Associate Broker

The frenzied housing market in the Baltimore metropolitan area hit a two-year milestone yesterday, and with another surge in sales last month, it seems that not even creeping mortgage rates can put a damper on it.Sales of existing homes in the Baltimore area were 12 percent higher in June than in the same month last year, when the market was halfway through churning out one of the best years since the heydays of the mid-1980s.One sign of how robust the market has been is that sales for the month were 51 percent higher than in June 1997 and 38 percent higher than in June 1996.

Buyers looking for expensive homes in the Baltimore metropolitan area need to remember one rule: Bring your checkbook, and if it looks good, buy it.Don't mull it over during dinner. Don't even walk outside to gather your thoughts. Just sign on the dotted line, and for good measure be prepared to offer more than the asking price.As low mortgage rates and a healthy economy keep the housing market hot, the inventory of upper-end homes -- which brokers commonly define as those starting at $300,000 to $400,000 -- in Maryland and the nation is shrinking while prices are increasing.

Cassell accepts state post, resigns chairmanshipReal Estate Brokers of Baltimore Inc. announced that Michael Cassell has resigned as chairman of the organization's board of directors to accept the governor's appointment to the Maryland Real Estate Commission.Cassell, who served as president of the local branch of the minority trade association in 1994 and 1979, was voted "Broker of the Year" by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers Inc. in August. He was also voted Broker of the Year for Maryland by the Real Estate Brokers of Baltimore Inc.Cassell is the broker and owner of Creative Real Estate Services Inc., owner and president of Express Appraisal services and an associate broker of Century 21 Home Specialist.

PeopleJ. P. Hussey has been hired as vice president of organizational planning and development at Columbia-based Amerix Corp. He will focus on fostering a productive and committed work environment. Hussey joined Amerix from T.Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, where he was manager of strategic projects and technology. He lives in Ellicott City with his wife, Karen, who is director of operations for the development office of Catholic Charities. Amerix is a debt management program processor and service provider to the credit counseling industry.

Greenbelt Lake Village is honored by builders groupGreenbelt Lake Village, one of the Maryland's fastest growing condominium communities, has been selected by National Association of Homebuilders as the "Best New Affordable Home Community in the United States."The developer, Greenbelt Properties LLC., of Timonium, was among 700 entrants vying for the honor. It also received a Silver Award for the "Best Interior Merchandising" for Greenbelt Lake Village.The Prince George's County village was recognized for its "designer" community atmosphere, while offering residences with prices beginning in the $90,000 range.

In an article about "super agents," Bob Pollock's area of selling extends to a southern boundary of Ruxton. Pat Hiban is an associate broker for RE/MAX Advantage Realty.The Sun regrets the errors.Pub Date: 2/02/97

Names in the newsSharon Callahan has joined the Hampstead office of O'Conor, Piper & Flynn Realtors as a sales associate. She has been a licensed Realtor since 1985.Carl Starner has been named vice president of Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. He has worked in real estate sales in Carroll County for 21 years, the past 10 as manager of the firm's Westminster office. He is an associate broker and graduate of Realtor Institute.Pub Date: 9/21/97

Home sellers and buyers have been scratching their heads over a new state law designed to clarify types of real estate agency relationships in Maryland.Agents must now explain the ways in which they're legally permitted to represent buyers and sellers, who in turn must officially make their choice in writing. But the new law -- in effect since Jan. 1 -- has initially proven more confusing than helpful, as agents and managers grapple with presenting a new set of disclosure forms to clients and customers.

Realtors' group names A. E. Davis vice presidentArthur E. Davis III, president of Chase, Fitzgerald & Co., a Baltimore real estate firm, has been installed as a 1996 regional vice president of the National Association of Realtors.A Realtor for 24 years, Mr. Davis will serve as the group's liaison for Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington. He is a past president of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors and the Maryland Association of Realtors. Mr. Davis is a member of the NAR's executive committee.

Pediatricians honored for performanceThe pediatric office of Drs. Dannenfelzer, Litwak & Chasnow in Abingdon was presented with the Delivery Site of the Quarter award by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland.The doctors are members of the FreeState Health Plan network, a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland.The award is presented to the site that had top performance and highest customer satisfaction during the past quarter.Centers are evaluated on criteria that includes waiting times for scheduling appointments and seeing physicians, overall member satisfaction and site appearance.

