Start at the Stonecrest Model Home in Walnut Grove, designed in a French Country style. See this solar powered, energy efficient, professionally decorated home appraised at $1.88 million – built to be raffled off benefiting Maryland Public Television.  Directions: From 32, take Route 108 towards Clarksville, left onto Sheppards Lane, left onto Preakness Circle Lane (You will see Walnut Grove entrance features), go through 2 traffic circles, at second circle turn right onto Running Fence Lane, then left onto Daniel Circle Lane.

Next on tour is a custom built cottage style home which is still under construction. Premium craftsmanship shines through all the details in this home which include: Walnut hardwood flooring, keeping room, Rutt cabinetry, first floor owners suite, wine cellar and a multitude of functional children’s spaces.  See what Selfridge can design with you in mind! Directions from the Stonecrest Model Home: Take Daniels Circle Lane to right onto Running Fences, at first traffic circle turn left onto Preakness Circle Lane, second traffic circle turn left onto Watkins Bridge Lane, go through traffic circle, turn left onto Sweet Meadow Lane. The first built home on the left is your destination.

The last home on the tour is Arts and Crafts style and is currently for sale at $1.9 million. This fully appointed home is complete with: soaring two-story ceilings, separate garage with finished bedroom and full bath, to-be-finished basement with walk-out, rotunda-style entry, exterior living space with fireplace. Yet another style all its own! Take a virtual tour of 5219 Sweet Meadow Lane!  Directions – This home is directly next to the cottage style home. The address is 5219 Sweet Meadow.

View all of our Sunday Open Houses.

DelZoppo and The Creig Northrop Team have been involved in some of the largest sales in the area, including a total of 44 lots in 2009, some of them above $1 million dollars. DelZoppo brings her experience to help buyers and sellers within the market, to guide them through the complex processes associated with buying land and new construction, including regulations, easements, restrictive covenants, zoning, and timetables.

Now more than ever buyers are opting to purchase land as opposed to purchasing resale homes. Cindy DelZoppo explains, “This is a great time for people to buy land as prices are more affordable than they have been in years. Most regular buyers are not aware of the intricacies that come with buying land and all of the associated regulations that must be met. Land and new construction purchases are very different than buying a resale home. That is where our new division and my expertise come in.”

Alongside the launch of this new division, DelZoppo will also be heading up The Northrop Team’s recently created Builder Resource Center, located at their headquarters at the Clarksville/River Hill, MD location. The Builder Resource Center is a one-stop shop that connects buyers who are interested in purchasing a new home with the builder or developer that best suits their needs. The Builder Resource Center is also a place for builders to promote their communities at no cost. Buyers are able to browse communities and developments, gather information on builders and land for sale, and then be connected with the home builder that is right for them. Throughout the process, visitors to the Builder Resource Center receive expert advice and representation from the nation’s top real estate team. The Northrop Team also advertises the builders’ communities on their website, which attracts millions of hits per month.

“I’m excited to be leading the newly-launched Builder Resource Center,” said DelZoppo. “I am looking forward to helping buyers interested in new construction, and making the process much easier for them. Our Builder Resource Center brings all of the information together in one place, which in the end saves the buyer both time and money.”

Prior to working for The Creig Northrop Team, DelZoppo worked in the private and public sectors as a site engineer and land/use planner, and she also has extensive experience in land acquisition/development and project management spanning 10 years prior to joining the Northrop Team. DelZoppo is an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and Senior Real Estate Specialist.

Click here to download your VIP Admission ticket now, and feel free to print some for your family and friends.

The Howard Live Luxury Home Show runs this Saturday and Sunday from 11am-5pm and is located at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City. For directions, or more information visit www.howardlivehomeshow.com

For a complete list visit http://www.northropteam.com/openhouse

Happy Valentine’s Day!

