There are many reasons to look forward to spring. Thoughts of spring flowers and April showers can be a real respite from the bitter ice and cold that many are experiencing in the northeastern half of the U.S. For those of us in real estate, the spring selling season is literally just around the corner and there is much to prepare for in advance.
The spring season is historically the busiest time of year in real estate so if you are thinking of putting your home on the market for this coming selling season, now is really the perfect time to meet with a Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage sales professional to discuss your options. There is much a homeowner needs to prepare for and a sales professional can help you prioritize and map-out your plan.
The spring market is a prime opportunity for sellers to capture motivated buyers, and sellers need to ensure their property stands out from the competition. To do so, price positioning and home presentation are critical factors in attracting a buyer’s attention.
If your home is currently on the market, it is still a great time to review your current marketing plan and prepare to make the adjustments necessary to remain competitive during the high-selling season.
Regardless of the amount of snow on the ground right now, the reality is spring isn’t too far away. Be prepared and call me today.
Warren Prins, Realtor
Residential Real Estate Expert
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
(410) 991-1344
Warren@Annapolishomes.com
www.Annapolishomes.com
Warren is “Selling Maryland by the YARD!”

There are many reasons to look forward to spring. Thoughts of spring flowers and April showers can be a real respite from the bitter ice and cold that many are experiencing in the northeastern half of the U.S. For those of us in real estate, the spring selling season is literally just around the corner and there is much to prepare for in advance.

The spring season is historically the busiest time of year in real estate so if you are thinking of putting your home on the market for this coming selling season, now is really the perfect time to meet with a Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage sales professional to discuss your options. There is much a homeowner needs to prepare for and a sales professional can help you prioritize and map-out your plan.

The spring market is a prime opportunity for sellers to capture motivated buyers, and sellers need to ensure their property stands out from the competition. To do so, price positioning and home presentation are critical factors in attracting a buyer’s attention.

As a Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage sales professional, I will provide you with a competitive market analysis and review current market conditions with you. A review of the graphs linked on the right will help to gauge what is currently happening in your marketplace. I will use this information along with a review of current inventory, recent comparable sales prices and other data to advise you. In addition, I will know which competitive properties currently on the market will impact you and can guide you on the optimal listing price to sell your home.

I will also direct you on how to prepare your home for maximum appeal. With spring only a few months away you have just enough time to remove the clutter, repaint, repair and refurbish those areas of your home that need it.

If your home is currently on the market, it is still a great time to review your current marketing plan and prepare to make the adjustments necessary to remain competitive during the high-selling season.

Regardless of the amount of snow on the ground right now, the reality is spring isn’t too far away. Be prepared and call me today.

Passengers Our “Precious Cargo”
Angel Flight’s free air service is available to patients (and their families) whose financial resources do not permit them to travel by other means to get needed diagnosis or treatment. We also fly patients and families who are unable to use public transportation because of their medical condition, who need to fly immediately, or who live in remote areas where public transportation is not available.

Service is provided on a non-emergency basis for medically stable and ambulatory patients and their families. Emergency flights are reserved for persons who need to visit critically ill or injured family members, patients needing organ transplants and organ donations.

There is never a fee to any of our passengers for our service. Our costs are covered by the generous donations of private and corporate donors, and by the pilots who volunteer their time and planes.

Why we fly
Often our patients need access to respected medical facilities offering new or experimental treatment–but the facilities are a long journey from the patient’s home. Our patients usually have medical insurance, but a catastrophic illness can leave them without the necessary funds for transportation to the medical care they need. Plus, for those who live in rural areas, their local medical facilities may not have the capacity to provide the medical care necessary for a patient’s survival and recovery.

