Harford County Real Estate Agent

Ryland Homes Names New Chairman and New Homes To Be Built in Baltimore County

Ryland Homes Inc., a builder who has been behind many popular communities in the Baltimore area, has named Bill Jews as its new Chairman, reports the Baltimore Business Journal.

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!

More Snow on the Way for Baltimore Homeowners Already Hurting From Heavy Snow and Ice

Well, of course, the snow is hurting the entire areas, but many homeowners are already having major issues with their homes due to this heavy snow and ice damming, and it appears a major amount of heavy snow may visit us tonight through tomorrow, freezing those gutters back up and re-creating problems.

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!

Understanding Whom Real Estate Agents Represent in Maryland

In Maryland, upon first meeting, buyers need to be made aware of agency relationships.

In this day & age with internet contact and the ability of agents to provide market data instantly through services, agency relationships may be created without buyers or agents truly being aware that this has been done.

On my site, I do share market data, and wanted to ensure that people reading understand that the data I provide is public information, and it does not create an agency relationship.

The best way to understand agency is this document provided by the Maryland Association of REALTORS (R) called Understanding Whom Real Estate Agents Represent.

There are three agency relationships that can be created in the State of Maryland.

One is Agents Who Represent the Seller. This is an agent who has listed a property and has a written agreement with a seller. Buyers need to be aware that LISTING AGENTS CAN NEVER ACTUALLY REPRESENT A BUYER. Agents who represent the seller can handle the entire transaction and must treat everyone with honesty and be fair in all dealings, but CANNOT give up their fiduciary relationship with the seller, and MUST, by law, tell the seller any information provided to them by a buyer that may help the seller in their negotiations.

A cooperating agent is one who works for a different company but does NOT represent the buyer in the transaction.

Then there are Agents Who Represent the Buyer. An agent is considered a PRESUMED BUYER’S AGENT when showing homes, as long as the property is NOT listed with the agent’s company. One note to be aware of: “A presumed buyer’s agent may not make or prepare an offer or negotiate a sale for the buyer.”

Once a buyer decides to put an offer on any property the presumed agency must end. The buyer must decide whether that agent is a true buyer’s agent, where they have an actual Buyer Agency Agreement drawn up, or the presumed buyer’s agent must represent the seller. Those are the choices in the State of Maryland when it comes to writing an offer to a seller.

What could POSSIBLY happen, is that the property the buyer wants to buy is listed with the agent’s company. If the buyer wants this agent to represent them as a buyer’s agent, this creates DUAL AGENCY. This is where the broker represents both sides in a transaction, but each individual agent within the company still represents their clients’ interest. If a buyer or seller does not agree to dual agency, then a buyer’s agent who has a written buyer agency agreement would not be allowed to show houses that his or her company has listed. I will write another post addressing this topic by itself in more detail.

Confused yet?

The best way to find out more is to speak with a Licensed REALTOR (R) in Maryland, so they can explain it further. If you would like to know more about who Maryland real estate agents may represent from me, please contact me!

 

**PLEASE NOTE: Forms and Agency Laws may change over time. This post is from 2010, and forms were updated February 2012 to the most current forms at the time from the Maryland Association of REALTORS(R). Please contact me for the most updated law and forms!**

3136 Eden Drive Virtual Tour

3136 Eden Drive in Abingdon, MD, is a beautiful home in a very convenient community.

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.

Showing Houses in Harford County with Six Foot+ Piles of Snow

Yesterday was an interesting day as clients and I viewed seven homes in the Bel Air and Forest Hill areas of Harford County. We were lucky that all of the properties we were viewing had driveways, because street parking was an impossibility!

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!

3136 Eden Drive – St Clair Townhouse
Abingdon, Maryland – Offered at $210,000
**UPDATE: SOLD!**

• 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

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New Listing at 3136 Eden Drive in Abingdon, MD 21009

I have been working on the website for my new listing at 3136 Eden Drive, Abingdon, MD 21009 for sale for $210,000, and it has been taking some time to complete.

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!

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!

Baltimore County Savings Bank Sells Four Branches to American Bank

Baltimore County Savings Bank (BCSB) is selling four of its branches to Rockville-based American Bank, per the Baltimore Business Journal on January 12, 2010.

Two branches being sold are in Baltimore County — Owings Mills & Catonsville, one in Baltimore City in Hamilton (including the building and property where it is located), and one in Howard County, in Ellicott City.

Baltimore County Savings Bank will still have 14 branches in Baltimore and Harford Counties after this sale goes through.

American Bank’s deposit amount will go up by about $81 million with this sale.

Baltimore County Savings Bank addresses the sale in their news section of their website, in this press release. BCSB states that this will help the community bank focus on the Northeast Corridor of Baltimore and Harford Counties, where most of their branches are located.

This does not affect any loans with Baltimore County Savings Bank.

I am curious to see how this helps Baltimore County Savings Bank in its commitment to Baltimore County and being a local bank. They feel it is better to consoidate and focus more on the Northeast section of Baltimore County, where their main office and most branches are located, and I hope this helps them to continue be a stable local entity.

3101M Cardinal Way — Abingdon, MD — FOR RENT — $1175/mo.

**Update September 22, Congratulations, owner, we have an accepted lease!**

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What a terrific rental in the St Clair neighborhood of Abingdon! Convenient location off 924 (Emmorton Rd) near 24 — easy access to 95. Located just across Emmorton from Giant, Fortunato Brothers, and other shopping and food, this place has great amenities.

3101M Cardinal Way has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, on the top floor with cathedral ceiling in the living room.
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