In a recent post about Counting Chickens Before They're Hatched, I mentioned that I feeling pretty good about things until the inspection came along and had a lot of stuff on there that the Seller really hadn't expected. Of course, the Seller had all their money tied up in the house and, to make matters even more interesting, the Sellers had moved out of the area and weren't planing on coming back.  So here we were with lots of little and not-so-little repair items, a Seller with no money (yet) and me facing the possibility of coordinating multiple  contractors to do various things around the house.  Not pretty. Even if the Seller had money, they had already given up the max the lender would allow in closing help at the time of the offer.  You see, the buyer wanted every last nickel out... 08/25/2008

It always amazes me that when a home is priced aggressively right out of the gate and looks even half decent -- not Martha Stweart but nice -- that multiple offers start ot come in almost immediately. My clients who own the townhouse in this post in gorgeous and historic Laurel, MD had lived in it for 28 years.  It wasn't paid off because they had refinanced to get some cash out at one point but they had plenty of equity and it was in no way, shape or form anywhere near short sale or foreclosure status.  It was a plain vanilla, regular-regular sale. They had moved out and they want to sell the house.  Sure.  They would like to get as much as they could but their main motivation was to sell the house. So, they had made some home improvements and priced the home aggressively.  Lo and beho... 08/14/2008

  BIG NEWS FOR THE HOUSING INDUSTRY:  President Bush signed the new housing rescue bill into law this morning.  Some of the highlights of the bill are: v     Assistance will be given to people who are trying to stave off foreclosure v     Tax refund will be given to first time homebuyers v     Ban on down payment assistance from sellers on FHA loans v     Helping save Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac I will post updates as they occur. Frank Harris   07/30/2008

ALERT:  THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER GRANT BELOW FOR 2011 IS up to $7,500.  Call Homefinders.com,  800-711-7988 to determine if you qualify.  If you have an agent, ask your agent.  If you have a loan officer, ask your loan officer.  If you just beginning your search and need experienced real estate help, call Lenn HarleyBrokerHomefinders.comLic:  MD and VA800-711-7988 FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS PROGRAM FOR LAUREL, MARYLAND.   REAL ESTATE BUYERS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S, HOWARD OR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND CAN RECEIVE A $10,000.00 GRANT that may be used for DOWN PAYMENT and/or CLOSING COSTS. LAUREL IS LOCATED IN THREE COUNTIES, ANNE ARUNDEL, HOWARD AND PRINCE GEORGE'S. HOMEFINDERS.COM has partnered with a local bank to provide our First Time Home Buyers for LAUREL real estate with a GRANT of up t... 06/13/2008

I recently saw a property that met my home search criteria but I decided to wait a little because it was higher priced than better homes in the neighborhood. Today, it showed up....reduced by $4000...but then I saw that it was relisted. Now I can understand if the property had languished on the market at the higher price but it didn't. It wasn't even listed for 30 days! This led me to question the agent's values and ethics. I've decided to block all of her listings from my search. After all, it's a search for my home, not a buyer client. This left a bad taste in my mouth. Relisting is well....wrong....I've made a conscious decision not to purchase a home where this agent is the lister. Why??...if she is dishonest about a listing's days on the market, just where would this dishonesty end... 06/07/2008

The Carriage Hill subdivision close in subdivision located right off of I-198 and Van Dusen Road in Laurel. There are currently 4 single family homes for sale in Briarwood. County City ListPrice Style BR FB HB Lvls Bsmt # Gar Fpl PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $349,900 Victorian 3 2 1 3 Yes 1 2 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $355,000 Colonial 4 3 0 3 Yes 1 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $389,000 Transitional 3 2 1 2 Yes 1 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $399,990 Colonial 4 3 0 3 Yes   1   Click the following URL to see the listings:http://matrix.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Email.aspx?ID=25041379005   List Your Home For Sale or For Rent and Save! And Cash Rebate To All My Buyers!   05/17/2008

The Briarwood subdivision is in close proximity to Route-1, Powder Mill Road, I-295, Muirkirk Road and Capitol College. There are currently 5 single family homes for sale in Briarwood.   County City ListPrice Style BR FB HB Lvls Bsmt # Gar Fpl PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $290,500 Split Foyer 4 2 0 2 Yes 1 0 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $299,900 Split Foyer 5 2 1 2 Yes   0 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $300,000 Colonial 4 2 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $301,500 Contemporary 4 2 1 2 No   1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $339,900 Split Foyer 3 2 0 2 Yes 2 0 Click the following URL to see the listings:http://matrix.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Email.aspx?ID=25041301961 List Your Home For Sale or For Rent and Save! And Cash Rebate To All My Buyers! 05/17/2008

