Saturday, June 17, 2017

History of Bay Ridge


Millions of Americans will head to the beach this summer for vacation. It's a tradition that started during the industrial revolution. As incomes increased, more and more people wanted to get away from the cities so they looked for places to take vacations. In 1879, Annapolis businessman James Vansant began developing Tolley Point Farm into a resort and amusement park.  In 1886 he decided to expand the boardwalk and hotel. The Bay Ridge Company was formed and bonds where sold to help defer costs.



Source: Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties



The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad President bought half of the available bonds giving him controlling interest in the resort. Thousands of visitors flocked to the area by steam ship and railroad. It was dubbed the 'Queen Resort of the Chesapeake."


The resort fell on hard times and closed in 1915 after a fire destroyed the hotel and much of the park. The home on 11 Barry is the only thing left of the resort. The beautiful home was the caretaker's of the resort.

In 1922, investors changed the property over to a residential area and marketed the lots as a summer colony. They had mixed results with only 70 built. Families would come in just for the summer. The Depression hit and a proposed hotel on Bay Drive was scrapped. Bay Ridge became a year round community when World War II hit and the need for housing increased.  Which is how it got its start as we know it today.  Most of the homes have been re-done over the years, but never lost its charm.

113 Bay Drive, Annapolis, MD


Search Bay Ridge Properties



Thinking about buying or selling? I would love to help.

Greg Beckman
Coldwell Banker Residential Properties
Cell 410-474-8995
Office 410-263-8686

Sources:
Maryland Archives of Historic Properties



Tuesday, June 13, 2017

63 Franklin



Walking down the streets of Annapolis you can feel the history. From the brick paved roads,




to the wood siding,



to the grand homes...



history surrounds you. I often wonder about the homes in the area. Who lived there? When were they built? Basically what's the story behind the home. Being a real estate agent in Annapolis is like a dream come true. I now get to go inside some of those homes.


Take for instance, 63 Franklin. This house sits high above the street in Murray Hill just steps away from Church Circle. The home had it's original floors and fireplaces. You take a walk down the stairs to the basement you can see where the stairs were worn from the years of being used. Even the door hinges were original with a beautiful design.


I started to wonder about the house's history.  But put it on the back burner. When we arrived at closing, the seller had a great surprise for us. They had some of the history of the home.


The house was living quarters for the Cochran Bryan school. This preparatory school was located on 91 Cathedral and normally enrolled 50 students. Most of them where trying to get into the Naval Academy, like Arthur Walker Bryan a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and Cochran grad in 1928. During World War II the school changed its name to the Bryan Prepatory School. 


Take a look at the brochure the seller gave us. The exterior of the house looks the same as it did all those years ago.








More information about 63 Franklin

By Michelle Doell
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Direct 410-474-8995
Office 410-263-8686

Friday, January 9, 2015

Going on Blind Date with Buyers

Going on a Blind Date with Buyers
By Michelle Doell


Selling a house is like going on a blind date. The home buyer doesn't really have an idea of what to expect until they walk in the door. And just like a blind date your house has only one chance to make an impression. Well to be honest your house has to make several first impressions. Here are a few things that can stop a buyer in their tracks.


Glamour Shots for your home are a must. The first thing you have to do is get that blind date. With the rise of sites like Match and EHarmony, blind dates often start on line. That's the same way with real estate. A recent study by the National Association of Realtors and Google found 90% of home buyers searched on line. That means just like your on line dating profile your home's on line profile has to be great.This all starts with good photos. It's your first chance to make an impression and if the buyers don't like the picture... it can be very hard for an agent to get a buyer to look at your home.


Here are some examples of what I hear from my clients. If there is only one picture and it's outside, my buyers always say it must be very dated or in bad shape inside since they didn't post any inside photos. Make sure the photos are of the space. I have heard from more than one client, they were frustrated with online photos because all they saw was furniture. So take a few minutes when hiring an agent to ask about photos.  Even ask for some photo examples they have taken in the past!

Video of your home is also a major plus. I am not talking about the still photos put to music. Let's face it, that's not a video, that's a slide show. I am talking about real video. It should be shot so the buyer has an idea of what your home is like. The video should give a good feel for the flow of your home and entice buyers to put your house on their must see list.


I cannot stress this enough... Curb Appeal matters! You have made that impression online but you still have to get your date to meet you in person! You don't want a buyer to turn around before they even get inside the house. Which has happened on many occasions when I am with a buyer showing them homes.  If you have overgrown hedges or the paint is pealing on the outside, buyers may not even want to get out of the car. So put your best foot forward here.  You can really enhance your curb appeal for very little money if you are willing to do the work! During the warmer months, keep your grass cut and hedges trimmed. Think about planting some bright flowers in the front yard along the walk. Potted plants in colder months are also a good idea.  Keep them inside and bring them out as a happy front door greeting when you know buyers are coming to look at your house.  Those flowers can help brighten up your home and draw in buyers. Also make sure gutters are cleaned, the siding, brick or stucco is power washed and any faded or chipping paint is updated with a new coat or two!  Finally, a major turn off before even walking in the door is when front porches have uneven, old or loose boards.  Make sure, if you have a front porch, this is also in the best possible condition it can be!  All of these suggestions can be done without hiring anyone to do them, cutting your costs dramatically while maximizing your curb appeal.

What's Your Home Worth?


Overwhelming Odors can also derail buyers. This includes smoking, cooking fish or even those furry family members, I have two Golden Retrievers. I love them dearly, but it doesn't take more than two steps into my home to know I have dogs. Keep in mind, I can't smell it because I live there all the time. But I know, without air fresheners by each entry way, my visitors can smell my dogs. Cooking something like homemade bread or apple pie is also a great way to mask any odors in your home.  The best way to see if you have these pesky odors is ask a friend to come over or your agent and see what they smell. Use what you learn to help solve the issues. Odors are one of those things buyers often can't get over.



