ONLINE RELOCATION PACKAGE

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

When I get that phone call from the office receptionist to say "Your clients are here for their appointment," it always makes me smile.  In the next 30 minutes, I'm going to witness a really special time in the lives of these strangers as they go from nervous and hesitant about buying a home to relaxed, excited, and totally engaged in the process of buying a Crofton home.  I can't wait to meet them and get started!

But the excitement sometimes disappears for a moment when I mention getting a loan pre-approval because most first-time buyers have no idea what to expect when they meet with a lender - they're very concerned about their credit history, the adequacy of their savings for a down payment, and whether they earn enough to qualify for a home loan. 

Unravelling the mystery of home financing is an essential element of educating my clients about the home-buying process, so I took the time several years ago to create a handout that addresses this topic:

THE SEVEN-STEP HOME FINANCING PROCESS

1. You select a local lender.

I've found that most online mortgage factories offer loans with hidden costs which more than compensate them for their so-called lower closing costs or interest rate.  These lenders are confident that borrowers don't know the right questions to ask to protect themselves.  Unfortunately, this includes some beloved credit unions that rely upon members' loyalty over good sense when it comes to home loans.  A local lender who lives and works in your new community is eager to please you, his or her new neighbor. 

There are many other reasons for using a local lender, as well, including the lender's network of local appraisers, the convenience factor for you if additional information is required, and the lender's ongoing relationship with local title companies.  'Not to mention how good it feels for buyers to put a face and handshake together with the name and voice.  That can be very reassuring, especially if any problems arise.

2. You make application for a pre-approval.

You will speak or meet with a local lender (before we begin looking at homes) and provide him or her with details of your financial situation.   It is possible that you could have a written pre-approval for home financing within hours.  

3. You make a formal loan application.

You will follow up with the lender to provide any documentation or information that you did not previously provide.  You will sign required forms and pay for an appraisal (approximately $400) and credit reports for each borrower (approximately $65 each).  At this time, the lender is required to provide you with the following information (and I caution you to keep this information handy rather than pack it for your move):

• Truth-in-Lending disclosure - This disclosure includes a summary of the total cost of credit, such as the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and other specifics of the loan. 
• A Home Buyer's Guide to Settlement Costs" - This guide is a government publication that describes the closing or "settlement" process, associated costs, and your rights. 
• Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) disclosure - This disclosure includes information about terms and costs associated with an ARM, past performance of the index to which the interest rate will be tied, and the "Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages." 
• Annual Percentage Rate (APR) information - This is the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fee and any other charge you're required to pay in order to obtain your mortgage loan.

4. Lender orders an appraisal.

The appraisal is an opinion of value based upon certain criteria established by the lender and the secondary market.  The appraisal will verify the fair market value of the property to be used as collateral for your loan.  The appraised value must equal or exceed the sale price.

5. Lender verifies your personal information and credit history.

Your lender may accept the information and documentation you provided as adequate OR may further verify the information through phone calls, email, or mailing a Verification of Employment form (VOE) and/or a Verification of Deposit form (VOD).

If your loan is pre-approved, a complete credit history has probably already been done and no further verification of your credit will be necessary.  If, for any reason, you do not have a pre-approval, the lender will order a credit report for each borrower to obtain a complete credit history.  This information is used to determine if your payment history satisfies the requirements established by the lender and the secondary market.

6. Lender underwrites your loan.

All the information that is relevant to your loan - the information you provide and the appraisal - is submitted to a loan underwriter, who will issue the formal final approval for your loan.  Occasionally, the underwriter may request additional information from you or the appraiser before issuing the formal final approval.  When I call to tell you "Your loan is approved!" it means that your loan is out of underwriting, the last step before closing.

7. You attend Closing.

Congratulations!  This is the final step of your loan process.  After you sign the mortgage and other paperwork required by the lender, that new home will belong to you.  We'll exchange hugs, I'll hand you the keys to your home, and you will live happily ever after!

By unraveling the mystery of home financing for my clients, I eliminate their fear of the unknown (as it relates to this, anyway) and we can focus on finding the right home.  In fact, it gives home-buyers a sense of being "in control" when I point out that "You" is the first word in four of the seven home-financing steps. 

