Charles County Category
Is it Better to Buy or Rent in Southern Maryland?
The Southern Maryland housing market is booming, but not everyone is cut out to be a homeowner (at least not right this second!) Here we’re going to go over a checklist of questions you should ask yourself before buying a home in Waldorf and other cities in Southern Maryland. Let’s get started!
Buying a Home in Waldorf and Southern Maryland Comes with Benefits
When you buy a home, you’ll be able to enjoy many benefits like:
A Great Tax Write Off: you’ll be able to take off mortgage payments, energy efficiency improvements and even home owner’s insurance as deductions on your state or federal income tax (it will vary by situation). While you shouldn’t use your home as a tax shelter, you can save a lot of money and improve your home at the same time. With renting there are no tax write offs, you won’t be able to make improvements to the unit without approval and it’s not your home.
Equity: If you want something that you can sell down the line or pass on to your children, grandchildren and loved ones, buying a home in Southern Maryland is the way to go! Equity is an investment that will appreciate it over time, something you can count on when times get tough. With renting, you don’t gain equity that you can lean on when it counts.
Pride: One of the things that set Americans apart in the last century was the high rate of home ownership. When you own your home in Southern Maryland, you have your little piece of the American dream. When you rent, you just don’t have the pride of home ownership and you end up enriching someone else instead of yourself.
Disadvantages of Home Ownership in Southern Maryland
Home ownership is great (especially in Southern Maryland!), but it’s not right for everyone. Some of the pitfalls can be:
Expensive Upkeep: When you rent you have someone to call when the big uh ohs happen, but when you own it it’s up to you to get it fixed and to pay for it. If you want to avoid expensive upkeep, you’ll want an engineer or a certified Southern Maryland house inspector to check out the property and help you avoid any big problems in the future.
Hard to Unload: if you want to get rid of your house, you may run into problems. The Southern Maryland housing market is on fire right now, but it’s a heck of a lot easier to buy a house than it is to sell it. If you get a job in another area or just want to move, you may have to rent and pay a property management company to keep an eye on your Southern Maryland property while you’re away.
These hidden costs can make home ownership a nightmare, but the pros far outweigh the cons! You can have a great home and reap the benefits, but if you’re planning to move to of the Southern Maryland area you may want to put off buying a home. If you’d like to see some great homes for sale, click here to fill out our short sale information form.
Buying Short Sale Homes
When you’re looking at homes in Waldorf and Southern Maryland, you will notice a lot of houses that are listed as “short sale”. These can be fantastic buys, but what is a short sale and is it right for you? A short sale is one way for an owner to avoid foreclosure and settle their debts… if all goes well. Here we’re going to go over everything you need to know about buying short sale homes, so let’s get started!
How Short Sales Work
Before you buy a short sale house, you need to know how the process works! First things first:
- Short sales are NOT foreclosures
- The homeowner still owns the home, but the bank and creditors have to agree to and approve the sale
- Since everyone has to come to an agreement, it can take a while to close the sale
You’ll want to be a very patient person to endure a short sale buy; but with that patience you’ll be able to get a great deal on your home! You may have to wait several months to buy a short sale home in Southern Maryland, but it really is worth it.
Are Short Sale Homes Better Than Foreclosures?
Owners who are doing short sales are usually still living in the same home, so you wont’ have to worry about the home being picked apart or missing vital (we’ve all seen the houses where the previous occupants ran off with everything, including the kitchen sink!) infrastructure.
While short sale homes in Waldorf, Maryland and the Charles County area can be a great deal, they aren’t always. You’ll want to hire a home inspector to make sure you’re paying a fair market price for the home, and that everything is in good working order.
You’ll want to make sure that the agent who you’re working with has years of experience (like me!) with short sales; they’ll be able to help you hurry the process along and make sure that the contract works out in your favor. You need to make sure that the short sell is already lender approved BEFORE you proceed. The more lenders involved with the property, the more problems you can run into.
Are There Many Short Sale Homes in Waldorf, MD?
