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La Plata, MD Real Estate News

By Ellen Crawford, Alpharetta Real Estate Agents & Alpharetta REALTOR
(Maximum One Executive REALTORS®)
This is a La Plata Maryland real estate update for Saturday November 8, 2008.  As of today Saturday November 8, 2008 there are currently 119 homes for sale in La Plata Maryland in our MRIS MLS System.  These are fee simple homes for sale and detached single family homes.  La Plata Maryland is located just south of Washington DC in Charles County Southern Maryland.  La Plata Maryland has great homes, neighborhoods, and some great subdivisions with reasonably priced single family detached fee simple homes for sale. Below is a current list of activity on single family homes for sale in La Plata Maryland. 119 'Active' -  La Plata Maryland Homes 1 'Cntg/KO' -  La Plata Maryland Homes 2 'Cntg/NO KO' - La Plata Maryland Homes 7 'Contract' - La Plata Maryland Homes Find Homes for sale in La Pla...
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
     When Charles County started the Rosewick Road project, the budget for Phase 2 was supposed to total $5.7 million dollars.  Add an extra $432,000 to that, and don't forget that the project was due for completion in April of LAST YEAR.  They are estimating that April of 2009 will be the targeted completion date with the unanticipated cost overruns.     The County is pouring TONS of cash into this project, essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul ($282K came from the upcoming Phase 3 Budget, and 150K came from the Western Parkway Upgrade budget, Sorry Guys!)  Don't forget that Capital Services is anticipating further cash injections in order to get the work done, while the Commissioners are "hoping" that Phase 3 comes in under budget.     In all honesty, if Phase 2 has been such a financ...
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
    It's amazing how much commercial growth is happening in La Plata, MD, and Charles County in general.  Rosewick Crossing is the latest addition to La Plata's shopping choices.  As you may or may not know, Lowe's hardware store has already opened, and construction on the Giant grocery store is wrapping up as I speak type.     What I didn't realize about the shopping center is that there seems to be a ton of space for smaller retailers in addition to the anchor stores that are already in.  I like the convenience that all of this new development creates, but in a way I sort of miss the "old" La Plata.  (You know, pre-tornado times?)     It's all part of a larger plan that includes the addition of roughly 3,000 new homes along Rosewick Rd, so I imagine that there's not going to be any s...
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January 1, 2008 - Eric Grainger of Riverview Builders is named to the Civista Health Foundation Board. He is excited about his participation with the hospital and hopes in some small way he can contribute to the hospital's future success. For more information go to www.riverviewbuilders.org. 
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
     I work very long hours in real estate.  The benefit to it is that my clients are consistently impressed with my availability and my results, turning around paperwork quickly, and constantly scheduling appointments, writing contracts, blogging, etc.  The downside is that it's very draining.      Of course I don't let my clients see how exhausted I get.  They don't want groggy, disheveled Realtors representing them.  They want perky, pleasant, and attentive agents on their side.  I don't want to disappoint them, I want happy clients, so I give them a happy Realtor.     My secret vice:  Caffeine!  I'm drinking chemicals I can't even pronounce (Sodium Hexametaphosphate?  Really??), and it tastes terrible.  I've never actually chugged Nitrous Oxide, but if I did, it would probably taste...
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
    One of the great things about Southern Maryland is the great rural areas in the region.  There is a proud tradition of tobacco farming here, as well as several functioning Amish farms, and there's a lot of really beautiful scenic regions in the area.  I'm a car nut, and I'm always hoping to find that great barn find, of that fantastic car that's hidden away waiting to be hidden and restored.       It seems like someone found one, and I managed to get a couple of photos of it as it was being towed down the road, just outside La Plata, MD.  I'm a sucker for old British cars, so I'm a bit jealous that they found it first!  In all seriousness, I hope that I see the car again soon at one of the local car shows!  
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
    As many of you know, I have been watching new development in La Plata, Maryland very closely, and more than a few people have voiced concern about how commercial development will impact their home's value.     Obviously, this is a sensitive subject, and I don't want to be the one that yells "FIRE!" in a crowded building.  This is a legitimate concern for folks, so I wanted to break the issue down a little bit here. WILL VALUES RISE?      Home values are very likely to be impacted, but it's going to mean different things to different people, and location is a key factor.  Let's start by looking at some of the positive impact angles first, and we'll discuss negative impact in a bit.     As we say in the real estate business, the three biggest impacts on value are location, location, l...
