Real Estate
APRIL 2017
THE COASTAL REAL ESTATE RESOURCE Coastal Association of Realtors/Ocean City Today
Home sales see big rise during March Single-family, condominium activity beats 2016 totals
PHOTO COURTESY OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
CAR President Don Bailey is recognized at the Chefs for Habitat event for raising more money than any other participating Celebrity Builder. He is pictured with Randy Scott from Froggy 99.9. Bailey raised $2,560, and was the only builder to surpass their $2,000 fundraising goal. He was awarded a trophy and gift cards by Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County.
Fair housing month marked with student poster contest Snow Hill Middle student represents lower shore among statewide winners (Lower Eastern Shore, Md.) – The Coastal Association of Realtors (CAR) renewed its commitment to fair housing for all this month. April 2017 marks the 49th anniversary of the 1968 landmark Fair Housing Act. The act prohibits the discrimination in the sale and rental of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. Each year Realtors recognize the significance of this event and reconfirm their commitment to upholding fair housing law, as well as their commitment to offering equal professional service to all in their search for real property. CAR also participates in the annual Maryland Association of Realtors (MAR) Fair Housing Calendar Contest. CAR gathered over 100 poster submissions this year from
students in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties who depicted fair housing. Last month, CAR submitted three finalist posters to MAR for consideration of inclusion in the 2018 statewide Fair Housing Calendar. This year’s statewide winner for the Lower Eastern Shore is Lindsey Birckhead-Morton of Snow Hill Middle School. Birckhead-Morton’s poster will be featured in the calendar, and she has been invited to a special ceremony on April 25, in Annapolis, where she and other winners from across the state will be recognized by Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford. CAR is also sending its members information about fair housing and will continue to share information on its social media platforms throughout the month. “CAR is proud to promote and celebrate this important milestone in our country’s history,” said CAR President Don Bailey. “Ensuring equal housing opportunities for all is one of our top priorities as Realtors.”
(Lower Eastern Shore, Md.) – This year’s spring real estate market is off to a busy start, according to the latest figures from the Coastal Association of Realtors (CAR). March 2017 saw a 29.2 percent overall increase in single-family home and condominium settlements compared to the same time last year in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. Individually, single-family home settlements increased by 32.7 percent in Worcester and by 20.5 percent in Wicomico. They decreased by 35 percent in Somerset. Condominium settlements increased by 53.9 percent in Worcester and by 20 percent in Wicomico. There were no condominium settlements in Somerset County last month, nor were they any in March 2016. Contract starts in all three counties increased overall by 43.2 percent compared to the same time last year. Individually, single-family home Continued on page 21