Hunt Valley Real Estate Agent

Hunt Valley Towne Center Friday Night Concert Series August 27, 2010

The final concert of the summer for the Hunt Valley Towne Center Friday Night Concert Series is this Friday, August 27, 2010.

Summer is definitely coming to a close!

With Baltimore County Public Schools beginning the 2010-2011 school year on Monday, August 30, the signs are here.

The final concert of the 2010 Summer at the Hunt Valley Towne Center is Checkered Past, who call themselves “THE” Rock Band of Maryland. According to their description, they play a variety of music from the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s.

So visit Main Street on Friday evening from 7:30-9 pm for the final concert of the summer. Hunt Valley Towne Center offers a multitude of free parking spaces, a light rail stop, and shops and restaurants galore to enjoy. Plus, with the extended Baltimore County Restaurant Week, Jesse Wong’s Kitchen and Greystone Grill will have their specials on tap, and they are right upstairs from the concert!

The weather, according to weather.com right now looks clear & perfect, but bring a sweater, it may get chilly!

Baltimore County Restaurant Week Extended

Baltimore County Restaurant Week has been extended through September 5, 2010 for 14 of the 15 originally participating restaurants.

2010 was Baltimore County’s first restaurant week, and from the look of things, this will continue yearly!

Restaurants from Towson to Timonium to Sparks have been and are continuing to participate with discounts for lunch and dinner!

The participating restaurants, brought together by the Milton Inn in Sparks, are:

Towson:

Cafe Troia on Allegheny Ave in Towson

The Melting Pot on York Rd in Towson

Stoney River Legendary Steaks in Towson Town Center

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Lutherville/Timonium:

The Peppermill on York Road in Lutherville

Michael’s Cafe on York Road in Timonium

Christopher Daniel on Padonia Road in Timonium

Sabor in Mays Chapel in Timonium

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Cockeysville/Hunt Valley:

Vito’s Cafe on York Rd in Cockeysville

Patrick’s on Cranbrook in Cockeysville

Greystone Grill in Hunt Valley Towne Center

Jesse Wong’s Kitchen in Hunt Valley Towne Center

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Other Baltimore County Locations:

The Milton Inn on York Rd in Sparks

Artful Gourmet Bistro in Owings Mills

The Grill at Harryman House in Reisterstown

Mia Carolina in Glyndon

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So enjoy these great Baltimore County restaurants while they have their specials going on for the next two weeks!

Ray Lewis Real Estate Firm

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis now has his name backing a new commercial real estate firm called RL52 Realty, currently based in Boca Raton, FL.

The official kick off to Ray Lewis Realty will be at the International Council of Shopping Centers from August 22-24, 2010 outside Orlando, FL.

Ray Lewis has recently put his name behind a number of projects, including MVP Entertainment in Hunt Valley, which, according to their Facebook page has:

2 restaurants, Sub-Zero Vodka Bar, Sushi Bar, 40ft Sports Bar, 38 Bowling lanes, 2 Golf Simulators,Event Catering & arcade more…

MVP Entertainment will be located in Hunt Valley Towne Center, where the old Wal-Mart used to be. The plan is to open mid-to-late fall. This should be a great addition to the Hunt Valley shopping area!

Ray Lewis attended University of Miami, which may have a lot to do with his real estate firm opening in Florida.

Since Ray is such a great linebacker for the Ravens, I hope to see his commercial real estate venture do well. For Baltimore Commercial Real Estate needs, contact me to access our KW Commercial division at Keller Williams Excellence Realty.

Meanwhile, it’s almost officially football season. GO RAY LEWIS & BALTIMORE RAVENS!

Baltimore Zillow Best Blog Nomination

Zillow has named its’ top 10 real estate blogs in Baltimore based on traffic, and realtormarney.com is one of them!

I am proud to have been nominated, and the hard work I put into my Towson real estate blog is being noticed.

You can vote every day until August 11, 2010 at midnight, so please stop by daily (click the photo to take you to the poll) and vote for me!

Either way, don’t worry, I will continue to provide in depth Towson real estate information, as well as activities and homes for sale in Hunt Valley and surrounding areas!

I appreciate the nomination, despite my issues with Towson Zestimates and their inaccuracies. The site has many great tools, but close valuations in our area is not one of them.

Thank you for your continued support and readership. If you have any Baltimore real estate topics you would like to see me cover, please contact me!

What is a Broker’s Open?

What is a Broker’s Open?

Here in Baltimore County, Wednesdays generally are “Broker’s Open” day. There is a fairly small area where Broker’s Opens tend to be highly successful, and that is in the Towson, Lutherville, Timonium, and Hunt Valley neighborhoods.

A Broker’s Open is where a real estate agent and their brokerage invite agents from their own and other brokerages to come view a new listing they have to showcase. Generally, they provide lunch or snacks to the agents, to thank them for taking their time to come. Visiting agents then give the listing agent feedback on what could be done to make the house more appealing to buyers, about the price, etc, to help the listing agent.

