Summer isn't over just yet, and if you're ready to jump into owning a home with a pool near Fort Meade, there's still time to snag a property with backyard oasis you've been looking for.  Think you can't afford a pool?  There are currently over 100 homes for sale in Anne Arundel County that feature pools starting at just $300,000.  All within an hour commute to the base.  Pools are a huge attraction in Maryland.  Our Summers are hot and there's nothing like ending a day floating in your own backyard pool with family and friends or all by yourself.  It's a great place to host a backyard BBQ too.  You don't have to visit the tropics to enjoy fruity drinks in the water!Of course, pools come with a cost and if you're lucky enough to snag a home with a pool they do come with  monthly costs b... 08/25/2023

Today we're talking about home values in the Maryland real estate market, specifically near Fort Meade MD and using Anne Arundel County as our measure. We'll be comparing each city in Anne Arundel County by median home value not by average value and here's why.  Median value is the exact middle of the road, at which point fifty percent of the sales are above, and fifty percent of the sales are below, so it's a more accurate measure of what's going on in a hyperlocal market especially if you have a neighborhood with a variety of housing options like Piney Orchard. Average home value it's the average of all sales totaled.  It can be easily skewed, especially in neighborhoods that offer a variety of housing options like condos, townhomes  and single family homes. If sales in that neighborh... 08/09/2023

There's a lot of talk in the Maryland real estate market about interest rates holding people back from buying houses here.  Rates are sitting around 7%  percent, which is historically high, but certainly not as high as the 16% percent rates that we saw back in the eighties when buyers were still buying homes. Those buyers now have paid off homes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars more than what they paid. Those houses are funding comfortable retirements, providing supplemental income, giving their owners low cost living with no mortgage, and bringing wealth to middle class families.Real estate is a long-term investment, and while you can make substantial gains in the short-term in the Fort Meade market, the long term holds are everything to a healthy financial future.  Don't be inti... 08/07/2023

You Thought You Knew Anne Arundel County, MD - TriviaAnne Arundel County has the most shoreline of any western shore county with 508 miles of shoreline.Maryland's capital city of Annapolis is located in Anne Arundel County and is also the county seat.The county was named for Lady Anne Arundell, the daughter of Thomas Arundell of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall England.  She was married to the second Lord Baltimore, Cecilius Calvert also the first lord proprietor of the colony in an arranged marriage around 1627.Most of the county's borders are defined by coastlines and waterways.  Originally Anne Arundel County included all lands between the Patuxent and Patapsco Rivers.  In 1919, Brooklyn, Curtis Bay, Fairview, Wagner's Point, Arundel Cove, and Hawkins Point were annexed by... 07/28/2023

If you’re thinking about buying a home in Maryland near Fort Meade, there are some things you’ll need to know to make the process flow!Plan your perfect paymentWhat amount are you comfortable paying for a monthly mortgage?  In this market we can likely find you a home for a monthly payment very close to what you are paying for rent.  But, if you have to go a little higher, remember that the vast majority of your mortgage payment is tax deductible mortgage interest.  Real estate taxes are also deductible. Stepping into home ownership comes with amazing tax benefits.  You may want to talk to a tax professional to see exactly how it affects your tax liability. Prequalify with a local lenderThis is so important and takes just a few minutes on the phone or a quick application on the Internet... 07/12/2023

We hear so many people saying that the real estate market is just barely holding on, home prices are decreasing and buyer’s aren’t buying because interest rates are so high.It’s important for you to know that National real estate news isn’t local real estate news.  And we really don’t care much what’s going on in Iowa when we’re right here in Maryland.  So let’s do a quick review of  the most recent report from The National Association of Realtors via their Existing Home Sales Report for April.In that report that show a 1.7% decline in home values nationwide.  That’s a bit deceiving on two different levels.  First, they are using median values.  The exact middle point of all sales of all types of homes.  That’s not super telling because if you have a community with single family homes, ... 05/30/2023

Why Renting Might Not Be Your Best Option In 2023If you’re in the Greater Fort Meade MD area and are due for a lease renewal this year, now might be a good time to touch base with The Roskelly Team to see how the numbers look for your personal situation.  We’ve got great local lenders that can review your financial information and give you all the information you need to compare the cost of renting versus buying to see which makes the most sense for you.Rental affordability is a big issue in our area and while rental prices increase, there is no benefit to your long-term plan to pay someone else’s mortgage when you could be gaining equity in your very own home.There are other advantages as well including being able to accommodate your pets, the pride of home ownership and choosing you e... 05/15/2023

