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August 28, 2009
Monday it was back to school time for Laurel Maryland children who live in Prince Georges County.
My daughter started her first day at Martin Luther King Middle School in Beltsville Maryland. It is the first time she will take a bus to school. After years of walking to Bond Mill Elementary School in Laurel, now she rides the school bus. She has always wanted to ride the bus.
Another first, she has to wear a uniform this year. She seems to like the novelty of wearing a uniform. I don’t know if she will feel this way the whole time in middle school, but for now its fine.
Probably the best part of going to school Martin Luther King is being able to sleep later. My daughter does not have to get up until 7:30 a.m. The later time has made our mornings much less hectic.
She heads out the door around 8:15 to head towards the bus stop on Bounds Ave in West Laurel. She retruns around 4:40 in the afternoon. Her return time from Martin Luther King to Laurel is about two hours later than when she went to Bond Mill Elementary.
She was nervous the first day, but now she seems fine with school and is enjoying her time in middle school.
For more information on buying or selling a home in Laurel Md, visit Maryland real estate.
August 26, 2009
I was reading the West Laurel list serve this morning and came across some good advice for all of us in Laurel. Here it is in its entirety.
I found the following note from Richard Dengler, Montpelier Rep to the
Police Citizens Advisory Committee, very interesting. This note is from
late July and posted on the Montpelier list serve to remind the
residents (again) that we often create crimes of opportunity – and,
while we do not really live in a dangerous area, we can often make it
easy for people with poor intentions to take advantage of us:
July 21 and 23 was a busy time for our perps that didn’t get into 3 of
their
four attempts to get into our homes. The District 6 folks have 3 of the
possible 4 misguided youths under arrest and have increased the police
presence in the area. The first perp was apprehended (taken off the bus)
headed to Washington. I would like to pass on a comment made to me at
the
police station. While walking around the community the police patrols
noticed numerous garage doors open, exposing lots of stuff that could be
pawned, three expensive bicycles unattended in driveways, and 7 or 8
vehicles with open windows with various electronic gadgets lying on the
seats. Can you imagine the stories the perps that don’t get caught tell
their friends about our community. One of the perps that got caught was
told
by his friends that this community is easy pickens, candy land. When
will we
learn?
Let’s secure our community by taking away the obvious attractions, Keep
the
garage door closed and locked. Hide the electronics in your car, or take
them inside the house with you. Most of the B&E attempts happened
between
11:00AM and 1:00PM, so keep your eyes open so we can catch our unwelcome
visitors. Security is the job of the entire community.
The good news above is that the police were quick to apprehend the
culprits. However, i am guessing that they were youth and they probably
will be given very easy sentences that produce little consequence.
Tom on Straughn
Some great practical advice to us in West Laurel from our Montpelier neighbors.
The less honey available the less flys in the neighborhood.
I always try to take any electrical equipment in my house or leve it hidden in my car. I always lock my doors as well. Fortunaetley, my car has not been broken into or had something taken from it.
If you are looking for a great community in Maryland, please visit Maryland real estate.
August 25, 2009
Buyers of Laurel real estate can now use the government’s tax credit for the down payment on their home.
If you remember, the government offered this additional incentive if the buyers put down the minimum down payment. However, most first time home buyers in Maryland did not have that kind of cash available.
Then the government offered to let Maryland buyers use the tax credit for the entire down payment if need be. However, no bank was willing to front a buyer that money without some sort of guarantee they would get it back.
Now the Federal governmant has worked out this issue with banks. The result is that more first time home buyers are eligible to purchase Maryland real estate.
Not all lenders understand this or are unable to front the money for the first time buyer or Laurel real estate.
I do have access to a lender who is able to use this program for my Maryland buyers.
For more information on buying a home in Maryland visit tax credit down payment.
August 21, 2009
The other day my son-in-law, who lives up the street from me on Bond Mill Rd in Laurel Maryland, informed me that Led Zepplin played a concert in Laural Md at the Laurel race track.
I was shocked when I heard this.
Led Zeppelin in Laurel Maryland? Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were located down the street from where I get my Fiber One Bars?
I was sort of in disbelief till I read last week’s Laurel Leader. Mike McLaughlin wrote an article confirming that in 1969, Led Zeppelin played at the Laurel Pop Festival.
Even more interesting, Mike gives the address of a web site that every rock-n-roller must have, www.e-rockworld.com/Laurelpop.htm. Check it out Dude!
Great stuff! It looks like Laurel was cool back in the 1960s.
Remember, if you are looking for a cool place to live in Maryland, visit cool places to live in Maryland.
August 17, 2009
Did you see the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated? It was the College Football Preview issue.
Those of us who live in Laurel Maryland were very disappointed with the issue.
Sports Illustrated predicted the University of Maryland football Terps to finish in the bottom of their division in the ACC. In fact, the article only mentioned Maryland in passing.
This prediction is somewhat surprising when the Terps are going for their fourth straight bowl appearance. If Maryland is successful in their quest for a fourth straight bowl appearance, they will set a school record.
The probable reason for the prediction is that Maryland has a very young team. Only nine returning starters this year. The Terrapins also lost three receivers from last year.
