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December 16, 2009
Last night my wife and I attended a holiday concert at Martin Luther King Middle School (MLK) in Beltsville Md. The music was performed by the various bands at the school.
My daughter plays the oboe at MLK.
I was struck by how many students were involved in the concert. There were four seperate bands. One group consisted of all strings. Another group was all wind instruments. The other groups were a combination of various types of instruments.
There was an air of anticipation as parents watched their children walk into the gym in their white shirts and red vest. It was an impressive display.
The music students at MLK did a great job. Each band walked up in an orderly fashion, played a couple pieces and then orderly walked back to their seats.
The best part was the music.
The students have improved so much since elementary school. My wife and I attended several concerts and Bond Mill Elementary school in Laurel Md. through the years. The quality of the performances varied.
However, last night at MLK, my wife and I were very impressed. The students were clearly much improved over elementary school. It was nice to hear the music and marvel at the talent.
A good time was had by all. I was a very enjoyable evening.
For more information on local activities, visit Maryland real estate.
December 3, 2009
Those of us who own Laurel real estate are very proud this Holiday season.
This years Turkey Trot, which gives money to the Laurel Advocacy and Referral Service (LARS), had its best year ever. The donations started off with a bang with a huge donation from the Laurel Md CARMAX. In addition to the CARMAX donation, several hundred runners paid their fee and ran the 5K Turkey Trot.
LARS predicts that this year there will be more needy folks in the Laurel Md area due to the economy. It is great to see the Laurel community respond is such a positive way.
For more information on Maryland communities, visit Maryland real estate.
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November 30, 2009
The West Laurel Recreation Council once again is hosting a neighborhood holiday party. The party is 12/4 from 7-9pm. Come join your friends and neighbors for crafts, seasonal music, and some refreshments. Santa is planning to make an appearance if the workload at the North Pole is under control (the rain deer need the exercise).
Bring your favorite holiday finger food to share.
As you know, the Rec Council is a volunteer organization. Events only happen because members of the community step forward and volunteer. We are looking for help running various craft tables, and someone to wear the Frosty the Snowman suit.
Rush Kester
West Laurel Recreation Council Secretary and
webmaster West Laurel’s home page
Come out and enjoy a great time with your West Laurel neighbors.
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On February fifth 2010 there will be a West Laurel Swim Night at the Fairland Aquatic Center. The event will be held between 6:30 p.m and 8:45 p.m. The cost is two dollars per person.
If you are into photography or just want to learn how to use your digital camara better, contact Kim Passmore at 301-725-3157. The class cover basic digital camera operation. The price is between $18 and $20. Class will be held on December 7th between 7 and 9 in the evening.
For more information about neighborhood and community activities, visit Maryland real estate.
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November 24, 2009
Last night I took my daughter to the Laurel School of Music on Main St in Laurel Maryland.
Every Monday evening she has a voice lesson and piano lesson at the school. However, this Monday night was different.
My daughter and I will be singing a duet this Sunday at First United Methodist Church on Main St in Laurel. So both my daughter and I were there for a voice lesson. We met with her piano teacher, Mac Statham, to rehearse for Sunday.
What amazed me about the Laurel School of Music is how busy it was. The school has expanded over the last couple of years. More rooms have been added. The school now has added an upstairs.
Most of all, on a weekend most people are out of town, the Laurel School of Music was busy.
It looks like Laurel Maryland is a great place for people who love music.
Laurel School of Music is located at the corner of 7th St. and Main St. in Laurel Maryland.
For more information about Laurel Md and other communities visit, Maryland real estate.
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November 11, 2009
| 2009 |
2008 |
% Change |
| Total Sold Dollar Volume: |
$ 10,314,641 |
$ 5,093,200 |
102.52 % |
| Average Sold Price: |
$ 271,438 |
$ 231,509 |
17.25 % |
| Median Sold Price: |
$ 247,000 |
$ 220,500 |
12.02 % |
| Total Units Sold: |
38 |
22 |
72.73 % |
| Average Days on Market: |
72 |
115 |
- 37.39 % |
| Average List Price for Solds: |
$ 298,168 |
$ 266,504 |
11.88 % |
Avg Sale Price as a
percentage of Avg List Price: |
91.04 % |
86.87 % |
The above chart compares home sales in Laurel Md 20707 of this past September 2009 with last September 2008.
The results are quite surprising.
It appears Laurel real estate may be increasing in value. The average sold price increased over 17% to $271,438. That is a difference of 40 thousand dollars over last year.
The median sold price in Laurel Md 20707 experienced a jump as well. In September of 2008 the median sold price was $220,500. However, this past September 2009, the median sold price increased to $247,000!
Now one might think these value increases might have a chilling effect on the amount of homes sold in Laurel Md 20707. Surprisingly, the amount of homes almost doubled from 22 in September 2008 to 38 in September 2009.
Not only did more Laurel real estate sell, but more homes sold faster. The average days on market dropped from 115 days to just 72 days.
Though the numbers are surprising, it remains to be seen if this is the start of a trend in Laurel real estate.
November 3, 2009
This past Friday, October 30th there was a Halloween party for all seventh graders of Martin Luther King Middle School in Beltsville Md.
And it was at my house!
I wasn’t too worried when my daughter, who is in seventh grade at MLK in Beltsville Md, said she wanted to have a party the weekend of Halloween. Didn’t pay much attention….I even thought she would forget about it.
But there she was shortly after that planning her party. Invitations were printed up and distributed to the entire seventh grade at Martin Luther King Middle School.
