baltimoresun.com - Real Estate

Area home sales rise, prices still slipping

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

June's 2% increase is first in more than two years

Sellers handed buyers the keys to more homes last month than they did a year ago, the first sales increase in the Baltimore metro area in 2 1/2 years and a hopeful sign for a housing market caught in the worst downturn since the Depression.

Auction fails to hit Ambassador owner's price

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Howard Park theater, akin to the Senator, remains for sale

Baltimore's historic Ambassador Theater in West Baltimore, a "sister theater" to the Senator Theatre, failed to draw a buyer after owner Larry Gaston Enterprises put it up for auction Thursday. The brokers said they would continue to entertain offers from prospective buyers on behalf of the owner.

Area home sales rise for first time since January '07

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:50:00 -0400

Average prices continue to decline across Baltimore metro area

Home sales in the Baltimore metro area rose last month for the first time since January 2007, numbers released Friday morning show.

Crews begin preparing future Wegmans site for construction

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:32:00 -0400

Crews began erecting fencing Friday around a large warehouse in east Columbia where a giant 160,000-square-foot Wegmans supermarket and parking garage are to be built.

Developer buys vacant Circuit City for new retail

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Baltimore developer Vanguard Equities Inc. is planning to redevelop a vacant Circuit City store in the Golden Ring area of Baltimore County and bring in a new retailer, a leasing agent for the developer said Thursday. Vanguard, which develops and owns retail centers throughout Maryland and two other states, finalized a purchase this week of the former Circuit City and the two additional stores in a shopping center at the corner of Pulaski Highway and Rossville Boulevard, known as Golden Ring Center, said Andy Segall, a principal with Segall Group Commercial Real Estate, the leasing agent. The seven-acre center, which includes an NTB tire store and a West Marine boating store, also includes land for additional retail development. Segall said his firm is marketing the center to retailers and hopes to have a redevelopment plan in place by the end of the year.

Maryland gets $44M for affordable housing projects

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Federal money for development statewide will fund projects starting this summer or fall

Maryland will get more than $44 million in federal funds to spur development of affordable housing projects throughout the state that have been stalled because of the economic downtown, the U. S. Treasury Department announced Friday.

Light Street tower tenant renews 10-year lease

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

As money manager Legg Mason Inc. continues its move from its headquarters at 100 Light Street in downtown Baltimore to Harbor East, leasing agents for the Light Street tower announced Thursday a 10-year lease renewal by tenant Thomas & Libowitz, which occupies one floor of the city's tallest office building. The law firm will continue to lease nearly 15,000 square feet, while the other four remaining tenants already have committed to their current space on a total of seven floors, said David J. Downey Jr., a senior vice president and principal at commercial real estate firm Colliers Pinkard.

Ocwen Loan Servicing gives penalty fee refunds

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ocwen Loan Servicing has refunded nearly $675,000 to borrowers in Maryland after charging them prepayment penalties that violated state law, Maryland's Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation said Wednesday. After the financial regulation office found some violations, Ocwen checked all its Maryland mortgages and sent refund checks to more than 180 borrowers at the end of last month, the state said.

Senior housing complex in Middle River almost done

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The first phase of the 196-home, $43 million Renaissance Square development in Middle River is nearing completion, with a senior housing apartment building expected to open to residents in December, developer Enterprise Homes said Wednesday. A "topping out" of the 81-unit Evergreen apartment building, being built by Bozzuto Construction Corp., is planned for Friday, said Enterprise. The 17-acre site is near Old Eastern Avenue and Back River Neck Road.

Choice of developer for new city arena delayed

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Project unlikely to go ahead until economy improves, financing becomes more available

Baltimore officials have put off selecting a developer for a downtown sports and entertainment venue but say they remain committed to the project, a replacement for the aging 1st Mariner Arena that could cost at least $300 million.