Baltimore County Restaurant Week 2012 Winter

Baltimore County Restaurant Week Winter 2012 is actually more than a week, and is January 12-21, 2012.

This time 36 Baltimore County restaurants are participating!

Lunch and Dinner Prices will be  $10.12, $15.12, $20.12, $25.12, $30.12, or $35.12. You will need to check with the individual restaurants as to their pricing.

Participating Towson restaurants are 7West, Cafe Troia, The Melting Pot, and Razorbacks.

Parkville restaurants include Pappas and McAvoys.

There are a number of Timonium restaurants involved, including Basta Pasta, The Charred Rib, Christopher Daniel, Liberatore’s (as well as their location in Perry Hall), Michael’s Cafe, Pasta Blitz, The Peppermill, and Tark’s Grill.

Cockeysville and Hunt Valley restaurants are represented by Barrett’s Grill, The Oregon Grille, and Patrick’s Restaurant and Pub.

Northern Baltimore County showcases the Milton Inn in Sparks, who first began Baltimore County Restaurant Week in summer 2010, Friendly Farm in Upperco, and the Grille at Peerce’s in Phoenix.

There is a great group from East Baltimore County in Dundalk, Essex, Perry Hall, and White Marsh.

There are a number also from the West Side of Baltimore County, with those in Owings Mills, Catonsville and Pikesville, as well as Randallstown, Glyndon, and Randallstown.

Here is a full list of the participating restaurants.

Baltimore Restaurant Week Winter 2012 is January 20-29, so they overlap for two days. So enjoy good eats in Baltimore County and then head to Downtown Baltimore for more!

This Month in Real Estate November 2011

This Month in Real Estate for November 2011 has been released!

The numbers from October, presented by Jay Papasan, showed the home sales at an annual pace of 4.9 million, down slightly from last month, but much better than September’s numbers. Median home price was $165,000, which is another drop from This Month in Real Estate October 2011. Interest rates rose very slightly to an average of 4.1% for a 30 year fixed mortgage.

The Top Story asks the question, “What are first time homebuyers looking for?” According to KW research, much of it is to stay in the same area as they were renting. 3/4 of first time homebuyers bought a single family home, and most purchased a three bedroom, two bath home.

Of course, this data is nationwide, and the Baltimore real estate market is different than any other. Many areas of the country do not have the dense, highly populated areas with rowhomes such as Downtown Baltimore in Federal Hill, Fells Point, Canton, and Locust Point. Even Baltimore County has many townhouse neighborhoods, such as Mays Chapel in Timonium, Rodgers Forge, and areas of White Marsh and Perry Hall.

In News You Can Use, Bryon Ellington discusses three things you should know about buying versus renting.

1) Equity. You can build wealth through equity. He aligns it with a long term savings account. Every month that you pay your mortgage, a portion of the mortgage goes into that “account” (your principle).

2) Appreciation. If the market where you buy appreciates, then that equity becomes even larger.

3) Make it your own. You can renovate, paint, do whatever you’d like to it!

He also points out that when you pay rent, you are still paying a mortgage. It is just someone else’s mortgage, and you don’t get the benefits of ownership.

For more information about buying a home in Baltimore, please contact me. I would be happy to help!

Baltimore County Restaurant Week Summer 2011

The third Baltimore County Restaurant Week will be August 12-26, 2011.

Many different restaurants are participating — a lot of new ones since January’s Winter edition!

Many new additions from the West Side of Baltimore County, with a number in Owings Mills, Catonsville and Pikesville, as well as Randallstown, Glyndon, and Randallstown.

On the East Side, a good showing from Parkville and Perry Hall, as well as one each in Essex and Dundalk.

Northern Baltimore County showcases the Milton Inn, who first began Baltimore County Restaurant Week last summer, Friendly Farm in Upperco, and the Grille at Peerce’s in Phoenix.

In Hunt Valley/Cockeysville: Barrett’s Grill NEW in Hunt Valley Towne Centre, Ristorante Lil’ Tony’s, The Oregon Grille, Patrick’s Restaurant and Pub, and Vito’s Cafe are participating.

Timonium restaurants have a good showing, with Basta Pasta, Christopher Daniel, Liberatore’s Ristorante (the Perry Hall one will be participating as well), Michael’s Café, and The Peppermill.

Here is the full list of participating restaurants.

Lunches and dinners will be $10.11, $15.11, $20.11, $25.11, $30.11, $35.11. Reservations are highly recommended!

Baltimore County Restaurant Week overlaps with Baltimore Restaurant Week this year by two days.

Baltimore Restaurant Week is August 5-14. So dine out in the City then go out to the County for some fantastic specialty menus!

Perry Hall Town Fair 2011

The Perry Hall Town Fair is Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 10am-5pm at the Honeygo Village Center.

Also known as the Perry Hall/White Marsh Town Fair, it incorporates local businesses and fun from both areas!

For kids, the Oriole Bird will be there, Bubbles the Clown, and a HUGE slide, obstacle course, TWO moonbounces, games, and a Super-Soaker arena (wear your swimsuit under your clothes!) for minimal cost.

For adults, live bands, and beer & wine garden, and a cornhole tournament will entertain!

There are over 180 vendors, including food & crafts, as well as a silent auction.

There are specific parking lots set up with shuttles running throughout the day. For more detail, visit the fair’s website here.

So come out to Perry Hall for fun, food, and relaxation!

Early Voting in Towson

Today, my husband and I took advantage of Maryland’s new Early Voting, and went to Towson University to do our civic duty.

The line was short, the directions easy, and the Administration building well set up & equipped for early voting.

Baltimore County and Baltimore City have a number of sites where you can vote early. Baltimore County voting locations include Towson University, Catonsville Community Center, Honeygo Community Center in Perry Hall, North Point Library in Dundalk, and Randallstown Community Center.

