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Ellicott City, MD Real Estate News

By Andrea Bedard, Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS
(Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860)
Midnight Madness in Ellicott City, MD turned into one magical night for my girls! Nothing could have stopped us from heading to Main Street in Ellicott City this evening, not even the rain. After all, Santa set up his workshop at the Thomas Isaac Log Cabin today - and only today - so we grabbed our umbrellas and ventured out. Both my girls loved seeing Santa (and yes, they do believe!) who spent quite some time with them listening to their wish lists and even dancing with them. They also got a goody-bag, courtesy of The Wine Bin. We then made our way down Main Street towards A Journey From Junk (one of my favorite stores) to pick out special ornaments... and ran into Frosty, the Snowman! Oh, the smiles on my girls' faces - priceless! At A Journey From Junk we were greeted warmly and wit...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
Tonight is Midnight Madness in Historic Ellicott City - rain or shine!  All the shops and restaurants are open for business with specials and holiday cheer.   There are 600 free spaces downtown and a free shuttle running until 1am from the George Howard Complex and the County Courthouse. You can access that area by coming in from Route 40 onto Rogers Avenue and avoid cutting through main street.To make it even better - parents can take their kids to the Roger Carter Rec center (off of Rogers Ave) while they shop. A small fee applies but well worth it to shop on your own!  If they are with you - visit Santa at his workshop in the log cabin at the top of main street.A great follow up to Small Business Saturday and always supported by the local community! Tonight is Midnight Madness in Hi...
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By Andrea Bedard, Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS
(Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860)
I don't know who is more excited that Santa will be returning to the Thomas Isaac Log Cabin in Historic Ellicott City this Friday December 6th, 2013 - my girls or I. I am not a fan of the "Mall Santa". I don't know about you but I'm not feeling the magic there. I also find it difficult to explain why Santa is hanging out at the Mall for a month. Santa at the Thomas Isaac Log Cabin at the other hand is the real deal - or so my girls think. And that's exactly why we will be visiting him there again this Friday. What could be more magical than a beautifully decorated, historic log cabin on a historic Main St? And while we are there, we'll also do some shopping - December 6th, 2013 is the 36th annual Midnight Madness in historic Ellicott City - and cast our vote for the annual Holiday Windo...
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  Bob Chew & Ronna Corman-Chew: Group Top Producers in Volume, & Top Listings $3.6 million + total production on 10 units. Ken Zeng Team: Group Top Sales Volume: $3.2 million + total production on 7 units Kevin Hammersmith: Group Top Producers in Units, & Top Sales in Units $3.1 million + total production on 11 units. Don Enright: Individual Top Producer in Volume & Top Listings $2.3 million + total production Laura-Lee Jones: Individual Top Producer in Units: $1.8 million + total productionon 5 units Robin Wilson: Individual Top Sales: $1.6 million + total production on 4 units Proctor/MacBrayne Group: Team Top Producers and Top Sales Diamond Club: Karen Ingalls:$1.5 million + total production Connie Cousens: $1.3 million + total production Emerald Club: Maureen Wienecke, Jean Chavis, ...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
Get ready for some Pumpkin Chucking this Sunday at Clark's Elioak Farm.  Bring your jack-o-lanterns or squirrel eaten pumpkins from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, November 3d.  They'll load em into a catapult and see how far they fly before they splatter!  It's pretty entertaining stuff and the pumpkin part is free! It is the last week of the season for this beloved petting farm in Ellicott City near Centennial Park.  It is a kid's paradise and brings out the kids in adults too! The farm visit is $5 per person and includes animals such as goats, pigs, horses, bunny rabbits, sheep and turkeys.  Check out the hay rides, pony rides, slides and of course tons of fairy tale creatures and sculptures.  If you haven't been in a while, go in the morning before The Ravens Game, indulge your inner child a...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
The Ellicott City Market Report for home sales in Sept 2013 is looking good and homes are flying off the market!In the month of September 2013 - 15 of the homes in Ellicott City were sold after being on the market for LESS THAN 10 DAYS!  The majority of the remaining 42 homes sold in Sept were on the market less than 2 months. The average selling price in the 21042 zip code was $564,631 which is just over 1% higher than the year before.  Prices appear to be reaching a stable point - at least for now! The Ellicott City area here in Maryland is a popular destination for people moving from other states because of our proximity to jobs in the Baltimore/Washington region.The Ellicott City Market Report for home sales in Sept 2013 shows that we really are seeing a sellers market!  But every t...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
