Baltimore City

Baltimore is a vibrant city that attracts the most adventurous spirits.  Located along the Patapsco River and only 40 miles northeast of Washington D.C., Baltimore is known for its historic neighborhoods and exciting nightlife.  Originally known for being a manufacturing town with its largest employer Bethlehem Steel, Baltimore’s economy has now shifted primarily to the service sector with its largest employer Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Baltimore is also home to such companies as Constellation Energy, T. Rowe Price, and Legg Mason.  The tourism industry in Baltimore is also booming with many exciting places to visit including the National Aquarium, The Maryland Science Center, and the famous Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  Whether it’s good food or shopping, Baltimore has much to offer and often turns the local tourist into a long-term resident.
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Baltimore County

Baltimore County, located in Central Maryland and surrounding Baltimore City, offers a unique mix of suburban/rural charm and vibrant city living—while much of the county is home to winding country lanes and horse farms, its business sector and proximity to the city provide it with an appealing urban feel as well.
It is only fitting that Baltimore County, an area diverse geographically, reflects diversity in its business community as well. Industries range from heavy manufacturing to business and financial services to the latest bioscience and wireless technologies. These bustling areas provide job opportunities in a healthy mix of large and small businesses.
In terms of education, Baltimore County is recognized as one of the most educated communities in the country. Its public schools and institutions of higher education consistently receive statewide and national accolades. The quality of education here ensures that our workforce is ready to meet the demands of our booming business community. Higher education institutions include The Community College of Baltimore County (with three campuses), Goucher College, Towson University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, better known as UMBC.
Baltimore County has much to offer to its citizens and business community which is why it has come be known as a great place to live and do business.
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Harford County

Harford County is located 25 miles northeast of Baltimore, bordering Pennsylvania to the North, the Susquehanna River to the East, and the Chesapeake Bay to the South.  Its county seat is in Bel Air and its population is reported to be over 240,000.  The single largest employer in Harford County is Aberdeen Proving Ground, with over 11,000 civilian employees.  Residents of Harford County enjoy its many amenities including fishing, boating, bird watching or strolling along the boardwalk promenade in Havre de Grace.  Shopping and many historic attractions such as the Concord Point Lighthouse draw tourists to Harford County as well as fresh seafood and fine dining.
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Carroll County

Carroll County is located in north-central Maryland.  The county is bounded to the northwest by the Monocacy River and to the north by the state of Pennsylvania.  The county seat is located in Westminster and its population exceeds 150,000.  While the county is predominantly known for its rural setting it has become increasingly suburban in recent years.  Dairy, poultry, and livestock farming are important in this county, as well as agricultural products including corn, wheat, barley and hay.  Carroll County is also well-known for its immensely popular Maryland Wine Festival.  Tourists visiting the area enjoy shopping at local antique shops, hiking on several of the counties nature trails, or visiting the Carroll County Farm Museum.h
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Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel county is located south of Baltimore city and just north of Washington D.C. with the Chesapeake Bay and numerous rivers and tidal creeks lining the eastern side.  Over 500,000 residents of Anne Arundel enjoy what this county has to offer.  With more than 534 miles of coastline, the county is naturally known for boating and watersports, fishing, crabbing, water skiing, sailing and swimming.  For nature lovers, there are 2 state parks, over 70 county parks, and several nature preserves.  Numerous greenways, including the 13 mile Baltimore and Annapolis Trail allow walkers, runners, bicyclists, and equestrians to enjoy summer mournings and afternoons.  Anne Arundels proximity to both Baltimore and Washington makes it an attractive place to live.  Anne Arundel county has one of the strongest economies in the state and is ranked as one of the top counties in Maryland job growth.  In 2002, Anne Arundel County generated nearly 1200 jobs, and its unemployment rate is consistantly below the national average.
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Federal Hill

