Ramp from Southbound Charles Street to I-695 East to be Closed on February 4, 2010

Charles Street traffic heading south from Lutherville in Towson will be hitting another snarl beginning Thursday night around 8 pm as the entrance to I-695 East will be closed long term as part of the ongoing Charles Street Overpass construction project.

This means cars coming south on Charles Street from Seminary Avenue or the circle at Bellona Avenue will not be able to make a left to enter the beltway going east.

From the State Highway Administration’s website:

The official ramp detour route: north/eastbound Bellona Avenue to eastbound MD 131 (Seminary Avenue) to southbound MD 45 (York Road) to the York Road Interchange ramp to eastbound I-695…

Temporary traffic signs will guide motorists through the official detour route in Lutherville and the ramp closure will remain in effect until early fall 2010.

So yes, this will be a big change for those traveling south on Charles Street from the circle & Seminary Avenue, but the long term benefits should much outweigh these inconveniences!

Chili Winter Days at Boordy Vineyards — this Weekend and Next!

Weekends have gotten a bit more interesting in Baltimore County at Boordy Vineyards.

Each weekend in January, Boordy hosts the “Chili Winter Days” from 1-5 pm, where you can drink Wassail while you tour the winery, and eat chili paired with their red wines if you are of age. Dean & Brown Catering is supplying the three chili choices, and the cost is $12 for adults, $10 for teens, and $5 for children aged 2-12.

Live music is on tap each weekend as well.

February brings “Fond of Your Fondue” weekends complete with marshmallow roasting on an open fire!

So if you are looking for something neat & different to do, then Boordy is the place to be on weekends in Winter.

Boordy Vineyards is located in beautiful Hydes, MD, (also known to many as Kingsville) right on the border of Baltimore County and Harford County. For a map and directions to Boordy, click here, and enjoy a taste of what Baltimore County has to offer!

Happy New Year 2010 Towson Real Estate Market Thoughts

As I sit here and reflect on 2009 and enjoy the beginning of 2010, I am reminded at what a new year can bring.

There is always a sense of excitement — that a new year can mean great things.

What will happen in the Towson real estate market? Will it rise? Will it fall? Will it stay at its’ teetering stabilization point that it has been in? I think we will remain about where we are — I don’t foresee a jump, but I think our neighborhoods are strong and prices will remain strong.

What about the real estate market in general? A few economists, like the National Association of REALTORS (R) economist, think there will be about a 10% increase.

I tend to be cautious in my optimism, and think we still have a large number of short sales and foreclosures coming down the pike in 2010, which will drop values lower, or keep them at the lower prices we are seeing now. I truly don’t foresee a real true recovery until 2012.

What does this mean for Towson sellers? That your homes are still worth a great amount because our area has been stabilized. That being said, they are not worth what they were even two years ago, so you can’t think about those prices when considering selling your home.

What does this mean for Towson homebuyers? BUY! It is a GREAT time! Interest rates are still very low, and prices are much lower than they have been in years.

For a true value estimation of a Towson home as a homebuyer or seller, or to find if this is the right time for you to move, please contact me – I am happy to help!

Timonium Home Sale Statistics Past Six Months June-December, 2009

My compilation of the 21093 real estate market statistics for the last six months are here!  The full chart in the link includes data on sales, contract, and active homes from June 22-December 6, 2009.

 

The full chart shows that prices and inventory have stabilized in the Lutherville and Timonium real estate market. There are 4% more houses on the market in the past 12 weeks compared to the 12 weeks prior, but prices have dropped for those sold a small amount — around 2.4%. The prices of houses going under contract have dropped about 5%.

Consistently, there have been about 200 homes for sale in 21093, while on average 9 of those homes are going under contract each week (and 9 new ones listed on average, evening it out). An average of 9 are also settling each week.  There is a large inventory for Timonium homebuyers, so now is the time to buy!

These 21093 home sale statistics show me that pricing correctly is extremely important, to be able to be one of those 9 selling each week. Having your home in move-in condition, and good marketing are also needed in this Lutherville housing market.

Please note that these are statistics from the multiple list. The chart is an overview of the zip code and does not take into account the type (condo, townhouse, single family) or condition of the home. To have a true value understanding of your Timonium home or Lutherville neighborhood, these factors need to be taken into consideration. If you would like a Timonium or Lutherville home price evaluation, please contact me today.

