Odenton, MD

After all that disruption in the national and world economy in October, I expected the worst when October real estate statistics for Odenton were released. While things certainly didn't improve, the decline wasn't nearly as drastic as I expected, and it could have been much worse. Twenty-three homes did sell, in spite of concerns about the stock market, unemployment and the banking debacle, including new restrictions on mortgage financing qualifications.

The Average sold price in Odenton is down from last month, and lower than every month this year. But it's down less than 10% - "only" 7.26% - from last year - not as bad as I expected in these difficult economic times.

Median prices are down 6.24% from October 2007.

The number of units sold in Odenton declined during October, as well, but the total is not lower than it was in January. As you can see from this chart, the units sold declined last year from June-October, as it did this year.

Comparing October of this year with last, the decline was 32.35

The Days on Market went up in Odenton during October, but April and May were even higher - and those are supposed to be the prime real estate selling months of the year.

That's one of the reasons I'm relatively pleased with October real estate sales, given the world economic situation.

Absorption Rate: As of October 31, there were 217 active listings in Odenton; only 23 homes sold during the month. At this rate, it would take nearly 10 months for today's inventory of homes to sell - assuming no other houses come on the market in Odenton. I think we all know that won't happen.

As I said in the beginning, I didn't expect "good" news from last month's statistics, but you may agree with me that the potential was there for much worse. I'll be eager to see if things bounce back in November.

Source of Data: MRIS
Charts: Margaret Woda

Imagine my surprise when I saw this video indicating my vote swung the election.  Take a look... you might want to customize this and send it to your friends, regardless of your political viewpoint.

 

I guess the moral of this video is "Vote" (regardless of which candidate you support). Take a look at some of the ways history has been shaped by just one vote:

* 1645 - Oliver Cromwell gained control of England.

* 1649 - Charles I of England was executed.

* 1776 - America chose the English language instead of German.

* 1800 - The Electoral College gave Thomas Jefferson the Presidency over Aaron Burr.

* 1839 - Marcus Morton became Governor of Massachusetts.

* 1845 - Texas came into the Union.

* 1868 - President Andrew Johnson was saved from impeachment.

* 1876 - Rutherford D. Hayes won the Presidency of the United States.

* 1876 - France changed from a Monarchy to a Republic.

* 1916 - Woodrow Wilson won the Presidency by carrying California by less than one vote per precinct.

* 1923 - Adolph Hitler won leadership of the Nazi Party.

* 1948 - Harry Truman won the Presidency by carrying California with less than one vote per precinct.

* 1960 - John F. Kennedy won the presidency over Richard Nixon when he won Illinois by just one vote per precinct.

MARC Rail Stations at BWI and Odenton

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Commuting from Anne Arundel County to Washington, D.C. or Baltimore is not limited to driving your car or taking METRO. In fact, MARC Rail is the commuting method of choice for many Anne Arundel County residents who live near BWI or in the greater Odenton area including Crofton, Gambrills, Fort Meade and other nearby communities.

The history of Odenton as a railroad town dates back to 1840 when the Annapolis & Elkridge Railroad was built across this sparsely populated area of Anne Arundel County. Then, when the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad was constructed in 1868 to connect Baltimore and Washington, a train station was built in Anne Arundel County and named in honor of Oden Bowie - a former governor of Maryland and the railroad's president. A telegraph office, church, school, post office and two stores followed and tomato canning became the first industry in the area, several decades before the Federal Government acquired land to build Fort George G. Meade nearby. From a population of about 100 people in those early days, Odenton has grown to well over 20,000 residents today - and most of those who aren't employed at neighboring Fort Meade or NSA are commuters.

That same Odenton rail station is now a busy stop on the Penn Line of the "Maryland Area Regional Commuter Train Service" (MARC), operating on weekdays and a few holidays to transport those commuters to Washington's Union Station or Baltimore's Penn Station. Other stops on the MARC Line that runs through Odenton include New Carrollton, Seabrook, Bowie State University, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (also in Anne Arundel County), Halethorpe, West Baltimore, Martin Airport, Edgewood, Aberdeen and Perryville.

Commuters who board at the BWI or Odenton MARC Rail stations in Anne Arundel County can transfer to METRO's Orange Line at New Carrollton or they can transfer to the Red Line at Washington's Union Station; the Red Line then intercepts with Metro's Green/Yellow Lines at Gallery Place and the Orange/Blue Lines at Metro Center. In Baltimore, Anne Arundel County MARC riders can transfer to Amtrak at Penn Station and continue on to Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.

