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

CROFTON MD 21114

My dad always said that a golf course is the best place to raise children, and I have to echo his sentiment.   A child who runs home from school to get his golf clubs and practice is not hanging out in an alley experimenting with drugs.  An adolescent or teen who plays 18 or 36 holes of golf a day, virtually from dawn 'til dark, is too tired to stay out late at night drinking.  A child who plays golf develops life skills such as goal-setting, discipline, self-motivation, and learning from mistakes and disappointments. 

Living in Crofton provided my children the opportunity to play golf every day that weather permitted, and my sons took full advantage of that.  They competed locally, regionally and nationally - and went to college on golf scholarships.  We never had to worry about them... we knew where to find them, because we often played golf with them or watched them play.  Their younger sister learned the game, too (although she didn't compete growing up), but she certainly enjoys golf as an adult. 

Living in Crofton, your children probably will be a bike ride or walk away from the course at Crofton Country Club or Walden.  It's a lifestyle that you and they can both enjoy.  But I should warn you... 

Bring your long game with you when you tee it up at Crofton Country Club.

It's a Par 72 course that plays 7211 yards from the Championship tees, 6782 from the Blues, 6297 from the White, 6004 from the Golds and 5529 from the Reds.   With a course rating of 74 and slope rating of 136, it plays tough as well as long.  The home-lined fairways, particularly on the front nine, and three water hazards (two creeks and the pond on #12) demand accuracy as well as length from both tees and fairways. 

Crofton Country Club's 18-hole course, designed by Ed Ault and built in 1964, has bent green fairways and greens.  With sandy soil, drainage is excellent, and the course is open year-round.  

Nearby Walden Golf Club is more friendly to weekend and juniorgolfers with a shorter game, playing just 6504 yards f

rom the Professional tees, 6312 from the Blues, 5947 from the Whites, 5335 from the Golds and 4384 from the Reds.  It is a Par 71 course, with a 72.1 course rating and 132 slope rating.  Water hazards come into play on fifteen holes.

Designed by Lindsey Irvin in 1990, townhomes and detached homes have grown up around and along Walden Golf Club ever since.   The course features sloped greens of bent grass, and the fairways are winter rye.

For more information about golf in Crofton, contact:

• Crofton Country Club -1691 Crofton Pkwy, Crofton, MD 21114, Phone (410)721-3111
• Walden Golf Club - 1500 Riedel Rd, Crofton, MD 21114, Phone (410)721-8268

For information about living in a home overlooking one of these golf courses, contact Margaret Woda - Long & Foster REALTORS, (410) 451-6245 or cell/text (301) 346-2923.

Baseball fans know that Cooperstown = Baseball Hall of Fame.  In case you are not a baseball fan, let me bring you up to speed...

This is the day that Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. and San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn are being inducted into that Hall of Fame, the highest honor for anyone in baseball.  I can only imagine how emotional it must be for them - it certainly is an exciting day for their fans, even those who may not also be baseball fans. 

To be honest, I don't know a thing about Tony Gwynn, and I hope his fans will forgive me if I let them post a blog about him.  I just want to add my congratulations to Maryland's hero, CAL RIPKEN.  I'm not alone - Local radio reported from Cooperstown on Saturday that there was a "sea of orange" with Cal's fans in their Baltimore Orioles jerseys and hats outnumbering everyone else in sight by more than 5 to 1.  He has earned this respect.

Yes, there are some impressive baseball statistics associated with native Maryland Cal Ripken's 21-years as a Baltimore Oriole.  Yet I believe, as do many people, that his legacy will be what he does for kids and the future of baseball.  This is what truly makes Cal Ripken a hero! 

What does Cal have to say about that?  "I've been asked this question a lot, 'How do you want to be remembered?' and my response to that question has been To be remembered at all is pretty special"

I'm going to refer you to The Baltimore Sun to read what local sportswriters have to say about Cal's playing career.  For now, let me just say again...

MARYLAND LOVES CAL RIPKEN!

 LINKS:  Hall prepares for record attendance, Complete Hall of Fame coverage, Margaret Woda

Copyright 2007.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

CROFTON MD REAL ESTATE: For real estate in Crofton MD or anywhere in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle, contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton MD.  (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 is for Crabs" - Who hasn't heard that slogan, even beyond Maryland? 

