There was good news and bad news for Crofton in September, according to statistics released by Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc., combined with my own quick review of homes listed, sold, and under contract during that time.Let's start with the GOOD news: Average sold prices were up for the third month in a row, and higher than September 2006, as well. The average sold price in Crofton was up 11.25% from last year to $398,371.  The median price was the same as it was in September 2006, $330,000.                  Now for the BAD news:The number of Crofton homes sold in September 2007 went down 40.38% from the same month last year, and down for the third month in a row to just thirty-one.  One third of these were detached homes.Compare this with new listings in September 2007... 10/13/2007

It is not too early to think Christmas if you would like to have Behnke's poinsettias delivered right here to Crofton the first week of December!  In fact, orders must be placed before November 1.Order your poinsettias today from the Crofton Village Garden Club for gifts, your place of business, or your own home.  You can't match the quality, price and convenience anywhere else! Four Colors Available:RED *  WHITE  *  PINK  *  MARBLE(Marble is pink and white bi-color)  Three Sizes Available: 3-4 Blooms    $ 8.404-6 Blooms    $12.607-12 Blooms  $21.00Sales tax included in prices  Each plant is decorated with a green pot cover and wrapped with a Behnke's logo protective sleeve. Remember, orders must be placed before November 1 to qualify for this price and delivery to Crofton.  Contact me ... 10/09/2007

ok - here's the scoop.  My wife and I love to play buzztime trivia (www.buzztime.com).  You may have seen them in your local bar or restaurant.  It's those little blue boxes that allow one to answer trivia questions shown on various t.v. screens.  Questions pop up and folk have a few moments to answer the question.  There are five answers given and one must guess, er know, the correct answer.  Three clues are given - usually negative ones saying it's not xxx - time lapses and then the right answer is revealed.  One can either play in cooperation with others in the establishment or by themselves.  At the end of each game, usually 30 minutes, scores are then transmitted to a central location and everyone across the country gets to see the top bar scores (the top 5 scores of a bar averaged... 09/29/2007

The Crofton real estate market has remained more stable over the last month than I anticipated,  In fact, the Average Sold Price dropped only 5.43% from last year, while the Median Sold Price went up 3.04%Total units sold were in line with last year's - 45 in 2007 and 41 in 2006.  Days on Market were about the same as last year, too - 66 in 2007, only two more than the same month in 2006.    Crofton (21114)    2007    2006 Total Sold Dollar Volume: $ 16,346,250   $ 15,748,000           3.80 % Average Sold Price: $ 363,250 $ 384,098 - 5.43 % Median Sold Price: $ 322,500 $ 313,000 3.04 % Total Units Sold: 45 41 9.76 % Average Days on Market: 66 64 3.13 % Average List Price for Solds: $ 375,492 $ 400,824 - 6.32 % Avg Sale Price as a percentage of Avg List Price: 96.74 % 95.83 %  I was so i... 09/10/2007

CROFTON MD 21114 Crofton home prices dropped in July, putting her in good company with communities across the nation (although the number of homes sold in July 2007 exceeded those in 2006).  The news is particularly discouraging, given that the current mortgage market debacle is not reflected in last month's statistics.  Given the downward direction in prices for July, continually expanding inventory, and now the tightening of mortgage criteria, sellers and buyers alike could be in for some tough times for the remainder of the year.Yet, as you can see from this chart, the difference in Crofton's average sold price from last year has not been nearly as dramatic, so far this year, as in other parts of the country, or even our state and county.As of today (8/9/07), there are 182 homes for ... 08/10/2007

Laura Roskelly | (410) 721-6694 | FortMeadeHomes@aol.com 1028 Murdoch Court, Crofton, Maryland, 21114 3 BR / 3 BR - townhouse Gorgeous home in Stonehaven Mews at Crofton FOR SALE - By Real Estate Agent Price/Rent $285,900.00 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 Lot Size 0.00 acres Nearest Bases Fort Meade / NSA < 10 Miles Annapolis Naval Station < 10 Miles Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard < 20 Miles Availablility Date: 2007-05-14 Open House: 2007-05-14 to 2007-05-14 Description Beautiful and in the heart of Crofton!! Shows like a model with new Pergo flooring, updated carpeting and appliances. The main level features a large sunny eat-in kitchen with box bay window, golden oak cabinetry and breakfast bar, separate dining area opens to spacious living room with marble surround fireplace, and powder room w... 08/02/2007

