A columnist for The Washington Times contacted me last week for an article she is writing, and this is the question she asked me:  What makes you a military specialist?  Of course, any agent can work with a relocating military family, whether they're coming or going.  And most of those transactions will be successful.  However, many military families prefer to work with a so-called "military specialist." There's no professional designation or rulebook for real estate agents to be considered a "military specialist" but there may be certain expectations on the part of service members and their spouses.  My military clients tell me they're looking for an agent who brings these qualifications to the table:   "Been there, done that," as a member of the military or a military spouse.Military ... 09/25/2011

PCS to Fort Meade - if you have just picked orders to Fort Meade, all I can say is CONGRATULATIONS! Fort Meade is a great base in a wonderful area. The good news is, there is so much to do in Central Maryland. The bad news is, there is so much to do in Central Maryland. You probably wont have the time to do it all!THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO VISIT AROUND FORT GEORGE G. MEADEThe close proximity to downtown Baltimore and Washington DC lends itself to days of sightseeing. If you feel like hitting the beach you can try one of the local beaches along the Chesapeake Bay or take the drive across the Bay Bridge and head to Ocean City, Dewey Beach or Bethany Beach - and while you are there, don't forget to check out Assateague Island! If you like being outdoors you can go hiking or mountain bikin... 09/12/2011

Calling all real estate investors! There aren't many places in this country with greater investment potential than Odenton, Maryland. Odenton is home to Fort George G. Meade/NSA and about 21,000 households.  It was originally an agricultural area, and became a railroad town early in the 20th century.  Today, it is a suburb of both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. - still tied to its railroad tradition in a new role, as a commuting stop along the MARC route, and fortunate to be the destination for thousands of new jobs under BRAC 2005.   The real estate market flourished in Odenton during the 1990's, in the early days of two new residential communities:  Seven Oaks and Piney Orchard.  Today, those communities and others in the 21113 zip code are not immune to the downturn in the housing ma... 09/01/2011

SAVE THE DATE! If you are not afraid to sing "Kiss my Country Ass" out loud, have a "Hillbilly Bone" in your body, a "Honey Bee" by your side and possibly "Become a dancing machine the more you drink" then you can't miss Friday's event at Fort Meade! BLAKE SHELTON LIVE @ FORT MEADE PRESENTED BY THE AIR FORCE RESERVE - TOUR FOR THE TROOPS SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2011  8 PM @ PARADE FIELD EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL MILITARY AND FAMILIES, DoD CIVILIANS AND THEIR GUESTS. SHOW IS FREE - TICKETS ARE NOT NEEDED. NOTE:DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS, BBQs, GLASS CONTAINERS OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES! ~ GOOD TIMES! ~ 08/29/2011

"The Musical Ambassadors of the Army"continue their summer concert series at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Fort Meade Pavilion on Llewelyn Avenue, about 20 minutes from Crofton. This Saturday, August 13, The Concert Band and Soldiers' Chorus return home to Fort Meade after their Independence Day collaboration with the Boston Pops. The concert will feature some of the most timeless works of band literature as well as new arrangements written specifically for these ensembles. The repertoire for this concert will be selected and conducted by the Soldier-Musicians of the Field Band. The Army Field Band's pop/rock band, The Volunteers, have an electrifying, heart-pounding show that you can enjoy the following weekend, on August 20. Culminating this years summer concert series will be the U.S. A... 08/09/2011

The annual 4th of July celebration at Fort George G. Meade, MD is one of the few events throughout the year that is open to the public and designed to bring the community together. It will take place on the parade field (just follow the signs and the crowd, you can't miss it).  The Fort Meade community events draw a huge crowd and this time promises to be no different with lots of activities for young and old. There'll be rides (free) for the kids, lots of food ($) and music. MIX 106.5 - Baltimore's Best Music - will be there until 5 pm. The fireworks are scheduled for 9.30 pm.  If this will be your first time, do plan for some wait time to get on post. Please be advised that there's a 100% ID check in place and all cars without DoD-decals are subject to inspection! Don't let that deter... 06/30/2011

