Ocean City At It's Finest

 Ocean City’s Trophy Mantel

• America’s Most Affordable Fun City, Bloomberg Business Week, 2011
• Top 10 Best Boardwalks, National Geographic, 2011
• Second Most Popular Beach in the U.S. , The Daily Beast, 2011
• Yahoo Travel Top 10 Family Destination, 2011
• Top 10 Amusement Parks & Boardwalk in the U.S., Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice, 2011
• OC Air Show:  American Bus Association Top 100 Event in North America 2011
• Winterfest of Light: American Bus Association Top 100 Events in North America, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Sunfest:  Ranked No. 1 Traditional Art & Craft Show in the nation by Sushine Artist Magazine, 2011, 2010;  ranked No. 3 in 2006, 2009
• Springfest: Ranked No. 10 Traditional Art & Craft Show in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, 2011: ranked No. 11, 2009
• Ten Best U.S. Boardwalks, Sherman Travel, 2010
• Natural Resources Defense Council Five-Star Rating for cleanliness and safety of beach water, 2008, 2009
• Top 50 Motorcoach Destinations, National Motorcoach Network Inc. 2008
• Ten Best U.S. Beaches by Woman’s Day Online, 2007
• Art’s Alive: The National Recreation and Park Association’s prestigious Dorothy Mullen National Arts & Humanities Award,  which honors the most innovative and effective arts and humanities program in the nation. 2007
• One of America’s “Best Seaside Strolls”, Reader’s Digest 2006
• AAA Top Member Auto Travel Destination, 2003, 2006
• Beach Buddy 2004; One of four beaches recognized by the National Resource Defense Council for environmental achievements
• Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Prime Site Award. Facilities & Destinations Magazine, 2995, 2006
• Eagle’s Landing Golf Course; First place in 2004 & 2005, nationwide Audubon International Bird Count
• “One of the 10 Great Places to Have Fun on the Boardwalk”, USA Today, 2005
• “Top 10 Family-Favorite Beach Towns in the Country” by the readers of FamilyFun Magazine, 2005.
• Winterfest of Lights: Ranked No. 2 in America Online City’s Guide’s Top 11 Lighting Displays in the Country, 2005
• One of the “Best Boardwalks in America”, The Travel Channel, 2004
• All-America City, 2001, National Civic League

Not convinced yet?  Come & experience Ocean City for yourself.

Take a walk around with me at an Ocean View condominium here in Ocean City.  It’s a pretty day and you’ll pretend that you are smelling the ocean breezes while you are look at real estate here on the Eastern Shore.

102 B Camelot Condo on You Tube

Of COURSE, we already knew this! But it’s always fun to see it on the national news.

Ocean City, Maryland was voted number one as America’s most fun and affordable city, due to our beaches, bay, nightlife, restaurants and affordability. We are very proud to have this honor!

Perfect beach getaway! Affordable and easy to care for oceanfront efficiency at the High Point North Condominium. Newly replaced in 2008, kitchen cabinets, appliances, bathroom sink, light and shower doors.  Can accommodate up to 6 people. Large outdoor pool and oceanfront sun deck.  Offered at $169,900

Summer is beginning to sizzle at the Beach in Ocean City!

Technology isn’t just changing how we live – it’s changing us….

That’s pretty scary, but I believe it’s true. Michael Rosenwald wrote a book review for Bloomberg Businessweek this past week. In it he writes about books written by Sherry Turkle, the first as early as 1984 (The Second Self: Computers & The Human Spirit). Dr. Turkle expresses concern about our use of technology, and predicts that computers don’t do things for us they do things to us.  That was very forward thinking in 1984.  Dr. Turkle is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor and clinical psychologist.  In 1984 I think most of us were thinking what will computers be like in the future.  She saw it as not what will the computer be like, but instead, what will we be like?  Interesting spin.  I tend to agree.

When I go out to dinner and see a table next to me with four people, and all four of them are looking at their iPhone, Blackberry or whatever, I know there is something wrong.  We’re more connected then ever, yet it seems like we’re more disconnected then ever as human beings.  We don’t talk in person to each other, or drive to someone’s house like we use to see how our friend, grandmother or neighbor is doing.  Instead we “face time” them or “skype” them if we want to see them.  Or we just send them a text. It’s faster, it’s easier, and you don’t even have to get dressed to go out of the house.

As a Mom, when my children were younger, I was opposed to them getting cell phones.  I saw it as a distraction, and a capital “T” for trouble written all over it.  I finally had to acquiesce when they were in high school (and by today’s standards that was late).  I see kids now with phones in their ears and texting, at what looks like under 10 years of age.  I live by a boardwalk in a resort town.  Many youngsters come to visit and vacation at the beach, and it saddens me when I see a group of young people walking down the boardwalk and nobodies talking to each other.  They are all talking or texting on their phone.  There is just something inherently wrong with that.

Time seems to be marked now not as BC (Before Christ) and AD (After Death or Anno Domini), but as life BF and AF (before and after facebook).

