Nothing Lasts Forever in a Home Or Does It? - 01/29/10 01:18 PM
Most sellers and buyers know that certain components to a home such as the roof or windows are some of the more costly replacement items.  While some components will outlast your ownership, others will need more immediate replacement. 
The National Association of Home Builders guide can be helpful to owners considering what items are worth replacing before a move and to prospective buyers who can factor potential replacement costs into an offer.  The NAHB does caution that the true longevity of any household material depends on maintenance, use, quality of installation, and climate conditions, so use these averages as a general guide.
100 … (1 comments)

What's Happening Around Franklin, MA This Weekend - 01/28/10 12:22 PM
"Test Drive The College Experience"
Thursday, January 28, 2010
7:00-9:00 PM 
Dean College Campus Center
135 Emmons Street  Franklin, MA 02038  
Dean College will host "Test Drive the College Experience" a seminar for families of high school aged college applicants on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 7 p.m. in the Golder Room, Campus Center, 135 Main Street in Franklin.
                Featured speakers will be Renee Vachon Danho, Dean of Professional and Continuing Studies at Dean College and Paul Hemphill, college admissions coach from PreCollege Prep. 
                "Applying to a college can be a daunting experience," said Dean Danho.  "We are hosting … (0 comments)

Finally...Good Bay State Real Estate News! - 01/26/10 12:38 PM
The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman just released their data on Massachusetts single family home sales.  Their report shows that the four year trend of sliding sales seems to finally be reversed with home sales now up by 3% from 2008 to 2009.
Most Realtors will acknowledge that the Massachusetts market peak was during 2005 when prices were almost 20% higher than the current 2009 sales data.
According to the (MLSPIN) Multiple Listing Service, there are currently 104 total single family homes, including new construction, for sale in Franklin.  During the past 30 days, sales were posted within 3% of a … (4 comments)

Ask the Realtor These Questions Before Listing Your Home - 01/21/10 04:10 PM
Choosing the right Realtor to sell your home can be difficult, especially when they all sound so convincing. The following list of questions will not only help you select the right Realtor, but will also help you get the very best from the agent you choose.
Do you work as a full-time Realtor?
Do you handle incoming property inquiries?
How many listings do you have at this time, and how does this work to my benefit?
Do you have a help system to see that no details are overlooked?
How many potential buyers and sellers do you speak with each day? … (6 comments)

And the Realtor Survey Says... - 01/16/10 04:17 PM
Since the topic of conversation with Franklin, MA and Boston area agents has recently centered on the lack of available housing inventory for prospective buyers, I decided to take an informal survey of the situation.
I individually asked ten Franklin Realtors how many buyers they had who would likely purchase a home priced between $250,000 and $450,000 on or before April 30th, 2010.  I chose April 30thsince move-up or first time buyers looking to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit must have a signed contract on a home by this date.  The agents did not know any explanation other than … (2 comments)

MOMS Club of Franklin, MA Provides Needed Support - 01/12/10 02:43 PM
When Liz, her husband and son first moved to Franklin six years ago, she knew only one other family.  She quickly realized how lonely her days were as a stay-at-home mother of a toddler especially when the only other mom she knew worked full-time.

Liz did her research and discovered the local chapter of the MOMS Club of Franklin, MA North which became her lifesaver.  She was meeting new friends, filling her son's and her own time with activities and really feeling connected to her new community.  Her new relationships were put to the test when she became pregnant and … (4 comments)

Franklin MA After School Programming Rocks - 01/10/10 08:09 AM
The city of Chicago recently made news with their award-winning after school programs meant to keep kids busy with learning and fun during the often long and otherwise lonely after school hours.  Long term studies found that involved kids were more likely to have better grades, go on to graduate and were generally more successful than their non-involved counterparts. 
While news outlets focus on city school systems, it seems noteworthy that our own small town of Franklin, MA offers many impressive after school learning and enrichment programs for both middle and high school students.  Many residents and newcomers have expressed surprise … (4 comments)

Getting Ready to Sell a Franklin, Massachusetts Home - 01/06/10 10:56 AM
If you are one of the many homeowners in Franklin, MA getting ready to put your home on the market you may want to do some preliminary work first.  I am not referring to staging your home, replacing light bulbs or updating the paint--those are topics for another post.  What I am referring to is the many resources available online for a homeowner to become informed about what is on public record for their property.
The Multiple Listing Service data tells us that housing inventory is historically low for Franklin with only 57 homes available.  This translates into good news for homeowners since … (1 comments)

How a Franklin, MA Seller Can Stump The Home Inspector - 01/04/10 03:24 PM
As a Franklin, Massachusetts homeowner you may be dreading the day of your home inspection since the inspector is usually thought of as the bad guy who will likely scare off the prospective buyers.
On the contrary, the inspection is really meant to educate the prospective buyer on homeownership and to advise of any serious structural, mechanical or other defects to the property.   The inspection is conducted by a generalist in the various components of the home and it is recommended to seek out a specialist for further guidance if needed.  For example, if there are signs of mold in the attic it … (1 comments)

 
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Kathy Stankard & First Time Buyers,Relocation

Franklin, MA

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Coldwell Banker of Franklin, MA/508-369-5131

Address: Franklin, Wrentham, Norfolk, Plainville, North Attleboro, Holliston, Hopkinton, , Bellingham, Milford, Ashland, Framingham, Franklin, MA, 02038

Cell Phone: (508) 369-5131

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Real estate rants and advice on the Franklin, Massachusetts and the metro west of Boston area. Stop by often because you never know what resources or tidbits you might find!


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