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The Village Green, located right on Crofton Parkway in Crofton, MD, is the location for the much awaited Summer Concert Series. Grab your chair and come down to the Green on Sunday evenings between 6 - 8 PM, for music and friendship.

This wonderful music series, featuring local bands of every persuasion,  has been going on for as long as I remember. As an added bonus...it's free.

This years free music offerings include:

• June 6 - The Pocket Change Band
• June 13 - Bay Jazz Project
• June 27 - Baywinds
• July 11 - Ruth Capobianco
• July 18 - Big Band Caliente
• July 25 - The Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition

Remember, the Village Green is a mosquito free zone :)

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114

410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

Crofton Woods is a wonderful sub-division located within the Crofton Triangle. While most of the homes in the Crofton Triangle were built in the late 1960's to early 1970's, Crofton Woods homes were built in the mid 1990's. Not only do home owners in Crofton Woods have the advantage of being in the triangle, they also enjoy the benefits of newer homes.

The special tax district of Crofton, MD, enjoys one of the best locations in Maryland. Crofton is located in between the two largest employment markets in the area, Baltimore about 30 minutes to the North, and Washington, DC, about 30 minutes to the South.

Crofton is also about 15 minutes from Annapolis and the varied leisure activities of the Cheasapeake Bay. Ft. Meade, one of the largest employers in the State, and projected to grow by about 22,000 additional jobs in the coming decade, is located about fifteen minutes from Crofton, MD. When the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is completed, Ft. Meade will employ more people than the Pentagon. Crofton, MD will be a destination point for many employees relocating in to Ft. Meade.

Crofton Woods consists of 173 single family detached homes. One of the three Crofton Elementary Schools is located in Crofton Woods. All graduating students from Crofton Woods Elementary feed the Blue Ribbon Crofton Middle School.

Crofton Woods residents apparantly like to stay in the area. There have only been two homes listed and sold in Crofton Woods in the past year. Only one home in the Crofton Woods sub-division is currently Active in the MLS, and can be viewed here.

Crofton Woods is located in the Southwest corner of the Crofton Triangle with easy access to Rt. 3 and Rt. 450 commuting routes.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114

410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

Build a better dry cleaners and people will come. Dry cleaning is dry cleaning, right? Sure, but the business model that Zips Dry Cleaners uses is different than competing dry cleaners in the Crofton, MD area. I believe its one of the things that is contributing to their success.

Zips Dry Cleaners is located in the Princess Shopping Center, 2510 Conway Road, Gambrills, MD 21054, just over the Crofton border.

What makes Zips Dry Cleaners different? They accept only one form of payment, and its up front. Cash is king at Zips. They even have an ATM machine in the lobby if you need cash. When you bring your laundry or dry cleaning in, you pay up front.

Since they only accept cash, they don't have to worry about paying a certain percentage to a credit card company. No returned checks either. Decide to leave your cleaning there...remember, you already paid for it when you brought it in.

Zips Dry Cleaners seems to be passing along their savings generated by their simple business model. Shirts laundered, starch and hangers, $1.19 each. My old cleaner used to charge over $2.00 per shirt. The quality at Zips is equal or better than my old cleaner.

Like a lot of dry cleaners, Zips also employs the in by nine, out by five model. Can't get it in by nine, it will be ready the next day. Large, custom pieces, like bedspreads, do take a bit longer.

Dry cleaning again uses a different, user friendly model. Each piece is $1.99. A two piece suit, $1.99 for the pants, $1.99 for the jacket. Again, my old cleaner used to charge me $8.00 for a dry cleaned suit. Not any more.

I think Zips is here to stay. Great customer service, great prices, great quality. What more could you ask?

If you haven't given Zips in the Crofton, MD area a try yet, you owe it to your pocketbook to stop by soon. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114

410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

If you're a property owner in Anne Arundel County Maryland, you know you have to have a perc test conducted on the property in order to determine the type of septic system required. Unlike last year when the season was shortened due to groundwater levels being too low, thats not the case in 2010.

We've had a pretty wet couple of months and the "wet season" perc testing started early on December 28th. The testing should continue until Spring. Nevertheless, if you're trying to sell the property, or need a building permit, you shouldn't wait to get your test conducted. The testing is done by the County on a first come, first served basis.

Detailed information on the requirements for the perc test can be found on the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website, located here. For additional information from the County they can be reached at 410-222-7193.

I recommend that you visit the County website or contact them directly. If you miss the test this year you'll have to wait until 2011 until it becomes available again.

If you're looking to buy or sell undeveloped property, I can help.

Time is of the essence can relate to a couple of things as it pertains to buying a home in Crofton, MD. Certainly, it can pertain to making an offer and getting the home of your choice. The market is changing here in Crofton and buyers shouldn't wait too long to make an offer. While you're waiting and thinking, someone else is working with their Realtor and the home you thought you were going to get will be gone.

For purposes of this post though, lets talk about a clause in the contract of sale that pertains to "Time is of the Essence." In the Maryland Residential Contract of Sale, the Time is of the Essence clause is right at the top of the contract. Its pretty hard to miss because its located before any of the paragraphs, and is outlined with a border. The clause says:

"TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. Time is of the essence of this Contract. The failure of Seller or Buyer to perform any act as provided in this Contract by a prescribed date or within a prescribed time period shall be a default under this Contract and the non defaulting party, upon written notice to the defaulting party, may declare this Contract null and void and of no further legal force and effect. In such event, all Deposit(s) shall be disbursed in accordance with Paragraph 19 of this Contract."

