Taunton/Attleboro/Rehoboth and Surrounding Towns.. Real Estate News You Can Use Now!

Here Comes The Sun! Beautiful Newer Colonial Home For Sale In Berkely Massachusetts

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:39:08 -0500

Lori Lincoln | Keller Williams Realty | 508-878-0917

34 Parsons Walk, Berkley, MA

3BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $409,000

Year Built	2002
Sq Footage	2,396
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	32,670 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

You Deserve to live this good! COMMUTERS DREAM..THIS IS YOUR NEXT HOME! Minutes to 24, but not too close. Friendly subdivision where your neighbors actually wave to you! Eat in gourmet chef's kitchen. You will love the spacious master suite,with master bath and large walk in closets withs bonus room adjacent to the master bedroom. which can be an office, nursery? plus 2 other large bedrooms and one smaller Entertainment is easy, sliders to large deck where you can enjoy a summer cookout.

Also seller will be installing brand new carpet- buyers choice!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Living room
Bonus/Rec room	Office/Den	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Stainless steel appliances	Basement
Laundry area - inside	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1

Photo 2

Contact info:

Lori Lincoln

Keller Williams Realty

508-878-0917

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 26, 2009, 5:26am PDT

100% Financing Avaliable- YES this is true.. Berkley, Assonet, Freetown, Lakeville, Rehoboth, Dighton, Dartmouth, Westport and more.. no mortgage insurance, low fixed rates

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:47:16 -0500

I hope that downpayment doesn't stop you from buying.. you can still buy with 100% financing, but not many lenders are offering this program, and several agents aren't even aware of it. It is very much alive in most of our rural areas.. read on!

I have had manytransactions where the buyer has utilized 100% financing options through the United States Department of Agriculture. I believe that this is the best loan available for single family properties in rural communities. Some of the features that have made this loan increasingly more popular are:

1) Low Fixed Rates

2) No Monthly Mortgage Insurance

3) No Reserve Requirements

4)The ability to do escrow hold backs for failed septics.

5) Lender orders the appraisal directly

6. Down to 600 credit score

As of April 20th the income limits have changed. Families with 1-4 members in Bristol County can make up to $84,150. Families of five or more can earn up $111,100 and still qualify for the loan.

Not all mortgage lenders offer this loan. Contact me today and I will put you in touch with a few lenders that are approved by USDA who offer this program and to see if you qualify. 508-878-0917. email: lorilincoln@kw.com

" If you never take any shots in life.. you WILL miss 100% of the time"

If you are looking to buy in any of the following areas.. Dartmouth, South Dartmouth Westport, Acushnet, Swansea, Dighton, Rehoboth, Berkley, Rochester, Plymouth, Wareham, Mattapoisett or Freetown call me today. And Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding this e-mail or any other real estate question.

FREE MLS Search: http://bristolcountyhometeam.com

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Lori Lincoln is an educator and consultant to buyers and sellers and is associated with Keller Williams Realty. As your trusted source and market leader in Bristol County Massachusetts, Lori puts her clients interests first and produces results for them.

Lori Lincoln

Keller Williams Realty

http://LincolnTeamRealEstae.com

Believe it or not there are 2 buyers for every property in today's Market- Taunton Area Massachusetts

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:21:11 -0500

I heard this statement today " There are 2 buyers now for every property" and now I know how to communicate this news to the sellers, buyers and agents that may not be aware:

Did you know that there are now 2 buyers for every house on the market? Yes, the buyer and the bank. We can prevent what we can predict. And yes homes get sold if we prepare all parties with the following information:

1. Title 5- Did you know that now the title 5's are scrutized by the underwriters at the bank? Did you know that if the system passes, and it is older, some banks won't accept an out of date plan.. the Title 5 inspector's new design is sometimes acceptable, sometimes though requires an engineer?

2. Appraisals- Even if an appraisal comes in at sales prices, the appraisals are reviewed, reviewed, reviewed by the bank and sometimes even 2nd and 3rd appraisals. Deals are being thrown on appraisals. Sellers sometimes think the buyer would be willing to pay the difference. I know I wouldn't buy a house that was over-valued, and most people wouldnt' The "unique buyers" are virtually non-existent.

3. FHA guidelines- always have been strict- but a great review- FHA and other government loan programs have strict safety guidelines, mandatory pest inspection/treatments, mandatory handrails, asbestos removal mandates, and more.

With all of the strict lending guidelines, we as a real estate community are still out selling homes. Transactions are occuring successfully if you prepare ahead. Most homes are sold within 95% of asking price.

Over-priced homes listed have a slim chance of being viewed by buyers.Buyers' agents educate their buyers. Buyers are looking for value to supercede price, and they really want to buy, not negotiate. This is why 20% of the homes on the market WILL sell. 80% won't.

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Lori Lincoln is a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty serving Bristol County Massachusetts including Taunton, Rehoboth, Dighton, Seekonk, Assonet, Freetown, Lakeville and surrounding cities and towns. Lori Lincoln consult and educates her clients, helping them achieve their home buying and selling goals.

You Can Reach Lori at 508-878-0917 or emal lorilincoln@kw.com

http://LincolnTeamRealEstate.com

Keller Williams Realty

Less than 6 months left to take advantage of First Time Buyer Tax Credit

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:32:09 -0500

The perfect storm, interest rates are below 6%, homes are very affordable, some parts of Bristol County where you can own a home for less than what you pay for rent! Now first time buyers can take advantage of the $8000.00 tax credit, if they purchase before December 1,2009.

Don't miss this opportunity, I've never seen it so good for buyers. Interest Rates are likely to rise over time. If they go up, you could price yourself out of the market.

As you know, I believe in educating my buyers...and sellers alike. If you are a first time home buyer, you can get this book for free by contacting me via email or by phone.

Call me or send me an email request to get this book for FREE!

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Lori Lincoln, of Keller Williams Realty

educates and consults her buyers and sellers in making the right decision on home buying and selling. Lori serves all of Bristol County MA and surrounding cities and towns including: Assonet, Berkley, Taunton, Rehoboth, Norton, Lakeville, Middleboro, Easton, Fall River, Dighton, Raynham, Easton, Swansea, Somerset and more

Looking to sell? Find out what your home is worth go to http://www.LincolnTeamRealEstate.com

email: lorilncoln@kw.com

phone: 508-878-0917

I am never too busy for your referrals.