I-695 Eastbound to Have Lanes Split Between 83 and Charles Street in Towson

The I-695 Construction at Charles Street in Towson is going to make traffic a bit trickier starting around 8 pm on Sunday, December 20, 2009.

The Maryland State Highway Administration published a notice of this change on their website. Beginning Monday the 21st, Eastbound 695 will be three lanes going through from the I-83 North interchange and the Charles Street overpass. Towson residents who live off Charles Street need to note that they will have to stay in the right lane at the split in order to be able to exit.

Currently, there are four through lanes on I-695 E at Charles Street, so this will affect traffic tremendously. This will be the case through Spring 2010, so be prepared for delays when traveling in this area.

I also noted on the site that the entire project now is projected to be completed in 2012, instead of the Fall 2011 date originally planned.

Graul’s in Ruxton Holiday Tasting Events December 4-6, 2009

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can enjoy living in Towson near Ruxton if you want to try some great food at Graul’s in Ruxton or be happy you live in Timonium near the Graul’s in Mays Chapel.

Friday from 4-7 enjoy yummy appetizers that are easy to make! Saturday and Sunday, try some ”Over the Top” Holiday Favorites from 11-5.

As the email they sent says, “Bring your family to join our family for a Taste of the Holiday Season”!

Graul’s continues to be a great cornerstone for both the Ruxton and Mays Chapel communities, offering good food both local and imported, and wine shops attached to complement your meals.

I love living near the Graul’s in Ruxton for both the convenience and these neat events they hold. We are there on a regular basis — and the staff really does make you feel like family!

So join their family this weekend and enjoy some delicious food while you are there. Another great reason to live in Towson or live in Mays Chapel!

Towson Realtor Sworn in as Line Officer of Greater Baltimore Chapter of Women’s Council of REALTORS(R)

On Thursday, November 19, I was fortunate to be sworn in as the 2010 Vice President of Membership for the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS(R) at the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors in Lutherville.

This is a very prestigious yet demanding position, and I welcome the challenge.

As a “line officer” for the Chapter, I have many responsibilities, one of which is upholding the Vision of the Women’s Council of REALTOR(S): “Through our influence as successful business professionals, women will effect positive change in the profession and in the broader community.”

I plan to do so by growing our membership and increasing retention of our current members.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve the Women’s Council and look forward to an exciting year of education and networking.

Santa Arrives at Towson Town Center Family Fun Day — MILKSHAKE Performs on Friday, November 20, 2009

Join the always fun, kid-favorite bank MILKSHAKE as they perform and welcome Santa at 10 am on Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Towson Town Center’s Family Fun Day.

The mall hosts the Family Fun Day most Fridays except during the holiday season.

Located at the Grand Court on Level One of the mall, it is sure to be a entertaining event!

Santa will be there for photos through December 24, but here is a coupon for $2 off  package A or B through December 10. Enjoy!

The Towson Town Center Mall is located at 825 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204. For more information on the Family Fun Day, you may reach the mall at 410-583-6601.

Robert E Lee Park Improvement Update Meeting Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Proposed Phase One of the Robert E. Lee Park ’s improvement plan will be presented in the third community meeting held by the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7 pm at Dumbarton Middle School.

The proposed improvements include replacing the bridge going into the park, the development of an official dog park, and picnic areas for all to enjoy. As I discussed in an earlier post (see link above), the improvements are an exciting and necessary plan for the Robert E Lee Park, as it had become run down with crime rates rising, and bridges unsafe for walking. A one-time hidden gem, it had become unusable in its current state.

The Baltimore County Parks & Rec would like to have Towson neighborhood input in order to make our park one that all community members can benefit from having nearby.

The location of the meeting is the cafeteria at Dumbarton Middle School, located in Rodgers Forge, at 300 Dumbarton Road, Baltimore, MD 21212 (map).

For more information, or special accomodations for the meeting, please contact the Baltimore County Nature and Recreation Resources Office at 410-887-4156.

Towson Real Estate Agent — My Second Interview with Castle Title TV

David Kramer, President and General Counsel of Castle Title, LLC asked me back for another interview about Social Media and my successes with it for business. (You can visit the first interview here.) This time the topic began as “How Much Time Should You Spend on Social Media”, and we discussed this as well as appropriate behaviors and topics on these sites.

 

I thank David for this second opportunity, and look forward to hearing from you who view about social media networking and in the long run, how the time I spend on this medium has helped me to continue to grow my Towson real estate business.

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