Even though the Federal Housing Finance Agency has come up with a plan to help millions of homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure by working out new payment terms, there are still many people out there who will simply not qualify for this assistance. If you are finding yourself in this predicament, there are some things you can do to improve your situation. The first thing that you can do is call a good credit counseling agency. They will have expert advice on options other than foreclosure. Two excellent sources of information are the Department of Housing and Urban Development , which can put you into contact with low-cost or free counselers, and the non-profit National Foundation for Credit Counseling which can help you find members near to you. You may also want to give your lender a call to try and work out a payment arrangement that works better for you. To raise cash, you might want to consider renting out a room in your home if it is legal in your area, or you might ask relatives for financial help, or even find a second job. If necessary you might consider a short sale, which is when a lender will accept less than what is due on the loan. In this instance you will avoid foreclosure, but you risk the possibility of having to pay taxes on the short. Another option is to transfer your title in exchange for the cancellation of your debt, otherwise known as a “deed in lieu of forclosure”. You will lose your equity, but you will not damage your credit. Lastly, you might consider bankruptcy. This will stain your credit for a decade, but you may be able to work out a deal with your lender that enables you to keep your home. Contact the Department of Justice for more information on bankruptcy.

Wind and rain for this weekend

She’s coming up the coast and could be here as early as Saturday. Annapolis, an historic port city, is ready for Hanna.

Department of Public Works employees were busy preparing sandbags at the City Dock this morning, and the bags were placed around downtown to hold back a storm surge that could bring the Chesapeake Bay into the streets of Annapolis. Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer says a storm surge of 3 to 6 feet is possible; anything more than 3 feet means water could make its way into downtown businesses. The city is supplying some of those sandbags to business owners, too.

It isn’t often that our area receives a call from a hurricane, but when we do, rising water is usually the biggest issue. Heavy rains can lead to flooding, and a surge that pushes water up the Bay can mean high water for everyone nearby.

If you live near the water, be sure you are ready. Have plenty of fresh batteries and flashlights, fresh drinking water, and a battery-powered radio. There is always a chance that power will be lost for a while during a storm like Hanna. Stay safe inside – falling trees can cause damage to homes and cars; don’t give them a chance to fall on you, too. 

Although the center of Hanna is expected to go over the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and stay southeast of the Annapolis area, Governor O’Malley said all residents should prepare themselves. “The anxiety is that you never really know exactly where these hurricanes are going,” Mr. O’Malley said. “Mother Nature can be unpredictable … so we have to keep an eye on it.”

So as Hanna sweeps by, stay safe and dry. Keep your pets inside with you, and we’ll all hope that Hanna just gives us a gentle wave as she goes by!

Prepare your home for being seen on the Internet first

These days we all know that most people begin looking for a new home by going to the Internet first. So instead of potential buyers seeing your home for the first time during an open house or a drive-by, they will see the photos your Realtor® uses with the online listing. More than ever, curb appeal starts on the internet; if the pictures don’t make your home seem attractive, then it’s less likely people will want to actually come and see for themselves.

A couple of years ago people did not have to worry too much about fixing up their home for sale; houses sold as quickly as they came on the market. But those days are gone, and it’s more important than ever to take the time and effort to make sure your house shine. "Good enough" isn’t anymore. When sellers can’t be bothered to present their home in the best light, the buyers are not going to be interested, and those sellers won’t get the kind of offer they are hoping for. Today’s market is just too competitive.

So what can you do? A number of things. First, make energy efficiency a selling point. Change all your old light bulbs to energy-efficient bulbs with a daylight finish. Of course you’ll open all the curtains and blinds, and turn on all the lights when showing the home, but having daylight energy efficient bulbs can also help; in retail stores, using such bulbs can increase sales 40%!

Next, if you have a good sound system, put on easy-listening music as a positive but unobtrusive background. No elevator music or rock for this.

Of course you know to declutter and remove personal items. Buyers don’t want to feel they are intruding, and your personal items will make it harder for them to see the home as theirs. Also be aware of odors. Don’t cook something for dinner the night before with an odor that will linger in the house.

