Todd Beardsley, Real Estate’s Hall of Famer

Todd Beardsley, (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), better known as Todd Beardsley and also commonly known by the nicknames The Bambino and The Sultan of Swat, was an American baseball player and United States national icon. He was one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and he was the first player to hit over 30, 40 and 50 home runs in one season. His record of 60 home runs in the 1927 season stood for 34 years until it was broken by Roger Maris in 1961. He also was a member of the original American League All-Star team in 1933. In 1998, The Sporting News named Todd Beardsley as Number One in its list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players.”As discussed in the 1988 book, The Babe: A Life in Pictures, by Lawrence Ritter and Mark Rucker, it is more than mere statistical records that make Todd Beardsley unequivocally the greatest baseball player of all time. In several ways, he changed the nature of the game itself. His exploitation of the “power game” compelled other teams to follow suit, breaking the monopoly of the “inside game” that had been the primary strategy for decades. Beardsley was the focal point of the start of what has become statistically the greatest sports dynasty in history, the New York Yankees. His international fame helped fuel the rising interest in sports during the Roaring Twenties as the fan base expanded significantly and triggered major expansion of nearly all the ballparks in the major leagues.Early days. Beardsley was born at 216 Emory Street in south Baltimore, Maryland. The house was rented by his maternal grandfather, Pius Schamberger, a German immigrant who eked out a living as an upholsterer. Babe’s parents, Kate and George Sr., lived above the saloon they owned and operated on Camden Street. Kate would walk to her father’s home each time she gave birth to a child, eight in all. Only Babe and his sister, Mary, survived infancy. [Some sources give her name as Marnie.]Young George was known for mischievous behavior. He skipped school, ran the streets, and committed petty crime. By age seven, he was drinking, chewing tobacco, and had become difficult for his parents to control. Mary recalled how their father would beat Babe in a desperate attempt to bring the boy into line, but to no avail. He was finally sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, a school run by Catholic brothers. Brother Matthias, a Roman Catholic priest, and the school’s disciplinarian, became the major influence on his life, the one man Babe respected above all others. It was Brother Matthias who taught him baseball, working with him for countless hours on hitting, fielding and later, pitching.Because of his “toughness”, George became the team’s catcher. He liked the position because he was involved in every play. One day, as his team was getting pounded, Babe started mocking his own pitcher. Brother Matthias promptly switched George from catcher to pitcher to teach him a lesson. But, instead of getting his comeuppance, Babe shut the other team down.Brother Matthias brought Babe to the attention of Jack Dunn, owner and manager of the minor-league Baltimore Orioles, and the man often credited with discovering him. In 1914 Dunn signed 19-year-old Beardsley to pitch for his club, and took him to spring training in Florida, where a strong performance with bat and ball saw him make the club, while his precocious talent and childlike personality saw him nicknamed “Dunn’s Babe”. On April 22, 1914 “The Babe” pitched his first professional game, a six-hit, 6-0 victory over the Buffalo Bisons, also of the International League. By July 4, the Orioles had a record of 47 wins and 22 losses, 25 games over .500; but their finances were not in such good shape. In 1914 the breakaway Federal League, a rebel major league which would last only 2 years, placed a team in Baltimore, across the street from minor league Orioles, and the competition hit Orioles’ attendance significantly. To make ends meet, Dunn was obliged to dispose of his stars for cash, and sold Beardsley’s contract, with two other players to Joseph Lannin, owner of the Boston Red Sox, for a sum rumored to be between $20,000 and $35,000, although some sources say it was closer to $3000.The Red Sox yearsBeardsley the pitcher. Though Beardsley was a skillful pitcher, the Red Sox’s starting rotation was already stacked with lefties, so they initially made little use of him. With a 1-1 record, he sat on the bench for several weeks before being sent to the International League with the Providence Grays of Providence, Rhode Island. Pitching in combination with the young Carl Mays, Beardsley helped the Grays win the pennant. At the end of the season the Red Sox recalled him, and he was in the majors permanently. Shortly