Buyers and neighbors are usually welcome to visit the home, as they would a regular weekend open house.

Please contact me if you would like to learn more about a Baltimore County Broker’s Open and how it may help to sell a home.

Baltimore 4th of July Events

Baltimore has many 4th of July events for people to enjoy.

The largest one is in Downtown Baltimore called “Ports of America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration”. Entertainment begins at 2 pm with the jazz band Lovecraft, and at 8 pm the Naval Academy’s Electric Brigade begins at 8 pm.

Fireworks are scheduled to go off at 9:30 pm and can be seen from the Inner Harbor, Fell’s Point, Federal Hill, and other places around the harbor. The music and entertainment is located in the Inner Harbor at Harborplace Amphitheater located at 401 Light Street.

Friday and Saturday, the 2nd & 3rd, Harborplace celebrates its’ 30th Anniversary. Since it was opened in 1980, they are having 80′s themed Anniversary fun, so you can join in and hopefully have a blast!

In Baltimore County, at Oregon Ridge in Cockeysville, the BSO Start Spangled Spectacular happens both July 3rd & 4th! Gates open at 5 pm and the concert begins at 8 pm. Tickets are available online now. It culminates in a huge fireworks display accompanied by the Orchestra.

There are a number of places in Baltimore County where fireworks are scheduled on the 3rd, 4th and 5th, so you can enjoy three nights in a row! Baltimore County’s website lists:

July 3, 2010

Baltimore Country Club (rain date July 4)
11500 Mays Chapel Road

Catonsville High School (rain date July 4)
421 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville

Eastern Yacht Club (no rain date)
918 Seneca Road, The Barge

Grange Elementary School (rain date July 5)
2000 Church Road, Dundalk

Oregon Ridge Park (no rain date)
13401 Beaver Dam Road

The Suburban Club (rain date July 5)
7600 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, 21209

Woodholme Country Club (rain date July 5)
300 Woodholme Avenue

July 4, 2010

Fullerton Park (rain date July 5)
4208 Fullerton Avenue

Loch Raven Academy (rain date July 5)
8101 LaSalle Road

Oregon Ridge Park (no rain date)
13401 Beaver Dam Road

July 5, 2010

Hereford High School (rain date July 6)
17220 York Road, Hereford

For parades and more daytime fun, the Baltimore County website shows quite a few from Kingsville to Towson to Catonsville!

Saturday, July 3

Arbutus Recreation Council
Begin: 12:30 p.m.
End: 1 p.m.
Route: Formation area: Tom Day Boulevard Route: Tom Day Boulevard to Carville Avenue to East Drive. (Super Fresh store parking lot)

Catonsville Celebrations Committee
Begin: 3 p.m.
End: 5:30 p.m.
Route: Formation area: Montrose Avenue; Bloomingdale Avenue; Route: Starting at Montrose Avenue and Frederick Road, proceed east on Frederick Road to Bloomsbury Avenue, turn right on Bloomingdale.

Dundalk Heritage Parade Committee
Begin: 8 a.m.
End: 1 p.m.
Route: Formation Area: Logan Village Shopping Center. Route: North on Dundalk Avenue, east on Belcare, north on Liberty Parkway, west on Dunglow Road, west on Dunmanway, north on Shipping Place, east on Shipway, north on Admiral Boulevard, south on Liberty Parkway to Dunmanway.

Glyndon Community Association, Inc
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: noon
Route: Formation area: Albright Avenue. Route: Albright Avenue east to Central Avenue, north onto Central to Chatsworth Avenue, west onto Chatsworth to Railroad Avenue, south onto Railroad to Albright Avenue.

Hampton Improvement Association
Begin: 8:45 a.m.
End: 9 a.m.
Route: Formation: Dead end court Gateshead & Seminary Ave; Start north end of Gateshead Rd, down to St Francis Road left onto Valley View Drive, quick right in to Hampton Mansion farmhouse grounds.

Greater Kingsville Civic Association
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: 11 a.m.
Route: Formation area: Kingsville Fire Hall, Bradshaw Road and St. Stephen’s Church lot for fire trucks and large vehicles. Route: from Kingsville Volunteer Fire Department grounds, down Bradshaw Road, right on Jerusalem Road, at judges viewing stand to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Street parking lot.

Pine Valley / Valleywood Community Association
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: 10:45 a.m.
Route: Formation area: Pine Valley Drive and Presway Road; Start at Pine Valley Drive and Presway Road-South to Sandee Road left  then left on Rickswood Road into school (Pinewood Elementary) parking lot.

Towson Area Fourth of July Parade
Begin: 10:30 a.m.
End: 1 p.m.
Route: Formation: Towson University (Burke & Bosley) disperse at Burke & Washington Avenue.

