Remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.Economic Calendar for the Week of August 27 - August 31DateETEconomic Report ForEstimateActualPriorImpactMon. August 2710:00Existing Home SalesJul5.70M 5.75MModerateTue. August 2810:00Consumer ConfidenceAug106.5 112.6ModerateTue. August 2802:00FOMC Minutes8/07   HIGHWed. August 2910:30Crude Inventories8/24NA 1890KModerateThu. August 3008:30GDP Chain DeflatorQ22.7% 2.7%HIGHThu. August 3008:30Jobless Claims (Initial)8/25320K 322KModerateThu. August 3008:30Gross Domestic Product (GDP)Q24.1% 3.4%ModerateFri. August 3108:30Personal SpendingJul0.4% 0.1%ModerateFri. August 3108:30Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCEJul0.1% 0.1%HIGHFri. August 3108:30Personal Con... 08/28/2007

  The Village of Harper Farm has stayed very active and busy. There were 5 homes sales within the last 40 days.There are 28 current active listings and 5 current contracts. Harpers Farm has a mixture of townhomes and Single family residences.The Range of list prices are from $159,900 to $1,479,500. * The Village of Hapers Farm Market Report by Frank Harris- Real Estate Consultant 240.472.9008       08/15/2007

  The Glen Oaks has stayed active and Steady. There were 3 homes sales within the last month.There are 3 current active listings and no current contracts. Glen Oaks is a small community that has a mixture of townhomes and Single family residences. Curren home listings are between $170k and 1.4m.Look for a complete report n the end of each and every month.The Glen Oaks Market Report by Frank Harris- Real Estate Consultant 240.472.9008    08/15/2007

COLUMBIA HOMES OFFER STYLE, CONVENIENCE AND ARE LOCATED IN A COMMUNITY DESIGNED LIVING, WORK AND PLAYFor Maryland home buyers looking for community, style, location, shopping, transportation convenience, atmosphere and highly ranked public schools, Columbia, in Howard County Maryland is a location where you'll love to live.  TOUR THE VILLAGES OF COLUMBIA  Homes in Columbia Maryland have the special identity of the Columbia Village in which they were built over the past 45 years. The community planners considered the needs of families and developed the town on the "village" concept. Each village has it's own unique personality and primary architectural style. With acres of nature preserved in each village, the homes in Columbia have quiet and peaceful surrounds with wildlife protected an... 07/31/2007

Day 18June 23, 2007 - SaturdayColumbia AssociationConcertLakefront Summer Festival June 22 - August 19, 2007ConcertColumbia Town Center LakefrontFreeColumbia Association Community Services 410-715-3161http://www.columbiaassociation.com/St. Louis ParishSt. Louis Parish CelebrationJoin to celebrate our Parish and community. Activities include live music, plant sale, silent auction, yard sale, bingo and pony rides. Win $20,000 in our raffle.  We have a Country Ham and Fried Chicken Dinner with all the fixings'. All are welcome!Noon - 9:00 pm129th St. Louis Parish Clarksville, MDFor more info call the Parish Office at 410-531-6040The Horizon FoundationColumbia at 40: It All Began In Wilde LakeColumbia at 40Columbia at 40: It All Began In Wilde LakeJune 1 - June 30, 2007On the Horizon show o... 06/16/2007

Day 17June 22, 2007 - FridayColumbia AssociationLakefront Summer FestivalLakefront Summer Festival June 22 - August 19, 2007Dancing Under the People Tree6:30 pm - 8:00 pmColumbia Town Center LakefrontFreehttp://www.columbiaassociation.com/Columbia AssociationLakefront Summer FestivalLakefront Summer Festival June 22 - August 19, 2007Movie at Dusk Columbia Town Center LakefrontFreehttp://www.columbiaassociation.com/Columbia Festival of the ArtsThe Second City:  Truth, Justice or the American WayIn Truth, Justice, or The American Way, a diverse array of sketches and songs provide side splitting insight into contemporary American culture8:00 pm$35, $30, $20Rouse Theatrehttp://www.columbiafestival.com/The Howard County Department of Recreation and ParksHenry VChesapeake Shakespeare Company ... 06/16/2007