Real Estate is on the move again! Lots of activities in the 200-300k price range

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:48:18 -0500

WoW! What a month! May was an extremely busy month for me and many agents in my area. Three of my listings had multiple offers.. I never thought I'd see this again.

It just proves a point.. 80% of the homes on the market are priced out of the market 20% will sell in a timely manner. There are homes IN the market.. then there are homes that are just ON the market.

Buyers appreciate homes in great condition, nicely located real estate that is priced fair.

The $8000.00 tax credit with great interest rates for buyers has also helped. Higher end homes do not seem to be moving as quickly.

Stay tuned for the May 2009 Market reports which I will post this week for Assonet, Berkley, Taunton, Rehoboth, and Somerset.

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Lori Lincoln is a Realtor serving Bristol County Massachusetts and surrounding cities and towns. Lori Lincoln consult and educates her clients, helping them achieve their home buying and selling goals.

You Can Reach Lori at 508-878-0917 or emal lorilincoln@kw.com

http://LincolnTeamRealEstate.com

Keller Williams Realty

Random Thoughts and Ideas "Double Bulletproof" Your Deals- Massachusetts

Thu, 28 May 2009 21:30:59 -0500

In the last 3 years of me being in this business, I have recently noticed a significant change in how lenders have REALLY tightened up guidelines and seem more reluctant to lend money based on some of the most (seemingly) miniscule items. I'm sure most of you have seen this too.

If they are more detailed, we need to be too. Get you transactions "double bulletproofed".

FHA loan underwriters are now looking at all items in the purchase and sales and scrutinizing every minor repair in addendums. They are scrutinizing title 5 inspections . . If an older home passes title 5, the old plans may not be acceptable. New measurements must be taken by the Inspector or an engineer . They want professional diagrams, not handwritten ones from the 60's They want to see how far the well is from the septic, septic to leachfield, property line to well etc..

Strongly urge your sellers to do their own home inspection including a radon test ,mold test, pest inspection prior to listing the home. Radon and Mold issues can throw a transaction into a tailspin, eat up countless hours of your time and cause high anxiety for buyers,sellers (and agents...got any malox?). Ask your sellers to repair ALL items of concern.

This will save so much time before and during the transaction.. .Seller's disclosure- agent's should not be filling in the blanks and checking boxes of a sellers disclosure. The client should fill in the entire form. You don't live there, they do, check off the wrong box or answer the wrong way and you could be liable.

Be sure to alert sellers that repair work must be done by licensed contractors.

Also, be on guard for contractors who say they pulled permits on major work, but may not have.. go to town hall to be sure.. protect your sellers and yourself from future liability.

Hope this helps you.. Happy Selling!

Lori Lincoln

Keller Williams Realty

lorilincoln@kw.com

http://LoriLincolnTeam.com

508-878-0917

Massachusetts Buyers who "get it" are out there now! Positive Signs- Taunton Real Estate

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:57:52 -0500

So much for waiting for the market to bottom. Many home buyers believe that the bottom is NOW. Timing the bottom isn't even mentioned anymore! Sellers who couldn't sell last year are now realizing that yes, they can sell their home.

and the proof is in the homes under agreement and the activitiy that many agents are seeing.

So now.. They know that YES it really is time to buy. With interest rates in the 4-5% range. Low Prices, and of course the first time buyers tax credit..(I'm jealous!).

Forclosure inventory has substantially declined, while inventory is lower than last year at this time. And of course prices are where they were in 2002.

I also noticed this Taunton- ( this is unbelievable, but it came from Broker Metrics Report)

..Average Market Time in Taunton 5 months- (from March Data) . February's Average Market Time was 10 months.

For more information about your area, contact Lori Lincoln at Keller Williams Realty.

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Lori Lincoln is an educated consultant who cares about her clients needs first. She understands the market and knows how to help her clients get what they need and want. Call her today!

Thank you for viewing my blog

For FREE MLS Search in Massachusetts, and For a complete study of your home's value go to http://www.LincolnTeamRealEstate.com

lorilincoln@kw.com

508-878-0917

10 Reasons That You Should Wait to Buy in this Market

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:56:23 -0500

Sarcastic, Yes, Realistic.. very much so.

Via JL Boney, III Columbia, SC Real Estate (Russell and Jeffcoat):

With all the posts out there about how now is the best time in history to run out and buy a home, I thought it only fair to show you the reasons that you should not do so. The last thing this economy needs is for consumers to start spending money, that would actually cause the great deals to go away. Mainly due to the fact that it would cause the economy and the real estate market to recover, and at this point that's the last thing we need.

10- Rent is fun to pay. I mean it's not at all like having to pay your own mortgage, why do that when you can pay a mortgage for someone else. If you went out and bought a home, there would be one less investor out there getting a free house with your money.

9- The amount of homes for sale on the market. There is no need to running out there when you have a ton of homes for sale at your disposal. You should certainly wait for the numbers to dwindle so you will have less of a choice you decide to buy. This will keep you from having to be so picky.

8- The great deals will be the first to go. This will be your indicator that you are getting close to time to start looking. All the good homes will be taken and then you can go sift through the left overs for what you can salvage.

7- Low Interest rates. Low interest rates will cause your mortgage payments to be lower, and this may make you feel like you are not doing your fair share. You should definitely wait around for those rates to rise so you can make a higher monthly payment. Then you won't have to deal with the guilt of saving money.

6- The price of homes for sale. Currently many homes for sale are on the market at very competitive lower prices. If you can manage to hang in there a little longer without buying a home, then you can catch market during or after a recovery. This means that you will get to pay more for the home than you would today.

5- With today's rates and prices, mortgages on many homes for sale are actually cheaper than rent on the same homes. Again this would possibly save you money, and that's not what you want to do. You need to wait for the prices to rise so you're not getting as good of a deal.

4- A 10% of the sales price tax credit up to $8,000. If you were to buy a home now,and you are a first time home buyer, then you would receive this tax credit. If you can hold out until next year, then you will be able to avoid this tax credit all together. This will save you the aggravation of trying to decide what to do with the extra money on next year's tax return.