  The Base Realignment and Closure initiative (BRAC), is alive and moving forward in Anne Arundel County. A decade ago, the Department of Defense began the process of realigning resources, including opening and closing of facilities. As a result of that initiative, Ft. Meade, in Anne Arundel County, MD will be adding approximately 22,000 jobs in the next few years.Many, not all of the families involved in moving their job to Ft. Meade will be relocating. Others can rent, commute from Northern Virginia, or possibly telecommute as alternatives to moving. If you’re one of the families that are going to be moving your household to Anne Arundel, Baltimore or Howard Counties...I can help. On the map below, you will find homes for sale in Anne Arundel County, that are a reasonable commute to F... 06/04/2011

Q.  I rented my Bowie MD home when I got PCS orders from Fort Meade to Fort Bragg because I couldn't sell it for enough to cover the mortgage.  Now that my home is a rental property, will I still be eligible for the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program known as HAP? A.  Yes, you can use HAP if the property is rented, provided it was your primary residence at the time you received PCS orders.     There are some additional requirements, as well: Your permanent reassignment to a new duty station or home port must be outside a 50-mile radius of your former duty station or home port.   Your reassignment must have been ordered between 1 February 2006 and 30 September 2010. Your property must have been purchased before 1 July 2006. You must have a decline of at least a 10% home ... 02/14/2011

Jobs in Anne Arundel County Maryland As a result of the BRAC initiative, several government agencies and private companies are relocating or opening new offices near Fort Meade in Maryland. Estimates indicate that the number of jobs that have come to the region is already over 11,000. This estimate does not include the many jobs which are related to cyber security, which is also expected to be in the thousands, and it does not include the thousands of jobs which are relocating to or being created near Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County Maryland. The latest company which is relocating to the area is Delta Resources.  They will bring 40 jobs with them and expect to expand around July 2011.  It would be worth while to get in line now for their anticipated growth. Delta Resources bri... 02/08/2011

Whether PCS orders have you selling or buying a home in Maryland, there are three programs you should know about.  They could help you in other parts of the country as well: As the spouse, daughter and granddaughter of veterans, I take a lot of pride in serving today's military families, and military moves have been a large segment of my real estate business for over 30 years. Using the Department of Defense Home Owners Assistance Program in Maryland, obtaining a VA Compromise, buying a home before the extension for military families expires - these three programs are just the beginning... You have unique opportunities as well as requirements when you receive PCS orders. I "get" that. Nothing could please me more than an opportunity to help you achieve your goals and enjoy the smoothest... 02/04/2011

Admission is FREE when the U.S. Army Field Band performs for local residents at Arundel High tonight.   Arundel High School is just down the road from Fort Meade, and plenty of students at Arundel have family members stationed or employed there.  But I'm guessing some of these students and families may not have had an opportunity to hear the U.S. Army Field Band perform - at least not "up close and personal" like this. Well, folks, you are in for a treat!  Music critics say the Army Field Band is one of the most versatile and inspiring musical organizations in the world. (And this performance is open to the public, so it's not necessary to have a connection to the school to attend.) These "Musical Ambassadors of the Army" have been performing for audiences worldwide for 65 years.  (Yes ... 01/22/2011

Anne Arundel County, Maryland: More BRAC Related Jobs The Base Realignment and Closure initiative (BRAC) has had a huge impact on the employment picture in Maryland. Two defense contractors have announced plans to expand in Anne Arundel County to support contracts related to operations at Fort Meade. ManTech Internationl Corporation will be hiring 80 to 90 employees for a $23 million contract to support the move of the Defense Information Systems Agency to Fort Meade.   Praemittias Group Incorporated will need 30 employeesto support activities at Fort Meade.  They will be locating their operations at Arundel Overlook.  Defense contractor, 3Di Technologies, has already move its operations to this location.   Numerous other contractors have been opening operations in Anne Arundel County, ... 08/20/2010

The musical ambassadors of the United States Army are based right here at Fort George G. Meade. "As the premier touring musical representative for the United States Army, this internationally-acclaimed organization travels thousands of miles each year presenting a variety of music to enthusiastic audiences throughout the nation and abroad."  That's how they're described on the band's official website. Army band members are active duty soldiers in the U.S. Army who rotate through various assignments throughout their careers, just like any other member of the U.S. military.  Bandsmen, as they are called, have duties ranging from performing instrumentalists and vocalists to conductors, sound technicians and administrators.  They could be assigned to a large band (at Fort Monroe, VA, Ft. Mc... 06/20/2010

