MOUNT RANIER: GATEWAY

“It’s a group of well-educated, politically-minded, middle class people, both elderly and young,” said Vincent Philips, a partner in local bakeshop Delectable Cakery.

“It’s a socially aware community, with an anti-war contingent, strong GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) presence, and a simple living element,” says P.J. Park, who co-founded the neighborhood’s bike co-op.

“Takoma Park at half the price and twice the diversity,” writes one local blogger, perhaps most succinctly.

Given that the tight-knit century-old community boasts an arts district, a food co-op, an active e-mail listserv and even a silo full of corn used to heat homes, perhaps it would best be described as Park Slope, Brooklyn meets Ames, Iowa. However, nowhere in Park Slope are you going to find as affordable homes as you will in Mount Rainier.

Artists’ Talk, Panel Discussion GAC@B

Saturday, May 28, 2:00-4:00 pm

Artists’ Talk

Join curator Ledelle Moe and artists Ashley Lyon, May Wilson and Lu Zhang for an artists’ talk about the exhibition BODY.

Free to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Exhibition runs through June 18, 2011

39th Street Gallery and Project Space
entrance on 39th Street

at the Gateway Arts Center @ Brentwood
3901 Rhode Island Ave
Brentwood MD 20722

GUESS WHERE THIS IS?

Driving down to the Verizon Center during the month of May?

You'll be sure to see us featured this month as #1 in the DC Metro Area

When that special time comes to move , choose to work with a Long and Foster Agent, it'll be the right move.  

Call me 240-305-9462

BY THE NUMBERS

Prince George's County has the most, followed by Fairfax and Prince William counties, although Daren Blomquist of RealtyTrac said part of the reason is that these counties are large and highly populated. Montgomery County and Fauquier County rounded out the area's top five.

Source: RealtyTrac

By the numbers

» Number of D.C.-area homes with a foreclosure filing in February 2011: 1,213

» Number of D.C.-area homes with a foreclosure filing in February 2010: 3,851

» Number of D.C.-area foreclosure sales in fourth quarter 2010: 2,155

In Prince George's, one in every 742 listed properties is a foreclosure, while the rate is one in 548 in Prince William and one in 540 in Fairfax.

"Many of these areas during the real estate boom had a lot of selling going on," Blomquist said. "Those transactions that occurred during the boom are generally where the most foreclosures are."

The promise of getting a residence at a rock-bottom price does not always pan out, however, as many area foreclosures are being snatched up by investors and buyers who can pay cash.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/real-estate-news/2011/03/investors-cash-buyers-snap-area-foreclosures#ixzz1I5cne6cI


For free foreclosure listings call 240-305-9462 or send email at isellhouses2@gmail.com

COLLEGE TOWNS

Whereas housing demand may fluctuate in other areas, college towns boast a steady flow of students, professors and staff, and a percentage of those will always require off-campus housing. Most colleges and universities do not have enough on-campus housing to satisfy demand, and when school budgets are tight, maintaining and upgrading housing can take a back seat to other financial priorities. Properties that are well-maintained, well-marketed, competitively priced and close to amenities can attract buyers and renters alike. 


Top University towns


1. Towson University
2. John Hopkins University
3. University of Maryland
4. Frostburg State University

TAKOMA PARK

Takoma Park is a nuclear-free zone. It allows immigrants who aren't citizens to vote in local elections and to run for local office.

The small city is known as the most liberal corner of the Washington metropolitan area, and is lovingly (or mockingly) called "The People's Republic of Takoma Park."

The downtown, a stone's throw from the D.C. border, has a small-town feel. It has several vintage clothing stores, a fancy pet store, free trade gift stores, a children's clothing and toy store and a boutique that specializes in organic clothes. Unlike many suburban commercial areas, it's not full of restaurants -- for years, Mark's Kitchen has been the only full-blown restaurant downtown. But Langley Park Crossroads, on the city's northeastern edge, is a hub of inexpensive ethnic restaurants.

ANNAPOLIS HOME SALES UP 29 %

From the Annapolis Capital:

"County home sales rose 29.6 percent in January over the same month a year earlier, rising from 233 in 2010 to 302 last month, according to numbers released this week by the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems listing service.

In the Annapolis area, new home sales were up 15 percent, but the number of new contracts increased by 70 percent from the previous year. While the median price dropped as much as 70 percent in some areas, other neighborhoods saw an increase 27.1 percent."

• The average estimated value of a home in the State of Maryland is $264,820
• The average estimated value of a home in the City of Annapolis is $542,786 (this is up 0.13% from March 2009)
• In JUNE 2009, the average sales price of a home in the State of Maryland is $273,945
• In JUNE 2009, the average sales price of a home in the City of Annapolis is $803,349 (up 0.56% from March 2009)

Annapolis, Maryland: The capital of the great state of Maryland situated on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay and, in addition to countless museums, theaters, and other attractions, is home to the famed United States Naval Academy. What many people DON’T know, is that it is also a place for great neighborhoods, great locations, and great real estate. 

