The event is put on by the Downtown Bel Air Alliance, and this is the 10th Anniversary!

The Maryland BBQ Bash is located at the State Office Building (also known as the Mary Risteau Building). Friday is from 4-10pm, Saturday is 12-10pm. There will be shuttle buses from John Carroll and Bel Air High School.

50 teams will compete to be the best BBQ in Maryland, for the Maryland State Barbecue Championship.

What else is there? The Wine & Beer Garden for adults, the Bel Air Farmers Market will be open with fresh, local foods to purchase, and this year, they added LOCAL ART in a new gallery on Thomas Street.

According to the Bash’s website:

The BBQ Bash features live music with local and national acts, top quality barbecue and other food vendors, sponsor displays, crafters, various merchant vendors, farmer’s market, and children’s entertainment.

So there will be something for many to enjoy. A popular event every year!

Smaller, individual developments, of a single home would be required to install more costly but less polluting septic systems than the standard as set currently.

The reason behind these proposed changes is, according to an Baltimore Sun article:

An estimated 430,000 septic systems already are in the ground across Maryland, and officials say that they are responsible for leaking 4 million pounds of water-fouling nitrogen annually into the state’s streams, rivers and ultimately the bay. Officials project that as many as 145,000 more septic systems could be installed in the next 20 years, if home construction recovers to anything like what it used to be.

A septic system collects the solids from domestic sewage and kills disease-causing bacteria, but it allows much of the nitrogen in the treated wastewater to leach into nearby streams or ground water.

Households on conventional septic systems release up to 10 times as much of the pollutant into nearby waters as do households connected to much more efficient sewage treatment plants, state environmental officials say.

These limitations and systems would reduce some of the 8% of nitrogens found in the Bay that come from traditional septic systems. Anne Arundel County’s septic systems produce 35-40% of all nitrogens found in the waterways, which is the bigger subset of the problem.

This could potentially hurt new developments especially in Harford County and many areas of Baltimore County, where many neighborhoods are serviced by private sewage systems. It could hurt house values in those areas, because the more expensive systems could make those areas possibly unaffordable to many potential homeowners.

If you have concerns about the proposed law changes, make sure to call Governor O’Malley’s office at 410.974.3901 to voice your concern.

St John maintains and services tenants in many commercial buildings around the Baltimore area.

The goal of the development is to service the many BRAC transferees coming into the area, many from the Fort Monmouth, NJ base in the next few years. Plans include the possibility of up to five restaurants, maybe a hotel, a daycare, two banks, and a conference center.

The new Aberdeen complex would service both those who work at APG and the many Harford County residents who live near the area.

The great court location had been working against it because the plows had to put the large mounds of snow somewhere — and the large open space by this wonderful home was the place they chose.

I was able to take new front photos and put the signs in place — and you can actually see them from the road!

The new photos are on the front of the brochure.

The new exterior shots are on the virtual tour.

And I am excited!

I have felt like I couldn’t do this home its justice with marketing until you could actually see how wonderful it is from its location and its exterior. The wide open space to run in the side yard is so unusual!

The sellers are looking for photos from the spring when their beautifully manicured gardens and lawn are lush and inviting, so we can share them with prospective buyers (see tip #3 from the Top Four Inside Secrets to Selling Your Home in this Buyer’s Market).

Not only is the weather more spring-like, buyers feel it too, and I know I have a spring in my step as well.

So don’t miss out on this unusual and wonderful townhome in Abingdon. Or if you are looking for the Perry Hall/White Marsh area of Baltimore County, stay tuned, I have an inside unit in Oakhurst coming on soon!

Mr. Jews was the CEO of Maryland’s own Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield and brought it back from the point of it almost shutting its doors in 1993 to a successful company by the time he stepped down in 2006.  Jews is on a number of boards in the Maryland area, including Fortress International in Columbia, Maryland, and Camden Learning Group in Baltimore.

Though Ryland Homes is based in California, they are a pillar in the Baltimore real estate community. Their developments have won awards and have shown to be well planned.

If you would like more information on new Ryland Homes in Baltimore County, Harford County, and surrounding areas, please contact me so I can help!

The other issue that it appears we will have is high winds, which could possibly knock out power — so sump pumps and other drainage systems in homes may not work properly.

Baltimore homeowners, if they can, need to try to knock down as much ice from their gutters as they can, to free it up for when this round begins to melt.

As I mentioned in my post last week about the possibility of more storms, this is truly hurting the Baltimore real estate market.

Buyers are having trouble envisioning yards, homes as they truly are, and neighborhoods as they really are.

The mounds of snow in front of homes on cul de sacs make it difficult to even see the home from the street. My listing at 3136 Eden Drive in Abingdon, MD, has a great location — but right now it doesn’t appear that way! The snow is mounded so high in front of the house that you can’t see how nice it looks. Its location on the cul de sac is wonderful for extra yard space, more parking directly across the way, and a sense of privacy — but you can’t tell because of the snow pile up! Their yard has beautiful landscaping and shows such a pride of ownership — but you can’t tell because of the deep snow covering the gardens and plantings.

These things that would usually create such nice curb appeal and make it feel like home to a buyer are hidden behind the wall of snow. And another 8-12″ will only hinder things further.

