What do you have to do to qualify for the $3,000 award?

First, you must visit 4 of the 16 homes featured on the tour. These are just samples of homes on the market that would qualify for the award. Meet and begin at the Polytechnic Institute at 1400 West Coldspring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21209. (As a side note, the East Side Buying Into Baltimore 2010 Homebuyer Fair and Neighborhood Tour will be September 11, 2010).

More details to qualify and receive the award from the LiveBaltimore.com site:

Bring your validated/stamped ticket, signed contract of sale & photo ID to Baltimore Housing, Office of Homeownership (417 E. Fayette St. Suite 1125 – contact info will be on ticket). You will be eligible for the award funds if all of the following conditions are met:

• A housing counseling certificate is required before a commitment letter for award funds will be issued. Counseling must be completed prior to signing a contract of sale. We urge you to get this housing counseling as soon as you can; it must be completed BEFORE signing the sales contract. Click here for a list of housing counseling agencies.
• You are one of the first 50 people to submit the validated home tour ticket, valid homeownership counseling certificate, and signed contract of sale to the City’s Homeownership Office.
• You must use this home as your primary residence.
• You close on your new home within 90 days from the event date. Contracts signed prior to the event will not be eligible for the award funds.
• Your property is within the fair boundaries.
• Your mortgage amount cannot exceed $417,000.
• You are encouraged to use a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac approved lender.
• You must invest a minimum of $1,000 from personal funds/resources.
• The award is secured by a Deed of Trust written for a five-year term; the payback obligation reduces 20% for each year of occupancy and is released after the five year period.

Purchase contracts must be signed and dated after the “Buying into Baltimore” event, not before. Contracts signed prior to the event date will not be accepted.

So here you have a great opportunity to buy a home in Baltimore City and receive a reward for doing so!

Contact me for more information on the West Side Buying into Baltimore 2010 Homebuyer Fair and Neighborhood Tour.

Also known as Baltimore Retail Week, the focus is on local retailers offering their wares with no tax this week after you pay your government taxes!

Over 50 retailers in four shopping districts, including Federal Hill, are currently participating.

Here is the full list of Baltimore Retail Week participating stores . In most cases, when you shop, you need to mention the code “BRW” to receive at least a 6% discount on your purchases.

More local retail business owners may join, so be sure to check back to see.

What a great way to showcase local businesses and give back to the Baltimore neighborhoods that have supported them in their endeavors!

One of these events is the Creative Alliance’s Great Halloween Lantern Parade! This year the Alliance has added the Lantern Festival from 3-7 pm in Patterson Park at Eastern & Linwood Avenues.

This fun festival will have spooky stories, hay rides, lantern making, hot cider, live music and more!

At 7 pm the night’s centerpiece will begin. Everyone will line up with their lanterns, and at 7:30 the parade & magic lantern show begins!

Don’t miss this time sure to be enjoyed by those of all ages!

Also, don’t forget the rest of FREE FALL Baltimore with the Walters & Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) offering free admission, and Sunday the 25th’s 2-4 pm “Ghosts of the BMA” Family Tour, plus so much more!

What a great way for Baltimore to show how we can be a great place to live and play!