In 2009, laws were enacted that while your car was moving, you had to have hands free headset and could not text while your car was in motion.

The biggest change is that now you may not EVEN READ A TEXT at a stoplight — or anywhere in the roadway if you are in the driver’s seat. You may not read, type, or any sort of distraction with your phone while you are in the roadway. Emails, texts, facebook updates, etc, cannot be made even if you are sitting still at a light or in traffic. For full details of the changes, visit the Hands Free Info website.

Please be mindful of the new law. Violators can be fined up to $500 for each offense.

Be careful on the roads out there, Baltimore!

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!

Main Street Bel Air BBQ Bash

From car shows, to concert series, to chili cook-offs and festivals, there are many free Maryland events to enjoy.

What’s happening:

1. Downtown Classic Car Show | Elkton  ( 4th Thursday, April – August)
2. Middletown Valley Historical Society Open House | Middletown (1st Sunday May – Sept.)
3. 5th Annual Spring Gala | Denton ( May 7)
4. Flower & Jazz Festival | Westminster (May 7)
5. Mt. Airy Mayfest | Mt. Airy (May 14-15)
6. Mt. Airy Farmers’ Market Wednesdays | Mt. Airy (May 18-Sept 28 3:30 p.m. To 6:30 p.m.)
7. Swing into Spring | Taneytown (May 21 from 9a.m. – 3p.m.)
8. Memorial Day in the Park “God Bless America” Kids Parade & Ice Cream Social | Middletown (May 28 from 11a.m.-2 p.m.)
9. Memorial Day Parade | Westminster  (May 20 at 10 a.m.)
10. 3rd Annual Mountain Maryland Plein Air | Cumberland (May 31 – June 12)
11. Dance Afire free performances | Takoma Park (summer months)
12. Lunch at the Library Concert Series | Westminster  (Fridays in June)
13. Art in the Park | Westminster (June 2)
14. Middletown’s 150th Anniversary Celebration | Midletown (June 18 12-7 p.m.)
15. Outdoor Movies at Shamrock Park | Bel Air (every other Friday, June 10 – Aug. 19)
16. Music on Main Summer Music Series | Elkton (July 7 – Sept. 15 Thursdays 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.)
17. Songs at 6:30 | Westminster (Thursdays in July)
18. Great Frederick Float | Frederick (July 3)
19. Family Pride and Small Town Parade | Dundalk (July 4 Parade starts at 8a.m.)
20. 10th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash | Bel Air  ( August 12-13)
21. Annie Oakley Festival | Cambridge (Aug. 12 & 13)
22. Caroline Summerfest | Denton (Aug 19 & 20)
23. Family Movie Night in the Park | Middletown (June 10 & Aug 26)
24. Midnight Madness | Westminster  (Fridays in September)
25. History 101 – free talks & walking tours | Mt. Airy  (Sept 6-13 times)
26. Celebrate Taneytown End of Summer Streetscape Party | Taneytown (Sept 17)
27. Summer Sendoff: Blues, Brews, BBQ | Cambridge (September 17)
28. Elkton Fall Fest/Firefighter Combat Challenge | Elkton (Sept 17)
29. Fallfest Parade & Carnival | Westminster (Sept. 22-25)
30. Middletown Heritage Festival | Middletown (Sept 24 from 10a.m. – 5p.m.)
31. Middletown-Braddock Community Show | Middletown (Sept 29 – Oct. 1)
32. Mt. Airy Fallfest | Mt. Airy (Oct 1 -2)
33. Graw Days Festival | Havre de Grace (Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. – 5p.m.)
34. Invasion of the Pumpkin People | Taneytown (Oct. 14-31)
35. 125th Annual Firefest | Salisbury (Oct 15-19)
36. Catoctin Colorfest | Thurmont (Oct 17-18)
37. Scarecrow Contest | Middletown (Oct. 22 – Nov. 05)
38. Halloween Parade | Middletown  (Oct. 27)
39. Dundalk Family Fall Festival | Dundalk (Oct. 29)

Here are links to more details on some of the larger events:

Great Frederick Float | Frederick (Saturday, July 3 5pm-8pm, Carroll Creek Linear Park) Begin your Independence Day early with the Great Frederick Float, Sunday, July 3rd from 5 – 8pm!  Enjoy children’s activities, music, dancing, the annual Boat Parade & Contest.
Website: http://www.downtownfrederick.org/play/GreatFrederickFloat.htm

Family Pride and Small Town Parade | Dundalk (July 4 Parade starts at 8a.m.) The 77th Annual Dundalk 4th Of July Parade will be held on Monday, July 4, 2011 starting at 8:15AM. This year’s theme is “A Star Spangled Town“. The Parade is sponsored by The Heritage Association of Dundalk and The Dundalk Heritage Parade Committee and is hosted by The Optimist Club of Dundalk, Inc. The parade wraps up a four day long Heritage Fair.
Website: http://www.dundalkheritagefair.com/parade/