October is the perfect time to see Dracula performed by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company!  The play is performed throughout the ruins of the historic Patapsco Female Institute in old Ellicott City - the audience will literally follow the actors as they travel the ruins. The play is an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula and scenes will take place in various locations for an intimate and creepy experience.  Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.  Actor Michael Sullivan portrays Dracula at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Theater. The event is great for Halloween since October is the perfect time to see Dracula performed by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company!   The shows are Thursday - Sunday evenings and are already selling out so get your tickets now. What a fun idea for a grown up night o...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
Don't miss the Ellicott City Fall Festival and Main Street Music Fest together in Historic Ellicott City this Saturday, September 28th!  The fun starts at noon with the music going until 10pm!This festival in Ellicott City is always a great time and the weather for this weekend looks perfect - blue skies and cool temps!This is the second year that the festival is really focusing on live music!  The music is free and there is every kind of band you could want (check out the schedule online above)! Seriously - they are advertising over 80 bands playing at nine music venues throughout the city from 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm at night! There are outdoor music stages (Wine Bin Parking Lot, Lot behind Tourism Building) and indoor venues too (The Phoenix, La Palapa, Cacao Lane, Judge's Bench and t...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
Ellicott City, MD has been named one of the top 10 cities in Maryland for young families!  A recent survey on the consumer advocacy site NerdWallet named which cities in Maryland are most appealing for families.  They looked at the quality of the public schools, affordability (mortgage costs, tax rates, other expenses) and whether the area is growing and prospering even as it attracts new residents.Ellicott City ranked number three on the list in part for its' low unemployment rate and proximity to jobs such as those at the National Security Agency and Fort Meade.  Public schools in Ellicott City regularly rank as some of the best in the state according to information available at Greatschools.org which was also used to place Ellicott City on this current best cities list!Just last year...
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By Dan Rochon, Top Realtor in Northern Virginia
(Greetings Virginia with eXp Realty)
Closing Expenses When Buying a Home – Ellicott City, MD Short Sales Closing costs are usually being disregarded by people when buying a home. Even though closing is an ecstatic moment when the home becomes yours, the closing costs can be incredibly annoying. When you buy a home or other property, you will go through a phase known as escrow. During escrow, several issues related to the transfer of property are worked out. The last day of escrow is known as the closing day and that is the time you are going to pay the closing costs. Closing costs appear in many forms. Some require a lot of cash while others are somewhat painless. Here’s a list of common costs: Escrow Fees An escrow agent is a third party that works with the seller and buyer to complete the transaction. For this service, t...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
Congratulations to Historic Ellicott City, MD!  It was just named as one of the top 20 main streets in the country in the Main Street Matters competition!The Ellicott brothers of Pennsylvania established the area now know as Ellicott City back in the 1770's and well into the next century.  The brothers bought lots of land, set up hugely successful grain farming and built one of the best regarded mills of the time.  With all that industry came jobs, housing and the shops that eventually became the town of Ellicott City.  The B&O railroad started here and there is lots of Civil War history as well.  Check out the ghost tours if you really want to know what's been going on over the last few centuries!Behind the historic Main Street area on Frederick Road is the Shakespeare in the Ruins - a...
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By Blanco Drummond, Blanco Drummond
(Exit Bennett Realty)
The Market Watch for Ellicott City MD Real Estate - 21043 as of April is available and the news is good, 129 units have sold thus far, an increase of 31.63 percent from 98 during the same period in 2012.  The greatest inventory sold were in the detached residential homes market for 4+ BR with 85 homes sold.  Believe it or not, the highest number of homes sold overall were just on the market from 1 to 10 days, with the average days declining from 94 days in 2012 to 60 days year-to-date.  You will see primary activity was in the moderately priced properties with average list price for properties sold at $546,776.  In 2013 inventory is lower but on the rise so Motivated Sellers need to be aware of pricing.  If you are considering selling your home, give us a call or fill out our form to re...
