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7241 Brookfalls Terrace Baltimore, Maryland 21209
4 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 28 2007 10:16AMAre You SURE That Title is Clear?
Everyone who has ever bought a house will enjoy this that came to me in an email recently. Whether it's absolutely true or not, we can all relate to the unique challenges that bureaucracies present us with.
A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client who lost his house in Hurricane Katrina and wanted to rebuild. He was told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to the parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the Lawyer three months to track down. After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply:
"Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin."
Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows:
"Your letter regarding title in Case No. 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 194 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased, by the U.S., from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application.
For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. 
The land came into the possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the Spanish monarch, Isabella.
The good queen Isabella, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus' expedition. Now the Pope, as I'm sure you may know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that God also made that part of the world called Louisiana. God, therefore, would be the owner of origin and His origins date back to before the beginning of time, the world as we know it AND the FHA.
I hope you find God's original claim to be satisfactory. Now, may we have our damn loan?"
He got the loan.
Baltimore,Md.
9 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 27 2007 06:51PM3951 McDonogh Rd. Randallstown, Md. 21133
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10 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 17 2007 10:16PM2830 Christopher Ave. Baltimore, Maryland 21214
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6 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 17 2007 07:36PM1208 Washington Blvd. Baltimore, Maryland 21230
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3 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 17 2007 07:27PMI've Been Workin' On the Railroad...
By eight yesterday morning I was on a train for a quick day trip to New York. By evening I was back...and though I talked to several people, made appointments, did some negotiating, and read and sent emails, most people never knew I'd left.
Dawn was just breaking when we got to Penn Station in Baltimore, and I couldn't resist snapping some photos of the classic façade. Later I did some research and learned the building is Beaux Arts style and dates from 1911. Though almost a century old, it had a face-lift in the 1990's when the interior was brightened considerably. Isn't that skylight magnificent? It reminds me of a grand hotel from the turn of the 20th century.
Out front of the station is a massive sculpture that has caused loads of controversy. People seem to love it or hate it, and every so often there's a letter to the editor calling for it to be removed as an eyesore. Called Male/Female, it was created in 2004 by artist Jonathan Borofsky. His website describes it as a "...somewhat Jungian archetype of a male/female figure commissioned by th
e Municipal Art Society and placed in front of Pennsylvania Station. The brushed aluminum sculpture stands 51 feet tall. A pulsating LED sits where the two figures intersect; the light emitted over a 60-second cycle ranges from cobalt blue to fuchsia, denoting spiritual energy.(note:I captured both color
s) 'The whole idea of this piece is two energies becoming one,' Borofsky says, 'two energies coming together to create a greater force.' "Whatever else it is, the sculpture makes for interesting photos!
With camera stowed we boarded the train and I settled in. My tablet PC plugged into the seat outlet, and with my cell phone handy, I made all my appointments and then scheduled one settlement for Thursday and another one for Friday afternoon. After that, it was negotiation for a home inspection, and then I downloaded the photos I took of the station and sculpture.
When we rolled into New York's Penn Station we found a charming porter to help us. This helpful man is named Saint, and he absolutely lived up to his name. They really do make it easy to get to and from the Big Apple by train. 
Our day's errands done, we came back home with the same ease. All the way I was keeping up with phone calls and emails. With the right technology it didn't matter where I was - it was business as usual.
Sing it with me...I've been workin' on the railroad!
Baltimore,Md
36 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 15 2007 01:51AMInternet Advertising Only? ..... I Think Not !
Do Not Forget Print Advertising!
A recent post seemed to take the position that anyone who spends money on print advertising is wasting money, and that those old-fashioned ads that stain your fingers may make the sellers feel good but they don't sell houses.
Call me old-fashioned then, but I do both print and Internet advertising. I know that not everyone who buys a house - or who is helping someone look for a house - is in their 30's. There is another generation and they do read newspapers, and they do need print ads. This generation includes people with lots of dis
posable in
come who are looking for nice homes. It also includes people with children and grandchildren who may need a new home, and these parents have time to help their kids with the search.
Why would you ignore an entire group of potential clients by refusing to talk to them in the way that will reach them? Sure, many of them are tech savvy, but they often find us on the web after seeing our names and faces in newspapers, in glossy magazines, or hearing us on the radio.
It's true that many potential buyers start a home search on the internet before they ever contact a Realtor®. But that doesn't mean that just having a Web presence is enough, any more than doing the Three P's is enough. Placing the listing in the MLS (which is NOT the same as advertising on the Web, though some agents think so), Placing a sign in the ground, and Praying - these 3 things are not enough to sell houses...
not 
in thi
s market!
Knowing the market, taking the time to listen and learn about the client's needs, working my wide network of connections and resources, investing my time and talent in each transaction, and yes, placing ads in all appropriate media, that sells houses. Sure, you can Google me and my properties anytime. I'm there.
But I'm also in the Merchandiser, Baltimore Jewish Times, the Baltimore Style Magazine, and the New York Times when the property needs that.
Some sellers like to see their home in the paper, others love to see it on their computer. Sometimes the parents see it in the newspapers and the kids see it in another city on the website.
Whether it's a big ad on your web site or a print ad in the local paper, how can it be wrong to do whatever it takes to reassure your seller while you market their home?
The full-service commission that I receive does pay for the print ads for the Internet ads and for the many hours of my time. It is recognition that I apply all my knowledge, skill and experience to getting the best price for the home and making sure the seller is happy. This advertising also keeps my name and face in front of the public and keeps a future waiting list of sellers.
So forget print advertising ?.... NOT at this time.
Baltimore,Md.
84 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 08 2007 08:32PM3313 Devonshire Dr. Baltimore, Md. 21215
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3 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 07 2007 12:32PM7121 Park Heights Ave. Baltimore, Md. 21215
SELL YOUR HOME WITH MARGARET ROME | ||||
Park Towers West Baltimore City 21215
Would you like to call this home? Here is a wonderfully large and spacious two bedroom luxury fifth floor condo in full service building. Sabbath elevator available. Enjoy your morning coffee in this generous sized completely remodeled bright eat-in kitchen! Two full ceramic baths -one with separate shower the other has a shower and tub combination. Closets galore! Room for all your clothes! The master bedroom (22' x 18') has a walk-in dressing room with closets plus two more closets in the bedroom. And there is still plenty of room for a sofa, chair and TV. The second bedroom is set up as a den with a wall of built ins and room for all your hobbies and for your guests to enjoy. The separate utility/storage room has space for a full sized washer and dryer and even enough room for a freezer. Enjoy the fresh air and magnificent sunset views from the sliding glass doors on your covered balcony. Security, a receptionist desk to take your packages, valet parking, cable TV, Doorman, inside mail/ paper delivery and a party room are some of the features of this full service high rise luxury condominium. This is a bright unit with carpet and parquet hardwood floors. Make this your 'Move in Now' condo. The fee of $670 a month includes all your utilities. Sorry no Pets. Convenient location close to shopping, houses of worship and public transportation This is such a pretty place to call home!
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2 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 07 2007 11:47AM23 Alderman Ct. Timonium, Md. 21093
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2 comments • Margaret Rome-- HomeRome Realty • March 07 2007 08:42AMContent © 2009 'Frequent Contributors'. Design © 2009 ActiveRain Corp.
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