Whether you are a prospective home-buyer with questions about home financing, or a rookie agent just learning how to help your new buyer-clients, please feel free to contact me.

LOCAL LENDERS:

• FNMC Mortgage, Chris Washburn
• 1st Metropolitan Mortgage, Lou Colletti
• Capital Mortgage Finance, Rod Luck

RELATED LINKS:

• STOP! Don't Pck For Your Move Without Setting Aside Important Paperwork
• Capitol Title Waives Fees for Military Home Buyers
• How to Obtain Your VA Certificate of Eligibility
• Good News for VA Home Buyers in Maryland

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

WELCOME TO MARYLAND, and congratulations on your new job in the beautiful Annapolis area!  

You have probably already checked out the official websites for Annapolis, the U.S. Naval Academy and Annapolis Naval Station, so I won't go there.  Instead, I will give you this:

A checklist for my Annapolis house-hunting trip:

1.  Request a FREE Maryland Travel Kit from the Maryland Office of Tourism.  This is first on the list because it will take a while to receive this information by mail and you may find the Maryland map and other material helpful in getting to know the area. 

2.  Plan your house-hunting trip, starting with arrangements for travel and accommodations.  If you are travelling by air, be sure to choose BWI as your destination airport, if possible, because it is only about a half hour from Annapolis.  Both Reagan National and Dulles are farther AND will probably provide your first unpleasant experience with D.C. area traffic congestion.

Military personnel can make reservations at the BEQ, but there are lots of places to stay in and outside of Annapolis.  If you enjoy American history and want to combine house-hunting with vacation, check out the Historic Inns of Annapolis, located nearby and within walking distance of Annapolis Harbor and the restaurants and shopping on or near Main Street.  Other options include staying at an Annapolis Bed & Breakfast or one of the many hotels on the outskirts of Annapolis, such as the Doubletree - or just 15 minutes away at the Bowie Comfort Inn Conference Center, conveniently located at the intersection of Rt. 50 and 301. 

3.  Gather together your personal financial records, as suggested in Stop - Don't Pack to Move Without Setting Aside These Important Papers!

4.  Military personnel - Verify your BAH, basic pay, and any allowances for which you may be eligible, based on your own rate or rank. You will be required to enter the Annapolis zipcode (21402), so I am providing it here for your reference.  If you need additional information about your pay, consult the website for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 

5.  If you plan to use VA financing, obtain your VA Certificate of Eligibility. Whether you plan to have your lender handle this or you plan to request it yourself, you will need the same documentation.  And remember, you may be eligible to buy VA again with either full or partial eligibility, even if you have used VA to finance a home in the past.   This may be the way to go if you can't sell your current home, due to today's tough real estate market.

6. Obtain pre-approval from a local mortgage lender.  While there is no shortage of lenders online, I highly recommend a local lender for many reasons.  Here are a few lenders that my clients have worked with recently:

• Capital Mortgage Finance, Rod Luck (USNA '88)
• FNMC Mortgage, Chris Washburn
• 1st Metropolitan Mortgage, Lou Colletti

It is important to do this up-front, so you are realistic about price range in your home search.  There's no point in spending your limited time looking at homes you can't buy, and then suffering the disappointment of learning that after you fall in love with a home.

7.  Check out homes and communities in the Annapolis area with a free subscription to weekly or daily reports on new and revised home listings, based on search criteria you specify.  

Or take a look at some of the homes in these communities near Annapolis, keeping in mind that prices often range from the $200's to well over a million dollars for waterfront estates.  'Odds are that you'll be somewhere between those extremes.

NEARBY COMMUNITIES:

• Annapolis
• Arnold
• Bowie
• Crofton
• Crownsville
• Davidsonville
• Edgewater
• Gambrills
• Odenton
• Severna Park

Of course, it goes without saying that you need to choose a local real estate agent who really knows the area... and knows military life!

I've walked in your shoes, as a military spouse, and gone to new duty stations with only a day or two to make a housing decision.  I had a baby while my husband was deployed, and I've struggled with all the decisions a military spouse makes without any family around to help out.  Add that experience to my years as a Realtor, helping military families...  Who could be better qualified to help you relocate to the Annapolis area?