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
    Thomas and I just got back from the La Plata town hall meeting, and the council voted to send a letter to the State Highway Administration (SHA) recommending AGAINST a traffic light at 301 and Oriole Lane in La Plata, MD.     There was a very large crowd of people in attendance, mostly residents of the subdivisions that would be affected by the Kohl's development plan.  Quite a few people spoke out regarding both Kohl's and the traffic light proposal, and they were in large part opposed to the potential development.     There's a few thoughts that have been running through my mind since the meeting, and I think it's important to look at this development plan from all angles. TRAFFIC CONCERNS      People are worried about drivers using their community as a pass-through to get to Kohl...
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
    I refuse to let this be a rant about rapid over-development here in Charles County and specifically, La Plata, MD.  I'm not against growth, development, and modernization (I know, I'm a Realtor, isn't it my job to promote growth and development?), in fact I think that Charles County, Saint Mary's County, and Calvert County are the undiscovered gems of Maryland.  I love living here, and part of the reason for that is because of the mix of suburban and rural environments that are close at hand.     La Plata has been my favorite locale in the county for quite some time now, and I have very fond memories of going to Golden Corral and Johnny Boy's as a child, and I remember being heart-broken when I was off at college and the tornado came through, devastating the small town I loved.     ...
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
     I attended the La Plata town hall meeting last night to see what exactly was being proposed with the new proposed Kohl's department store in La Plata, MD.  Let me say that I was some kind of impressed!  It was the biggest crowd I have ever seen at a town hall meeting, It was literally standing-room only all the way out into the town hall foyer!      The town hall meeting was geared specifically to residents in the subdivisions of Jamestowne, Quailwood, and Hawthorne Green.  So why all the fuss?  Well, for a couple of very good reasons.  I have included a map showing the proposed site location so all of you know what was proposed (understand this is only for reference, and should not be taken as any sort of guarantee in regards to location, size, etc.).  You can click on the image t...
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
The proposal for a Kohl's Department Store in La Plata, MD will be discussed tonight at the La Plata Town Hall Meeting. La Plata Town Hall is the location for a meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 between representatives of Kohl’s department store and members of the Quailwood, Hawthorne Greene and Jamestown communities to discuss the proposed construction of the store on Oriole Lane in town. La Plata Town Council members will be on hand to discuss the community’s issues and concerns regarding the proposal. Town hall is at 305 Queen Anne St. If you're a Charles County resident, you should be there!  This is another MAJOR development proposal in your back yard, and you deserve to know what's going on!  I'll be there this evening, and I hope you will to!  
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
I want to share this in hopes that you, your family and friends may be interested in taking advantage of some unforgettable family entertainment on Sunday afternoon, January 13, 2008.  The game will be at the La Plata High School Gym in La Plata, MD where the Charles County Dribblers will take on the Harlem Ambassadors in a friendly basketball game.  The action begins 4 p.m. This is a charity event sponsored by the La Plata Lions Club with proceeds to benefit the planned hospice house to be built in the future by Hospice of Charles County.  Ticket are available in advance from a La Plata Lions Club member or by calling Mike at 240-349-2679.  Ticket costs are only $6 (children, students and seniors) and $8 (adults), and just $8 and $10 at the door.  Children under four years of age are f...
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By Jonathan Benya, The Benya Group
(The Benya Group)
     Well, we all know rentals can be difficult to make a profit on, and I know more than a few Realtors who have no interest in them (I'm sure we all know a few).  It brings up an interesting question though.... How many renters become buyers for you guys after a year or two, and would you work with a renter if you knew there was no way they would decide to buy down the road?      For us, the answer is simple: YES!  For new agents, it's a great way to subsidize your time as a rookie agent.  For a top producer though, it can be a whole different animal.  Being a rookie on my team means That I'm often handed the renters and told "Go Get 'Em!".  While I am managing in this market without them, there's something about renters that I find to be incredibly satisfying.      I recently placed ...
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La Plata, MD Real Estate Professionals