MARC reports that "The Penn line is the most traveled of all three MARC Lines, boasting an average daily ridership of approximately 20,000 commuters (Oct 2007)." I'm guessing that has something to do with the fact it's the only MARC line which runs throughout the day, whereas the Brunswick and Camden Lines operate only during morning and evening commuting hours. (For a map of all three MARC lines, you can click on this link.)

PARKING: Free parking is one of the benefits enjoyed by Odenton MARC train commuters. I often drive through the parking lot with clients to show them this commuting option, and we've always found empty parking spaces. In fact, this photo was taken in that parking lot during the middle of a business day.

The BWI MARC Rail station could be more convenient for some Anne Arundel County commuters, who also enjoy free parking if they participate in the Ticket By Mail Program. For more information, visit www.commuterdirect.com.

COST: For a complete chart of MARC fares on the Penn Line, check their fare schedule online. As of today, 9/7/08, the one-way fare from the Odenton MARC Station to either Union Station in Washington or Penn Station in Baltimore is $5.00. When you consider today's cost of gasoline (and parking once you arrive downtown) or the cost of Metro AND parking, it's easy to see why so many Anne Arundel County residents choose the MARC train for their commuting option.

Whether you're relocating to Anne Arundel County for a second career, or trading in your current home for an "active adult" lifestyle,  you have many nearby options. 

You'll find that Anne Arundel County Rolls out the Red Carpet for Active Adults, and there is no shortage of options.  To help narrow down the list and focus on the communities that are right for you, I suggest these five steps:

1.  Select a location or area to focus your search.  What do you want to be near?  Work... friends or family... shopping?

2.  Make a list of your "wants" - the features and amenities you would have in your next home and community if price were no object.  For example, how many bedrooms and baths?  Fireplace?  Garage?  Community facilities and activities? 

3.  Separate your "needs" from your "wants" by identifying the features and amenities you can't live without.  Focus on "needs" first!   Ask yourself, could you live without a third bedroom or fireplace?  How important is a community fitness center and pool?

4.  Determine your price range based on cash investment up front, monthly mortgage payment, and community fees.  Do you plan to sell your home or cash in some investments?  What's included in the community fee(s)?

5.  What will you do about your current home?  Sell it, keep it as an investment to rent out, live in it part time (if you're a "snowbird," for example). 

Since I recently listed a beautiful 3-bedroom penthouse condo in the active adult community of Cedar Ridge at Piney Orchard, you can look forward to a future blog with all the details about it.  In the meantime, here's a 30-second video about the community:

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

If you're relocating to Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and you've reached the ripe old age of 55, you'll find no shortage of new and resale communities built just for you. Of course, you can live anywhere, but you will enjoy options not available to people under 55 because many of Anne Arundel County's new home communities in the past few years have been developed with age restrictions.

Developers recognize the demand by empty-nesters for low-maintenance homes that offer elegant amenities, spacious floorplans, community amenities, and convenience to shopping. Coupling that consumer popularity with county building restrictions based upon availability of community services such as schools, Active Adult communities are springing up all over the county and they're all within a half hour of Northrop Grumman, Fort Meade, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy - barring any unforeseen traffic surprises.

Here are a few of them, both new and resale:

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES IN THE ANNAPOLIS AREA:

Acton Landing, From $560,000 - Brand new decorated condo model now open! Be among the few who will appreciate life in the only brand new home community built in downtown Historic Annapolis in 100 years.

Four Seasons at Saint Margaret's, From $299,999 - Located just off College Parkway; offers 2 bedroom/2 bath units as well as 3 bedroom/2 bath luxury floor plans. High-quality, low-maintenance lifestyle by K Hovnanian in exquisite surroundings. Garage and non-garage condominiums are available now. (pictured at right)

Hamlets Land, in Edgewater, From $339,900 - Garden-style buildings with garages, built in 2001. Most units are 2 bedrooms 2 baths with luxury appointments.

