By SHANTEÉ WOODARDS
Courtesy of: capitalgazette.com
Photo by: Mattew Cole, Staff

When Ginger Guthrie started her house hunt last fall, the plans were to get four bedrooms and keep an Annapolis address.

But houses in the $600,000 to $700,000 range were being scooped up before she
could even submit an offer. The trick to landing a prime property? Find one
before it hits the market.

Eventually, that’s what Guthrie did. But it came with a catch: Guthrie and her family couldn’t move in until the seller was ready to relocate four months later. They made a deal and wound up getting everything on the wish list, including a pool.


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In the past 30 days there have been 47 new waterfront listings in/around the Annapolis area including this 9,000 sqft beauty in Poplar Point known as "The White House" listed for $3,995,000.  At the other end of the spectrum is a recently renovated 3 bedroom "costal cottage" on the West River for $524,900.

Click on the image to see all of the waterfront listings.

• Courtesy of:  Trulia.com

Like anything else, real estate has its urban legends, its stories that get told so often they seem like they must be true. But unlike urban legends about exploding Pop Rocks or the origins of Jennifer Aniston’s ‘Friends’-era haircut, real estate myths have the potential to create fear, panic, paralysis and all sorts of other decision glitches.

The recent market upturn, coming on the heels of 6 years of near-Depression, has given rise to its own set of real estate myths.  Here is a handful, along with some ways you can and should rethink them.

Myth #1.  It’s recovering too fast.  According to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home-price index, American home prices increased an average of 10.6 percent between March 2012 and March 2013. Twelve of the 20 major metro areas tracked had year-over-year median home price increases in the double-digits. The list was topped by Phoenix, San Francisco and Las Vegas, all of which saw 20 percent or greater annual home price increases.

That seems crazy fast, to some. So crazy, in fact, that it’s created the fear that the current market’s exuberance will re-create the steep incline and decline in home values that we all remember not-so-fondly from the last boom-bust cycle.

Here’s the deal: markets have cycles, period. So I can guarantee you that the ups and downs will repeat, though hopefully not to such extremes. Part of what made the last down cycle so extreme was the fact that lenders were greenlighting massive home loans to borrowers without requiring them to document their ability to pay for the property over the long term. Buyers, in turn, overextended themselves regularly. Today’s loans are allowing people to buy without putting much down, but I haven’t seen almost any examples of the fully stated income or so-called “liar’s” loans that really got people in trouble. (Yet.)

Click on above image to read more real estate recovery myths.

The June numbers are in for Anne Arundel County.  June YTD sales of 2,983 are running 7.7% ahead of last year's 
year-to-date sales of 2,771.  And, they were up 3.4% compared to last June.

Sales prices, however, were down slightly across the county comapared to this time last year.

Inventory continues to drop and the June 2013 MSI of 4.0 months was at its lowest level compared with June of 2012 and 2011.  Good news for sellers.

Click on the image to see the full report:

This weekend some beautiful waterfront properties are holding open houses in and around Annapolis.

This elegant historic home was originally build in 1886 and was masterfully renovated in 1999 by Col. John Ripley.  This home features 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms , 10'ceilings, heart of pine floors, plaster walls, exposed brick, gas fireplace, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, in-law suite, & private brick patio.  213 Hanover street, located in the historic district of downtown Annapolis, will host an Open House on Sunday, July 21st form 1PM -3PM.

Click on the image above to see the full list of open houses.

There are currently 102 homes for sale in Annapolis listed for over $1  
million, including this stunning waterfront home with breathtaking 180 degree views of the Bay.  This 4,939 square foot craftsman style home is located just a stroll away to the downtown restaurants and the city dock, on one of the most desirable streets in Annapolis.  With a waterside pool, multi-level decking, pier with lifts, screened in porch and carriage house, this house is offered for $3,895,000.

Click on above image to see the full list.

• Courtesy of: HouseLogic.com
• By:  John Riha

We see lots of kitchen trends at HouseLogic, so we know it’s easy to get swept along with what’s in vogue, only to get bummed out by your faddish design choices a few years later. Thank you — and damn you — Pinterest.

But chances are you’re only going to remodel your current kitchen once. After all, the annual Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine pegs the average price of a major kitchen remodel at about $54,000. With that much on the line, you want to make all the right moves. If you do, you could recoup nearly 70% of your investment if you sell.

So we’re here to future-proof you from angst by naming the seven definitive kitchen features that will retain their beauty, marketability, and value — all while giving you lasting enjoyment.

