Honfest 2012 - June 9-10, 2012   Honfest Pagent 2009 It's that time of year when people all over venture to Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood. Folks arrive costumed in an assorted grab bag of Sixties-era garb, making the entire event into one hugely entertaining costume party. Women of all ages and sizes wear vintage spandex pants, heavily applied blue eye shadow, cat eye glasses and any item of clothing or accessory that has a leopard print and, most importantly, outrageous beehive hairdos that are teased as high as the sky and supported with volumes of hair spray. The event came to be in 1994 as a celebration of all things "Bawlmer"!! This festival covers four city blocks on 36th Street (The Avenue) in the neighborhood of Hampden. Hampden is a revered old-style Baltimore neighborhood, ... 06/08/2012

Baltimore, MD short sale expert Dan Rochon and Baltimore, MD short sale negotiator Darius Bradford talk about if a bank will accept a short sale with more than one mortgage. We can perform with more than one loan companies, many periods the same loan provider carry the 1st and the 2nd loans to put together a short sale deal. Even if the value of the house is below the stability of the 1st house loan, we can normally get the two loan companies to perform. Stop foreclosure in Baltimore, MD!   05/29/2012

History Happy Hour with Baltimore Heritage Quilters at The Admiral Fell Inn   Join Baltimore Heritage Quilters(and bring a friend!) for a chance to Network and Market your business/organization during our City’s 1812 Celebration Event. This History Happy Hour is being held at The Admiral Fell Inn located at 888 S. Broadway in Historic Fell's Point.  The event is free with a cash bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres and starts at 5:00 pm and runs until 7:30 on May 25, 2012.    Quilter's from The Baltimore Heritage Quilt Guild will be on hand to talk about the wonderful quilts made by the group and their involvement in the Quilt Trail project that is part of the Authentic Baltimore tourist trail.   Learn more about another Authentic Baltimore tourist Trail targeted to 22 million people (quilters)... 05/25/2012

Another Baltimore Condo Sold and Settled With HomeRome ..The Bartonwood 2903 Fallstaff Rd 21209       Another Baltimore Condo Sold and Settled With HomeRome..Bartonwood 2903 Fallstaff Rd 21209                                                         Enjoy this 5th floor bright, spacious one bedroom one bath Bartonwood condo with a separate utility room housing a full size washer and dryer. Sliding glass doors to 16 foot covered balcony is the perfect place to enjoy morning coffee while looking at tree top views. Security locked lobby with buzzer/intercom system, inside mail and paper delivery and low condo fees makes this condo living very convenient.  Assigned parking and a pool is available for a fee. Convenient location close to Greenspring shopping center, houses of worship, senior ... 05/08/2012

Northwest Baltimore is home to the remarkable 745-acre Druid Hill Park. It was formally organized just prior to the Civil War around the same date as New York’s Central Park. Grand Victorian buildings and monuments serve as reminders of its glorious past, yet, if you were to ask the average person in Baltimore what they think about Druid Hill Park today, more often than not the response you’ll hear is “is it safe?” Last weekend I took a walk around the Resevoir at Druid Hill Park and found it was a resource in Baltimore City that I had been under-utilizing. As I walked along I came across a father and daughter flying a kite, individuals rollerblading and riding bikes, and people resting on benches that surround the resevoir. How did the park gain its current unsavory reputation? Most o... 05/08/2012

A Day Out With Thomas - B & O Railroad Museum Welcomes Thomas The Tank Engine My youngest son, Liam, used to love Thomas the Tank Engine.  When he was very small he was sick a lot with allergies, asthma and febrile seizures.  One of the things that gave him great pleasure and hours of entertainment were the Thomas stories.  We had all the videos and the books and he would watch the movies for hours and every night we'd read a story, in fact we read from the Tales of Thomas so often the book eventually fell apart.  When he was a little older we visited Thomas at B & O Railroad Museum and also in Strasburg, PA.  Now that he's 13, he no longer reads those stories, nor does he play with the trains or watch the movies but he has boxed them up and wants to save them for when he, himself, has ... 05/03/2012

