If you are unable to make your mortgage payment in Maryland:Friday, August 29, 2008
AVOIDING FORECLOSURE in MARYLAND, 10 Steps to Take
If you are unable to make your mortgage payment in Maryland:Sunday, August 17, 2008
Butchers Hill, Baltimore Maryland Real Estate Agents,Realtors and Auctioneers

Butchers Hill was once home to butchers and poultry preparers, many who were German American and Jewish American. It was a village prior to the Civil War. Although today it is considered to be less affluent than Fells Point, it was once the more prosperous community of the two. This is reflected in the larger size Homes in Baltimore and row houses. Butchers Hill is in proximity to more gentrified sections of Fells Point Maryland, the draw of Patterson Park in Baltimore, and the employment center around Johns Hopkins Hospital. Many artists reside in the neighborhood. A portion of it is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you are looking to sell your home in Butchers Hill or looking to Buy a Home in Butchers Hill, Robert B. McArtor, a Noted Licensed Auctioneer and REALTOR with Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. is here to help. Please visit his website at Maryland HOMES Team and begin your home search today.
Baltimore real estate agents in Maryland, Find and Search for Baltimore homes for sale, and Baltimore home values in Butchers Hill and City. Get access to Baltimore real estate listings on our website, including the MLS and Homes Database, We are Baltimore REALTORS. Find new homes and foreclosures, investment properties with Maryland HOMES Team and Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. Our real estate services feature all Baltimore and Maryland cities and suburbs. We can help you Find Baltimore school district information, including elementary, middle and high schools. We also have information on Baltimore home selling, home buying and mortgages, movers and other realty services for anyone looking to sell a home or buy a home in Butchers Hill. Become a VIP Buyer and start receiving HOT NEW LISTINGS that match your home buying criteria. Start searching for Homes in Baltimore City today! Or Simply Call 1-877-421-SOLD
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Long and Foster AUCTIONS, TOP Auctioneers in Maryland

Sunday, July 20, 2008
Sellers Need Patience and Exposure or their Homes in Maryland
What will 2008 hold for the Foreclosure Market. As the new year approaches, I am constantly thinking of what 2008 holds for many homeowners trying to sell their property. I am constantly taking phone calls from nervous sellers that think the Auction Method may be the ONLY viable way to sell their home. The reality is, after looking closely at the numbers, very few would even qualify for a successful "Traditional" Auction Sale. The auction method can meet several needs for the seller however is not meant for every property.
So...what is the alternative? If your property is listed with an aggressive Real Estate Agent...it's "Patience and Exposure". I tell sellers to be patient in this market. Your "Days on Market" have increased. Be aggressive with your price to reflect your market and condition. Price it according to condtion! I can't stress that enough. The next is "Exposure". Where is your property being advertised? Do you have a Visual Tour with statistics? (not just a glorified slide show). Can you find it easily on the internet knowing 4 out of 5 buyers start their home search on the internet? Many will eventually find a home starting with the internet. There is a lot of inventory for buyers to choose from. Get your property out there for the world to see! On a side note, buyers are looking for the best deals and certainly don't want to make a huge purchase in a downward market. Make your property attractive with incentives, i.e. closing cost assistance, etc.
Since October 2006, housing prices have taken an average 6% reduction. This is difficult for many sellers to swallow. In the world of Real Estate this is coined as tragic for home owners. In any other market however (Retail, Stock Market), it simply becomes a "Buying Opportunity". In my market covering Maryland, Baltimore, Harford and Cecil County, I believe Buyers will be and ARE coming out of the woodwork! I have instructed my team to be patient with the "tire kickers". They WILL be buyers soon.
What does 2008 hold for the Real Estate Market?
The short answer is it may be a difficult year for sellers who have not planned early enough to market their homes. Too many homeowners have taken on mortgages that are not realistic for them to re-pay. The last minute decisions to sell a home hoping for the magical contract to come in before being foreclosured on is not realistic. In most cases this will not happen. I am noticing Deed of Trusts that are less than 2 years old heading for foreclosure. Most are not "Sub-Prime" loans or so-called "shady" adjustable rate mortgages.
Out of the 7 auctions I conducted today, December 28, 2007, only 1 was an adjustable rate mortgage. Not all Foreclosed Property owners were "victims" of the sub-prime market! Most simply victimized themselves by chasing the Dream of owning a home they could not afford. The great thing I love about being a human on this earth is....we are allowed to make mistakes. Some costs are greater than others.
In early January 2008, there are 190+ Foreclosure Auctions I am scheduled to conduct over a 3 day period. This will cover only 4 counties in Maryland. Lenders will be over-run with properties which means a buying opportunity for investors and others. The difficult times for a few are still ahead. If you find yourself falling behind on payments, PLAN AHEAD! Talk to your Lender. If things cannot be worked out and you have enough time. Talk to your REALTOR® or local Real Estate Auctioneer. If you live in Maryland. There is only one phone call you need to make. We are here to help.
Have a Great New Year!
Robert B. McArtor, REALTOR and Noted Real Estate Auctioneer
Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc.
1-877-421-SOLD
http://www.MarylandsHomeTeam.com/
http://www.harfordadvantage.com/Friday, July 11, 2008
YOUR HOME SOLD FAST and for TOP DOLLAR in MARYLAND, BALTIMORE, HARFORD, CECIL COUNTY