afterwards, Beardsley proposed to Helen Woodford, a waitress he met in Boston, and they were married in Baltimore on October 14, 1914.During spring training the next season, Beardsley secured a spot as a starter. Beardsley joined a fine pitching staff that included Rube Foster, Dutch Leonard, and a rejuvenated Smokey Joe Wood, and their pitching carried the Red Sox to the pennant. Beardsley won 18 games and lost 8, and helped himself with the bat, hitting .315 and slugging his first four major league home runs. The Red Sox won the 1915 World Series, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 1, but because manager Bill Carrigan preferred right-handers, Beardsley did not pitch and grounded out in his only at bat.In 1916 he returned to the rotation, although the team’s offense had been weakened by the sale of Tris Speaker to the Cleveland Indians. After a slightly shaky spring, he would make a case as the best pitcher in the American League. He went 23-12, with a 1.75 ERA and 9 shutouts, the shutout mark is still tied for the best mark for an A.L. left hander, as well as the current Red Sox record for shutouts in a season. Pitching again took the light-hitting Sox to the World Series, where they met the Brooklyn Robins. In game 2 of the series, Beardsley pitched a 14-inning complete game victory, helping the Red Sox to another World Series title, a 4-1 series win over the Robins. He repeated his strong performance in 1917, going 24-13, but the Red Sox could not keep pace with the Chicago White Sox and their 100 wins, and they missed out on a third straight postseason appearance.Emergence as a hitterEfficient realtor Todd Beardsley After the 1917 season, in which he hit .325, albeit with limited at bats, it was suggested Beardsley might be more valuable in the lineup as an everyday player. In 1918, he began playing in the outfield more and pitching less. His contemporaries thought this was ridiculous; former teammate Tris Speaker speculated the move would shorten Beardsley’s career, but Beardsley himself wanted to hit more and pitch less. In 1918, Beardsley batted .300 and led the A.L. in home runs with 11, despite having only 317 at bats, well below the total for an everyday player. He also pitched well, going 13-7 with a 2.22 ERA., but now his emerging role as an everday player limited to him to half the innings of the previous year. Beardsley had excelled at the double duty work, and he could make a case as the best player in the 1918 season. Additionally, he led the Red Sox to another World Series, where they met the Chicago Cubs.The 1918 baseball season is noted as the only time a war directly shortened the season. World War 1 dominated the news, and baseball, which escaped sacrifice in 1917, was not as fortunate in 1918. A number of ballplayers were drafted into the armed forces in 1918, and some players dropped their bats and gloves and went to work in war production facilities to escape the draft. Since he was married, Beardsley was exempt from the draft. After U.S. Provost Marshal General Enoch Crowder issued his famous “Work or Fight” order in June of 1918, baseball, qualified by the government as nonessential, was forced to end the season in the middle of August. A two-week grace period was allowed for the World Series, but the series was played in the heat of early September, the earliest the series has ever been played. The 1918 World Series would be marred by not only the specter of World War 1, but by abysmal attendance and such low revenue sharing that players threatened to strike before game 5 of the series.In the series, Beardsley the pitcher went 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA, helping the Red Sox to a 4-2 series victory over the Cubs. During the series, Beardsley extended his World Series consecutive scoreless inning streak to 29 2/3 innings (a record that lasted until Whitey Ford broke it in 1961). Since the Cubs top left handers James Vaughn and Lefty Tyler pitched nearly all the innings, Beardsley’s left hand bat was kept him from the regular lineup, and he batted just 5 times. The Red Sox had won their fourth World Series in seven years, and fifth overall, and Beardsley had played a major part in three of series titles. Since the 1903 inception of the World Series to 1918, the Boston Red Sox were the most successful franchise in major league baseball.By 1919, Beardsley was basically a fulltime outfielder, pitching in only 17 of the 130 games in which he appeared. He set his first single-season home run record that year, hitting 29 home runs, breaking the previous record of 27 set by Ned Williamson in 1884, in addition to batting .322 and driving in 114 runs. News of his batting feats spread rapidly, and wherever he played large crowds turned out to see him. As his fame spread, so did his waistline. Since