Angel Flight eliminates distance as a barrier to accessing quality medical care.When regular commercial air travel is cost-prohibitive, driving may be a patient’s only alternative. Yet, exhausting round trip car rides to medical care–sometimes hundreds of miles away, often several times a week–can be highly stressful, adding to the strain and length of recovery. Angel Flight Northeast can alleviate that strain by providing quick and free transportation to health care in distant locations, through the generous donation of private pilots and their planes.

With one less major concern over their heads, patients can devote more energy to getting better.

In Odessa, Fla., a resident was fined by his board for parking his pickup truck in his own driveway because it wouldn’t fit in his garage. Not our problem, the HOA basically told him before slapping him with a lawsuit. After a protracted legal battle, he has since won the right to park his car, but only after two years and $200,000 in legal fees.
2. Don’t plant too many roses

While foreclosure is an increasingly real threat to homeowners, few expect to lose their house based on gardening infractions. But that’s exactly what happened to a Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., resident who planted too many roses on his property. After $70,000 in fees, he lost his legal battle against the HOA and ultimately lost his home to the flower debacle.
3. Indoor drying only

As seen in a Colbert Report expose, a Bend, Oregon, resident was shocked by her HOA’s rejection of her outdoor clothesline. Her natural drying method was dubbed a hazard, and they began levying fines that totaled nearly $1,000. She eventually took down the offending line, even after the Right 2 Dry movement got behind her.
4. No mothers-in-laws allowed

If you’re a married man in Iowa, the government grants you a special privilege: you’re allowed to bar your mother-in-law from your home. While certainly useful to men trying to ditch their spouse’s mom, this law does not extend to women.
5. Only use sanctioned paint

What appears to be an inoffensive pale blue house has caused a stir recently in one Georgia neighborhood. Unaware of his HOA’s rules, a homeowner painted his house before having the color officially approved by his board. And with a $25 per day fee levied every day his house bares the offending hue, he’s already racked up $6,800 in fines on top of legal fees.
6. No service dog for the hearing impaired

Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act, a Fort Collins, Colo., HOA fined a hearing-impaired resident for keeping Pookee, her Pomeranian service dog. The HOA even threatened to put a lien on the property.
7. Don’t use ‘inconsistent’ shingles

As if it wasn’t tragedy enough when a plane fell out of the sky destroying a Sanford, Fla., man’s home, his HOA then challenged his rebuilding efforts. It threatened litigation because the shingles and elevation in his new house’s plans didn’t match his neighbors’.
Bending the rules

If you fight the law, you may lose. But there are ways to work with the restrictions of a HOA and still get your way. The first line of defense is to make sure you understand the HOA or condo association rules before you purchase the property.

If, after you move in, you’d like your home’s appearance to differ from that of your neighbors, you’ll need to submit a “variance” form of request. This request can be accepted or rejected at the board’s will, so it’s good to alert them early in your planning process. One tip to gain HOA support? Understand the challenges and perspective of HOAs, follow the rules to a tee, and offer to help them gain community support for their initiatives. Maybe even run for office. If you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em.

What’s the strangest local government or HOA rule you’ve ever heard of?

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/no-mothers-law-allowed-7-craziest-local-laws-and-hoa-rules/#ixzz16inwa0GT

Number of bedrooms – minimum _________________________

Number of bathrooms – minimum _________________________

Garage – number of cars _________________________

Lot size _________________________

Age of house _________________________

Square feet of house _________________________

Style of house _________________________

Number of floors _________________________

Type of neighborhood _________________________

Rate the features below on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being those things you absolutely “don’t want” and 10 being those things you “must have.”
Eat-in kitchen         0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Separate dining room            0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Fireplace                  0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Family room          0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Finished basement            0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Pool/jacuzzi            0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Patio/porch           0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Homeowner Association amenities security gate, community pool and tennis courts)

0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Yard                 0      1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

View                 0   1      2      3      4      5      6       7       8      9       10
Don’t want               Like           Need                Must have

Other features you want in a home:

Other features you don’t want in a home:

In recent years, Americans seeking to take advantage of low interest rates have lined up to refinance their mortgages. In fact, re-financings hit an all-time high in 2003, and remained high in both 2004 and 2005, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America.

