I love Real Estate; some clients call me a matchmaker of houses. I specialize in unusual, funky, attractive, Mid-Century Modern, and all kinds of custom-built homes. My buyers are about unique features and styles, like the house with the indoor pool or a rehabbed barn on acreage that will be coming on the market next month.But today, and for several buyers, I need what  Maryland calls the perfect American dream.Colonial with a side-loading garage. Let me describe it:It is usually a two-story colonial with a garage (preferably a side-loading one), an open floor plan, high ceilings, a bright, modern, pristine kitchen with gas cooking, a nicely finished lower level for guests, a spacious primary bedroom with a luxury bath and a big tub. A yard with a bit of privacy from the neighbors and n... 06/12/2023

6 Stone Gate Court Pikesville,Md. 21208Cobblestone HOAMLS MDBC Oh, if all sellers could be so darn lucky!  Last Sunday I received a call asking about selling a home in "as is" condition.  My response was when can I take a look. After meeting the owners on Monday, a listing contract was signed.  My professional photographer, Israel Orange, was available in the afternoon and quickly had the pictures back to me the same day. Tuesday and Wednesday, I was wonderfully busy with buyer clients.  I blogged about this special zero-lot line rancher on Thursday, made it live in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and published this ad. We had two showings Friday morning and another in the afternoon. There was genuine interest.Before midnight, we had three offers. We had to turn down the other agent... 06/10/2023

6 Stone Gate Ct 21208Cobblestone RancherMLS  #MDBC20698043 Bedrooms2 1/2 BathsHOA $220/Mo What you’ve been waiting for! Check out this single-family rancher with a finished lower level and a two-car garage.The spacious primary bedroom, with a soaking tub and separate shower, has a door to the private patio. Did you notice the tray ceilings?  The second bedroom/media room with a full bath and an office with built-ins is also on the main level. The bright eat-in kitchen has white appliances, cabinets, and granite on the counters and island. Another set of sliders from the kitchen leads to the enclosed private patio. A convenient laundry room with a pantry and storage is between the kitchen and the two-car garage. The spacious living room/dining room (34 x 20) has a gas fireplace and acces... 06/08/2023

Not For Sale!How would you react if you found a  FOR SALE sign on your lawn? Very official, broker's name, rider, and all.My friend received a call from a neighbor, hurt and disappointed that they would list their home without telling the neighbor first. What? We are not selling! Bill and his wife called me to share this situation. They sent me a photo of the post and another agent's sign.This couple is more than friends. I've known him since he was ten years old, attended their wedding, was at the birth of his beautiful daughter, and sold them their house more than 25 years ago.I immediately called the agent with the errant sign. Yes, it was a mistake. We found that her listing had the same house number, but that property was on a different nearby street. They even had the photographer... 06/03/2023

Listening to various buyers, I started listing what they said was important when buying a Baltimore home. These things come after selecting the right location, condition, style and of course price range.Here are a few, and they are in no particular order.Kitchen: open floor plan, white cabinets; double ovens; center island; gas cooking, stone or quartz counters; a single large sink; and a walk-in pantry.Parking: two-car garage, carport, but, at the minimum, definitely off-street parking.Butler's pantry for those who like to entertain.Main-level primary suite and laundry on bedroom level. Mudroom or a suitable place to unload groceries, packages, and hide shoes and coats with lots of hooks and storage.Wood flooring/or high-quality engineered wood.Double vanities and at least one bathtub.... 05/27/2023

Through my eyes- A May Challenge.  Thanks to Debe Maxwell, CRS, for this month's challenge about appreciating the beauty of May flowers.I was sitting outside on my porch this week, enjoying a lovely picnic lunch with my beautiful daughter. It was a delightful perfect Spring day. I looked up and around and saw the sheer beauty of the trees, the leaves, and the grass. Did those trees and leaves get so much greener than I remembered? Did what's left of my blooming Azaleas get brighter and more delicate in color and shape? Maybe not, but to me, they were much more vibrant. The texture, the colors the shapes were spectacular.  But they are the same trees and flowers that bloom yearly. What changed was me! The way I saw this beauty was through my "new" eyes. Recently I had cataract surgery. I... 05/19/2023

