Living Local - June
Where Annapolis living and real estate intersect
Have You Noticed the Water Lately?
Photo Credit: Jay Flemming
We spend a lot of time talking about neighborhoods, homes, and real estate, but one of the biggest reasons people choose to live in Annapolis has nothing to do with a house at all. It is the water.
And this year, there is something special about it.
One thing you may notice this summer, and a topic that has become a frequent conversation around Annapolis, is the water clarity. Whether on the Severn River, South River, or around parts of the Eastern Shore, the water has looked noticeably cleaner than usual. I have seen it firsthand on the Severn, and local charter captains have been posting photos and videos of fish cruising shallow water in a way that looks more like the Florida Keys than the Chesapeake Bay. Check out @fishwithweaver for some of the best examples.
No one can point to a single reason why the water has been especially clear this year, but the leading explanations are healthier underwater grass beds, lower sediment runoff, favorable weather patterns, and continued oyster restoration efforts. Underwater grasses act as natural filters, trapping sediment while providing critical habitat for fish and crabs. The result is cleaner water, healthier fisheries, and a Bay that feels more alive.
Water clarity will always fluctuate, but if this is what a healthier Chesapeake can look like, it is easy to understand why efforts to improve the Bay remain so important.
So How Should You Enjoy It?
Best option: Have a boat.
Second-best: Have a friend with a boat.
Third Best: Read Below...
Launch a kayak or paddle board. Anne Arundel County has dozens of public water access points, launches, and waterfront parks. Click Here to locate public access points around the county.
Take a sail aboard the Woodwind schooners. You may recognize them from Wedding Crashers, but they are also one of the best ways to experience Annapolis from the water. Whether you choose a daytime sail or sunset cruise, it is hard to beat. Woodwind Schooners
Book a fishing charter. The Chesapeake offers some of the best striped bass, perch, and seasonal fishing opportunities on the East Coast. My personal recommendations are listed below.
Captain Randy Dean - Kona
Captain Don Johnson - Hot Pursuit
Go crabbing. You do not need a waterfront property to catch your own crabs. Many public piers and waterfront access areas allow recreational crabbing. If you get lucky, here is how to properly steam and enjoy your catch. Click Here
For those of us lucky enough to live here, the Chesapeake is more than just a backdrop. It shapes our communities, our recreation, and ultimately much of what makes Annapolis such a desirable place to call home.
If you are local, take advantage of it. Summer does not last forever.
Neighborhood Spotlight
Epping Forest
Lifestyle: Epping Forest offers a lifestyle that is difficult to replicate anywhere else in Annapolis. Originally founded as a summer retreat community in the 1920s, the neighborhood still feels like a private waterfront camp for adults and families alike. Residents spend their time walking the wooded roads, boating on the Severn River, playing tennis, attending community events, and gathering at the clubhouse, beaches, and marina.
Amenities: Few neighborhoods in Annapolis can match the amenities offered within Epping Forest. Residents enjoy a private clubhouse that operates as a bar all year round, marina, sandy beach, swimming pier, tennis court, basketball court, hiking trails, playground, and a packed social calendar throughout the year. The community operates as a special tax district, allowing it to maintain amenities that would be difficult for a traditional HOA to support.
Location: Located along the Severn River just minutes from downtown Annapolis and Route 50, Epping Forest offers the rare combination of privacy and convenience. Despite being only a short drive from the city, the winding roads, mature trees, and gated entrance create the feeling of being much farther away.
Environment: Built into the steep hills overlooking the Severn River, Epping Forest feels more like a mountain community than a typical Chesapeake Bay neighborhood. Large trees, rolling topography, waterfront cottages, and abundant wildlife create a setting unlike anywhere else in Anne Arundel County. The neighborhood's beaches, marina, and water access make the Chesapeake Bay a part of everyday life.
Real Estate: Epping Forest is one of the most unique housing markets in the Annapolis area. Over the last five years, only 37 homes have sold, averaging just 7.4 sales per year. With so few opportunities available, it is a neighborhood where many buyers wait years for the right property to come available.
The median sales price over the last five years was $1.07M, with values ranging from a small two-bedroom cottage that sold for $355,000 to a modern waterfront contemporary home that sold for $3.25M. The oldest home to sell during that period was originally built in 1922, a reminder of the neighborhood's long history as a summer retreat community along the Severn River.
Homes average roughly 2,000 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and quarter-acre lots. Unlike many neighborhoods, however, lot size does not tell the full story. Much of Epping Forest is built into the hills above the Severn, meaning large flat yards are the exception rather than the rule. In exchange, many homes enjoy elevated views, privacy, and a setting that feels dramatically different from most Annapolis neighborhoods.
Inventory remains extremely limited. At the time of writing, seven homes are listed for sale and three are already under contract. Of the remaining available homes, three are waterfront properties, and the least expensive non-waterfront home is listed at $1.1M.
One unique aspect of Epping Forest is that short-term rentals are permitted within the community. That is relatively uncommon for a neighborhood with this level of amenities and community involvement. For buyers, it creates flexibility, whether as a second home that can generate rental income when not in use or as a primary residence that can be rented occasionally throughout the year.
Thank you for reading and supporting The Wood Group.
If you or someone you know is thinking about buying or selling in the Annapolis area, we would love the opportunity to help.
Blake Wood
(410) 507-9854
Douglas Realty
(410) 255-3690
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