Crofton has a few restaurants including Friendlys which is located right on Rt. 3, past the Crofton gates and is a great place to stop for ice cream in the summertime!Behind Friendlys is a large shopping center which includes Shoppers Food Warehouse, Kmart, Kwong's Hunan Chinese Restaurant which has excellent food, Extreme Hair, Jerry's Subs and Pizza, Kmart, Dollar Tree, and Gold's Gym. 08/01/2007

This is the "new" Crofton Library, located behind the Crofton Convalescent Center.  It is at the corner of Riedel Road and Aberdeen Drive.  Crofton Library features many great events for children starting with  "Babies in Bloom" which is a program for babies up to 24 months with stories, songs and plays.  Ages 2-6 will enjoy the "Teddy Bear Picnic" which is August 15th for outdoor stories and singing and a take home craft. To keep abreast of happenings at the library, you can visit their website:http://www.aacpl.net/branch_info/cro.htm 08/01/2007

Your real estate connection for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, Northrop Grumman, BWI and the U.S. Naval Academy    CROFTON MD 21114 My dad always said that a golf course is the best place to raise children, and I have to echo his sentiment.   A child who runs home from school to get his golf clubs and practice is not hanging out in an alley experimenting with drugs.  An adolescent or teen who plays 18 or 36 holes of golf a day, virtually from dawn 'til dark, is too tired to stay out late at night drinking.  A child who plays golf develops life skills such as goal-setting, discipline, self-motivation, and learning from mistakes and disappointments.  Living in Crofton provided my children the opportunity to play golf every day that weather permitted, and my ... 07/30/2007

Crofton real estate is alive and well, if the activity I've experienced in recent weeks is any indication.  But the inventory of available properties is much higher than we've seen in recent years, so buyers have several homes to consider.  Showing so many homes in the same price range has reminded me again how important curb appeal is to a sale - especially in this "Buyer's Market".  Each of my buyer-clients chose to make an offer on the home that had the best curb appeal over others in the same price range and with the same features.   Having observed this, I sat down at my computer today to make sure there was an article about curb appeal on the SELLERS tab of my website homepage, and here are some excerpts:   PUTTING YOUR BEST FACE FORWARDIn real estate, as in other things, you don'... 07/24/2007

Your real estate connection for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, Northrop Grumman, BWI and the U.S. Naval Academy   Maryland real estate may experience a slight "boom" now that word is out about what a great place it is to live!  Money's list of Top 100 Best Places to Live 2007 includes five Maryland communities:   Crofton (72), Catonsville (49), Eldersburg (56), Elkridge (42), and Olney (17).  Communities around the country were ranked for a variety of factors that impact quality of life including affordability, leisure activities, cultural options, job growth, health care access, commute time, and even the weather.  Of course, that's no surprise to anyone who lives in these Maryland communities because those are some of the reasons people have been choosin... 07/22/2007

Crofton real estate is always desirable, but it may be even MORE attractive to folks who are looking for a home in Anne Arundel County now that Money has ranked Crofton in its Top 100 Best Places to Live 2007.   Communities around the country were ranked for a variety of factors that impact quality of life including affordability, leisure activities, cultural options, job growth, health care access, commute time, and even the weather.  Of course, that's no surprise to anyone who lives in Crofton - those are some of the reasons we chose this community as our home!   Other Maryland communities included on the list are Catonsville, Eldersburg, Elkridge, and Olney.     Check out the Crofton News Crier article about this topic Free Maryland Travel Kit More information about Crofton Crofton ... 07/22/2007

Yesterday we were out at Walden Golf Club as usual, chatting with friends.  Everyone built up a hunger and suggested we go to Big Fish here in Crofton.  I had only eaten there once for Sunday Brunch with the kids, normally we go to the same restaurants time and time again.We were pleasantly surprised with the dinner menu and our choices.  We both chose the Prime Rib and Crab Cake and everything was properly cooked and really delicious.  Sometimes it's risky to order medium rare, but they were right on, cooked to perfection.  Not only that, the service was good as well.  Good service can be hard to come by so when we get it, we're pleasantly surprised!  If you happen to find yourself in Crofton, Maryland, this is a great place to eat! 07/22/2007