Welcome to Piney Orchard!Why Do People Live here?Piney Orchard is a neighborhood in the city of Odenton in Anne Arundel County Maryland.  It is best known for its unparalleled community amenities which include extensive walking trails, several community pools, tennis courts, playgrounds and so much more.   If you’re considering a move to Piney Orchard, you will find a wide variety of home choices including condos, townhomes, age qualified condos and expansive villas, and single-family homes.  The community is conveniently located less than 10 minutes to the Odenton MARC station, 10 minutes to Fort Meade and NSA, and a pretty equal commute of about 45 minutes to either Washington DC or Baltimore.  This self-contained community includes the Piney Orchard Marketplace shopping center with a... 04/27/2023

What does it mean to be in a Sellers Market?The Anne Arundel County real estate market saw a very brief cooling from June 2022 - until February of this year.  Much of that cooling was the homebuyer's reaction to a return to normal, pre-pandemic market interest rates.  But low inventory played a part in that as well as there just weren't enough homes for the buyers shopping.  That one-two combination slowed sales by up to 40% in our area.   Throughout the past three years we have been in, and remain in a strong seller's market.  That doesn't mean that as a seller you can charge whatever you want for your house or be dictatorial about contract terms.  It means that well priced and prepared homes for sale will likely receive multiple, full price or higher offers within a week.  Our average... 04/10/2023

Here's a round up of Anne Arundel County real estate for the month of February 2023.  Active listings are about half of the 5 years average and new pending sales are down about the same amount.  Closed sales remain on track with the 5 year average as available inventory is being gobbled up by buyer's who have adjusted to the interest rate increases that put us more in line with a "normal" market.The key takeaway here is that, with real estate inventory at less than a 1 month's supply, sellers are still strongly in command of the market.  That being said, we are seeing some seller closing costs allowances and a bit more flexible terms based on the perceived downturn in the market.        Here's a good comparison of the last twelve months.  And here's a great summary of the overall market... 03/28/2023

You hear a lot about down payments when you're buying a home (unless you're using a VA loan), but nobody seems to talk about closing costs which are a component of the home purchase process in Anne Arundel County and the Fort Meade MD real estate market.Before you start looking at homes you'll want to know what closing costs are, how much they are for your home purchase price range and who pays them.  What Are Closing Costs?Closing costs are expenses and fees related to the purchase and settlement of your home loan.  They are payments for the professionals handling the settlement of your real estate loan including , your appraiser and surveyor, lender fees, attorney fees, title insurance which is optional but recommended as it protects your investment with insurance against any claims t... 03/27/2023

The hunt for the right home is always one that I enjoy immensely. Creating a wish list and editing it as we move along, zeroing in on the one with every home tour. No matter how long it takes, it is always pretty obvious to me when we've found it. The excitement is not only palpable, it's contagious. Just SOLD in Crofton! This darling townhome in Crofton Village has extremely happy new owners. My buyers just received the keys this week . They knew even before we walked into the front door that this is the house they'd like to come home to for many years to come. It's turn-key with a big kitchen,  fabulously updated baths, hardwood floors throughout, and a new roof to boot. Plus it's just a hop, skip and jump to Nantucket Elementary School - they would be able to walk their kids to schoo... 03/02/2023

The Odenton real estate market remains one of the strongest in Anne Arundel County and the general Fort Meade MD area.  With highly desirable neighborhoods like Seven Oaks and Piney Orchard that offer top notch amenities and easy commutability to the Odenton MARC station, NSA, and Fort Meade it's no wonder. In addition to giving you the latest real estate sales stats for Odenton, we're going to take a look back at 2022 to give you a feel for where the market has been, and where it looks to be going.First, let's see how we did in January.  Days on market is up, but falsely inflated by some overpriced and underprepared listings that are just not selling in today's more competitive market.  The sold dollar volume is down but that is absolutely lack of inventory which is down over 40%, not ... 02/16/2023

