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You can now keep up with student meal accounts online. Through the Calvert County School’s Cafe Prepay program, parents can easily access their child’s meal account online and see what food their child is purchasing for free. To avoid their child running out of money or worrying about forgetting to send their child to school without lunch money ever again, parents can even add money to their child’s meal account online for a small fee. If Prince Frederick parents wish to avoid the fee, they can continue to send either cash or checks made payable to the school district to their child’s school. To register for a free online account, you can either visit the Calvert County Public Schools website or Cafe Prepay’s website. Remember that the online account is free. You will only be charged a fee if you choose to add money to your child’s account.
In addition to children’s lunch accounts, Cafe Prepay also allows you to pay for your child’s book fees, field trips, school pictures, bus passes and even athletic fees in one easy-to-use place. If you are a busy parent with a child in the Calvert County School District, Cafe Prepay may be just the thing to make your life a little easier.
The end of 2009 showed that Maryland real estate trends are very positive. In a nutshell, prices are starting to increase, days on the market are decreasing and inventory is declining. Buyers and sellers seem to be agreeing to home prices as well, with the average sales price hitting just below 94% of the list price. This represents the closest gap in over two years.
The price of a Maryland home showed an increase in the 4th quarter of 2009 when compared to the same time in 2008. It is believed that prices will continue to rise in 2010 as there appears to be more of a balance between what a seller is willing to sell a home for and what a buyer is willing to pay.
The average days a home is on market before it sells have also declined in the last year. This means that the excess inventory levels seen a couple of years ago have begun to be bought up. In fact, Maryland real estate has experienced an average of 5.3 months of listings. This is below the 6 month average that is considered healthy, indicating that the demand is beginning to become more than the supply on hand. This could be encouraging news for the construction industry, who will definitely benefit by having to build new homes to meet the rising demand.
Does this mean that the housing crunch is over? Have we hit rock bottom? Only time will tell for sure. However, with the prices beginning to rise, inventory beginning to fall and interest rates still at reasonable prices, you definitely need to look for your Maryland home as soon as possible. Just let me know what you are looking for and I’ll be happy to help.
It is time to reassess property values in Calvert County. Why? The last time property values were assessed was in 2006, at the height of the real estate boom. Since then, Calvert County real estate values of 98.5% of homes have since decreased in value. While the county commissioners decided to keep property taxes at $1.026 per $100 assessed value for homes last spring, Calvert County has a 10% cap on how high the property taxes can rise via the homestead tax credit. To see how this has affected your property taxes, please look at your tax bill from last year. The amount of your homestead tax credit should be listed there.
While a decrease in Calvert County home values has happened to most residences, this should actually be considered a self-correction of the astronomical home values from a few years ago. Those prices shot higher than anyone expected and were higher than they probably should have been in such a short amount of time. Right now, prices seem to be settling naturally back into what they realistically should be, maybe even a little lower. If you are a homeowner, though, don’t despair. It is believed that Calvert County home values should be on the rise shortly. Even if they won’t hit the peak experienced a few years ago, they are expected to start heading higher.
Real estate sales are on the upbeat all over the nation. More importantly, real estate sales have risen locally as well. It is a mixed bag of news on the real estate housing front and too early for any predictions. At the same time, more and more of the Southern Maryland real estate news is upbeat.
The Upbeat for Buyers:
* It is still a buyers market. There is still an oversupply of homes on the market.
* Home sales and prices are lower than the same time last year.
* Interest rates are still low – last week they fell to 4.6%. Today’s rate: 4.78%.
* Lower interest and pricing indicates that it requires about $20,000 less income to buy a home today.
* Lower interest rates and pricing means you can save an approximate $500 per month on your mortgage payment for the same house bought a few years ago.
* First-time Buyers Tax Credit/Refund is still available.
* 100% financing is still available for qualifying properties via the United States Department of Agriculture’s rural housing development program and the Veterans Affairs loan program.
* Lowest prices since 2003 in some areas – The tri-county region experienced a decline in home prices in 2008; statewide homes decreased about 10%.
* Foreclosures are up in localized areas.
* Affordability index for buyers is up from 46.6% (2006) to 62.2%.
The Upbeat for Sellers:
* Inventory is down from a 20 month supply of homes to a 14 month supply.
* Waterfront, vacation homes and properties under $300,000 in Southern Maryland are experiencing multiple offers.
* Medium sales prices up in Calvert and Charles County – 14% and 4% respectively in March 2009 over February 2009.
* The number of homes sold increased more than expected in March over February 2009.
* Statewide, sales were up 43% in March over February 2009.
* Homes under the $300,000 price range appear to be in recovery.
* Lender owned properties are not selling for less than the asking price – banks are willing to wait for buyers to meet their price.
* St Mary’s and Calvert County home sales are up 28% over last year at this time.
Market Conditions are very local:
* The biggest jumps in home sales are being seen in Maryland’s D.C. suburbs. Homes prices fell 15% from March 2008 to March 2009. However, home prices rose as much as 7.5% from February to March of this year.
