2007 Real Estate Auctions...what OUR clients are saying about us!

"Robert McArtor has one of the most informative Real Estate Auction websites around, my husband and I were certainly encouraged by what he said to us. This is a difficult market and he seemed to have a marketing plan that met our needs." Josephine W. - Bel Air, Maryland

"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

BRAC, APG, Relocating To Maryland, Harford, Baltimore or Cecil County

Your Official Base Realignment, BRAC, Relocation Website serving Harford County, Baltimore County and Cecil County Areas. Start Your Home Search Here!

The Base Realignment and Closure, ( BRAC ) process allows the Department of Defense to transform its infrastructure to meet the future needs of the military. As a result of this process, some communities in Maryland and APG will experience an increase in military activity and associated community growth such as the need for availability of homes in Harford, Baltimore, Cecil County, while others are faced with a significant base closure and associated economic distress.

An increase in military activity may challenge a community’s capacity to absorb an influx of personnel and may place excessive demands on some off-base community services and facilities in Harford County,Cecil County and Baltimore County Maryland. Experience suggests that off-base housing scarcity and school overcrowding are areas of shared community and military concern. The community and the military alike must strive to maintain and improve the quality of life for local residents, including the new military personnel and their dependents.

HOUSING: Some communities experience a slowdown in local housing sales the moment a closure is announced, while sales in others continue unaffected. The drawdown of personnel may affect local renters and homeowners. The Service Human Resources Office should be able to provide a residential profile of the base population. On the basis of this profile, lenders, property owners, and community leaders can anticipate vulnerabilities and work with the local redevelopment organization to identify sources of assistance.

Personnel who are transferring with military functions may find it difficult to sell their homes in a slow market, or they may experience devaluation because of the base closure. Assistance for these housing issues is available through the DoD Homeowners Assistance Program.

For growing installations such as APG, some Maryland communities in Harford, Baltimore, Cecil County may not have adequate housing for incoming personnel. Robert B. McArtor and The Maryland HOMES Team will help you assess the local housing market and help plan your relocation to the area.

Robert B. McArtor, The Maryland Homes Team and Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. welcomes you to Maryland. We understand that this extensive relocation period can be stressful. We want to assure you the most courteous and professional transition possible. Looking for Homes in Maryland is made easy through this website. You can search for Homes Now using our Homes Database. Whether you are looking to purchase or rent a home. This is the last stop you need to make. Let us preview the homes for you. Harford County,Baltimore County and Cecil County offers a variety of Townhomes, Single Family Homes, Condominiums, Waterfront Homes to choose from. If you need help in finding a home in Maryland. Please feel free to Become a VIP Buyer for BRAC civilians relocating to our area. Start your home search here or call us today! Direct at 443-392-4833 or Toll Free 1-877-421-SOLD!

Real Estate Auctions for REO Managers

Baltimore, MD. - Advantage Real Estate Auction Sales, LLC. a local real estate auction firm based in Maryland is pleased to announce its involvement with local Loss Mitigation, and REO asset managers to assist them with liquidating under-productive inventory.
Our full service marketing team understands the needs of REO managers. Their portfolios are filled with assets that are not offering a return for their investors and shareholders alike. They find that holding costs are high and expenses can be unbearable to incur.If you are an REO manager and would like to see Advantage Real Estate Auctions work for you in liquidating your unsold properties. Our staff is here to assist you. With over $7 Million in Auction Sales in 2007, we are the Advantage Auction Company of Choice in Maryland. "We are able to bring multiple buyers together and bid in a competitive environment to insure our clients a speedy, economical solution to their inventory without the towering costs and charges from national auction companies that may not have knowledge of the local market" Says Robert B. McArtor, Founder of Advantage Real Estate Auction Sales, LLC. Robert B. McArtor, Managing Member and Founder of Advantage Real Estate Auction Sales, LLC. has extensive experience working with banks and institutions in converting nonperforming assets into cash. He is a licensed Auctioneer in Maryland and Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate, Inc. Robert McArtor currently has affiliates in all 50 States.For more information, contact Robert B. McArtor at 410-879-0622, or by visiting the Advantage Team on the web at http://www.harfordadvantage.com/

Demographics for Bel Air, Maryland Harford County

Robert B. McArtor, REALTOR/ Auctioneer, is recognized in the area as one of the leading authorities on Buying, Selling Traditionally and Auctioning Real Estate. For more information, please visit Maryland HOMES Team.

Demographics - Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Neighborhood type - Suburban - Harford County
Population - 35,701
Pop. density - 2,628.9
Percent male - 48.5%
Percent female - 51.6%
Median age - 36.3
People per household - 2.6
Median household income - $67,944
Average income per capita - $29,550

Housing - Bel Air, Md. 21014
Median home value - $293,300
Median age of homes - 20.0
Home appreciation - 18.5%
Homes - owned - 76.8%
Homes - rented - 19.9%
Homes - vacant - 3.3%
Commuting by bus - 1.0%
Commuting by carpool - 8.4%
Commuting by auto - 85.8%
Working at home - 3.4%

Family Facts - Bel Air, Md. 21014
Currently married - 60.7%
Never married - 20.5%
Divorced - 7.3%
Widowed - 6.6%
Separated - 4.9%
Married - w/ children - 32.9%
Married - no children - 29.8%
Single - w/ children - 6.5%
Single - no children - 30.8%