3-Builder incentives. At present, in addition to the competitive prices, many builders are offering other incentives on new homes. Incentives like a percentage of of the home for sale depending on your employment and reduced pricing on upgrades. Some are even offering free upgrades and tossing in little extras that they normally do not offer in order to sweeten the pot. This would mean that you could get a great deal on a brand new home in your area, and that's the last thing you want. Wait for these deals to be snatched up other buyers before you even consider looking for your new home.

2- Lack of competition for you. Right now with many would be buyers sitting on the fence trying to make a decision, you would have your pick of the litter as far as the homes currently available are concerned. You need to wait until many more buyers are on the search, that way you can possibly end up in multiple offer situations and have to fight another buyer over the home you really want.

1- The pride of home ownership. There is no reason to come home to a home that actually belongs to you. Why not constantly come home to a house that you are buying for someone else.

I hope that in some way this has helped anyone reading to figure out why you should stay on that fence. There are really too many great deals and incentives out there to subject yourself to making a decision as to which one you want. So hang in there and stay on those sidelines. With a little discipline and a little luck you'll be able to avoid all the great deals that this current market has to offer. Best of luck to you.

www.jlboney.com

WOW! Hot Listing Taunton- Government Owned - Great for investor or buyer with a rehab loan

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:51:11 -0500

Government owned house in Taunton, Massachusetts . Neighbors like the location. The house started at $179,000 Now it will probably sell.. its reduced down to Only $114,900. With some TLC, you can flip or live in. Just Call Lori Lincoln for private showing. Buy this one to flip or long term lifestyle asset for first time buyer and others. I've been in this one.. a great buy!

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Call Lori Lincoln for details 508-878-0917. http://LincolnTeamRealEstate.com.

I have full disclosures from HUD regarding this property. Keller Williams Realty- Easton is a HUD Registered broker and has athourity from HUD to promote their listings.

Lori Lincoln is a full time real estate professional with Keller Williams Realty.

East Taunton MA New Listing on Middleboro Ave- Pre-MLS $249,000

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:36:10 -0500

Nice 3 bedroom, well priced home in East Taunton- not a bank owned, distressed or short sale!

Pre-MLS
Recently remodeled throughout in sought after East Taunton.
Set back from the road on a nice lot with no neighbors in back.. this home is painted in nice "pottery barn like" colors, which creates that comfortable feeling that one would desire after working all day. Original Hardwoods were re-finished by hand. The seller took the time to create cathedral ceilings upstairs for a more open feel. He also installed a new 3/4 upstairs bath. The outside of the home is set on a 25,000 square foot lot with no neighbors behind.

worth mentioning:
New Electrical system, title 5 inspection is complete, hard-wired smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Brand New Kitchen, Also known to have one of the best school systems in the area.
Seller is painting the outside of the home this week, and landscaping the front.

If you're tired of short sales and bank owned, call me for an appointment. Don't miss this one.

Oh.. also qualifies for 100% financing through USDA Loan .. call me for details.

The house will officially be on the market in 2 weeks or less. I wanted to make this one available pre-mls to my Activerain and Localism readers.

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Lori Lincoln is a Realtor/Consultant with Keller Williams Realty. She can help you with your home sale and/or your search for a great deal on a new home. Lori Lincoln is a Top Producer and Educator in an office of 124+ agents that care about its clients and their needs.

Lori sells homes in Taunton, Swansea, somerset, Rehoboth, Assonet, Freetown, Lakeville, Berkley and surrouding cities and towns in Ma.

Experience and knowledge in bank owned and investment properties too

Sellers- Need more information call Lori Lincoln for a Free Consultation and Observe the Objective Criteria for your personal situation.

For a free MLS home search go to http://LincolnTeamRealEstate.com

Contact Lori today 508-878-0917

email: lorilincoln@kw.com

Home Sellers in Massachusetts- Must Read this before buying your next house.

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:55:10 -0500

If you're like me you want a plan ahead of time to know exactly where you are going to move next before you decide to sell your house. In my experience in Real Estate working with many home sellers, one big mistake I've seen is home sellers out house shopping for a house without cash before their house in on the market.

Here's what happens: You see five houses with your agent.. then you found "it", the perfect house, perfect yard, perfect living space.. the house of your dreams! You then ask your agent to list your house and you make an offer on the house..

So here's the scenerio:

The listing agent then presents this offer to theirr seller ( the offer has a "house to sell" contingency because you don't have cash and have to sell to buy). The seller thinks about how long houses take to sell and declines your offer .. voila.. now you've just had an emotional breakdown because the listing agent informs your agent that the seller tooka better offer.. which doesn't necessarily mean a higher price. Usually it means another buyer could be non-contingent sooner or not at all.

The best way to be a trade up buyer is to have your home listed.. have your agent that lists your home also be your buyers agent on your next home.. He or She can keep you informed bi-weekly, weekly or even daily on what has come on the market and where they are.. You can drive by them.. but don't see them until your house is under contract. Just keep these homes in mind and when the time comes be ready to make an offer on a house you love... oh and be pre-approved for your next loan too.

Also, I noticed that buyers WILL shy away from "subject to seller finding suitable housing". Just give the buyer and yourself 60 days to close. You should be able to find a suitable home within this time frame. The statement "Subject to suitable housing "just doesn't work in today's market. It causes the buyers to think "Gosh, I could be waiting forever!".

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Lori sells homes in Taunton, Swansea, somerset, Rehoboth, Assonet, Freetown, Lakeville, Berkley and surrouding cities and towns in Ma.

Experience and knowledge in bank owned and investment properties too

Sellers- Need more information call Lori Lincoln for a Free Consultation and Observe the Objective Criteria for your personal situation.

For a free MLS home search go to http://LincolnTeamRealEstate.com

Contact Lori today 508-878-0917

email: lorilincoln@kw.com

Today Matters!- You just cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:11:50 -0500

With all of the media pointing to the market conditions of real estate and the economy..it is imperative..no critical that our thoughts stays in check. I once heard or read that "thoughts are things". What we put into our mind will ultimately manifest itself in its physical form.. The old adage.. garbage in..garbage out is still true.

We all get off track from time to time. So lets start with the basics:

Follow these steps for a happier, more prosperous life:

1. Wake up every day and thank God for all that you have. then pray for direction and focus.

2. Do NOT listen to the news. Try upbeat and/or uplifiting music

3. Stay away from negative influencing people. You know who they are. "The sky is fallling" type.

4. When someone says you can't.. contradict the statement so it doesn't infiltrate your mind.. even if you have to say it to your self.. " Sorry pal, you're wrong! " Here is my mind talk "I can do all things through Christ who strenghthens me". Yours might be different.

