Free Fall Baltimore is a month-long event where many museums have free admission, free events, and shows to bring people to Downtown Baltimore to learn of places, in hopes that people will continue to come back and enjoy Arts in Baltimore after the month is over.

Many of the events, though free, will require reservations due to space limitations, so make sure to visit the Free Fall Baltimore website to view and reserve what you may want to attend!

freefallbaltimore.com

So come to Downtown Baltimore and enjoy many of the arts for free in October. So much to see and do — with no cost to you!

The event begins at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School (“Mervo”) with Check-in and Neighborhood tour sign up from 8:30-11am. There is a $10 per person charge to participate.

Home buying classes are 9-11:00am, then 11am-1:15pm are the neighborhood tours. Participants must visit at least four of the houses to qualify for the award.

What is the award? A $4,000 forgivable loan that after five years doesn’t have to be repaid, if you still live in the property you buy using that money as the primary owner.

How do you know if you qualify?

From the Live Baltimore website:

How do I get the $4,000 award?

You will be eligible for the award funds if all of the following conditions are met:

• A current homeownership counseling certificate is required. Counseling must be completed BEFORE signing a contract of sale. Click here for a list of housing counseling agencies.
• 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.
• 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.

You must be one of the first 50 people to meet these qualifications and submit your validated/stamped ticket, proof of homeownership counseling, signed contract of sale & photo ID to Baltimore Housing, Office of Homeownership (417 E. Fayette Street, Suite 1125, Baltimore, MD 21201).

The boundary/dividing line is:

Boundary dividing line:

Starting from the North (Baltimore City/Baltimore County Line)…

• Head South on Charles St.
• To West on 29th St.
• To South on Howard St.
• To West on Camden St.
• To South on Russell St. and continue to County Line

So if you are considering buying a house in East Baltimore City, contact me to learn more!

Tagging onto the Free Fall Baltimore promotion, Kids Month has many free events, or discounts on other experiences.

Saturday is a Family Concert with sing along and a free movie at the Enoch Pratt Library. The Walters Art Museum has a Free Family Festival of Wonders.

Next Saturday, Halloween Weekend, is the B&O Railroad Museum Halloween Bash and BSO Halloween Spooktacular, while Port Discovery has their Family Falloween Festival.

So come to Downtown Baltimore to enjoy both Free Fall Baltimore and Kids Month. You won’t be disappointed!

kidslovedowntownbaltimore.com

This is the fifth year of Free Fall Baltimore, showcasing art in Baltimore. All of the events are free — and here is the link to the three pages of activities!

Many museums have free admission and fun events to enjoy.

This weekend there are dance performances, theatre performances, musical performances, plus artistic workshops for adults and children alike.

Fall is such a beautiful time in Downtown Baltimore with the cooler weather after this hot summer, and so many places offering free fun in the month of October. So come downtown and enjoy!

freefallbaltimore.com

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City sent a press release out this morning with this great announcement that 50 eligible buyers participating in the Buying into Baltimore event on September 11, 2010 will receive $4,000 towards their new home, an increase of $1,000 over the past 13 years of the program. These are 5 year forgivable loans, meaning that if the buyers remain in the home for 5 years, they will not have to repay.

The Spring Buying into Baltimore Fair was held on May 8, and was a great success.

September’s Buying into Baltimore Event & Tour will begin at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School on Hillen Road in Baltimore from 8:30 am – 2 pm.

From the press release:

To receive the money, participants must:
1) live in the desired home as the primary owner/occupant,
2) possess a valid homeownership counseling certificate,
3) participate in the “Buying into Baltimore” tour and have the tour ticket validated at four homes,
4) buy in the eastern part of Baltimore (see Live Baltimore website for boundary details),
5) purchase a home that is less than $417,000, and
6) sign the home sales contract after the event takes place.

Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must close on a house within 90 days of the eastern region fair to receive the $4,000 award. There are no income restrictions on this program, nor does a recipient have to be a first-time homebuyer.

The Boundaries, from the Live Baltimore website are:

Boundary dividing line:

Starting from the North (Baltimore City/Baltimore County Line)…

• Head South on Charles St.
• To West on 29th St.
• To South on Howard St.
• To West on Camden St.
• To South on Russell St. and continue to County Line

So if you are considering buying a house in East Baltimore City, contact me to learn more!

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!