Sean D Cohen Realtor

08/12/2023

When most people first hear the term " planned community ," they might think of a retirement village in Florida, or a neighborhood epicenter...

08/12/2023

https://marylandrealtorblog.blogspot.com/2023/08/home-pricing-market-trends-howard.html

Dial it back to 1997, when Howard County 's housing prices began their upward value trend, starting at an average of $190,000, add nearly ...

08/12/2023

https://marylandrealtorblog.blogspot.com/2023/08/top-5-reasons-to-list-your-home-with.html

Have you thought about selling your home in this market and making a home change that's ideal for you and your family? There are very imp...

07/26/2023

Choose to work with a seasoned realtor, for these key reasons…

There are hundreds of choices you make every day, including what you eat, how you exercise, and skills that get the “job” done well in many arenas. If you are sick, hurt, or need surgery, you find the right doctor or surgeon that is experienced in that area of need.

If you want help with sports or exercise to get the most out of it, you seek the ideal coach or trainer for that too. When you don’t feel healthy and energetic, you might seek out a nutritionist who can help you get the most nutrients, vitamins and minerals from what you consume regularly. That brings us to buying and selling homes, the biggest financial and investment "moves" of your life.

The buying and selling of homes includes many expensive “moving variables” that can work in your favor, or not so much (meaning against you), depending on who helps you understand them, and the major choices that you end up making for yourself.

You are your own “boss” when it comes to these buying and selling transactions, but having good research and resources for real estate insights is key to making the most of this current market. You will want a seasoned real estate agent who helps you get that inside track.

I have over 25 years of experience in many facets of real estate, including being a realtor at the wonderful company Keller Williams, a mortgage consultant (10 years in Virginia), a homeowner, a real estate investor, an entrepreneur (business owner), and I have a Master’s degree in Education. All of this experience and research helps me help YOU make the best choices in this fast-moving market. I look forward to working with you. It’s my passion.

07/22/2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNhNbeFi5aQ

Home Pricing Trends in Howard County, Maryland from 1997 - PresentSean D. Cohen is a licensed Realtor in Maryland who specializes in quality research so home...

07/19/2023

TOP 5 REASONS to LIST your HOME with a REALTOR
(Rather than FSBO)

Have you thought about selling your home in this market and making a home change that's ideal for you and your family? There are very important decisions to be made about budget, equity, and the ideal home that suits your needs and your lifestyle.

Fun Fact: Most homes listed in Howard County are selling in less than one week from when they are listed with Keller Williams Realty Centre, and many are getting offers well above the list price. This could work as a HUGE advantage for you.

I take pride in doing mountains of research to help you make informed decisions for selling and buying.

With over 25 years experience in the real estate business, including as a realtor, mortgage consultant, and property investor myself, I would like to be your greatest resource when you are considering your options.

Top 5 Reasons to List Your Home with a Realtor who does Quality Research:

#1. On average, net more money for yourself, according to N.A.R. statistics on FSBO. In fact, most sellers who list with a realtor* net 12% more money than those who sell the home themselves (for sale by owner), so even after paying realtor fees, you're ahead.

#2. You are much more likely to secure a buyer with a solid offer and good credentials for a smooth closing, and sooner rather than later (ex: expired listings).

#3. Much better exposure for potential buyers and seasoned realtors to bring you those buyers.

#4. Eliminate legal ramifications with proper paperwork, protocol, and confidentiality.

#5. Lower stress levels for selling your home efficiently and getting to your next destination.

07/18/2023

Top 6 Reasons to Move to Columbia, Maryland

When most people first hear the term "planned community," they might think of a retirement village in Florida, or a neighborhood epicenter where people come together to clean up the town, or even just a gathering to donate and distribute necessities to the less fortunate.

Columbia, Maryland, a sub-section of Howard County, is a product of a master plan that features a flourishing hub of arts and culture, top-ranked schools, lots of sustainable green space and recreational activities, and functions like one huge welcoming center to people of all backgrounds and diverse heritage.

Columbia is one of the country's oldest planned communities that was created, developed, and "opened" in the 1960s. Oprah Winfrey lived in the "new model city" Columbia for a period, on the third floor at 10108 Windstream Drive.

This thriving model city provides residents with easy access to shops, schools, restaurants, entertainment, recreation, parks, lakes, open spaces, and much more. There are sidewalks and bike paths throughout the city that make it easy to walk or bike to work, school, or parks, and back home.

According to Money magazine, Columbia ranks as the "best place to live in Maryland" and is recognized as the 6th most desirable community in the NATION, as ranked by Best Places to Live magazine for 2022.

The top 6 reasons to make Columbia your home town (if it's not already yours to enjoy!)