The 9 Step System to Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar
Selling your home in Maryland with Robert B. McArtor, REALTOR with Long and Foster Real Estate will probably be one of the most important steps in your life. Our 9 step system will give you some of the tools necessary to maximize the profits you realize, to keep control of the property, and to reduce stress that normally comes with selling a home in Baltimore, Harford, Cecil County.
1. Know why you're selling, What is motivating you.
The reasons for selling a home in Maryland can affect everything from setting a sales price to deciding how much time you are willing to invest in getting your home sold. You need to decide what is more important to you....how much will you be walking away from the sale of your home OR the time spent on the market? Different goals will certainly bring different strategies in marketing. Some may choose to use a REALTOR or Real Estate Agent OR utilize the Auction Method to liquidate your home.
2. Do your homework before setting a price.
Finding out what your offer price is should not be done lightly. I spent an hour on the phone with a potential client discussing a possible listing price. They really wanted to use the Auction Method however after evaluating their position, the Traditional Method was best. I knew that pricing too high was as dangerous as pricing too low. You should remember that the average buyer is looking at 15 to 20 homes at the same time they are considering yours. This means that they are comparing. If your home does not compare favorably with others in the price range you've set, it will not be taken seriously by potential buyers for Maryland Homes or agents. This will result in your home sitting on the market for a long time and, new buyers on the market will think there must be something wrong with your home. As a listing agent, I am excited to being committed to make sure your Home in the Maryland Area is priced correctly to SELL!
3. Do your homework...or better yet....Your Agent should do this for you.
Find out what homes in your neighborhoods have sold for in the past 6-12 months. We do this for all our properties in Maryland, Harford County, Cecil County, Baltimore County and the City. We research what current homes are listed for. That's certainly how prospective buyers will assess the worth of your home.
4. Find a good real estate agent to represent your needs.
Nearly three-quarters of homeowners claim that they wouldn't use the same REALTOR who sold their last home. Dissatisfaction boils down to poor communication which results in not enough feedback, lower pricing and strained relations. Another FREE report entitled, "10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Agent" gives you the straight, to-the-point questions you should be asking when you interview agents who want to list your home. Please click on the above link to obtain this FREE Report from my website.
5. Maximize your home's sales potential.
The appearance or your home is critical, and it would be foolish to ignore this when selling your home in Maryland
You may not be able to change your home's location or floor plan, but you can do a lot to improve its appearance. The look and feel of your home generates a greater emotional response than any other factor. Clean like you've never cleaned before. Pick up, straighten, unclutter, scrub, scour and dust. Fix everything, no matter how insignificant it may appear. Present your home to get a "wow" response from prospective buyers. We also understand that this may not always be possible to do. This is when we advise on pricing your home based on the Repairs or Updates the property needs.
Allow the buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. The decision to buy a home is based on emotion, not logic. Prospective buyers want to try on your home just like they would a new suit of clothes. If you follow them around pointing out improvements or if your decor is so different that it's difficult for a buyer to strip it away in his or her mind, you make it difficult for them to feel comfortable enough to imagine themselves an owner.
6. Make it easy for prospects to get information on your home, utilize the internet for exposure.
You may be surprised to know that some marketing tools that most agents use to sell homes (e.g. traditional open houses) are actually not very effective. In fact only 1% of homes are sold at an open house.
Potential Buyers calling for information on your home probably value their time as much as you do. The last thing they want to be subjected to is either a game of telephone tag with an agent, or an unwanted sales pitch. Make sure the ads your agent places for property also includes a Visual Tour...not just a standard slide show. Robert B. McArtor is able to provide you with daily statistics as the effectiveness and exposure of your property. Remember, the more buyers you have competing for your home the better, because it sets up an auction-like atmosphere that puts you in the driver's seat.
7. Know your buyer.
In the negotiation process, your objective is to control the pace and set the duration. What is your buyer's motivation? Does s/he need to move quickly? Does s/he have enough money to pay you your asking price? Knowing this information gives you the upper hand in the negotiation because you know how far you can push to get what you want. The Team with Long and Foster Real Estate will have all these questions answered and more.
8. Make sure the contract is complete.
For your part as a seller, make sure you disclose everything. Smart sellers proactively go above and beyond the laws to disclose all known defects to their buyers in writing. If the buyer knows about a problem, s/he can't come back with a lawsuit later on.
Make sure all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale, and resist the temptation to diverge from the contract. For example, if the buyer requests a move-in prior to closing, just say no. Now is not the time to take any chances of the deal falling through. Robert McArtor and his Team will make sure that ALL details are reviewed to make a smooth transition.
9. Don't move out before you sell your home in Maryland
Studies have shown that it is more difficult to sell a home that is vacant because it looks forgotten, simply not appealing. It could even cost you thousands. If you move, you're also telling buyers that you have a new home and are probably highly motivated to sell fast. This, of course, will give them the advantage at the negotiating table. Let Robert McArtor and The Maryland HOMES Team with Long and Foster Real Estate advise you.
MISTAKES SELLERS MAKE WHEN SELLING THEIR HOME IN MARYLAND, BALTIMORE, HARFORD COUNTY

