If you love music, are an avid traveler
or an uncontrollable shopaholic (www.shopaholicsanonymous.org/) you'll appreciate these three useful websites:

For the Audiophile: www.spotify.com
You can supposedly download any song in the world to any device at your whim. One version is free and two others that charge a small fee. Holy cow, that's cool!

For the Jetsetter: www.airbnb.com
Remember the movie "The Holiday" with Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz? Well, you get the picture. Rather than renting a hotel room, you stay in a "hosts" home or boat, treehouse, etc. You can also become a host and let others rent your home while you are away (if you dare). "...Guests can build real connections with their hosts, gain access to distinctive spaces, and immerse themselves in the culture of their destinations. Whether it's an urban apartment or countryside castle, Airbnb makes it effortless to showcase your space to an audience of millions, and to find the right space at any price point, anywhere." This site is really fun and this is actually something we were thinking about doing anyway!

For the Shopaholic: www.fiverr.com
On this website, $5 can get you some pretty strange things. How about advertising your business on the forehead of a nerdy teenage girl, or getting a custom java script written for you. You could get a cartoon portrait drawn of you or have a custom beat box Youtube video made just for you. So silly, but I suppose some things might be useful. There are also people looking for things they need, so if you have a talent, perhaps you could make a few bucks!

Let me know about some cool website you like!

For some, renting is a great idea. Think about it, there's no big financial investment and demands only a short term commitment. It's perfect for those who have just moved to Baltimore or are attending college. Renting does not require putting down a large down payment or coming up with closing costs. Any depreciation in value is not the renter's worry.

On the other hand, believe it or not, buying a larger home in a better location can actually cost less per month than renting! Here's a great example of what I mean. I just got a call from a young woman named Sarah* who is looking for a "great rental" on Canton Square for $2,000 per month. Ummmmm....not possible I'm afraid. A rental at this price would be 7 blocks further away from the square and a miniscule 1,200 sq'. However, there's a terrific 3 Bedroom house for sale 1 block from the square for only $1,500 month after deductions! It's twice as big, has garage parking, four stories tall and has a great rooftop deck with water views. It's priced $40K under market and requires only $9K in closing costs. If you rented a place like this, it would cost at least $2,500 per month. Sound interesting?

But let's forget the finances for a minute. Why did you even begin to consider purchasing a home? The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey shows that four of the biggest reasons people buy a home have nothing at all to do with money. They want a place to raise and educate their children, a place where their family will feel safe, to have plenty of living space, and to have control over the space. What nonfinancial benefits will your family gain from owning a home? Your answers to that question should be the reason you decide to purchase or not. The bottom line is that the cost of a home will probably remain relatively unchanged even if prices continue to depreciate. Don't allow money to be the only factor in making the decision that's right for you. Give me a call. I'll help you figure it all out. 410.529.2900.