5. When delivering not so good news, offset it with some positive news. i.e.. " The market will bear a price of $XX, I know that this is lower than you thought.. however the good news is, that when you buy your next house, you will buy low too, and at a much lower interest rate.

6. Be the little engine that could-keep climbing uphill and you will gain momentum in no time

7. Be the solution not the problem.

8. Chose to be successful- make the choice right now and create an action plan daily. Don't just dream, DO.

9. Set Goals and acheive them, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly

It isn't easy working in this world, but it doesn't have to take a toll on you physically, mentally and spiritually. Be careful about what you think about because it all starts here. It's your choice.

Thank you for viewing my blog

Lori Lincoln is a Realtor Consultant with Keller Williams Realty. Lori sells homes and property and works with buyers and sellers in Bristol County Ma and surrounding areas including Attleboro, Rehoboth, Taunton, Somerset, Seekonk, Berkley, Dighton , Assonet, Freetownand more

You can reach her by phone at 508-878-0917 or email lorilincoln@kw.com

Foreclosure Alternatives from Mortgage companies Brockton Massachusetts Easton

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:07:46 -0500

Great Blog on Foreclosure Alternatives. It applies to bristol county MA Massachusetts as well.

Via Brian Fenstermaker (Keller Williams Realty):

What are the foreclosure alternatives for borrowers who are having trouble making their payments? What actions should a borrower take to pursue these alternatives?
There are several alternatives for a borrower that is having trouble making payments. Some of the alternatives available include:

Repayment Plan: A Repayment Plan is used when you have experienced a temporary reduction in income or financial hardship. This option is structured to cure the delinquency over a period of time by paying a full amount, plus a partial payment on the delinquent amount, each month. An initial down payment is required. The amount of the partial payment will be based on your financial situation and your initial down payment. It is important to note, a repayment plan will only be considered if there has been a positive change in your financial situation. For example, if you were previously unemployed but have found employment, we may consider a repayment plan provided you are able to make an initial down payment, and you have the ability to pay the increased monthly amount due while keeping your real estate taxes paid current.

Loan Modification: If you have experienced a permanent reduction in income due to a severe medical hardship, loss of a spouse, legitimate increase in expenses, or other permanent hardship, a loan modification may be offered. Based on your individual financial situation, your mortgage company may be able to change one or more of the original terms of your loan and reduce the monthly payment amount. It is important to note, a modification is done only in hardship situations.

Pre-Foreclosure Sale: "Listing your Property for Sale." If you believe that you will continue to have difficulty making your mortgage and real estate tax payments, and that your hardship or reduced income is permanent, you may want to consider listing your property for sale. Housing values in your area may have declined which may result in an offer to purchase that is less than the total debt due on the property. In some instances, your mortgage company may accept less than the amount we are owed, but in order for them to consider this option, you must submit a package of financial information along with information about the proposed sale.

Deed-in-lieu of Foreclosure: A deed in lieu of foreclosure is essentially a transfer of property to the lender in consideration for forgiveness of the debt. There are some advantages to this process over foreclosure. One benefit is that your mortgage company may waive any right to a deficiency judgment against you if the property is subsequently sold for a loss. A second advantage is that while a deed in lieu of foreclosure may be noted on your credit bureau record, you avoid having a completed foreclosure on your credit bureau record. We will consider accepting this option if the reason for the delinquency was beyond your control and you have been cooperative in seeking alternatives to foreclosure.

Partial Claims-for FHA Loans Only: Your mortgage company may be able to work with you to obtain a one-time payment from the FHA Insurance fund to bring your mortgage current. You may qualify if:
Your loan is at least 4 months delinquent, but no more than 12 months delinquent, and you are able to begin making full mortgage payments. When your lender files a Partial Claim, HUD will pay your lender the amount necessary to bring your mortgage current. You must execute a Promissory Note, and a Lien will be placed on your property until the Promissory Note is paid in full. The Promissory Note is interest-free and is due when you pay off the first mortgage or sell the property.

Full Reinstatement: Full repayment of all past due monies, including foreclosure expenses, to bring the loan current. This is the best option as it completely ceases foreclosure and any further collection action.

Full Payoff: A Payoff, in which the note is paid in full, leaves no loan balance, and the lien against the real estate is released by your mortgage company.

What documents must be provided by the borrower when discussing foreclosure alternatives with the lender?
Before we can recommend the most appropriate workout option, it is important that we have a complete understanding of your current financial situation. As part of this process, we may need you to provide certain documentation, such as tax returns, recent pay stubs, bank statements, and a hardship letter outlining the events which have caused you difficulty in maintaining your monthly payments.

HUD-Certified Counseling Agencies:
To obtain more information about HUD-certified housing counseling agencies please call 888-995-4673 (HOPE)
or 800-569-4287.

Foreclosure Consequences
It is very important to know what can happen when a lender forecloses on your home. Not only will you lose your home and all the money you have invested in it, but the foreclosure goes on your credit bureau record and may negatively impact your ability to obtain another mortgage in the future. In some states, you can be held liable for any loss the lender experiences in selling the home.

The lender is required to report all foreclosures and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure to the Internal Revenue Service, and you may have increased tax liability, since the IRS may view these events as forgiveness of debt.

Brian Fenstermaker has been selling real eastate full time for 20 years. He is a great listing and sales agent. Also in that time he has become a short sale specialist. You can reach him by e-mail at befrealtor@aol.com

Taunton MA- Real Estate Report for February-Good News Report

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:09:24 -0600

While the media reports on a dismal economy.. they mis-lead us into believing the sky is falling.

While unemployment is around 7% nationwide.. doesn't this mean that 93% are employed?

While 1 in 10 homes are "under water" doesn't this mean that 90% of the other homeowners are NOT?

When there is a chance of sun.. why don't we hear this report? Instead we hear about the chance of rain?

So now, I am on a mission to de-program my brain to positive channels.. what about you?

So on with the report:

Currently there are 164 single family homes in the market in Taunton ( In December there were 190!)

Last month-13 sold

Currently under agreement- 27!

Multi family homes-

Currently on the market 57

Last month there were 82!

Sold last month-11

Multi family homes under agreement- 14!