Ok, so she was gonna have a party with some of her school friends. Alright, so maybe ten to fifteen kids show up at my house, have a nice time and go home at a decent hour.
However, when I ask my daughter how many of her classmates she expects to show up at our home on Bounds Ave. in Laurel Maryland, she says without thinking, “Sixty”.
Sixty seventh graders in my house in Laurel?!!!
Then my mind starts to race. It dawns on me that for seventh graders, my daughters party is the only thing to do on Friday. They will come to my house…lots of them.
Now I am suddenly looking for parents to help. I need bodies to help supervise. I need adults to help reign in the crazy behavior of adolescent boys and girls.
Fortunately, My wife and I were able to secure about seven chaperons for the party. My daughter and my wife were able to get food and decorations for the party.
The big night came and about 46 seventh graders were deliverd to my door on Bounds Ave in Laurel. The party was set to end at 11:30 p.m.
I cooked some additional foods and supervised my back yard. There were several play stations in the house. About half the kids were outside the entire night.
Surprisingly, everything went great!!
The kids were wonderful. They were full of energy. They played football. They played basketball. They danced. They roasted marshmallows.
It was just a night of good clean fun.
The last kids left around 12:30 a.m.
The party was a big success for my daughter and my wife. I was very happy that everyone had a good time and no one got hurt.
This party was an indication that if you purchase Laurel real estate, you are going to have some great neighbors.
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October 28, 2009
One of my new favorite places to eat in Laurel Maryland is Five Guys.
Five Guys is located at 15102 Baltimore Ave, Laurel Maryland 20707. This location is right at the intersection of Baltimore Ave and Route 198.
The restaurant can best be described as a Hamburger Joint. Five Guys serves hamburgers, cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers and hot dogs. The burgers come in various sizes and you can top them with anything you like.
Five Guys has an old fashioned feel to it with the red and white tiled interior. Definitely not formal dining, the place has more of a cafeteria feel. No booths, but plenty of room to sit down and devour your burger.
Come in place your order for your customized burger and french fries. Be careful about the fries. A small order of fries, easily feeds two adults. While you are waiting for your burger or dog, grab some peanuts and sit down.
To me, the hamburgers and fries at Five Guys in Laurel, taste like a real burger. You feel almost like you are at a cook out and someone just grilled you a fresh burger.
Five Guys is one of the few eateries when I leave, that I feel like I got my money’s worth.
Five Guys in Laurel Maryland. A great place to take the family for good eats!
For more information about restaurants in Laural Maryland visit Maryland real estate.
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October 22, 2009
I just finished reading another article in the Laurel Gazette about the Laurel Maryland Library, currently located at 507 Seventh St in Laurel.
The debate continues to be whether to expand the library at its current location or to move it to where the old Laurel Md police station is located. The city of Laurel is building a new police station where the old Baptist School was located.
I feel like this issue has been going on for years and according to the Gazette I am correct. I have blogged about this situation before.
As a resident of Laurel Maryland
, I have visited the library on numerous occasions. Both my wife and daughter use the Library often as well. I have been in there many times when it was very crowded. It is obvious the Library needs to be expanded.
As the article states, there is a group who want the Laurel Library moved to Main St. Haveing the Library on Main St. Would be good for the local Laurel businesses on Main St. It is felt by some that traffic to the library would spill over into the shops and restaurants near by.
Others want to keep the Laurel Library in its present neighborhood location. The paper cited comments by patrons of the library. These people feel the library is currently very accessable to children in the neighborhood.
However, one of the issues about expanding the library is Emancipation Park next door. Some residents don’t want any expansion to encroach on the park.
And of course, there are money issues to consider as well.
Like all issues, there are good arguments for and against any decision.
As a realtor, I always wonder what impact any move would have on home values of Laurel real estate. Most families like libraries that are easy to get to.
For more information about Maryland communities, visit Maryland real estate.
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October 20, 2009
| 2009 |
2008 |
% Change |
| Total Sold Dollar Volume: |
$ 5,916,800 |
$ 9,852,700 |
- 39.95 % |
| Average Sold Price: |
$ 328,711 |
$ 351,882 |
- 6.58 % |
| Median Sold Price: |
$ 269,000 |
$ 315,500 |
- 14.74 % |
| Total Units Sold: |
18 |
28 |
- 35.71 % |
| Average Days on Market: |
48 |
100 |
- 52.00 % |
| Average List Price for Solds: |
$ 341,689 |
$ 380,254 |
- 10.14 % |
Avg Sale Price as a
percentage of Avg List Price: |
96.20 % |
92.54 % |
The number above reflect home sales in Laurel Maryland zip code 20723 for this September 2009 as compared to September 2008.
Despite price drops, the number of homes sold in Howard County Laurel Maryland dropped significantly when compared to the same time period last year.
Total Sold Dollar Volumewas down almost 40%. The total number of homes sold this September 2009, 18, reflects a thirtyfive percent decrease from 28 homes sold last September.
These declines took place despite a drop of both the Average Sold Price and the Medium Sold Price. The Medim Sold Price dropped almost 15% to $269,000.
An odd statistic from above is the Average Days On Market. The time to sell a home was cut in half, from 100 days to 52 days. Less homes sold, twice as fast.
For more information on Maryland home sales, visit Maryland real estate.
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Contact Us
Brien Berard
RE/MAX
13994 Baltimore Ave.
Laurel, MD 20707
Phone: (301) 604-0198
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