Robust Real Estate Market Celebrated In HoCo, New Directors Appointed, Realtors Recognized

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The real estate market in Howard County remained robust in September, according to the Howard County Association of Realtors, but low inventory continues to be a problem, driving up home prices.

September saw a 3.7 percent decrease in new residential listings (488) compared to the same time last year (507) and a 14.1 percent decrease compared to last month (568). Active listings (348) were down 15.1 percent compared to the same time last year and there were a total of 529 homes sold, which is up 12.1 percent from the same time last year. The average days on market sat at 12, which is 42.9 percent lower than the same time last year and the average sale price was $519,484, which is up 4.0 percent compared to the same time last year.

"With there being a shortage of homes on the market, supply and demand continue to drive prices up," newly elected 2022 HCAR President Sarah Anderson said. "However, due to interest rates remaining as low as they are, sellers are still often receiving multiple offers, keeping competition robust."

HCAR recently installed its 2021-2022 board of directors and honored its 2021 award winners during a recent special ceremony at Turf Valley Resort. Anderson was installed as president of the association’s board by her husband, Neal Sheehan, also a realtor.

The remaining board members were installed by Maryland Realtors President Craig Wolfe.

• President-Elect Robbyn Harris, Keller Williams Realty Centre
• Treasurer Piet de Dreu, Corner House Realty
• Secretary Cleveland Horton II, Keller Williams Realty Centre
• Immediate Past President Shirley Matlock, RE/MAX Advantage Realty
• Director Joseph Bird, RE/MAX Advantage Realty
• Director Anita Kestel, My Transaction Company
• Director Rachel Oslund, LodeStar Inspection Services
• Brooke Romm, RE/MAX 100
• Rich Green, Presidential Bank Mortgage
• Caitlin McKenna, Long & Foster Columbia
• Donnell Spivey, Exit Spivey Professional Realty

HCAR also honored the following 2021 award winners:

• Robert H. Kittleman Award: Kelly Cimino, Howard County Director of Housing and Community Development
• Ilene Kessler Spirit Award: Kelli Hillmar, Long & Foster Columbia
• Preferred Partner of the Year: Eric Jones, Junk King
• Community Service Award: Jose Gutierrez, Bayshore Mortgage Funding
• Rookie REALTOR® of the Year: Sofia Jones, Northrop Realty
• REALTOR® of the Year: Cleveland Horton II, Keller Williams Realty Centre
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Shirley Matlock, RE/MAX Advantage Realty

Cleveland L. Horton II, a realtor with Keller Williams Realty Centre and secretary of the Howard County Association of Realtors board of directors, recently graduated from the 2021 Maryland Realtors Leadership Academy. Horton is one of 18 realtors across the state to graduate from this year’s program.