Woodbridge is a quaint community in Laurel, Prince Georges County, Maryland. Woodbridge is in close proximity to Route-1, Powder Mill Road, I-295, Muirkirk Road and Capitol College. There are currently 5 single family homes for sale in the Woodbridge subdivision. County City ListPrice Style BR FB HB Lvls Bsmt # Gar Fpl PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $427,700 Colonial 5 3 1 2 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $480,000 Colonial 5 3 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $399,900 Colonial 5 3 1 2 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $439,900 Colonial 4 2 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $437,000 Colonial 4 3 1 3 Yes 1 1 Click the following URL to see the listings:http://matrix.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Email.aspx?ID=25041252961    List Your Home For Sale or For Rent and Save! And Cash Back To All My Buyers!   05/17/2008

Greens of Patuxent is a charming golf course community in Laurel, Prince Georges County, Maryland. The Greens of Patuxent subdivision is in close proximity to Route-1, I-198, and I-295. The golf course views are simply breath taking! It is also close to an iconic fixture in Laurel, the Laurel Mall. There are currently 5 condos for sale in the Greens of Patuxent. County City ListPrice Style BR FB HB Lvls Bsmt # Gar Fpl PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $269,900 Colonial 3 2 1 2 No   1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $279,000 Contemporary 3 2 1 2 No 1 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $279,900 Contemporary 3 2 1 2 No 1 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $279,900 Colonial 3 2 1 2 No   0 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $289,500 Colonial 3 2 0 3 Yes 1 0 Click the following URL to see the listings:http://matrix.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Email.aspx... 05/03/2008

Greens of Patuxent is a charming golf course community in Laurel, Prince Georges County, Maryland. The Greens of Patuxent subdivision is in close proximity to Route-1, I-198, and I-295. The golf course views are simply breath taking! It is also close to an iconic fixture in Laurel, the Laurel Mall. There are currently 23 single family homes for sale in the Greens of Patuxent. County City ListPrice Style BR FB HB Lvls Bsmt # Gar Fpl PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $389,900 Contemporary 4 2 1 2 No 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $420,000 Contemporary 4 3 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $449,900 Contemporary 4 2 1 2 No 2 2 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $449,900 Contemporary 4 3 1 2 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $450,000 Colonial 4 3 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $459,900 Contemporary 3 2 1 2 Yes 2 1 PRINCE ... 05/03/2008

Sumner Grove is a quiet, quaint subdivision in Laurel, Prince Georges County, Maryland. It is a perfect commuter location as it's close to many local thoroughfares including the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, I-495 and I-95. There are currently four homes for sale in Sumner Grove. County City ListPrice Style BR FB HB Lvls Bsmt # Gar Fpl PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $490,000 Colonial 4 2 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $485,999 Colonial 5 3 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $624,900 Colonial 5 3 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $549,900 Colonial 5 3 1 3 Yes 2 1 Click the following URL to see the listings:http://matrix.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Email.aspx?ID=24787742819     List Your Home For Sale or For Rent and Save! And Cash Rebate To All My Buyers! 05/03/2008

Currently there are 14 foreclosed homes in Laurel, spanning Prince Georges and Anne Arundel counties. County City ListPrice Style BR FB HB Lvls Bsmt # Gar Fpl ANNE ARUNDEL Laurel $269,900 Rambler 3 1 0 2 Yes   0 ANNE ARUNDEL Laurel $362,900 Colonial 3 2 1 3 Yes 1 1 ANNE ARUNDEL Laurel $444,900 Colonial 5 3 1 3 Yes 2 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $335,000 Split Level 4 2 1 3 Yes   1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $229,900 Colonial 3 1 1 2 No   0 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $329,900 Colonial 2 2 1 3 Yes 1 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $281,900 Colonial 2 2 1 3 Yes 1 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $199,900 Contemporary 3 2 1 2 No   1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $359,900 Split Foyer 3 2 0 2 Yes 1 1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $199,900 Colonial 3 2 1 3 Yes   1 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel $564,900 Colonial 4 2 1 3 Yes 2 0 PRINCE GEORGES Laurel... 05/03/2008

I recently saw this question asked in the Questions area of AR.These are my initial takes on that interrogative: 1)      A restoration of consumer confidence2)      Two or three successive quarters of economic growth not contraction3)      Expansion of local job markets4)      Loosening of overly restrictive lending practices5)      An end to the endless foreclosures That's my take on what it will take for the local real estate market to turn around.  List Your Home For Sale or For Rent and Save!AndCash Back To All My Buyers!   05/03/2008