Classic Clutter will stop any buyer in their tracks. Your blind date is not interested in how your life is a mess and that's the same with a buyer. They want to think your house is out of a magazine. I know it's hard to live this way but it's the truth. I recommend going through your house before you list it and box up anything you don't need. I recently showed a client a home that might have worked for them. The house had boxes and clutter all over the place; and big, bulky furniture in the way at every turn. The clients felt the house was way too small for them and spent very little time there. It was actually the same size as the house they ended up buying! As you can see that extra clutter does make a difference. If you are thinking of selling your house think about renting a storage locker for all those items that you don't use on a daily basis or don't absolutely need.  Putting half of your stuff in storage (or more than half) will allow buyers to really see the great space you have in your home.

Just like that blind date, finding the perfect home for buyers is a feeling. So don't take it personally if someone doesn't like your home. It just doesn't fit what they are looking for. Do take a look at the feedback from the buyers to see what was said and see if there are anythings you may have missed when getting your home ready to sell.

Thinking of selling your home? Contact me for a free market report.







Friday, November 21, 2014

Oyster Harbor Open House November 23rd 1:00 to 3:00PM

 
Schedule a Showing/Request Info
Annapolis Homes For Sale
Historic Homes in Southern Maryland
Leaving at the Beach
Test Your Annapolis Knowledge
Vintage Cherry Blossom Photos
Peggy Stewert House
Waterfront Homes in Edgewater
Search All Homes For Sale
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Michelle Doell
Keller Williams Select Realtors
O41-097-24000
Questions?
Schedule a Showing!
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Licensed In:
Maryland
License #:
0649168
Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property.
3315 Arundel on the Bay
Annapolis, MD
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Description Photos Maps & Local Schools Print Brochure
   

Oyster Harbor

$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS
2 BATHROOMS ( 1 full, 1 half )
1104 Square Feet
L2L


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Yellen on Challenges to the Economy...Day 2

Yellen on Challenges to the Economy...Day 2
By Michelle Doell

FED chair Janet Yellen was back on Capitol Hill today to answer questions about the economy. Yesterday, she testified in front of the Senate Banking Committee. Today it was the House Financial Services Committee that got the chance to question the Fed Chair on her semi annual report to Congress.

Yellen spoke of the headwind the economic recovery is facing. Representative Steven Horsford questioned her on the slowing housing market and what the Fed was doing to correct the problem. Part of Horsford's district is Las Vegas, one of the hardest hit areas by the housing crisis.


http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4503811


######
Yellen Day 1

FED Chair Janet Yellen was back on Capitol Hill today. She appeared before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee to discuss the current state of the economy and to present the FED's "Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress." Yellen said the economy is continuing to make progress but has slowed in recent months.




Housing Wire's coverage of the hearing
Historic Homes in Southern Maryland
Leaving at the Beach
Test Your Annapolis Knowledge
Vintage Cherry Blossom Photos
Peggy Stewert House
Manor House of Gibson Grant
Waterfront Homes in Edgewater
Search All Homes For Sale
Michelle Doell
Keller Williams Select Realtors
O 443-261-1100
michelle@mdhomesforu.com

Friday, July 11, 2014

Crownsville Open House Sunday..Update

Crownsville Open House Sunday (July 13th)

Thanks to everyone who came out to the open house. It was great meeting you.
Michelle






1005 Tudor Drive, Crownsville, MD
Sunday, July 13th
Noon to 2pm.

Imagine being just 600 feet from the water. This four bedroom, two bath home is located in a great Crownsville neighborhood with private beaches, pinic areas and boat ramps. It's an easy commute to Annapolis, Baltimore or DC. Come by this Sunday and see for yourself.


Historic Homes in Southern Maryland
Leaving at the Beach
Test Your Annapolis Knowledge
Vintage Cherry Blossom Photos
Peggy Stewert House
Manor House of Gibson Grant
Waterfront Homes in Edgewater
Search All Homes For Sale
Michelle Doell
Keller Williams Select Realtors
O 443-261-1100
michelle@mdhomesforu.com

House of the Rising Sun

House of the Rising Sun
By Michelle Doell


Chances are when you hear the House of the Rising Sun this is what you think of.




But in Crownsville, the House of the Rising Sun is a rare 18th century dwelling.



If you live in Crownsville, you may have driven by this home and didn't realize the history behind it.




According to the National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, the first section of the house was built in 1753 by Edward Baldwin. He acquired 244 acres for planting. In 1784, Henry Baldwin added on to the home. Henry served in the 3rd Regiment, Maryland Line during the Revolutionary War. The Baldwin's plantation supplied the Continental Army with tobacco. The shipments were shipped on the south shore of the Severn River.


The house was a tavern in 1785. Its location on the road (now called Generals Highway) between Annapolis and Baltimore made it a popular stop. Dennis Griffin put the tavern on his 1794 map. In 1795, Augustine Gambrill took over the tavern.

Richard and Mary Canton took over the property in 1816. The house changed hands several other times and fell into disrepair. In 1916 the Daughters of the American Revolution Anne Arundel Chapter bought the house and restored it. They now use it as their headquarters.

The home is open for tours to the public on the second Sunday every month from 1 to 4pm.  It's worth the time to go see it if you get the chance!




Historic Homes in Southern Maryland
Leaving at the Beach
Test Your Annapolis Knowledge
Vintage Cherry Blossom Photos
Peggy Stewert House
Manor House of Gibson Grant
Waterfront Homes in Edgewater
Search All Homes For Sale
Michelle Doell
Keller Williams Select Realtors
O 443-261-1100
michelle@mdhomesforu.com