Remember not so long ago, when you could make your fortune in real estate in Maryland, Baltimore, Harford and Cecil County. It was nothing then to buy a home, wait a short while, and then sell it at a tidy profit.
Well, as you probably know, times have changed. As good as the market is right now, home prices are still below what they were at their peak. Buyers are far more discriminating, and a large percentage of the homes listed for sale never sell. It's more critical than ever to learn what you need to know to avoid costly seller mistakes in order to sell your home in Maryland, Baltimore, Harford or Cecil County fast and for the most amount of money whether utilizing the Auction or Traditional Method of Selling.
The 7 Deadly Mistakes Most Home Sellers Make
Failing to analyze why they are selling their home in Maryland
Not preparing their home for the buyer's eye.
Pricing their homes incorrectly. MarylandHOMESTeam can help!
Selling too hard during showings.
Signing a long-term listing agreement without a written performance guarantee.
Making it difficult for buyers to get information on their home.
Failing to obtain a pre-approved mortgage for one's next home.
RELOCATING to HARFORD COUNTY, JOPPA MARYLAND HOME SEARCH STATISTICS
Relocating to Joppa Maryland Real Estate in Harford County, Homes for Sale, Realtors and Auctioneers, Home Stats for zip code 21085 as of January 2008
2008 2007 % Change
Total Sold Dollar Volume: $ 472,000 $ 2,743,800 - 82.80 %
Average Sold Price: $ 236,000 $ 274,380 - 13.99 %
Median Sold Price: $ 236,000 $ 266,500 - 11.44 %
Total Units Sold: 2 10 - 80.00 %
Average Days on Market: 159 133 19.55 %
Average List Price for Solds: $ 249,900 $ 297,710 - 16.06 %
Avg Sale Price as a
percentage of Avg List Price: 94.44 % 92.16 %
Joppa real estate agents in Maryland, Find and Search for Joppa homes for sale, and Joppa home values in Harford County. Get access to Joppa real estate listings on our website, including the MLS and Homes Database, We are Joppa REALTORS. Find new homes and foreclosures, investment properties with Maryland HOMES Team and Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. Our real estate services feature all Joppa and Maryland cities and suburbs. We can help you Find Joppa school district information, including elementary, middle and high schools. We also have information on Joppa home selling, home buying and mortgages, movers and other realty services for anyone looking to sell a home or buy a home in Joppa Maryland. Become a VIP Buyer and start receiving HOT NEW LISTINGS that match your home buying criteria. Start searching for Homes in Joppa today!
Maryland HOMES Team provides Joppa, Maryland real estate information and resources to guide homeowners and homebuyers through the process of selling and buying a house, condo, town home, land or other Joppa realty property. Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. has services to help you find a Top Joppa real estate broker or agent, get the value of your Joppa home and a comparative market analysis (CMA), view Joppa real estate and MLS listings, prepare and stage your home for sale, and lots more.
Our real estate library of valuable information located at www.VIP.MarylandsHomeTeam.com which contains articles to help anyone selling a home or buying a home learn more about Joppa realty services, and how to choose a work with Robert B. McArtor, your Joppa REALTOR. Through our Team Members, we also provide real estate and financial services to our clients looking for houses for sale or selling their home in Joppa, MD, such as mortgages, credit history, new homes, foreclosures and other services. If you plan to do for sale by owner (FSBO), with Robert B. McArtor, you are connected to Joppa real estate companies, agencies and resources to sell or buy a home. Whether you say REALTOR®, reality, realety, realty, real estate or realestate, Maryland HOMES Team will speak your language. Contact us Toll Free at 1-877-421-SOLD or Robert McArtor directly at 443-392-4833. Robert B. McArtor is also available for BPO's and REO listings in the Baltimore Metro, Baltimore County, Cecil County areas, Harford County
ABOUT HARFORD COUNTY HISTORY, INTERSTING FACTS to KNOW ABOUT MARYLAND