If you are interested in Crofton real estate, be sure to check out Focus On Crofton, my blog for and about and the surrounding area..  

RELATED LINKS:

• Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in Crofton, Maryland
• Capitol Title Waives Fees for Military Home Buyers
• How to Obtain Your VA Certificate of Eligibility
• Good News for VA Home Buyers in Maryland
• Welcome to Fort Meade!
• New to Andrews AFB?
• How VA Can Help Sell Your Crofton Home

STOP - Don't Pack to Move without Setting aside Important Paperwork 

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Find a Home online and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Your real estate connection for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, Northrop Grumman, BWI and the U.S. Naval Academy

Maryland home buyers, this is one of those lessons learned from The School of Hard Knocks:  Find and set aside important paperwork and financial information BEFORE you start packing to move!  I've seen firsthand the unnecessary pressure and tension some of my relocating clients experienced when they failed to do this.

Yes, financing a home is so much easier today than it was a decade ago.  In many cases, through an automated underwriting process, home buyers receive their "ok" within hours of making application.  Sometimes, however, this loan approval requires follow-up with hard copies of documentation before the loan is actually funded.  You don't want to discover this AFTER your important paperwork is packed in one of those 50 boxes in the garage. 

Just to be safe, here's a list of important documentation and information* you should find and set aside before you pack or move: 

1.  Social Security number and birth date of each applicant.

2.  Income verification for each applicant (2 most recent pay stubs with year-to-date earnings).  If you are active-duty military, this includes basic pay and all allowances.

3.  Tax information for each applicant (W-2's and tax returns for 2 most recent years).

4.  Employment verification for each applicant (Employers names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses).

5.  Bank account information for each applicant (2 most recent statements for all bank accounts).

6.  Assets for each applicant (2 most recent statements for IRA's, 409K's, CD's, Stocks and Bonds; if you have individual investments, bring a brokerage statement with name of the stock, number of shares and the amount per share).

7.  Personal property information for each applicant (cars, furniture, retirement accounts, jewelry, valuable collections and life insurance).

8.  Credit information for each applicant (2 most recent statements for all creditors).

9.  Current housing information for each applicant (If you own: address, market value, original loan amount, balance due, monthly payment amount, copy of listing if property is currently for sale; if you rent: copy of lease).

10.  New home information (Receipt for earnest money deposit, copy of purchase contract and listing information).

11.  Gift letter, if applicable (Letter from donor stating amount of gift and that money does not have to be repaid).

12.  Self-employment information for each applicant (2 most recent years profit and loss statements and balance sheets), if applicable.

13.  Divorce/separation information for each applicant (Copy of the divorce decree or maintenance statement and any amendments, 12-month history of child support and/or alimony payments), if applicable.

14.  In-school/student verification (If you don't have 2 years of employment history, you will need transcript and/or diploma to verify student status) for each applicant, if applicable. 

15.  Rental property information for each applicant (For all rental property, you must provide addresses, copies of leases, account numbers, mortgage lenders' names, addresses, and phone numbers), if appicable.

* Source of List:  Freddie Mac

16.  Medical records for each member of the family.

17.  School records for each of your children. 

The last two items were added to this checklist at the suggestion of Mary Ellen Harvley.  John Walters mentioned, in his comment to this post, that he took these items with him when he evacuated for Katrina.  Now that is some food for thought - perhaps we all should gather together our important documents, whether we are moving or not!  Thank you both.

I strongly recommend that you put originals of all this paperwork in a safe place where you and your movers won't pack it accidentally - preferably a fire-proof lockbox.  Additionally, I suggest you bring on your house-hunting trip either photocopies OR a digital record on a CD or DVD, in case your lender needs it.  Then, be sure to keep your original documents with you during your move.