Fort George G Meade in Maryland is many things... one of them is a community, complete with shopping, recreational facilities, day care, dining, and more.   Golf is nearly always mentioned in any conversation about recreation at Fort Meade, and The Courses offer 27-holes of golf right in the heart of the post to qualified individuals. You may be eligible to play golf at Fort Meade, without even realizing it...   In fact, I think a lot of local residents may not be aware they don't have to be active duty military or stationed at Fort Meade to play The Courses (although active-duty E1-E5 stationed at Meade do have lower rates than anyone else except junior golfers). There are several levels of eligibility (listed in order of priority) for playing golf on The Courses at Fort Meade: Active ... 06/11/2010

Relocating home buyers nearly always ask for my recommendation on places to stay during their house-hunting trip to Maryland.  That’s a tricky question to answer, since not all people like the same thing.   All business If you want to focus on house-hunting in Bowie, Crofton, Odenton and the surrounding area, Bowie is your best bet for accommodations.  In addition to the Comfort Inn Conference Center at the intersection of Route 3 and 50, there’s also a Hampton Inn (across from Bowie New Town Centre near the Bowie Regal Movie Theater), and Towneplace Suites by Marriott (located to the back of Bowie New Town Centre).  These facilities are located about 5 minutes from my office, so not a minute will be wasted on the road in getting down to business!   DOD lodging for military families Che... 04/24/2010

Maryland: Fort Meade: DISA Career Expo Do you need a job?  Are you looking for a career change?  Consider attending the Career Expo on Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 10 am to 3 pm at Fort Meade. You can preregister for the event at www.disa.mil/conferences. DISA will be relocating from Virginia to Fort Meade. If you need Re-Location assistance to the Fort Meade, Maryland area, contact: --- Ron Trzcinski --- ExecuHome Realty --- 410-935-5844 Direct Line --- ront@mris.com ---           03/31/2010

Affordable Homes Near Fort Meade include hundreds of detached homes in the community of FOUR SEASONS ESTATES in Gambrills, Maryland, about fifteen minutes east of the post. While SEVEN OAKS and PINEY ORCHARD appeal to many civilian and military personnel stationed in the area because homes are a little newer and closer to the post, others much prefer to find an Affordable Home Near Fort Meade and NSA that's NOT a townhome or condo.  Detached homes in FOUR SEASONS ESTATES are older, but they're also priced in the same range as townhomes and condos of other nearby communities.  Many of them have updated kitchens, bathrooms, windows, etc., and those that need improvement usually come with lower pricetags - perfect for the handyman who wants to grow property value with sweat equity.   FOUR... 07/26/2009

AFFORDABLE HOMES NEAR FORT MEADE are easy to find! If you don't want to live on post, you'll find lots of different options beyond the Fort Meade gates.  In fact, there are many Affordable Homes Near Fort Meade in five different counties, all within an hour:  Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George's, Montgomery and Baltimore Counties in Maryland. Two nearby communities are probably the most popular ones for both military and civilian personnel attached to Fort Meade, however, so let's take a look at them first:  SEVEN OAKS (see below) and PINEY ORCHARD (tomorrow).  You may not feel the need to look any further after you check out their convenience, homes, and neighborhood amenities.   SEVEN OAKS By far the closest community with Affordable Homes Near Fort Meade in Maryland is SEVEN OAKS in... 07/24/2009

If you're relocating to the Fort Meade area in Maryland, this is for you.    It doesn't matter if you're military or civilian, or whether your destination is on post or off... It doesn't matter if you're NSA-bound or simply want to enjoy the services and facilities available to military families at Fort Meade while working in nearby D.C. or Baltimore. There's plenty of information available online, but who wants to run Googe searches all night to find it when you can start with this collection of posts about relocating to the Fort Meade area in Anne Arundel County.   FORT MEADE RELOCATION GUIDE Fort Meade - What to Expect When You Arrive - 02/10/08 08:50 AM Families of civilian employees and military personnel relocating to Fort Meade will find a post that covers 5,415 acres, with nearl... 07/18/2009

There are probably more military retirees in the Fort Meade and Annapolis Areas than there are active duty personnel.  Why not?  After all, some of the best medical care in the world is right here (Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, ranked #1 in the nation year after year), and support services including Commissaries and PX facilites in several locations.  Who can count the restaurants, golf courses, Active Adult communities... You'll find everything a military retiree could want - well, except for the high state taxes, but that's a topic for another day. With so many military couples retiring in this area, eventually some are going to need additional help.  If you or someone you know is nearing that stage of life, I have some news for you: There's a little-known veterans' benefit for longtime... 07/17/2009