Wherever you look in Southern Maryland, you’ll find short sale homes on the market. The key to a successful short sale is to make sure that you have an experienced agent, you know that the bank WANTS a short sale on the property (sometimes they’ll make more money by allowing the property to slip into foreclosure) and of course you’ll want to have the patience to wait through the process. If you can’t wait 1-5 months to buy the house, you may want to look at homes that are available for you to buy right now. Buying a short sale home is a great way to get a dream home in Southern Maryland, you just need to know what you’re doing. If you’d like to learn more, fill out my short sale information form!
Buying a Home in Waldorf Maryland: Five Things You Need to Know
Buying a home can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re thinking about buying a home in Waldorf Maryland, you’re going to need to know what to look for! Here we’re going to go over the five things you need to know before you buy a home in Southern Maryland; knowing whether your future home sweet home will be sublime or a lemon can make the difference between a money pit and a dream home. Let’s get started!
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Ask About Utilities When Buying a Home:
Those floor length windows look fantastic, but a drafty window is a money sink that you won’t be able to escape. Ask for copies of the last six months of utility bills so you can know the hidden costs that lurk within! If there are “simple” solutions like new windows, consider talking to the seller about paying for the upgrade (in full or in part) to get the home sold faster.
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Google the Address:
Googling the address will help you find out all the little things a home owner might try to omit; burglaries, fires, or maybe a giant cell tower being built in the backyard can help you make sure that the you’re buying a home that you really want.
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Know the Neighbors Before Buying a Home:
Don’t hesitate to ask the neighbors if they mind talking about the house and the neighborhood! Ask them if people watch out for each other, if there are any neighborhood snoops or cranks, and if there are any problems (who wants to deal with $50 fines for having a pink flamingo on their lawn from the home owners association?) that you need to be aware of before buying the home.
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Ask About Taxes When Buying a Home:
Asking about taxes is one of the most important things you need to ask the sellers before considering buying a home. Many people sell a house to avoid the latest tax bill, so you’ll want to see tax records for the last five years so you can see how much tax rates fluctuate and how often the property will be reappraised.
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Get a Home Inspector:
While we all hope that the seller is going to disclose any problems with the property, it’s better to be safe now than sorry later. A home inspector will help you identify any structural issues like a bad septic tank, cracked foundation, a bad roof or other things that can become hidden costs that you have to pay down the road long after buying a home. Just because a home has problems now doesn’t mean that you can’t buy it, but you will want to work with the seller to get problems fixed before you buy.
Never let your hopes lead you into buying the wrong home; with mortgage rates at the best percentages in decades, you can get both a great deal and a great home.
3 Pieces of Good News for Charles County Home Sales
Charles County, Maryland home owners may finally have some good news!
Good News #1 – Active Listing Volume Has Fallen
There are less homes for sale in Charles County. A lot less. 12 months ago we had 991 homes on the market. Today that number is only 731, the lowest it’s been in 5 years!
Less homes for sake means less choices for buyers, but a better opportunity for sellers to be able to actually sell their home. If the inventory in Charles County, Maryland falls to around 600 homes active on the market we should start to see sales prices start to climb again!
Good News #2 – Pending Contracts Are Up
The number of properties currently under contract has gone up, to a total of 169 homes in Charles County. That’s an increase of 6.3% in pending home sales from a year ago!
The best part about this news is that it happened without a huge government incentive program to entice people to buy a home. Buyers in Charles County are finally starting to see the value in home ownership again, and super-low interest rates have certainly helped get people off the fence.
Good News #3 – Average Days on Market (DOM) is Falling
Average days on market (DOM) is the measurement of how many days, on average, a home is on the market before it goes under contract. In a “normal” market, that time frame is usually around 90-100 days.
DOM in Charles County, Maryland, has been as high as 154 days at the worst of the market crash, but we’re seeing that number trend lower in recent months. It’s a great indicator that the market is finally heading in the right direction!
Waterfront Homes For Sale in Charles County, MD
Waterfront homes are the ultimate way to relax in Charles County. Just imagine the serenity that comes with a waterfront view and a private pier for enjoying your weekends!