An offer to purchase a home using the Maryland Residential Contract of Sale can get pretty complicated. This is especially true with respect to all the corresponding addenda that might be required. On a simple, routine sale, the contract can easily exceed thirty pages. Within that entire contract, both the buyer and seller commit to perform specific acts within a time frame. As you can see from the Contract language, those dates are very important. You, and your Realtor should be closely monitoring the dates in the Contract so that the transaction continues smoothly to its ultimate goal, settlement.

The dates you and your agent place in the contract have consequences if they're not met.

If you're looking to buy or sell a home in the Crofton MD real estate area, or surrounding communities, and you don't already have an agent, I can help.

I hate to be the spoilsport but we all know those Christmas Trees don't last forever. Heck, most of them were cut down long before Christmas and by now they're pretty well drying out. Maybe another week left in them but that's about all.

What do you do to get rid of the once live Christmas Tree? If you're living in Anne Arundel County Maryland, its pretty easy to recycle. After you un-decorate the tree, all you need to do is to put it out with the other recycling. If its too big (over four feet) you should cut it in half so the recyclers can get it in the truck. Recycled Christmas Trees are made into mulch by the county.

While you're at it, a lot of other Christmas waste can be recycled as well. Wrapping paper, catalogues, cardboard boxes, etc.

For more information about recycling in Crofton and Anne Arundel County MD, you can visit the County website at www.aacounty.org/DPW/Wastemanagement or call the County office at 410-222-6100.

The Crofton Community Association General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2010. The meeting will begin at 7:30 PM at the Crofton Elementary School, located at 1405 Duke of Kent Drive, Crofton, MD.

The snow date for the meeting is January 26, 2010.

The first meeting of the year is usually well attended because the budget for the next fiscal year will be presented. The budget, which has been mailed to all residents, contains a modest 2.3% increase.

Crofton MD is one of the Special Tax Districts located in Anne Arundel, MD. An additional tax is charged to residents of the Crofton Community Association and is collected by the County. This tax surcharge is used to pay for the Crofton Police Department, recreational activities, administration and maintenance of public areas.

While Crofton MD is a large, spread out community, only those residents living in Crofton Triangle are members of the Crofton Community Association. The Crofton Triangle is loosely defined as being within the borders of three roads. Rt. 3, Rt. 424, and Rt. 450.

Join your friends and neighbors on January 26th for a lively discussion on CCA activities.

We Crofton MD residents do love our tall, stately Oak Trees for the beauty and shade that they provide all summer.

Now that summer is over though, all I can say is, UGH!

The annual Crofton chore of leaf collection is in full progress from now until mid to end December. As a matter of fact, those last few dead leaves will probably still be there in the Spring.

It doesn't matter how many times you rake and bag them, the next day it looks like you didn't do a darn thing.

There are some people on my block that rake leaves every day. That's not a hobby, that's an obsession. I'm good for once every week or two.

The pile you see here is from this weekend.

Anne Arundel County MD trash collection has a special leaf pickup on Mondays during this time of year. They do have to be bagged and placed at the curb. At the height of the season, they'll send trucks in over the weekend to get ahead of collections.

I'm done for today. Last leaf blown, picked up and bagged. Sigh...there is never a "last leaf" in Crofton.

If you're SEARCHING for a home anywhere in Maryland, click here to view ALL ACTIVE LISTINGS.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114

410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

All photos and written content were produced by Richard Iarossi. Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved. This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain Re-blogging, without express written permission of Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®, Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD.

I guess Anne Arundel County MD is getting tired of complaints about dogs from property owners, because I'm seeing new signs popping up in Crofton MD.

Crofton MD is a great place to live and if you've spent any time here at all you know that Crofton residents do a lot of walking on the parkway. Walkers, joggers, bike riders, baby strollers, and probably more than anything else...dog walkers.

I live on Crofton Parkway and most of the dog walkers are diligent about carrying plastic bags to dispose of... well, I don't need to be graphic here. Most dog walkers are responsible, unfortunately though, not all. 

It's not the dog's fault when they have to go. That's just what dogs do. When I walk my two dogs I end up carrying four bags. Don't ask, they just really like the parkway I guess. 

Now, however, dog walkers are being warned that they could incur a fine if they don't pick up after Fido.  a pretty expensive squat if you ask me.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved

All photos and written content were produced by Richard Iarossi. Copyright 2009 - All Rights Reserved. This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain Re-blogging, without express written permission of Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®, Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD.

I've been living in Crofton MD since 1991 and the issue of what to do with Lake Louise seems to come up periodically. If you live anywhere in the area, you know that "Lake Louise" sits on the left side of the main entrance to Crofton MD.

Since it's really not a naturally fed lake, it does have pretty dramatic swings in water level. Most of Lake Louise is runoff from the townhouse community just off of Crofton Parkway.

On September 21, 2009, the issue of Lake Louise and other important community issues will be discussed at the General Membership Meeting.

There are some who want Lake Louise to remain "as is," basically a catch basin for water runoff. Let nature take its course. When there is a drought, the lake will be low, and when there is heavy rain, it will be overflowing. Pretty much the same as its always been. This is the least expensive option since it won't cost any money to implement.

Other ideas include drilling a well to feed the lake and making it into more of a marshy grassland.

All ideas will be discussed at the General Membership Meeting. You can visit the Crofton MD Town Hall website for more information as it gets closer to the meeting date. Signs will also be posted around the community in the coming weeks. Reserve the date now, September 21st.

Let the big honchos discuss health care and stimulous. Our issue with the attractiveness of Lake Louise is a local issue and deserves your input.

I've always found the Crofton Civic Association to be very receptive to the needs of the members and residents of Crofton MD. Show up for the meeting, greet your neighbors, and let's see what they have to say about "Lake Louise," the entrance to our wonderful community.

Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved