Towson Homeowners: Fall Back on Sunday November 1, 2009 AND Change Your Smoke Detector Batteries

The day after Halloween this year brings the long-awaited “extra hour of sleep”, the end of Daylight Savings Time.

What it also should remind you to do is change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

Many newer homes are hard-wired, meaning their smoke detectors are connected to the electrical system, and sometimes even to sprinklers. But much of Towson real estate is made up of older homes, most of which are not wired this way, which is why whenever we change the clocks, it is of utmost importance to change the batteries in the detectors.

It takes a few minutes and a few dollars, but could save a loved one’s life, or your home, in case of a fire.

So Happy Halloween, Happy Fall, and Happy Safety!

Visit Port Discovery in Downtown Baltimore for Halloween Howl on Saturday, October 31, 2009

If you are looking for a spooky good time in Downtown Baltimore during the day on Saturday, look no further than Port Discovery‘s “Halloween Howl”.

Kids can dress in costume and decorate cupcakes, do crafts, get their faces painted, play at the museum — and enjoy a fun moonbounce too!

Add onto that, the very popular children’s bank, MILKSHAKE, will be there to perform at 1 pm!

So enjoy downtown Baltimore in costume style! 

Port Discovery is a Children’s Museum located at 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202.  Its’ Saturday hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is $12.95 for children aged 2-102!

Oregon Ridge in Cockeysville ‘s “Spooky Forest Fact Frolic” this Saturday and Sunday October 31 & November 1, 2009

Oregon Ridge Nature Center in Cockeysville, MD, has so much to offer for people of all ages.

This Saturday and Sunday they will be hosting the “Spooky Forest Fact Frolic“, a free event, where you explore the park to find clues and win prizes!

Start off at the center to pick up your booklet, romp through the spooky forest, and return to get your prize!

For the braver souls, Friday, October 30 from 7-9 offers the “Ghosts of Miners Past” for $2/person. Traipse through the park at night in this tour — which used to be a mining town — and they claim you will meet ghosts of miners who never left the mines!

Oregon Ridge Nature Center is located in Oregon Ridge Park at 13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030. The Nature Center is open Tuesday through Sunday 9-5, and the park is open daily from dawn to dusk, plus additional hours for special events.

Another great reason to be in Hunt Valley!

Senate Agrees to Extend Homebuyer Tax Credit — Now onto a Vote and the House — What does this mean for Towson Homebuyers?

According to the Associated Press, per their article of 8 pm October 28, 2009, the Senate agreed to extend the Homebuyer Tax Credit for people writing contracts through the end of April, 2010, and settling by the end of June, 2010.

They are also including a reduced credit of up to $6,500 for repeat buyers who have owned their current homes for at least five years.

There will be income limits and sales price limits, all of which will be spelled out when the legislation is officially circulated.

If this passes both the Senate and the House, it is great news for the Towson homebuyers who were hoping to benefit from this credit but were unable to find a home to close on by the current deadline of November 30, 2009. It also helps reduce the artificially inflated market they were competing in due to this looming deadline.

This would also be good news for the Towson home sellers below the agreed price limits because they now have time to get their houses truly ready to sell, get their houses staged, and price it right — without the rush!

I will keep you updated as it hopefully passes through the Senate and hopefully in the House as well before heading to our President’s desk for his signature!

Trick or Treat at Hunt Valley Towne Center this Friday October 30, 2009 4-6 pm

Halloween provides for many activities to celebrate the holiday!

Hunt Valley Towne Center is offering trick or treating on Main Street from 4-6 pm on FRIDAY, the 30th to get ready for the 31st!

So get dressed up & come on out to see the spooky ghosts and goblins along Main Street. It is sure to be a Scarily Good Time! You’ll get tricked and treated — while you prepare for the big night in your neighborhood!

Another great activity that the wonderful area that Hunt Valley Real Estate has to offer!

Hunt Valley Towne Center is located at 118 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21030. Main Street is the oval drive in the center of the shops and restaurants.

Towson and Timonium House Values Volatile Week by Week

The past year, as most of us know, has shown a volatile real estate market in the Towson, Timonium, and Hunt Valley marketplace.

The statistics revealed, however, were very unusual. The sale prices varied very widely BY WEEK! (View the full two page chart here)

What does this mean for Towson homeowners?

It means that an exact number can’t be reached in terms of the value of your home. The price fluxuation is consistent with the interest rate flux. Depending on the interest rate, your home could be worth more or less this week!
It also means that if you are thinking about selling, you have to anticipate the market, and price on the lower side. Page two of the Market Dynamics chart shows median prices, and the ones they don’t sell are the ones that are priced too high!

Weber’s Farm in Baltimore County’s Parkville Offers Barnyard Activities Fun for All Ages

Fall ushers in a great time at Weber’s Farm off Proctor Lane in Parkville, MD.

Open every day of the week until November 1 from 9:30-dusk (9 am weekends) — there is plenty of time to enjoy all of the activities in the Barnyard!

For $5 weekdays and $7 weekends, you can enjoy the straw maze, the story-telling path to the the tall hill slide (be ready for a fast ride!), petting zoo, plus hay rides for pumpkin picking.

They also offer a Scarecrow Building workshop from 4-6 pm weekdays and 10-6 weekends for only $15.

On weekends through the 1st, there is food for sale by the Providence Volunteer Fire Department from 11-4.

Open year round, Weber’s has much to offer for anyone. From pies to turkeys, fresh produce to cider and old time gifts, you can’t miss!

Located at 2526 Proctor Lane in Parkville, it is convenient to Towson, 695, Cromwell Bridge Road and Harford Road.

Great Lantern Parade moved to October 25, 2009

Due to the inclement weather forecast for tomorrow, Saturday, October 24, the Great Lantern Parade has been moved to Sunday the 25th.

Live music, Magic Hat Beer Garden, activities, and festivities galore beginning at 3 pm with the parade line up at 7:00!

For more information, visit the Southeast Community Development Corporation’s website .

Hunt Valley’s Oregon Ridge Offers Harry Potter Halloween October 24-25 2-4 pm

I wrote a few weeks ago about the Honey Making Festival at the Oregon Ridge Nature Center, and how the Center is a hidden treasure in the Park in Hunt Valley.

For all of you Harry Potter fans out there, this weekend is “Harry Potter Halloween”!

For $2 per child (or other crafters!) paid in advance, one can make Harry Potter themed crafts and learn about wizardry!

While you are there, you can visit the gorgeous changing leaves and hike the trails to enjoy the fall weather, or browse the Center to see the bees, birds, and turtles close up!

GBMC To Hold a Free Community Health and Wellness Fair at its Towson, Maryland Campus — Saturday, October 24, 2009 10-12

This Saturday, join the team at GBMC in Towson for a FREE Community Health and Wellness Fair!

Free screenings for blood pressure, bone density, BMI, skin damage, hearing, vision, and more.

Health Specialists will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.

Special session “H1N1 – Are You Prepared?” from 10:30-11:30 by Deborah DiBona from the Baltimore County Health Department on H1N1 in Towson — be prepared and protected!

Free giveaways and a raffle for an Ipod Touch are added bonuses!

Located at the Physicians Pavilion East in the Civiletti Conference Center, the hospital will be offering FREE PARKING to attendees as well.

For more information, visit GBMC’s event here or call 443-849-2400.

Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) is located at 6701 N. Charles Street, Towson, MD 21204 . The Physicians Pavilion East is located on the main campus, but its address is 6565 N. Charles Street, Towson, MD 21204. You will enter the main gates for this event.

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