One of the interesting things I have found as a Real Estate Agent, REALTOR and Auctioneer in Harford County is finding out is was formed in 1773 by the splitting of Baltimore County. There are many homes and places of interest as you travel through this quiet county. One home you will find of interest is Tudor Hall which is the birthplace of John Wilkes Booth who was assassinated by Abraham Lincoln in the year of 1865. This home was the site of a notorious Real Estate Auction that brought national attention to Harford County. It also hosted the signers of the Bush Declaration. This was the precursor document to the American Revolution. As you search for Homes in Harford County, notice the vast rural countryside that is just minutes from suburban amenities and I-95.
Did you know that Harford County was named after Henry Harford. He was the illegitimate son of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore. Henry Harford was the last Proprietary Governor of Maryland, but did not inherit his father's title because of his illegitimacy.
Another favorite town of mine is Havre de Grace, a beautiful city in Harford County. This small city was once under consideration to be the capital of the United States rather than Washington, D.C.. It was favored for it location on the Chesapeake Bay. The waterways around Harford County are beautiful and compliments the wonderful homes you will find here. If you are looking for your next home in Harford County or looking to list or auction your home in Harford County. Advantage Real Estate Auction Sales is here to serve you in the up-most professional manner. Robert B. McArtor is also a Licensed REALTOR with Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc.. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact him at 443-392-4833 or through his website, http://www.MarylandHOMESTeam.com/
Relocation buyers to harford county
HARFORD COUNTY REAL ESTATE, AGENTS, REALTORS and AUCTIONEERS

You can become a VIP Buyer and Beat Other Buyers to Hot New Listings in Maryland, Baltimore, Harford County, Cecil County Homes. How To Receive Daily Emails or Printouts of ALL New Listings That Match Your Home Buying Criteria Sent to You FREE of Charge Without Obligation. We will mail/e-mail you new listings (complete with pictures) of ALL MLS properties that match your home buying criteria. Our exclusive Buyer Profile System allows you to pick which homes in Maryland you want to view before other buyers even know about them. As a VIP buyer: You get weekly updates of all new home listings that match your criteria FREE of charge. You get first pick of homes that interest you and the ability to beat other buyers to an offer. Because you're there first, before most other buyers, we are able to negotiate the lowest possible price for you. Most importantly your time isn't wasted viewing homes that don't interest you.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
MARYLAND AUCTIONEERS, AUCTIONS and REAL ESTATE SALES in BALTIMORE, HARFORD COUNTY