Day 16June 21, 2007 - ThursdayColumbia Festival of the ArtsHampton "Rock" String QuartetBelmont Conference CenterOutdoor lawn seating, bring your own blankets and chairsDinner 6:00 pmShow 7:30 pm$45 includes Buffet Dinner, cash barhttp://www.columbiafestival.com/Columbia Festival of the ArtsIn Partnership with HoCoPoLitSoHigh Tea with Novelist Carrie BrownCarrie Brown will read from her works, including her new novel, The Rope Walk4:30 to 6:00 pm$30 Includes three-course high teaHistoric Oaklandhttp://www.columbiafestival.com/Howard BankColumbia at a CrossroadsUpon the occasion of the "New City's 40th Birthday and the Bank's 40th month Anniversary, the 1st Annual Howard Bank Symposium, featuring Anirban Basu of Sage Policy Group will explore the economic status and impact of Columbia.5:... 06/16/2007

Day 14June 19, 2007 - TuesdayThe Horizon FoundationColumbia at 40: It All Began In Wilde LakeColumbia at 40: It All Began In Wilde LakeJune 1 - June 30, 2007On the Horizon show on GTV Comcast channel 70 and Verizon channel 44Monday 11:00 am and 10:00 pWednesday 11:00 am & 9:00 pFriday 8:00 pmSaturday 11:00 am Sunday 11:00 am  06/16/2007

Day 13June 18, 2007 - MondayThe Horizon FoundationColumbia at 40: It All Began In Wilde Lake Columbia at 40: It All Began In Wilde LakeJune 1 - June 30, 2007On the Horizon show on GTV Comcast channel 70 and Verizon channel 44Monday 11:00 am and 10:00 pm, Wednesday 11:00 am & 9:00 pm, Friday 8:00 pmSaturday 11:00 am Sunday 11:00 amColumbia Festival of the Arts Columbia Festival of the ArtsBarrage Barrage is a high-octane fiddle fest!7:30 pm$45, $40, $30, Students/Seniors $40, $35, $25Rouse Theatrehttp://www.columbiafestival.com/ 06/16/2007

Day 12June 17, 2007 - Sunday Columbia Festival of the ArtsCongo SquareFeaturing the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wyrton Marsalis and Yacub Addy and Odadaa!7:30 pmRouse Theatre$65, $55, $45 Students/Seniors $60, $50, $40http://www.columbiafestival.com/Borders Books - Columbia CrossingsBook SigningDavid Stebenne & Joseph Rocco Mitchell "New City Upon a Hill, A History of Columbia, MD"Details TBAThe Howard County Department of Recreation and ParksHenry VChesapeake Shakespeare Company - In The Ruins, Maryland's premiere outdoor Shakespeare experienceJune 8,9,16,17,22,23  July 1,6Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 pmSundays are Family Friendly 5:00 $25, $22Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park3691 Sarah's Lane Ellicott City, MDhttp://www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com/The Horizon FoundationColum... 06/16/2007

                                  Columbia Maryland Voted Top Ten Place to Live in AmericaBest Place to LiveIf you are at all interested in Moving to Howard county or Columbia Maryland, go to the link above. I love this city and have lived here since 1989. Columbia is smack in between Washington and Baltimore Maryland. We are (Columbia Maryland) actually celebrating our 40th year anniversary.  06/07/2007

 First Time Home Buyers Seminar  *New to the Seminar. Discussion of 100% and 103% percent loans. You are invited to attend a Free Home Buyers Seminar Wednesday, June 20th 2007From 7:00pm to 8:00pm at the Keller William's officeLocated at 6350 Steven Forest Road, Ste 107. Columbia, Md. 21046This Step by Step Introductory First Time Home Buyers Seminar Will Show Potential Home Buyers How To:•·       Take Advantage of record-high foreclosures & record interest rates.•·       Take advantage of special government sponsored 1st Time Buyers programs.•·       Buy now with as little as $3,000 down!•·       Speak to credit specialists that can correct and/ or clean up credit.•·       Find out from a tax advantage why it makes sense to own rather than rent.  PLEASE RSVP BY CALLING 240-472-9008 05/30/2007