And then, invite your neighbors over for a preview. Neighbors can be great salespeople, and you never know which neighbor might know someone looking for a home in your area.

When you’re ready to sell, count on the "Special" Ed Haraway Team to help you show your home at its best. We really are the "The Realtors Who Treat You Special!"

Bowie college student interns at NASA

Next March, NASA will launch a rocket bound for the Moon. There will be dozens of people watching and hoping for the best, not only at the launch site in Cape Canaveral, FL, but also at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. And if she has her way, one of the observers in Greenbelt will be Cassandra Alberding of Bowie. She will have more than just a general interest in this particular launch; as an intern, Cassandra has spent two summers calculating potential launch times for a rocket that will carry a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. This device will orbit the moon collecting date on topography, temperature, and lighting, that can be used to select safe landing sites for future manned missions to the moon.

Working at NASA has been a dream of Cassandra Alberding’s since she was 11-years-old. This year, Alberding is one of 38 young people serving 10-week internships working in all aspects of Goddard’s operations, chosen from approximately 800 applicants. She has just received her bachelor’s degree in math from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., and in the fall will study aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park.

After two summers of working with special software that considers many variables including the speed of the rocket and the Earth’s orbit to calculate launch times, Alberding is now looking forward to seeing her work put into practice. She has calculated 19 possible launch dates in March 2009 so far. Her top choice? March 2 at 12:13 a.m. You can be sure that Cassandra Alberding will be wide awake and looking to the skies on that early morning.

Local schools give strong performance on MSA tests

The courses are the same, and all teachers have equal time for planning, but Bowie parents and school staff say that – when it comes to the Maryland School Assessments scores – the difference is strong parental support and the individual attention that students receive.

According to data from the state, Bowie students scored an average of 86 percent proficient or better in reading in the 2008 MSA, and 80.5 percent proficient or better in math. These scores were more than 14 points above the Prince Georges County average for reading and 16 points about the county average for math.

Staff member have to identify when students are struggling, and place them in the right small groups based on their achievement in a particular subject. According to a recent Gazette article, "Kathleen Kurtz, regional assistant superintendent for region four said successful teachers spend time looking at data to ‘create safety nets in order to address the weak areas,’ which could include extra reading or math help for students who need it. Schools also add programs where necessary, and help is often provided by parent volunteers. In Bowie, parents have applied for grant money to put together special events for their children to make up for a lack of regular art, music or language programs."

Good schools, individual attention, and involved parents, are all more reasons for Bowie’s popularity as a place to live and raise a family. If you are ready to make the move to Bowie, the "Special" Ed Haraway team is ready to help you find the right home for your family. We really are the "The Realtors Who Treat You Special!"

There's something for everyone in the Bowie/Annapolis area

Maryland in the summer is home to events that take advantage of our natural beauty and fascinating history. You’re sure to find something here for every member of the family.

Through Sunday, 30 November 2008   
Seaworthy: The Story of the US Navy’s Black Admirals

In 1971, after twenty-seven years of dedicated service to the nation and exceptional performance as a leader on ships at sea and in many high visibility assignments abroad, Samuel L. Gravely, a native of Richmond, Virginia, was selected for promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral. Since then, a small but distinguished group of African-American officers have followed in his footsteps.

Contact: 410-216-6186 Ext. or visit www.bdmuseum.com
Location: Banneker-Douglass Museum. 84 Franklin Street , Annapolis 21401

Thursday, 31 July 2008     12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Summertime Maritime Concert Series – Calico Jack

Catch the museum’s Summertime Maritime Concert series at the City Dock in Annapolis on Thursdays. FREE! The concerts are held at noon on Thursdays at the City Dock so bring your lunch and grab a bench.

Contact: 410-295-0104 or visit. www.annapolismaritimemuseum.org
Location: Annapolis City Dock. Market Space, Annapolis 21401

Thursday, 31 July 2008     2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Harry Potter and the 10th Anniversary Extravaganza   

Celebrate Harry’s arrival at Hogwarts! Read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, then come in costume for crafts, games and prizes! Sign a Hagrid-sized birthday card for Harry. For all ages.