Apparently, if some folks get their way, it may also be "Maryland is for Watermelon" -

A friendly rivalry between Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who says "there is no beter watermelon anywhere in the country than those grown in Maryland," and Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner, who says "Except those grown in Delaware" has evolved into the MAR-DELicious campaign.

Maryland and Delaware Departments of Agriculture and the University of Delaware have partnered to create this promotion.  Local grocers including Giant, Superfresh, Whole Foods, Acme, Food Lion and Weis Markets are among those that will carry and identify MAR-DELicious watermelon.  You can learn more about this promotion by reading last week's press release from the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Watermelon won't be the first to step on those crab claws; others already share the limelight in Maryland:

• The Oyster State - Oyster fisheries in Maryland promote this slogan
• The Queen State - A result of Maryland being named after Queen Henrietta Maria
• The Monument State - Probably a reference to President John Quincy Adams' comments about the monuments he saw during a visit to Baltimore in 1827
• The Free State - An indication of Maryland's political position opposing prohibition in the 1920's
• The Cockade State - Coined during the Revolutionary War in the King's Handbook regarding the cockades worn by Maryland soldiers
• The Old Line State - Refers to the dividing line between land grants given by Lord Penn and Lord Baltimore

It will be interesing to see if watermelon really do earn a place on this diverse list of monikers.  Somehow, nothing else seems to have quite the same ring as "Maryland is for Crabs".

More interesting reading about Maryland and Watermelons:

• More than you ever wanted to know about Maryland
• Watermelon History and Fun Folks
• Buy Local Challenge
• Watermelon Recipes

Copyright 2007.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

For real estate in Crofton MD or anywhere in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle, contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton MD.  (410) 451-1900.

College Park real estate houses a lot of singles, according to an article appearing on CNNMoney.com.   College Park may not be one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live 2007, but it is one of the Top 25 Best Places to Live Where the Singles Are, with 57.8% singles among the 26,400 population.

According to the article, "University of Maryland students have easy access to a variety of nightlife and culture, and life inside the Beltway is plentiful pickings for selective singles. The Metro runs to Washington, D.C. and the vibrant streets of neighborhoods like Adams Morgan or Georgetown, and a quick trip up I-95 will deliver you to spectacular Inner Harbor and the rest of Baltimore. Keep your eye on the Rethink College Park initiative to see what's in store for the town."

The City of College Park is a great place to buy a home, too, using a Home Ownership Grant for owner occupants.  Anyone purchasing a single-family property that was previously rented for a minimum of two years is eligible for a $7,500 grant.  Sound too good to be true?  Check it out!

Copyright 2007.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

COLLEGE PARK MD REAL ESTATE: For real estate in College Park or anywhere in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle, contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton MD.  (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

Money's list of Top 100 Best Places to Live 2007 includes five Maryland communities:   Crofton (72), Catonsville (49), Eldersburg (56), Elkridge (42), and Olney (17).  Communities around the country were ranked for a variety of factors that impact quality of life including affordability, leisure activities, cultural options, job growth, health care access, commute time, and even the weather.  Of course, that's no surprise to anyone who lives in these Maryland communities because those are some of the reasons people have been choosing them for many years.

For information about Maryland Real Estate, be sure to visit www.MargaretWoda.com and www.FocusonCrofton.com

Request a FREE Maryland Travel Kit, including a map, places to visit, and things to do. 

Crofton real estate is always desirable, but it may be even MORE attractive to folks who are looking for a home in Anne Arundel County now that Money has ranked Crofton in its Top 100 Best Places to Live 2007.   Communities around the country were ranked for a variety of factors that impact quality of life including affordability, leisure activities, cultural options, job growth, health care access, commute time, and even the weather.  Of course, that's no surprise to anyone who lives in Crofton - those are some of the reasons we chose this community as our home!

Other Maryland communities included on the list are Catonsville, Eldersburg, Elkridge, and Olney.  