But while it’s true that refinancing has the potential to help you reduce the costs associated with borrowing money to own a home, it is not necessarily a strategy that makes sense for every individual in every situation. So before you make a commitment to refinance your mortgage, its important to do your homework and determine whether such a move is the right one for you.

2 To Refinance or Not

The old and arbitrary rule of thumb said that a refi only makes sense if you can lower your interest rate by at least two percentage points for example, from 9% to 7%. But what really matters is how long it will take you to break even and whether you plan to stay in your home that long. In other words, make sure you understand — and are comfortable with — the amount of time it will take for your overall savings to compensate for the cost of the refinancing.

Consider this: If you had a $200,000 30-year mortgage with an 8% interest rate, your monthly payment would be $1,468. If you refinanced at 6%, your new monthly payment would be $1,199, a savings of $269 per month. Assuming that your new closing costs amounted to $2,000, it would take eight months to break even. ($269 x 8 = $2,152). If you planned to stay in your home for at least eight more months, then a refi would be appropriate under these conditions. If you planned to sell the house before then, you might not want to bother refinancing. (See below for additional examples.)

3 Remember — All Mortgages Are Not Created Equal

Don’t make the mistake of choosing a mortgage based only on its stated annual percentage rate (APR), because there are a variety of other important variables to consider, such as:

The term of the mortgage — This describes the amount of time it will take you to pay off the loan’s principal and interest. Although short-term mortgages typically offer lower interest rates than long-term mortgages, they usually involve higher monthly payments. On the other hand, they can result in significantly reduced interest costs over time.

The variability of the interest rate — There are two basic types of mortgages: those with “fixed” (i.e., unchanging) interest rates and those with variable rates, which can change after a predetermined amount of time has passed, such as one year or five years. While an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) usually offers a lower introductory rate than a fixed-rate mortgage with a comparable term, the ARM’s rate could jump in the future if interest rates rise. If you plan to stay in your home for a long time, it may make sense to opt for the predictability and security of a fixed rate, whereas an ARM might make sense if you plan to sell before its rate is allowed to go up. Also keep in mind that interest rates hovered near historical lows in recent years and are more likely to increase than decrease over time.

Points — Points (also known as “origination fees” or “discount fees”) are fees that you pay to a lender or broker when you close the deal. While a “no-cost” or “zero points” mortgage does not carry this up-front cost, it could prove to be more expensive if the lender charges a higher interest rate instead. So you’ll need to determine whether the savings from a lower rate justify the added costs of paying points. (One point is equal to one percent of the loan’s value.)

How Much Would You Save?

A homeowner with a 30-year, $200,000 mortgage charging 8% interest would pay $1,468 each month. The table below illustrates the potential monthly savings and the various break-even periods that would result from refinancing at different rates.

Rate After Refinancing New Monthly Payment Monthly Savings Months to Break Even*
7.5% $1,398 $ 70 29
7.0% $1,331 $137 15
6.5% $1,264 $204 10
6.0% $1,199 $269 8
5.5% $1,136 $332 7
5.0% $1,074 $394 6

*Assumes $2,000 closing costs. Rounded up to the next highest month.

A Closer Look at Mortgage Fees
Using data collected during 2008, researchers at Bankrate.com determined the average fees charged to consumers who borrow money to buy a home. Based on a loan of $180,000, the fees broke down as follows:

Average Lender/Broker Fees
Administration fee: $336
Application fee: $205
Commitment fee: $498
Document preparation: $194
Funding fee: $228
Mortgage broker fee: $839
Processing: $320
Tax service: $ 73
Underwriting: $269
Wire transfer: $ 31
Third-Party Fees
Appraisal: $327
Attorney or settlement fees: $445
Credit report: $ 29
Flood certification: $ 17
Pest & other inspection: $ 68
Postage/courier: $ 45
Survey: $174
Title insurance: $605
Title work: $200
Government Fees
Recording fee: $ 76
Various taxes: $1,339