HOMES SOLD IN COLUMBIA MARYLAND - JANUARY 1 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2007The Spring 2007 market for real estate in Columbia, Maryland has been slow but prices have heldfirm.  The number of detached single family homes in Columbia sold in the first quarter of 2007 was about 30% lower than the number of homes sold in Columbia in 2006.  SOLD PRICES IN COLUMBIA 2006 - 2007Average list prices of homes SOLD in the first quarter of 2007 was about $520,000.Average list prices of homes SOLD in the first quarter of 2006 was about $495,000.NUMBER OF UNITS SOLD IN COLUMBIA 2006 - 200796 Homes in Columbia SOLD in the first quarter of 2007, compared with 130 homes SOLDin Columbia in the first quarter of 2006.  AVAILABLE NEW HOMES IN COLUMBIA, SPRING 2007, range in price from $500,000 to $1,400,000.  NEW HOM... 05/01/2007

My Organic Market (MOM's) located in East Columbia, MD is a great example of GREEN Business and how action speaks louder than words.  MOM‘s Purpose: Our Mission, our reason for existing and our #1 priority is to restore the environment to the maximum extent we are able. Whether taking action as individuals (both employees and customers), as a company, influencing other companies, funding legislative efforts, or supporting environmental advocacy groups, we will work tirelessly towards ensuring a clean and restored environment for our children and many future generations. ACTIONSIn January 2006, MOM‘s purchased 1.5 million Kilowatt-hours of Wind Energy. This purchase represents our entire energy use for one year at four stores. The benefits of this wind-powered energy are: The elimination... 03/14/2007

 As I reread, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill – one of my original highlights jumped out at me and it just so happened to be the object of the book which “i "is to help all who seek it to learn the art of  changing their minds from failure consciousness to success consciousness.”   The objective really hit me as I think back to my football days as a Terps wide receiver.  One particular play stands out in my mind b/c we were losing and needed  needed to score a touchdown to win the game in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.  At any point, the play was coming to me -- If I could beat my man on a deep pattern – now here’s  the clincher – as I left the huddle the thought on my mind waswa  was ---  don’t drop the ball, don’t drop the ball –so of course – I dropped the ball b/c ... 02/16/2007

She got me...Margaret Rome commented on Maureen McCabe's post and memed me, so here goes. 1.  Where do I live? The Land of Pleasant Living, America in Miniature, and (officially) The Old Line State.  That's my home for the past  mumbledy-leven years - Maryland.  The city of Columbia, where I've lived for 8 years, is about half way between Baltimore and Washington, D.C, just west of I-95. Celebrating it's 40th birthday this year, Columbia began as a gleam in Jim Rouse's eye and is now a city of over 100,000 people on land that covers more square acreage than Manhattan. Envisioned as a place where there would be true diversity, Columbia has largely lived up to that vision. Situated between the Chesapeake Bay and the Appalachian mountains several miles to the west, we're in rolling country... 01/30/2007

COLUMBIA MARYLAND - a "Planned Community" developed by The Rouse Company with construction beginning in the 1960s and continuing on today.   A thriving town with development around the 10 Columbia Villages .  Real estate in Columbia appeals to home owners who find employment in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Montgomery County and other locations that are convenient to this well located Planned Community.  Luxury Homes in Columbia are popular.  Built on average 1/5-1/4 acre lots, there is a vigorous market for new contruction for Columbia Maryland Real Estate .                 Luxury Single Family Detached and Town Homes are popular with new home buyers in Columbia, MD.  Resales comprise approximately 92% of all listings of homes for sale in Columbia.  AMENITIESCOLUMBIA offers spectacular ... 11/26/2006