Wilson Point Civic Association
Begin: 9 a.m.
End: 10:30 a.m.
Route: Formation Area: Middle River Vol. Fire Co & Beech Drive-Route: Right onto Wilson Point Road-right onto Dogwood Drive, left onto Shore Road, left onto Hazel Drive, left onto Wilson Point Road, to the Middle River Vol. Fire Company’s lot for disbursement. Distance total 1.6 miles.

Sunday, July 4

Sudbrook Park Inc.
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: 11 a.m.
Route: Formation area: Triangle at Adana Road, Kingston Road and Windsor Road. Dispersal area: Playground McHenry Road. Route: Parade travels up Adana Road, turns right into Carysbrook Road, turns right onto Olmstead Road, turns left onto McHenry and ends at playground on McHenry Road.

Coachford / Springlake Community Association
Begin: 10 a.m.
End: 11 a.m.
Route: Formation area: Galewood Circle-Timonium; Route: Galewood Road, right on Tregarone, right on Hartfell, left on Fallsbrook Road, left on Springlake Drive, left into Pot Spring School parking lot.

Colonial Village Neighborhood Association
Begin: 9:30 a.m.
End: 10:30 a.m.
Route: Formation: Lowell Drive at Deerfield Road / Lowell Drive; Route: east at Plymouth Road, south at Concord Road, west on Concord Ending at Salem Court.

Monday, July 5

Hereford Optimist Club
Begin: 5:30 p.m.
End: 8 p.m.
Route: Formation area: Hereford SHA lot; beginning at Hereford Shopping Center, start east on Mt. Carmel Rd to North onto York Road (Rte 45) end at Hereford High School.

Some culminate in the fireworks displays in the area.

So enjoy 4th of July in Baltimore. There is plenty to do!

Photo courtesy of Sam Howzit via Flickr CC

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.

Hunt Valley Farmers Market, Koopers Wagon and IcedGems Cupcakes

Hunt Valley Farmers Market has opened and Kooper’s Wagon and IcedGems Cupcakes truck were there to celebrate.

A few of my online friends planned a “tweetup” to enjoy some burgers and sweet treats!

It was a hot day so we sat in the shade.

The kids ran around and had fun!

This day was a sneak peek before it officially opened in June. The Farmers Market showcases local wares like beef from local farms, as well as goodies from small shops and food from the area.

We have had our Kooper’s Burger Wagon burgers before, but this was our first taste of IcedGems Cupcakes. We will be back! We split a half dozen, and they are fantastic, delicious bites of heaven!

Two kids enjoyed the birthday cake flavor, and agreed that it tasted just like the real, yummy thing. Another had the PB&J, which has jelly in the middle and peanut butter icing. Another thumbs up. I was disappointed that the one I had been drooling over, the margarita one, wasn’t on “tap” for the day, but ended up with the “Key West”, which is a key lime pie in a cupcake. It was fantastic! I also had a mocha coffee, which was delicious as well. Next time, I am hoping for the “Midnight Mint” or the margarita.

Iced Gems travels daily, but plans to be at the Hunt Valley Farmers Market on a regular basis.

The Hunt Valley Farmers Market is Thursdays from 11 am – 2 pm June through October.

Baltimore Real Estate Sales Down in May 2010

Baltimore real estate sales were down in May 2010, a noted amount after the Homebuyer Tax Credit ended.

As noted from MRIS, the local Multiple Listing Service, pending sales decreased 13.7% compared to May 2009. April 2010 had 16,089 contracts written. May had only 9,527, which is 6,562 less!

The good news is that the homes that are on the market took less time to sell on average.

The continuation of the not-so-good-news is that for the most part, prices were lower.

View the full 13 page May 2010 Baltimore real estate Market Indicators report.

I will have more detailed information on Baltimore County real estate and Baltimore City market trend indicators coming soon.

Oregon Ridge in Cockeysville Flag Day and Fireworks

Visit Oregon Ridge in Cockeysville Monday night for Flag Day and fireworks — all for free!

Monday, June 14, 2010 is Flag Day, and Oregon Ridge is doing it in style. The American Flag Foundation, Inc. is hosting their 31st Annual “Pause for the Pledge” event in Cockeysville this year from 6-9 pm.

From the coordinators:

Lead the Nation in saying the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
Band Concert and a Fly-Over by the A-10 Thunderbolt Jets Of the 104th Fighter Squadron 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard

Program concludes with Spectacular Fireworks Display. Come join us as we celebrate with a Star-Spangled Banner Program!

This looks to be a fun event for all — and the flyover is always a popular, loud, and exciting experience.

Celebrate our Flag in an enjoyable and Patriotic way on Monday for Flag Day at Oregon Ridge.

There are a number of events to observe Flag Day in Baltimore County, including at Pickersgill in Towson. Just don’t miss out on celebrating!

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