Baltimore Maryland�s Real Estate Market has been booming for the last several years. There has been quite a lot of growth in all areas of the state. Maryland appeals to many different home buyers for many different reasons. Each city has something to offer just about everyone and Baltimore and Washington are just a stones throw away to visit. The following is a list of counties in Baltimore, Maryland and what real estate averages are for each area.
Anne Arundel County - Annapolis is the State Capitol where many state offices are located. This historic city located on the banks of the Severn River just a short boat ride to the Chesapeake Bay. A popular place with sail boat owners, Anne Arundel homes range from luxury water front homes in Annapolis to more affordable homes in Pasadena, convenience of homes in Crofton and affordability of Glen Burnie homes. Anne Arundel real estate average price is $450,458.
Baltimore County- Baltimore County, Maryland real estate is dynamic and diverse county with a history of Americana including the unique homes in the City of Baltimore, easily identified by the brick facade and white marble stoop. Northeast of Baltimore City, homes in Baltimore County are very affordable and popular with folks who work in Baltimore City. Many Baltimore County residents work in and commute to Washington, D.C. daily. MARC Train serves many and avoids the traffic on this popular commuter route.
Baltimore County enjoys a variety of home styles, prices, and lot sizes. The areas in the north west areas of the county, known as "horse country" offers luxury homes, farms and a number of historical home sites to help us all remember what homes were like in the 17th and 18th Century. Historic communities offer homes to Baltimore home buyers who wish to own and preserve these wonderful examples of homes built in the 1800s and still occupied today.
There are also areas in "horse country" where there are farms, large lot communities with luxury homes and quiet countrysides in this area. Two major impoundments also offer fabulous recreational activities for the fishermen and boaters in Loch Raven Reservoir and Pretty Boy Reservoir. Average Prices depend upon the area of Baltimore County that you choose to live. They are as diverse as the county itself.
Calvert County - Calvert County offers fantastic value for luxury home sites in Dunkirk and Huntingtown and affordable homes in Lusby and Prince Frederick. Also popular are the marina and well priced homes in Chesapeake Beach. The Average price for homes in Calvert County are $428,682.
Carroll County � A more rural county in Maryland, Carroll County has vast rolling hills as well as many affordable communities. Westminster, Sykesville, Eldersburg, and Hampstead offers a variety of well priced homes. Real estate prices for Carroll County homes average in the $370,000 range.
Cecil County - Elkton and Northeast offer rural home site and water front homes in prices much lower than other Maryland water oriented areas. Average home in Cecil County price - $325,676.
Charles County - Waldorf is the most popular residential area in Southern Maryland. Known for well priced communities, Waldorf and La Plata, the county seat, are popular with commuters to D.C., Andrews AFB and Northern Virginia. Average price homes in Charles County range in the $370,000s.
Harford County - Bel Air, north of Baltimore County is popular for price and convenience to Baltimore. It is well known for having wonderful schools, great communities, and still maintains a more rural atmosphere. Harford County homes are priced well. Harford Count homes average price - $380.000.
Frederick County � Frederick County is full of rolling hills and agriculture. Nestled in Frederick, Urbana, Mt. Airy, Middletown and New Market are communities that offer very well priced homes compared to the more expensive homes in Montgomery County. Average price real estate in Frederick County is $380,445.
Howard County - Columbia homes are very popular in a planned community offering homes in all price ranges including luxury home sites. Other residential areas include Ellicott City and to the west are the rural areas of Dayton and Clarksville and the more affordable homes are in Elkridge. Howard County homes average price is $439,060.
Montgomery County - Homes in Potomac and Bethesda (Metro) are luxury priced and popular because of high ranking Public Schools and convenience to D.C. as well as Northern Virginia. Real estate in Gaithersburg, Germantown and Damascus offer a variety of prices. Silver Spring, Rockville, and Olney are popular for a variety of home styles and prices as well as METRO. Average price homes in Montgomery County starts at $500,000.
Prince George's County - Bowie is the most popular town in the county offering well priced and convenient homes in all prices in older as well as newer communities. To the south, Upper Marlboro offers large lot luxury homes sites as well as well priced communities such as Marlton. $358,653 is the average price homes in Prince George's County.
St. Mary's County - Lexington Park is home to the Patuxent River Naval Station. Semi-luxury homes are popular in St. Mary's county because of prices compared with areas closer to D.C. St. Mary's County offers water front communities as well. Average price real estate in St. Mary's County is $328,971.
Washington County - Hagerstown and Boonsboro real estate was once considered country. Not any more. It is very popular with home owners who use MARC Train to commute to Rockville and D.C. Average homes in Washington County are $267,096.
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Marti Kougel is a writer and real estate professional in the Baltimore MD Real Estate market.