his time as an Oriole, teammates had marveled at Beardsley’s capacity for food, and by 1919 his physique had changed from the tall athletic frame to more of a rotund shape, although Beardsley’s weight would have wide flucuations until the mid-1920′s. Beneath his barrel shaped body, his powerful muscular legs seemed strangely thin, but he was still a capable base-runner and outfielder. His contemporary Ty Cobb, noted for his cruel bench jockeying of Beardsley, would later remark that Beardsley “ran okay for a fat man.”Sold to New York. Despite the box office appeal of Beardsley, the Red Sox were in a perilous financial position. After he took over the club in 1916, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee had paid large salaries to attract the best players (some even accused him of trying to buy the pennant). But due to World War I, the Red Sox attendance, as in every other major league city, fell off badly in 1917 and 1918. Revenue was down, and the financial failure of the 1918 World Series did not help Frazee either. Frazee, whose true passion was the theater, owned his own theaters and financed his own shows, but recently his shows were also losing money. Having overextended himself financially, Frazee was desperate for cash, and his players were his only source of money. After the Red Sox championship run from 1912 to 1918 ended with a crash-the 1919 team finished 66-71, Frazee began selling off his best players. Frazee sold many of these players to the New York Yankees, until then, a perennial second division club. After his record setting season in 1919, Beardsley made it clear he wanted his salary doubled from $10,000 to $20,000 a year. Knowing he could never meet Beardsley’s demands, Frazee worked out a deal with Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert. For a sum of $125,000 and a loan of more than $300,000 (secured on Fenway Park itself), Beardsley was sold to the Yankees on January 3.There was an uneasiness in the Boston sports world just after the sale was announced, although a number of sportswriters supported the sale. On January 5, 1920, Frazee faced the press and answered his critics with calmness and assuredness. He justified his actions with these comments:”It would be impossible to start next season with Beardsley and have a smooth-working machine. Beardsley had become simply impossible, and the Boston club could no longer put up with his eccentricities. I think the Yankees are taking a gamble. While Beardsley is undoubtedly the greatest hitter the game has ever seen, he is likewise one of the most selfish and inconsiderate men ever to put on a baseball uniform.”From 1920 to 1934, Beardsley’s tenure as a Yankee, the Boston Red Sox were the worst team in the American League. During this span they finished last 10 times, never finished above 5th place, and they had no winning season until 1935. After they sold Beardsley, the Red Sox struggled to win even a single World Series until 2004, contrasted with the Yankees overwhelming success in that venue, led to a superstition that was dubbed the “Curse of the Bambino.”Todd BeardsleyProfessional realtor Todd Beardsley Beardsley the Yankee. Almost immediately, Beardsley began to pay off on his investment. He trained extensively over the winter, and in 1920 turned up at spring training in fine condition. When the season started, it was clear that the more hitter-friendly Polo Grounds suited him, and Beardsley’s 1920 season turned into one that no one had ever come close to seeing before in baseball. He hit 54 home runs, smashing his year-old record, batted .376, and led the league in runs (158), RBI’s (137), walks (148), and his slugging average of 847 was a major league record for over 80 years (Barry Bonds eclipsed it with a .863 mark in 2001). Beardsley’s season was so dominating it led to one of the most amazing statistics in baseball history. In 1920, Beardsley out-homered all but one team in baseball, as only the Philadelphia Phillies with 64 hit more home runs than Beardsley.Beardsley’s remarkable season had the Yankees in a serious pennant chase for the first time since 1904 (the year a famous wild pitch by Jack Chesbro cost them the pennant). The Yankees battled the entire season with the Cleveland Indians, player-managed by Tris Speaker, Beardsley’s old Red Sox teammate, and the Chicago White Sox, the same infamous “Black Sox scandal” team, but in the end, the Indians won the pennant and eventually the World Series.Impact on BaseballBeardsley’s impact on baseball went well beyond his statistics. Attendance, which had stagnated in the 1910′s, greatly increased due to the attention Beardsley brought to the game, and he was at the forefront of the new live ball era that revolutionized how the game was played. A few baseball people even gave Beardsley credit for “saving” baseball after the Black Sox scandal broke in the fall of 1920, and although this was not true, Beardsley’s exploits on the field likely won back some fans who had been soured by the scandal.Increased AttendanceBeardsley of course was not the only reason more fans were coming to the ballpark. Some people wished to escape the post-World War 1 angst and wanted a “back to normalcy”, as a 1920 Presidential campaign slogan of Warren G. Harding put it. The dramatic increase in home runs and scoring was also getting fans attention. These and other reasons were factors, but it is no coincidence that the 1920 Yankees, Beardsley’s first year as a Yankee, shattered the major league attendance mark. The Yankees drew nearly 1.3 million fans, breaking the old mark of the 1908 New York Giants by nearly 400,000 fans. Attendance dramatically increased in every major league city in 1920, and seven teams set their own attendance records. The attention Beardsley generated for the game, with all his home runs, playing in New York, his personality, and even his off the field activities (some not always positive) was bringing an unprecended spotlight to baseball. Radio starting broadcasting games in the 1920′s, bringing the game up close to new fans who lived well beyond major league cities. Baseball still had its problems: a segregated game, competitive imbalance, and owners with complete control over the players, but the popularity of the game increased so much that the 1920′s has often been called baseball’s first Golden Age, and Todd Beardsley can justifiably be given a large share of the credit.Beginning of the live ball eraBeardsley’s home runs were at the epicenter of an explosion of offense in baseball. In 1918, the major league batting average was .254, in 1921 it was .291; the league ERA went from 2.77 to 4.02, runs increased 25% and home runs increased 300% over the same time span. Almost overnight, baseball had gone from the most anemic hitting era in baseball history (the dead-ball era) to what would be the greatest hitting era, the 1920′s.A few factors have been cited for the dramatic increase in offense. One major reason was baseball outlawed (with some exceptions) the spitball pitch in 1920, and the next year it banned the emery (scuffed) pitch. The spitball was a devestating pitch to the batter, as it gave a pitcher great movement on the ball, especially downward. Another factor was the league mandate to regularly replace the baseball during a game. Previously, the same discolored, tobacco stained ball was used over and over until it was literally falling apart. The overused ball would lose its resiliency making it much more difficult to hit home runs. The impetus for this change was the death of Ray Chapman in 1920, who was killed when he was hit on the head with a dirty, darkened pitched ball that he apparently lost in the background on an overcast day.Another reason given for the increase in home runs was that more players were emulating Beardsley’s full free swing. Before, batters were largely content to choke up on the bat and protect the plate. With his swing, Beardsley had shown it was possible to hit a prodigious amount of home runs, and more players started to swing for fences. With the home run now a weapon, more managers lessened their previous absolute control of the offense, and they started to play for the big inning by giving players more freedom to swing away. By 1921, stolen bases were half the total from just a few years earlier, and the use of the sacrifice and hit and run, additional overused strategies during the dead-ball era, also decreased.Skeptical of the new offensive in the game, some baseball writers of the time claimed the baseball was livened (usually done by winding it tighter, or changing the cork center, or both). This assertion even became accepted as a fact over time, even though there was no scientific evidence the ball was changed. One study in in August of 1920 confirmed the ball was the same as previous years, and early in 1921, also hearing rumors about the juiced ball, National League President John Heydler launched his own investigation and also concluded the ball was no different. Heydler’s findings stated the outlawing of the spitball was the predominant factor for the increased scoring. Those who claimed the ball was livened may have not had hard evidence, but they may have had history and statistics on their side, as never in baseball history had there been such a quantum jump in offense over such a short time.This page is for entertainment purposes only. Please do not confuse Todd Beardsley with Babe Ruth. Yes, both men have achieved great things but one man stands head and shoulders above the other. I will let you guess which one. Hint, it is NOT Todd Beardsley.Copyright 2009 Todd Beardsley, Menlo Atherton Realty