Contact: 410-222-7915 or visit www.aacpl.net
Location: Crofton Library. 1681 Reidel Road, Crofton 21114. http://www.aacpl.net/branch_info/cro.htm

Saturday, 02 August 2008     11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Maryland in the Civil War  

Even though no battles were fought in Bowie, the area teemed with soldiers from North and South, coming and going to and from other major battle sites. Both Confederate and Union troops will be represented. Visitors will learn about camp life, military drill, cavalry experiences and listen to the volley of a musket firing demonstration.

Contact: 301-809-3089
Location: Belair Mansion. 12207 Tulip Grove Dr , Bowie 20715, just south of the intersection of Rte. 450 and 197, and one mile from the intersection of Rte. 50 (E/W) and 197 N

Saturday, 02 August 2008     6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Quiet Waters Park Summer Concert Series – Kelly Bell Band (blues)

Concerts are held on Saturdays from 6-8 p.m. at the park, which is located off Hillsmere Drive in Annapolis. Admission to the park and concerts are free starting one hour prior to showtime. Smoking and alcohol are prohibited. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket for seating.

Contact: 410-222-1777 or visit www.aacounty.org/recparks
Location: Quiet Waters Park. 600 Quiet Waters Park Road , Annapolis 21403

Sunday, 03 August 2008     12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
First Sunday Arts Festival  

The First Sunday Arts Festival is held the first Sunday of each month, May through October. This festival combines crafts vendors, artists, live music, street performers and sidewalk dining uniquely Annapolis, uniquely fun. This event is free and open to the public. Performers: 12-1:30 Joe’s McCarthy’s Cuban Band 12-5:00 Meow Bus/Annapolis Children’s Museum 3:00-4:45 Dan Haas

Contact: 410-741-3267 Ext. or visit www.goweststreet.com
Location: Inner West Street. First Block of West Street, Annapolis 21401.

Tuesday, 05 August 2008     5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
25 Anniversary of the National Night Out – The Hottest Event of the Year!  

"We’re Giving Crime a Going Away Party". FREE FOOD & Fun, For the Whole Family. National Night Out is an annual event designed to strengthen our Neighborhoods through police-community partnerships. Highlights of the events – McGruff the Crime Dog -Games – The APD Cool Snowcones – Watergate Village Prize Zone – M.E.O.W. Bus -Mobile Emergency Command Center – AFD Bomb Squad and Fire Trucks – APD A.S.E.T. Team, Bike Patrol, and much more! FREE GIVE-AWAYS! 39 Officers and 10 Annapolis Community Members will also be receiving awards.

Contact: 410-268-9000 Ext. 7331
Location: Annapolis City Dock. Market Space , Annapolis 21401

Thursday, 07 August 2008     6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Best Friends Game Night    

Think you know your best friend well? Bring him or her and take on the other friend teams and answer eyebrow-raising, truth-inducing questions. Snacks will be provided and the winning team receives an awesome prize.

Contact: 410-222-1905 or visit aacpl.net
Location: Broadneck Library. 1275 Green Holly Drive , Annapolis 21409

This is just a sampling of the many events and activities available in our area. Want to know more about the delights of living in our land of pleasant living? With more than 20 years’ experience in real estate in Prince Georges, Calvert, and Anne Arundel Counties, we’re here to help make your home buying dreams come true. The "Special" Ed Haraway Team can help you find the perfect house for you and your family. We are "The Realtors Who Treat You Special!"

"Caveat Emptor" Still Applies

These days a homebuyer is tempted by the chance to negotiate a great deal on a house. It’s been decades since the conditions were so favorable for buyers – reduced prices, motivated sellers, and extra concessions available to make a deal happen. Whether a new or existing home, it’s a good time to buy. And it’s hard not to be enthusiastic about the opportunity.

