Best Restaurants in Catonsville

Catonsville Best Resturants

Duesenburg’s Cafe and Grill

An American Cafe and grill serving breakfast and lunch all day long.

Fanco’s is a family operated bistro located in Catonsville, Maryland. We feature a menu consisting of Italian favorites. To see our full menu, check out our Lunch and Dinner Tabs. We also have a full bar with wine and drink specials.

Proudly Matthew’s 1600 has been the neighborhood hot spot since opening day. We strive everyday to make guests happy and in turn continue to make new friends.

Our restaurant hosts a full service bar with an assortment of martinis and assorted beers on tap. We have an outdoor deck for those that want to relax and watch the world pass by.

Thai Heaven

Here at Thai Heaven, we serve cuisine such as L-10 Thai Heaven Pad Thai Shrimp, E-16 Thai Heaven Panang Curry, Softshell Crab with Panang Sauce, E-22 Crispy Kaprow Duck, and E-23 Crispy Tilapia.

Catonsville Tourist Destinations

Buyers

Catonsville

Catonsville is filled with fun things to do for the whole family. The community is home to several parks, including Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, Catonsville Community Park, Oella Neighborhood Park, and Western Hills Park, as well as a number of community centers, all managed by Baltimore County Recreation and Parks.

The historical Trolley Line #9 is a 1.25-mile trail that winds its way from Catonsville, Oella, and Ellicott City. The former Catonsville and Ellicott City Electric Railway Company is what the trail was originally a part of a trolley line from the 1890s through the 1950s.

The community is also in close proximity to Patapsco Valley State Park.

The historic Downtown district is chock full of charming shops and boutiques and a delicious array of dining options to tempt any tastebud.

And, just 15 minutes or 18 minutes from Downtown is Baltimore, so residents have easy access to an array of creature comforts, recreation, entertainment, nightlife, and more.

Catonsville Top Schools

Buyers

Catonsville

Students who attend public schools in Catonsville attend highly acclaimed schools governed by the Baltimore County Public School District. Two noteworthy schools in the area include Woodlawn Senior High, which is a center for science and pre-engineering, and Western School of Technology and Environmental Science.

There are three private, parochial school options in the community, including Mount de Sales Academy all-girls high school, Saint Mark School and Parish, and an Islamic School, Al-Rahmah School.

Students of higher education don’t need to travel far from home to pursue their learning. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, as well as the Community College of Baltimore County, is located in Catonsville.

6 Easy Ways to Save Extra money for a home Purchase

Buyers

6 Easy ways to save extra money for a home Purchase

Having enough money to put as a down payment is one of the biggest roadblocks to purchasing a house, especially to first time buyers. If you’re one of the many people who aspire to turn their homeownership dream into a reality, you probably know that among the many things you need to start doing is to save money for a down payment.

However, it’s easier said than done and may be dependent on many factors, such as your income, current debt, responsibilities, etc. Even your current savings play a huge role in how much you still have to save.

So whether you’re planning to buy a home this year or even in 2022, here are six savvy ideas—you can even think of them as new year’s resolutions—to help you achieve your savings goals to buy your dream home sooner.

If you’re having a hard time sticking to your budget, start by seeing where your money goes to each month. Keep track of your daily purchases and payments through a spreadsheet or an expense tracker app, then review them at the end of each month. You may be surprised how much of your budget goes toward non-essential expenses that are making little dents in your account.

Since the pandemic started, many of us may have already been conscious about our spending habits. This time around, figure out how you can tighten up your spending by limiting or reducing your expenses. By making these small cuts or sacrifices in your daily routine, you’ll be amazed at how much money you can save, which is a huge deal if you really want to make your dream home a reality.

Here are some ideas to reduce spending, depending on what applies to you and your lifestyle:

Minimize eating out and take out, and save them only for special occasions.
Review and limit your monthly subscription services. Is your cable bill costing you hundreds of dollars a month, but you’re more of a Netflix guy? It might be time to totally cut it out.
Cut down on designer coffee and other expensive beverages. Also limit your alcoholic beverages whenever you eat out.
Reduce your clothing budget, especially if you’ve already been working frequently from home.

Speaking of reducing your expenses, there are ways to slash some dollars off your grocery bill and get huge savings. Shop smarter by sticking to your grocery list to avoid any impulse buys. It might also be helpful not to buy on an empty stomach. Choose to shop at grocery stores with cheap prices or at local farmer markets, rather than at an upscale grocer. Lastly, make an effort to switch to cheaper but quality store brand labels.

Any unexpected money that isn’t part of your monthly income are known as “windfalls” in the financial industry. These windfalls could be an annual bonus at work, inheritance, cash gifts, tax refund, a birthday check you received from your parents or grandparents, and any other instances in which you get extra money. Instead of spending them on a new gadget, appliance, or on a shopping splurge, stash them away as part of your down payment savings.

It might not look fun, yes, but remember that you’re working towards a more ambitious goal. That extra money is a surefire way to fast-track that goal. Likewise, it will be crucial just in case you encounter an unexpected expense and you can’t afford to deposit your usual savings. So if you’ve been itching to buy that latest big-screen TV using that holiday bonus, tell yourself that it can wait. Besides, chances are it will suit your new home better.

Challenge yourself to go on a spending freeze or a spending “diet”. Let’s say for two weeks or even a month, you will drastically cut your spending to only your living expenses and necessities—no new clothing, no dining out, no new gadgets, no adding to cart, etc. At the end of the month, review what areas of your budget are you willing to forgo to keep up with your new spending habits that will eventually increase your savings.

