Need help staying in MD (Baltimore, Frederick: real estate, buying a home, neighborhoods)

[Njrover0216]

My husband and I recently thought about moving to NC. But after spending lots of time on the threads there and visiting a few times. I do not know if NC is going to be for me. However some of the reasons that were driving us to NC is affordable housing, cheaper electric bills, cheaper property taxes and more sense of a family.

Here in Maryland I live in a duplex in a nice town. However, I can not see anywhere in my immediate future of owning a single family home. I go to my weekly playgroup and admire their homes, the homes they bought a year before me and paid what I paid on my duplex for their single family home. I guess to ask a few questions are there places in Maryland where single family homes in nice neighborhoods are not going to break our bank? Has anyone heard anything about BGE and are our electric rates going to really rise 72%? Has anyone done research into other electric suppliers? Are property taxes cheaper in other counties rather then Anne Arundel? I would appreciate all and any advice, I really need it!!!

[FlipperX]

Carroll county is your answer for many things. the people there especially so homey and down to earth, very quaint lifestyle and yet so close to B-more. Go CCMD!!!!!!!!!!!!! and its not really that expensive in comparison.

[bande1102]

Hey Njrover,

It might help to know your price range and where you're commuting to for work. As far as BGE rates, I haven't been able to figure that one out.

For tax rates by county, here's some very dry reading

http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/taxrate.html

For taxes state by state (2006)

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/10/pf/t...2006/index.htm

If you go way back to the beginning of this forum, pkoons (I think a former real estate agent in this area) posted things about most cities/counties. Might be something interesting/helpful there.

Good luck!

[Njrover0216]

I mentioned in my post where my husband will probably be working. He is currently working in Annapolis, but that is only until August, then he is changing departments. We would like to buy a home for 300K. It doesnt have to be brand new, but I do not want it falling apart either. I would like nice schools and not an overcrowded area. I did look into Carroll county breifly, how bad is the drive from there to Baltimore area?

[RoadTripGurl]

You don't like Harford Njrover0216? They have new construction for less than 300K, I like the quality of the real estate and most of my neighbors commute to Baltimore

[Njrover0216]

Well looking online it looked like the schools were not so good? What are your experiences with the schools?

[RoadTripGurl]

They are not as superior as Howard or Montgomery, but the schools are more than decent. Bel Air schools are the best in the county I'm told. I live in Edgewood, and the schools are OK, better than my experiences in PG. I've had such positive experiences with my son's school that a girlfriend of mine actually moved up there for her kids. I think the whole environment did it for me; I live near the MARC and the APG gate, in the best section of Edgewood, but I wouldn't live anywhere else in Edgewood but that area. Abingdon schools are great and Bel Air is supposed to be excellent. I like the Bel Air neighborhoods too. The taxes are cheaper for a SFH than what I paid for my tiny duplex in PG County. Go figure.

[FlipperX]

Originally Posted by Njrover0216

I mentioned in my post where my husband will probably be working. He is currently working in Annapolis, but that is only until August, then he is changing departments. We would like to buy a home for 300K. It doesnt have to be brand new, but I do not want it falling apart either. I would like nice schools and not an overcrowded area. I did look into Carroll county breifly, how bad is the drive from there to Baltimore area?

A half hour from Westminster, the middle of the county and the seat.

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by Njrover0216

My husband and I recently thought about moving to NC. But after spending lots of time on the threads there and visiting a few times. I do not know if NC is going to be for me. However some of the reasons that were driving us to NC is affordable housing, cheaper electric bills, cheaper property taxes and more sense of a family.

Here in Maryland I live in a duplex in a nice town. However, I can not see anywhere in my immediate future of owning a single family home. I go to my weekly playgroup and admire their homes, the homes they bought a year before me and paid what I paid on my duplex for their single family home. I guess to ask a few questions are there places in Maryland where single family homes in nice neighborhoods are not going to break our bank? Has anyone heard anything about BGE and are our electric rates going to really rise 72%? Has anyone done research into other electric suppliers? Are property taxes cheaper in other counties rather then Anne Arundel? I would appreciate all and any advice, I really need it!!!

Our BGE bills were already increased last year by 72% for electric and this year they are going up again 50% for electric and gas. You can go to BGE's website for details of how these increases affect your individual cost for gas and electric.

As for buying a home under $300K you can do it here, just probably not in the area you are living now. Look north to Caroll and Frederick Counties, there are many homes priced for that and less. Good luck to you!

[Njrover0216]

Thank you for all the responses from everyone. I am really concerned with schools in general. That is why I haven't looked in those areas. My husband will probably either be working at the tunnels in Baltimore or BWI airport or the 695 interstate. So being within a 30-45 minute drive from there would be nice. I am going to look into the areas you all suggested and see what I can come up with. I only have til the end of July and I have to make my decision. I just wish the cost of houses would come down here! And BGe would stop being so greedy. I saw them drive by tday, and they had a brand new SUV. Guess who paid for that and the gas in it?