Which is exactly why buyers need to step back, take a breath, and make sure they aren’t tempted to take shortcuts that they could regret later. Caveat Emptor – Buyer Beware – applies as much to home buying as it does to any other major purchase. Think it through, ask questions, and be sure you understand before signing on that line.

Ask yourself one important question: Is this the right time for YOU to buy a home? The question is not, "Do you want to buy a home?" The question is about whether the time and all the factors in your life are right. If you have to stretch financially to buy, if you would have nothing left in your budget for the extra costs of home ownership – unexpected repairs, regular maintenance, etc. – then you could be setting yourself up to become a statistic. But if owning a home is part of your budget, and it’s the right time for you, then you are in a good market.

Once you’ve decided that the time is right, do your homework. Learn everything you can about the area you want to live it. You can learn a lot through Internet research – try using a search engine like Google to find news and articles about your target area. And don’t overlook the expertise available from a real estate agent who knows the area through years of experience. The agent can tell you about the houses in your target neighborhood, what they are selling for, and can help you narrow the field to the homes that will suit your wants and needs. And when you find that house that says "Home," an experienced professional can also help you negotiate your best deal.

After more than 20 years in real estate in Prince Georges, Calvert, and Anne Arundel Counties, the "Special" Ed Haraway Team can help you find the perfect house for you and your family in this land of pleasant living. We are "The Realtors Who Treat You Special!"

Native plants and animals finding a welcome in backyards

Gary Allen has built a fish pond in his yard, and in the process attracted wildlife and a National Wildlife Federation certification as a backyard habitat. He welcomes raccoons, groundhogs, hawks, and other birds into his own little nature world. Elsewhere in Bowie,  Maureen Fine hosts brilliant monarch butterflies with a favorite food – milkweed.

A growing number of urban gardeners are participating in the new Backyard Habitat Program introduced by the City of Bowie’s Planning and Economic Development Department in May. Through the program, city staff is seeking to recognize and cultivate a dozen otherwise unnoticed plant and animal species.

The backyard habitat program is the third of 12 action plans outlined in Bowie’s Environmental Infrastructure Action Strategy Plan, which was approved by the City Council in September with a goal of conserving and restoring the natural environment. The aim of the program is to encourage residents to replace turf in their yards with native plants such as Virginia Creeper in order to decrease lawn mowing and thus reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.

Additionally, the native plants are more drought resistant and conserve water as well as absorb storm water runoff. ‘‘Most backyards would probably meet the criteria without doing much of anything,” said Senior Planner Elizabeth Chaisson. (To read the full article in the Gazette, click here.)

For more information about starting a backyard habitat, visit http://www.nwf.org/backyard/. A booklet about native plants in Prince George’s County is available through the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Web site.

The "Special" Ed Haraway team can help you get your home ready with advice on everything from gardens to garages based on our many years in real estate working with Maryland homeowners. We really are the "The Realtors Who Treat You Special!"

Fireworks and fun for the family

You don’t have to go far for a good old-fashioned Independence Day celebration. The City of Bowie celebrates America on Friday, July 4, 2008 with music and fireworks. Come to Allen Pond Park in the afternoon to enjoy all the park has to offer families, and stay to sample the food, beverage and novelty concessions that will be available from 3:00 p.m. on.

Then listen to the M&R Band beginning at 4:30, have your picnic dinner, more music, and top it off with spectacular fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

Here are the details, and for more information you can go to http://www.cityofbowie.org/special_events/4thofJuly.pdf to see the full flyer for the event.

The City Of Bowie CELEBRATES AMERICA

FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2008 – ALLEN POND PARK

(Rain Date for Fireworks ONLY Saturday, July 5, 2008)

4:30 PM – M&R Band– Variety Music

7:45 PM – Mayor’s Welcome– Mayor G. Frederick Robinson

8:00 PM – M&R Band

9:00 PM – Introduction of Elected Officials

Flag Ceremony– Bowie Memorial Post 8065 VFW

National Anthem – Nichelle Fullen

9:15 PM - FIREWORKS!

