MELISSA KAIZA

The event is May 10th and you must attend to be eligible for the $3,000.

* call me for more details -

Certain Terms and Restriction Apply

• $3,000 down-payment & closing cost award is from the City of Baltimore.
• Available to 50 home-buyers executing contracts in the western region within 90 days of the Buying Into Baltimore Home Buying Fair and Neighborhood Tours.
• Contract must be signed AFTER May 10, 2008.
• A housing counseling certificate from an agency approved by the City of Baltimore, Maryland Center for Community Development or HUD is required before a commitment letter for award funds will be issued. A housing counseling certificate must be obtained prior to submitting a contract on a home. Contact me for a list of housing counseling agencies.
• Closing on the property must occur within 90 days of the May 10, 2008 event. If there are still slots available prior to the 90 days, you will be allowed to access the funds even though you will close on a later date.
• No annual income limits.
• Mortgage loan may not exceed $417,000.
• Buyer must contribute at least $1,000 toward purchase.
• Buyer must agree to use the property as his/her principal residence.
• You are encouraged to use a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac approved lender.
• You must attend the fair, get a ticket, and have that ticket validated in at least four open tour homes.
• The home must be in the designated WESTERN region for that fair.
• You do not have to be a first-time home-buyer.
• Western Region of Baltimore City ONLY, Contact me for boundary information.

To Receive the $3,000 Award
Bring a copy of the executed Contract of Sale, dated May 10, 2008 or later, validated tour ticket, counseling certificate and picture ID to:
Baltimore Housing, Office of Homeownership
417 E. Fayette Street, Suite 1125
Baltimore, MD 21202
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
For questions regarding award money, call: 410-396-3124.

All contracts with validated tickets and counseling certificates will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis at the above address. The applicant will receive a form with further instructions to be given to their lender. Those received will be stamp-dated and placed on a list for the first 50 received for the fair tour. All others will be placed on a waiting list. If awarded, the city will send the applicant a commitment letter for the awarded funds; funds will be issued at closing.

Well I am certainly excited. I think this is a wise move. Baltimore is my favorite place, well outside of any tropical place that is, in the world. Although D.C. seems nice too. I have only one thing to say, "Jenna CALL ME, I can pass a sensitive security check and help you buy your new home."

Jenna, check me out on my website http://www.buysellmel.com/About_Me/page_1393065.html

Well besides wishful thinking on my part, I have to say that Baltimore is a great location as it is a hop, skip, and a jump from DC. It has wonderful cultural, artistic, and educational events all the time. Baltimore metro area is very multicultural/international. NY is a little to big for me personally and Baltimore fits just right. I have to say out of all the places I have lived (and believe me you would be surprised at how many that is (8 different states and many towns within those states) I like Baltimore the best.

Why is Linhigh the very best place to live in all of Baltimore County?

Well first of all it is very affordable compared to most of the county but affordability with all the quality you get in the more expensive neighborhoods.

They have a top notch parks/recreation program! Such as:

Cultural Arts - Art introduction, crafts (handy and natural).

Performing Arts - Cheerleading, Dance (Tap, Pointe, Jazz, ballet), and Adult Jazz/Dance.

Fitness - Aerobics

Hobbies - Science and Gardening

Sports - youth Baseball, Adult and Youth Basketball, youth tackle football, Indoor and Outdoor Lacrosse, Roller Skating, Youth Indoor and Outdoor Soccer, Adult Outdoor Soccer, and Adult and Youth Softball.

The Lillian Holt Park and Center for the Arts is located in the northeast region of the county in the Overlea-Fullerton community. The center offers a variety of art classes, music, poetry, holiday festivals and exhibits of contemporary visual arts in the art gallery. At Holt Park there are 13 acres of wooded trails, an arboretum, gardens, greenhouse, outdoor amphitheater with gazebo, lily pond and a labyrinth with a meditation garden path. There are nature programs that include astronomy, walk, and interpretation.

They have concerts, festivals, and the best Fourth of July Fireworks anywhere!

The highest grade in the town goes to our elementary school. Fullerton Elementary School has some of the best MSA scores in the state. Just look for yourself and compare to all the other schools, even those in Howard County. http://mdreportcard.org/Assessments.aspx?K=031404&WDATA=School .Last year Fullerton's third grade science scores (for Baltimore County's science test, not to be confused with the MSA science test) were number 1 in the county. About two-three years ago Fullerton had the highest number of volunteers for the Northeast Area. I have not been informed of our ranking since that time but Fullerton Elementary School continues to have strong parent participation in the school.

There is a great business association. http://www.ofbpa.com/

A very active Senior Center http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/aging/centers/overleafullerton.html

Just seconds to I95 and 15 minutes to downtown Baltimore!

You wont believe how great this place is come see for yourself. I can show you all the wonderful homes available.

$35,000 Loan for First Time Home Buyers

No Payment, No Interest, Down Payment Assistance up to $35,000

This pilot program is an effort to encourage first time home-buyers to consider home ownership in existing residential communities in Baltimore County. The program is administered by nonprofit groups and is available in designated communities. You can use the money as a down payment, closing costs and even a portion for repairs. Contact me to see if you are eligible.

Foreclosures on the rise! The mortgage meltdown is still unfolding. The news keeps talking about all of the foreclosures. They keep posting terrifying numbers.

They keep blaming the loan companies for predatory lending, like Our Mayor Sheila Dixon in Baltimore city suing Wells Fargo for "reverse red lining" defined as a predatory lending practice. Really who is to blame...the buyer, the loan officer, the bank, the investors on Wall Street, or _______? I mean how did we get here?

Ok here is my take on the big picture. First of all I want to make it clear that inflation is through the roof! Sure maybe the "indicators" are not showing this but these ancient indicators are irrelevant and have been for the last 20 years. As for me here in Baltimore, I saw the price of gas double for both my car and my house and the price of electricity as well. Every business that felt the pinch in turn charged more for their services and products. Then my house appreciated which would have been great if I had sold it but I did not and the tax man came to collect higher taxes too (not to mention at a new rate). Next Governor O'Malley raised the sales tax and increased and/or created other taxes too.

I am young and new to all these experiences but someone please tell me is this how it happened when you bought your first home 20, 30, or 40 years ago? I mean did you get in on the skin of your teeth and then have every expense around you increase dramatically? The news keeps acting like people bit off more than they could chew but honestly if everything had stayed the same (expense wise) as when you bought your house 1,2,3,4,or 5 years ago do you think the the foreclosure rates would be so high?

Maybe you can already tell from the tone of this blog how I feel, yes I blame inflation but I think we have a few other important issues people have not yet examined. One is financial education. Did you take a financial education course in your k-12 schooling? Did anyone educate you on things like interest, mortgages, and amortization? I think I can safely say a vast majority will answer no to this question.

I am tired of the same news about whether the loan officer was to blame or the person who bit off more than they could chew. Does anyone have intelligent data on inflation? Does anyone have a plan that includes getting financial education to the masses in our k-12 schools?

What I want to know is some of the stories behind these numbers. I want to hear stories about REAL people and how it all really happened. Please feel free to tell me your story.