So, I get the call on Thursday...an excited investor that found me (of all places) on ActiveRain.  The investor is pre-approved, and unlike many calls I've been receiving from graduates of some awful "investor class" they are actually looking to take title to properties rather than wholesale, and start a portfolio of rental properties.  We discuss some strategies, and decide to meet on Sunday. I set up eight showings on some rather distressed properties requiring total rehab.  The investors gladly watched as I unboarded home after home with my screw-gun so that they could take a look.  The second to last one of the day was a winner, they asked me how we would go about writing an offer.  I explained the process, and notified them that there were special bank addendums that would be requi... 07/30/2008

City Life Realty is a great brokerage in Hampden. They really believe in Baltimore and in keeping it clean & green. I've been talking to them for a while and am very happy to have their listings online with us @ www.baltimoresun.com. They will have banner ads running soon as well, so look for them throughout the site. Visit them online at www.cityliferealty.net Or, view all of their listings with all of the pictures, tours, and info online with us here 07/23/2008

The Professional Development Institute presents: Free Continuing Education on 1031 Exchanges Made Simple (3 Free Credit Hours) Learn all of the fundamentals and guidelines in 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange; Time lines, restrictions, and how to manage your clients engaged in a 1031 transaction. Taught by Chris Breck of   Date: Tuesday August 5th, 2008 Time: 10:00AM - 1:00PM Location: Cummings & Co. Realtors - 2929 O'Donnell Street/ Canton, MD 21224  Cost: FREE courtesy of Advantage Title/ First Home Mortgage/ Cummings & Co. Realtors Giveaways: $50 Gift card to Coburn's Tavern To sign up please call or email Chris Breck at 443-695-2090 or cbreck@advantitle.com by July 31st. 07/22/2008

L&F Canton's listings are now accessible 24/7 from all of the websites in the Baltimore Sun Media Group! Their 124 active listings will be a great addition to our database of homes. Click here to see all of L&F Canton’s Listings Or you can search our whole database by using the widget below [Your browser does not support frames or is currently configured not to display frames. Please use an up-to-date browser that is capable of displaying frames.] 07/22/2008

If you are considering buying a home here, you should read about how the Ground Rent system works. It used to be widely viewed as a harmless vestige of colonial law, but is increasingly being used by some investors to seize homes or extract large fees from people who often are ignorant of the loosely regulated process. I know I just get a bill for $60 every 6 months from a company I've never heard of. If you fall behind on paying, it can cost you a lot more than the $60 though. Over a recent 6 year period, city judges awarded houses to ground rent holders over 500 times! If you don't want to risk it, you usually can request to buy out your ground rent. All three parts of our Ground Rent series plus continuing coverage, pictures, a sample deed, etc can be read here. [Your browser does no... 06/20/2008

The SC Johnson Clean Team will visit one of the three neighborhoods (Highlandtown, Penn Ave, or Pigtown) and give it a “Clean-Up Makeover” just in time for the summer. I posted about this yesterday and got at least 30 people from the office to vote. They all said Pigtown had at least 50% of the vote. This morning, I check and we are down to 14% of the vote, even behind Penn Avenue! There is no way 6,000 people voted for Highlandtown last night. Vote for Pigtown and right this wrong! Click here for more info and to cast your vote. 06/17/2008

I went to "Pigout in the Park" over the weekend and had a blast! The band was great and had an actual washboard player, which I hadn't seen in a long time. The pulled pork was amazing and the beer flowed like wine. I'm back in positive spirits about the neighborhood, so here's a quick plug for this year's Pigtown Festival. It's a great family friendly event with lots of vendors, music, and of course, the running of the pigs. If you like summer festivals, you'll love this one. So come on out on 9/6/2008 and enjoy my neighborhood at its best! Check out http://www.pigtownfestival.com for more info 06/13/2008

Greetings! Who said Carlton Sheets was dead, Well actually no one has, the point I'm trying to make is Creative Financing is alive and well. Below you will find a link that will lead to 20 Real Estate deals that you can buy with either Owner Financing or 1 -2 Years of No Mortgage Payments. Just imagine for the first 2 years of ownership all the cash flow form your rental is yours to keep. Now it doesn't get any better than that.So isn't time to stop talking about being a investor, get off the fence, and do some investing.as always if you have any questions please don't hesitate to give me a call 443-844-3018 All Deals Are Located In Baltimore Md   20 Deals Owner Finance or 1 - 2 Years No Payments See All Pictures and Details Just Click This Link If you Have any questions don't hesitate... 06/13/2008