Advice to the Buyer of Property at Auction

Advice to the Buyer of Property at Auction

In a sale by offer and acceptance, you can write special conditions into your offer to protect
yourself. These special conditions may include repairs to the property, building inspections or
termite inspections. However, in an auction you do not have this option. As a result, purchasing
at an auction can be riskier than purchasing through sale by offer and acceptance. Preparation is essential If you have decided you wish to bid at an auction, it is recommended that you have finalized finance arrangements and have developed a good understanding of what the property is worth. As auctions are generally cash sales, you will need to arrange all finance beforehand.You will also need the amount of the deposit price as this is paid at the close of the auction. The primary duty of the real estate agent and the auctioneer is to look after the seller’s interests. It is therefore wise to ask the real estate agent as many questions as possible about the property, inspect the property carefully, and do your own checks on the property through the local council and other relevant authorities. The Real Estate and Settlement Advisory Board’s (REBA) publication Buying a home through an agent can provide further guidance on the types of checks you can do on a property before buying. Before bidding at an auction, it is wise to have formed your own view about the value of the property. You will not be able to rely on the actions of other bidders to give you an idea of the property’s value because some people may be bidding for the seller. The seller may make their own bids up to the reserve price. The seller’s real estate agent, the auctioneer or other people may also make bids on behalf of the seller up to the reserve price. This is common in all types of auctions. It is recommended that you check if the seller intends to bid by reading the Auction Particulars and Conditions of Sale of Freehold Property contract prior to the auction. If you become the successful bidder, you will need to immediately nominate a settlement agent or lawyer to transfer the land title and conduct settlement for you. It is therefore best to decide on your settlement agent before the auction. Bear in mind that a settlement agent who is unconnected to the seller or the seller’s real estate agent is preferable because they are less likely to experience a conflict of interest when representing you.

I found the missing puzzle piece..........

I am reminded that Auctioneers and REALTORS are not just marketers of real estate. I was asked to meet a gentleman who recently lost his wife. He asked me to consult with him on the sale of his home. The memories of this quiet home were simply too much to handle. I quickly found myself switching hats from that of a Professional Auctioneer to an Experienced Counselor. We shared some wonderful memories together, offered life experiences and was an ear for this man to speak to. I had a wonderful time.

This was obviously the LOVE of his life. It was time for me to "Say Goodbye".

I realize this blog is somewhat off topic from the norm. It is important to share that Auctioneers and REALTORS should be great listeners, not always conducting the business of real estate, but conducting the business of being people persons.

He told me he went through his life holding on to the letters "L" , "O" , "V".
When he met his wife.......she was holding the letter "E".......this finally completed him.

Executor of an Estate in Maryland

If You're The Executor of an Estate in Maryland, Baltimore

Please note: I am not an attorney and I am not offering legal advice. This is for informational purposes only. For detailed information, please seek the advice of an attorney.

You should maintain proper financial records for an estate. Document absolutely everything. The greater the detail the better. It is always easier to document and describe a transaction when it occurs than at a later date when someone is questioning the transaction.

Selecting a Bank:

Many executors simply continue to bank where they have had their personal bank accounts or where the decedent maintained bank accounts. Although this may be adequate, there may be no compelling reason to continue using either institution for the estate. Evaluate the estate's banking and financial needs and interview not only previously used institutions but others as well. Estate financial matters create different needs and can benefit from different services and departments than personal banking needs. Inquire as to what specific trust and estate services various institutions offer, how they price them and what specifically they can do to assist you in handling the estate. Many larger institutions have extremely sophisticated trust departments that can assist you in arranging financing, consolidating accounts, investment management and so forth. These services may help you hold down legal and other fees.

Accounts in Estate Name:

All transactions should be run through the estate's name and under the estate's tax identification number. Other than minor exceptions for necessary initial expenditures by you prior to the estate account being opened (each of which should be carefully documented) never commingle estate funds with your personal funds, beneficiary funds and so on. Safety checksPurchase safety checks for all estate payments. These checks have a carbonless check voucher attached. Each time you write out a check a carbonless second sheet records the transaction. Take this second sheet (called voucher copy of the check) and staple the bills or other documents supporting the payment to them. Then file these in check number order.

Document all Cash Payments:

If you choose to advance your own funds to cover an estate expense, make a copy of the check and attach copies of the supporting documents (e.g., the bill). When the estate checking account is open, you can then reimburse yourself and use the previously assembled backup to support the check. Run all financial transactions through one estate checking account. You can vastly simplify the record keeping for the estate by running all payments and deposits through a central or single estate checking account and brokerage account. Any proceeds of any nature received should be deposited in one estate checking account. Each deposit slip should be saved and the source and nature of the deposit clearly explained. Even if the estate receives a large settlement that you will invest pending distribution, first deposit it in the central estate checking account and thereafter transfer it to the estate brokerage account for investment. All investments should likewise be made in street name in a single brokerage account (unless the estate is so substantial that the insurance limits on the account will be exceeded). All payments should be made from the same account. Similarly, each check should clearly document the purpose of the check. Carefully describe every deposit, check, credit/debit memo or other transaction. Detailed descriptions will make it much easier for you, or your professionals, to identify transactions, prepare accountings and complete tax returns.