Three of Maryland’s returning starters on defense are from Prince Georges County. Riverdale Baptist’s Travis Ivey, Dematha’ Anthony Wiseman and Gwynn Park’s Adrian Moten are all starters on the Terrapin defense.
Don’t count the Terps out to early. I went to the game last year against California. Cal was supposed to blow out Maryland, but were surprised when the Terrapins scored a bunch of points early and held on to win.
Maryland opens the season against the California on September 5th.
Go Terps, make Maryland proud.
August 15, 2009
Ann Arundel County Maryland’s Mortgage Assistance Program or simply, MAP, provides down payment assistance for first time buyers. Buyers of Laurel real estate can take advantage of this program.
According to the program, a first time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the last three years. In addition, a person who is divorced and can prove they have not resided in the property in the last three years.
Depending your need, MAP can provide up to $40,000 in down payment assistance. The money is not a grant. The funds are a zero interest loan that has to be paid back at some point over the next 30 years.
There are certain income requirements for the Mortgage Assistance Program.
To get started on search for your dream home, visit Maryland home sale
August 13, 2009
Prince Georges County Maryland has launched its Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). This program offers first-time home buyers up to $20,000 towards the purchase of a home in Prince Georges County.
All qualified buyers will get at least 3.5% of the purchase price or $15,000, whichever is smaller, towards the purchase of a foreclosure in Prince Georges County. The county has designated 33 zip codes where this money can be applied.
In addition, Prince Georges County Maryland has designated 12 of those zip codes as target areas. In these target areas, buyers can get a total of 7% of the purchase price or $20,000, whichever is smaller, towards the purchase of a foreclosure property.
Potential buyers of Laurel Md real estate will be glad to know that one target area is located in Laurel Maryland. In Laurel Md zip code 20708 buyers can get up to $20,000 through the NSP.
Any buyer who lives in the home for at least then years, does not have to pay any of the NSP funds back to the county. After four years, the amount that has to be paid back it prorated.
The NSP allows buyers of Maryland real estate to buy a home with minimal out of pocket cash.
August 11, 2009
| 2009 |
2008 |
% Change |
| Total Sold Dollar Volume: |
$ 165,424,258 |
$ 124,189,341 |
33.20 % |
| Average Sold Price: |
$ 229,756 |
$ 303,641 |
- 24.33 % |
| Median Sold Price: |
$ 215,000 |
$ 283,000 |
- 24.03 % |
| Total Units Sold: |
720 |
409 |
76.04 % |
| Average Days on Market: |
138 |
127 |
8.66 % |
| Average List Price for Solds: |
$ 263,077 |
$ 337,236 |
- 21.99 % |
| Avg Sale Price as a percentage of Avg List Price: |
87.33 % |
90.04 % |
Sales in Prince Georges County Maryland almost doubled. As you can see from the chart above, the number of homes sold this July as compared to last July has increased 76%!
In addition, Montgomery County Maryland also increased as well. This is good news for owners of Maryland real estate. These numbers reflect a trend that goes back to the beginning of the year.
If you are intrested in buying or selling Maryland real estate, please Maryland home sales.
August 7, 2009
The Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS) recently published its Mid Year findings for the Mid Atlantic States Housing Market.
Maryland real estate and Laurel real estate are included in this region.
Some of the points contained in this report include:
Prices are showing renewed signs of strength: 2nd quarter prices in most jurisdictions were up from the 1stquarter, though still lower than one year ago. Prices may experience slight declines through the end of the year, but increased demand and a lower supply of listings are helping facilitate price traction.
• Days on market are down sharply compared to both last quarter and a year ago. Properties continue to sell quickest in the Core jurisdictions, but across the region, time on market is moving toward the region’s long term average.
• The ratio of inventory to sales (months of sales) continues to decline in all jurisdictions from one year ago. The metro-wide ratio of 5.1 months’ worth of listings is below the normal, healthy standard of 6 months, signaling that demand is beginning to outpace supply.
This is welcome news for sellers of Laurel real estate. Buyers considering purchasing a home in Laurel Md may want to do so sooner, rather than later. My buyers have noticed increased competition when making offers on properties.
August 5, 2009
I just read an article in the Laurel Leader that the Prince Georges County Board of Liscense Commissioners just approved the transfer of a liquor license from a closed bar in Laurel Md to another owner who already owns two sports bars in Maryland. The new owner will open up his new bar right where the old one use to be.
This location, over the last several years, has been the site of two previous bars. Both previous clubs were the sites of violent crime, including shootings.
At one point, one of the clubs tried to turn the place in to a strip bar.
As a Laurel Md resident, I can not believe the Board approved a liquor license for a location that has a history of so much violence. On top of that, it appears the board ignored the concerns of the community. Laurel residents have consistently protested any “club” at this location.
There are some restrictions in place. The bar most close at 11:30 p.m., no one hanging out outside and no dancing.
Even with these restrictions, we in Laurel can not believe the board is allowing for the same conditions that produced violent criminal behavior before.
Needless to say, the new owners will be closely watched.
For more community information about Laurel Md and surrounding areas visit Maryland community.
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Brien Berard
RE/MAX
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Laurel, MD 20707
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