Our Armed Forces make a huge contribution on behalf of our country every day, in really challenging and difficult circumstances. That is why it is so important that our Servicemen and women know that they can rely on The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate for ALL their real estate needs!
Contact our Military Sales Division for information on our SMARTMOVE® program that gives you CASH BACK every time you buy or sell real estate with our team!
This Spring, many of The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster’s listings have been “Staged to Sell,” as we like to say, meaning everything inside and outside the home has been perfectly appointed to appeal to the widest array of buyers. “We understand if you don’t stand out from the other houses on the market, buyers will move on to the next house,” says Creig Northrop. “A lot of our stager’s ideas are inexpensive fixes that have a huge effect on market appeal. By the time we have finished staging, many clients find it hard to leave their homes.” It helps that nature is in full bloom in our area as well. From beautiful lawns to temperate weather, it’s prime time to lure in buyers.
Are you a seller who will be looking to buy? Today’s market conditions make for a great time to buy and either move up or downsize.
Pending home sales increased in March and are well above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. NAR’s pending home sales index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1% to 101.4 in March from an upwardly revised 97.4 in February. It is 12.8% above March 2011 when it was 89.9. The index is now at the highest level since April 2010 when it reached 111.3. NAR President Moe Veissi believes there are more opportunities in today’s market. “Historically favorable housing affordability conditions are making it easier for buyers to enter the market despite the unnecessarily tight credit conditions,” he says. “Housing supply and demand are roughly balanced with overall housing supply at the lowest level in six years, putting sellers on an even footing with buyers in most markets.”
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said 2012 is expected to be a year of recovery for housing. “The housing market has clearly turned the corner,” Yun said. “Rising sales are bringing down inventory and creating much more balanced conditions … which means home prices will be rising in more areas as the year progresses.”
Keep in mind most families prefer to pack up kids when school is taking a break. That means they want to move during the Summer months. What does this mean for sellers? It means families are looking to buy in the Spring. This gives them plenty of time to look at homes and then go to closing, which can take from a few weeks to over a month. Springtime is full of new growth opportunities. So, stop and smell the roses … and list that home for sale!
Contact us today for a FREE, no-obligation market analysis!
Hosted by the Howard County Historical Society, the Howard County portion of the 2012 Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage will be held on Saturday, May 19th from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. with proceeds going to help underwrite the Society’s expenses for moving their Archives and Research Library to the new Charles M. Miller Branch Library and Historical Center.
Owners of six spectacular historic properties plus the Shrine of St. Anthony’s will open their homes and gardens to visitors on this annual self-guided tour. Advance tickets for the tour are $30 and can be purchased online at www.mhgp.org. or on the day of the tour at your first stop for $35. Tour goers can look forward to a wide range of horticultural and architectural delights as they explore the following sites.
Waverly Mansion – 2300 Waverly Mansion Drive, Marriottsville, MD
Oakdale – 16449 Ed Warfield Road, Woodbine, MD
Shrine of St. Anthony’s – 12290 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD
Richland Farm – 4730 Sheppard Lane, Clarksville, MD
White Hall Manor – 4130 Chatham Road, Ellicott City, MD
Spring Hill – 4659 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, MD
Interested in purchasing a historic home? Start your search now!
Could the headlines cause you to miss a lifetime opportunity?
Jeffrey S. Detwiler, president and chief operating officer of The Long & Foster Companies, recently shared his perspective on the Mid-Atlantic real estate market. The report below was published in Bethesda Magazine, Own magazine (a supplement to The Wall Street Journal) and multiple online outlets.
Investing in the housing market was once practically a no brainer. Through the downturn, however, many of the fixed assumptions about housing — that property values would always rise and equity would naturally grow — became variable, leaving many consumers questioning the extent to which the real estate market was a good investment option for them, or if now was the time to purchase that new home they have always wanted. It also opened the door to years of negative housing headlines in the media, some of which continue today.
The reality, however, is that the indicators we examine to determine the health of the housing market are gaining momentum. The employment picture is improving, consumer confidence is increasing, mortgage rates are low and home prices in much of the Mid-Atlantic region have stabilized. These conditions may add up to opportunity, which is why so many qualified buyers, sellers and investors are looking to evaluate their own equations in the context of the market as it exists right now.
Still, we’re finding that although the recovery is well under way in many regions, the mainstream media has been somewhat slow in reporting the full story. A home purchase for most of us is, first and foremost, a place to live, raise a family and be part of a community. But it’s also an investment that requires careful consideration as it offers an opportunity to build long-term equity. Being able to read between the headlines may present a homeownership opportunity unlike any we have seen for generations, so it’s important to recognize the headlines that support the green sprouts we’re experiencing in the economy and in the housing market. Continue reading
On April 17, Alicyn DelZoppo was one of twenty-one graduates from the Maryland Association of REALTORS® (MAR) twelfth annual Leadership Academy honored at ceremonies held in Annapolis. The MAR Leadership Academy was formed by REALTORS® who understand the important role they play in their community and the need to enhance the leadership skills, knowledge, and competencies of fellow REALTORS® interested in making a difference in their personal lives and in their communities.
