010