Dr. Turkle’s latest book, Alone Together, asks the question why we expect more from technology and less from each other… she says our phones contain much more then just phone numbers, addresses, appointments and birthdays, they harbor our emotions and identity.  Wow!!! That’s even scarier.

I had never heard about Dr. Turkle, nor had I looked at any of her work until I read the Bloomberg article about her and her books.  It has been a real eye opener for me.  There has to be a happy medium between complete obsession and the highest and best use of these effective tools.  We need to resist the impulse to tweet or login on Foursquare every single time we think we want to.  I fear that we are more susceptible to things that are easier.  These useful tools can, and have become, a serious problem for many.

Consider these cliché’s; there is a time and place for everything. We’ve all heard that a million times.  All things in moderation.  We’ve heard that a zillion times.  They are cliché’s for a reason.

As technology grows in leaps and bounds on a daily basis, I think now more then ever we need to be reminded of those two, not so simple cliché’s.

I have a granddaughter.  She’s 4 years old.  She works her Daddy’s Mac better then most adults I know.  Consider what her adult world will be like if these tools continue to reduce personal human interaction….if we don’t temper these behaviors now, we will continue to be more and more personally disconnected, as we become more and more connected?

Despite efforts by some members of Congress, the burdensome 1099 reporting requirements for businesses and rental property owners (rental homes at the beach) were not repealed as part of the new law passed on December 17, 2010. And Congress has adjourned for the year so a repeal of the requirements will now have to wait for the new Congress to take up the issue in 2011.

The new requirements were part of two laws passed in 2010:

1. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act imposes surprising new Form 1099 reporting requirements. Complying with them may add significantly to the paperwork burden of businesses and other organizations. Beginning with payments made in 2012, businesses generally will have to issue Form 1099s to vendors (including corporations) and the IRS for purchases of $600 or more in property or services.
Earlier this year, IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman said business transactions conducted using credit and debit cards would be exempt from the requirements. These transactions will already be covered by other new reporting requirements on credit and debit card processors, so there is no need for businesses to report them as well, Shulman said.

2. The Small Business Jobs Act requires taxpayers who receive rental income to issue 1099 forms to service providers when they make payments of $600 or more during the year. Beginning on January 1, 2011, the law requires rental income recipients to follow the same reporting rules as taxpayers engaged in a trade or business. Result: If recipients of rental income make payments of $600 or more to a service provider while earning rental income, they must provide a 1099 form to the provider and the IRS. Income generating property owners need to be aware of this.

Beginning January 1, 2011, taxpayers with rental property income must start keeping records of payments, so they can issue 1099 forms in 2012. For more information about your situation, consult with your tax adviser.

Bottom line: Despite a push by the business community and some members of Congress to repeal the rules, they stay in place — for now. Efforts to eliminate them, or make them less burdensome, will have to wait for Congress to return after the holidays. Stay tuned.

Thank you to TGM Group,  LLC located in Salisbury, Maryland for an update on this topic.

It’s December 16^th, and it’s already been a very cold month at the beach, and now it looks like we are going to get snow today!!  Actually this time of year I enjoy the chillier temperatures and seeing the white stuff falling, but then as soon as the Holidays are over, I want spring…

Officially I don’t think winter starts until December 21^st this year, but you could have fooled me.  It’s been in the 30’s here for most of the month.  So call me crazy, I’m going to bundle up today and go and walk the boardwalk.

I like to walk the boardwalk in the cold weather.  It’s a very special feeling you get when you’re invigorated by the cold watching the ocean waves rolling in and seeing your breath exit your mouth.  I don’t worry about crowds either, I can hog up the whole boardwalk if I want to!

The cold also makes you walk faster so you gain more cardio benefits.  Sometimes when I walk the boardwalk while it’s snowing I feel like I’m inside a snow globe that is being shook up, with the snow going every which way.  Then I stick my tongue out and see if I can catch some snowflakes.  It’s like drinking from a snow faucet.

Big decision should I wait until it starts to snow to go walk, or go now and be on the boardwalk when it starts? Hmmmmm… I’m going to go now and watch the tiny flakes just starting to appear.

Oh, and I have this theory about shoveling snow.  If you wait long enough, it becomes unnecessary!

Footnote:  I went. It snowed. It’s still snowing. Enjoy a few pictures from the beach and boardwalk in Ocean City!

Direct oceanfront 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom end unit  condominium that affords you panoramic views up and down the beach.  This property is beautifully decorated with a  wonderful upgraded interior to include; mirrored living area, Plantation Shutters, hurricane shutters, granite kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances, fully tiled entry way and kitchen area, new laminate flooring, all tiled baths and  premium vanities.  It’s listed for sale at $375,000.

View the Photo Property Tour:

This top floor direct oceanfront 1 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath condo has tremendous views both up and down the beach.  It is conveniently located in mid-town Ocean City. Constellation House is a very popular mid-rise masonry building. If you are looking to generate rental income, summer season approximately $11,000 – $14,000.  It is sold fully furnished and is offered for sale at $239,900. One year home warranty included.

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