Baltimore City’s early voting centers include the Public Safety Training Facility at 3500 Northern Parkway, St. Brigids Parish Center near Canton, Pleasant View Garden Apartments in Downtown, Library #10 on Loch Raven Blvd, and Edmondson Westside Senior High School #400.

We enjoyed our early voting experience, and thank Towson University for hosting! GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!

98 Maryland High Schools Rank in Newsweek Survey

98 Maryland High Schools ranked in a Newsweek survey out of 27,000 high schools across the country.

Only 6% of all high schools (about 1,600) make the list.

Baltimore County Public Schools had 12 schools on there!

The Baltimore Sun reported on the list, stating the Baltimore County Schools that made it and their ranking:

Dulaney, 253; Towson, 334; Carver Center for Arts, 470; Eastern Tech, 564; Pikesville, 590; Hereford, 632; Catonsville, 951; Western, 1,179; Owings Mills, 1,240; Loch Raven, 1,302; Franklin, 1,457; Perry Hall, 1,525.

Towson High School was ranked at # 334, and Dulaney High at 253. Many Towson homes are in the Towson High School district, and many Cockeysville and Hunt Valley homes are in the Dulaney High school district.

To be certain of a particular Baltimore County home’s school district, www.bcps.org has a link to discover what schools a particular home is set to attend. One thing to be aware of, though, is that homes can be redistricted at any time.

If you are considering buying homes based on Baltimore County school districts, these scores are a great beginning to discover what may be a good fit for you.

Contact me today for Baltimore County real estate.

Broker’s Open 20 Perryfalls Place Wednesday, March 10, 2010 12-2 pm

This Wednesday, March 10, 2010, please join me and my company, Keller Williams Excellence Realty, at a Broker’s Open to showcase my new listing at 20 Perryfalls Place in Perry Hall, MD.

This great townhouse has three bedrooms, one full bath, and two half baths, plus large, open living spaces on each level.

I will be there on Wednesday, along with my office colleagues as well as agents from other real estate brokerages in the area. Stop on by to have some light lunch and view this home, and share feedback with me so I can share with my seller!

Weather.com shows around 60 degrees and cloudy on Wednesday, so make sure to enjoy the warm weather and some light food on the deck off the kitchen and dining room of this great home!

20 Perryfalls Place – Oakhurst Townhome
Nottingham, Maryland – Offered at $217,500
*UPDATE: SOLD!*

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

Explore this wonderful Perry Hall home for sale at $217,500…

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

Read more

Unexpected Snow Storm Wreaks Havoc in Towson

A large amount of snow blanketed the Baltimore area yesterday, causing major problems on roads north and south of the Beltway.

Forecasters were predicting a dusting to three inches of snow. As most of us realized yesterday, it was more like 6-10 inches.

The major problem was that State Highway Administration crews apparently were not prepared. At noon, as I was on 695 traveling east toward White Marsh, it became very clear that road crews had not been out — there was no salt, sand or plowing. Snow began around 10, and it was sticking very well to the cold roadways.

I would have thought that 95 North of the Beltway would have been better, but I was wrong.

Numerous cars spun out, down embankments, in the medians. I saw about 4 accidents and probably 13 cars spun out in my short trip to Abingdon. I have a heavy SUV and it handles very well in the snow, but even I found my wheels losing their grip as I traveled slowly north.

As I was meeting with sellers and listing a great property in the St Clair neighborhood of Abingdon (it will be online in a few days — stay tuned!), the snow continued to fall quickly. At 3 pm I went to leave.

And Route 24 was a parking lot.

It took about 35 minutes to go just over a mile on that main artery toward 95 South. Police were out directing traffic, which is the only reason things were moving at all.

Once I got on 95 South, roads were a little better than earlier. It appeared at least the left lane had been sanded, but in between lanes there was a decent amount of snow built up and the right lanes completely covered. To be safe, you needed to drive in the grooves in the snow that other cars had created. Again, though, the number of ambulances and fire engines I saw was astounding. All I could think was that maybe if these roads were treated, the EMTs, firefighters, and police officers wouldn’t have to be working so hard!

695 West was decent, but Eastbound still was not. An hour & 1/2 later I was getting to Towson and York Road was untouched by plows. Bosley was a mess with cars attempting to go uphill without traction. I am still amazed that one car did not slide back down and hit me. I saw it happening and was able to navigate my way around him (thank goodness for growing up in New England — we learned how to turn into the skid!).

By the time I got home, my nerves were shot, and I was shaking from being so tense for that two hour period of driving. I was glad to get and remain home.

I wish that forecasters had been closer or that the State Highway Administration had taken precautions and sanded “just in case” so there wouldn’t have been so many accidents.

I hope you were able to remain home, and that you remembered to check out my past post on how to Enjoy the Winter White for fun things to do. It appears roads have been cleared this morning, at least here in Towson, so we may venture out. If you do so, please be careful!

White Marsh Real Estate Values May Get Boost From GM Electric Motors Plant

General Motors announced today that its White Marsh plant is going to be its hub for building electric cars, creating 200 new jobs in Baltimore County. Andrea K. Walker of the Baltimore Sun reported this news shortly after GM announced it this afternoon.

This could be wonderful for the White Marsh and Perry Hall housing market because these jobs created may bring people from outside of the area, and they will need places to live! Other areas that could benefit could be Harford County up towards Bel Air like Abingdon, Fallston & Joppa, because they tend to be a quick commute to the area where the factory will be.

The expanded plant is due to open in 2013, with the new jobs beginning right around that time. Job training should begin before then with people moving into the area at that point.

This is GM’s first foray into electric motor cars, and is creating good buzz for the company, which bodes very well for the White Marsh area of Baltimore County!