1. Consistently ranks in the top 10 places to live in the country, including a great place to raise kids, top-ranking school systems, rising home values, overall safety, good-paying jobs, diversity, culture, restaurants, music (outdoor amphitheatre), lots of parks

2. Focus on sustainability (10 self-contained villages) in Howard Country, family-friendly living, and nightlife

3. Less than 3 hours from East coast beaches, ski resorts, mountain retreats, white water rapids, and several national parks

4. Easy access to Washington DC and Baltimore, without being in the Metro "thickness" of it all

5. Convenient living: Easy, nearby access to popular retail, chain stores and restaurants, fitness centers, and health-based grocery stores (Wegman's, Trader Joes, Whole Foods)

6. You get all four seasons in full – nicknamed "Nature's playground")

Research compiled by:

Sean D. Cohen - Realtor®

*Helping Home Buyers and Sellers Make Informed Decisions

Mobile: 757-404-3387

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://seandcohen.kw.com/

Office: 410-312-0000

Keller Williams Realty Centre, 8825 Stanford Blvd, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21045

07/18/2023

Home Pricing Market Trends - Howard County, MD
1997 - 2023

Dial it back to 1997, when Howard County's housing prices began their upward value trend, starting at an average of $190,000, add nearly $25,000 value per year for ten years, skyrocketing to a whopping average sales price of $470,000 by the end of 2007.

Then the housing "bubble" burst, and values decreased, by about $40,000 per year, for two solid years, bringing the average price back down around $390,000, yet still more than double what they were worth in the late 1990s. Then, the value wave revved up again. Home values in Howard County rose an average of $10,000 per year for the next ten years, approaching an average sales price of $500,000 by 2020.

As of now, the current average sales price of a home in Howard County is $560,000. Though values fluctuate, that means many homes are still appreciating in value by an average of $20,000 per year.

Plus, most homes are selling in less than one week, according to recently published market trends, with many sellers receiving multiple offers tens of thousands of dollars above asking/listing price.

Of course, this is just a snapshot of one Maryland county's home pricing trends. All areas are different, but this helps gauge the market in general, adding to research for making informed decisions when you decide to buy and/or sell homes.

Sources:

https://www.redfin.com/county/1322/MD/Howard-County/housing-market

https://cc.howardcountymd.gov/sites/default/files/migrate/files/02092021%2520HCAR%2520Market%2520Presentation%2520-%2520Racial%2520Equity%2520Task%2520Force.pdf

Research compiled by:

Sean David Cohen
Realtor®*

Keller Williams Realty Centre
8825 Stanford Blvd, Suite 100
Columbia, MD 21045

Mobile: 757-404-3387
Email: [email protected]

Office: 410-312-0000
Website: https://seandcohen.kw.com/

*Helping Home Buyers and Sellers Make Informed Decisions

07/18/2023

Top 5 REASONS to LEVEL UP from renter to HOMEOWNER!

Sure, renting an apartment, condo, or home has its own set of pros, like not having to pay to fix what breaks, but the few advantages are usually outweighed by several major "disadvantageous features," as we will call them. That's why so many renters dream of home ownership, talk about it frequently, while others remember those benefits well from when they owned a home some time in their past.

Let's take a look at what's happening around us now. The average rent in Howard County is currently more than $1,800 per month, up from $1,640 just 4 years ago, with upper tier communities averaging rent close to $2,300, according to recent census surveys. Renter occupied homes, town homes, condos, and apartments account for over ONE FOURTH of all Howard County households. Think about that for a minute.

That's over 25,000 rental units professionally managed, where folks are giving away their hard earned money to investors at an average of over $21,000 per year. That's $100,000 in just 5 years, and a whopping quarter of a million dollars in 12 years.

Top 5 Reasons to "Make that Move" from Renter to Homeowner:

#1. You could actually keep your outgoing payment the same, while building equity, instead of giving all of that money away to someone else. For example, $1400 per month rent is the average payment on a $200,000 home, and $1800 per month rent could pay the mortgage on a $250,000 house at current rates. This deserves careful consideration.

#2. Nobody will ever be able to "raise your rent" or tell you that you have to move when your "lease" is up.

#3. You can make improvements that you desire for your home, rooms, porches, garden, and yard aesthetics. You can paint, put in a pool, or a nice deck for BBQs and parties.

#4. It's the strongest form of credit you can build, enabling many other forms of credit to be extended to you, like a home equity line, and at favorable rates of interest.

#5. Home ownership often affords you tax breaks that you can turn around and use to invest, make improvements, or pay down the loan quicker, thus building MORE equity!

Research compiled by:

Sean D. Cohen - Realtor®

*Helping Home Buyers and Sellers Make Informed Decisions

Mobile: 757-404-3387

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://seandcohen.kw.com/

Office: 410-312-0000

Keller Williams Realty Centre, 8825 Stanford Blvd, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21045