Trends- I noticed that the bank owned homes are moving and recieving multiple offers. In fact, all priced right homes are selling fast!!

First time buyers are really out there buying well priced well located real estate. For buyers, this is a great time to buy.. as a lifestyle asset that will more than likely appreciate greatly over time.

Interest Rates are the lowest I've ever seen! I paid 11% on my first house- a condo at $100,000 back in 1987! My payment was in excess of $1100 per month.

The same $100,000 condo is now about $500-600 per month based on a 5-6% rate. This is less than rent! I don't understand some of the fence sitting. Buyers- take advantage of these opportunities. Nobody knows if the market will keep going down. we will all be looking in the rear view mirror when it does happen.

.... but we do know that interest rates WILL go up!

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Lori Lincoln is a Realtor/Consultant with Keller Williams Realty. She can help you with your home sale and/or your search for a great deal on a new home. Lori Lincoln is a Top Producer and Educator in an office of 124+ agents that care about its clients and their needs.

For a free MLS home search go to http://LincolnTeamRealEstate.com

Contact Lori today 508-878-0917

email: lorilincoln@kw.com

A Definition of Skill

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:45:13 -0600

Thank you Bobbie Files!

Via Bobbie Files Realtor® Berkley, Greater Taunton Homes for Sale (Keller Williams Realty):

In my office I am known as the "go-to" person by my fellow agents for advice / help and as a sounding board. I feel honored that I am thought of in such a flattering manner by those that I work with, some of whom are major hitters in our market area.

Well, the other day I got a call from one of these agents (p.s. she is an avid Active Rainer so I hope she doesn't mind me kissing and telling) to tell me about her bad day. A closing that was to happen that day didn't. Uuuugghh!!! I know we ALL know how that feels....the DAY OF closing to have it all blow up. It stinks!

She told me that before the closing she took the buyer to their final walk thru, which they did not want to do as they felt it wasn't necessary as the home was vacant due to foreclosure and they were just there a couple of weeks ago, well this agent insisted that it was important irregardless of the fact that the home was vacant.

Well off to the walk thru they go......

To their shock, horror, and dismay all the plumbing had been stolen (thank you economy for making people desperate enough for money that they have to resort to this). It appeared to them that the burgular was going to come back as the heating system was neatly dismantled and put in a pile close to the door. Who needs a house with no plumbing? How much will it cost to rectify? Who cares either way as the buyer should not have to take it on.............but would have without the final walk thru!!!!!!!!! Calling all buyers do you hear me YOU WOULD HAVE OWNED THAT IF YOU HADN'T DONE YOUR FINAL WALK THROUGH!!!!

So, this agent is venting to me how upset she is and that this day was horrible and she is on her way home.

Horrible?????? What?????? I said you have to be kidding me, this wasn't a horrible day! Quite to the contrary it was a great day! Your skill as a buyers agent saved your buyer from closing on a home that they wouldn't have purchased in that condition!! You saved yourself from a lawsuit by preventing the sale because as a buyers agent that is something a reasonable man could see and a reasonable man would be expected to know and disclose. You also instilled into your buyer the importance of EVERY step of the transaction and your value as a competent buyers agent!

You actually had a GREAT DAY!!!

The moral of my story.......every situation has a flip side and a quality REALTOR is worth every penny they save you!!

What . . . you want plumbing in your house too??

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:41:44 -0600

The blog was written by Luke.. a professional Attorney serving Bristol County and surrounding areas. When you use Luke Travis when you buy or sell real estate, you will have no worries about phone calls and communication from him. I love this title!

Via Luke Travis (Reed, Boyce & Travis, PC):

Another cautionary tale. I just had a closing postponed (and maybe won't ever close) due to the final walk though on a Fannie Mae owned property which revealed that all of the copper piping had been neatly and expertly removed from the house!! The property had only been under agreement for 3-4 weeks. It was a cash deal for the buyer and so no appraiser had visited. The house itself is in need of extensive repair but the condition now is significantly worse. If it were not for the buyer's broker insisting that the buyer do a final walk through on the morning of the closing, we would have closed and gone to record without knowing. I can only imagine Fannie Mae's unwillingness to undue the deal after it had closed. The buyer was not inclined to do the walk initially, as she knew repairs were going to be needed anyway. Little did she know how much repair was need. Fortunatly, it did not close and Fannie Mae is faced with accepting a much lower offer from this buyer (if she choses to do so) or letting the property sit for a while (maybe a long while) longer. Good work by this buyer's broker. Lesson . . do not ever skip a final walk through on any sale. Who knows, they could have taken the whole house away!!

Taunton-Rehoboth-Attleboro Real Estate- Interpreting the Housing Stimulus

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:12:18 -0600

What a complex undertaking. So many questions, not enough answers

Here's what I interpret so far:

1. An $8000.00 tax credit will be awarded to first time home buyers who buy a home between December 2008 and December 2009. The credit will be awarded to new homeowners who haven't owned a home in over 3 years.

2. Foreclosures: Millions of distressed homeowners will be helped through interest rate reductions, principal balance reductions and more. The government is urging or mandating banks to reduce monthly payments on loans to 31% of the borrowers income and fix this payment for 5 years or more.

The big question: Will this bill really help reduce the number of foreclosures?

My take: If the rest of the stimulus package works, market values of homes may start to stabilize in some parts of Bristol County Massachusetts. Now don't get me wrong, I said STABILIZE. Some home owners and others actually think we will start seeing gains in home value next year. I believe we have much longer..but woulld love for somebody to prove me wrong!

The good news: 92% of the country still are gainfully employed

The other good news: 90% of home owners in this country are NOT in arrears on their mortgage.

AND.. the other great news: bank owned homes will not be as plentiful. Nobody can predict the future, including me. We can only offer opinions on what we see right now. Anything can change.

Either way, it is always a great time to buy well great property.

Lori Lincoln of Keller Williams Realty is an Educated Realtor/Consultant who puts her clients first. Lori Lincoln communicates with her clients her experience and knowledge of current trends, mortgage news and more so they wil make the most informed Real Estate Decision

Shifting Markets Require Educated Agents.. That Consult and Care! 7 things that Bug Me.

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:01:09 -0600

So I've seen and heard some craziness among a few individuals in our profession. Most of the unprofessionals left the business, but I still observe some these pet peeves of mine at times. I am not the perfect one, so if you ever catch me in any of the following, speak up!

