Real Estate - baltimoresun.com

Columbia woman pursues discrimination complaint against Long & Foster

By Lindsey McPherson — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:52:00 GMT

A Columbia woman who participates in the government-funded Housing Choice Voucher Program has filed a discrimination complaint against a major real estate company after she was denied the opportunity to rent a Columbia townhouse last year.

More renters 'burdened' by home, utility costs

Yvonne Wenger — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Feeling overburdened by your utility bills paired with your monthly rent? Join the growing ranks of Americans and Baltimoreans.

Court rules against Cordish Cos. on properties' value

By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:11:26 GMT

Developer argued the Inner Harbor properties are worth far less

Maryland's high court ruled Wednesday that the Cordish Cos.' Power Plant and Pier IV buildings on Baltimore's Inner Harbor are worth, for property tax purposes, more than $38.1 million — the amount established by city tax assessors.

Hilton Baltimore lost $11.5M last year

By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:28:00 GMT

$300 million hotel also lost $11 million in 2010

The city-owned Hilton Baltimore lost nearly $11.5 million in 2011 — about $400,000 more than it lost the previous year, according to a recently released audit. In addition to losing money last year, the hotel dipped into its reserves in February to make payments on its debt service.

Cummings: Stemming foreclosure and foreclosure abuse is key priority

Jamie Smith Hopkins — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Congressman's amendment giving service members more foreclosure protections gets 394-27 vote in House

Foreclosure protections would expand for service members, their widowed spouses and certain disabled veterans under an amendment that overwhelmingly passed the House last week.

Baltimore's tax sale: liens sold on 6,545 properties, raising $20 million for city

Jamie Smith Hopkins — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Nearly 27,000 city properties in March were in danger of going to tax sale, but ultimately about 10,600 had liens included in the auction Monday.

City homeowner almost ends up in tax sale over lost check

By Jamie Smith Hopkins , The Baltimore Sun — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:17:00 GMT

Home removed just in time from city auction of tax liens on 10,600 properties

Kristina Suson's home wasn't part of the city's tax sale Monday, but it was a close call.

Multiple offers back in the Baltimore-area housing market -- for some homes

Jamie Smith Hopkins — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Here's a phrase you probably didn't expect to hear associated with the housing market so soon after the crash: Bidding war.

Housing market sees bidding wars return as buyers' choices shrink

By Jamie Smith Hopkins , The Baltimore Sun — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Multiple offers echo housing bubble years, but it's very different this time around

David D. Igla lost out on three Ellicott City homes in the past few months before he finally beat the competition and had an offer accepted. Some houses zip off the market — occasionally above asking price — while others languish because the price isn't right, the home isn't updated or other aspects of the property don't appeal. The result: plenty of frustrated buyers and sellers. Welcome to the post-bubble, post-bust housing market.

Orlando couple try to build home using only U.S. products

By Mary Shanklin , Orlando Sentinel — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:26:00 GMT

This couple's house is (mostly) 'Made in America'

It all sounded so good, so pro-U.S. jobs, when Orlando residents Greg and Jennifer Gent decided about two years ago to build a home using only American companies and products.

Explore CityView website for tidbits, useful neighborhood info

Yvonne Wenger — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:03:00 GMT

Baltimore has a gem online that's worth exploring for a few minutes the next time you're info-snacking on the web.

Fewer new mortgage problems in Maryland, more older ones

Jamie Smith Hopkins — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Good news, bad news: New mortgage-delinquency problems are back to normal levels in Maryland , but the older cases -- borrowers seriously behind on their loans -- aren't receding.

Eastpoint Mall being auctioned at month's end

By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:09:00 GMT

New York-based owner

Eastpoint Mall, in southeast Baltimore County, is being sold at auction on May 29, the auctioneer announced.

Area housing in past decade: more likely to be fixed up

Jamie Smith Hopkins — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Rough economy notwithstanding, more Baltimore homes were getting face lifts at the end of the last decade than the start.

Learn how to make money rehabbing city's vacant homes

Yvonne Wenger — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Baltimore stakeholders continue to push for solutions to the high number of vacant and boarded-up houses that dot the city. The latest effort, " Baltimore Builds Expo : Restoring value to Baltimore’s vacant property," is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 9.

Real Estate Wonk: 'Mad Men' selling ... homes?

Jamie Smith Hopkins — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Real Estate Wonk: The lexicon of real estate listing language has many terms for putting a positive spin on features the average buyer wouldn't like. Now comes a phrase custom-made for homes that haven't been updated since the Johnson administration: "'Mad Men' style."

Area home prices jump in April thanks to fewer foreclosures

By Jamie Smith Hopkins , The Baltimore Sun — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:37:00 GMT

Slump in cheap distress deals pushes average price up in region

The Baltimore region saw a double-digit jump in average home sale prices in April, the most in six years — but the gain was driven by a shrinking supply of cheap foreclosures rather than a resurgence in value.

Md. ranks high in number of homeowners seriously delinquent

Yvonne Wenger — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

A recent analysis offers some good news, at least in the short-term, for those individuals (like me!) who are trying to sell their homes -- outside of Maryland, at least.

Why you should request information about your property tax assessment

Jamie Smith Hopkins — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

What the state doesn't know about your property could hit you in the tax bill.

Large Port Covington parcel going to auction block

By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:44:46 GMT

Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse property went into foreclosure

A large chunk of waterfront property in Port Covington is set to go on the auction block in June after its previous owner, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, defaulted on a multimillion-dollar mortgage.

Reisterstown synagogue facility to be sold

By Lorraine Mirabella , The Baltimore Sun — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:14:00 GMT

Leaders of Adat Chaim reach agreement with lender

Leaders of a Reisterstown synagogue facing foreclosure said Tuesday that they had reached an agreement with lender Susquehanna Bank to allow the sale of the building on Cockeys Mill Road.

No couch surfing: Baltimore Co. family finds a home to buy after initial challenges

Jamie Smith Hopkins — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Jason Berkowitz thought he and his family would be couch surfing for an indefinite period thanks to a problem that might seem bizarre this far removed from the housing bubble: They found a buyer for their Lutherville-Timonium townhouse within days , but not a suitable home to buy themselves.

Home renovations are work — and require due diligence

By Eileen Ambrose , The Baltimore Sun — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:54:00 GMT

What consumers should do before hiring a builder or contractor

About a year ago, Matt Venditto hired a builder to construct a house in Westminster. It wasn't long before buyer's remorse set in.

Survey: Housing discrimination 'widespread' among disabled, immigrants, minorities, others

Yvonne Wenger — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

A survey of 549 community-based organizations suggests that housing discrimination is on the rise, particularly targeting disabled individuals, immigrants, minorities and families with children, according to the nonprofit Consumer Action .

Efforts under way to improve short sale process as alternative to foreclosure

Yvonne Wenger — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

New rules, legislation aim at notifying homeowners sooner if short sale is approved

Housing experts say homeowners can wait as long as nine months to get approval to sell their home as a short sale, and efforts are underway to push lenders to give a prompt answer.