This summer, Restaurant Week is August 13-22, 2010.

Restaurant Week is always an exciting time with special meals and dining deals — $35.10 for a three course meal at nice restaurants in Baltimore. Lunch menus are only $20.10! The full list of participating eateries is here.

Baltimore’s Winter Restaurant Week 2010 was extended this past February because of our dual blizzards in one week, beginning February 5. Luckily this time, it’s just heat! So, get out of the heat and enjoy some fantastic food at great prices. Be sure to make reservations, because Baltimore Restaurant Week has people coming out to eat!

HVCC was enacted in 2009, and has been a big issue in the appraisal battle many home sales have been experiencing.

In June last year, Tasha Linton and I wrote about how HVCC Could Negatively Affect Towson Home Values , because the appraisers assigned are the lowest cost one available, not necessarily from the area. Real estate is very local — for example, Towson neighborhoods are very unique — sometimes even street-by-street! An appraiser from outside of Washington, DC will not understand the neighborhood nuances, and this could tremendously effect an appraisal value.

The HVCC going away is a huge relief to many in the real estate community, and homeowners should be very pleased as well.

HVCC will be phased out over the next 90 days, with the end of October closing this sad chapter in real estate housing history.

Many of those who received the erroneous additional property tax bill were newer Baltimore City homebuyers who bought their homes sometime between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010.

The mix up occurred partially due to the Homestead Tax Credit, which many homeowners collect, but new homeowners cannot until they have lived in the house for a year.

Jamie Smith-Hopkins reported in the Baltimore Sun:

New buyers can qualify for the credit after living in their homes for one full tax year. They can end up paying much higher taxes than the previous owner, especially if that owner lived in the home for a long time. But the increase doesn’t kick in until the new homeowner’s first July 1 in the property — because any taxes before that point are calculated based on the previous owner’s liability.

Here’s what went wrong: The Homestead credit amount for the last tax year was somehow erased from the property accounts for at least some of the more than 5,000 people who bought in the city during those months. Suddenly, it looked as if they’d underpaid.

City officials state that this week owners should receive a correct bill.

If you are a Baltimore City homeowner and received what you feel is an incorrect bill, you can check the Baltimore City Government’s website to find your correct amount due.

The company, based in Rockville, had a ribbon cutting ceremony on their 56,000 square foot facility on Lombard Street in Downtown Baltimore on Friday.

Emergent is the maker of the only FDA approved anthrax vaccine. The Washington Post reports that they are hoping that this location near Johns Hopkins Bayview will help them get into more commercial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

This is great for Baltimore residents because there will be more job opportunities opening in the area, which could also help the Baltimore real estate market, especially Canton house values, since it is so close by and right on public transportation routes!

This year marks the 29th anniversary of the festival, and it is expected that over 350,000 people will attend. Why so many people? Artscape is free!

Artscape is located right in the heart of the Arts District in Downtown Baltimore, right near the Lyric Opera House.

Each day begins at noon, Friday & Saturday run until 10 pm, Sunday it ends at 8 pm.

What is Artscape? From the website:

America’s largest free arts festival, Artscape features 150+artists, fashion designers and craftspeople, including DIY/new wave crafters; visual art exhibits on and off site, such as outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize; incredible live concerts on four outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, fashion, film, experimental music and performances by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; family events such as hands-on projects, demonstrations, jazz vocal and combo competitions, children’s entertainers and multiple street theater locations; and a delicious, international menu of food and beverages available throughout the site.

There is a kids art area for hands on fun, exhibits, live performances, entertainers, exhibits and food.

So this weekend, head to downtown Baltimore to enjoy the free Artscape festival!

The national average is 4.57% for a 30 year fixed conventional loan.

MSNBC reports that:

Rates have fallen over the past two months. Investors, concerned with the European debt crisis, have poured money into the safety of Treasury bonds. Treasury yields have fallen and so have mortgage rates, which tend to track yields on long-term Treasurys.

Though the rates are very low, many people have already taken advantage of the low rates that have been in place for months now. These rates also don’t include add on fees, which Freddie Mac reports right now theirs are averaging about 0.7% of the loan amount.

Others are not refinancing due to the fact that they actually cannot. They have less equity in their home than is on their current mortgage, and do not have the money to make up the difference. So despite the possible lower payments, these distressed people cannot take advantage of the historically low rates.

