·  Learn How to Build Wealth for Your Future
For details, read below.

Have a great weekend,
Creig Northrop

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BUILD WEALTH IN 2007!

Resolve to make this year the year you start building wealth for your future! Learn how by attending our FREE seminar entitled "Real Estate: The Key to Building Wealth," where you will learn:

·  What to look for when purchasing an investment property

·  Financing Options Currently Available

·  Tax Issues/Incentives Related to Real Estate Investments

·  and much more!

Seminars are being held throughout January at 4 convenient locations throughout Maryland:

·  January 10th at 7pm - 5570 Sterrett Place, Suite 310, Columbia, MD (across from Columbia Mall) Register

·  January 23rd at 7pm - 12345 Wake Forest Road, Suite F, Clarksville, MD (across from St. Louis Church on Rt. 108) Register

·  January 24th at 7pm - Liberatore's Restaurant of Eldersburg, 6300 Georgetown Blvd, Eldersburg Register

·  January 25th at 7pm - Urbana Public Library, 9020 Amelung Street, Urbana 21704 Register

WIN A 42 INCH PLASMA TV!

Want to enjoy your favorite shows and movies on a 42" high definition plasma TV? Then, don't delay...visit our New & Improved Website and register for your chance to win! Entries will be accepted through January 28, 2007. Good luck!

* Must be a Maryland resident and 18+ years old to enter.
Limit: One entry per household.

Click here to enter!

NOMINATE A 2007 UNSUNG HERO

In every classroom around the country, there are students who are doing great deeds, often unnoticed. Creig Northrop & The Northrop Team of Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. and Patuxent Publishing Company want to change this by recognizing 12 students from Howard and Carroll County high schools for their contributions in music, art, theatre, sports and especially their good works.

Who is an Unsung Hero? An Unsung Hero is a student who:
• Donates energy, time or resources for community causes
• Goes beyond expectations in an inspirational and positive manner
• Inspires and supports other youth
• Enriches the arts in our community
• Overcomes great obstacles to live life to the fullest and inspires
others to meet challenges

For more details, click here.

INSIDER TIPS

Is Now REALLY the Time to Buy?

Yes, it is!! Owning real estate is always a smart investment. Real estate is an "appreciating asset" and in addition, provides a homeowner with tax relief.

"Ninety percent (90%) of all millionaires accumulate their wealth by owning real estate."

A great read and guide to owning and amassing wealth with real estate is "The Automatic Millionaire Homeowner" written by David Bach.

Let's factor a sales price of $500,000 and a loan amount of $400,000 with a 6% interest rate.

·  5 year estimated appreciation, factoring conservatively 5% appreciation per year, could equate to $138,141 net equity within a 5 year time span. Where else can you see this type of consistent return on your money?!

·  In addition, what are the potential tax benefits? Let's assume 28% tax bracket. With interest and property taxes, this could mean up to $740 per month or $8,890 reduction off the gross adjusted taxes. Note: Please seek a Certified Public Accountant(CPA) for specific numbers for individual amounts.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median existing U.S. home sales prices have increased on average 6.5% each year from 1972 through 2005 AND 88.5% over the last ten years combined.

It is a great time for buyers again because interest rates are still at RECORD lows (in the low 6% for a conforming 30 year fixed rate). It has also become a more normal market, which equates to buyers and sellers negotiating.

David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, states that "2006 is still expected to be the THIRD strongest on record in real estate sales." He also comments, "in this case, experiencing a slowing from a HOT market is a good thing because we need a solid housing sector to provide an underlying base to the economy, and slower appreciation will help to preserve long-term affordability."

As of December 7, 2006, Freddie Mac reported that the national average rate for the conforming 30 year fixed rate was 6.125% with an average of 0.50% point /fees.

The chief economists at Freddie Mac also predict that interest rates could climb to 7% in 2007.

If we look back to previous years interest rates, buyers and sellers still bought no matter what the rates were. However, when rates are at all time lows, it does help increase purchasing power so that buyers are getting the "biggest bang for their buck."

We are currently in a great economy. One of the primary indicators of the state of our economy is unemployment. Nationwide, unemployment figures are at 4.6%; anything under 5% is fantastic. In the state of Maryland, our local job market continues to be even stronger. Maryland's unemployment rate is stable and has been hovering in the low 3% range in 2006. This is at least 1% lower than the national average. We predict job growth to increase steadily in our area due to the close proximity and restructuring of the armed services and the federal government in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, real estate remains one of the best performing and consistent long-term investments you can make. There is no better time to buy than NOW!

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