The best part about buying a waterfront home in Southern Maryland right now are the historically low interest rates! With rates hovering below 4% right now, we have never seen a better, more affordable time to buy a home! Check out the list of waterfront homes in Charles County that are available for sale right now!
Showing properties
1 - 37 of 37.
See more Waterfront Homes in Charles County, MD.
(all data current as of
5/18/2012)
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$709,000 : 1425 Ben Doane Rd, Indian Head4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$989,000 : 14078 River Rd, Newburg4 beds, 3 full baths
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$525,000 : 14901 Potomac River Dr, Cobb Island4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$799,950 : 7795 Lyndele Dr, Port Tobacco4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$520,000 : 18200 Prince Frederick Rd, Hughesville4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$595,000 : 11930 Limestone Ct, Issue3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$495,000 : 11520 Rainbow Pl, Nanjemoy2 beds, 2 full baths
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$365,000 : 11843 Dowes Rd, Nanjemoy3 beds, 2 full baths
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$899,500 : 4860 Friendship Acres Rd, Nanjemoy4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$398,000 : 3695 Mcclain Rd, Nanjemoy2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
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$350,000 : 12128 Neale Sound Dr, Cobb Island2 beds, 1 full bath
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$399,900 : 1485 Ben Doane Rd, Indian Head5 beds, 3 full baths
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$1,200,000 : 13010 Dyer Rd, Newburg6 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths
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$359,900 : 11500 Rainbow Pl, Nanjemoy3 beds, 2 full baths
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$675,000 : 14600 Banks O'dee Rd, Newburg0 beds, 0 baths
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$239,900 : 19332 Wilmott Dr, Benedict3 beds, 1 full bath
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$197,500 : 6890 Kangaroo Dr, Waldorf4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$725,000 : 11650 Perry Branch Rd, Newburg3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$1,650,000 : 15205 Bald Eagle Pl, Newburg5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths
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$469,900 : 6915 Dicandia Dorsey Pl, Hughesville4 beds, 3 full baths
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$425,000 : 7391 Benedict Ave, Benedict2 beds, 1 full bath
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$585,000 : 11470 Mohawk Ct, Swan Point4 beds, 3 full baths
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$299,000 : 16067 Cobb Island Rd, Newburg2 beds, 1 full bath
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$399,999 : 15531 Potomac River Dr S, Cobb Island3 beds, 3 full baths
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$675,000 : 7814 Mill Creek Rd, Benedict4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$699,990 : 14930 Potomac River Dr, Cobb Island5 beds, 4 full baths
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$244,000 : 13420 Hill Rd, Newburg3 beds, 1 full bath
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$2,900,000 : 5200 Rivers Edge Pl, Indian Head8 beds, 7 full, 8 part baths
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$360,000 : 12020 Neale Sound Dr, Cobb Island2 beds, 2 full baths
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$1,500,000 : 9000 Tayloes Neck Rd, Nanjemoy4 beds, 3 full baths
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$559,900 : 49 Pale Morning Ct, Hughesville4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$398,000 : 6885 Dicandia Dorsey Pl, Hughesville5 beds, 3 full baths
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$619,999 : 18220 Prince Frederick Rd, Hughesville5 beds, 3 full, 2 part baths
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$799,900 : 12548 Neale Sound Dr, Cobb Island4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$579,900 : 6955 Pale Morning Ct, Hughesville5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths
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$395,000 : 11740 Overcreek Ct, Swan Point2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$3,500,000 : 11780 Cuckold Creek Rd, Newburg3 beds, 2 full baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
My Brother’s Place in Waldorf Has Closed
It’s sad to say that My Brothers Place in Waldorf, MD has closed. For years it’s been a staple concert venue where future and aspiring bands launched their careers. Rock and roll superstars Good Charlotte even started out playing in the cramped little club.
Unfortunately the club is being closed, another victim of a tough economy. It’s sad to hear that the final chords have been played out, and the disappearance of My Brothers Place is sure to leave a musical void in Waldorf. Garage bands will continue to form and aspire to stardom, but odds are they won’t be getting their start in Waldorf anymore, and that’s a shame.