Many Baltimore homeowners are in the same situation, putting them at risk for a short sale if they need to sell.

People who have been on the fence about buying a home should consider the moment to be now. With rates this low, plus Baltimore home prices being so low, there has rarely been a better time to buy!

If you are ready to buy a Baltimore home, contact me today to take advantage of these incredible low interest rates.

Baltimore home sales had not seen an increase in the past year, so this is great news.

From RealEstate Business Intelligence, Inc. through MRIS, the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (our local MLS), the numbers show that the Baltimore County average sold price is up 8.25%!

The other very positive number is that the days on the market dropped 12.93% from 116 to 101 June 2009 to June 2010.

These statics are partly due to the Homebuyer Tax Credit, where buyers originally had to settle by the end of June to receive their credit.

573 Baltimore County homes went under contract in June 2010, and 681 homes sold. The good news is that those 573 homes that went under contract did not rely on the tax credit.

Here is the report for June Baltimore County home sales.

What the statistics tell me is that right now is a great time to sell a Baltimore County home. Prices are up, average days on the market are down, so the inconvenience is less.

If you are considering the possibility of selling your Baltimore County home, contact me today.

Thousands of Baltimore residents are volunteering their time and expertise for the build, which began Friday, July 9th.

Excel Homes is the main builder for the project, and they are building a combination row home and modular home on the space where a building was burned down by a serial arsonist in 2007. The home will be about 11,000 square feet.

Boys Hope Girls Hope has locations across the country.

Boys Hope Girls Hope is a privately funded, non-profit multi-denominational organization that provides at-risk children with a stable home, positive parenting, high quality education, and the support needed to reach their full potential. We use a holistic approach to provide them with necessary education and life skills to be productive members of the community.

Many of our children come from home environments marked by drug abuse, poverty or neglect, while others come from caring families unable to meet the child’s needs. We work to positively impact the community through participation in community service days each month, as well as asking scholars to become involved with a non-profit of their choice.

This Independence Day marks the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

A very special day, which many celebrate with barbeques, beach time, parades, and fireworks, we are reminded of our freedom from England so many years ago.

I stop to think of our troops both past and present, who have fought to preserve our freedom, and I am grateful for their sacrifices to our Country.

Happy Birthday, America, and thank you to our troops who serve to keep us free!

American Flag over Federal Hill Photo courtesy of Panther1619 via Flickr CC

The largest one is in Downtown Baltimore called “Ports of America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration”. Entertainment begins at 2 pm with the jazz band Lovecraft, and at 8 pm the Naval Academy’s Electric Brigade begins at 8 pm.

Fireworks are scheduled to go off at 9:30 pm and can be seen from the Inner Harbor, Fell’s Point, Federal Hill, and other places around the harbor. The music and entertainment is located in the Inner Harbor at Harborplace Amphitheater located at 401 Light Street.

Friday and Saturday, the 2nd & 3rd, Harborplace celebrates its’ 30th Anniversary. Since it was opened in 1980, they are having 80’s themed Anniversary fun, so you can join in and hopefully have a blast!

In Baltimore County, at Oregon Ridge in Cockeysville, the BSO Start Spangled Spectacular happens both July 3rd & 4th! Gates open at 5 pm and the concert begins at 8 pm. Tickets are available online now. It culminates in a huge fireworks display accompanied by the Orchestra.

There are a number of places in Baltimore County where fireworks are scheduled on the 3rd, 4th and 5th, so you can enjoy three nights in a row! Baltimore County’s website lists:

July 3, 2010

Baltimore Country Club (rain date July 4)
11500 Mays Chapel Road

Catonsville High School (rain date July 4)
421 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville

Eastern Yacht Club (no rain date)
918 Seneca Road, The Barge

Grange Elementary School (rain date July 5)
2000 Church Road, Dundalk

Oregon Ridge Park (no rain date)
13401 Beaver Dam Road

The Suburban Club (rain date July 5)
7600 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, 21209

Woodholme Country Club (rain date July 5)
300 Woodholme Avenue

July 4, 2010

Fullerton Park (rain date July 5)
4208 Fullerton Avenue

Loch Raven Academy (rain date July 5)
8101 LaSalle Road

Oregon Ridge Park (no rain date)
13401 Beaver Dam Road

July 5, 2010

Hereford High School (rain date July 6)
17220 York Road, Hereford

For parades and more daytime fun, the Baltimore County website shows quite a few from Kingsville to Towson to Catonsville!