I once listed a home that was one of many for sale in the same subdivision. I quickly realized that this was a different dynamic. It's not that I hadn't encountered this scenario before, but now I realized that I had to think like a buyer, not a agent to get this home sold. If yours is the only home on the block for sale, that's great because you have a huge vantage point. If it's not, here are few tips to help you maintain or even achieve a competitive edge. 1) Price it competitively, very competitively 2) I HIGHLY recommend having it staged vs just keeping it clean 3) Ensure that your brochure box is ALWAYS full of fact sheets 4) Emphasize all your home's positive amenities 5) Understand that buyers would probably be looking at other homes in your subdivision and you home will be "one... 05/03/2008

HOMES IN LAUREL MARYLAND are very convenient to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Rockville, Annapolis and just about any place you need to be between Baltimore and DC. From the wonderful historic Victorian homes in the Laurel Histrict District, to the Levitt community in Montpelier and new homes under construction, Laurel has a home for every Laurel home buyer. VACANT AND READY FOR A NEW FAMILY.  The home below is bank owned and priced right.  Built by Centex, this 12 year old home offer about 2838 square feet of wonderful home.  VACANT HOMES READY FOR QUICK OCCUPANCY - LET'S MAKE A DEAL!  Contact Lenn Harley to see - 800-711-7988.Property Details for listing # PG6708594Price:  $489,000City:  LAURELBedrooms:  5Bathrooms:  2 full  2 halfListing Office: RE/MAX 100   CONTACT Lenn Harley, house... 04/12/2008

One of the most important steps in purchasing a home is determining how much home you can afford to buy.This utlimately determines your monthly payments. I recommend that you sit down, and create a statement of cash flows to help you assess your potential mortgage expenditure. We did this for our past home purchases, both owner occupied and investment and it helped tremendously, our second step was to find out definitely from our loan officer but we needed to be comfortable with our financials first.Here are a few things to consider:1) Is our income steady or does it fluctuate?2) Are we expecting any settlement payouts?3) Are there any babies on the way? (We overlooked this one which resulted in an annual $11000 expenditure)4) How much do we have saved for a downpayment and closing cost... 03/30/2008

In the past year, I have decreased my mobile communications expenditures by more than 50%.I paid $60.00 a month for email on my phone and my phone service was an additional $49.99.Now, my phone serve is a lot less than it previously was and somehow, I never exceed my minutes. I've also gotten rid of email not just because it was cost efficient, but it enabled me to work smarter.I'm approaching the end of my contract and I will find an even cheaper plan. So if you have the option to reduce your cell phone and email bill, capitalize on it. The savings will pay off in the end.Something to think about! Here's part 2 of the series: http://activerain.com/blogsview/430722/Ways-to-Save-forand here's part 1:http://activerain.com/blogsview/427591/Ways-to-Save-for List Your Home For Sale or For Re... 03/30/2008

Here's Part 2 to my Ways to Save for A Downpayment One way my family has saved a lot of money over the years is by getting rid of  cable TV.Picture this, the average monthly cable bill is $40.00. Now take that figure and multiply it by 12 for each month of the year. That amounts to $480 at minimum annually. If that $40 was invested at a rate of 3.5% for one year, you would have at total of $529 dollars at the end of the year!Something to think about!Here's Part 1 of the series. List Your Home For Sale or For Rent and Save!AndCash Back To All My Buyers ! 03/19/2008

As downpayments have become the new accessory to home loans next to having par stellar credit, serious home buyers will likely have to bring a downpayment in order to meet lenders criteria.One way to save cash for a downpayment is to increase your income. Getting a boarder/roommate/tenant is an easy to save on rent if you can sublease your apartment or rental dwelling. For example, a monthly rent of $500 for a spare bedroom can easily turn into $6000 annually.Check your lease agreement to see if your landlord would permit this or if you already own a home and are looking to move up, renting out one or more bedrooms can net you upwards of $6000 +. Imagine, $12000 annually just for renting out two bedrooms! Consider the return if invested in a high yield savings account!Something to think... 03/17/2008

Laurel MD Homes for sale: A Foreclosure home in Laurel MD is an opportunity to buy a house in this market.  As of Feb 2008 ,10 foreclosures homes are available for sale, 7 townhouses, 3 single family homes. Opportunity knocks for a savvy buyer to save thousands of dollars in this market, plus the mortgage interest rate is down. These two factors make for a good market to buy a house. Historically home buyers have net worth more than renters. Are you ready to take advantage of this market check out these foreclosures in Laurel MD? Are you interested in foreclosure listings in other part of metro area view foreclosure homes in prince Georges County?     02/27/2008