1. Short Sales- my pet peeve is working with the other agent who represents the other side of the transaction and they just aren't educated on how short sales work. .. the good, the bad.. the ugly. My opinion.. if you don't know about short sales.. get educated BEFORE you start working with buyers and sellers, because they are trusting their Realtor to know and help them. You cannot be their fiduciaryagent if you aren't educated.

2. First Time Buyers and Bank Owned Property-many times buyers agents just don't educate themselves enough to inform their buyers that their lender's chance of approving a loan for a home with no heat, busted pipes and lots of fixes are slim to none!

3. Pre-Approval Letters- A real big one. A buyer called me earlier this week saying he was pre-approved. I looked at the letter and it said he was pre-qualified. I prefer to have a trusted loan officer consult and take a full application using desktop underwriting. This young man was mis-led, and his bubble was burst.

4. Over the Top Over Priced Listings- Why do we still see 70% of our home listings overpriced. Why take a listing, invest your hard earned money and precious time on something that will not sell? We are all guilty of this... some more than others. What the heck are we hoping for?.. some schmuck buyer to fall from the sky who has "sucker" written all over himself? I still see them $100,000 over priced. We do such a disservice to our sellers and the public when we aren't upfront about the comparables, absorption rates, etc.

5. No Photos - Another big one. I cannot tell you how many buyers tell me that they prefer to shop online first. They will pick the homes they like based on the interior and exterior photos. If a listings has just one or two pictures, they will think something is wrong with the house. So now the listing just sits and sits.. 300..400.. 500.. 600 days on the market. OUCH!

6. MLS Descriptions on listings-Did you know that it is a given that the buyer expects the heating system to work, the septic system to be in good operating order. and the words "Motivated Seller" cry out "I'm desperate.". Please stop listing the mechanicals. Use this valuable MLS space to "sell" the reasons why a buyer might like the house. Instead of using "Motivated Seller", just get them to reduce the price.

7. Allowing Buyers to view homes on lock box without you, the agent- Did you know that if something were to happen, you could be held responsible? Your buyer could get hurt.. and if they went to the property without their agent, fell down on ice, stairs etc.. just NOT A GOOD IDEA.. Furthermore, it isn't the right thing. If you cannot make it, schedule a time when you can. IF the buyer doesn't understand and wants to work with someone else because you won't let them go alone.. find another buyer, it just isn't worth the angst.

Rehoboth MA- Diverse Property in Rehoboth MA- 2 family horse farm. The best of both worlds!

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:18:35 -0600

Nice Location on Side Street in Rehoboth, 10 minutes to Attleboro, 20 minutes to Pawtucket RI, 30 minutes to Providence. 1 hour to Boston. Hillside Country Club and Rehoboth Country Club, Crestwood Country Club are close by. Rehoboth is known for having several Golf courses.

Current use is horse farm

When you rent out one side, your payment would be between $500.-$600 per month.. leaving you enough to take up horseback riding, or just enjoy this 2.5 acre space.

Rehoboth school system ranks among the best of the best in the state of Massachusetts. for more information on school reports, neighborhood information and to see more photos go to http://LincolnTeamRealEstate.com

to view school reports and more neighborhood information.

If you would like to see this house or other homes in Rehoboth MA, please contact Lori Lincoln

Keller Williams Realty at 508-878-0917, email lorilincoln@kw.com

If you would like to know the value of your home please visit:

http://RehobothHouseValue.com

Lori Lincoln serves the needs of home buyers and sellers in Rehoboth MA and Bristol County Massachusetts

Search the Entire Massachusetts MLS FREE, with street addresses at http://www.LoriLincolnTeam.com

Need to save for your children's college education? You can make an extra $200,000 investing in real estate. Let me show you how.

Lori Lincoln 508-878-0917

email lorilincoln@kw.com

Bill Gassett's Real Estate Articles Worth Reading

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:13:00 -0600

It just keeps getting better. I was going to blog about selling your home in a buyers market, but Bill said it for me.. read on!

Via Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty):

The following Real Estate articles cover a variety of topics including short sales, loan modifications, deed in lieu of foreclosure, USDA Loans, tips on selling your home, tax deductions, internet and social marketing, plus many others.

I hope a few of them you may find useful for your particular circumstances. Hopefully some of the articles may teach you a good tip that you may not have thought about or even cause you to think differently.

Working as a Metrowest Massachusetts Realtor for the last twenty three years I have learned quite a bit. Real Estate is a field where you can learn something new almost every week! Real Estate is one of my passions...enjoy.

Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Massachusetts Home

There are a miriad of mistakes you can make when selling a home in Massachusetts. This article details some of the top mistakes and offers suggestions on how you can avoid them. Topics include pricing your home properly, selecting an excellent Realtor, and staging your home to sell among others.

Assessed Home Values Rarely Fair Market Value

This article details one of the top misconceptions in Real Estate. Assessed Home values rarely are the same as fair market value! In fact assessed values are nothing more than a yard stick for a municipality to collect an appropriate amount of taxes to sufficiently cover the state a local appropriations to the city and town.

Best Remodeling Projects Cost V.S Value For Your Home

There are many improvements that you can make to your home that have very little return. Other home improvements can have a real impact. This article details the average rate of return from around the country for various remodeling projects. The statistics are taken from the annual National Association of Realtors report.

Tax Deductions To Remember When Getting A Home Loan

When getting a mortgage to buy a home there are certain deductions that you are afforded by the Internal Revenue Service that you should be aware of come tax time in April. The article details some of the deductions you may forget about when buying a home.

Selling Your Home In A Buyers Market

There are quite a few people who have thought about selling their home but have not due to the steep decline in market values over the last few years. This is understandable UNLESS you are going to be buying another home under the same market conditions! Sure you will lose some of the equity that was in your home but you will make it up on the other end. Read further for an example as well as some tips on making your home sale go smoother.

Social Marketing, Blogging, Short Sales and the seller I Never Met

A run down of picking a Realtor with a social media marketing strategy combined with a strong internet presence, can be a tremendous assistance in getting a home sold in today's challenging Real Estate market. Covers an important tip on why your should "Google" the agents names you are interviewing to sell your home.

Energy Saving Tips For The Winter Months

In this article you will find a number of tips in order to make your home more energy efficient especially in the Winter months. Who doesn't want to save money on their home? Come and take a peak.

