Why Make the move to Baltimore?

By: Raevyn Jones, Marketing Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

As children get out of school and many families begin to plan their summer vacations, many other families prepare for an even bigger adventure- moving to a new home. Summer is the most popular time for Americans to move. When the new summer season starts, many parents take advantage of their children’s summer break and use this as a time to relocate.

For families who are looking to move to a new area, Baltimore should be at the top of their lists. Baltimore offers a unique blend of historic charm, and its diverse communities are welcoming to people of all backgrounds and interests. In addition to being known for its ethnic neighborhoods, Baltimore has recently become known for its innovations in the preservation and restoration of urban homes.

Unlike many other coastal cities, the cost of housing in Baltimore has only risen modestly over the years. Other than saving money, Baltimore has a vast amount of recreational attractions that should make people want to move to this city. In addition to the Baltimore Zoo and being a devoted sports town, Baltimore is close to many other recreation outlets such as Six Flags America and Ocean City. Just a thirty-minute drive form Washington D.C, Baltimore residents have access to a multitude of free museums and the National Zoo.

Before making the decision to relocate to Baltimore, families should look into the many resources that Baltimore has available. To assist you in your research on the city of Baltimore, the Live Baltimore website offers a large amount of information with profiles of different Baltimore neighborhoods so that you can get an idea of which one is best for you.

Another important factor before relocation is the cost of living in the area and the job salary. Movers should compare the new cost and salary of living in a new city and make sure it coincides with their budgets. With free financial literacy courses at Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore, movers are sure to get a proper understanding of Baltimore living and how it relates to their budgets.

Maintain Financial Fitness When Vacationing

By: Raevyn Jones, Marketing Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore

As we move closer to the summer season, many Americans are considering family vacations. One of the main issues that arise when going on vacations is that we enjoy ourselves so much they we may become a little out of touch reality and overspend within our budget.

Another mistake people make is going on vacations that they cannot afford. Although it is a dream of many of us to go to extravagant places like Paris, London, or Milan; in order to stay within our budget it is important to find cost effective vacations. The first thing families should do is take a look at the household budget and then decide how much can be budgeted for a vacation.

While saving up funds for vacation, think about a destination. Ask yourself with this vacation be done by plane or by driving? When deciding on a vacation destination it is resourceful to look into information on off-season travel, promotions, and advanced ticket purchases. Other options like traveling mid-week as opposed to the weekend can save money and traveling with more people in order to split the costs.

As tourists areas tend to be very pricey when it comes to food and leisure, finding an all-inclusive vacation can save lots of money. Areas such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, and resorts in Jamaica offer all inclusive packages which include 3 meals per day at various restaurants, unlimited beverages, 24-hour complimentary snacks, transportation, leisure passes and free activities.

If you wish to go on a vacation that is not all-inclusive, it is important to create a budget for when you get to your vacation destination so that you do not overspend. With the help of Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore’s financial literacy classes, you can come up with a budget that is appropriate for your particular vacation.

Pre-purchase: What should you know before purchasing your home?

By: Raevyn Jones, Marketing Coordinator, NHS of Baltimore


Before purchasing a new home, you should take the time to do a lot of research on the specific homes you have in mind, as well as the neighborhoods they are in. One of the most important things to do before you buy a home is to research the history of the home. To find out who owned the home before you and check public records about the house, there are many research methods offered.

You may want to know architechtural facts such as the date of construction, name of architech or builder, construction materials, and physical changes over time. Historical facts such as information on the original owner and other residents through time, or interesting events associated with the building or area.

Before purchasing a home, it is crucial to look up crime reports and know what neighborhoods are safest. With today’s technology, you can simply put in an address and find out what type of crimes have occurred in a specific neighborhood and when the crimes took place. In addition to general crime in the area, you can also do a specific search for sex offenders in the area. Safety is one of the most important things when it comes to purchasing a home. One’s house should be a safe haven for them, and knowing the surroundings of your home is necessary. According to Julienne’s Tips For Buying Your First Home, you should observe the prospective house during all times of the day to get an idea of how the neighborhood is at all times.

Doing research on the neighborhood of the home you want to purchase can also enable you to use your resources once you are moved in. For your convenience, you should always know what resources your neighborhood has such as grocery stores, libraries, hardware stores, leisure, and hospitals etc.

Although you may not want to take time out to do extensive research before buying a home, you do not want to settle and then move in and realize you could have made a better choice. Rushing will not help the homeownership process, buyers should be patient and do all necessary research on prospective homes.