Waldorf, MD AMC Movie Theatre is FINALLY Getting a Renovation!
It’s time to get excited, Charles County!
The AMC Lowes in St. Charles Towne Centre is getting a much needed makeover! AMC plans to spend $4.5 Million to finally make this theater decent again. I’ve hated going there the past few years, i fact I can’t even recall the last time I actually sat through a movie in the old theater.
The changes include a complete redesign of the lobby, concessions, bathrooms, and theaters. It’s all scheduled to be completed sometime this summer, and plans include power leather reclining seats, Sony digital projectors and even perhaps an I-MAX!
Anyone who lives in the Waldorf area should be thrilled with the upcoming changes, I know I am! I remember when the theater was built, and attending movies every month during my high school years, but it’s difficult to justify the ticket prices in recent years when other theaters in the DMV region are offering newer, cleaner theaters with reclining stadium seats and digital video quality.
Honestly, it’s a pain in the you-know-what to drive 30 miles to another theater just for better amenities, but lots of people do it. It’s a huge relief to see that AMC has finally recognized the problem and they’re willing to spend millions of dollars to fix it!
Sick of Foreclosures in Waldorf, MD? Check Out This Home Instead!
This home is the nicest property you can find in Wakefield! Huge granite counters, a GIGANTIC master bedroom with walk-in closet and master bath, and a huge Florida room addition to the home as well!
No expense has been spared, as this home includes an in-ground sprinkler system, wireless alarm system, beautiful flooring and plenty of space! This home is move-in ready, in great condition!
Best of all, this home is not a foreclosure -OR- a short sale! You owe it to yourself to check this gorgeous home out!
We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # CH7724880 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.
Charles County May Be Getting A Youth Jail in Waldorf, MD?
Waldorf, Maryland is not the same little town it was when I was growing up. Things change. People change, towns change, and sometimes it’s not always a change for the better. There’s a proposal to put a youth jail in Waldorf right now; this is one of those big changes.
The proposed location would be situated on Acton Lane in Waldorf, east of Old Washington Rd. If you were to pick a location in Waldorf for such a facility, it’s the most obvious choice. The biggest downside to it is the proximity to the White Oak Village subdivision and the 300 homes that are within a half mile of the proposed location.
I haven’t decided what side of the barbed-wire fence I’m on just yet, but others certainly have, and they’re trying to make their voices heard. The concerns are obvious; who wants to live next to a jail? I certainly don’t and I’m sure the nice folks that live in White Oak Village don’t like the idea of underage rapscallions being incarcerated right behind their house. (Yes, I just used the word “rapscallion”, I promise that’s the limit to my verbosity in this post.)
What we’re talking about here is not a center to house hundreds of juvenile offenders. We’re talking about a facility that will house a few dozen. We’re also talking about creating about 120 new, permanent jobs in the county, and that’s coming at a time where jobs can be hard to come by. I’m curious to see how this plays out. If you’re against the idea of seeing a jail in Waldorf, head over to stopwaldorfjail.com and let them know that they have your support!
Wal-Mart Supercenter Annexation Approved in La Plata, MD
Last night the La Plata town council approved, 3-2, the motion to annex the land proposed for use in building a new Wal-Mart Supercenter in La Plata, MD.
I already hate shopping at Wal-Mart, and a supercenter isn’t going to make me hate it less. (Look honey, this is where small businesses used to be until Wal-Mart ran them out of business!)
Do we need a supercenter in La Plata? Do we even WANT one? The La Plata town council seems to think so, as does the Mayor Roy Hale, who cast the tie-breaking vote. This isn’t the final word as the County Commissioners will still get a chance to weigh in on the final decision to build a mega wally-world in Charles County.
I’m really hoping that this plan doesn’t come to fruition, but getting the annexation approval was an important step in the process, and a victory for Wal-Mart. What are your thoughts on a mega store like this moving into La Plata? Is it a good idea, or the death of more local businesses?
(photo courtesy of Eurofruit via Flickr c)
Jon Benya Keller Williams of Southern Maryland
tel (301) 653-8113
fax (301) 632-5481
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