People in other towns may wish their city planners had created the pleasant and relaxing greenscapes and lakes that Columbia, Maryland, developers thought to do, suggest local Realtors.

"Columbia, Maryland, one of the planned cities of the seventies located in the middle of Howard County still maintains it's unique characteristic of a 'green' city," says Realtor Emcee Marah. "The ambiance of the planned landscape and lakes is unmistakably inviting and relaxing. The serene walkways and bike paths in addition to the fine restaurants, shops and theatres make Columbia an oasis of quiet living. The schools are outstanding and always rank amongst the top five in the state of Maryland."

About the market, Marah says, "Like most of the other cities of Maryland, the real estate market here remains a sellers' market. At the end of last year, the records showed that the average price of properties sold in Columbia maintained an upward slant throughout the year, giving homeowners in these parts a lot to be happy about. Similarly, as the third quarter of this year begins, this trend looks set to be maintained."

Asks Realtor Mike Honeycutt, "What is Columbia -- a city, a town, a suburb, an edge city? It is all of these, and in many ways it defies specific definition. What is clear is that it is a highly successful community. Columbia is a 14,000-acre community located midway between Baltimore and Washington, DC. It boasts a stable racially, economically and ethnically-mixed population of approximately 88,000 people."

Honeycutt explains that "it is considered by many to be one of the best examples of a planned community. The development of Columbia was guided by four basic goals:

1. To build a complete city that meets the basic needs of its people, including housing, jobs, recreation, educational and cultural institutions, health care, etc.

2. To respect the land.

3. To provide for the growth of the people.

4. To make a profit.

Currently the economy & housing market are very strong, and unemployment is at its lowest in four years. With rising prices and low inventory it is an ideal time to list your home for top market value."

He advises, "Buyers -- as you probably know the interest rates are still very low, but are now beginning to move up again. There is still time to invest in this area. Having grown up part of my life in Columbia, I invite you to contact me to learn more about Columbia's neighborhoods, schools, shopping, recreation amenities, and its superior quality of life."

With the macro-point-of-view, Realtor Scott Saghirian says, "Led by increased spending on new cars and clothing, U.S. retail sales jumped an unexpectedly large 1.7 percent in June, the Commerce Department reported July 14. Analysts said the surge in retail sales allayed fears that higher gas prices were negatively impacting consumer spending."

He continues, "Inflationary pressures were also held in check for the second straight month. The Labor Department said that its Consumer Price Index for June was unchanged after having posted a 0.1 percent decline in May. So far this year, consumer inflation is rising at an annual rate of 3.1 percent, compared to a 3.3 percent for 2004. Meanwhile, the U.S. trade deficit improved slightly in May, according to the Commerce Department on July 13, as U.S. exports rose to their highest level in history. The trade imbalance declined to $55.3 billion in May, an improvement of 2.7 percent from April.

"The Internal Revenue Service also enjoyed a good week as it announced on July 11 that it had recovered $3.7 billion in unpaid taxes, interests and penalties from users of illegal tax shelters filed in 2000. Moreover, reflecting the improving U.S. economy, tax receipts from both individuals and corporations have been on the rise, which could slash the federal deficit by as much as $100 billion from earlier 2005 budget projections. This week look for updates on building permits and housing starts on July 19."