Ken Haedrich

We've Just Listed This Waterfront Home in Annapolis. Tell Us Where It Is, and We'll Send You a Gift

Fridays are for fun on this blog, and since it's been a while since we've had a Fun Friday post we're going to make this one extra-special.

So here's the deal: look closely at the photo, taken from the garden of our new listing. Now, do a little research and figure out where it is.

If you're one of the first 3 people to email me with the address of the property, I'll send you a gift card for $10 to one of three great new Annapolis restaurants at the new Annapolis Towne Centre - Brio, P.F. Chang's or Gordon Biersch - courtesy of us, The Moss Haedrich Team of Keller Williams.

Email your response to kenhaedrich@gmail.com along with your name and phone number. If you're one of the lucky ones I'll call and let you know.

Here's a clue: the home is listed for more than a million, but less than $2 million. Hope that helps. Have fun.

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In Case You've Been Wondering Who You Are, I Have Some Answers

I imagine it's the same with other bloggers, but I find it quite interesting - and instructive - to keep track of who is reading this blog and what you're reading. For one thing, it helps me figure out what sort of information you want more of. (Just for the record, that's a generic WHO - other than subscribers, I can't tell who you are.)

So I make it my business to keep track of what pages you're landing on when you come here, and the search terms you use to arrive. Often there's little surprise - blogging about particular neighborhoods, like South River Colony, always gets lots of traffic. And sometimes, plenty of surprise: I still can't figure out how the person who Googled "sock monkeys for sale in Target" ended up here, but they did.

You Like To Search For Annapolis Area Homes and You're Smitten With the Fifty Dollar House

Many of you land directly on the home search page of the site, which tells me you've probably bookmarked that page for convenience. I'm glad you're looking, because now's a great time to buy. Is there a home we can show you?

A ton of you have been searching for news about the Fifty Dollar House, which, sadly, you did not win. Somebody else did, and we're selling the home for her. Perhaps you'd like to buy it?

When I do a post about home sales statistics for the Annapolis area, that draws a lot of interest, too - I need to do more posts like this - as well as posts on subjects related to the Naval Academy. A number of you used the search term "Plebes no more," a reference to one long-standing Academy tradition.

Search terms about home staging bring regular traffic because I've written about it often. Some people end up here by searching for our team stager, Linda Donnelly - the best in the business. When you use her services to get your home looking perfect, we reimburse you at settlement.

More than a few of you are using search terms like "trustworthy agent" or "untrustworthy agents" and you're finding us that way since I published this story. Apparently, finding an agent you can trust is in the forefront of your mind, and it's a good thing.

I'm afraid I must have disappointed the people who ended up here after searching for "math's chalkboard", "new home digest" and "bad stockbrokers." Google must have been having a bad night when these poor souls were directed this way.

You Like a Good Laugh...

...which explains why some of you are searching for bad MLS photos. We have some doozies.

Not surprisingly, lots of you found us by searching for Keller Williams Annapolis or Keller Williams Culture, our culture - we believe - being one of the things that sets us apart as a company.

I can't tell who you are, specifically - but I can often tell where you work. Some of you are affiliated with institutions of higher learning, which makes me think we attract a smart crowd. I like that.

And many of you work for large government entities. I won't say which ones, because if you're reading this blog instead of delivering mail, eavesdropping on bad guys or searching for cures to nasty infectious diseases, that's between you and your boss.

As for the person who just yesterday typed "do you like living in Annapolis" into the Google search engine, I - for one - love it.

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That's Right! And You Could Do a Heck of a Lot Worse Than Pay $799,900 for a Home That Appraised in November for $1.2 Mil

Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere in the Annapolis area, you know all about the now famous Fifty Dollar House. It was raffled off in January to one lucky winner - Karen McHale of Idaho Springs, Colorado - whom you met here shortly after she heard the exciting news.

With a touch of regret - she says it would have been delightful to own a second home near the Chesapeake, but her retirement plans will take she and her husband west, not east - Mrs. McHale has decided to sell the property. And she's hired us - The Moss Haedrich Team - to help her do just that.