               A Bribe to Keep Me Company While Visiting My Canton Listing.        This evening I wanted to stop and visit my sellers at 709 S. Milton Street in Baltimore's Historic Canton. I wanted company...and a bribe usually works.                 The bribe was for TLH.... ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. I enjoyed the company, he enjoyed the treat.                                                                                                             709 S. Milton Street                                                                   While in Canton, I received a call from my friend Kim Jones making an appointment to show this townhome tomorrow. Kim wanted to know what could be seen from the roof top deck. So I am sharing some of the sights of Canton. From 709 S. Milton Stre... 05/01/2012

2012 Flower Mart in Baltimore - May 4 and 5, 2012 Like many things Baltimore was home for the first Flower Mart in 1911. This year is the 94nd annual flowermart. The Baltimore Flower Mart is an annual event held in downtown Baltimore. Each year Baltimore closes the streets surrounding Mount Vernon Place at the junction of Charles Street North and Monument Street. Flower Mart starts on May 4, 2010 at 11 am and runs through 8 pm on both May 5 and May 9. Come and enjoy the booths and vendors and the entertainment. There is no fee to enjoy the day. There will be over 130 vendors this year.  Flower Mart is a family friendly event so bring the kids and enjoy the flowers and the entertainment and while you are there pick up some bedding plants for the garden at home and improve the curb appeal... 04/30/2012

Renters are people too! I got a call today from a young lady who "found me on the internet".  I am not sure exactly where she found me. It could be my Zillow profile, or because I answered questions on Trulia. It could have been one of my ActiveRain blogs or something nice that a client or a realtor wrote about me. She called me because she had been looking for a rental in Baltimore.  She is from another state and has moved quite a bit for her job. She is settling in Baltimore with a family member and is currently living in Executive housing.  Her company provides relocation realtors to assist in the transition. My client never felt like a priority, like any of the folks she was dealing with cared about her or her needs. Well guess what?  She talked to her family about her frustrations ... 04/20/2012

                                    Kids Helping Hopkins...My Friends Sam and Anita Rozenel  in front of the glass wall plaque at the new John's Hopkins Children Center.                     Kids Helping Hopkins...My Friends Sam and Anita Rozenel  in front of the glass wall plaque at the new John's Hopkins Children Center.                                                        ######                                                                                                       04/14/2012

  This afternoon I went on two Broker Price Opinions in Charles Village in the good company of my fellow agents. It was our task to carefully tour the properties, review the comparable sales data, and offer feedback in writing that could be shared with the owners who are getting ready to list their properties for sale. On my way from the first property to the second I took this picture on one of the more quiet blocks; 26th Street between St. Paul St. and Charles St. Doesn't the color of the buildings look magical?      Broker Price Opinions are an invaluable tool a savvy agent will use to gauge the marketplace in a preliminary fashion. By inviting a wide range of agents, you'll get feedback that will be indicative of a wide variety of buyers. The owners of the two properties I toured th... 04/11/2012

Tulips Tulips Everywhere... Sherwood Gardens in Baltimore.  Sometimes the best things in life are free! It would not be Spring in Baltimore without a visit to Sherwood Gardens.  No standing in line, no reservations and no admission fee! Sometimes the best things in life are free! That is the case with the magnificent Sherwood Gardens right here in Baltimore. Read more of the history... Sherwood Gardens                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ... 04/08/2012

"Really Nice Homes Of Baltimore" So, you've just WON the LOTTERY! Just in case you are one of the winners of the multi-million dollar lotto last week in Baltimore. . Here's your chance. . . to choose your castle right away. . The sample below shows the most expensive homes in Baltimore County and Baltimore City   Of course if you are cautious you should wait. . But I warn you, when you have millions. . DON'T PROCASTINATE! Life is like a fine wine. . Every second (sip) counts! Get it now . . .and you will have security, privacy and I can assure you that . . you will be "comfy" Of course if any of these homes do not appeal to your tastes. . . You can GO here and CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST :   All the Really Nice Homes of Baltimore County in HERE    2800 BUTLER RD,  GLYNDON,  MARYLAND... 04/06/2012

