Communities & Real Estate

A variety of housing options are available for those moving to Anne Arundel County, with many more developments under construction. Whether you’re looking for temporary lodging or are interested in buying or building a home, you’ll find what you need in West Anne Arundel County. Not sure where you want to live? You’ll find descriptions of some of our area’s major communities and other helpful information below.

Home Purchase or Construction

The Chamber has many local Realtors who will be happy to help you find properties available for purchase or guide you to new Homebuilders. The average purchase price of a single family home in Anne Arundel County in 2009 was $469,443; for a townhome or similar unit it was $295,411. Median prices continued to drop through 2011, so now is a good opportunity to find the right home for you and your family!

Rentals

Realtors also have listings for rental properties, including single family homes, condos, and townhomes. Local papers such as The Capital (www.hometownannapolis.com) can be a source of listings as well. Apartments can be found through the Chamber’s Business Directory or through major online sites such as www.apartments.com.

Temporary Lodging, Short or Long Term

Planning an extended stay in the area but not ready to put down roots? Check our list of Extended Stay Hotels, or consult Annapolis Accommodations, a specialist in temporary and corporate housing.

Moving and Storage

Ready to move? Be sure to check the Chamber’s Business Directory for Moving & Storage and Storage Facilities.

Pet Boarding/Pet Sitting

Need a place for your pets while you’re in transit, or to keep them safe until the movers are through? Check for listings under Pet Boarding/Care.

Communities & Neighborhoods

As you begin your search for a home in western Anne Arundel County, you’ll find a wide range of choices. To help you narrow your search, the following is a summary of each area of West County. In order to explore the inventories of existing homes, the best option is to contact a Realtor who has an online Multiple Listing Service search option and does most of his or her business in the areas you are considering.

Crownsville

Crownsville is comprised of homes that range from small cottages to million dollar estates. The community, located along the Severn River just north of Annapolis, offers both country estates and wooded waterfront homes. Many of the homes are on private well and septic systems, though public water may be found in some of the newer subdivisions. Crownsville offers great water-oriented recreation and easy access to I-97 for the Baltimore/Ft. Meade/Annapolis commuter. Some of the most popular neighborhoods in Crownsville are Annapolis Preserve, Herald Harbor, Penderbrooke, and The Overlook.

Gambrills/Odenton

Gambrills is the home of Arundel High School and a bit more rural than the neighboring town of Odenton. It is nicely positioned between the two planned communities of Crofton and Piney Orchard. The largest established community in Gambrills is Four Seasons – a mixture of small older single-family homes and duplexes, as well as smaller pockets of newer subdivisions with larger single-family homes that were built in the 1990’s. One of the newest communities in Gambrills, consisting of 120 large single-family homes just off Route 32, is Saddlebrooke.

Odenton also offers a mixture of old and new. “Old Odenton” has several established communities that offer older, but more affordable homes to those relocating to the area. Look into Maple Ridge near Arundel Middle School, or Chapelgate near Waugh Chapel Elementary for both single family and duplex homes.

For newer construction, the community of Peachtree features town homes and single-family dwellings within a short walk to the MARC train line. Those looking for more amenities might consider living in one of Odenton’s two planned communities (Piney Orchard or Seven Oaks) or the community of Chapel Village off Waugh Chapel Road.

Piney Orchard www.pineyorchard.com

Piney Orchard is a planned community in Odenton that was developed by Constellation Real Estate Group, Inc. in 1991. Today it has more than 3500 housing units and approximately 8,500 residents. The neighborhoods of Piney Orchard are just minutes away from the MARC commuter, making it an attractive location for those who work in Baltimore or Washington, D.C. Community amenities include an elementary school, preschool, marketplace, a 45-acre nature preserve, four swimming pools, tennis courts, tot lots, a fitness center, ice arena, and hiking and biking trails.

Seven Oaks

The community of Seven Oaks in Odenton is a planned unit development located on approximately 850 acres of land. At completion, Seven Oaks will have 3,500 residential units and approximately 5.5 million square feet of retail, commercial, and office space. The community was developed by the Halle Companies and includes single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and apartments from various builders, including NVRyan, Richmond American, Coscan, Winchester, Pulte and USHomes. Amenities include swimming pools, tot lots, tennis courts, ball fields, a daycare center, marketplace, community center and picnic areas.

Millersville

Millersville is an established community that offers terrific access to I-97 and the BWI airport. The homes are generally part of the Old Mill High School feeder system, which is home to one of the county’s three International Baccalaureate High Schools. There is very little current construction in the area, although spot lot construction can be found. One of the more popular established neighborhoods in Millersville is Shipley’s Choice, a three-decade-old community with a private pool and tennis club.

Hanover/Harmans/Severn

If you’re looking for the most new construction options, the Hanover/Harmans/Severn area is your best bet. The land in and around Arundel Mills Mall is currently under development by a number of different builders including Ryan Homes, NV Homes, Toll Brothers, and Engle Homes. Older homes can also be found in this area, including Severn Woods and Harmans Woods, neighborhoods that were built up in the 1980’s or The Provinces built between the 1970’s and 1990’s and a number of smaller communities along Route 170 in Severn.

Maryland City/Laurel

The Laurel area traverses three counties – Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince Georges. Homebuyers should make note of any differences in schools and property taxes based on the location of their home. Nearby Maryland City is home to both older “salt box” style houses as well as the planned community of Russett, which feeds into the Meade High School district, home of the acclaimed International Baccalaureate and Homeland Security Signature Programs.

Russett www.russett.org

The Russett Planned Unit Development is divided into 20 residential neighborhoods and three commercial rental properties. In addition to swimming pools, tot lots, and a shopping center, the community is home to The Maryland City at Russett Branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. Housing options range from apartments and condominiums to townhomes and single-family dwellings. The community is located just off I-295 providing quick access to Ft. Meade, NSA, and Washington, D.C.