What precautions can I implement to secure my home from title theft?The question of title theft has come up on my radio show. How to protect my home from title theft? Do you need to get title lock insurance? Can someone steal my home?And they want my advice.  This is a technique to scare people into buying protection with the promise of monitoring their home's title. But most people already have this coverage. Just look at your title policy when you bought the house. Most all buyers take out a title insurance policy that covers fraud, pre, and post-forgery at the time of settlement. It is a one-time fee and  covers the following:  False impersonation of the valid owner of the property. Forged deeds, releases, and wills  Undisclosed or missing heirs Instruments executed under invalid or ... 05/13/2023

It was only a month; we placed offers on three condos. On the third condo, our offer got accepted. Patience paid off, and none of us gave up. Today we settled on 3233 Katewood Ct. in the Greenspring East Community. A top-floor two-bedroom condo with cathedral ceilings, a balcony, and a sunroom. It was everything that this first-time home buyer wanted. It is oh-so-convenient, close to the Baltimore Beltway and a short walk to The Quarry at Greenspring.Look at the smiles on Mel, Heidi, and her dad, Paul. These are the faces of happiness. We experienced a smooth closing with Jeffrey Margolies, Attorney at Real Estate Settlements & Escrow, LLC, and Wingate Pritchet Esq. Vice President and branch manager for Oceans Lending. How special to have an attorney and lender both at the closing table... 04/28/2023

                                                      4/19/23 We had a  happy smooth closing yesterday, and I received this lovely letter from my appreciative, kind seller, now my friend.    ''She Answered My CallIf she had not answered my call I would have moved to the next realtor. Margaret Rome answers every call.On or about March 4th, I was in need of a realtor to help me sell my home of twenty-five years. Initially I attempted this task on my own to no avail. The second week I was given inspiration to seek help, not just any help but Divine help. After searching the web through hundreds of seller’s agents, I was exhausted. I begin to honestly become whelmed with the possibilities and was to the point of closing my search for the day. Just one more click I said…suddenly this picture... 04/20/2023

 Consider A Home That Needs WorkReal estate has been challenging for many buyers, especially young first-time buyers. They have lost properties because of low inventory,  the need to make fast decisions, and bidding wars for these lower-priced homes. They are losing out to cash buyers and those who waive inspections or appraisals.Let's rethink. Look for homes in a buyer's desired neighborhood that are substandard. You obviously will look at properties that are lower priced.This may be the time to consider a Rehab loan. Talk to a trusted lender.This idea may suit sellers who do not want to spend more time, work, or money on a home they sell. And it could be fast closing.Is this an answer for buyers who have not been able to purchase?We can help both buyers and sellers in the present real... 04/16/2023

Dress your house You’ve decided to sell your unique home, chosen a top agent, prepared for photography, and set a price.  Of course, you want it to look its best…but how?Dressing for success is not just for people.  With some thought and planning, your home can be warm, light, and inviting, no matter how much furniture or clutter.  You’ve heard the saying “Less is more,” especially when preparing your home for the market.Start with knowing that you probably have too much in all your rooms.  You might plan a neighborhood yard sale, donate to a favorite charity, or rent a Pod or storage locker.  During this time, you must clear out furniture and accessories so that your rooms look as large and inviting as possible.Maybe ask for help virtually through a stager like our Kathy Streib.  Once ... 04/10/2023

I Don't Need Listings; I Need Specific Baltimore HomesYes, inventory is low; not much on the market in Baltimore right now. Homes start as "Coming Soon," By the time they are listed, they have an offer with the only contingency being viewing the property. Not only first-time buyers but others who are cautious want and need more time to decide about the magnitude of this decision.I am not looking for listings. I am looking for specific properties! And here are a few buyers ready to purchase and settle. They are qualified and prepared to make a decision right away.Buyer #1 is looking for a home no more than 10-15 minutes from Owings Mills 21117 but will consider other zip codes. A perfect home would be in pristine move-in condition, with a garage, gas cooking, public water and sewer, and ... 04/09/2023

  When I get a phone call that is a telemarketer or other solicitor, I am as polite as possible. But after a  'No Thanks, Not interested'... enough is enough.  I hang up. The good thing is that they will never get through to me again. How?I make a new contact in my phone, label it SPAM, and block the number. Never again do I take that call.But many people won't take calls from unfamiliar numbers.I want to know who is calling and don't want to lose legitimate callers.    To most of us, it is just an annoyance, but speaking with a client, I found out she received one of these calls that turned out to be a scam!Told she had won the lottery or some other sweepstakes. The person/scammer was persuasive and convinced her to send a $10,000 check to redeem the million-dollar prize. And she did! ... 04/08/2023

