Maryland

Vandals are hitting vacant propeties in search of scrap metals to sell. Copper is the most expensive at close to $3.00 a pound and aluminum is right behind that. In the last week I have seen several vacant homes have the doors kicked in and the copper piping sawed out of the basement. This is causing thousands of dollars in damage in these homes when the copper is cut from the heating system and the water pipes of the basement.

As the agent for bank owned properties I am very careful to have my properties secure and well tened to as not to appear vacant. However, many brokers have properties that are easy targets with grass a foot high, newspapers piled in the driveway and litter in the yard. If you are going to hold yourself out as an REO agent at least take the time to make sure these properties are groomed and secure.

Harford Homes and Foreclosure Search

Kelly Willey, SRES

I was thinking it might be nice if we posted the best places to buy gas. I happened to run across cheap (????) gas at the corner of route 1 and 136 in Harford county today by accident. And, its pretty sick that I was excited to see gas under $3.50 a gallon. But I was driving up route one on my way to doa BPO for a bank on a foreclosure property and ran across two gas stations the Wawa and Royal Farms, both were less than $3.50 a gallon.

If you happen to run across a cheapy station let me know and I will do the same.

Buying or selling real estate in Harford county, Cecil county or Baltimore county...give me a call I have lived here a very long time and have 20+ years experience in the real estate business.

Visit my site for more information or homes and foreclosures in Harford county, Baltimore county and Cecil county Maryland. Or, you can always call me, Kelly Willey, at Long and Foster 410-879-8080

Harford Homes Search

REO - Remove Every Option?

I had to write about this one today.

Unless you've been living in a cave, you're well aware of the housing crisis in most parts of the country. Here in lovely Bel Air, Maryland and surrounds, many of the houses currently on the market are foreclosures/bank-owned properties or as we pros like to call ‘em -

Real Estate Owned (REO).

These are properties where the owners have defaulted on their loans and the bank has foreclosed. The bank now owns the home. However, lately, I've personally been calling them Remove Every Option(s).

Why, you ask?

Because I never cease to be amazed at the condition of bank-owned properties.

Don't get me wrong, an REO can translate into an amazing deal for a qualified buyer. However, for your average Buyer's Agent, showing these properties can be a true experience. It's like the former owners have gone out of their way to remove any and every thing of value or convenience. And if the former owner could not physically remove everything of importance from the property, they've done whatever's needed to destroy what gets left behind.

Case in point - last night, I showed a 3 year-old home that was missing (among many other things) a thermostat. Normally, this would have been something that generated a mere"...hmmm, that's interesting..." from me.

But not last night.

Last night that missing thermostat generated more of a,"Huh?...what the...?" reaction from me because this was the 5^h home I've shown in as many days that was missing a thermostat. What, pray tell, would the former owners need with the thermostat from their former home? Would this oh-so-important faceplate that controls the heating and air of their former home be of use in their new home?

Inquiring minds want to know.

I can understand why many REOs are missing

•· appliances. Perhaps sold for quick cash or removed for use in a future residence?

•· light fixtures and/or ceiling fans. Perhaps same as above?

What I don't understand is the missing thermostat.

•· Or the missing doors.

•· Or the missing switch plate and/or electrical socket covers.

•· Or the holes in the walls.

•· Or the fresh pet stains throughout.

•· Or the gouges in the wood floors.

In a 3-year old house? I don't understand.

I guess that's why they call it an REO.

And, in my world, that's not an acronym for Real Estate Owned.

If you're in the market (wink, wink) for a great REO deal, don't hesitate to drop me a line or give me a call. Just be sure to bring along a flashlight and an extra thermostat.

Regards,

Lanette

I have lived in Maryland all of my life and been to the Baltimore zoo many times. What I did not know was that the Washington DC, National zoo was FREE. I am a lover of freebies and so was fully impressed with this zoo. What a great way to spend the day with the family. The panda exhibit was our favorite and the gorilla house was amazing too.

For a nice day trip from the Harford County area we drove to the Metro and then took the train down. After the zoo we hopped over to the museum of Natural history.

I really recommend this as a cheap day trip the kids will love.

For more information on things to do in Harford county or buying or selling real estate in Baltimore or Harford call Kelly Willey. I am a full time professional and have lived in MD all of my life.

You can find homes for sale and foreclosures in Baltimore county, Harford County and Cecil county on my real estate web site....

http://www.EasyMDhomes.com

Last night at the Howard County Fair in West Friendship, Maryland - August 2008.

Entertainer, Richie Fields performs country and had the place rocking.

Vendor by Night -- I didn't try the 'Ethnic Sausage" but the fries were good!