Creating a separate account for your down payment savings, with no linking debit card or checks, will help you keep your finances in order and track your progress. It will also discourage you from spending your hard-earned money on other things other than its purpose, which is to achieve your dream of becoming a homeowner.

Bottom Line

Saving for a down payment isn’t something that can be done overnight. It’s a huge, collective effort that can be achieved with enough determination and the right circumstances. To help you set a clear goal and determine how much you really need for a down, it’s better to talk with a local and knowledgeable real estate professional who will help you get started.

Execuhome Realty

443-632-300 (office)

443-929-0703 (mobile)

How to buy a second home for a fraction of the costs!

Baltimore Lifestyle Guide, Buyers, Sellers

Buying a 2nd Home – The smart way!

Have you noticed more of a trend for second home purchases? We are seeing a much higher interest in second homes now. COVID-19 has forced us to live differently. We realized we could work remotely, so why not have multiple options? Second-home sales rose 16% in 2020 and are up 35% through October of this year.

The median price for second homes has increased from $416,100 in 2020 to $467,100. Buying a second homes has become one of the fastest-growing trends in the US. More than 30 million Americans will enter the second home market within the next decade.

I want to share with you a great alternative to bearing the high cost of a second home. Enter Pacaso, and here are 5 benefits that they offer in the 2nd home market space:

1) Each Pacaso is a one-of-a-kind second home.

These are single family homes in the best locations and professionally designed to ensure your home is a place you’ll feel comfortable and relaxed.

2) A small group of co-owners enjoy the home

Because Pacaso limits the number of shares per home to eight, you and just seven other owners, at most, will have access to the home (only one owner will occupy the home at a time, of course). Plus, Pacaso homes do not allow rentals.

3) You own real estate, not time

One of the biggest differences between Pacaso and a timeshare is what you actually own. With Pacaso, you own a true real estate asset. Your share is real property, not simply a block of time. And because it’s a real estate asset, its value will move with the market — which means that any equity realized is yours.

4) You can use your home year-round

Each Pacaso share includes up to 44 stay nights per year — more than six weeks! You aren’t locked into a specific week or weeks each year, and you don’t even have to schedule weeklong stays. You can enjoy a weekend getaway or a mid-week escape, and you have the flexibility to plan stays anywhere from 8 days to 24 months in advance. You book time at your home using the Pacaso app, powered by our SmartStay™ scheduling system.

5) The resale process is streamlined

When it’s time to sell, you set the price you want, and they market and list the home much like a traditional real estate listing.

Experience the joy, not the regrets

Pacaso offers exceptional second homes in top locations. Pricing and costs are transparent and equitable, and you’ll never be surprised by hidden fees or bound to a rigid schedule. Instead, you get to enjoy your own private, luxurious oasis throughout the year, while Pacaso takes care of maintenance and property management.

Are we in a Housing Bubble?

Baltimore Lifestyle Guide, Buyers, Sellers

Are We In A Housing Bubble?

Everyone who knows that that I am a real estate agent has been asking me the same question….Are we in a housing bubble? To answer, I have gathered statistics and information from Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for NAR and Ward Morrison, President of Motto Mortgage Franchising, LLC.

Currently housing is still a hot commodity with low available inventory combined with heavy demand. As a result, prices are rising at an impressive rate. The average increase has been 3-5% per year but 2021 has been a monster year at just about 20%!

Many are wondering when will it stop or is the bubble about to burst or will it level out to become the new normal? There are 3 main factors that we can look at to answer this question, They are appreciation, interest rates and the number of foreclosures pending.

Continue reading or watch my video on the topic here:

1) Appreciation:

As mentioned above, we are at an all time high when it comes to appreciation in home values. Typical annual rates are between 3-5% but we are at 20%. The question is, will this continue or will prices come down. Both Lawrence Yun and Ward Morrison, agree that they expect to see a lesser rise in appreciation in 2022 as opposed to seeing prices decrease. I agree and have been saying the same thing so it is good to hear other experts hold the same opinion.

2) Interest Rates:

For Most of 2021, we have been at an all time low when it came to interest rates and just recently we saw rates rise. Ward Morrison, President of Motto Mortgage, LLC. expects to see rates rise to just over 4% in 2022. It would be a good time lock in rates now if you plan on purchasing in early 2022.

3) Foreclosures:

Many believe that due to the forbearance moratorium ending, there is concern that they may be tons of foreclosures hitting the market. The numbers actually tell a different story. Here are some statistics to note:

35% of all homes in the US have no mortgage on them. 63% have positive equity and only 2% are have negative equity or are “under water”. What does this mean? There would only be a very small amount of homes that would make it to foreclosure and they would get absorbed very quickly since there is so much demand for housing. Also note that the number of homes in forbearance is going down steadily, as there is now a surplus of available jobs. The numbers also show that there were 5 million at the peak of the pandemic however, now we are down to 2 million and a further drop to 1 million is expected.

2022 Prediction:

Based on all of the above data it is likely that we will see some easing of the inflated prices of homes in the marketplace, however a crash is very unlikely. If you are planning to purchase between now and early 2022, I would advise that you get with your lender and lock in your rate now as there is a very good chance that interest rates will go up come 2022. If you are planning on selling it is still a great time to do so.