Desperate for Direction re: Move to Md (Baltimore, Columbia: transplants, homes)

[mccollim]

Dear Clearlight:

You are welcome to e-mail me privately with private questions. Since you messaged publicly, I would like to ask how you discovered that I have an e-mail richard@myrealestateprofessionals.com? I really do not use that and do not share it with others, since it is really an extraneous e-mail account, since I prefer and use my Cavalier telephone account. However, for the sake of myself and the moderator, I would like you to know that I am not allowed to advertise on this forum, which I gather to mean not to promote a business website, not to ask for someone's business or say that I am in such and such business, not to try to sell a house being listed, not to indicate if someone is a realtor, etc. It is for this reason why I never provided my website, business name, business affiliation, made a public announcement seeking clients or business, etc. I have tried, although imperfectly, not to come across as an advertiser, but simply to announce that I would like to help and am familiar with the homes and area, as anyone on the forum may also state, although it is true that a realtor may know more about an area. However, it is possible that a poster may be a teacher or other professional who just happens to know a lot about the area real estate, being from the area.

I do prefer a more direct approach, but I also want to respect the forum's rules and be a positive contributing member. Thus, even in this very message I am not even revealing my professional license, business, etc outside of simply answering your question about my e-mail. I think that there is a large difference in this forum between someone saying:

A. I am a realtor seeking business. My website is suchandsuch.com. I am selling a home is Thisandthatplace. Everyone seeking a realtor contact me today! = Blatant advertising.

and:

B. Hello, sir. I am familiar with the area and homes in the area. Since you inquired about homes, I am happy to respond with a bit of information that I know that might be helpful to you, just free information that I am contributing just like other members on the forum... (Thus, saying, I may or may not be in a real estate related business. However, I am simply providing some free, non-commercial information to you at this point.)

I was trying simply to convey an open attitude about sharing some free information, whether or not that may be related to my profession. Yes, of course, like everyone else, I desire to maintain continued success, but my professional business is secondary to my freely provided information on the forum. If someone want to know my profession or something else personal or not directly related to the forum, they may e-mail me privately.

Thank you and best of luck to you.

[pkoons]

Just for the record I am a realtor with an inactive license. McCollim, it sounds like you are knowledgeable and have good intentions, but it's tough to look past the financial motivation of an active realtor for posting (this board may seem like a great place to look for business but you'll notice you haven't received any positive feedback - at least publicly.) Plus, consider that if an agent works in a Columbia office for example, how much harder are they going to push that area?

Reason #1 from a licensed agent as to why you should take any and all info from realtors with a grain of salt... If you are in the practice of selling a home you are legally required to give the answer "Check with the police department in that jurisdiction" or something similar when asked about crime or you will be at risk of losing your license if a customer reports you. PC regulations may kill the integrity of the business if we keep going further down that road...

Long story short - realtors are a venerable source of information until they see the phrase "looking to relocate" and at that point, even if it's not about making the sale and earning some coin, their perspective changes from a legal standpoint.

Let's all see if we can provide the best info possible with the sole purpose of educating others and learning more ourselves (wow, I sound pretty cheesy!)

Rant over

[professor dogma]

I'd recommend Catonsville (not cheap but not expensive) or Paradise - both on Frederick Road. St Agnes Hospital - Southwest Baltimore - is 10 minutes away and is number one for cardiac care.

The 200K condos sound like Canton but the price has changed, upwardly.

[clearlight]

Thanks very much for your input, prof - i'll look into it . .

Quick question though: you say "sound like Canton" . . is Canton a separate town ? or are you abbreviating "Canton " to mean Catonsville ? & if the latter, is it CaNtonsville or Catonsville ?

Regards . .

Originally Posted by professor dogma

I'd recommend Catonsville (not cheap but not expensive) or Paradise - both on Frederick Road. St Agnes Hospital - Southwest Baltimore - is 10 minutes away and is number one for cardiac care.

The 200K condos sound like Canton but the price has changed, upwardly.

[pkoons]

Catonsville (spelled correctly) is a city in Baltimore County that is home to the University of MD Baltimore County campus.

Canton is a section of Baltimore centered around Boston St. as you approach Dundalk. It is an "up-and-coming" section of town with happening nightlife - similar to the U Street corridor in DC, but more affordably priced. $200K is still possible for a condo, but rare, and you'll get the occasional stench from the Back River...

[antipode12]

I've heard about Ellicott City and Columbia.

Which other towns would all of you informed people recommend to a couple of 30 year olds? We want clean-ish, safe-ish, fun-ish, progressive-ish, and cheap-ish. (Emphasis on the "ish"s.)

Friendly would be nice. (We're from NY and the attitude has really worn out it's welcome.)

We don't really need "family-oriented" or even "family friendly" although that's not really a drawback.

It doesn't have to be near the cities, although that's not a problem either.

It would be nice if it were out of traffic's line-of-fire, however.

What do you think?

[Ren]

Speaking of Balmer, hon...Don't forget there is an annual Hon' Festival! A great time for all!

[OhBother66]

In the late 80's and early 90's "HON man" would affix a the word 'HON' on the Welcome to Baltimore sign. I was driving toward the city one day when I noticed the sign. I thought it was one of the funniest things I ever saw!

[pkoons]

If there's a big emphasis on the "cheap-ish" then you're going to have a hard time, but try Severna Park, Annapolis, Crofton, Eldersburg, and Catonsville (in declining price order). These keep you well enough away from major traffic backups and give you plenty of shopping, dining, and nightlife. They are mostly family friendly though so if you're willing to go to sketchier areas, take the risk and move right into B-More. Good luck!

[antipode12]

Originally Posted by pkoons

If there's a big emphasis on the "cheap-ish" then you're going to have a hard time, but try Severna Park, Annapolis, Crofton, Eldersburg, and Catonsville (in declining price order). These keep you well enough away from major traffic backups and give you plenty of shopping, dining, and nightlife. They are mostly family friendly though so if you're willing to go to sketchier areas, take the risk and move right into B-More. Good luck!

We're actually coming to visit this week. We will DEFINTELY check out these towns. I know cheap is hard to come by, hence "cheap-ish."

We're teachers, so together we'll probably make $85K or so.

I've been to B'more a few times; never much of a fan. Not the "sketchy" part, but it just doesn't seem much like an invigorated town. Seems tired, run down. I dunno.

Thanks for all the ideas, though
Justin