I read something online today about America's 12 Worst Traffic Traps.As I watched the slideshow, a familiar "traffic trap" appeared before my eyes: The I-495 and I-270 Interchange in Montgomery County, Maryland. This is one of the worst commuting spots in the nation, according to the AAA, costing 19 million hours of delay a year for commuters in our local area.  I believe it... I've been there!Anne Arundel County residents rarely travel this stretch of "the Beltway", I-495. We tend to travel into D.C. directly, via Rt. 50... and to Northern Virginia by going through the District rather than around the Beltway. Remember, there is more to estimating your commute than checking Mapquest or other online map to determine the distance between two points, because traffic delays often make dista... 07/14/2007

CROFTON MD 21114There is more good news today for homebuyers in the Crofton area, based upon the June sales statistics released today by MRIS.84 homes were listed last month in the 21114 zipcode, while just 32 went under contract.  With the home inventory continuing to grow at more than double the number of sales, home prices are not likely to head back up in the near future.  If buyers act now, while rates are still hovering around 6.5%, they should do "okay" in today's market.  Here is additional information published today by MRIS, comparing June 2007 with June 2006:June (21114)     2007    2006Total Sold Dollar Volume: $ 23,153,650  $ 21,727,256 6.56 % Average Sold Price: $ 392,435 $ 387,987 1.15 % Median Sold Price: $ 354,900 $ 357,450    - 0.71 % Total Units Sold: 59 56 5.36 % Ave... 07/10/2007

CROFTON MD 21114, GAMBRILLS MD 21054, ODENTON MD 21113 Suburban Scene Magazine is a relatively new publication that focuses on places, people, and events in the areas of Crofton, Gambrills and Odenton in Anne Arundel County, MD.  A few weeks ago, I was asked to contribute to their cover story for May, which focused on real estate in the area.  Our Real Estate Picture, by Laura Gayvert, was extremely informative with information about real estate past and present, as well as some predictions for the future.  Several local Realtors and lenders were quoted and even pictured, and several different communities were highlighted.  Take a few minutes to read this, if you're considering a home in Crofton, Gambrills or Odenton, or anywhere in the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis triangle. Contact M... 06/22/2007

Well, actually, that was lesson #3 learned from my listing at 1697 Walleye Dr.Lesson # 1 - The Internet IS a source of business for real estate agents.   This listing came to me directly through an ActiveRain contact form for a property located about 3 blocks from my office, in the heart of my target area in Crofton, MD.  Lesson # 2 - Do not walk away from any listing, even if it is overpriced.  I did at first, but had second thoughts as I drove down the street.  The next morning I called the home owner and said "If anyone can sell your property for more than $300,000, I can."  Over the next few weeks, I had several sign calls on that property, ending up with at least one other listing and sale.Lesson #3 - Appraisals are not the last word!  We did get a full price offer of $333,000 abou... 06/22/2007

Choosing your agent.  Part 1 of 2.Before the interview...If you live in Maryland, or anywhere in America, you probably know a Realtor or two or three.  You might even be related to one or more.  So how do you choose a professional to help sell YOUR home?  There are several steps you can take to narrow down the list before you interview any agent in person.First, create a list. - Start with any agent who has done a good job for you in the past and any that you've heard friends or family rave about, based upon their pleasant and profitable home sale or purchase.  You may wish to add any agent who has kept in touch with you regularly through postal mail or email, or whose signs you've noticed in your neighborhood - assuming, of course, those signs read "sold".Do a google search or a yahoo ... 06/19/2007

 In the past, I've shared statistics with you from MRIS, the regional multiple listing service, so you would have a realistic picture of real estate activity in Maryland. There's nothing like real data, when it comes to dispelling rumors (and media reports, which tend to be rumors), so that is why I usually go with the facts. Yet there is also a place for informed opinions about property values, and that's what I have to offer you today.This change of direction was inspired by a phone call yesterday from Andre, one of my blog readers who is relocating from Georgia to Maryland.  He asked my informed opinion on whether property values will continue to rise.  So here goes:It is my opinion that home values are relatively safe, at least in the Crofton area and Anne Arundel County. They have ... 06/18/2007

CROFTON MD 21114 Each month, when new sales statistics are published by the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (MRIS) - the multiple listing service for Crofton (21114) - the first thing I look at is the Total New Listings (76) and the Total New Contracts (41).  If these numbers are not close, then I can predict the future.  How, you might ask?  Well, it's a case of Supply and Demand.If 76 property owners in Crofton put their homes on the market in a month when only 41 homebuyers elect to purchase a home, the inventory of homes for sale continues to grow.  Under these circumstances, the number of sold units and $ averages will continue to decline, while days on market will continue to increase as we move forward into the summer of 2007.Here is a look at the "official" sales... 06/10/2007