• Top 3 Reasons You Should Buy Your Next Home in Crofton, Maryland
• Capitol Title Waives Fees for Military Home Buyers
• How to Obtain Your VA Certificate of Eligibility
• Good News for VA Home Buyers in Maryland
• Welcome to Annapolis, Maryland
• Welcome to Fort Meade!
• New to Andrews AFB?
• How VA Can Help Sell Your Crofton Home
• STOP - Don't Pack to Move Without Setting Aside these Important Papers
• Santa's Helpers Lay Wreaths at Arlington Cemetery 

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Relocating to the Baltimore-Washington area?  Check out Your Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Odenton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Anne Arundel County Public Schools recently announced that thirty-four county teachers received National Board Certification this year from The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), double the number who achieved this status in 2006. 

Ten of the 2007 teachers are in Crofton-area schools, including Odenton and Davidsonville... 

To see a list of Crofton area teachers who received their certification and the schools where they teach, please follow this link to:

Ten Crofton Teachers Earn Certification 

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

VA Home Buyers, arm yourself with a Certificate of Eligibility and a loan pre-approval

If you bought your home in that environment, at a higher price than it would sell for today, you may not have enough equity in that home to help you buy again.  But don't worry... just rent your current home and use your VA eligibility now.  If you've never used VA before, or if your full eligibility has been restored by selling a home financed with VA, you may be able to buy without any down payment.  Given the competitive nature of this buyers' market, the seller of any home you buy may consider paying part or all of your closing costs. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs has a lot of very helpful information on their website about VA loans.  I encourage you to read it all, since newer loan originators and real estate agents may not have had much exposure to VA loans.  These loans have not been commonplace, at least not in my area, for many years.

5 Steps for Getting Your VA Certificate of Eligibility:

Many mortgage companies can help you obtain your VA Certificate of Eligibility through an automated process.  Even if you plan to let them do that, however, read these guidelines to find out what information they will need.  It is the same documentation that you must have to request the certificate yourself:

1. Complete VA Form 26-1880, Request for a Certificate of Eligibility for VA Home Loan Benefits.
2. Send the completed VA Form 26-1880 and any supporting evidence to the Winston-Salem Eligibility Center.  Under normal circumstances a response can be anticipated in roughly 10 days.  This time frame will vary during periods of heavy activity.
3. Include photocopies of your most recent discharge or separation papers covering active military duty, which show active duty dates and type of discharge.  If you served on regular active duty (not a reservist) and were discharged after 1975 or you have previously had a VA loan, it may not be necessary for you to provide documentation of your military service.  However, it is best to provide such evidence with your VA Form 26-1880 if it is readily available so as to avoid possible delays in processing your request.
4. If you are seeking restoration of your previously used benefit, you should include any evidence of payment in full of your prior loan (copy of HUD-1 settlement statement, for example) that you have in your possession.  Normally VA receives notification that a loan has been paid, but this does not always happen. 
5. VA determines your eligibility and, if you are qualified, VA will issue you a certificate of eligibility to be used in applying for a VA loan.

If you have any questions about buying a home with VA financing, don't hesitate to contact me.  My husband is a veteran, and we've used VA to buy four or five homes.  Add to that my real estate experience, helping many other VA buyers over the years, and I probably know how to answer your question or at least where to find the answer!

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

By Larry Woda

Even as a kid, I was awed by Arlington National Cemetery when my parents took my sisters and me to Washington, D.C. from our home in Ohio.  It's not just the landscape that's impressive, but realization of all the history represented by those thousands of headstones which seem to stretch on forever. 

If you never visited Arlington National Cemetery, let me describe it to you:  rolling hills, winding roadways, clusters of mature trees, and small groups of people reading headstones here and there.  Other than the sound of Taps being played at yet another funeral, it's a quiet place - a place for reflection and prayer, like any cemetery, but exaggerated by its pure magnitude and your awareness of the heroes resting here who each contributed in their own way to the freedom and quality of life we enjoy now.

Today, I had the privilege of joining hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers to lay 10,000 wreathes at Arlington Cemetery.  Margaret thought you might be interested in hearing about this, so here goes:

To learn about the people who participated, the day's agenda, and the American heroes whose graves were decorated with wreathes by Larry, please follow this link to:  Santa's Helpers Lay Wreaths at Arlington Cemetery 

Thanks, Larry, for sharing this story with my readers! 

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, and use the free Mortgage Calculator.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret at 301-346-2923.

