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September 2, 2009

Most expensive communities in the Baltimore area

Now, I know many of you don't intend to buy an expensive home, but admit it -- you're interested. If only in a "my gosh who can afford such a place" way. So naturally you're curious to know which communities in the Baltimore area are the priciest. 

I have just the Top 10 list for you.

Herewith are those communities, based on average sale price in the first half of the year:

10. Towson in Baltimore County. ZIP code: 21204. Average price: $500,300. (Number of homes sold: 52.)

9. Riva in Anne Arundel County. ZIP code: 21140. Average price: $531,900. (Number of homes sold: 21.)

8. Phoenix in Baltimore County. ZIP code: 21131. Average price: $542,200. (Number of homes sold: 25.)

7. West River in Anne Arundel County. ZIP code: 20778. Average price: $587,100. (Number of homes sold: 8.)

6. Fulton in Howard County. ZIP code: 20759. Average price: $621,800. (Number of homes sold: 19.)

Read on for the top five.

5. Clarksville in Howard County. ZIP code: 21029. Average price: $622,400. (Number of homes sold: 49.)

4. Highland in Howard County. ZIP code: 20777. Average price: $666,900. (Number of homes sold: 8.)

3. Monkton in Baltimore County. ZIP code: 21111. Average price: $668,200. (Number of homes sold: 15.)

2. Davidsonville in Anne Arundel County. ZIP code: 21035. Average price: $707,600. (Number of homes sold: 24.)

1. Glenwood in Howard County. ZIP code: 21738. Average price: $843,700. (Number of homes sold: 8.)

Clarksville was No. 1 last year, but the average home there sold for 20 percent less this year than the average sales price last year. Glenwood, on the other hand, was No. 9 last year but jumped to the top because the average increased.

Whether it's a true increase or a "bigger homes sold this year than last year" skewing, I don't know. Anyone from Glenwood like to weigh in?

To avoid major skewing, the list doesn't include places with fewer than five sales in the first half of the year. Thus a few very expensive neighborhoods don't appear. Gibson Island, for instance.

A recent Forbes "most expensive" list ranks that Anne Arundel County community -- 21056 -- the 12th priciest ZIP code in the country, as measured by asking price. The median asking price there is just over $3 million.

Average time on the market: practically a year. Takes a while to find buyers who can afford that much.

Where would you move if money was no object?

Posted by Jamie Smith Hopkins at 7:12 AM | | Comments (25)
Categories: Housing stats
        

Comments

if money was no object i'd move to the mountains of north carolina.

How much do you think they would want for Barbados?

I mean like, the whole thing.

If I could live anywhere in Baltimore it would be Roland Park, for sure.

I would have to agree, for me it would be Roland Park. 2nd choice Mt Washington

If money was no object, I'd move in with my kids. Let them foot the bill for a change...lol

What about Bethesda and Potomac?

Stephanie, Bethesda and Potomac aren't in the Baltimore metro area -- they're in the Washington region. But for sure, if this were a list of the priciest places in Maryland, they'd be on it.

Penthouse condo overlooking the Central Park.

Whomever wrote this article has no idea what they are talking about. Prices don't follow zip codes in Baltimore, they follow neighborhoods, and Guilford and Homeland and Roland Park trump almost all of these areas in the article. The Sun needs to get some more experienced writers here.

Actually, no -- I've got a separate list of averages by city neighborhoods, and Homeland (which is No. 1 in the city) had an average sales price of about $550,000 in the first half of the year.

I've been here for 10 years, so I'm not ~too~ green. :-)

I'd move to another galaxy

Leslie - you can move to the mountains of North Carolina...we did. Housing prices have dropped here also, and many homes that were not touchable in 2007 are affordable today!

Shouldn't Homeland be in place 7 then if the average is 550k?

Karin, I was afraid I'd confuse matters if I had a list that was partially ZIP codes and partially neighborhoods. I'm planning a separate city-neighborhood post later this week. (Also expecting to post about under-$250 ZIPs and neighborhoods at some point.)

There should be a story tomorrow that has one map for ZIPs and one map for neighborhoods.

i agree that Baltimore sells by neighborhoods- not zip codes. Look at Bolton Hill- 21217, didn't make any list because of the zip code- but look at the Baltimore Sun home tracking/sales data web site.

louis

Oh Marty you tempt me, you do! But I fear the lack of jobs would rule it out. Unless you know of a thriving hi-tech industry nearby? (crosses fingers)

If money was no object then I'd be living oceanfront in North Myrtle Beach.

I would like to see the top 10 communities in Baltimore City.

Don't worry, Robin, that's coming. I'm not withholding it while laughing maniacally, trust me -- I just thought it was worth its own post. I'm tentatively planning one for tomorrow, and there should be a story in the paper tomorrow with some of those stats, too.

Some place in Vegas maybe stay in the penthouse at the palms

It sure wouldn't be MD

Mt. Washington is my 1st choice !

I know it's not the subject, but have you seen the renovations happening near Park Circle on Reisterstown Road, a few blocks from Mondawmin Mall?

Those old row homes are really beautiful inside. These renovations are as nice as any place in Washington or New York.

I would live on St Maarten in the Virgin Islands for the winter. Also on a big cruise ship sailing around world. It is one way to avoid property taxes...but if money doesn't matter, who cares about taxes...

BigDragon--almost all the foreclosures in North Myrtle Beach are oceanfront condo's so one (2-3 bedroom) could be had for 300K or less, way less in many cases

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About Jamie Smith Hopkins
Jamie Smith Hopkins, a Baltimore Sun reporter since 1999, writes about the regional economy. Her reporting on the housing market has won national and local awards. Hopkins is a Columbia native and has lived in Maryland all her life, save for 10 months spent covering schools in Ames, Iowa.
She trained to become a wonk by spending large chunks of time as a geek and an insufferable know-it-all.
Baltimore Sun articles by Jamie
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