The Buying Of My First and Only House Kathy Streib and Carol Williams host this month's challenge. They want us to tell them about buying our first home. Some cannot remember their first home or choose to forget the experience; maybe it was purchased with a former spouse.For me, this is a straightforward challenge because, believe it or not, I am still in that first home we purchased.  My husband was content living comfortably in a spacious apartment with a  great balcony view of woods and a stream. I wanted to be a homeowner. My Lee challenged me and said he would consider it if I could find a house in a specific price range. He was sure there was no home we would agree on, especially at that price. For years I went looking with and without a REALTOR®- Yes, that agent told me I was too... 04/05/2023

It's a good idea to listen to the agent you hire.After 30-plus years, I have learned some lessons which may help a buyer or seller:Your Realtor has access to a variety of lenders. Agents genuinely want you to qualify for a mortgage (or bring cash, if possible). Switching agents won't magically improve your financial situation. You might have to wait if you cannot get qualified after speaking with several mortgage professionals. A Realtor can help decide about your situation, whether buying or selling. If it's not the right time to buy, if you are priced out of the market, or if you don't qualify, a good agent will not waste your time or mislead you. The same is true when you're selling a home. Professional agents will give you information about your home's market value. If you are looki... 04/03/2023

This is entry #3 for the March challenge hosted by Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist, and Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP.###You Don't Lose Me When Things Go WrongThat's right; you don't lose me when things go wrong because there is always some turbulence. You know the old saying, SNAFU. You lose me when you don't handle the hiccup, return the call, blame it on your assistant, and have someone else call to tell me how busy you are.Yes, it was the end of the month, and that situation happens 12 times a year for everyone, not just lenders. We spoke when the contract came in, and you assured me that you were taking charge, the buyer was well qualified, and you wanted to win my business.I asked explicitly about closing the week of Thanksgiving, allowing you to have a longer ti... 03/26/2023

Only Get Upset When It Can HelpPatricia Feager and Kathleen Daniels are hosting the March challenge, asking us to use critical thinking using original content. Think about a scenario that can march you into trouble. Please write about a scenario that has the potential to come up during a real estate transaction.  *Note the underlined links below to previous situations. When a situation is out of our control, getting upset is a total waste and...I don't do upset.Here's an example: Closing has to be delayed. The buyer and seller have arranged time off from work. It's the end of the month. Everyone is inconvenienced... from the lender to the title company, the agents to the clients, and all the others working on a transaction. That includes movers, family members, babysitters, employers, a... 03/22/2023

 "Spring forward, Fall back" reminds us how Daylight Saving Time affects all our time-telling devices, including computers, alarm clocks, cell phones, microwaves, car clocks, and the numerous watches we may own.Daylight saving time (DST) begins each year on the second Sunday in March at 2 a.m. And that is Sunday, March 12th.  Spring forward and get your home listed. 03/10/2023

This one is for Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker. Thanks for the challenge.My top 10 posts for 2022.   Start Worrying, Details To Follow Public 05/15/2022 655 50 12 1 Celebrating TEN Years Public   Featured 12/28/2022 1013 46 27 0 Are You Ready For The Photographer Public   Featured 06/18/2022 1982 45 13 0     623 39 15 0 Why I Am Still Blogging Public 12/05/2022 442 38 15 0     711 37 18 0 What An Honor I'm A Cover Girl Public 06/16/2022 606 34 14 0     930 33 17 0 Bull's Eye Public   Featured 07/22/2022 1306 29 14 0 Well Hung Public 10/10/2022 359 28 13 0 It's Not Time To Tell The Seller Public   Featured 06/24/2022 1213 28 12 0 This Can't Be Happening Public 06/04/2022 383 28 9 2 Getting To Know Me With Twenty-One Answers Public 05/02/2022 731 27 14 0 03/06/2023

 How much work should one do before selling? Do you paint, re-carpet, update counters, remodel old baths, and install a new kitchen while we're at it? It depends on your budget and how much time it will take to do these projects. Did you notice the four most expensive words while we're at it? A remodel, and a move can be overwhelming for most people. On Sunday, I will have a guest talking about how she only wanted more cabinets over her laundry, but one thing led to another, winding up with a total gut of her kitchen. When you watch TV shows about any contract work, it seems everything is done in twenty minutes. A wrong cabinet or a broken granite counter is not rectified in minutes. They must be reordered and can stop progress on the rest of the project. Many decisions exist, from floo... 02/25/2023