YOU WANT TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION! Making the decision to auction your Home or Real Estate can be stressful. Making the decision of HOW to Auction your Real Estate can be confusing and stressful. The decision you make can impact the return you receive on your invested dollars in several important ways. At Advantage Real Estate Auction Sales we realize what an important business decision this is for you. We have been there!
At Advantage Real Estate Auction Sales, our buyers have confidence that an auction conducted by Advantage is as advertised, the property will be sold, and buyers are not wasting their time and incurring unnecessary expenses. Therefore, Advantage auction attracts more qualified buyers.
WE ARE MARYLAND AUCTIONEERS. Other Auctioneers in Maryland are A.J. Billig, Alex Cooper, Express Auctions, Charles Parrish with Auction Brokers.
The more expensive or unique a property in Maryland is, the longer it typically takes to sell your property using ordinary methods.This is due to an often limited market for these properties. Having a specified date on which you intend to sell creates a sense of urgency with potential buyers, and helps to speed up the entire sales process. REALTORS can be very helpful in marketing your property by traditional methods....auctions motivate!
By compressing the sales period, we can carry out a more aggressive marketing strategy, providing maximum visibility for your property. In addition, we can tailor our campaign to reach the target market most likely to be interested in your property.
A Real Estate Auction eliminates pricing problems because it establishes the real market price that day for the property under the auction terms of sale.
You set the date and time of the sale, the terms and conditions such as earnest money deposits, closing time frames, and more. Because potential buyers know you are committed to sell on a specific date, they do their homework in advance and show up prepared to bid, freeing you from the hassle of dealing with insincere offers, prospects, and contract contingencies.
A property that remains on the market for an extended period can become a serious drain on the owner and the owner's equity. Mortgage payments, maintenance, taxes and insurance can add up to thousands of dollars a month for some properties. An Advantage Auction in Maryland helps you eliminate those costs that erode your equity, and will often net you the highest price possible.
• Reach the broadest possible universe of qualified bidders in Maryland
Our experienced marketing staff at Advantage Real Estate Auction Sales, LLC. knows how to put together the right combination of advertising (local, regional, national and international, depending on your needs), direct mail (using our proprietary database of extensive prospective buyers), public relations and direct sales efforts to bring your property to the attention of qualified prospects wherever they may be.
At Advantage Real Estate Auction Sales, our buyers have confidence that an auction conducted by our Team is as advertised, the property will be sold, and buyers are not wasting their time and incurring unnecessary expenses. Therefore, Advantage auction attracts more qualified buyers.There are some companies in our industry that do not recognize the same responsibility and as a result, they cannot provide the same group of qualified buyers or the largest possible group of qualified buyers that an Advantage auction can provide.Such practices by some competitors may include such unethical or illegal practices of advertising an auction as absolute, meaning the property will sell without reserve, when in reality the auction company and seller have an agreement to cancel the auction or withdraw the property from the auction if some predetermined opening bid is not received.We support the industry's standards of not engaging in such practices. As a result, Advantage buyers act with confidence and you, the seller, receives maximum benefit of your marketing dollars by having more bidders on auction day.
Friday, January 4, 2008
REALTORS® are taking a second look at the Auction Method

Robert B. McArtor, REALTOR® with Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. and Noted Real Estate Auctioneer in Maryland has been working with and educating Real Estate Agents on the Auction Method of Marketing since 1991. “It was tough in the beginning”, Robert explains the early days, “Why would an agent want to turn a client over to an Auctioneer? Don’t they just sell antiques, cars and furniture?”.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
2007 Real Estate Auctions...what OUR clients are saying about us!

"After discussing at length (our property) with Mr. McArtor, we decided the Auction Method was not the best method for our home in Baltimore. No one else explained it quite like he did...... Our property was best served with a traditional.....aggressive marketing approach with Long and Foster Real Estate of which he handled for us."Michael S. - Cockeysville, MD.
"Robert, as a REALTOR here in Baltimore, I have never heard the Auction Method explained the way you and your Team with Long and Foster Real Estate shared........we were certainly impressed........We learned how we could profit ourselves and our clients by using the Auction Method......I am looking forward to using you and your services this Spring." - Allan W. - Keller Williams Real Estate
" I wanted to thank you personally for helping us with the sale of our home in Harford County. After the Auction, we were not surprised of the out-come. Just as you recommended, you marketed our home on your website.......along with the Visual Tour.....I still can't believe you were able to negotiate $35,000 more for our property......your expertise is just what we needed to sell our home. We auctioned my Mother's Estate using your services and just new you would be the best one for the job" Robert J. - Havre de Grace, Maryland
" Robert, I do not know what to say except "Thank You", I found your auction website on the internet and took the opportunity by referring you to my friends in Harford County. They were facing foreclosure. Your timely marketing strategy allowed them to delay the foreclosure AND get money at the settlement table. That was the best phone call I made.......Thank you again." - Stephanie M. - Ican Realty Group