• Check out the Crofton News Crier article about this topic
• Free Maryland Travel Kit
• More information about Crofton
• Crofton real estate

Copyright 2007.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

CROFTON MD REAL ESTATE: For referrals to Crofton MD or anywhere in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle, contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton MD.  (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 Real Estate is not the only thing that REALTORS in the D.C. Metropolitan area have to offer relocating buyers - we are privileged to live and work in an area that celebrates culture, history, and recreation, enriching life every day for local residents.  When someone buys a home around here, they get the whole package!  Take a look at some of the sites around the Maryland side of I-495, the D.C. Beltway:

Start by visiting Fort Washington Park, which was built over 180 years ago on the banks of the Potomac River to defend the nation's capital.  From there, you will admire views of both George Washington's home in Virginia - Mount Vernon - and Washington, D.C.  

Andrews Air Force Base, probably best known to civilians for being home to Air Force One, the President's official airplane, is headquarters for the USAF 316th Wing, which maintains emergency reaction rotary-wing airlift and other National Capital Region contingency response capabilities critical to national security.

As you travel around the Beltway towards Montgomery County, you can exit on Rt. 50 E towards Annapolis for a tour of the United States Naval Academy or many historic sites in Annapolis - that could be a separate day trip, in itself.

Or continue on the Beltway to Baltimore Washington Parkway, I-295, which will take you to the NASA/Goddard Visitor Center and Museum, where you can get a first-hand look at the miracles of space flight and then come right down to earth with model-rocket launches.

Not far from there is the College Park Airport, established in 1909 by Wilbur and Orville Wright.  Yes, THE Wright brothers!  Stop by the College Park Aviation Museum, where an animatronic Wilbur Wright greets you at the world's oldest continually operating airport.  A 1911 Wright B is one of several historic planes on display, and you can break for lunch while watching planes land amid all this history.

Just a few blocks away is the University of Maryland College Park campus, chartered in 1856 as an Agricultural College, and now one of the world's eminent research universities.  You will be impressed by Comcast Center, home of Terps Basketball, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, which hosts the annual William Kappel International Piano Competiton and the beautiful rolling expanses of open space on campus.

Heading North towards the Beltway along Rt 1, if you keep going a short way, you may find yourself watching for birds at the National Wildlife Visitor Center and Patuxent Research Refuge.  A tram tour offers a scenic introduction to 13,000 acres of forest, wetlands and meadow environments that make up the only national wildlife refuge created to study man's impact on nature.

Never been to the horse races?  Now is your chance, since you're close to Laurel Park.   Then back to the Beltway and on to...

The Clara Barton National Historic Site, the first headquarters of the Red Cross relief organization. Just a ring toss away is Glen Echo Park, a turn-of-the-century amusement park that's been restored and features a marvelous 1921 Dentzel Carousel.

The Potomac River turns rapid around Great Falls, a series of rocky cliffs and outcroppings that now lie within the boundaries of the C&O Historical Park. Stroll along the tree-lined canal and take a mule-drawn barge ride. A more recent - but just as romantic - method of transportation is on display at the nearby National Capital Trolley Museum, featuring historic trolley cars from America and Europe. Climb aboard one of the working cars and take a quick spin!

For more information about this area, check out my online Area Guide, with links to many additional venues PLUS local resources and communities.

Copyright 2007.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

CROFTON MD REAL ESTATE: For referrals to Crofton MD or anywhere in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle, contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton MD.  (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 real estate is not the only thing I have to offer.  One of the benefits of living in Anne Arundel County is proximity to all the cultural, athletic and recreational opportunities in both  D.C. and Baltimore.  This week, I want to tell you about two upcoming events in Baltimore, the Chefs and Wine Experience July 29, and Baltimore Restaurant Week, beginning on July 30.  I think you'll find the short drive North on I-97 to be worthwhile!

Baltimore Chefs and Wine Experience "will seduce you with six delicious hours of the most unique, fun and mouth-watering culinary event in Maryland, with food and wine afficiandos from around the country as well as Maryland's best."  According to the website, visitors will be able to taste award winning, boutique and internationally recognized labels, speak to winemakers, national and Baltimore chefs, and sample fine foods.   You can purchase your tickets online for this event, to be held noon - 6 p.m. at the Tremont Grand on July 29. 

