Buying into Baltimore $4,000 Incentive Fall 2010

Buying a home Baltimore just became a little sweeter for homebuyers looking on the east side.

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!

Silo Point Baltimore Condo

Silo Point condominium in Baltimore is an amazing community located in Locust Point in Downtown Baltimore.

The amenities are abundant and spectacular. You are greeted at the front desk by staff, ready, willing, and able to help. The full service gym on the lower level has everything you could need to work out. Across the hall is a lounge with pool tables, comfy chairs, and a WINE BAR!

There are elements of the original grain silo kept throughout, making it such a unique place.

No detail has been overlooked with the variety of units from the warehouse feel to the “Roland Park” (quoted) feel of some of the larger units.

One condo even had the television in the mirror in the master bathroom!

The views are spectacular from most of the units, especially on the higher floors. You can see all over Baltimore from the Harbor to the Ravens Stadium, on a clear day even into Baltimore County north!

The Sky Lounge is a place where residents can hang out or have parties — and it is open for rent for outside groups to use as well!

Silo Point townhomes are located on the building as well, many of which are actually less expensive than some of the condo units.

I really enjoyed my tour of beautiful Silo Point. What a luxurious, fantastic piece of Baltimore real estate. If you want to buy a Silo Point condo, contact me to get started on your path to luxury!

Emergent BioSolutions Jobs in Baltimore

Emergent BioSolutions will have 120 new jobs in Baltimore in the next few years.

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!

Baltimore Artscape 2010

Baltimore Artscape 2010 is this weekend July 16 with free art viewings and performances all weekend long!

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!

Johns Hopkins Hospital Job Openings

Johns Hopkins Hospital has 400 job openings on its main campus.

The main campus is located on Broadway past Fells Point and Canton in Downtown Baltimore.

The chief operating officer, Judy Reitz, states that this does not include openings some of its’ other campuses.

They are also building new patient towers to be opening in January 2012, which could bring as many as 1,000 new jobs to the area.

Johns Hopkins Hospital employs over 6,000 people.

The Baltimore Business Journal reports that the jobs listed as open include:

rehabilitation specialists; administrative assistants; nurse managers; lab technicians; pharmacists; computer programmers; and equipment managers. Reitz said the hospital also is always looking for registered nurses, housekeepers, security guards and cafeteria workers.

This is great news for the Baltimore real estate market, because this could mean people moving into the area and possibly buying houses to take advantage of the incredibly low interest rates and low housing prices.

Charm City Circulator Purple Route

The Charm City Circulator Purple Route is now running in Baltimore City.

The Purple Route runs from Penn Station to Federal Hill.

It runs through Mount Vernon, and goes through the Inner Harbor at Light Street. It runs down St. Paul Street, has multiple stops in Federal Hill and turns around at Key Highway, coming back up Charles Street.

The Charm City Circulator Orange Route, which was the first one open in March, 2010, runs an east-west route along Lombard and Pratt Streets. Now the Purple Route adds a North-South connection. The Green Route is due to open soon.

The Charm City Circulator is free bus transportation service provided by the City of Baltimore. It is designed to provide transportation around Downtown Baltimore for residents, workers, and visitors.

Greek Folk Festival June 10-13, 2010

The Greek Folk Festival at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is June 10-13, 2010!

Enjoy Greek food while celebrating traditional Greek folk dancing from a number of troops. The schedule of events is jam-packed!

There will be live music, face painting, crafts, and more so it is fun for the whole family!

Hours are until 11 pm all nights except Sunday, which ends at 10 pm.

The Greek Folk Festival is a very popular event in Downtown Baltimore. Join in this year!

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is located at 520 South Ponca Street, Baltimore, MD 21224.

Prime Steakhouse Restaurant in Baltimore’s Chef Will Be On Top Chef

Prime Steakhouse Restaurant in Baltimore’s Chef will be a contestant on the next season of Bravo’s Top Chef.

Timothy Dean will be competing for the title in Washington, DC beginning next month, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

Fells Point’s Prime Steakhouse has become a popular place in its’ short time in business.

Having national attention from Bravo’s Top Chef could bring even greater things for the Fells Point and Downtown Baltimore areas with visitors coming to try Chef Dean’s food, and getting to experience what our great city has to offer.

Coupled with the “Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore” campaign for the summer, Baltimore’s economy could see a great boost in resolving its’ current deficit.

So visit Prime Steakhouse in Fells Point and judge Chef Dean’s creations yourself!

Baltimore Smiley Face World Record

Baltimore has a new world record for the largest human smiley face to kick off the city’s summer campaign: “Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore”.

On May 13, 2010, outside the Maryland Science Center, 261 people gathered in orange and black ponchos to create the big smiley face.

The World Records Academy reported on the new world record, giving Baltimore props for its’ Happy Place campaign.

The goal is to show how happy you can be when you visit Baltimore and to garner more tourism for the great city.

Tom Noonan, the President and CEO of Visit Baltimore stated that:

“Baltimore makes us happy everyday, and we think the world’s largest smiley face is the perfect symbol to kick off our summer travel season,”

“No matter what makes you smile, we encourage travelers from all over the country to come and find their happy place in Baltimore this summer.”

Baltimore is also a wonderful place to live for many of its’ residents.

Contact me to learn more about living in Baltimore.

Qualify for $3,000 Buying Into Baltimore 2010 Homebuyer Fair and Neighborhood Tour

This Saturday, May 8, 2010, you can qualify for $3,000 to help buy a home in the West side of Baltimore City in the Buying Into Baltimore 2010 Homebuyer Fair and Neighborhood Tour.

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.

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