4 Stick With What You Know?

Finally, keep in mind that your current lender may make it easier and cheaper to refinance than another lender would. That’s because your current lender is likely to have all of your important financial information on hand already, which reduces the time and resources necessary to process your application. But don’t let that be your only consideration. To make a well-informed, confident decision you’ll need to shop around, crunch the numbers, and ask plenty of questions.
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Summary

* The decision to refinance should only be made if the long-term savings outweigh the initial expenses. To calculate your break-even point, divide the cost of the refi by your monthly savings. The resulting figure represents the number of months you will need to stay in the home to make the strategy work.
* Don’t select a new mortgage based only on its annual percentage rate.
* Also evaluate the term of the loan, whether the interest rate is fixed or variable, and the relative merits of paying up-front fees in exchange for a lower rate.
* Your current lender already knows you and has your financial information on file, so you may be able to get a better deal that way, instead of going to a new lender.
* To get the best possible refinancing deal, you’ll need to shop around, crunch some numbers, and ask a lot of questions.

Checklist

* Shop around and conduct a detailed cost assessment (with a financial professional, if necessary) to identify which mortgage offers the greatest financial benefits.
* Read the entire contract before signing. Don’t let anyone pressure you or rush you to make a hasty decision.
* If refinancing results in lower monthly payments, use those savings to pursue other important goals, such as preparing for retirement and college costs.

Autumn is invariably a prelude to falling winter temperatures, regardless of where you live. It might rain or snow or, as David Letterman says, “Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees.” Did you know there is only one state in the United States where the temperatures have never dipped below zero? Give up? It’s Hawaii.

Here are ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter:

1) Furnace Inspection
* Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
* Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
* Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
* If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when
water appears, close them.
* Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2) Get the Fireplace Ready
* Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
* If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
* Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
* Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
* Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows
* Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
* Use weather-stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
* Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint
exposed wood.
* If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
* Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install
them.

4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
* If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the
attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
* Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
* Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
* Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspout to clear away debris.
* Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspout to direct water away
from the home.

5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment
* Drain gas from lawnmowers.
* Service or tune-up snow blowers.
* Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
* Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
* Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

6) Check Foundations
* Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
* Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
* Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
* Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
* Secure crawl space entrances.

7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
* Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
* Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
* Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
* Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
* Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

Prevent Plumbing Freezes
* Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
* Drain all garden hoses.
* Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
* Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has water shut-off valve, turn it off.
* If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
* Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
* Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
* Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the
ground freezes.
* Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
* Don’t automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an
otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
* Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

10) Prepare an Emergency Kit
* Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
* Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone
book.
* Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
* Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet),
blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
* Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

As we hunker down and prepare ourselves for the wintry chill ahead, many home sellers consider taking their home off the market. However, there can be some real benefit for those home sellers who brave the cold and keep their homes on the market during the winter months.

Though it is true that spring and early summer are the heavy selling seasons, not many realize that selling in winter can be just as profitable, and it may even be a better time to feature your property.

During the winter months there tends to be less homes on the market which means less competition. Less competition gives home sellers more opportunity to showcase their property and make their home stand-out from the rest.

Selling during the winter season will also let home sellers take advantage of the holiday decorations which help to make homes look more cozy and inviting. The lack of leaves on trees can let the light in, and also highlight a wonderful view that would normally be shrouded in spring and summer.

Here are several tips to help you market your home successfully during the winter months:

1) Clear debris from your gutters to keep ice and snow at bay.
2) Remove fallen leaves and other foliage before the first snow fall.
3) If it does snow, make certain that all entrances to the home and driveway are easily accessible and
clear of any ice.
4) Be sure to wash the windows to take advantage of any spectacular views
5) Light a fire during an open house if you have a fireplace.
6) Of course, work with your sales professional to ensure that your property is properly priced for the market.
Don’t forget that while there may be fewer buyers in the market during the winter, there are still buyers out there who are looking for a deal and their perfect home.