* Baltimore is still experiencing a downward market; the number of sales decreased by 18.5% in the last year. Prices decreased 1% in March from February 2009.
* Dorchester, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George and Washington counties are all experiencing an increase in home sales over the number of homes sold for the same period in 2008.
* Statewide sales indicate that home sales have increased over the same period last year.
The market has not bottomed nationally or locally. However, more and more cities, suburbs and neighborhoods are seeing stabilization. That is the way the real estate market reaches a turnaround as a whole: one neighborhood at a time. The bottom of the market cannot be predicated. However, statistics will tell us when the bottom has been reached about six months after the fact.
Low prices, tax credit, low interest rates and buyers willing to buy seems to point to a hot summer in real estate sales when compared to recent years. As a caveat, I did say it is too early and economic factors are still too volatile to make an accurate predication.
Bonnie Augostino, your Southern Maryland real estate expert
Before I begin, let me say Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all the beautiful Irish out there and to all the Irish by default (everyone is Irish today). Now, back to the meat of the matter. Stimulating the economy and the housing market are hot topics in today’s economic world. I thought I would share a few things that may help to stimulate the Southern Maryland real estate market.
Tax Credit – First-time Buyers:
* The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only! If you have not owned a home within the last 3 years, you qualify as a first-time home buyer.
* The tax credit may only be applied to homes that will be your principal residence.
* The tax credit does NOT have to be repaid. The tax credit of 2008, however, must be repaid.
* The tax credit is not $8,000 but is equal to 10% of the home’s purchase price with a maximum of $8,000.
* The tax credit applies only to homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009. Escrow must close no later than November 30, 2009.
* The tax credit income limits: married couples income limit is $150,000 and single taxpayers income limit is $75,000.
* The tax credit has an income limit phase out: for those who exceed the income limit, there is a smaller tax credit. The tax credit is dependent on the adjusted income. Please consult with a tax professional to see if you would qualify.
* The tax credit will be applied to your 2009 taxes. Sometimes, the tax credit can be applied to your 2008 taxes. Consult with a tax professional as to how the tax credit will best benefit you.
* The tax credit is refundable. If the taxes you owe are less than the tax credit, the difference will come to you in the form of a tax refund.
Tax Credit – Homeowners
* Tax credit applies to homeowners making energy efficient improvements to their principal residence.
* Tax credit limit is 30% of the cost of the improvement(s) up to $1,500. $4,500 in improvements equals a $1,500 tax credit.
* Tax credit applies to energy improvements, such as insulation, water heaters, doors, windows, heating and air systems.
Reverse Home Mortgage Loan Limits
* Loan limits for FHA-insured reverse mortgage loans was increased to $625,000.
* Senior citizens can buy a new home (with equity) with a reverse mortgage loan without having to sell their current home.
Conforming Loan Limits Restored
* The maximum loan limit for high cost areas has been restored to $729,750.
Homeowners Refinance Program – Not Behind In Payments
* Homeowners who have less than 20% equity may refinance their loan.
* Homeowners may refinance up to 105% of their home’s current value.
* Refinanced loans will be refinanced at the prevailing interest rate and terms at the time of the loan. Currently, loans are hovering near 5%.
* Refinance options include a 15- or 30-year fixed rate option.
* Refinance loans are intended to lower your payment with a lower interest rate; it will not lower your principal balance or waive any debt.
Homeowners Refinance Program – Behind In Payments
* Only applies to the homeowner’s principal residence.
* Multi-family units may qualify if one of the units is owner-occupied. Please consult with your tax adviser.
* Applies only to first mortgages.
* If a property has a second mortgage, the homeowner can still qualify but cannot refinance the second loan under the refinance program.
* Loans must be backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
* Loans may not exceed current loan limits.
* Principal loan balance may be lowered with approval by the lender.
* Homeowners may earn a tax credit. The homeowner must stay in the home for five years. The maximum tax credit is $5,000.
The information above is a short summary of the various programs and is intended to be straight forward. However, there may be other qualifying factors.
Bonnie Augostino, Southern Maryland Realtor
New guidelines for funding new septic systems for eligible homeowners have been approved by the Calvert Board of County Commissioners. The grants are funds which are available for homeowners to replace failing septic systems. In the past, all homeowners in environmentally sensitive areas, the Mill Creek watershed and areas 1,000 feet from tidal wetlands or shorelines received priority consideration. Under the new guidelines, homes that have been assessed at less than $250,000 and/or are occupied throughout the year will now receive priority.
The funds for the grants to Maryland homeowners are received from the Bay Restoration Fund. This year, Calvert County received $1.6 million in funds for the program. Available funds will pay for about 95 new systems. 125 homeowners have applied for a grant.
Failing septic systems cause approximately 25% of the nitrogen pollution in Calvert County’s waterways. In the Mill Creek area, that figure doubles. Nitrogen from failing septic systems can seep into the waterways. This seepage causes algae blooms, which kill off fish and other water dependent life.