The brick townhouse is a bright eight-year-old end unit with a list of upgrades - $10,000 in plantation shutters alone - and tasteful decor. Outside, it has a deck screened for privacy; inside, it has a big kitchen island. It's also in a convenient location, all likely pluses. However, condos and apartments recently replaced the trees that were behind it and a dozen other townhouses are for sale in this Owings Mills complex, including three end units. All factors likely to limit its appeal.

Real estate panel seeks to clarify law on names in ads The Maryland Real Estate Commission has proposed a regulation to clarify existing law on real estate advertising. The proposal would require the name of a realty brokerage to be the same size as the name of the associate broker or salesperson in an advertisement. It would also set size requirements in the use of team or group names. The current law requires the licensed agent or broker to include the full name of the business they are affiliated with in a meaningful and conspicuous manner.

Harford County opens Village of Lakeview Harford County is opening the Village of Lakeview, a restored affordable-housing development that will provide 223 units of affordable rental housing to low- and moderate-income families and individuals in the county. The $18 million redevelopment project occupies a 12-acre site in Edgewood. The project was led by Silver Street Development Corp. of Maine and financed by a tax-exempt bond investment from Enterprise Mortgage Investments Inc., and by a tax-credit equity from the Enterprise Social Investment Corp.

Builders group to hold seminar on mold problems The Home Builders Association of Maryland will hold an educational seminar for builders May 30 to address the issue of mold in new construction. "Homes are becoming better sealed ... so now mold's becoming a problem," said HBAM spokeswoman Kristin Hogle. Matthew Cooper, president of Patuxent Environment Group Inc. will discuss the causes, effects, remediation and prevention of mold. Legal implications will be discussed as well. The session will start at 9 a.m. at Jillian's at Arundel Mills Mall.

OPF workers honored by Realtors association O'Conor, Piper & Flynn ERA said that two employees, Jean Quattlebaum and Lee Hatfield, were honored with an Omega Tau Rho award by the Maryland Association of Realtors. The award is presented to individuals held in high esteem within the real estate industry. Quattlebaum is director of OPF's career counseling division, and Hatfield is an associate broker at OPF's Annapolis Plaza office. News in brief Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. announced its top selling and top listing associates in Howard County for September.

Cassell accepts state post, resigns chairmanshipReal Estate Brokers of Baltimore Inc. announced that Michael Cassell has resigned as chairman of the organization's board of directors to accept the governor's appointment to the Maryland Real Estate Commission.Cassell, who served as president of the local branch of the minority trade association in 1994 and 1979, was voted "Broker of the Year" by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers Inc. in August. He was also voted Broker of the Year for Maryland by the Real Estate Brokers of Baltimore Inc.Cassell is the broker and owner of Creative Real Estate Services Inc., owner and president of Express Appraisal services and an associate broker of Century 21 Home Specialist.

The frenzied housing market in the Baltimore metropolitan area hit a two-year milestone yesterday, and with another surge in sales last month, it seems that not even creeping mortgage rates can put a damper on it.Sales of existing homes in the Baltimore area were 12 percent higher in June than in the same month last year, when the market was halfway through churning out one of the best years since the heydays of the mid-1980s.One sign of how robust the market has been is that sales for the month were 51 percent higher than in June 1997 and 38 percent higher than in June 1996.

Buyers looking for expensive homes in the Baltimore metropolitan area need to remember one rule: Bring your checkbook, and if it looks good, buy it.Don't mull it over during dinner. Don't even walk outside to gather your thoughts. Just sign on the dotted line, and for good measure be prepared to offer more than the asking price.As low mortgage rates and a healthy economy keep the housing market hot, the inventory of upper-end homes -- which brokers commonly define as those starting at $300,000 to $400,000 -- in Maryland and the nation is shrinking while prices are increasing.

PeopleJ. P. Hussey has been hired as vice president of organizational planning and development at Columbia-based Amerix Corp. He will focus on fostering a productive and committed work environment. Hussey joined Amerix from T.Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, where he was manager of strategic projects and technology. He lives in Ellicott City with his wife, Karen, who is director of operations for the development office of Catholic Charities. Amerix is a debt management program processor and service provider to the credit counseling industry.

Greenbelt Lake Village is honored by builders groupGreenbelt Lake Village, one of the Maryland's fastest growing condominium communities, has been selected by National Association of Homebuilders as the "Best New Affordable Home Community in the United States."The developer, Greenbelt Properties LLC., of Timonium, was among 700 entrants vying for the honor. It also received a Silver Award for the "Best Interior Merchandising" for Greenbelt Lake Village.The Prince George's County village was recognized for its "designer" community atmosphere, while offering residences with prices beginning in the $90,000 range.