ELLICOTT CITY AND COLUMBIA, MD

Columbia/Ellicott City, Md.

(Wikimedia user: David J. Brantley)

These two neighboring towns came in as the second best cities.

Pictures: 'Money' Magazine's 2010 best places to live

These towns made "Money" Magazine's list of best places because they boast plenty of job opportunities,
great schools and offer a safe place to raise a family. See pictures and maps of the cities below.

Billions in Aid

A $7.6 billion federal effort to help unemployed homeowners avoid foreclosure will soon be running in all 18 states sharing the funds.


"Those eligible receive forgivable loans for mortgage payments, or they may tap other programs, such as one to help them get current on mortgage payments. Generally, the loans are forgiven after five years if borrowers stay in the homes and keep current on payments. Next month, all of the states plus the District of Columbia are expected to have launched partial, full or pilot programs, says Treasury Department spokeswoman Andrea Risotto."


For More Click Here

Diversity grows with population in Maryland

Maryland's population grew in numbers and diversity during the past decade, as a shrinking white population was more than offset by big growth in the state's minority communities.

• 
  By Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP
  Although it remains the state's largest city, Baltimore's population declined nearly 5% since the 2000 Census.

Enlarge

By Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

Although it remains the state's largest city, Baltimore's population declined nearly 5% since the 2000 Census.

"From a statewide perspective, the thing that stands out is the growth in the minority population," says Mark Goldstein, an economist with the Maryland Department of Planning. "All growth in the state was due to minorities."

The population increase was largest in counties near the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas and in the southern and coastal regions, U.S. Census data released Wednesday show.

The one exception to the state's overall growth was Baltimore. Although it remains the state's largest city, its population has declined nearly 5% to 620,961 residents since 2000.

                                                For More Click Here             Cool Map

Still looking for a home?

Zsa Zsa Gabor's Estate To Hit The Real Estate Market

(CNS) Posted Tuesday January 25, 2011 – 5:49pm

Zsa Zsa Gabor's mounting medical bills and the staggering monthly costs of upkeep on her sprawling estate were the driving factors behind the decision to put the property on the market, the actress' husband said today.

Prince Frederic von Anhalt gave reporters a tour of the 28-room, 12,000-square-foot mansion, and explained that he had no choice but to put the home up for sale, with an asking price of $28 million.

"That's it. This house goes," he said. "I am sick and tired of hiding behind those three words, 'rich and famous'. Maybe we are famous, but we are not rich."

Von Anhalt said Gabor's medical care costs about $21,000 a month, while payments for debt on the home and upkeep are another $35,000.

"We are talking about $56,000 I have to raise every month," he said.

"This is why I have to sell the house. It is a must."

The sale will come with one big condition -- the 93-year-old Gabor and von Anhalt will remain living at the estate free of charge.

"The new owner has to pay for everything," von Anhalt said.

Gabor has been in failing health for the past year, and recently had part of her right leg amputated due to poor circulation and a large ulcerated area.

The estate was built by famed aviator/businessman Howard Hughes, and it was previously owned by Elvis Presley, who sold it to Gabor.

Von Anhalt said he was confident somebody would purchase the home.

For more images of the home click here.

LAUREL, MD

ZIPCODE : 20742

HOUSES SOLD JAN - JUNE 2009 - 71

HOUSES SOLD JAN - JUNE 2010 - 82

15% INCREASE IN SALES

From Baltimore Sun analysis of Metro region

Pre-history tidbit according to Wikipedia

The Cretaceous Era brought dinosaurs to the area which left a number of fossils, now preserved in a 7.5-acre (3.0 ha) park in Laurel.The site, which among other finds has yielded fossilized teeth from Astrodon and Priconodon species, has been called the most prolific in the eastern United States.

Laurel Main Street Festival, Laurel Maryland, May 12, 2007

Increase in sale prices - Baltimore Edition

Home sales in the Baltimore metro area rose in December, breaking a five-month streak of plummeting activity as buyers were enticed back into the market by competitive mortgage rates and prices.


But it is unclear whether the 8 percent increase in the number of homes sold last month signals a bottoming out of the struggling housing market. For all of 2010, the number of homes sold in the Baltimore region fell 3 percent from the year-earlier period, according to figures released Monday by the area's multiple-listing service.


Real estate experts attributed the bump-up in sales in December to a number of factors — increased confidence about the economic recovery, greater selection and pricing as inventory has piled up and low interest rates. Buyers raced to lock in more affordable mortgage loans before rates rise, as they are expected to do. Fixed rates on 30-year mortgages averaged 4.77 percent last week, near historic lows.


For more on this article visit here

LET'S VISIT FOR A WHILE : SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With an estimated population of 183,171, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total estimated population of 1,130,293. Salt Lake City is further situated in a larger urban area known as the Wasatch Front, which has an estimated population of 2,298,915

      

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