Heritage Harbor, From $240,000 - This was arguably the first Active Adult community in the area, and it's still one of the biggest and best, with its own golf course and a fabulous clubhouse complex. There are detached, attached, townhomes and highrise homes available in a location that's easily accessible to downtown Annapolis and commuting routes to both Baltimore and Washington. At this writing, there are 24 homes on the market ranging from garden style units in Broad Creek to detached homes with double garages in the $400's.

South River Colony, in Edgewater, From $470,000 - Actually there is just one on the market right now, at this or any price. It is an attached rancher with garage. Other models have sold in the upper $500's.

Stonecrest, From the high $500's - A community of detached homes by NV Homes, located off Bay Dale Drive in Annapolis, convenient to Route 50 for an easy commute to D.C. and Baltimore.

Vineyards of Annapolis, Price not published- Caruso Homes is building this community, off of Riva Road, featuring about 2 floorplan options. Features include brick fronts, 3-story sunroom extensions, 9' ceilings, and 42" kitchen cabinets.

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES IN THE CROFTON AREA, INCLUDING GAMBRILLS:

Carroll's Creek (Gambrills), Coming Soon -Carroll's Creek will consist of 162 active adult lifestyle homes, built by Centex, with nine elevator-accessed buildings that will surround a community pool, private clubhouse facility and onsite walking trails.

Crofton Colony (Crofton), From the $600's - Koch Homes built this wonderful community in 2002, so the landscaping is starting to mature and it is a beautiful neighborhood community; homes have high ceilings, open layouts, and the luxury trim and features for which Koch homes are known. (pictured at left)

The Village at Waugh Chapel, From $214,900 - Garden-style condos built in 2004 include some with secure elevators; literally overlooking the shopping and restaurant complex of the Village at Waugh Chapel. Talk about convenience!

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES IN THE MILLERSVILLE AREA:

Gateway Village, From $359,500 - New condo community of 90 units total. 8 floor plans to choose from including some with dens or formal dining rooms. Great standard features: 9' ceilings, hardwoods in foyer/kit; gourmet kit w/granite and cherry/maple cab; designer tile and granite in baths.

Shipley's Crossing, From $562,938- A gated community of 80 homes under construction now by Grayson Homes; villas with two-car garages, and some with first-floor master suite; 3500-sq.ft clubhouse with heated pool. Very convenient to BWI and the Baltimore. Price reflects $25,000 price reduction only with builder's preferred lender and title company.

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES IN ODENTON:

Cedar Ridge, From $264,900 - Almost new gated community in Piney Orchard, with lots of community amenities to enjoy including a clubhouse, fitness center, swimming pool, nearby shopping and more. Garden-style buildings with elevator, garages, and lots of storage 2 and 3 bedroom models.

Gatherings at Piney Orchard, From $221,900 - 4 Story, Elevator Condominiums, by Beazer Homes, with your own private garage, this gated community features a private clubhouse, outdoor heated pool, tennis court and much more.

Hearthstone at Severn Crest, From $480,000 - Single-family one-level homes up to 4 bedrooms and up to 3 ½ baths, including spacious main-level owner's suites. Other sought-after features are hardwood flooring in the foyer and powder room, 9' ceilings, 42" kitchen cabinets, ceramic-tiled baths and upgraded siding.

Legacy at Eden Brook, From the Upper $200's -Elevator-equipped building set the standard for easy living. Some sought-after features in each condominium are the upgraded lighting fixtures, ceramic baths, 42" kitchen cabinets, 9 foot ceilings and much more!

Maple Ridge at Piney Orchard, From $400,000 - Luxury 26' and 28' wide, 2-car garage townhomes, some with first floor master suites!

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES IN NORTH COUNTY:Osprey Landing, in Glen Burnie, From $474,900 - 45 homesites plus 87 more in Creekside at Osprey Landing. Detached homes by Grayson Homes in this gated community featuring 50 acres of green space, walking trails, and piers.

Sloop Cove Landing, in Pasadena, From the high $400's- Single family homes with first floor master suites, situatied on half-acre homesites. Elegant interior features include luxurious bath appointments, gourmet kitchens, energy-savers, and custom brick or stone front exteriors. (pictured at left)

SOURCE: 50+ Communities (The Baltimore Sun), New Homes Guide, and MRIS. This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Prices subject to change without notice. This post is not an endorsement of any community, builder, or individual property.

Whether one of these communities catches your eye, or several do, I'll be happy to help you with further information for both resale and new homes.

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX. These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace.

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900