Saturday, July 3

Arbutus Recreation Council
Begin: 12:30 p.m.
End: 1 p.m.
Route: Formation area: Tom Day Boulevard Route: Tom Day Boulevard to Carville Avenue to East Drive. (Super Fresh store parking lot)

Catonsville Celebrations Committee
Begin: 3 p.m.
End: 5:30 p.m.
Route: Formation area: Montrose Avenue; Bloomingdale Avenue; Route: Starting at Montrose Avenue and Frederick Road, proceed east on Frederick Road to Bloomsbury Avenue, turn right on Bloomingdale.

Dundalk Heritage Parade Committee
Begin: 8 a.m.
End: 1 p.m.
Route: Formation Area: Logan Village Shopping Center. Route: North on Dundalk Avenue, east on Belcare, north on Liberty Parkway, west on Dunglow Road, west on Dunmanway, north on Shipping Place, east on Shipway, north on Admiral Boulevard, south on Liberty Parkway to Dunmanway.

Glyndon Community Association, Inc
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: noon
Route: Formation area: Albright Avenue. Route: Albright Avenue east to Central Avenue, north onto Central to Chatsworth Avenue, west onto Chatsworth to Railroad Avenue, south onto Railroad to Albright Avenue.

Hampton Improvement Association
Begin: 8:45 a.m.
End: 9 a.m.
Route: Formation: Dead end court Gateshead & Seminary Ave; Start north end of Gateshead Rd, down to St Francis Road left onto Valley View Drive, quick right in to Hampton Mansion farmhouse grounds.

Greater Kingsville Civic Association
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: 11 a.m.
Route: Formation area: Kingsville Fire Hall, Bradshaw Road and St. Stephen’s Church lot for fire trucks and large vehicles. Route: from Kingsville Volunteer Fire Department grounds, down Bradshaw Road, right on Jerusalem Road, at judges viewing stand to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Street parking lot.

Pine Valley / Valleywood Community Association
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: 10:45 a.m.
Route: Formation area: Pine Valley Drive and Presway Road; Start at Pine Valley Drive and Presway Road-South to Sandee Road left  then left on Rickswood Road into school (Pinewood Elementary) parking lot.

Towson Area Fourth of July Parade
Begin: 10:30 a.m.
End: 1 p.m.
Route: Formation: Towson University (Burke & Bosley) disperse at Burke & Washington Avenue.

Wilson Point Civic Association
Begin: 9 a.m.
End: 10:30 a.m.
Route: Formation Area: Middle River Vol. Fire Co & Beech Drive-Route: Right onto Wilson Point Road-right onto Dogwood Drive, left onto Shore Road, left onto Hazel Drive, left onto Wilson Point Road, to the Middle River Vol. Fire Company’s lot for disbursement. Distance total 1.6 miles.

Sunday, July 4

Sudbrook Park Inc.
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: 11 a.m.
Route: Formation area: Triangle at Adana Road, Kingston Road and Windsor Road. Dispersal area: Playground McHenry Road. Route: Parade travels up Adana Road, turns right into Carysbrook Road, turns right onto Olmstead Road, turns left onto McHenry and ends at playground on McHenry Road.

Coachford / Springlake Community Association
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: 11 a.m.
Route: Formation area: Galewood Circle-Timonium; Route: Galewood Road, right on Tregarone, right on Hartfell, left on Fallsbrook Road, left on Springlake Drive, left into Pot Spring School parking lot.

Colonial Village Neighborhood Association
Begin: 9:30 a.m.
End: 10:30 a.m.
Route: Formation: Lowell Drive at Deerfield Road / Lowell Drive; Route: east at Plymouth Road, south at Concord Road, west on Concord Ending at Salem Court.

Monday, July 5

Hereford Optimist Club
Begin: 5:30 p.m.
End: 8 p.m.
Route: Formation area: Hereford SHA lot; beginning at Hereford Shopping Center, start east on Mt. Carmel Rd to North onto York Road (Rte 45) end at Hereford High School.

Some culminate in the fireworks displays in the area.

So enjoy 4th of July in Baltimore. There is plenty to do!

Photo courtesy of Sam Howzit via Flickr CC