• Food, drink, and novelty concessions will be available beginning at 3:00 P.M.
• Alcoholic Beverages are not permitted in Allen Pond Park on July 4th.
• The Collington Lodge #230 will have their MD Chips (Maryland Child Identification Program) at this year’s Fourth of July festivities. The cost is FREE.
• ALL Allen Pond Park parking will be designated handicapped. Additional parking is available at the Mitchellville Road Soccer Fields and on side streets.
• Colored powder fireworks will be set off throughout the day.
• No pets are allowed in Allen Pond Park on July 4th.
• Special parking and road restrictions will apply before and after the event.

Just as Independence Day means fireworks, summer means concerts every Saturday and Sunday in Bowie. Go to Town Green Park at 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays to hear:

June 28 -  Project Natale /Jazz

July 5 -  ilyAIMY Acoustic Rock/Folk

July 12 -  40 Dollar Fine Classic Rock/Country

July 19  – 2nd Coming Jazz featuring Mr. Young Jazz

July 26 -  5 Oaks Folk/Rock/Country

And see the full schedule here: http://www.cityofbowie.org/special_events/Saturday_concerts.pdf

Then on Sunday, come back to Allen Pond Park for the Sunset Concert Series starting at 7:00 p.m.:

June 29 – Premium Band & Horns R&B/Soul/Motown

July 6  - United States Air Force Band Silver Wings /Country

July 13  - Redstone Classic Rock/ Oldies

July 20  - Durham Station /Bluegrass

July 27 – U.S. Air Force Max Impact /Pop

And visit this site for the full Sunday schedule:

http://www.cityofbowie.org/special_events/Sunday_Schedule.pdf

These are just a few reminders of why people love Bowie as a place to live and work. When you’re ready to find your Bowie home, we can help. The "Special" Ed Haraway team has the experience and knowledge to make your home dreams come true in Maryland. We really are the "The Realtors Who Treat You Special!"

It’s a little scary these days, the idea of selling your home. You’ve heard that the market is not great, and that buyers are being aggressive. You wonder how much you can get for your home and how long it will take to find the right buyer. Here’s a suggestion to help answer both the "when" and "how much" questions: Think like a buyer. 

Sound easy? Not really. Because buying a home has as much to do with psychology and emotion as it does with finance and logic. Can you think back to when you bought your own home? When you first walked through the door as a potential buyer, did you have an emotional reaction? Did the home "speak" to you? Your job now, as a seller, is to recreate that experience for the buyers.

We all know that – fair or not – first impressions do count. When you meet someone, you form an opinion in the first few seconds. The same is true when a buyer sees your house. If the yard is cluttered, if the front door is faded, if the living room is littered with dirty dishes or old newspapers…well, you can see what kind of impression that makes.

Your Realtor® can help you see your home as others do, so be open to suggestions. The first will often be to clean up the clutter so that the house looks more spacious. Once you clear up the clutter, the first impression needs to be CLEAN. Whether it’s a matter of steam cleaning carpets, stripping and refinishing floors, having windows cleaned – whatever it takes will be well worth the investment of time and money.

Your aim is to help buyers see how this could be their home. That could be difficult for them to imagine if you have a wall that is bright orange or carpet that is deep purple. Even if you love orange or purple, paint it over or rip it out if you want to move the sale along. All buyers will see is the cost and effort to get the home into the condition they would want.

If you have torn screens or dripping faucets or lights that don’t work, fix them before you start to show your home. What you see as minor will look like a major problem to buyers. Worse, they may think there is more damage that they cannot see, and simply walk away. Buyers often over-estimate the cost of repairs, and then use this as a bargaining point to get a lower price. When you pay for minor repairs first, the question doesn’t come up.

Use your own senses to see, hear, and smell your home the way a buyer will. When it’s clean, neat, calm, and fresh, you won’t have to speak to the buyer…your house will do it for you, and what it says will be, "My new home!"

The "Special" Ed Haraway team can help you get your home ready with advice based on our many years in real estate working with Maryland homeowners. We really are the "The Realtors Who Treat You Special!"