The MAR Leadership Academy offers an intensive curriculum designed around developing skills in leadership, communications, strategic planning, legislative and government affairs and community involvement. Classes are conducted over seven months and stress the value of professional and personal commitment to business, charitable and civic endeavors.
Honored guests were William J. Armstrong, III, 2012 Treasurer of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and NAR 1st Vice President Steve Brown who addressed the graduates and guests. “Being comfortable with and knowing yourself will define you as a leader,” Brown emphasized. “Follow your passion and it will direct the course to lead effectively.” Brown added.
We applaud Alicyn’s accomplishments and are proud to have her as a member of The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate!
Source: [Howard County Association of Realtors 5.4.2012]
As sponsors of the 2012 Howard County Heart Ball on Saturday, May 5th, Creig & Carla Northrop were pleased to witness nearly 400 guests celebrating and supporting the American Heart Association’s mission.
Carla’s dedication as a member of the Auction Committee and Creig’s willingness to yet again lend his signature voice and passion to the Live Auction resulted in a record breaking year for the Open Your Heart Dollars Campaign!
In addition, we are thrilled to announce that the monetary goal set by the American Heart Association was exceeded by $80,000 resulting in a net of $295,000 for this year’s Heart Ball!
Thank you to everyone who participated in making this one of the most successful years ever!
The newest edition of The Creig Northrop Team’s Magazine, entitled, The Collection is here! 40,000 copies will be circulated throughout the Howard, Carroll, Montgomery, Frederick, Baltimore & DC areas. We will also be inserting the magazine into an upcoming edition of The Washington Post. Stay tuned for details!
Pickup your copy today or view The Collection now!
LONG & FOSTER MARYLAND-BASED TEAM EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
CHANTILLY, Va., May 1, 2012— Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc., the largest independent residential real estate company in the United States, today announced that its Creig Northrop Team, based in Clarksville, Md., was recognized recently at the 2012 Summit Awards sponsored by Luxury Portfolio International, for having the most new listings in the nation. The award was presented during the organization’s exclusive invitation-only event held annually for top sales associates and luxury marketing professionals affiliated with the group. The awards were presented in March at this year’s event held in Orlando, Fla.
“Long & Foster continues to be home to many of the top-producing real estate professionals in this region, such as Creig and his team, whom we congratulate on their recent recognition and acknowledge their dedication to their customers and their perseverance in today’s market,” said P. Wesley Foster, Jr., founder, chairman and chief executive officer of The Long & Foster Companies.
In 2011, The Creig Northrop Team earned the number one spot for real estate teams nationwide, based on closed sales volume in 2010, as ranked by The Wall Street Journal and REAL Trends, Inc. The team, which has offices in Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, and Montgomery counties in Maryland, also ranked third in the survey based on the number of closed transaction sides in 2010, and was one of 15 Long & Foster teams and three individual agents ranked in the survey of the nation’s top 250 sales professionals. Continue reading
The Spring Market is in full swing for The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate. Each week, more and more fabulous new listings are hitting the market and many are selling in under 30 days with multiple offers.
With reduced inventory, interest rates near historic lows and properties selling in less than 30 days, buyers are looking to purchase their new home NOW!
Interested in a free no-obligation market analysis of your home? Contact us today!
The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate and NV Homes Invite You To A 55+ Seminar: Get It Sold – Staging To Sell
Saturday May 5, 2012 from 1:00-3:00pm
The Courtyards at Waverly Woods West
Marriottsville, MD
Do you love the before and after shots on HGTV? Are you trying to attract that potential buyer and sell your home for the most money possible? Join us for this exciting seminar to learn some insider tips on how to prepare your home for sale and transform your home from drab to fab!!
Community Overview:
Whether you’re already retired or are just planning for it in the next few years, you deserve to be living the good life right now. At The Courtyards at Waverly Woods West, NV Homes offers Active Adult single-family homes, all with first-floor owner’s suites.
The community is surrounded by shopping, dining and entertainment – much of it within walking distance in the adjoining Waverly Woods East neighborhood, and will feature community pools and clubhouses in the future. Waverly Woods West is close to I-70, so if you’re still working, you’ll enjoy easy commutes to all points in Greater Baltimore, or to destinations like Ellicott City or Columbia.
At The Courtyards at Waverly Woods, you can live in maximum style, with an absolute minimum of maintenance. Homes will offer 2 or 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths, with options of up to 4 bedrooms and 4 full baths, up to 2-car garages, and interiors starting at 2,100 to over 4,000 square feet. Luxurious details abound – and come standard – like a spa-inspired owner’s bath with separate shower and soaking tub, G.E.® appliances and Timberlake cabinets, granite counter tops and NV Homes’ Signature Kitchen featuring an externally vented, European-inspired hidden range hood.
NV Homes at The Courtyards at Waverly Woods West are also 100% ENERGY STAR® Qualified, for continuous utility cost savings, and each is backed by our comprehensive, 10-year structural warranty coverage, largely considered one of the home building industry’s best.
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