Linda Greco Bel Air, Maryland Real Estate Expert

3921 Bush Court Abingdon, Maryland Price to Sell $194,900

Spacious Townhome in Harford Town

$194,900 3 Bed, 2 Bath | 0.05 Acres

New Price

The world of pests is wonderful and mysterious and for many it is scary. This combination has given birth to many myths. Some myths were born out of fear, some out of misunderstanding, and some out of a desire to protect the pests themselves. Understanding pests, their environments, and their habits are keys to unraveling the myths associated with them. In this article we will discuss several common myths and rumors associated with pests in and around Maryland.

• I think that this one owes its origins to the 1931 film Dracula. In it, Count Dracula becomes a bat and visits Mina in her bedroom. As the count is flying around the room, Jonathan Harker exclaims, "Look out, he'll get in your hair!"

   

• Bats use echolocation at night to find small insects without relying on their eyesight. Bats echolocation is so finely tuned that they would definitely avoid your hair.

   

• There have been documented cases of bats getting in people's hair, but almost all of the cases were spelunkers and because of the tight quarters and close contact with several bats, this is to be expected.

   

• To answer this one correctly, one must understand the difference between bees and wasps. Only the Honeybee loses its stinger after a sting. All other bees and wasps keep their stingers and can sting multiple times.

   

• Let me explain. Bees and wasps do indeed have mouths and can bite you. They generally do not because the primary defense mechanism of a bee or wasp is its stinger. Only the stinger can inject venom. The venom injected from a wasp or bee sting is what causes the intense pain and burning sensation experienced by the victim. The venom can also cause an allergic reaction in some people.

   

• This one (at least to me) is kind of funny if you really think about it. This is one of the myths that prays on peoples fears. Most people hate spiders and are appalled at the idea that they might be possibly eating them without even knowing it. It also infers that spiders are suicidal.

   

• Most arthropods flee from breath. A lot of animals eat arthropods and, if you are a spider, it's not a good idea to hang around if something is breathing on you.

   

• Vacuuming is just the first step of bed bug control. Bed bugs are flat and can get into tiny spaces that a vacuum cannot reach. If you have bed bugs it is strongly recommended that you seek a professional for help in dealing with them.

   

• Mice are opportunistic eaters and will generally eat anything available to them. However, according to a BBC article about a 2006 study by Manchester University academic Dr. David Holmes, mice would prefer to eat fruits or nuts.

   

• Mice respond to the smell and texture of food and cheese is not something that is available to mice in their natural habitat.

   

• Ants seek out food depending on the needs of the colony and just like you, the ants have nutritional requirements. They also need protein and will adjust their feeding habits accordingly.

   

• Roaches are one of the few pests that need to be brought into a structure.

   

• Leaving food out when there are already roaches present will definitely make the problem worse. Insects need food to survive. If you deny any pest food, it will die.

   

• Coyotes were first documented in Maryland in 1972. Since then, there has been a steady increase in coyote population. It is estimated that there has been a 29% annual growth rate in the coyote population.

   

• Coyotes are seen more frequently in the western portion of Mayland and less frequently in the eastern part of the state.

   

• According to the Entomological Society of America, "There seem to be no federal laws regarding the protection of praying mantids. While states may have laws pertaining to these insects, ESA is unaware of any such laws that exist."

   

• I also personally contacted the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the University of Maryland Extension service. Both stated that they were unaware of any laws that prohibited the killing of a praying mantis.

   

• Carpenter ants do not eat wood. They actually hollow out wood to make their nests and deposit the wood in piles called frass.

   

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and please feel free to contact Bill if you have any pest issues or concerns.

 Researched and written by: Bill McVicker, Owner, Bugs Pray Pest Control

3921 Bush Ct Abingdon, MD 21009

$199,000 3 Bed, 2 Bath | 0.05 Acres (2,000 Sq Ft Lot) |

MLS #HR7398101

We are all expecting it ...changes on the horizon with FHA are going to make business even more challenging.

On several fronts, there are changes that are imminent that will affect how we do business with FHA buyers.

• First and foremost, we are all awaiting the announcement from FHA regarding its position on Seller Contributions that will be cut from a maximum of 6% to offset the closing cost on a purchase loan. That has been expected to be implemented by summer and be reduced to 3% which will impact each and every deal in a negative way. In our market, it is predictable that the required contribution from a seller to keep a buyer at their minimum 3.5% exposure would necessitate a 3.5%+ concession and with that disparity, typical FHA buyers can now expect to come to the table with more of their own funds - making it tougher to find qualified buyers.

• There are some aspects of the impact on this change that may still sort out to the benefit of the buyer, but in this economic climate all we can expect is that the Administration is going to put more responsibility upon the borrower to obtain FHA financing. All of this is coming about in a time where we still need to improve upon business in Real Estate and not create disincentives for consumers. Solutions will come to light and some will be provided by lenders themselves via rate selection and pricing that will certainly yield a higher rate offering to the borrower as a method of obtaining yield spread premium to be used as a lender contribution to offset the loss in seller contribution ... It's so important to work closely as a team within our associations as Realtors and lenders to provide the best deal for mutual clients.

As has been the case with other loan programs ... risk models have driven up the required credit scores for loan qualification. Borrowers will certainly be hit with a higher demand for credit scores which is bound to tighten up the pool of qualified buyers. This will certainly create a sense of urgency for Realtors and lenders alike, to draw as much interest as possible from any viable buyer, to get into the game and buy a home before such changes create a barrier to entry for them.

My lending partner and I are ready to help any buyers in the Harford County, Cecil County, Baltimore County, Maryland areas.

Infomation provided by Frank Gilmartin with First Home Mortgage 410.808.5551 and Linda Greco with Exit Preferred Realty 410.877.4804 or visit http://realestatedealsinmaryland.blogspot.com

Bel Air MD Real Estate Sales and Solutions - Linda Greco Realtor

Exit Preferred Realty is one of the areas fastest growing real estate firms. I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in the Northern Maryland area including Bel Air, Fallston, Aberdeen, Abingdon, Forest Hill, Harve de Grace, Churchville, Edgewood and surrounding areas. 410.877.4804

Fantastic news for Harford County residents....Wegmans is coming! I've been watching the progress for the past few months. If you don't know where it is, just take the exit for Rt. 24 off of I95 - you can't miss the huge mass of cleared land atop a hill at Emmorton and Woodsdale roads. The store is expected to be 120,000 to 140,000 square feet and employ as many as 600 people according to Jo Natale said (see Baltimore Sun article).

Harford County residents who are a fan of Wegmans no longer need to drive to Hunt Valley. I occassionaly make the 40 minute trip for items I can only browse at Wegmans like their selection of teas and the incredible seafood selection. Last time I was there my eyes were popping at the size of the flounder, snapper, and cod - just to name a very few of what they offer. If you are looking for unusual produce, you will find it at Wegmans for sure. I had never seen the types of mushrooms or purple potatoes until shopping there.

I think all the residents of Harford County are going to be hooked on Wegmans.