Marney Kirk, Towson, Maryland Real Estate

Baltimore home sales were up 35% in April 2010, partially due to the tax credit deadline ending, and partially due to low prices and low interest rates.

According to the Baltimore Business Journal and MRIS, the Mid-Atlantic Multiple Listing Service, 2,205 homes went under contract in the Baltimore Metropolitan area, including Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County, Anne Arundel, Howard and Carroll Counties.

April 2009, in comparison, had 1,632 homes under contract.

This was up also from March 2010, where 1,800 Baltimore homes sold.

Though I had three Baltimore homes go under contract near the end of April, only one had an eligible person attempting to get the tax credit. What I am finding is Baltimore homebuyers realize how low housing prices AND low interest rates are, and whether or not they qualified for the credit, they wanted to take advantage of this great buyer's market.

I also had another home go under contract yesterday. This buyer would have qualified for the credit, but the right home was not on the market yet -- and she was not willing to settle for something that wasn't right just to get $6,500. That home came on this past week.

So despite the tax credit being over, I see the Baltimore home sale market still strong and thriving, now that we are 15 days out!

For more Baltimore real estate information, please contact me.

For any real estate needs in Towson, Maryland or around the Baltimore Metropolitan area,

THINK MARNEY IN MARYLAND!

Marney Kirk Keller Williams Excellence Realty

1850 York Road, Suite K

Timonium, MD 21093

E-mail: realtormarney@yahoo.com

Website: www.realtormarney.com

Office: 410-560-5858 Cell: 410-493-4884

I always appreciate referrals and work my hardest to give the best service to all of my clients.

But sometimes that just isn't enough.

I was thrilled to receive a referral from a potential future client based on my interactions with them through social media and then meeting them in real life. They see the work I do, the marketing, how hard I work for my clients. When a co-worker asked them if they knew a great agent in Towson, they immediately recommended me since I live and work there.

I went on the listing appointment a few weeks ago. I was well prepared, had my numbers, statistics, marketing pieces and information, and know the neighborhood very well -- I even have a good friend who lives down the street so I am very familiar with the area.

The listing appointment was odd, though. I couldn't put my finger on it, as we walked through the house, but something just didn't click.

Then we sat down to discuss price and marketing. And we hit a brick wall.

All of the data, including recent sales, tax-to-value ratios, and price-per-square foot averages led me to a certain price range. Their take was much different. Then I was asked why they should use an agent rather than sell on their own. Though I answered the question, speaking of marketing and the majority of the negotiations etc coming at or after the contract, I already knew I did not want to be their agent. These sellers had their set idea of price and what they expected, and I knew that I could not help them achieve either ideal because I cannot create a market price where there isn't one, and I clearly was not the right person to lead them to a successful sale.

That being said, I did not know how to handle this, because I still am hoping for the people who referred them to use me at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Yesterday morning, the answer came in the form of an email informing me that "We've decided to go with another realtor" [sic].

Would I have loved to have another listing in an area where I specialize? Sure. But not at the wrong price and with expectations that I cannot possibly meet.

Sometimes people are just not a good match. And that is OK. There is no need to force a bad match, because in the end, it will cause you (and them) more stress than is necessary in an already stressful situation.

*3/6/10 -- As a follow up, the home came on the market with the other REALTOR, and I am happy with whom they chose because he will work his hardest to get it sold. The sellers did, however, overprice it from where the market data showed by about $40,000.*

That's a hot tub under there. (I think).

Dude, Where's my Car?

Anyone see my table? I seem to have misplaced it.

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I am certain there will be many snow photos from the Mid-Atlantic region posted today. Here in Towson, Maryland we got around 30" of snow. We are about 1/3 dug out, hoping the plow comes by the street today so we can maybe venture out tomorrow.

The demonstrate the magnitude of the storm (Lovingly called Snowpocalypse 2010), I am including a few shots of my yard.

Unfortunately, we hear that Tuesday into Wednesday may bring us another 6-10" of snow, which alone would cause issues here -- but on top of this could be crippling!

Enjoy your (hopefully) warm weather!

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For any real estate needs in Towson, Maryland or around the Baltimore Metropolitan area,

THINK MARNEY IN MARYLAND!

Marney Kirk Keller Williams Excellence Realty

1850 York Road, Suite K

Timonium, MD 21093

E-mail: realtormarney@yahoo.com

Website: www.realtormarney.com

Office: 410-560-5858 Cell: 410-493-4884

This was the almost full moon last Friday before our snowstorm on Saturday here in Towson, Maryland. The clouds were crossing the moon's path, and I couldn't resist trying to capture it!

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For any real estate needs in Towson, Maryland or around the Baltimore Metropolitan area,

THINK MARNEY IN MARYLAND!

Marney Kirk Keller Williams Excellence Realty

1850 York Road, Suite K

Timonium, MD 21093

E-mail: realtormarney@yahoo.com

Website: www.realtormarney.com

Office: 410-560-5858 Cell: 410-493-4884

Did you know that if you qualify for either the $8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit or the $6,500 "Move-up" Credit and plan to claim that credit, that you have to paper file your taxes?

A client of mine who is claiming the $6,500 credit let me know after she read an article on MSN.

The reasoning behind this is the large number of people claiming on their e-filed taxes, receiving the credit before the supporting paperwork is able to be reviewed.

Reading the IRS website, this is fact, (updated January 26, 2010) and consumers need to be aware of this when filing their taxes.

There is a decent amount of supporting documentation that needs to be sent, which I have laid out here, along with links to the forms on the IRS site. The mortgage form (Form 1098) however, for the $6,500 credit cannot be used from online printing and must be ordered from the IRS.

This adds extra steps and time for those claiming the credit, but I do feel it is worth that money for the inconvenience!

So homebuyers who are claiming the credit need to budget more time to do their taxes, plus more time to receive their credit.

But most of all, congratulations to them on being homeowners, because that is the best part!