2 companies to auction homes next month
Two real estate companies have scheduled auctions next month to sell single-family homes.
Accelerated Marketing Services, based in Columbia, is planning an auction in March -- the date has not been set -- at the Pikesville Hilton. Between 25 and 50 properties are expected to be offered for sale.
All bidders must be prequalified. Sellers will be charged a $500 promotion fee before the sale. Buyers will be charged 10 percent of the purchase price.
For more information, call Sandra Blaker at 730-4495.
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. will hold its second auction March 25-26, with the bidding to be done at the site of each property.
All properties are expected to be sold "as is" and without contingencies, and with closings within 30 days.
The seller pays Long & Foster $750 to promote the property and a 6 percent commission. The buyer pays a 3 percent premium.
Long & Foster held its first auction in November. For more information, call Todd Ottenstein at (703) 658-1300.
MCI offers services, discounts to Realtors
MCI Communications Inc. announced last week that it is offering new services for members of the Maryland Association of Realtors.
Among the services are:
* Calling cards for all agents in a single office billed to that office.
* The ability to call from home but have the call billed to the office.
* An 800 number for clients to call a Realtor.
MCI says that Realtors will also be able to save between 5 percent and 20 percent compared with MCI's standard rates.
For more information, call (410) 841-6080.
Design for Living Show to open in Washington
The 28th Design for Living Show, billed as the oldest and largest home show in the mid-Atlantic region, runs Feb. 17 through Feb. 20 at the D.C. Convention Center.
More than 200 exhibitors will present ideas, products and XTC services for those interested in remodeling or adding on to a home. Information on designing and building a new home will also be available.
The show is loosely grouped into product categories that include "Real Estate and Finance," "Building and Remodeling," "Kitchen and Bathroom Design," "Outdoor Living Products," "Furnishing, Interior Design and Custom Craftmen," and "Speciality Products."
The Design for Living Show will also have a "Wine & Beverage Tasting" featuring a continuous sampling of international and regional wines.
The show will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday Feb. 17 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, Sunday, Feb. 19 and Monday Feb. 20. Admission is $7 for adults and $3.50 for senior citizens and children 10 to 16. Children under 10 are admitted free. Information: (410) 268-8890 or (301) 261-2180.
NEWS IN BRIEF
* Coldwell Banker Residential Affiliates Inc. has been named one of the top 10 franchisers in North America by Success magazine for the second consecutive year. Coldwell Banker ranked seventh among all franchisers and first among real estate franchises.
* RE/MAX International Inc. announced it contributed $2.1 million in 1994 to the Children's Miracle Network, which was founded in 1983 to raise funds and awareness for hospitalized children. The MAX Central Atlantic Region, with 102 offices in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, raised $51,988 for charity.
* The Simmons Management Group Inc. of Calverton was named an Accredited Association Management Company by the Community Associations Institute, a nonprofit group that represents condominium and homeowner associations. Simmons is one of only 56 AAMC-designated companies in the United States.
* Stouffer Harborplace Hotel received a 1994 Award of Excellence from Corporate Incentive Traveler. Subscribers to the magazine "vote for the hotel that best serviced their corporate meetings and incentive program during the past year."
* Washington Homes Inc. of Landover completed its acquisition of the principal assets of the Homebuilding Division of Westminster Homes Inc., which includes 1,300 building lots and contracts to build 79 homes in Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C.
* Yorkshire Realty recently purchased Village East Apartments, Yorkshire Apartments and Lafayette Plaza in York, Pa., and hired Berman Real Estate Management Corp. of Valley Forge, Pa., to oversee the communities. Yorkshire is the original developer and owner of Village East.
ON THE MOVE
* Harkin Builders Inc. of Silver Spring named two new project managers. Bradley S. Cook will oversee the renovation of four dormitories at the Federal Emergency Management Agency training center in Emmitsburg, while Thomas Capps will manage the construction of Weinberg Gardens at Bedford in Pikesville.
* Help-U-Sell of Howard County named Robert K. "Buddy" Freund a counselor.
* Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. named Georgia Resch, an 18-year veteran of the real estate industry, manager of the company's Ellicott City office. Ms. Resch holds an associate broker's license. She lives in Ellicott City.
DROP US A LINE
Please send notices about events, promotions or other news about your real estate company or group or community to Industry Watch, Real Estate Section, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21278, or fax the information to 783-2517. Photographs of new or award-winning employees are welcome, but cannot be returned.