So much has changed in the online world over the last few years. New statistics show that 90% of homebuyers start their search online. That’s up from 84% just a year ago. That’s why The Northrop Team has taken steps to go above and beyond this year when it comes to the virtual tours we provide for our listed properties. We want them to shine online so we’ve added enhanced photography features including:

1. Elevated Photos –By employing elevated photography (from 20-foot and 40-foot elevated tripod systems) we can capture compelling images that are impossible to shoot from ground level — increasing the impact of the frontal elevation or a pool setting and adding dynamic perspective.
2. High Definition Photography –Our photographers will use up to 3 additional lights in concert with the onboard camera flash to light select rooms of the house. These photos are brighter, crisper, clearer and look better on the Internet and reproduce better in print. During a standard walk through photo shoot, the photographer enters the room, chooses a location for the shot, selects the exposure and shoots the room in a matter of a minute or two. Using enhanced lighting and digital equipment, the photographers will carefully consider all aspects of what he/she sees in the view finder. We move objects like pillows, chairs and lamps that interfere with the scene. We will make sure that main subjects in the scene like windows, furniture and doorways are balanced and composed properly. This lighting capability is critical to evenly light the scene, bounce light into ceilings, corners and adjacent rooms to create stunning images.
3. Night Shoots – Talk about dramatic! We just started shooting night photography to capture stunning images of the outside of the home at twilight. Check out the twilight shots of this listing at 22913 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, MD 20876

All of these things, along with an experienced photographer behind the lens, add up to better quality photos – and that impacts everything – virtual tours, print materials and advertising. All for no extra cost to our clients!

Interested in a FREE no-obligation market analysis? Tell us about your home.

This expansion in service offering by the top-rated Northrop Team represents a growth in the Team’s services as well as their ability to meet and serve customers in new areas, as the Baltimore/Washington, DC region continues to grow and develop. In her new role, Pinato will be dedicated to helping families who are buying or selling homes in the Baltimore/Washington, DC region. She will also focus on meeting the needs of government agencies like Cyber Command and DISA, NSA, and military families moving to this region as a result of the BRAC movement. Military instillations, like Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground, are expecting thousands of new hires in the years to come.

As larger corporations continue to move headquarters or open new offices in the Baltimore/Washington, DC region, the workforce is continuing to increase, spurring needs for housing among these new hires and their families, as well as offering great opportunities for residential real estate. Pinato will be leading the Northrop Team in partnering with Human Resource Departments throughout Maryland to educate their employees on the best ways to buy and sell real estate, how to secure the best financing, and sharing her extensive knowledge of the market and current conditions. The most valuable benefit to corporations with this new division, is that Karla Pinato will be the single point of contact for Human Resource Executives who want to extend real estate services to their employees, whether they are interested in moving across the street, across town, or into other parts of the country.

“I am thrilled to be expanding my expertise into these new service areas,” Pinato says, “This is an exciting and dynamic time in our area and I am looking forward to helping both corporate hires and military families find their dream homes.”

Pinato holds the prestigious ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) and SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) designations of advanced real estate education. Prior to joining The Creig Northrop Team, Pinato worked as a national account manager selling computer systems to Fortune 1,000 companies and holds a degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Originally from Ohio, Pinato has lived in New Jersey and currently resides in Dayton, MD.

Here are some ideas for updating homes and gardens from decorators and leading real estate practitioners:

• Environmentally sensitive furniture. Natural fibers, sustainable woods, and recycled products are key to attracting environmentally concerned buyers.
• Classic neutral colors. Deep gray browns and gray blues, muted beige, and chalky white will be particularly popular shades, Pittsburgh Paints predicts.
• Backyard gardens. First Lady Michelle Obama led the way in 2009 when she installed one at the White House.
• Backyard living. Wood-deck additions offer an 80.6 percent payback, according to the annual Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine and REALTOR® magazine. Simple fire pits and outdoor fireplaces also will be popular, trend-watchers say.
• Made in America. As more people feel compelled to support local employment, U.S. manufactured products and antiques will become more popular, says Patricia Shackelford, author of design blog, Mrs. Blandings.

