Posts about Apartments in Downtown Baltimore

Skiing near Maryland

We haven't much of a white winter, but don't let that deter you from making the most of your skiing experience! The resorts listed below have had their mountain tops covered with powder for weeks now, so the snow is good and packed from active users. Plus the mild temperatures and sunshine mean you won't freeze! Not everyone in your family wants to ski? No problem, these places offer other amenities and activities for both kids and adults; like snow tubing, exercise rooms, restaurants and more. Liberty Mountain Resort 78 Country Club Trail, Carroll Valley, PA, 717-642-8282, libertymountainresort.com . Ski area: Elevation is 1,190 feet high with a vertical drop of 600 feet and 100 acres of ski-able terrain. It has 16 trails and three terrain parks, serviced by nine lifts, with complete snow-making coverage. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and non-holidays; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends and holidays. Snow tubing is 4-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. and non-peak times, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri., 8 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends and holidays. Cost: Lift tickets are $55 midweek, $67 weekends and holidays. First-time skiers and snowboarders can get a lift ticket, lesson, and equipment rental for $78 midweek, $92 weekend/holidays. Other amenities: Tubing, lessons, equipment rental, child-care center, and restaurants and bars. An exercise room, wireless Internet, and a hot breakfast buffet are included with hotel rates. Driving distance: One hour, 24 minutes. Roundtop Mountain Resort 925 Roundtop Rd., Lewisberry, PA, 717-432-9631, skiroundtop.com . Ski area: Ten lifts take downhill enthusiasts to 16 trails, plus a terrain park with a super pipe and half pipe. Elevation is 1,400 feet with a vertical drop of 600 feet and about 103 ski-able acres. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays and non-holidays, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends and holidays. Cost: An eight-hour lift ticket is $55 midweek and non-holidays, $64 on weekends and holidays. Other amenities: Fireside Pub and Grill, sports shop, ski and snowboard schools, and tubing. Driving distance: One hour, 30 minutes. Whitetail 13805 Blairs Valley Rd., Mercersburg, PA, 717-328-9400, skiwhitetail.com . Ski area: Elevation is 1,800 feet with a vertical drop of 935 feet. Nine lifts take skiers and boarders to 23 trails and two terrain parks, with 100 percent snow-making coverage. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Cost: Eight-hour lift ticket is $58 midweek, $69 weekends and holidays. Other amenities: Tubing, child care, ski and snowboard lessons, food court, slope-side Windows Restaurant, and adaptive snow-sports program for children and adults with mental and physical challenges. Driving distance: Two hours. 520 Park

Next year, sit less

Many people make resolutions for the New Year that involve making radical changed in order to lead a longer, healthier life. While a complete change of diet or committing to hit the gym everyday would be a major change for most people, some smaller decisions can also help improve health and vitality. Consider committing to simply spending less time each day sitting down, and spending more time up on your feet. In recent years, researchers have been taking longer looks at what effect being seated for extended periods of time has on health. Research has connected extended periods off your feet with higher incidences of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and shorter life spans. If you work a job at a desk, you are already in a chair for almost eight hours a day. When you add in time spent going to and from work and time spent relaxing at home, all the accumulated time spent sitting down could be harmful. Of course regular exercise can help counteract these effects, but getting out of your chair is the best bet. Ulf Ekeland, a professor at the Norwegian School of Sports Science released a study this year where he and his team found that one half hour spent exercising per four hours spent sitting could help reduce some of the associated risks. For most people, this means that 60-75 minutes of exercise a day would be beneficial. All of this activity does not have to be at once, so a 15 minute walk during downtime at work could pay off in a healthier you. Another small change that can be applied is to use a standing or adjustable height desk. These desks allow you to work on your feet, an option that also helps to reduce the risks associated with extended sitting. Standing or adjustable desks are becoming increasingly popular, and are available at many furniture stores, or you can go the DIY option and construct your own with instructions available online.