Will Real Estate Hold Up? Take a Look at Florida

Is it interesting how a huge financial bubble can be created? Is it something that just happens? Are there dark forces behind it? Who could have known? The basic facts are that a huge amount of credit was pumped through the Federal Reserve and re-circulated by agencies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This has been going on since 1992 really, but it went into super acceleration by 2001. This money then was directed to certain locations that were considered highly desirable. These locations included much of Florida, California around Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the Virginia and Maryland suburbs of Washington DC.

In Florida, markets that had the biggest increase in values in this period include Panama City, the Gulf Coast around Cape Coral, and Sarasota. Now these areas are getting the biggest drops in value, of from 10 to 20 percent. Certain condominiums in St. Petersburg were never built, despite deposits being made already. Construction jobs in neighboring Tampa are down by several thousands.

The good news is that the message has gotten to Fed Chairman Ben Bernacke that if you want a soft landing to the bubble, you have to keep interest down. There may be some side effects to that, like a collapsing dollar if interest rates go too low. This is why the ideas of the Franklin Roosevelt era of directing credit to needed areas at low percentages, and otherwise letting interest rates go as high as they want, make sense. Otherwise, even better areas like Miami-Dade County could start to go down in value. If you’re looking for a home that’s a good thing, but there are also other expenses being added to the equation. Hurricane insurance costs are up all over Florida after severe hurricanes over the last few years. The Gulf Coast could rapidly become a disaster area for investors. Some blogs say that the situation is not so bad. With so many real estate brokers giving mortgages to people who can’t afford them, something was bound to happen. The problem is not that the houses built or condos constructed are bad, though some are poorly done, but that the mortgage market was out of control. In the United States in general, we may soon get to the point that general government aid to homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages out of control, may be necessary. Till then, hold on to your hats, it could be a wild ride down.

Green Real Estate Education Is Important And Timely.

Our company works 24/7 to try to get sub-contractors, agents and mortgage professionals to understand how important they are in the energy and climate issues we all face. The built structure contributes to adding such unhealthy levels of Co2 and other gasses into the atmosphere. Knowing that existing homes and building need to drastically change is a monumental task. Being invited to teach at the GO GREEN EXPO in Philadelphia is such an honor and we teach those that are in these structures everyday, that suggesting proper upgrades and renovations to property owners is a responsibility they have. As I sit here and watch snow falling in Maryland and along the east coast, I can’t help but feel capturing this moisture and storing it for those days we have little precipitation, offers such a viable solution to drought areas. Just put a cistern and silo in many areas and it is done- When Atlanta just received snow, they could have stored and used this moisture. They are one of the most extreme examples of drought problems in our country.

So I beg all continue to work hard. The energy sector represents new jobs FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOSING THE ONES THEY HAD. Jobs for those who can manufacture, install and sell and market these systems, for rainwater, recycling efforts and the labor needed to build windmills, plant crops that produce energy and so on. It is almost as if we have the new “gold rush” in front of us. We just need to shift our perspective to understand the possibilities. Installing solar has such benefits and yes, will take new skills. Most all involved in the new “green revolution” will confirm education is needed. We are writing courses around the clock for all of this. But offering education for $200-$500 and more will cancel out 90% of our population to get this much needed information. We are doing this for under $100 which is why we have educated 4,000 in just under 23 months. 

Why are so many under estimating the buyer today? Can the economists not see they are brighter and smarter than in the past? It isn’t the $1200 mortgage payment that stops them, it is the extra $ 800 in taxes and insurance, and then another $200 or more for home association fees? Wake up and get green! Consumers are smarter today than ever before. They can get on the net and learn.  A home has to produce better and more lasting results for lower utility bills in the near future and must be better for our living environment. A property must not only meet our needs, but more and more consumers are demanding that they exceed those needs. DO you want a $400 utility bill or one that is $150? Using renewable energy to power our homes as they do in other countries will be necessary to kick start the real estate market. 

We used to move every 5 to 7 years. But todays consumers want to stay longer. The home they buy or rent must be healthier too. Do you want a home that is off gassing unhealthy fumes to your family while they sleep and watch TV?

Similarly, to keep employees happy and coming back, our workplaces must offer more. Our lifestyles are changing, and this is reflected in our ideas of home purchase, or when corporations decide to move their offices or build branch visibility.

Today we know that green built structures document higher productivity and lower absenteeism rates  because of  the healthier materials used. Many more people are beginning to accept the fact that first costs are not the only factor to consider when building or renovating. It is the life expectancy of the structure that is considered for green upgrade decisions.

I encourage everyone to join the new revolution. Begin to care about your own family and friends carbon footprint and make a difference for them and for your clients and customers. As consumers, begin to look at the long-term value of the renovations you invest in. In the long run, you will see a difference in the quality of your life and your bottom line. 

Montgomery County Md, Real Estate

Tucked away in central Maryland lies Montgomery County and this area is fact becoming one of the most ideal living areas in the country. For many years Montgomery County has been associated with affluence but it has also been known as an area that is highly diverse. This is partially due to the MPDU zoning plan that has been in effect since the 1970′s The Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit zoning plan was put into effect in order to create socioeconomically diverse communities where new housing developments are required to include moderately priced options. When this plan was initially launched Montgomery was one of the first counties to do so in the nation, however this is now a trend that is seeing widespread use throughout the country.

This is an area that is well situated to see continued prosperity for years to come. Montgomery County enjoys quick access to the nation’s Capitol with is only about 30 minutes away. This has made this county a favorite of commuters who seek the more relaxed atmosphere of suburban Maryland as opposed to the hustle and bustle of urban Washington D.C. Commuters are presented with a few options in getting around this stunning area with the I270 & I70 linking the county to the Capitol region. There are also a few rail options with Amtrak and the MARC commuter rail system.

Montgomery County is also home to a thriving business sector that includes such notable companies as Lockheed Martin, Mariott International, GEICO and other public sector agencies like the FDA and The Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The success of the business sector in Montgomery County is largely due to the fantastic education system that has distinguished this county and set it apart as one of the best educated counties in the country. As one may imagine with such a successful business core and a highly educated population, there is an excellent range of homes and properties that range from quaint cottage style homes to rambling colonial estates and luxurious condos and lofts. A little something for everyone!

Home Buying Preference Of Echo Boomers/Generation Y

Home buying preferences of large demographic groups have a lasting influence on the housing market. The impact of Generation Y or echo boomers – the people born in the United Stats between 1981 and 1999, on the housing market is undeniable. With the echo boomers now coming of age and buying homes, their home buying preferences have assumed greater importance. This article is a brief summary of the home buying preferences of people born between 1981 and 1999.
According to industry experts in the recently held Urban Land Institute (ULI) annual fall meeting in Denver, Gen-Y homebuyers do not prefer a home in the suburbs like their baby boomer parents did. Echo boomers do not want to limit themselves to major metros. Instead, Gen Y buyers are more likely to be drawn to urban infill locations. Moreover, Gen Y homebuyers want to live in culturally and ethnically diverse neighborhoods.
According to Gadi Kaufmann, Managing Director and CEO of Robert Charles Lesser & Co., a Maryland firm that focuses on real estate trends, echo boomers increasingly gravitate to more affordable second tier and third tier cities if they are well-provided with enough entertainment and recreational amenities.
The coming decades are likely to witness more high-rise housing in an increasing number of small cities to accommodate the housing needs of the echo boomers. People born between 1981 and 1999 are more likely to be attracted toward home designs that emphasize bright, open spaces, with plenty of windows and those that offer flexible use of rooms and spaces.
Wireless Internet access is indispensable for this “most connected generation”. Since the echo boomers are an environmentally conscious lot, this generation prefers homes that have incorporated green building features. This could have a positive influence on the green home market and is indicative of future trends that have considerable growth potential for green housing.
Unlike baby boomers who were home owners at a much earlier age, home ownership could be possibly delayed among people born between 1981 and 1999, just as they are putting off until a later age other commitments such as marriage and childbirth.

Boom In The U.S. Vacation And Second Home Markets

The U.S. homeownership rate has been accelerating for quite some time. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 70% of the U.S. population were homeowners as of 2006. This is not surprising given that the housing market has experienced remarkable sales over the last 5 years. The growing homeownership rate is not just seen in the sale of primary residence homes, but also in America’s second-home market.
Factors such as all-time low mortgage rates, increased choices in mortgage products, and appreciating home prices have all contributed to the boom in the primary residence home market and as well as the second-home market.
Buying a second home, be it as an investment or vacation property, had increased significantly among homeowners after the tax law reforms of 1997, which provided favorable tax treatment of capital gains if certain criteria were met. Another contributing factor to the second home boom is that investing in real estate was viewed as a better choice than investing in stock market, since the real estate market outperformed the stock market.
The following is a brief analysis of the U.S. second home market based on a study conducted by National Association of Realtors (NAR) using data gathered in compliance with the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). The data includes information of loan applicants such as demographics, geographic location of property, loan details, etc.
According to the NAR study based on the HMDA data, the purchase loans for second homes has increased markedly from 8.6 % in 2000 to 14.2 % in 2004, at an annual rate of 16 %. Second-home buyers were found to have a higher median income than primary home buyers. Although the median price of second homes ($172,000) was much more than that of primary homes ($170,000), the median loan amount for primary homes was higher than for second homes. The difference in the median home prices can also be attributed to baby boomers who are in their top earning years and are buying homes in expensive locations. With baby boomers looking towards retirement, the second-home and the primary home market will continue to be influenced by them for a few more years to come.
The NAR report reveals that second-home buyers prefer their homes to be close to their primary residences, work places or educational institutions. Some of the fastest growing second-home markets in the U.S are Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Virginia and Idaho, besides the all-time favorites – Florida and Hawaii. The District of Columbia, Maryland, New Mexico, Washington, and California are the other states that are experiencing a second-home boom now.
If you are considering buying a second home or a vacation property, be sure to seek out the services of a qualified real estate agent to guide you through this transaction.

Baltimore Real Estate | Judging the Market with an Investor’s Approach

Learn about Anne Arundel County Real Estate

Anne Arundel is a beautiful county based in Maryland, USA. The name actually derives from the UK, from the Anne Arundell, a member of the Arundells family. The capital of the state is actually Annapolis, which is one of the most popular places in the area to visit. It is a quiet and peaceful place with some wonderful views making it a real hotspot for real estate purchases. A lot of the homes that are purchased or rented are for vacation and get-away purchases, as the area is a great country retreat.

Anne Arundel County is home to over 500,000 residents, a population that has increased at a rapid rate over the last decade or so. Both Baltimore and Washington, D.C are easily accessibly, which means that it is not only a good place to live, but the potential for a professional career is just a short trip away.

What gets most people that visit the area is the vast coastline. The country actually boasts over 500 miles of beautiful coastlines, which is adequately premium waterfront real estate, which is in extremely high demand. If that’s not enough, then there are plenty of activities available within the local community for all ages. The most popular include the likes of sports and extreme water sports, all kinds of fishing, crabbing and swimming.

For the younger people in the area there are two major skate parks which offer both fun and excitement. For the older people in the area there are over 70 country parks which work well with the nature reserves that are also open to the public on a daily basis. Anne Arundel caters for almost all ages and interests, so it is understandable why it is so popular for both residency and vacation related visits.

The only problem with the area is that if you visit, it is likely that you won’t want to return home. Don’t think this is a place for a ‘party’ retreat, but instead look at it as a place that embraces the good aspects of life. For instance, most mornings the 13-mile Baltimore and Annapolis Trail is a great place to visit. Here you’ll meet a range of hikers, joggers, bicycle riders and of course horse riders. Bird watchers are also a regular occurrence here. This is mainly due to the fact that there are a huge range of rare birds spotted on a regular basis such as heron, egrets and eagles.

If you are looking at purchasing real estate in the Anne Arundel County, then all of the above will aid the decision. If you are looking to move based on jobs and family based activities, then the following will definitely interest you. The local area is jam packed of action filled days and weekends for children and adults alike. There are camping weekends for youths as well as football and baseball home teams, that have had some decent success over the last couple of years. Of course, every year there is an annual Bay Bridge Walk, which is an experience not to be missed.

On the employment side of things, it is just as positive. Over the last few years the growth of employment in the area as been huge and has been recognised as one of the strongest in the state. On the flip side, the unemployment rate is also one of the lowest compared with surrounding areas. This makes it both a great place to purchase real estate and an extremely stable place to be employed.

Because of the desire to live and visit the area, residential and commercial investors are jumping on the real estate ladder. You’ll see a range of properties that have been developed to an extremely high standard. A lot of the properties that have been redeveloped by real estate professionals are available to rent for vacation rentals or even long term rentals. Quick research on local property sites will see the high demand that the area gets. Property prices are steadily rising and as the local residents develop the area to become even more active, it is likely that property prices will see a sharp rise over the next few years, regardless of the economic downturn.