No, I did not make a typo in the title.  More and more Baltimore City, Maryland residents are finding themselves out on the street with no advance notice because their landlord has not paid the mortgage on their rental unit.  In fact, unless the landlord divulges to the tenant that they are in foreclosure, or the future listing agent comes by to do an occupancy check, few renters know they are facing homelessness until the day of the scheduled eviction.  Talk about a shock! A new bill has advanced in the Baltimore City Council, at the request of Mayor Sheila Dixon to help these renters.  The bill is expected to be passed this year. Under the new law, tenants would have to be notified by first class and certified mail at least two weeks prior to the actual eviction.  A notice will also h... 05/21/2008

The listing agent held nothing back. . .I was warned. . .this Baltimore row house rehab was a dog. . .so bad it even barked!  Okay, maybe it didn't actually bark, but it did stink - plumes of rotten food and reek body odor wafted out the front door courtesy of the "caretakers" (and I use this term loosely).  The owner lets the "prince" of the Baltimore homeless and his buddy flop out here to keep people from breaking in and stealing stuff. . .stuff -- this place was so stuffed with stuff there was only a narrow path through all the old computers, shoes, boxes, clothes, old stereos, buckets, papers, cables, wires, and trash -- there was so much it piled at least 4 feet high.  Peeking out from underneath were rusty kitchen appliances that had to date back to the 40's - how often do you se... 05/13/2008

This weekend, I did some light staging in this gorgeous 3 bed/1.5 bath in the Rodgers Forge area. A beautiful home with lots of original features plus contemporary updates, its on the market with an Open House Wednesday, 12 - 2 PM and another Sunday 11 - 3 PM.  LINK TO TRULIA PAGELINK TO BROKER PAGE I'll be adding more photos later!   05/06/2008

Looking for something to do on a beautiful Sunday afternoon?  Or any other afternoon/evening for that matter...This tucked away community Clipper Mills nestled between Hampden, Woodberry and Druid Hill Park has a new perspective on Urban Living.  There is an incredible pool, a great restaurant Woodberry Kitchen ~ which features seasonal best from local growers and many artist galleries.  On my last visit I watched this artist blow glass, it was quite remarkable.  It is a vibrant community with undeniable charm.  You can walk to the Light Rail and with the price of gas these days, it is a definite plus.  If you are in the market to buy they are building these incredible new green homes or you can choose a Townhome, Condo or apartment depending on your budget.  Check it out!   05/06/2008

Sometimes there's too much time between showings but not quite enough, if you know what I mean. It happened that way a couple of days ago. So instead of just waiting around, we took a drive to Sherwood Gardens on that absolutely gorgeous spring afternoon. Shorts, sandals, and bare feet were all over the place. It was a wonderful scene of strolling visitors, a few dogs, kids of various ages, and this one little guy who was not much larger than some of the tulips. These magnificent tulips are in their full glory right now. Last year I went there with a visiting friend from Active Rain at just about the same time, and wrote about it in Tiptoe Through .... with Caleb. To quote myself, "The gardens were begun in 1927 by John Sherwood, a local petroleum pioneer and conservationist. What start... 04/26/2008

Are you a nature lover? Friend of the earth? Outright tree-hugger? Or do you simply care about living a more sustainable lifestyle that is good for the environment…including all the people? If so, Baltimore has a week for you. Beginning this Saturday, the city is celebrating Baltimore Green Week. This is the fifth year for the week-long program that is volunteer-driven to increase awareness about how local residents can make the Baltimore region cleaner and environmentally safer. There are community events, hands-on activities, forums, and lectures throughout the city, including Baltimore’s premier green event - EcoFestival. On Saturday, April 26, from 9am to 11am, Baltimore City residents can start by picking up a free tree to plant in their front or back yard. That 2008 Arbor Day FREE... 04/24/2008