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By Blanco Drummond, Blanco Drummond
(Exit Bennett Realty)
Ellicott City MD is extending warm health hospitality by informing the public to stop in and get a free blood pressure screening with a registered nurse. Screenings are available every Tuesday and sponsored by Howard County Hospital. Tuesdays: 9 a.m.- noon (Screenings will not be held Aug. 21) Venue: Ellicott City Senior Center 9401 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD, 21042 Phone: 410-313-1400   Columbia MD Listings for Sale and Real Estate Services--Blanco Drummond. Your Real Estate expert for Columbia, Ellicott City & Fulton MD.  You now have free access to Columbia MD's Ultimate Real Estate Search Engine!  Call me today and let's discuss how I can help you save when you buy, invest or sell real estate.  Exit Bennett Realty (301) 455 4047. Looking for a new home? Check back here often ...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
 Here is another event that makes the Columbia and Ellicott City areas special!  The Turf Valley Resort Preakness Balloon Festival is a blast for adults and kids of all ages!   Click here to read more about the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Turf Valley!   The McIntire Luxury Home Team Are you are planning to move to Howard County or Catonsville and you want a Buyers Agent that really knows the area? Find out why Goldilocks would use the McIntire Luxury Home Team and you should too (hint - we are just right)!Visit www.FindAHowardCountyHome.com or www.FindACatonsvilleHome.com ****** Don't take my word for it, see what other happy families have said about their home buying or selling experiences:Ellie McIntire Client Reviews on Zillow. The McIntire Team Real Estate Services.Keller Williams R...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
Ellicott City Toy Store "Mumbles and Squeaks" will close in June A beloved historic Ellicott City shop has announced they will close their doors by early summer.  Mumbles and Squeaks is an incredible toy shop which has been delighting kids and parents alike for twenty one years.  Walking into that shop is always a flashback to a simpler time - old fashioned but colorful wooden toys, Playmobile, dress up dolls, science kits and toy instruments fill both levels.  Every inch of this store is packed with well selected treasures both large and small!  It was where you went to find a truly unique birthday present for a special kid. While my son was in his "Train Phase" we spent a lot of time in the upstairs train room. They always have the best selection and the train table was a huge hit wit...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
Get your running shoes on this Mothers Day 2013 but be ready for some serious hills!  The Hills of Milltown 5K Challenge is Sunday, May 12th at 8:00 am and takes place in historic Ellicott City.The race start in the parking lot behind the Tomas Issac Cabin which was constructed in 1780.  The course goes uphill from there and runners will pass other historic buildings and landmarks from the 1800's.  They may miss them though because they will be focusing on all the hills it takes to finish this just over 3 mile race.  This annual race is billed as a great practice run for folks training for the Baltimore Marathon and half marathon in the fall.This is the last event in the local cherry blossom celebration called Blossoms of Hope and proceeds will go towards beautification in Ellicott City...
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By Andrea Bedard, Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS
(Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860)
After 21 years Mumbles & Squeaks Toy Shoppe on Ellicott City's historic Main Street is closing its doors for good. What a bummer! That is not news I wanted to hear, at least not until my girls are grown up! I strongly support locally owned small businesses and prefer shopping there vs. the big box retailers. Mumbles & Squeaks provided a great selection of educational toys and a friendly, welcoming shopping atmosphere to boot. Just last December I wrote a blog post about how much I enjoyed picking out my girls' Christmas presents and stocking stuffers at Mumbles & Squeaks. What will I do this year? I am not aware of another independently owned toy store in the area that offers the same variety. Little Ricky's (great selection of Melissa & Doug toys) and The Family Game Store at the Hist...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
Ellicott City Residential Market report for March 2013   Ellicott City remains the area of choice for many families looking for excellent Public schools in the Central Maryland area. With a great deal of new job growth and relocation, savvy parents are doing their homework about where they want to live. Inventory is 40% lower than the month of March in 2012, but demand is high. Over a third of the homes sold were under contract in 10 days or less in 21042 and over a third in 21043.   March Residential market report for Ellicott City 21042 March Residential market report for Ellicott City 21042   Click here to search for homes in Ellicott City   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Are you are planning to move in or to the Howard ...
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By Ellie McIntire, Luxury service in Central Maryland
(Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate)
 Ellicott City Spring Celebration has music, food & kids activities!   It's time for the Old Ellicott City's Spring Celebration!  The festival is Saturday, April 20th, 2013 from noon to 7pm and includes music on 3 stages, kids activities, food, drinks, and of course - browsing in the great locally owned shop up and down main street.  Check out one of my favorites, the lovely and inspired Sweet Elizabeth Jane for lots of great gift ideas!   The annual springtime celebration is sponsored in part by the Howard County Blossoms of Hope program which benefits cancer research through events and activities throughout the county each April.   This is the biggest and best organized festival I have ever seen planned for downtown EC - with over 20 bands on three stages.  The stages and beer gardens...
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By Andrea Bedard, Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS
(Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860)
Centennial Park in Ellicott City, MD is one of our favorite places to visit in Central Maryland - especially during the Spring and Fall - and that's just what we did a few days ago, we spent a(nother) perfect (sunny) afternoon at Centennial Park. We usually walk the 2.6 mile loop around the lake, watch the wildlife along the way, stop at the playground, count the kites or boats out on the water ... The weather was beautiful and the afternoon just perfect. And what could be a better ending to a perfect afternoon spent at Centennial Lake than getting some Frozen Yogurt? Red Mango in the River Hill Shopping Center in Clarksville, MD is just a short drive east on Rt. 108! P.S. that's my little secret how I get 2 little munchkins to walk a 2.6 mile loop without complaining ;-)
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