The area around the basin gradually filled with business catering to the maritime trade.  Ships were constructed on the Ship Carpenters Lot an area set aside for ship building along the northeast side of the basin.  A number of tavern keepers established themselves in the dock area to accommodate travelers using the ferry boats between Annapolis and the Eastern Shore as well as sailors from ships engaged in coastal and overseas trade.  Warehouses lined the southwest side of the area, and through the years an increasing number of merchants built stores along the market space.

The actual size  and shape of the dock area have changed since colonial times.  The waterline shown in the 1718 survey of the city extended to the beginning of Main Street (Then Church Street) and across the head of the dock.  The area at 18-24 Market Space (site of the City Dock Cafe and Griffins) was known as the “Sand Bank.”   A small stream running down Pinkey Street fed into the harbor.  This entire area gradually filling in, partly through silting and partly from the accumulation of debris washing down the slope to the harbor.  Land owners on both sides of the basin enlarged their properties by filling in along the shoreline.

During the Revolutionary War, Annapolis was a busy port.  Troops were brought into town for training, while food and material were gathered and stored here.  Both men and supplies were shipped out as needed to army and navy units.  At the end of the war, Annapolis declined as a commercial port with the growth of Baltimore as the state’s chief port.  The Maryland Gazette and tavern ledgers reveal, however, that Annapolis remained a port of entry for foreign visitors coming to Washington, DC in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Throughout the 18th century, Annapolis was noted as a repair and outfitting port.  A number of maritime craftsmen, such as sailmakers and blockmakers, were located around the waterfront as were the ship chandleries.  A sea captain was certain to find everything that he needed to the return voyage to England.

Warren Prins
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

As we kick-off the new year and make resolutions to keep our resolutions, one question is still at the forefront of many minds. Will the housing market and the economy overall improve in 2011? Depending on what you’re reading or who you’re watching, the opinions of economists and real estate industry watchers are varied. It’s not easy to predict what the market will do in the coming year, especially without the help of a crystal ball. However there are some key indicators to follow.

Most agree that the housing market recovery is largely based on the recovery of the job market. Consumers will make a down payment and purchase a home when they feel financially stable and secure.

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in December, 28 states and the District of Columbia posted unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier though the national jobless rate approached 9.8 percent in November.

In December, the Labor Department issued statistics that showed applications for jobless insurance payments fell by 3,000 sending the average in December to the lowest level since August 2008, and fewer workers filed claims for unemployment possibly signaling that the U.S. job market is improving if only slightly.

Another indicator to watch is pending home sale statistics. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), pending home sales jumped in October, showing a positive uptrend since bottoming in June. The NAR Pending Home Sales Index rose 10.4 percent to 89.3 based on contracts signed in October from 80.9 in September. Of course the index remains 20.5 percent below when compared to the same time last year as buyers rushed to meet the Tax Credit deadline in 2009.

Overall, these numbers are positive, but we still have some way to go before a full recovery is realized. “It is welcoming to see a solid double-digit percentage gain, but activity needs to improve further to reach healthy, sustainable levels,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “The housing market clearly is in a recovery phase and will be uneven at times, but the improving job market and consequential boost to household formation will help the recovery process going into 2011,” he said.

A sales associate will know how local unemployment rates and pending sales in your immediate area will impact your success. A review of the graphs linked on the right will help determine how additional factors such as inventory levels and recent sales can affect your home purchase and home sale goals. If you are in the process of buying or selling a home, please call me.

We are hopeful that 2011 will bring a revived economy and a stable housing market. I look forward to welcoming in the new year and assisting you with all your real estate needs in 2011 and beyond. Happy New Year!