Source: Orlando Sentinel, Jean Patteson (12/26/2009) and Kansas City Star, Stacy Downs (12/27/2009)

Creig has been giving out words of wisdom to encourage his team echoing Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. “One Team. One Name. One Goal,” says Northrop. Northrop himself leads one of the most “winningest” real estate teams in the nation. The team is number one in Maryland for selling over 700 homes year after year. They are also the number two team in the nation. In fact, Creig just returned from a trip to the West Coast. Newport Beach to be exact. While there he met with John McMonigle, the real estate agent who holds the title of # 1 in the Nation. “There’s nothing like learning from those around you who are doing it right,” said Northrop. A big believer in the power of a team, he is exuding enthusiasm over this weekend’s rivalry. This energy and enthusiasm also spills over to the bright outlook he has for real estate this coming year.

“The excitement around our office is huge. We are all playing off the energy our great football team has brought to the Baltimore area,” he adds. This past year The Creig Northrop has sold more than 700 homes and more of 300 sold in less than 60 days. So when others think the market is slow, Creig Northrop has proven if the house is in good condition and priced right, it does sell quickly!

The Northrop Team is made up of over 40 real estate agents and over 15 administrative and customer support staff. Not every member of the team is a Ravens fan. But The Northrop Team already sent out a formal statement to the Dallas or Redskin fans among the group to BEWARE. The Ravens fans on The Northrop Team are die-hard and won’t look kindly on the likes of a Cowboy or Skins fan in their midst!

By Mary Umberger
January 10, 2010

Reporting from Chicago – It’s nearly spring — at least that’s the case in the parallel, slightly weird universe of real estate.

Traditionally, the “spring” home buying season, theoretically the busiest time in the marketplace, begins the day after the Super Bowl. Why this is so has never been clear, but it probably has something to do with finally being able to pry spouses off the couch to tour houses.

This year, “spring” arrives later than usual: The big game is Feb. 7.

But if you’re thinking of selling, waiting to list until the bowl festivities have passed probably is a mistake in the current market, according to some experts.

If you’re new to the selling game or haven’t sold a house in years, here are a few thoughts:

* Think about planting that “for sale” sign in the yard before your neighbor gets around to doing the same thing.

“We’re going to see a lot of property coming on the market,” said James Kinney, vice president of luxury home sales for Chicago-based Baird & Warner Real Estate. “We’re going to see everything that people took off the market in the fall, knowing they were going to be back in the spring.”

Plus there will be genuinely new listings in addition to the continuing cascade of foreclosures and short sales, he said.

* Don’t be surprised if, in determining an asking price, listing agents emphasize how much the competition is asking, rather than relying solely on data for recently sold homes.

Agents have always at least considered what else is on the market in setting an asking price, said Jim Merrion, regional director of Re/Max Northern Illinois.

“Now there’s more weight being placed on the current inventory, because in many cases it’s pushing prices to lower levels,” Merrion said. “I don’t know if it’s the effect of HGTV shows or what, but now we’re seeing agents taking sellers right into active listings” to get a true comparison of what they’re up against. “That never used to happen.”

Still, there’s a danger in relying too much on what the guy down the street is asking.

“An awful lot of listings are wrongly priced,” Kinney said. “If people use those as a guidepost, they could get into trouble. Do a combination of historical data and looking at who you’re competing against, once you’ve determined whether they’re valid prices.”

* And then there’s the thorniest issue: Most people have inflated notions of their home’s value in this boom-gone-bust market.

Experimenting with trying to net a price that’s rooted in the past can taint a house as an “old” listing, Kinney said.

“If you’re asking a price commensurate with or higher than prices achieved in 2006 and 2007, you’re incorrectly priced,” he said.

(Source: BaltimoreSun.com, Mary Umberger, January 10,2010)

We’d like to thank our clients for entrusting us with the purchase or sale of their home this past year. We were blessed to work with each and every one of you and learned so much from our experiences.

Success in real estate comes from experience. Experience in understanding our client’s needs. Experience in helping people. Experience is knowing what to do, and what not to do to best serve our clients. Each agent on our team consistently closes a high number of real estate transactions every year. While the average agent sells around 3-5 homes per year, our agents average about 3-5 homes per month! A high number of closed transactions brings a great amount of experience.

We look forward to working with you toward building lasting success in 2010! Have a happy & healthy New Year!