#1 White is the Dominant Color.

Click on above image to learn more kitchen remodeling tips.

In the past 30 days there have been 55 new waterfront homes listed in and around Annapolis.  At the top of the list is a 21,507 square foot gated waterfront estate overlooking the South River.  With a swimming pool, guest house, 6 car garage, barn, boat house, ballroom and more, this beautiful home is listed for $15,000,000.


Click on image to see them all.

Courtesy of: FrontDoor.com

"Impress buyers right off the bat with a beautiful entrance. "I always tell sellers to put a fresh coat of paint on the front door," says real estate agent Theresa Evans of Charleston, S.C.

And if you don't have an entrance at all, make one. "A lot of my buyers have mentioned that they don't like to just go through the front door into the living room," says Los Angeles-based Realtor Rhonda Kohn.

This problem, more common in condos and apartments, is solved by cleverly placing furniture to create more of an entryway. "A console table or demilune chest of drawers with something over it creates a welcoming vignette," says designer Sue Adams of Andover, Mass.

Click on image above to learn more ways to impress home buyers.

Oyster Harbor is a private community on the Annapolis Neck peninsula with a spectacular view of the Chesapeake Bay, and is a wonderful place to live, to raise a family, to retire, to play, and to enjoy the great outdoors.  Incorporated in the 1950s, it now holds over 400 homes representing many styles of architecture.  Oyster Creek has two marinas open to its residents, fishing pier, community beach and two playgrounds, and its community associations hosts parties and other events throughout the year for its residents to enjoy.

Currently, there are ten houses for sale in Oyster Harbor ranging from a three bedroom, 2 bath contemporary with a balcony off the master for $339,000 to a striking custom built two year old contemporary with magnificent water views of Oyster Creek and the Chesapeake Bay for $1,495,000.  In the past thirty days, two homes have sold for $379,000 and $550,000.

To see the list of properties for sale in Oyster Harbor, click on the image above.

• Courtesy of: HouseLogic.com
• By: Jan Soults Walker

Every home suffers a few negatives, but not every solution requires pricey structural changes. Paint is an often-overlooked, low-cost remodeler’s remedy for common complaints with interiors, offering the chameleon-like ability to lighten, warm, enlarge, erase, or attract attention.

“Paint is a powerful tool that can enhance the architectural character and intent of space,” says Minneapolis architect Petra Schwartze of TEA2 Architects. “As you choose your paint, think about what the experience in the room should be.”

Click on above image to read more.

This weekend some beautiful waterfront properties are holding open houses in and around Annapolis.

This meticulously maintained Annapolis home has a private pier with 3+ slips, 20,000 catamaran lift and kayak ramp on Spa Creek.  Situated among established trees is the property's tranquil patio, tree swings, manicured landscaping and a charming historic garden cottage.

Click on the image above to see the full list of open houses.

There are currently 101 homes for sale in Annapolis listed for over $1  
million, including this magnificent estate resting on Broad Creek and South River.  This sprawling 7,859 sq.ft. home offers an open floor plan, first floor Master Suite, hardwood floors, dramatic high ceilings, cook's delight Kitchen & a lovely Sunroom.  Beautifully manicured grounds with gardens and hardscape surround a sparkling waterside pool overlooking Broad Creek.  This elegant house has a game room, media room, fitness room and a four car garage, and the property is set on 1,000 feet of bulkhead shoreline with a private 90 foot pier with deep water slips, boat lift and jet ski lifts.  This grand estate is listed for $3,750,000.

Click on above image to see them all.

• Courtesy of:  HomeandDesign.com
• By: Mary Tablante

Poolside Repast -  The year 2012 welcomed a couple of additions to the Richard Frinier Collection for Brown Jordan, including Swim, a spare, stylish new line of furniture. Constructed with powder-coated aluminum and topped with glass, the dining table (pictured) comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. The collection also includes dining chairs, a chaise, a lounge chair and ottoman, and coffee and end tables. brownjordan.com

Click on above image to see more inspiring outdoor products.

In the past 30 days there have been 50 new waterfront homes listed in and around Annapolis.  On the list is an impeccable home designed by one of the region's most celebrated architects, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA.  Located in a gorgeous Annapolis enclave along the South River, this home is listed for $1,950,000.

Click on image to see them all.

• Courtesy of: CoastalLiving.com

Thom Filicia: The Revivalist You knew him first as a designer and TV personality on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Today he is a fixture of the design world, with a galloping interiors practice and furniture and fabric collections. His signature style—clean, classic lines with a modern flourish—has earned him clients with bold-faced names like Tina Fey and Jennifer Lopez.

"I like to see design as personality driven," he says. "It should evoke the occupants. I try to create environments that are soulful and layered with that human element."

The best example may lie in Filicia's own vacation home on Lake Skaneateles, minutes from his hometown of Syracuse, New York. His recent book, American Beauty: Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat, recounts the transformation of the 1917 camp into a showcase for Filicia's couture version of rustic Americana. —Michael Cannell

Click on above image to see the rest of the designers.

• Courtesy of: www.Trulia.com     
  
• By: Tara-Nicholle Nelson                       
  

As I see it, most Dream House features are intangible and will differ from house hunter to house hunter. But this list of“intangibles” is a useful set of guidelines to think through as you peruse listings online and go visit them, in real life:

Dream House Intangible #1: It’s “right-sized.” Your personal Dream House might not be Barbie-sized (3 floors and 8,500 square feet, to be precise), but it will be “right-sized” for you, your family and the activities you want to do regularly in the home. This is a shift from the days in which the conventional wisdom said that more square footage was always better, even if you weren’t going to use it.

Click on image above to read more.

Fishing Creek Farm is a brick-gated enclave of over 120 homes nestled between Duval Creek and Fishing Creek on the South River.  Colonials, contemporaries and cape cods are some of the styles that adorn this picturesque community of all custom homes.  Amenities include a pool, club house, tennis courts, boat ramp, docks, beach, marina and a fishing pier.  

Currently, there are three houses for sale in Fishing Creek Farm ranging from a five bedroom 4 1/2 bath colonial with four fireplaces and a spacious open floor plan for $1,195,000, to a 6.24 acre waterfront estate with a pool and pool house, 8 stall garage and two bedroom guesthouse for $9,995,000.  This elegant property sits along 1600 linear feet of wrapped shoreline and boasts a 195 foot pier and two separate boat houses.

To see properties for sale in Fishing Creek Farm click on above image.

• Courtesy of FrontDoor.com

You'll increase your home's value - There's a growing buzz among buyers about eco-friendly homes. And what's not to like: Green homes use sustainable materials that are better for the environment, and have lower utility bills and healthful air.

That means you'll boost your home's value with big and small eco-friendly projects. So whether you splurge on solar panels or buy an affordable water-saving shower and toilet, you'll have that much-needed edge with buyers when you sell your home.

Click on image above to learn more benefits of going green.

In the past 30 days there have been 60 new waterfront homes listed in and around Annapolis.  New to the list is an exquisite 9,000+ square foot home in Edgewater that blends classic & modern architecture with unobstructed views of the Chesapeake Bay.  Nicknamed the White House, this impressive home is listed for $3,995,000.

Click on image to see them all.

• Courtesy of:  FrontDoor.com

First impressions are everything -- at least when it comes to selling your home. According to the National Association of Realtors, 63 percent of homebuyers will drop by after viewing a home they like online. What will they see? The home's exterior -- including the front entry, yard, driveway and sidewalk -- should serve as a snapshot of what's to come when potential buyers enter your home, says Caroline Wilkes, owner of Caroline Wilkes Interiors on Long Island.

Click image above to learn 10 ways you can wow home buyers from the curb.

• Courtesy of: Annapolis.Patch.com

A developer with plans to purchase and redevelop the downtown site of the former Fawcett's Boating Supply has withdrawn his support for the project, citing opposition among some Annapolitans.

Developer Mark Ordan, CEO of Sunrise Senior Living, wrote an email to Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen Monday afternoon stating that he would withdraw his proposal for a new development at 110 Compromise Street.

Click on above image to read more.

The Downs on the Severn is a prestigious water privileged community on the outskirts of Annapolis.  Located between Brewer Creek and Clements Creek, this community offers its residents two community marinas, tennis courts, club house, swimming pool, playground and extensive common areas.  The homes, built from the 1970's on, are located in a quiet, heavily wooded area, but are are easily accessible major roadways, the airport and all that Annapolis has to offer.

Currently, there are twelve houses for sale in the Downs, ranging from a 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath contemporary with decks, streams and a 9 ft waterfall for $600,000 to a stunning 5500 square foot colonial with a multiple slip private pier for $2,450,000.

To see properties for sale in the Downs on the Severn click on above image.