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July 1, 2010
The Laurel Maryland real estate tax credit incentive is over.
 Summer in Laurel Maryland The tax credit created a rush of buyers trying to buy a home before the April 30th deadline. Both first time home buyers and move up buyers tried to take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit. The rush of buyers for Maryland real estate in April will reduce the number of Maryland home buyers this summer.
Seller activity in Laurel Maryland did not outpace buyer activity.
This is the continuation of a recent trend in Maryland. This type of pace will shrink the inventory of available homes and should help stabilize the market. This shrinking inventory can be seen in Montgomery County Maryland and Prince Georges County Maryland. These counties have just under a five months supply of homes. This is pretty much a balanced market.
Helping shrink the inventory for Laurel Maryland real estate has resulted in the dropping prices of homes. The median sales price dropped just over seven percent from last May 2009. This continues the downward trend that started back in 2007. However this also reflects less of price drop than in previous Mays. Prices dropped over 14% from May of 2008 to May of 2009 in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland.
A good note for sellers of Maryland real estate is the fact that they are getting 95% of list price for their homes. This is a big jump from last May 2009 when sellers were only getting about 90% of list price for their homes. This is also a further indication of real estate market stabilization.
What does the future of Laurel Maryland real estate hold?
Some feel the financial troubles of Europe will help keep interest rates down. In addition, jobs created by the stimulus package in the Maryland area will help the local economy and boost consumer confidence. These factors should be good for Maryland real estate.
To view Maryland homes for sale visit Maryland real estate listings.
June 10, 2010
Laurel Maryland Real Estate Grant Programs
 Are you interested in learning about Laurel Maryland real estate grant programs? Currently there are two grant programs for first time Laurel Maryland real estate home buyers that I am using with my Maryland real estate buyers.
The first program is a $7500 grant that can be used for down payment or closing cost. This particular grant has some restrictions on it, but most people can qualify if they have decent credit.
Laurel Maryland Real Estate Grants
The second grant I am using for my first time buyers of Laurel Maryland real estate is a $3500 grant from the Maryland CDA program. The qualifications for this grant are more liberal.
For both grants, Maryland home buyers have to have decent, not perfect, credit.
Please contact me for details about Laurel Maryland Real Estate
If you are thinking about buying Laurel real estate, visit Maryland real estate.
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May 16, 2010
Laurel Maryland Real Estate Near Elementary Schools
 Bethany Church in Laurel Maryland I was at a fundraiser for Laurel Maryland Real Estate near elementary schools recently. The speaker was the Pastor at Bethany Church in Laurel Md, Kevin McDonald. He was talking about how some Maryland politicians had failed the local school system.
Raising Money For Maryland Real Estate
 Laurel Elementary School The Pastor went on to say that using slots in Maryland Real Estate to raise money for the public school system was wrong. Pastor McDonald believes the people in the community could work together to help the seven Laurel Maryland elementary schools. McDonald said we don’t need gambling, we need each other.
His solution is the Side-by-Side Program. This program literally has the local Laurel Maryland community working side-by-side with the seven Laurel elementary schools.
Local volunteers help parents with early morning child care. Side-by-Side also has after school activities like homework clubs as well. Parents are given education classes to help them be better suited for the challenges of their children’s education.
For more information call 202-710-5555.
As always for any of your housing needs visit Maryland real estate.
February 22, 2010
Warm Ways To Save Money in Laurel Maryland
 Ways To Keep Your Hands Warm In Laurel Maryland I am sure the record setting snow has made all of us in Laurel, Maryland aware of how good are homes are at heating. My wife has been very busy looking for inexpensive ways to keep the heat in our home on Bounds Ave in West Laurel Maryland.
Below are good ideas on how to keep the heat in and the heating bills low in your Laurel real estate.
Ways To Reduce Your Heating Bill
When the temperature outside begins to fall, our heating bills quickly start to rise. For many homeowners, keeping their house warm in the winter means paying a hefty heating bill. If you use BG&E, you really know how expensive heat can be for Laurel, Maryland residents. Luckily, there are some ways to help reduce those costs and keep a little extra cash in your pocket for a rainy (and warmer) day.
Don’t Be Shade-y
 Open You Blinds For Hidden Savings. Even though it may be cold outside, the sun still tries to peak through on occasion. When it does, make sure to open your curtains and/or blinds in order to welcome the sun’s heat into your home. This will help to add a touch of warmth to help keep your heating costs down. After all, the time for seeking shade from the sunlight is in the summer.
This surprised me how effective this can be. Like other homes on Bounds Ave, our home has carport that was converted into a finished room. This room is mostly windows. We left the shades open and at one point this was the warmest room in the house.
Ways to Cool Your Laurel Maryland Real Estate
Did you know that the settings on your water heater could be affecting your heating bill? It’s true. Check your owner’s manual or ask a local expert about the ideal settings for your water heater which, if turned down, may still be able to heat your water adequately while reducing your heating bill.
I can’t tell you how many home inspectors point this out to my clients who buy Maryland real estate.
Maryland Real Estate Insulation Information
 Insulate Your Wallet With Big Savings. Insulation is used to maintain your home’s temperature. Some houses, especially older ones, may require additional insulation to keep the cold air out during the winter and the warm air in. The latter is especially important if your goal is to lower your heating bills. Check with a local insulation professional about upgrading or replacing your outdated insulation.
Temperature Control
Turning the thermostat down when the house is empty or at night (when you can snuggle up under the covers) will help to reduce your Laurel Maryland real estate heating costs.
Window Woes
 How To Keep Savings From Seeping Through The Cracks If you feel a cold draft near your windows, chances are good that it isn’t the only direction that the air is flowing. Specifically, air leaks or gaps in your window can cause the warm air to leave your home, which can result in a rising heat bill. If you notice a draft, use caulk to seal the area or hire a professional Laurel Maryland real estate handyman to repair any cracks or imperfections that may be causing an airflow problem.
Now that you know how to keep your heating costs down, it’s important to note a certain amount of fresh air must be able to enter the home in order to prevent a buildup of moisture, which could lead to mold during the winter. In other words, don’t prevent a natural airflow by making your home excessively airtight.
For more information about taking care of your home and the Maryland home sales, visit Maryland real estate.
February 15, 2010
If you are interested in buying Maryland real estate, you need to be aware of a couple deadlines.
First the tax exemption of $8000 for first time home buyers and $6500 for move up buyers will be expiring at the end of April. Buyers must settle by the end of June this summer.
Secondly, the federal government will no longer be using money to artificially keep rates low.
The time to buy a Maryland home is now.
February 12, 2010
Good news for those considering buying Laurel real estate, Fed Chairman Benn Bernanke says that rates should stay low for the foreseeable future.
Low rates will still make it possible for first time home buyers to pursue the dream of owning a home in Laurel Maryland. However, tighter credit restrictions will still have a negative impact on home buying in Laurel.
The federal government is taking steps to protect its assets. The current housing market took a heavy toll on the FHA. The government will have less involvement in home purchases, until it can be in a position of strength.
For more updates like these and other information about Maryland real estate visit Maryland home sales.
December 21, 2009
Good news for first time home buyers. The $8000 tax credit for first time home buyers has been extended to the end of April 2010.
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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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Contact Us
Brien Berard
RE/MAX
13994 Baltimore Ave.
Laurel, MD 20707
Phone: (301) 604-0198
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