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!

…And why is this additional information being requested of me? What are the underwriters looking for?

Thank you to J. Christopher Kennedy of 1st Mariner Mortgage in Downtown Baltimore for some answers to mysteries of loan application and approval process.

Why are you asking this?

Too often buyers who have worked hard to find the right home find themselves thrown into a state of confusion when it comes to the mortgage process. Though simple, the loan process is thorough. At times the process seems repetitive or redundant.  There is a reason it seems repetitive. It is.  While the loan officer, processor, and underwriter have three distinct jobs; each has the responsibility to insure that the documentation matches what is stated in the application.

What are the loan officer, processor, and underwriter looking for?

1. Income- Do they make enough money to pay the mortgage?

Are the W-2’s and pay stubs consistent?

Is the year to date income consistent with the pay rate?

Do they write off expenses on their taxes that reduce their effective income?

Are there any automatic deductions from their pay that might be for loans/child support/alimony that aren’t reported on the credit report?

2.       Savings- Are they responsible and save money?

Is there enough money in the account for closing?

Are there any unusually large deposits? Large deposits must be explained so we know the buyer has not borrowed money or taken an advance on a credit card for funds to close.

Are there any automatic payments from the account that might be for loans/child support/alimony not reported on the credit report?

3.       Credit- Do they pay their bills on time?

What is the score?

Are there any bankruptcies or collections on the report?

Are all accounts current?

Are there loans with deferred payments? If so, how long will they be deferred?

4. The Property-Is the house worth the contract price?

Does it meet the standards of the loan program?

Is the home safe?

Though getting a new loan is a more arduous process than a few years ago, it is still a fair one. If you make a decent living, save some, money and pay your bills on time; you can get a loan. Understanding what lenders require and why they require it will help make the process a smooth and efficient one.

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Thank you, Chris, for this great information! Look for future mortgage posts from Chris, as a new contributor to my site!

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!

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.

Also known as Baltimore Retail Week, the focus is on local retailers offering their wares with no tax this week after you pay your government taxes!

Over 50 retailers in four shopping districts, including Federal Hill, are currently participating.

Here is the full list of Baltimore Retail Week participating stores . In most cases, when you shop, you need to mention the code “BRW” to receive at least a 6% discount on your purchases.

More local retail business owners may join, so be sure to check back to see.

What a great way to showcase local businesses and give back to the Baltimore neighborhoods that have supported them in their endeavors!

The Baltimore.org site states

Monster Diesel is an alternative green diesel fuel additive developed from synthetic technology which is more powerful and more environmentally friendly than traditional fuels.

At about 4 pm, the streets around Canton Square will be blocked off for filming, and Paul Sr. from Orange County Choppers will be led by a police motorcade around Canton. Anyone is welcome to come watch and enjoy as he cruises the neighborhood!

This should be a neat event — having the prestigious Orange County Choppers here in Baltimore, filming in our beautiful city, and building a bike specifically for a company based here in Lutherville is something that will hopefully bring more business to Monster Diesel, and tourism to Baltimore, once the show has aired.

Add onto that a few short miles down 95 South, where on July 12, 2009, there will be a major switch in traffic pattern at the 895/95 split in Baltimore. Currently, motorists remain to the left to get on to 895, and merge to the right to remain on 95. As of July 12, this will switch COMPLETELY around, making motorists merge to the left to remain on 95 and to the right to get on 895. Here is a graphical description of the change.

This means motorists who just navigated the merge onto 95 from 695 from the right now have to merge across traffic to the left lanes to remain on 95 South.

What does this mean for the people who live nearby? Have their house values dropped due to this? With the noise, dirt, dust, and road closures forcing motorists onto Route 1 or Philadelphia Rd in White Marsh and Rosedale, or Eastern Avenue near Canton in Baltimore how has this effected their values?

So far, running statistics, the market has not dropped in those areas. A few are actually better over last year. Was the year ago value drop due to early construction & in anticipation of what was to come? Possibly.

I am pleased to see that house values in White Marsh, Canton, Rosedale and the other areas surrounding this construction have not been hit hard. I will keep an eye on the statistics to keep updates coming.