The funds for the Bay Restoration Fund are received from the “flush tax”. The “flush tax” was imposed to help programs which protect the Chesapeake Bay and is tributaries. Homeowners on sewer pay a monthly sewer fee. Homeowners with septic systems pay a yearly assessment fee. The “flush tax” monies are collected by the county and given to State of Maryland. The state then distributes the funds to various projects that lower nitrogen discharge. As well as assisting homeowners replacing failing septic systems, monies are also directed to farmers which plant cover crops; the cover crops reduce nutrient runoff into the waterways.
For more information on this and any help with your South Maryland real estate, please feel free to contact me.
Wine growing is the new agricultural industry in Maryland . In reality, wine has a long history in the State of Maryland dating back to 1647.
Maryland wines may have always been a part of our history, but it is only recently that wine production is emerging as a full fledged industry with vineyards replacing the old tobacco fields.
Calvert County is already home to three wineries. St. Mary’s County will be home to Maryland’s newest winery, The Port of Leonardtown Winery, opening this summer in Leonardtown.
The Leonardtown winery is unique because it is owned and operated by a co-op of wine growers in the Southern Maryland region. The Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative will grow the grapes, oversee production and the operation of the winery.
Although the winery is scheduled to open this summer in time for the vineyards to bring their grapes to the winery for processing, the sale of these wines will not be available until next year (2010). Production is expected to output about six thousand gallons of wine.
The Port of Leonardtown winery is offering a unique experience and opportunity for sixty-two fortunate people. Sixty-two barrels, each containing a gallon of wine will be sold to donors. The cost of the barrels will be around the $1000 mark. The donor’s name will be placed on the barrel. During the fermenting process the donors will be allowed to come inside the winery at various intervals and taste their wine thoughout the process.
The Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative plans to open their winery in an old renovated State Highway Administration garage, located on the bank of the McIntosh Run. The new winery is supported by both the town of Leonardtown , who donated the land for the project and county government. They have budgeted $496,500 for the adventure.
The southern plain of Maryland is well suited for certain types of grape varieties. The counties of Calvert , St. Mary’s, Prince George ‘s and Anne Arundel experience hot and dry summers similar to the grape growing regions of Southern Italy and the Mediterranean .
The old tobacco farms will soon be a thing of the past. Maryland ‘s 10-year buyout will end in 2010. It is hoped that the farms will not all become future subdivisions, but that vineyards will replace the tobacco fields. The Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative plans to implement a recruitment program to help make this a reality.
Here is a toast to Maryland and to the new Maryland wine industry.
Bonnie
Calvert County Wineries:
Cove Point Winery
Friday’s Creek Winery
Solomons Island Winery
Port of Leonardtown
Here is an excellent site to learn all about Maryland wines, wineries, wine festivals and more: Wine is Growing in Maryland
State of Maryland ‘s Wine Growers Association: Maryland Grape Growers and Wineries Association (SMGGWA)
The Annemarie Garden is currently running the exhibit Sailor Made: The Art of Woolies in the New Arts Building.
A woolie is a hand stitched needlepoint created by British sailors in the 19th Century portrait of a sailing ship made from wool thread.
In the days of tall ships, sailors were required to know more than just seamanship. They were also expert with a sewing needle. Sailors needed to know how to “wheedle a needle” in order to repair sails and their own clothing.
During the long months at sea many sailors used their talent with the needle
Don Berezoski poses with Woolie - photo somdnews.com
to create what would become treasured works of art. The woolies, for the most part, depict pictures of the ships they sailed and sometimes the ports they visited.
When the needle work was completed, the sailors gave these crafted works to their mothers, wives, other family members or friends.
The sailor folk art currently on display at the Annemarie Garden is on loan from Donald Berezoski, a Huntingtown resident. The display also includes three American-made woolies, which are much more rare, as most woolies were made by British seamen.
These works of art currently on display are certainly worth a visit. The exhibit runs until February 1 in the Mezzanine Gallery at the Annemarie Garden.
The Huntingtown High School ‘s marching band, the Marching Hurricanes, have received top honors again!
On November 15th, the Marching Hurricane became “Gold Finalists” in the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championship which was held in Allentown , PA. The band placed fourth in their division.
This was the second award won by the Huntingtown High School Band. The Marching Hurricanes also won 
the 2008 Maryland State Group II – Chapter IV Championship on November 1. The Marching Hurricanes also won this award in 2007, making this their second consecutive win.
Football teams seem to get the glory while the marching bands entertain us during the game. In actuality, these musicians train just as hard or harder than any athlete with a much smaller margin of error.
Athletes can leave the field to the cheers of the crowd even after missing an important play. If a player misses a play, only that player is considered to have given a poor performance and only for that moment. The whole team is not judged by the performance of one player.
If a musician misses one note, their performance is considered to be poor. If a band member makes a mistake, it is not the musician that receives the “bad mark” but the whole band. Marching bands are judged as a unit (a team) not as individuals. In addition, marching bands are not only judged for their musical performance, but on their visual performance as well.
The recent wins by the Huntingtown High School Marching Hurricane demonstrates that this band knows true team spirit, dedication, commitment and music.
Drum-roll, please… now a great big cheer for an awesome group, Huntingtown’s own, The Marching Hurricanes.
Bonnie Augostino's Blog 