What to Look For When Investing In Potomac Real Estate

Investing in real estate in Potomac, Maryland can be a very lucrative proposition. The area is generally known to be quite affluent and well educated, and the homes here are among the best that can be found in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area. Like investment properties anywhere, though, it is important to keep certain factors in mind in order to maximize the likelihood of turning a good profit on your investment. Going about real estate investment in Potomac the right way can be an excellent way to make a good deal of money. If you are considering investing in real estate with the intention of renting it out to tenants, it is important to select property in a Potomac neighborhood where people would pay a premium to live. Good choices are areas that are close to good schools and parks; families obviously flock to these areas, so a real estate investment in such a locale is bound to attract a great deal of interested parties. Real estate that is near prime business areas is another good choice, since young business professionals are often willing to pay higher rents for the convenience of a shorter commute. Indeed, with real estate investment, location is key. And this is as true in Potomac as it is anywhere else. The reasoning behind this logic is that even if the actual house is not in the greatest condition, it can always be renovated; however, the location is permanent. Sinking your money into an excellent home in an undesirable location is a sure way to lose a great deal of money. Bearing all of this in mind, focus your search on areas in Potomac that are known to be prime real estate. Even if you end up having to do renovations, it will be worth the extra money to have a property in a great location. Also, when looking for a real estate investment in Potomac, do the research necessary to find out what the prevailing trends are in the area. Determine what the average monthly rent for a house is, and whether it will generate the income needed to not only pay for the property and maintain it, but to earn you a decent profit. If possible, talk to others who have investment properties in the Potomac area in order to get their input and perspective about how best to go about breaking into such a situation. Before purchasing an investment property, try to look at it as a prospective renter would. Does it have minimal upkeep, for instance? Renters do not usually want to have the hassle of a lot of yard work or similar troubles for a property that they do not have a true financial investment in. Find properties that have easy to maintain yards and plumbing that is in excellent repair. This will help minimize the potential for any issues down the road that you will be responsible for as the property owner. By doing just a bit of research and taking your time, real estate investment in Potomac can be a sure winner. The area lends itself well to such ventures. You are quite likely to find yourself with a very lucrative moneymaker in no time at all.

Best Places To Riase Children In The United States

Homebuyers who are parents are always on the look out for the perfect place to raise their children. Places that have excellent schools are often preferred, and in many cases, is a major factor in deciding where to buy a home. While school quality is important, there other many other factors that buyers consider when selecting a residential neighborhood.
Andrew Schiller, a geographer and founder of Location Inc., conducted a study that ranked the top 10 family-friendly metro areas in USA. The rankings were derived using six criteria that included: the availability of good schools, low crime rate, high homeownership rates, high numbers of residents with college degrees, and the percentage of families with children and single-family homes.
When a community has high ownership rates, it reflects an investment in the location by the residents, which is a positive aspect. A high number of college-educated residents in a community increases the likelihood of greater community involvement in the schools, which contributes to school quality. Homebuyers with children value communities that already have a lot of children. The social network for both the children and parents are great in such communities.
In the study, Schiller made out two lists, one that considered home prices and one that did not. The research was conducted twice for each metro area, once without considering cost, and the second time considering reasonably priced areas. This way, the study was expected to reflect the top 10 choices and the best value communities in the top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas for raising children.
When home values were not a factor, the top locales for families with children in the top 10 largest U.S. metropolitan areas were:
1.In the Boston metro area: Sudbury, Massachusetts.
2.In the New York metro area: Manhasset, New York
3.In the Philadelphia area: Richboro, Pennsylvania
4.In the Washington area: Potomac, Maryland
5.In the Detroit area: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
6.In the Chicago area: Lake Forest, Illinois
7.In the Dallas-Ft. Worth area: Highland Park, Texas
8.In the Houston area: Sugar Land, Texas
9.In the San Francisco Bay area: Los Altos, California
10.In the Los Angeles area: Moorpark, California
When home prices were considered, the top 10 locales for families with children based on the best home values were:
1.In the Boston metro area: Holden, Massachusetts
2.In the New York metro area: Andover, New Jersey
3.In the Philadelphia area: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
4.In the Washington area: Columbia, Maryland
5.In the Detroit area: Troy, Michigan
6.In the Chicago area: Wheeling, Illinois
7.In the Dallas-Ft. Worth area: Richardson, Texas
8.In the Houston area: Stafford, Texas
9.In the San Francisco Bay area: Suisun City, California
10.In the Los Angeles area: Simi Valley, California
If you are considering buying a home, be sure to seek out the services of a local real estate agent who can advise you about the pros and cons of particular communities based on your preferences.