Foreclosure Avoiding It Through A Short Sale Or Loan Modification

The last thing anyone wants is to lose their home to foreclosure. There are other options available including a Short Sale and loan modification. Each of these concepts are explained in detail. There are advantages for both the home owner and the bank. Find out why short sales have become a common term in Real Estate.

Deed In Lieu Of Foreclosure And Short Sales

The terms deed in lieu of foreclosure and short sales are both explained as a means for a home owner to avoid the costly and embarrising foreclosure proceedings. Banks are not in the business of owning Real Estate and would prefer not to be a home owner.

Selling Your Home Does Not Have To Be A Mystery

Selling your home should not be a mystery when you have it priced properly and have selected a Realtor that knows how to create an online presence for you. A proper price according to comparable market data and a coordinated marketing effort are the two most important factors that will lead to a successful sale. Come in and take a look....let me read your mind.

USDA Loans Mortgage Option For Low To No Down Payment

With a USDA loan a borrower can do 100% financing! These loans are given to those that live in a rural area. The term "rural" has loose definitions but generally speaking areas with under a population of 20,000 qualify. USDA loans (US Department of Agriculture) aka Section 502 loans are an excellent mortgage vehicle for those who do not have money to put down but have decent credit ratings

Real Estate Capital Gains When Selling Your Home

There are many who do not realize the current capital gains laws when selling a home. The current capital gains tax law when selling your personal residence allows for an exclusion of up to $250,000 in profit if you are single and $500,000 if married. In order to be eligible you must have lived in your home for two of the last five years. The property must be your personal residence and can not be an investment property. As of January 1st 2009 there is a new modification that eliminates a tax loop hole for the rich. Read further to see how the law has changed.

When To Lock Your Mortgage Interest Rate

One of the considerations when applying for a home loan is when to actually lock the mortgage rate. Of course those that do not lock right away are gambling with their future loan payment. More often than not the best time to lock a rate is right away.

Massachusetts FHA Morgage Loans

An explanation of FHA mortgage loans and why they can be beneficial to those that do not have a large down payment. Currently you need a down payment as low as 3.5% with an FHA loan.

***Comments are welcome and can be done within each individual post at the comment box on the bottom of each article.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Author: The above Real Estate articles worth reading was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356.

Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Metrowest Mass Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Douglas, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

Subscribe in a reader

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.

The Big FSBO Lie

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:56:04 -0600

I like to give my readers thought provoking insights on the market. Here's one from my friend Rodger. The title is harsh.. but needs to be communicated.

Via Roger Johnson, Realtor - Hickory NC Real Estate (CENTURY 21 American Homes):

People give several reasons for trying to do a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) on their property. The reasons are really as varied as the people doing it. In most cases, however, all those "reasons" boil down to one thing, the commission to an agent. It's all over the Internet as well. Tons of posts on how to Sell it Yourself and SAVE the Commission. Simply type in FSBO tips, or FSBO how to and see the list. Here's the real truth and why it's a Big FSBO Lie; Whether you sell it yourself or you list with an agent, you will rarely, if ever, save the commission.

Wow, I bet you're saying, "harsh words, Roger." Especially if you are, or are considering, selling FSBO. This article is not about whether it's a good idea to sell a home yourself or not. If you are planning on trying, you need to do it for the right reasons. If it's because you think you can save the commission, read on.

First, determine where you read that you can save the commission by selling it yourself. Most FSBO articles are written by one of two groups of people.

The first group is the FSBO websites and magazines. Of course they are going to be saying that. They make money off of you, as a FSBO (by the way, there went some of that 'savings'). Tack on their Premium Flat-Fee Listing Service that many offer and you've lost some more of that savings.

The second group of people that promote this are real estate investors that have the "We Buy Houses" systems in place. Real estate investors buy property at a discount and resell. Their primary source of properties? You guessed it, FSBO's. Now, if you need to sell fast and are in a position to do so, this may be an excellent option (more on this in a later article), but don't pretend that you're saving the commission, here. Any money that would have been paid as a commission is going into the investor's pocket, not yours.

Second, you have to determine your marketing costs to advertise your property effectively.

Selling a house is just not as easy as buying one of those nice red and white "For Sale By Owner" yard signs and waiting on the phone to ring. You have to do some serious marketing in order to give yourself the best chance of getting a qualified buyer in the door. All that marketing, and marketing dollars, are usually spent by the agent. That's part of the commission cost. If you don't hire an agent, then you have to foot that bill. At a minimum, you can expect to spend approximately $1000 to $2000 dollars on advertising a property. Nudge a little more off that savings, again.

Third, you have to determine the value of YOUR time.

Almost no one considers this aspect of FSBO. It is going to take a lot of your personal time to sell your home. Answering phone calls, showing the home, updating information on the Web, qualifying buyers are just a small sampling of what you will be responsible for when selling on your own. If you spend just 60 hours total working on selling your home, at $50 an hour, you've racked up a $3000 charge to yourself. It will probably be a lot more than 60 hours, too. You may be fine with that, but you're going to EARN that $3K, not save it!

Fourth, you have to know who really pays the commission.

What? you say. The seller pays the commission, everybody knows that! Do they now? Sure, the commission comes out of the seller's proceeds (ie, the sales price), but where does that money come from? The buyer. Without a buyer, there is no sale. Without a sale, there is no commission. Simple comparison: If I'm pumping gas and I give you $10 to pay the cashier, who actually paid the cashier? (Credit to John Locke for the analogy)

Buyers looking at FSBO's know this and if you have any chance of selling to them, you're going

Why Your Metrowest Massachusetts Home Expired

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:43:39 -0600

My friend Bill Gassett is a true Professional. Number one in his market of Metro West Ma. Sells many homes and knows what he is doing.

Sellers, Please, Please Read.. this applies to all local markets

Via Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty):

As a Realtor you are able to get on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) everyday and see countless homes that have "expired".

The number one reason why any home expires and does not sell is because of an improper price. Unfortunately, this is the hardest obstacle in Real Estate to overcome.

In today's challenging Real Estate market, the price that is set on your home can be more than 75% of the marketing. What do I mean by that? Simply, if you come on the market at the wrong price, the best Realtor in the country with the most sophisticated marketing will not be able to get the job done.

