I spent 5 hours today being driven all over Baltimore in a bus (the bus part wasn't bad. Except the last one had no a/c and it was nearly 80 and starting to get muggy) I saw 8 houses. ALL OVER BALTIMORE. 4 single detatch, 4 rowhouses. msbelle, ran into that highpower agent from the first place again. He remembered me. He scares me.
And how is it, nearly 8 years here, and I've never been to Druid Hill Reservoir? Which is near work? ? Good god. It's lovely. 55 acre reservoir with fountain/aerator in it, surrounded by turn of the century gazebos/pavilions. You expect to see women in bustles and parasols and men in top & tails strolling about it! So cool.
The whole thing was very informative. I now know more about my city than I used to. If I were to buy a house in the next 90 days on the westside, I'd be eligible for a $3k grant from the city. (Unlikely that I'll move that fast.) There is another for the eastside, in September. Now if only I worked for the city or one of its affiliates (that gets you another $2k.) Also? Baltimore has 4 public golf courses in the city (which is apparently unusual.) It is also supposedly the site of the first mall in the US- a little strip mall on Roland I pass every day. It's something like 6 storefronts, done english tudor style. Funny.
Pigtown is cute. Seton adorable (but pricy.)
I have a HUGE headache.
The demographics of these things are very interesting. This is the second event I've been to done by LiveBaltimore. 3 main groups, in descending order of size: middle+ aged single black women, buying for the first or looking for properties to rent out; young single women ( more often black than not), buying for the first time; youngish couples, many out of DC, looking to buy for the first time. Most of us looking at well under $200K properties. Men are totally outnumbered at these things. It turns out to be a very lively mix of people.
I just dumped my brain, didn't I? Mind the sludge.
I'm pooped. And dehydrated.
And I need to find an agent.