Spoons Cafe in Federal Hill - A Great Place for Lunch and More Last week we had a very busy day, visiting several properties in and around Baltimore with the possibility of listing and selling and clients to meet.  My partner Skip and I found ourselves in Federal Hill around lunchtime.  We parked and walked along Light Street looking for an affordable lunch for a bit and nothing sparked our interest, we looked at some menu's in the window and walked through Cross Street Market.  We didn't know quite what we wanted.  I had been to Spoons Cafe a few times over the years for breakfast and a couple times for lunch.  I suggested it and we decided to go there.  Spoons Cafe is located at 24 E. Cross Street in Baltimore in the popular Federal Hill neighborhood.  It is located directly across th... 03/25/2012

The Elmont Condo in Baltimore 6317 Park Heights Ave... Another HomeRome Listing is SOLD!    The Elmont- 6317 Park Heights Ave #516    It was a beautiful day in Baltimore, unseasonably warm in the low 80's. No matter what the weather, it is always  a perfect time to go to settlement.  We had the perfect buyer, the perfect seller, and a delightful buyer's agent  Colleen Geppi. When Colleen originally called to make the appointment, it was for another unit in another condo. That one was not quite right so I told her about this special condo at The Elmont. One look and the rest is history. Love at first sight and a quick settlement.                                                                                                                                                                 ... 03/23/2012

Wordless Wednesday - There's Just Something About Spring There's just something about spring in the City that makes it look so clean and fresh and renewed.  Baltimore City is filled with scenes just like this one.  As I drove around different neighborhoods yesterday I was struck by how renewed everything was looking and how inviting it was to step outside my car and walk.  I am a Baltimore City Real Estate Agent.  I love the City and all it's over 225 distinct neighborhoods.  There are many great affordable opportunities in the city for homeownership and many down payment assistance programs to help prospective homeowners purchase a home.    03/20/2012

My Irish RootsTop of the evening to you...With a name like Bridget McGee I bet you are not surprised to learn that I have Irish Roots. In 1913, my grandmother, Bridget McDonnell Nolan, left her home in County Mayo, Ireland to travel to America. She arrived at Ellis Island as one of the maids for a wealthy family.  She was 15 years old.  She worked and sent money home to her family in Ireland, eventually saving enough to bring one of her sisters to America.  Together they saved to bring another, and so on until there were five McDonnell sisters who all eventually married and settled in Baltimore, Maryland.  And so began a legacy of family love and legacy. I remember dancing the Irish Jig as child in my grandparent's basement.  I always loved to spend time with my grandparents. My grandmo... 03/17/2012

 It is no wonder we had competing offers!Another HomeRome Baltimore Condo Under Contract. The Elmont- 6317 Park Heights Ave #516  We have the right buyer for this luxury 2 bedroom 2 full bath condominium located in Baltimore's Upper Park Heights area.It is no wonder we had competing offers! Not one, not two, not three but four offers in the same week!  Why?   Because this one has it all... a new kitchen, new baths, new flooring, a ton of closet space, and beautiful views from the 5th level location.This is a full-service elevator condo with a reception desk, doorman, elegant lobby and the building sits back off of Park Heights with the quiet feeling of a park. Lots of lush landscaping and pretty views from the balcony and the floor-to-ceiling windows.                                    ... 03/05/2012

             ACC Craft Show Baltimore 2012..More Than Eye Candy. The Craft Show is in Baltimore this weekend and it is bigger and better. With over 700 exhibitors, it may be the largest indoor craft show ever. Everywhere you look there is beauty, eye candy, creativity and an excitement listening to the artists.  There was lots of positive energy and people were buying. I have been going to these shows for many years and way before real estate. Was able to see quite of few artists from previous years and prior posts.                                                                                       Susan Provda was proud to be featured in The Baltimore Sun. Her specialty is hand made brushes. Take a look at Susan's earring!                                                          Tom ... 02/24/2012

  It’s official; I sold a listing in less than 24 hours via Facebook.   Specifically I shared (or “liked”) my own active rain blog post and it caught the eyes of the right person. As we all know, it’s not quite that simple. There were a lot of pre-listing conversations. It took a few weeks to have the contents removed and the apartment cleaned. Next came the virtual floor plan tour.   Once that was all in place, I wrote this blog post: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2813163/estate-auction-condo-in-baltimore-s-tuscany-canterbury-neighborhood   It was an estate auction property, however the pre-auction offer was for significantly more than we anticipated and the buyer was able to close in two weeks.   Another remarkable detail? The property had been listed for over a year prior to being ... 02/22/2012