We hope that buyers can imagine, but as my sellers have found while searching for their next home, it is very hard to do!

Here’s hoping that March will bring a little warmer weather and a LOT less snow. Our sellers and buyers need it!

Beautifully maintained and updated, this home has it all including a new virtual tour to showcase its many amenities!

Don’t miss out on this fantastic home — the only end unit currently on the market in St. Clair.

So if you are looking for a gorgeous townhome in Abingdon with larger yard, a large kitchen with eat-in bump-out, plus a gas fireplace in the walk out lower level, this is the place for you.

It is difficult to tell how large or small a yard is, how the yard looks, and how the house sits on the yard. You really can’t tell how the whole driveway looks, the front walk, the roof, or base around the house.

The large amount of snow really creates issues for buyers to imagine a home in its real state and understand how the home can really work for them.

My current listing has the same issue, as people really can’t see the deck with the under storage, the large side yard as it is an end unit, and the great location on the court — which currently has an 8′+ bank of snow piled in front of it!

Luckily the storm we had set for today did not happen as strongly as it was supposed to, and hopefully we will have some warmer weather and maybe some rain to melt some of the over 6′ piles of snow we have covering many of the street corners and driveway edges.

Buyers and sellers in the Baltimore area need & want it!

• Download the Brochure (PDF)
• Schedule an Appointment
• Ask a Question
• View Virtual Tour

Explore this wonderful Abingdon home for sale at $210,000…

• First Floor
• Second Floor
• Finished Basement
• Exterior
• Neighborhood

(Click on Any Picture to Enlarge)

St Clair Townhouse in Abingdon, Maryland

This fantastic townhouse, built in 1995, is located in the St Clair community of Abingdon, Maryland in Harford County. Located in a subdivision with townhouses and condos, this one is a must see!

Beginning with the end of group at the corner of the court, wood floors throughout the first floor, plus three bedrooms and a super full bath with soaking tub, separate shower & double vanity sink upstairs, a fully finished lower level with gas fireplace and full bath, this home are beautiful!

Located close to 924, 24, and 95, this house is easy to get to and from!

First Floor

FOYER

• Wood Floor
• Two Coat Closets
• Shelf Divider to Living Room
• Stairs to Second Floor

LIVING & DINING ROOM 18×14

• Wood Floor
• Bay Window Across the Front
• Chair Rail & Crown Molding
• Pass through Counter to Kitchen

KITCHEN 18×13

• Wood Floor
• Breakfast Room Bump-out with Chair Rail
• Double Stainless Sink with In-Sink-Erator
• Black Whirlpool Dishwasher
• Black Whirlpool Flat Top Stove
• Black GE Microwave Range Hood
• GE Refrigerator
• Wood Cabinets
• Pantry Closet
• Sliding Glass Door to New Deck

REAR DECK AND YARD

• New Wood Deck
• Built-in Lockable Storage Under Deck
• Large Open Back & Side Yard

Second Floor

MASTER BEDROOM 15×11

• Wall-to-Wall Carpet
• Ceiling Fan with Light
• Two Closets
• Door to Full Bath

FULL BATH

• Deep Soaking Tub
• Dual Vanity Cabinet Sinks
• Separate Shower

HALLWAY

• Pull Down Steps to Floored Attic

SECOND BEDROOM 12×9

• Wall-to-Wall Carpet
• Ceiling Fan with Light
• Single Closet

THIRD BEDROOM 9×8

• Wall-to-Wall Carpet
• Single Closet

Lower Level: Family Room

FAMILY ROOM 17×15

• Berber Carpet
• Ceiling Fan with Light Operated by Remote
• Gas Fireplace with Wall Switch
• Storage Closets

SECOND FULL BATH

• Full Tub
• Cabinet Sink

LAUNDRY AREA

• Washer & Dryer
• Space for Shelving

Exterior

END OF GROUP

• Large Open Area
• Side Windows

Neighborhood: Abingdon Real Estate in Harford County

The St Clair community is located right off Route 924 just north of the intersection with 24 in Abingdon. Just across 924 is the Giant Food Store, and across 24 is the Constant Friendship Shopping Center with Target, Wal-Mart, Miniature Golf, Batting Cages, and more.

Just north is Bel Air, the metropolitan hub of Harford County, with the county offices, Harford Mall, plus plenty of restaurants and activities.

I do have the brochure with photos and details uploaded, and wanted to share this beautiful house!

Located just north of the 24 & 924 intersection in the convenient St Clair subdivision of Abingdon, MD, this one is a true treasure.

Minutes to 95 North and 95 South, plus just minutes south of Bel Air, MD, this home is very easy to get to!

The owners have lovingly updated this end of group home with wood floors on the main floor, newer appliances, and a new deck with built-in lockable storage underneath.

The lower level features a gas burning fireplace (perfect to stay warm today!), sliding glass doors to the backyard, a full bath, laundry, and a nice family room with a ceiling fan & light controlled by remote.

Upstairs you find three nice sized bedrooms and an extra large bath with deep soaking tub, separate shower, and double vanity sink.

Not one to be missed!

Keep an eye out for the upcoming website on this great home at 3136 Eden Drive!