10th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash | Bel Air  ( August 12-13) We are preparing to celebrate the 10th Annual Maryland State BBQ Bash on Friday, August 12th and Saturday, August 13th. The BBQ Bash is a barbecue themed street festival featuring the Maryland State BBQ Championship contest where 50 competition teams from the Mid-Atlantic area and beyond will compete for $12,500 in cash prizes. 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. The BBQ Bash is free for the public and has regularly drawn nearly 30,000 attendees for the two days.
Website: http://www.mdbbq.com/

Annie Oakley Festival | Cambridge (Aug. 12 & 13) LIVE Music, Cowboys & Cowgirls, Old West Reenactors, Target Shooting Games, Arts, Crafts, FUN, Food, Face Painting, Wild West Beer & Wine Garden, and MUCH more!
Webite: http://www.annieoakleyfestival.com/

Caroline Summerfest | Denton (Aug 19 & 20) Caroline Summerfest is a free family entertainment festival featuring two stages of regional and local entertainment, a Friday pedestrian parade, Saturday fireworks show, strolling performers, artisans, free KidzArt activities, gaming and food vendors featuring local non-profits.
Website: http://carolinesummerfest.com/

Summer Sendoff: Blues, Brews, BBQ | Cambridge (September 17) Make the most of the end of the summer during the seventh annual Summer Send-Off in downtown Cambridge 5-10 p.m., Saturday, September 17. Enjoy the end of the summer season with barbeque; wash it down with a variety of brews. Listen to great live music and entertainment, and browse the sidewalk sales. The event features the wacky and fun Main Street Mile, where teams from local businesses and organizations do a relay race on tricycles, wearing snorkel flippers, etc.
Website: http://tourdorchester.org/event.php?eventid=609

Fallfest Parade & Carnival | Westminster (Sept. 22-25)  Westminster Fallfest, Inc. began as an autumn celebration in historic downtown Westminster, growing over time to operate throughout the year as a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity sponsoring various fundraising events, all to benefit charities and service organizations within our community.  Their signature event is their annual Westminster Fallfest, Carroll County’s largest community charity event.  Each September, Fallfest draws over 40,000 people to historic downtown Westminster.  Families enjoy our festival midway and rides, while others come for the great food, unique shopping, and heart-stopping entertainment.  The event begins with a parade, followed by four days of non-stop fun.
Website: http://www.westminsterfallfest.com/

So stay in the state and enjoy everything Maryland Main Streets have to offer!

*Please note, I am not affiliated with Maryland Main Streets and do not have more information on the events!

Contact your local main street for more details!*

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.

To help families with their necessary moves, the State of Maryland government has put a few closing cost assistance programs into place.

These programs are through the Maryland Mortgage Program (also known as MMP), including programs such as CDA, House 4 Keys, and DSELP programs.

The newest release is called the BRAC Match Program.

According to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, (DHCD) in Directive 2010-22,

The BRAC Match Program is a new program that enables eligible BRAC homebuyers to receive $2,500 in downpayment and/or closing cost assistance. BRAC Match Program assistance is provided through a zero percent deferred loan repayable at the earlier of maturity or prepayment of the first mortgage, or sale or transfer of the property and can be combined with other downpayment and closing cost assistance programs such as the $5,000 currently available to all borrowers through the Downpayment and Settlement Expense Loan Program (DSELP).

If you are affected by BRAC and moving to the Baltimore area, you have many options available to you now.

Contact me to learn more about the BRAC buyer assistance programs and how they may benefit you buying a home in Maryland.

The interest rates were dropped to 4.5% as well, to make the program even more attractive. These programs and rates are available to all who qualify for them, not just Maryland BRAC homebuyers.

The Maryland Mortgage Program (MMP) has multiple options for buyers — mostly first time homebuyers. Their site states:

Get Maryland Mortgage Program With CDA:

All Community Development Administration (CDA) mortgage products have low, fixed interest rates and are available with downpayment and closing cost assistance.

House Keys 4 Employees:

An employer partnership program, to help Maryland’s workforce become homeowners.

Downpayment and Closing Costs Assistance:

With Maryland Mortgage Program, homeowners can receive Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance.

Most of these programs are for Maryland first time homebuyers, but they can allow for very little money out of pocket to get into a house. These programs require counseling and multiple qualifications, including income limitations, and in a few cases, company of employment or specific location of home to purchase.

Contact me to learn more about the Maryland Mortgage Program and how it may benefit you buying a home in Maryland.

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!