Can You Rent an Apartment If You Have Bad Credit

Unfortunately, having bad credit can affect many different aspects of your life, from job applications to apartment hunting. If your credit is bad, you can rent an apartment, but the process will probably be more challenging. Here are some tips for getting an apartment lease on bad credit. Check your credit If you think you might have bad credit, the first thing you'll want to do is look at your credit report. You can order a free copy from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion through AnnualCreditReport . You'll want to look at all three, as one or more may have an error. If you do see errors on your credit reports, take steps to fix them immediately and be prepared to explain these to your prospective landlord. Since the formal dispute process for fixing a credit report takes time, you may try and get statements from the bank or credit card company involved explaining the mistake. Think like a landlord If your credit reports accurately reflect your credit situation, your challenge will be to convince your prospective landlord that you will be able to pay rent on time. It may be helpful for you to take a moment and role-play a would-be landlord, and think: what would you need to be willing to rent an apartment to a person with your credit profile? This can help you anticipate landlords' objections and be able to react with less fear. Repairing your credit One strategy is to ask the institutions that reported delinquencies on your credit report to send letters stating that you have met, or in the process of meeting, your obligation. (Remember that a mark on your credit can stay for up to seven years.) You can also include letters of recommendation from previous landlords, especially those who have rented to you most recently. And you can write a letter yourself, explaining how you are meeting the debts and how you will be able to pay rent even though you have debts to pay. The more evidence you can amass that shows that you've thought hard about this problem and are tackling it, the more convincing your case. Get a cosigner Another possible strategy - for renters with very little credit history, as well as those with bad credit, is to find a co-signer on your lease. A parent, relative, or close friend might be willing to do this for you. Keep in mind, though, that if you end up falling behind on this obligation, you'll be in trouble not only with your apartment community but with the person who put their credit at risk to help you. Pay a larger deposit There's a third strategy, especially for an apartment you really love: offer a larger initial deposit. Some apartment communities have set rules as to how deposits are set; others can be more flexible. If your larger deposit is accepted, make sure it's reflected accurately in the lease you sign. If you stay in the apartment for a year, paying rent on time, and choose to renew, you might not need to make as large an upfront payment for the second year's lease. If none of those options work well for you, there are apartment communities which don't conduct credit checks. But even if your credit situation is negative, don't give up hope on finding an apartment until you've used the above strategies!

Will My Rental Rates Go Up Next Year

One of the most common dilemmas renters face is whether or not your rates will go up when your year-long lease is up. Sometimes you might just have to pay $10 more, but some places can charge upwards of $200 or more per month. Rest assured we would never hijack your rent like that, but we understand you might not live at 520 Park forever, and want you to be aware of this at other communities. Here's your guide to this common issue and what you can do to fight it. Why Do Rates Typically Rise Every Year? Aside from the obvious financial motive, raising the rent every year makes sense (even if the amount is trivial) simply to set expectations Property managers want tenants to simply assume that rents will go up every year so that tenants don't balk at rent hikes. Rents are also both a cause of and caused by inflation - they rise together, and while inflation may slow, it almost never reverses, says Brian Davis, director of education for SparkRental a company that educates owners about investment properties and a real estate investor with 15 rental properties. Davis also points out that rates will also rise depending on need. If the property manager has recently rented an apartment in your building for $1,000 and 50 people applied for it, it was priced too low. So the next time the lease is up for renewal, the property manager will hike up the rate. Kass Management Services Principal Mark Durakovic, whose company manages more than 5,000 apartments in Chicago, also points out that maintenance and taxes usually do cost more each year for the property management company - another reason for rising rents. What's a Fair or Average Increase? According to Durakovic, an increase of 2 to 4 percent is fair. If you're paying $700 a month, an increase of $14 to $28 would be common. If rental rates of the buildings around you are rising, you should expect yours to rise too. Negotiation Tips Some property managers will negotiate. Others won't. If yours will, be sure to look up what other apartments in your building are renting for so you can use that for leverage. If the property manager is asking for significantly more than what other apartments are listed for, you might be able to lower your rent. According to Davis, you'll have better luck negotiating with a private property manager as opposed to a larger corporation. Try to think about the situation from your property manager's point of view to win the negotiation. Property managers want more than just money; they're also searching for stability. A long-term tenant who pays on time and will be there for many years. They want minimal damage to the rental unit, and peace and quiet for the neighbors. They want security, the best assurance possible that the tenant won't cost them money, says Davis. He recommends the following to get a lower rate: -Offer to sign a long-term lease -Offer a higher security deposit -If your property manager lives in your building or nearby, consider offering free babysitting, dog walking or cleaning services to him or her. -Davis once offered to pay the rent early every month at his current rate. If he ever defaulted on this deal, the property manager could charge more. Ways to Tell If Your Rates Might Drastically Increase If you're worried about skyrocketing rental rates, compare what you're currently paying to what other similar apartments in the area rent for. If you're paying below market, you should expect an uptick in rent When Is a Rental Hike Justified? If your property manager has recently made upgrades to your apartment or the community, your rent will probably rise. Likewise, if your neighborhood is improving, you might pay more, says Durakovic. Above all, remember that a price increase has to do with demand for the apartment, not with your needs as a renter. Demand can rise based on changes that have nothing to do with the unit itself; maybe the local schools get better, or maybe the neighborhood suddenly becomes attractive to a group of people who have more money. Maybe more businesses are opening nearby and more jobs become available. Rent increases only need to be justified by one thing: other people willing to pay more to live in the unit, says Davis. The good news here is we may not raise your rent at all. We look at each resident on a case-by-case basis and determine your rent for the following year based on certain criteria and negotiation. So, basically, you should just live here forever.

The Perfect Thanksgiving Side Dish

What's Thanksgiving without America's #1 favorite side dish? Next to the turkey, no Thanksgiving is complete without the best stuffing, and you can find the perfect recipe here: INGREDIENTS 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter plus more for baking dish 1 pound good-quality day-old white bread, torn into 1" pieces (about 10 cups) 2 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions 1 1/2 cups 1/4" slices celery 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided 2 large eggs PREPARATION Preheat oven to 250ºF. Butter a 13x9x2" baking dish and set aside. Scatter bread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionally, until dried out, about 1 hour. Let cool; transfer to a very large bowl. Meanwhile, melt 3/4 cup butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onions and celery. Stir often until just beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add to bowl with bread; stir in herbs, salt, and pepper. Drizzle in 1 1/4 cups broth and toss gently. Let cool. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Whisk 1 1/4 cups broth and eggs in a small bowl. Add to bread mixture; fold gently until thoroughly combined. Transfer to prepared dish, cover with foil, and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of dressing registers 160ºF, about 40 minutes. DO AHEAD: Dressing can be made 1 day ahead. Uncover; let cool. Cover; chill. Bake dressing, uncovered, until set and top is browned and crisp, 40-45 minutes longer (if chilled, add 10-15 minutes). YIELD: Makes 8 to 10 servings

7 Tips for Moving on Short Notice

Planning a move in the near future (hopefully here!)? Where do you start? Read our guide below for some tips on ensuring a smart and relatively stress free move when your deadline has come down to the wire. 1. Get Started When planning your move on short notice, you'll want to begin by properly assessing everything that may be required for the weeks (or even months) ahead. Confirm the fundamental info of your move before delving into the more complicated steps that require making paid reservations and the like, knowing an exact move-in date, etc. will help lay a fundamental groundwork that will allow the process to go much smoother overall. 2. Begin Pre-Packing You don't need to wait for every bit of paperwork to be filled out before beginning to pack, in fact, preliminary packing of less commonly-used rooms can prove to be an outright requirement. A good rule of thumb is to start packing at least a few boxes per day once you're sure you'll be moving in the near future. And start getting your place cleaned up if you are able to, this will save you cleaning time later. 3. Make Reservations This one is no joke, moving during the summer means dealing with the busiest and most booked-solid mover schedules of the year. Arguably the most important factor in avoiding major issues will be to contact your movers of choice the moment your move in date is confirmed. Otherwise, there's an unfortunate and potentially disastrous chance that you may find yourself without any movers available in time, definitely the furthest thing from a fun situation to have to deal with. 4. Set Your Own Deadlines Managing an arduous task like moving on short notice means you'll need to pay special consideration to the importance of deadlines, in this case, managing your own self-discipline and ensuring things get done in time will be extremely important. Set your own personal deadlines for when moving milestones should be completed, and before you know it you'll have formed a realistic (and informed) moving timeline that gives you a clearer understanding of what to expect. 5. Recruit Help from Friends As challenging as moving tends to be, you can expect to take those challenges and multiply them tenfold if you're facing them on your own. Recruiting the help of even just one or two friends can go an extremely long way in making the process much faster and much less of an overall burden a committed team of friends can even sometimes knock out an apartment move in as little as one afternoon. Just be sure to reward them with pizza afterwards! 6. Compare Rates A major factor in ensuring a smooth move without much time to spare will be to lock down an affordable overall rate as early as possible, you won't want to scramble for a moving package at the last minute, only to find that the one you had in mind will run you considerably more than you wanted to pay. Price can (and should) serve as a large deciding factor in your choice of movers and services, so there's certainly nothing wrong with shopping around based primarily on price! Knowing how much you'll be able to spend will most likely prove to be one of the earliest things you'll need to get done before you proceed. 7. Label Boxes Smartly One of the simpler ways to keep your moving process running smoothly can be to come up with a simple method for labeling your personal possessions a few rolls of colored painter's tape or something similar will usually be all you need. Before moving in, coordinate the layout of your destination by deciding on a color (or similar labeling distinction) for each room or major area across your new home. Then, label your boxes and containers appropriately so that the contents intended for each room match their corresponding color. This will allow you to quickly unload the contents of each room without having to give it too much thought. If your move is extremely short term and you don't have colored labeling materials on hand, you might consider something as simple as labeling boxes by number or letter.