Friday, May 2 from 11am to 8pmSaturday, May 3 from 11am to 8pmWashington Monument$2 all day parking at 15 W. Franklin St. garagehttp://www.flowermart.org/ Come on down to the Washington Monument in Baltimore City and buy your springtime bedding plants and hanging baskets and your Mother's Day jewelry, art glass or handmade purses and much more.  While you're there, visit the booths of the neighborhood organizations or get a massage.  There is food, fun, entertainment and of course flowers.  This is the 91st annual flowermart.  The Washington Monument is located on Charles Street North at Monument Street between Madison and Centre Streets in the center of Baltimore City.  This is a great day out for the family and is located about an half hour drive from Ft. Meade (about 22 miles) and ab... 04/24/2008

Guilford is one of those neighborhoods that seems to have grown up among its gardens and gracious ways. Originally comprised of patents granted to British citizens from the mid-1600s through the 1700s, the area was valued for its "gentle swells, which afford many beautiful views of the city and bay." The entire area sold in 1780 as confiscated property to a Revolutionary War General who gave Guilford its name. The area then passed through other hands until it was sold to the Guilford Park Company. Planning of the landscape design began in 1911 under the direction of Frederick Law Olmsted, and active development of Guilford began in 1913. This residential area of almost 700 homes has everything from modest townhomes to stately, historic mansions, most of which were constructed in the 192... 04/23/2008

Do you like trains as much as we love trains?  Almost from birth my youngest son Liam (now almost 10) has loved trains.  In February 2003 we had record breaking snowfalls and the roof on the museum collapsed and damaged much of the display, he saw this on the news and cried and wouldn't rest until I put him in the car and drove down there so he could see for himself.  From the time he was 3 we have had a family membership to the museum and visit often.  The museum is located on the site of the old Mt. Clare Junction railroad shops and is considered to be the birthplace of railroading in America.  It was here within the Museum's 40-acre campus that Baltimore businessmen, surveyors, and engineers set about building the B&O Railroad in 1829 - laying the first commercial long-distance track... 04/21/2008

Wow is all I can say.  Well I guess I should explain what I mean.  I recently relocated to Baltimore, Maryland from Boston Massachusetts and have been so impressed at what you can buy for a reasonable price.  I know Baltimore City gets a lot of negative publicity but I have had the opportunity to discover many great neighborhoods in this Charmed City.  With over 200 neighborhoods to choose from, I think there is something for everyone, no matter how big or small your budget may be.Are you looking to live near a vibrant night life, I would suggest starting your search in Fells Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon to name of few exciting neighborhoods.  Do you crave to be near the water, Canton might be the place for you.  Do you want a neighborhood where artists are located, check out Clipp... 04/19/2008

Yesterday at Pimlico, i had my first sip of Black Eyed Susan, their answer to mint julips, the traditional drink of Churchill Downs.  Now, I love mint julips, but that little taste of Black Eyed Susan was truly the nectar of the gods.  So, I searched Google with no luck for the recipe.   But I have more good luck than many people.  My cousin, Patrick Noon, is a bartender.  Not just any bartender.  When Patrick worked at Murphy's Pub in Woodley Park, we was named Washingtonian Magazine's Irish Bartender of the Year!  And a few minutes ago, out of nowhere, his wife sent me the recipe for my new favorite drink! If you want to try one, here's the official Pimlico recipe: INGREDIANTS" 1 part Cointreau 1 part Mount Gay rum 1 part Vodka Pineapple juice Orange juice PREPARATION: Fill a highball... 04/18/2008

Arbor DayFree Tree Give Awayin Historic Druid Hill Park The City of Baltimore in conjunction with Parks and Rec and Tree Baltimore and Baltimore Green Week are sponsoring this years Arbor Day free tree Giveaway followed by Ecofest. April 26, 2008Mansion House Drive:  9-11 amEcofest:  11 am- 5 pmDrop by the Mansion in the morning for trees are available on a first come first serve basis or to the Tree Baltimore display at Ecofest.  Pick up a tree to plant in your front or back yard.  Visit Ecofest and learn more about a sustainable lifestyle.  Trees are available to Baltimore City residents only.  The Ecofest event is free and open to the general public.  Come and learn about the benefits of a sustainable lifestyle.  Visit Ecofest and visit the exhibitors and learn more about helping to ... 04/18/2008