We'll be bringing you regular updates about the home - 1 Poplar Point Road in Edgewater. For the moment, suffice to say that it's a beautiful 6 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home with real style (contemporary Cape Cod meets historic charm; part of the original structure dates back to the 1800's!) and modern appeal.

One outstanding feature is a separate wing - with full kitchen, bedroom and office/study area - that would do beautifully as an in-law, guest or au pair suite. The main gathering area of the home is open living/kitchen space, with fabulous hardwood floors, granite and stainless steel appliances - just stunning.

If you'd like a peek, you can see some photos of 1 Poplar Point Rd. If you'd like to see the MLS listing, just email me at kenhaedrich@gmail.com and I'll be happy to send it along.

Stay tuned for more about this lovely property. Meanwhile, if you'd like to arrange for a private preview, email me or call Bev at 410-353-2469.

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My Daughter Is Living in Tuscany Until June and She Wants Us To Come Visit. This Is Probably As Close As We'll Get

As invitations go, this one was a no-brainer: We're opening a new restaurant at the Annapolis Towne Centre - BRIO - and you're invited. This is a private, invitation-only event; the masses will have to wait. All you have to pay for is drinks, and be as understanding as possible if our staff-in-training brings you the wrong order or drops linguine in your lap.

Okay, so I made that last part up - but show up we did. Everyone knows that if you invite Realtors to anything, your chances of a turnout are much better if you include food, since most of us are too busy to eat.

See the ladder leaning up against the roof? They really are putting on the finishing touches even as you read this. You wouldn't have known it, however, judging by the food, the service and the interior - which is drop-dead elegant and evocative of a Tuscan country villa.

They make good use of fabric and floor runners to keep down the background noise. The kitchen is open, but you don't hear all the clatter and noise that drives us nuts over at Macaroni Grill. I like to converse when I'm out for dinner, not compete with cooks yelling at one another.

The food? In a word, excellent. For starters we tried the Lobster Bisque and BRIO Chopped Salad, both wonderful, though you should order conservatively if you start with the rich bisque.

The Wood Grilled Salmon - which our server Tracie told us was the company's best-seller nationwide - was beautifully done and served on delicious Romano-Crusted Tomatoes. The Shrimp Scampi on Angel Hair Pasta was a real winner as well.

It's exciting to see such fine establishments opening at Annapolis Towne Centre, only a stone's throw from our Keller Williams office on Old Solomons Island Road. BRIO joins a growing list of great places to shop, eat and live - and I'm referring now to the luxury condos at GrandView at Annapolis Towne Centre.

If you'd like to know more about these condos - prices, availability and/or to arrange for a tour - just call one of us, Ken or Bev, at 410-353-2469 and we'll fill you in.

Meanwhile, get over to BRIO - they open next week - and sample the goods.

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The Federal Reserve Announced Wednesday That It Will Inject $1 Trillion Into the Financial System By Purchasing Treasury Bonds and Mortgage Securities

Bottom line for Annapolis area home buyers? The best interest rates you're likely to see for a while. I just got off the phone with a lender who told me he's quoting rates of 4.75% on 30-year fixed rate conforming loans and 5% on FHA loans.

He also told me this: the appraisers he's been talking to in the last couple of weeks are coming in with appraisals that are above selling price - a good indication that home prices have bottomed out.

From the street level, we sense something is happening here. Buyer confidence is on the rise as the stimulus package gains traction. Showings on our listings are up and more buyers are calling to schedule home previews. In the past week, we've received four offers on listings we have. These are all very encouraging signs.

The recently announced $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers has been a real boost, as well.

If you've been trying to time the market and think it might be time to strike, give us a call or send us an email. We - The Moss Haedrich Team of Keller Williams - work with an experienced team of advisors who can help you figure out whether this is the right time for you to buy. No pressure, no hassles - just sound advice you can use.

Our email address is kenhaedrich@gmail.com and our cell is 410-507-7222.

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