Sellers WANT you now, after years of shunning VA buyers!

It's true, home sellers are eager to accept your offer on their home, even though your choice of financing may cost them more than a conventional buyer.  'Truth is, they may even pay some or all of your closing costs.  Home sellers felt quite different, just two or three years ago, as two or ten or more home buyers competed to see who could win a seller's favor in the recent sellers' market.  Cash purchases and conventional loans ruled then. 

Home buyers rule now!  As the home market has tightened on sellers, buyers have been flexing their muscles, and VA loans have been making a comeback.  In Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where my office is located, the percentage of VA loans is up for the fifth consecutive month:

Source:  Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (MRIS)
 

Why use a VA loan to buy a home?  From my perspective as a real estate agent and a VA-financed homeowner myself, there are three primary reasons:

1. Little or now down payment
2. Ease of qualifying
3. No pre-payment penalty

I could write at least a paragraph to clarify each of these reasons, but it would be better for you to consult with a mortgage lender.  I do want to make one important point, however - you may be eligible for a VA loan even if you have had one in the past, even if you have one now on another home.

Find out if you are eligible for a VA loan.

Since you can realistically expect to use your VA eligibility to buy a home in this market, you should visit the website for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - maybe even before you choose a lender or real estate agent.  Here a few links you may find helpful:

• Home Loan Guarantee Services - Home Page for information about VA loans. 
• Rules for VA Eligibility - Find out if you qualify, based on your service or your spouse's service.
• Obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility - Complete instructions and forms. 
• Frequently Asked Questions about VA Loans - I think this is self-explanatory

Home Sellers, find out How VA Can Help You Sell Your Home.

RELATED LINKS: 

• Capitol Title Waives Fees for Military Home Buyers
• How to Obtain Your VA Certificate of Eligibility

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Home Sellers - VA can help sell your home.  Here's why:

FACT #1:  There is a huge inventory of homes for sale (How many other sellers are you competing against in your area?)

FACT #2:  Buyers are few and far between (Just look at the drop in 'number of homes sold' and the increase in 'days on market' in your area!)

FACT #3:  Incoming transferees are highly motivated to buy - in fact, they MUST find a place to live.

FACT #4:  Incoming transferees may be cash-poor, because they can't sell their current home to pull out equity for a down-payment and closing costs here.

FACT #5:  VA-eligible borrowers may not need to sell their current home to buy yours.  Wouldn't you just love to have a non-contingent buyer make an offer on your home?

 

Fortunately, we have a great source of buyers in this area:  Incoming transferees to Fort Meade, NSA, Andrews AFB, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the Federal Government in Washington, D.C., who are veterans or active duty military personnel.  Many, and perhaps most, are eligible for a VA-loan.

Therefore, even if they can't sell their current home to pull out their equity for a home purchase here, they may be able to buy your home with a VA no-money down loan.  If you're willing to pay their closing costs, all the better.  Frankly, local buyers can use this strategy, too - just rent their current home and obtain a VA loan to buy a new one. 

Yes, VA can help you sell your home.  Ask your listing agent what he or she does to promote your home to VA-eligible buyers.  If you're not satisfied with the answer, it might be time to consider another agent.  Don't overlook this prime target market because it could be the difference between selling your home or having it sit on the market another six months.

HOME BUYERS: Check out the Good News for VA-Eligible Home Buyers

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

If Andrews Air Force Base is your next duty station, let me be one of the first to welcome you to Maryland.

Whether you are enlisted, a newly commissioned officer, a General, or anyone in between - you probably already checked out the website for Andrews, so I won't attempt to tell you about the base or its services.  Instead, let me tell you a little about the surrounding area and five critical steps for you to take BEFORE arriving to buy a home.

Andrews AFB is located outside Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, and within a half hour of Anne Arundel and Charles Counties.  Howard and Montgomery Counties are also within commuting distance, as is Alexandria, Virginia.  You will find many options for a place to live, your spouse to get a job, and a good public school system  ifor your children.   As a D.C. native, I am very familiar with all of these areas, and can answer your questions about schools, homes, shopping and commuting for any of them.