Buying Real Estate in Baltimore Maryland � The Questions that People Ask.
Q. When buying real estate in Baltimore, Maryland, do I need an attorney?
A. No. The Maryland contract form is prepared by your agent. It was written and approved by attorneys.
Q. Will I require an attorney to settle or close the sale?
A. No. Maryland permits "title companies" to conduct real estate settlements. This saves buyers and sellers money at closing.
Q. In Baltimore, MD, are there new homes that are already completed that I can purchase?
A. Yes. Some builders construct "spec" homes in Maryland to have homes ready for new buyers.
Q. What is the advantage of having a home built from the beginning?
A. You have control over the colors of counter tops, cabinet selection, flooring, etc. and can customize your house to your lifestyle.
Q. If I buy a town home, will I have to have a Homeowner Association?
A. In most communities in Maryland, expect to have a Homeowner Association for any home, town home or condominium that has common areas. Maryland requires maintenance for multiple home communities to pay for certain services, i.e. grounds maintenance of common areas, tot lots, snow removal, etc.
Q. Will I know about the Homeowner Association before making my purchase?
A. Yes. Maryland requires that buyers be provided a copy of the Homeowner Association Documents prior to settlement. The buyer has 5 days to rescind the contract if they object to any of the disclosure in the documents. The buyer's earnest money will be refunded.
Q. Is it a good idea to have a home inspection for a resale home in Maryland?
A. Yes. Only a home inspection by an experienced home inspector will discover defects that a home buyer cannot see when looking at homes to buy. Home inspections give the home buyer information about the condition and expected costs of maintenance or future repairs.
Q. How much does a home inspection cost?
A. Based on the market value of homes, the home inspection will cost approx. 0.00085% of the sales price. On average home inspections range between 200 and 300 dollars. Properties with acreage will be higher than town homes, single family homes, or condominium homes on small lots. It is expected that the buyer will pay for the home inspection at the time of the inspection.
Q. How much are closing costs in Baltimore, Maryland?
A. Closing costs vary from county to county. Maryland closing costs are higher than many states because the state and some counties use the transfer of title as a source of revenue. Estimate approximately 3-4.5% of the purchase price for closing costs plus down payment. Your agent should provide you with a Buyer's Closing Cost Estimate when your contract is written. Your lender will provide a Good Faith Estimate when you make loan application.
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Marti Kougel is a writer and real estate professional in the Baltimore MD Real Estate market.


Surprised Realtor
As a Realtor you never stop being surprised. Earlier this week, for one of my clients, I made an offer on a wonderful Sacramento area home. We have been looking for the perfect home during past several months. We finally found a house in their price range and met all of their needs. In today’s market where the numbers of sales are down and inventory is still high, I was shocked by how the listing agent chose to deal with our offer.
After submitting the offer, I got a call from the listing agent who informed me she was going to get a second offer but if my clients would like to make a full price offer she would accept my word and “take it to the church.” Who knows what the church has to do with it, I thought it went to the bank? We were not going to get into a bidding war with a non-existent second offer so we remained quiet and waited.
The deadline to for the sellers to respond came and went without any news. This morning I found a counter offer on my fax indicating they are in a multiple offer situation. Their counter is for more than the full asking price, with an amount back to cover my buyers closing costs. In addition, without any explanation or elaboration they added the sale is subject to the seller finding and closing on another home. In a multi-offer situation I can understand countering back at full price to give both potential buyers a chance to make their best offer but am I crazy thinking making it subject to finding and closing on a new house too much, especially without any information?
The point I want to make is not why the sellers made their counter offer but how it was handled by their agent and how it may impact the sale. In my opinion the sellers are not being represented well by their agent. When she tried the “strong arm” tactic, my clients were annoyed. When she let the “respond by” deadline pass without any communication they moved to “mad.” Coming back with a counter over asking price and subject to the seller’s whims and desires moved them emotionally to another home. They will make another counter offer but it will not be what they may have done had we been treated better.

In addition, based on my analysis of the subject house, I am not sure it will appraise for the asking price and am sure it will NOT appraise for $8,000 above that number. Second, this house has been on the market for 60 days, and the sellers want buyers to sit on their butts waiting for them to find and close on a new house before they are assured the sellers are moving forward…..I think not!
In every kind of market, to maximize service as well as price or cost, everything about a selling or buying a home must be done right. What surprises me is when the easy parts are not done right.
Julie Jalone is an experienced professional Realtor® serving buyers and sellers of residential real estate in the Greater Sacramento area including Placer, El Dorado, Yolo and Yuba counties. Some of the communities served by Julie include Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln and Granite Bay. To learn more about Julie, take a look at her website, jalone.com, where you will find additional articles, current listings, home search and her daily blog, ”Keep it Real in Sacramento.”