This blog is the first in our series of cities near Fort Meade, MD and the National Security Agency where we will explore some of the best places to live within a 30 minute commute to Fort Meade.  We've chosen this commuting range as it is the most frequently requested by our clients.We're starting out with Odenton Maryland population 43,000 which is located in Anne Arundel county and borders Fort Meade to the Southeast.Odenton, MD is a top destination request for Fort Meade homebuyers and renters due to the convenient 5 - 20 minute commute time to the base, the wide variety of housing options (including condominiums, townhomes and single family homes priced from around $250,000 - over $1,000,000), nearby shopping, top rated schools, quick access to the Odenton MARC station & BWI, fanta... 01/27/2023

Anne Arundel County homeowners, your home values are holding strong and outperforming the national market.  Curious about your home or neighborhood?  Contact The Roskelly Team for a free, no-obligation market value analysis for your home in Odenton, Severn, Crofton, Gambrills or surrounding areas.  You do not need to be selling to request a report! Infographic courtesy of Keeping Current Matters Let's look at some key information that pertains to your home! If you’re thinking about selling your house in Anne Arundel County MD, recent headlines about home prices falling may have you questioning your decision.  After all so much has changed in the local real estate market, but what you are comparing to makes a difference. While home prices are down slightly month-over-month in some marke... 01/21/2023

Is 2023 the year you plan to sell your Anne Arundel County home? If so, you'll be happy to know that values are holding pretty steady and even if you bought at the peak of the market, values have not dropped by much.  If you purchased your home prior to 2021, chances are you have substantial equity to use, invest or upgrade your home.  The chart below shows home prices for the past 5 years.  If you're interested in finding out just what your home is worth in today's market, The Roskelly Team would love to help.  You don't have to be in the market to sell to request a valuation.  Just visit us online for a one time market value analysis, or sign in to our home equity tool that will keep you updated monthly with values and show you an up-to-the-minute summary of where you stand with your ... 01/20/2023

       I love Seafood ! I will drive miles to get fresh Sea Food . One of my favorites is Crab . In 12th grade, oneof my best friends ( who grew up in Baltimore) taughtme how to take apart and what to eat with a Hard Shell Blue Crab . He also insisted to stick with male crabs .       So what is my problem with Crab Cakes ? Many Restaurants I go to say Crab Cakes are our specialty.”We are known for our Crab Cakes “ . In both cases I’m stoked ( with anticipation) . And while I always enjoy Crab , I’m usually disappointed.       Why you say ? You see I’ve been to LinthicumHeights ,MD 21090 ! I have experienced 9oz. Crab Cakes with No Filler ! But I still have a problem ! You see there are TWO Restaurants in walking distance that serve these amazing Crab Cakes - G & M and Olive Grove .The R... 01/20/2023

Avoid the Rental Trap in 2023 If you’re transferring to Fort Meade on military or government orders and don't care to live on base, you will face an important decision every year: renew your current lease, start a new one, or buy a home. This year is no different. But before you dive too deeply into your options, it helps to understand the true costs of renting moving forward. In the past year, both current renters and new renters have seen their rent go up, a lot! “Three out of four renters (74.2%) who have moved in the past 12 months reported seeing their rent increase. The strain from recent rent hikes isn’t exclusive to renters who have recently moved. Nearly two-thirds of renters (63.2%) who have lived in their current rental between 12 and 24 months, and likely renewed their lease... 01/19/2023

We've long told you that our little pocket of real estate here in the Fort Meade / Odenton area is somewhat immune to the normal highs and lows of the national real estate market.  Fort Meade and it's military & government employees, and government contractors ensure us a steady base of homebuyers and sellers pretty much year round.  We don't expect 2023 to be any different.  In fact we're already seeing the market pick up and just had multiple offers on our first listing of the year.Choosing the right team with the right marketing plan certainly helps that as well.For 2023 we do predict slow and steady growth after a few months of unprecedented low sales.  Interest rates had everyone spooked but word is really getting out that the artificially low interest rates we had as a result of C... 01/18/2023

Avoid the Rental Trap in 2023 If you’re transferring to Fort Meade on military or government orders and don't care to live on base, you will face an important decision every year: renew your current lease, start a new one, or buy a home. This year is no different. But before you dive too deeply into your options, it helps to understand the true costs of renting moving forward. In the past year, both current renters and new renters have seen their rent go up, a lot! “Three out of four renters (74.2%) who have moved in the past 12 months reported seeing their rent increase. The strain from recent rent hikes isn’t exclusive to renters who have recently moved. Nearly two-thirds of renters (63.2%) who have lived in their current rental between 12 and 24 months, and likely renewed their lease... 01/18/2023