These counties are probably the most popular ones with Andrews AFB civilian and military personnel:

Andrews AFB is located in Prince George's County, where Bowie and Mitchellville are popular with Andrews personnel because of their convenient location and many housing options, ranging from condos to "McMansions" and everything in between.  You'll enjoy Bowie New Town's extensive shopping and restaurant park, the minor league Bowie Baysox, and Allen's Pond - including an ice arena.  Prince George's County is home to the University of Maryland flagship campus and to University of Maryland University College, if anyone in your family is interested in higher education.  If so, you may want to consider living in the City of College Park, where a grant program is available for some housing - be sure to ask me about it.

Andrews AFB personnel often choose to live in Anne Arundel County, home to Fort Meade and the United States Naval Academy and perhaps the most military-friendly place to live in the nearby area.  You will benefit from the convenience of easy access to services for dependents at these locations, as well as Andrews.

The state capitol of Annapolis is located in Anne Arundel County, and you will enjoy visiting this historic city with its maritime ambiance.  (Not to mention that the newly expanded Annapolis Mall is arguably the best shopping center anywhere in Maryland!)  Crofton and Odenton are two areas that are very popular with Andrews personnel, as well as the Annapolis. 

Andrews AFB is only about a half hour from Waldorf, in Charles County, adjacent to Prince George's County o the south.  It may be ideal if you work shifts, but you could find the traffic in and out of Waldorf during rush hour to be a major drawback. 

ANDREWS AFB HOME BUYERS' CHECKLIST:

1.  Request a FREE Maryland Travel Kit from the Maryland Office of Tourism.  This is first on the list because it will take a while to receive this information by mail, after you make the request, and you may find the Maryland map and other material helpful in getting to know the area.

2.  Verify your BAH, basic pay, and any allowances for which you may be eligible, based on your own rate or rank. You will be required to enter the Andrews AFB zipcode (20762), so I am providing it here for your reference.  If you need additional information about your pay, consult the website for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 

3.  Obtain your VA Certificate of Eligibility if you plan to use a VA Mortgage to buy a home.  Even if you used VA in the past, you may be eligible again.  Most lenders can help you obtain your certificate, but the procedure is relatively easy if you want to do it yourself.  Just remember not to pack it with your household effects because you will need it in hand to get your VA loan.

4.  Obtain pre-approval from a local mortgage lender.  While there is no shortage of lenders online, I highly recommend a local lender for many reasons.  Here are a few lenders that my clients have worked with recently:

• Capital Mortgage Finance, Rod Luck
• FNMC Mortgage, Chris Washburn
• 1st Metropolitan Mortgage, Lou Colletti

It is important to do this up-front, so you are realistic about price range in your home search.  There's no point in spending your limited time looking at homes you can't buy, and then suffering the disappointment of learning that after you fall in love with a home.

5.  Search online for a home or condo to familiarize yourself with communities in the area.  This will expose you to photos, descriptions and prices of homes in different zipcodes near Andrews AFB.  Once you narrow down your search, contact me for more information about the communities.  As I mentioned before, I was born in D.C. and raised in Maryland, so I have an intimate knowledge of the entire area, including Ann Arundel, Charles, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.

Of course, it goes without saying that you need to choose a local real estate agent who really knows the area... and knows military life!

I've walked in your shoes, as a military spouse, and gone to new duty stations with only a day or two to make a housing decision.  I had a baby while my husband was deployed, and I've struggled with all the decisions a military spouse makes without any family around to help out.  Add that experience to my years as a Realtor, helping military families...  Who could be better qualified to help you relocate to the Andrews AFB area?

If you are interested in Crofton real estate, be sure to check out Focus On Crofton, my blog for and about and the surrounding area..  

RELATED LINKS:

• Top 3 Reasons You Should Buy Your Next Home in Crofton, Maryland
• Capitol Title Waives Fees for Military Home Buyers
• How to Obtain Your VA Certificate of Eligibility
• Good News for VA Home Buyers in Maryland
• Welcome to Annapolis, MD
• Welcome to Fort Meade!
• How VA Can Help Sell Your Crofton Home
• STOP - Don't Pack to Move Without Setting Aside Important Paperwork
• Santa's Helpers Lay Wreaths at Arlington Cemetery

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

So you have orders in hand for Fort Meade!  Let me be one of the first to welcome you to Maryland.