 
Federal Hill located just to the west of the Inner harbor has a wonderful downtown location.  It is a 10 minute walk to HarborPlace and well within walking distanceof most downtown businesses, as well as Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, the MARC rail line to Washington DC, and a light rail stop.  Federal Hill Park, one of our citys prime landmarks, is on the northern edge of the neighborhood; and it provides the most exceptional view of the citys downtown skyline.  Equally important in the neighborhood is the Cross St. Market and the surrounding business district on Cross and Light Sts.  The city owned market offers a wide variety of foods, produce, seafood, and restaurants at its stalls.
Federal Hill is one of ten featured Baltimore Main Streets, each of which works directly with the city to strenghten and improve its commercial districts.
Almost all of the homes in the Federal Hill area are row homes varying in size from 12-15 ft. wide.  Some homeowners have added rooftop decks to afford a harbor view.  There are several apartment buildings in the neighborhood.  Most of the homes in the neighborhood have been rehabed in the past 15-20 years to a very high standard, and at this time the average home saleprice is in the Mid 300's.  (Some can be bought for less, Many are much more!).  Few homes have garages (except for new construction) and parking on the street is a way of life. (Most parts of Federal Hill require a parking permit for residents and visitors, these can be purchased from the city for $20.00 and $15.00 per year.)
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Fells Point

Fell's Point is an historic waterfront community just to the east of the downtown and Inner Harbor area.  This area is on the National Register of Historic Districts, with homes and businesses that date to the 1700's.  The area primarily centers around the Broadway Market corridor, with popular bars, restaurants and attractions lining both sides of the street.  Homes in this neighborhood are predominantly rowhomes (12-15ft wide) with several condo buildings and new townhome developments also to be found here.  Pricing for homes in this neighborhood can go from the Upper 200's for homes with less proximity to the water and the Broadway corridor, to several million for condos and townhomes on the water.  If you are considering visiting Baltimore, the Fell's Point area is a great stop off for dining and nightlife.  (And a fun place to live too.) 
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Canton

Canton is a neighborhood located in Baltimore,  Maryland. The neighborhood is located along Baltimore's outer harbor in the southeastern section of the city. Canton is traditionally considered centered around O'Donnell Square, a park bordered on the north and south by O'Donnell Street, to the east by South Potomac Street, and to the west by Linwood Avenue. O'Donnell Square is home to several bars and restaurants, an art gallery, a coffee shop and a number of other businesses and residences, as well as a former fire station.    
    In recent years new developments have added other focus areas to the neighborhood, including the Canton Waterfront Park & Maryland Korean War Memorial, the rehabilitated American Can Company, two marinas and a public boat launch, the DuBurns Soccer Arena, and many other bars and restaurants. Canton is adjacent to or near the neighborhoods of Patterson Park (one of the larger city owned parks), Fells Point, Highlandtown, and Greektown. It is roughly two miles east of Baltimore's downtown district.
    The majority of houses in Canton are turn-of-the-century two- and three-story rowhouses on narrow or wide streets. Some of the homes closer to the water date from the Civil War. New townhouses have been built at Canton Square and the Anchorage as well as NorthShore and The Moorings (on the waterfront).  There are also waterfront apartments and condominiums in rehabilitated industrial buildings.
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Otterbein

Otterbein residents can trace their neighborhood's origins to a tract of land that was subdivided around 1840. Small, modest houses were built and occupied by families working in the shipping trade along the bustling piers nestled on Light and Pratt streets. The Inner City was being rebuilt from the Great Fire of 1904, and as Baltimore prospered once again, the nearby South Baltimore communities of Otterbein and Federal Hill prospered in similar fashion..
In 1975 under the direction of local government leaders, an open house was held to determine the public receptiveness to rehabilitate the 110 dwelling units, conveniently located just two blocks from the redevelopment of the Inner Harbor. The response was overwhelmingly positive; several thousand people toured the houses. Against all odds, but with full financial and moral support of the City, winners were randomly selected in a lottery held in August, 1975. Otterbein, America's largest one-dollar homesteading community was reborn.

The Otterbein housing stock consists of many restored townhouses from Baltimore "dollar houses" urban renewal program in the 1970's. Also a few condos and some newer townhouses with garages, such as Harbor Walk's individual brick-front townhouses built in the early 1980's in 2-, 3-, and 4-story designs. *A note of importance for buyers considering the Otterbein neighborhood - Otterbein is designated an historic preservation area.  Any changes in a poperty's design, material, color, or outward appearance therefore must be approved by the City's Historical and Architectural Preservation Commission (CHAP) prior to the beginning of work.  Changes subject to this review include, but are not limited to, additions, changes in existing structure, and outside satellite dishes and television antennas.