For seven days following that, you can enjoy a 3-course dinner at any of the 80 restaurants participating in Baltimore Restaurant Week for just $30.07.  In fact, some restaurants are offering a 3-course lunch for $20.07.  If you're looking for an excuse to go out, this is it!  When  you visit the website, you'll find a city map, which shows the locations of all participating restaurants, and a list of discounted parking garages.  I recommend that you make online dinner reservations for participating restaurants, although some do not offer that option.

Enjoy! 

If you take the time to comment at the end of this post, it will help me know what type of information you'd like to see on Localism.com.  Thanks!

Copyright 2007.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

CROFTON MD REAL ESTATE: For referrals to Crofton MD or anywhere in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle, contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton MD.  (410) 451-1900.

Waterfront condos are proof that living on the water doesn't have to be a high-maintenance lifestyle!  You can sit in your easy-chair, perhaps a hundred yards from your boat dock, listen to the sound of wind-chimes hanging from the masts of nearby sailboats, and leave all the grounds and building maintenance to someone else.  

There are 35 waterfront condos on the market in Anne Arundel County today, July 17, 2007.  They range in price from $275,000 for a one-bedroom condo in Mariners Cove to a three bedroom, three and a half bath townhome in Chesapeake Harbour for $1,499,000. 

Other waterfront condo communities include Shearwater, Stoney Beach, The Bluffs, The Point, Elizabeth Landing, and The Yacht Club, and others.  Most are owner-occupied, but a few are rental units; some are used by MD legislators when they move to Annapolis each year between January and April. 

(Photo courtesy of Rick Franke, Public Information Director, Annapolis Boat Shows)

Interested in looking at some waterfront condos?  It's easy to find out what's on the market today:  

• SEARCH THE MLS
• Choose the STATE (Maryland), AREA (Anne Arundel County), and FEATURES (Waterfront, Condo)
• Choose any other features that are important to you
• Subscribe to daily, weekly, or monthly updates by clicking on HOMES PROSPECTOR

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Margaret Woda knows the area, she knows real estate, she knows technology, and she brings the Power of RE/MAX to your real estate transaction.  You can contact Margaret online or call her directly (301) 346-2923 or at RE/MAX Vision (410)451-1900.

This information is included in the Online Anne Arundel County Relocation Package for Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, the the U.S. Naval Academy

If a half million dollars can be considered a "budget" price, then you'll be happy to know that there are 25 budget-priced detached waterfront homes in Anne Arundel County, MD today, July 17, 2007.

These 25 homes range from $335,000 to $530,000, and they are located in Annapolis, Churchton, Curtis Bay, Deale, Glen Burnie and Pasadena. 

Another 25 homes are priced between $535,000 and $599,900.  These homes can be found in Annapolis, Arnold, Churchton, Deale, Edgewater, Glen Burnie, Lake Shore, Orchard Beach, Pasadena, Riva, and Shadyside.

There are 50 homes at the opposite end of the spectrum, from $2,500,000 to $16,000,000.  Half of the remaining 300 homes are price over $1,000,000.  But we'll save all those for another blog and another day!

Since subdivisons and even townhome communities that are nowhere near the water have reached these price levels, you might want to at least take a look at waterfront homes.

You can expect these homes to be older, for the most part.  Only five homes are less than five years old and, at the opposite extreme, one is 107 years old.  Most waterfront homes, even if they're newer, are located in older communities, because they were built on spot lots.  Being waterfront does not mean Riparian Rights, however.  In some cases, the properties are "on" the water, but the water is not part of the property.  If this matters to you, it is something for you to verify before making a purchase.  You also will want to know if the property is located in the Critical Areas, because that could mean restrictions on future modifications - even driveways and patios.

How can you find out more details about waterfront homes that are on the market for sale?  Well, that's easy!  In fact  you can even get a free subscription to receive notices of new listings when they become available.  Just click on the link, and follow the on-screen guide,

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Margaret Woda knows the area, she knows real estate, she knows technology, and she brings the Power of RE/MAX to your real estate transaction.  You can contact Margaret online or call her directly (301) 346-2923 or at RE/MAX Vision (410)451-1900.