 
I'm sure you have already checked out the website for Fort Meade, so I won't attempt to tell you about the base or its services.  Instead, let me tell you about the surrounding area and five critical steps for Fort Meade-area home buyers.

You will find Fort Meade conveniently located between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., about a half hour west of Annapolis in Anne Arundel County and just minutes from Howard and Prince George's Counties.  

As a D.C. native, I am very familiar with all of these areas, and can answer your questions about schools, homes, shopping and commuting for any of them.  Besides living on base, you have many options for a place to live, your spouse to get a job, and a good public school system for your kids.

"TO-DO" LIST:

1.  Request a FREE Maryland Travel Kit from the Maryland Office of Tourism.  This is first on the list because it will take a while to receive this information by mail, after you make the request, and you may find the Maryland map and other material helpful in getting to know the area.

2.  Plan your house-hunting trip.  If you're traveling by air, be sure to choose BWI as you destination airport.  It's less than a half hour from Fort Meade, and its arguably a user-friendly for a large metropolitan area airport. 

When you arrive in Maryland to look for a home, you may be able to stay at Abrams Hall, the guest house at Fort Meade.  Call (410) 674-7700 ext. 7278 or (301) 677-5660 for more information and reservations.  Unless they've changed the rules recently, however, your pets are not welcome there. 

3.  Gather together your personal financial records, as suggested in Stop - Don't Pack to Move Without Setting Aside These Important Papers!

4.  Verify your BAH, basic pay, and any allowances for which you may be eligible, based on your own rate or rank.   

5.  Obtain your VA Certificate of Eligibility if you plan to use a VA Mortgage to buy a home.  Whether you plan to have your lender handle this or you plan to request it yourself, you will need the same documentation. You may be eligible again with either full or partial eligibility, even if you have used VA to finance a home in the past. 

6.  Obtain pre-approval from a local mortgage lender.  While there is no shortage of lenders online, I highly recommend a local lender for many reasons.  Here are a few lenders that my clients have worked with recently:

• Capital Mortgage Finance, Rod Luck
• FNMC Mortgage, Chris Washburn
• 1st Metropolitan Mortgage, Lou Colletti

It is important to do this up-front, so you are realistic about price range in your home search.  There's no point in spending your limited time looking at homes you can't buy, and then suffering the disappointment of learning that after you fall in love with a home.

7.  Check out homes and communities in the Annapolis area with a free subscription to weekly or daily reports on new and revised home listings, based on search criteria you specify.  Or take a look at homes in these communities near Annapolis, keeping in mind that prices often range from the $200's to well over a million dollars for waterfront estates.  'Odds are that you'll be somewhere between those extremes.

Of course, it goes without saying that you need to choose a local real estate agent who really knows the area, understands military pay, and knows military life!

I've walked in your shoes, as a military spouse, and gone to new duty stations with only a day or two to make a housing decision.  I had a baby while my husband was deployed, and I've struggled with all the decisions a military spouse makes without any family around to help out.  Add that experience to my years as a Realtor, helping military families...  Who could be better qualified to help you relocate to the Fort Meade area?

RELATED LINKS:

• Fort Meade - What to Expect When You Arrive
• Good News for VA Home Buyers in Maryland
• STOP - Don't Pack to Move without Setting aside Important Paperwork

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Thank you for your service to our country!  I look forward to having an opportunity to serve you and your family. 

As a Navy wife, I experienced several PCS moves myself - not to mention finding, buying and moving my family into a new home while my husband was deployed. I "get" military pay and how the various allowances impact your qualifying to buy a home.  And I know how to help military families move into their own home without any cash "up front" - something you cannot do as a renter. 

I serve military families throughout the, D.C. - Baltimore - Annapolis area, specializing in Anne Arundel, Howard and Prince George's Counties, Maryland. You can contact me online or by cell/text at 301-346-2923 to help your family relocate to Fort Meade, Andrews AFB, the U.S. Naval Academy, or any other military installation in D.C. or Maryland.