Otterbien is within walking distance to virtually all major downtown attractions and centers of interest including Camden Yards Sports Complex, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore Arena, Harborplace, Maryland Science Center, Federal Hill and the area's many hotels, restaurants, shops and services.
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Locust Point

Locust Point is a peninsular neighborhood located in Baltimore, Maryland.  Bounded by Lawrence street to the west and the Patapsco river to the north, south, and east; Locust Point is noted as being the home to Fort McHenry. It has also served as one of the centers of Baltimore's Polish-American, Irish-American and Italian-American communities. (In fact Locust Point was the second larges imigration point to the United States behind Ellis Island NY.)
    Sporting wear firm Under Armour makes its home in Tide Point, a historic waterfront rehab by Struever Brothers Eccles & Rouse located at the end of Hull Street. When it was completed in 2002, this former soap factory turned Class A office space was the first major redevelopment in the neighborhood in decades. Today investors and developers have shown strong interest in the continued revitilization of one of Baltimore's most charming neighborhoods. There are two Maryland Port Authority marine terminals located within the neighborhood, as well as the massive Domino sugar factory, a reminder that the industrial use of the Baltimore Harbor is still a very important component of the local economy.
    Homes in Locust Point are the "garden variety" Baltimore rowhome.  These range in size from 12-15 feet wide, and are of brick and "formstone" construction.  Locust Point has in recent years seen a drastic increase in new home construction.
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Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon is a neighborhood located just to the north of downtown Baltimore, Maryland. Designated a National Landmark Historic District and a city Cultural District, it is one of the city's oldest neighborhoods and originally was home to the city's most wealthy and fashionable families. The name derives from the Mount Vernon home of George Washington; the original Washington Monument, a massive pillar commenced in 1815 to commemorate the first president of the United States, is the defining feature of the neighborhood.The neighborhood is roughly bounded by Centre Street to the south, Howard Street to the west, the Jones Falls Expressway (JFX) to the east, and Mount Royal Avenue to the north. The northern half of this area is often referred to as Midtown-Belvedere after the Belvidere estate of John Howard, the Revolutionary War patriot. The Inner Harbor is about half a mile south of Centre Street.
    Being close to downtown, Mount Vernon is well-served by public transit. Many area major bus routes head through the neighborhood on their way to the financial district. The Light Rail line runs down Howard Street on the west edge of the neighborhood, and the Metro Subway runs beneath Eutaw Street a block west of that; both have stations within easy walking distance of the neighborhood. Penn Station, served by Amtrak and MARC commuter rail, is also a quick one block walk to the north past Mount Royal Avenue and over the JFX.
    Although mainly residential, Mount Vernon-Belvedere is home to a mix of institutions, including the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, Walters Art Museum, University of Baltimore, Maryland Historical Society, Maryland Institute College of Art, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Baltimore School for the Arts, Lyric Opera House, Center Stage, Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch, Contemporary Museum, Spotlighters Theatre, Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute, and Theatre Project.
    In the decades after World War II, the neighborhood has also become home to many professional service providers, including medical and legal offices, publishing firms, architectural firms, insurance and financial institutions, and fund managers. Art galleries, retail stores, hotels, and bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) also populate the neighborhood, and Mount Vernon has a rich nightlife, with many fine restaurants, cafes, and bars located along Charles Street and throughout the neighborhood.

From CNNMoney.com "Best Places to Retire"
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0710/gallery.bpretire.moneymag/26.html

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Inner Harbor

The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, MD. The harbor itself is actually the end of the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco River and includes any water west of a line drawn between the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the Rusty Scupper restaurant. The term "Inner Harbor" is used not just for the water but for the surrounding area of the city, with approximate street boundaries of President Street, Lombard Sreet, Light Sreet, and Key Highway. The harbor is within walking distance of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium and has a water taxi that connects the Inner Harbor to Fells Point, Canton, and Fort McHenry.
The Inner Harbor is bustling with new construction projects of the highest caliber.  From the Ritz Carlton Condominums, The Pier Homes at Harborview, The Pinnacle at Harborview, Harbor Place Condos, Spinnaker Bay Condos, Belts Landing Townhomes, NorthShore, The Moorings, and the upcoming project 10, a proposed 58 story mixed use project that will be the tallest building in the city, Baltimore's Inner Harbor offers exceptional living for those with an exceptional budget.  Homes and Condos on the harbor range in price from $500,000 to $5 million.
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