There is no easy way to say this. Pick the wrong price and you will be doomed to languish on the market. All the marketing and advertising will be wasted along with a lot of time.

Time, as in "time on market", is one of the most important Real Estate statistics. This is the one piece of data that every buyer asks for when viewing a home. In fact I can't ever remember a buyer not asking me "Bill how long has this home been on the market?" Every buyer wants to know this because if the home has been on the market for a long time, the buyer feels like there will be more room to negotiate. It is just human nature. Buyers also may feel there could be something wrong with the home when it has been on the market for an usually extended period of time.

The way the MLS system works in Massachusetts prevents a Realtor from re-listing a home to set the days on market back to zero. This used to be a common practice before the MLS board got smart. This change was made a few years ago in order to make market statistics actually valid and not allow a Realtor to deceive the public by manipulating market data. In order for a homes days on market to be reset to zero it now must be off the market for 91 days.

As far as negotiating, sellers are in the drivers seat when a home comes on the market.

See also Selling your home does not have to be a mystery.

This leads me to the next most important consideration. Do not pick a crappy Realtor! Picking a poor Real Estate agent and proper pricing in many cases go hand in hand.

There is a dirty little practice in Real Estate known as "buying a listing" that many Realtors employ as part of their business practice.

You see in many cases when a seller is interviewing multiple agents, a lesser skilled agent resorts to telling a seller what they want to hear in order to get the listing.

We all want to believe our homes are better than Mr. & Mrs. Jone's home that just sold down the street. This is just human nature at it's finest. A poor Realtor knows this and uses it to their advantage.

With a long term contract in hand and not much activity on your home, the Realtor starts to beat you over the head to reduce your price.

Folks the Real Estate data never lies but Realtors do! Avoid falling into this trap at all costs. Being tied to this kind of agent is the pits. You may be able to drop your price but you signed a contract and will be stuck with this agent until the contract expires.

What can you do to avoid getting stick with a less than stellar Realtor? Ask smart Real Estate interview questions! One of the best pieces of information to find out about the Realtor you are thinking about hiring is their list price to sale price ratio from the original list price and their average days on market.

You should be looking for an agent that beats the averages for your area. It goes without saying that a Realtors previous track record is an important consideration.

Just like in any other good interview process, the agent you select should have an excellent resume.

Actually this is a funny subject because most Realtors have their past client list already typed up and ready to hand to you. I admit it I do too.

The thing is nobody is going to give you a list of clients that are going to say things like "Bill was awful to work with", "Bill's service sucked", "Bill never returned calls".

Remember anyone that is on the list is probably the Realtors best clients. The agent has probably asked the client if they could be included on the reference list. What you are going to hear are the finest compliments about the Realtor. I have always thought this was really hokey.

Believe it or not I don't even ask permission for the people I have on my list. I take a leap of faith that they were happy with my services. Another way around this is to ask the agent for a list of homes that they have sold and just do your own home work. If the agent asks why you want a list you should just tell them you want to see what kind of homes they have sold. Pick up the phone and call a few people. It certainly can't hurt!

Look for A Realtor that is Internet savvy and has a social media marketing strategy. The majority of all buyers find their home online. You need an agent that knows how to make your home the center of attention online.

When looking for an internet savvy Realtor you should do a few things....Google the agents name, an address of a property they are marketing, and a very competitive term like the town, state and Real Estate as keywords.

An Internet savvy Realtor will have pages and pages of results for their name. You may also learn things that could be important about this agent.

If you Google the address of a home they are marketing you will see all the places on line where your home will be found.

There should be a mix of websites, blogs, and videos. Searching for a term like "Hopkinton MA Real Estate" for example, which buyers will do by the way, will show which agents have a real strong website.

If you can get on the 1st page for this kind of search term when you are competing with the big boys like Realtor.com, Homes.com and Trulia.com you have found an agent that knows their way around the net or at the very least their web provider does.

See also Social marketing blogging short sale and the seller I never met and

Selling your home in a buyers market

Pricing your home incorrectly and picking a Realtor with poor business skills are the two most likely reasons why your home has expired. There are however, a few other reasons that can contribute to the possibility of making your sale more difficult to achieve.

Other reasons include a home that does not show well. At the very least your home should be neat and clean.

Access to your home should not be difficult. If you place a bunch of restrictions on when your home can be shown you will increase the likelihood that your home will take a lot longer to sell.

Lastly you should make sure you get out of the house when it is being shown. This is Real Estate 101. A buyer and their agent should be able to walk around the home freely and speak their thoughts without worrying about the seller lurking around the corner.

Here is a neat little video that summarizes some excellent home selling tips.

See top ten mistakes to avoid when selling your Massachusetts home for a complete summary of things to avoid.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Author: The above Real Estate article why your Metrowest home expired was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356.

Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Metrowest Mass Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Douglas, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

Subscribe in a reader

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.

No More Banks or Mortgage Bankers Needed?

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:37:04 -0600

I loved this post. It probably won't happen,but makes interesting reading!

Via Fred Glick B.S., ePro® REALTOR®/Mortgage Brkr (U S Spaces, Inc & U S Loans Mortgage LLC):

If you caught my CNBC segment the other day, I briefly mentioned the idea of eliminating a few steps in the process of getting a loan.

Since the federal government now controls most of the mortgage underwriting standards in the US anyway, let's try something new and less expensive for the consumer!

1. Combine Fannie, Freddie, FHA and VA into one agency. Make a set of underwriting guidelines that everyone can follow and be consistent.

2. Have the U S government guarantee every mortgage because of a small mortgage fee on every loan (like .25 of a point in fee, a la the NY mortgage tax). This way, if a loan goes into default, the balance of what is not covered by foreclosing is paid in by the fund.

3. Licenses, train, bond, background check and check up on loan originators. Then the licensees can originate a loan and have the government agency fund it directly. The Feds can then sell the loans off as new-age Mortgage Backed Securities to investors.

4. Currently, homes that go to foreclosure that are "rough" can only be bought, in cash, by investors. How about a program that gives people money to fix the home and a mortgage/inspection contingency so that homeowners can buy more homes!

5. Instead of the $7500 credit, how about a direct 5% down payment that is paid back over 15 years with 4% interest for the government. Then, if you default on the mortgage, your rate would go to 12% and it would come out of your tax refund.

This way, we can get people into homes with low down payments again, but with a real hammer if they don't pay!

6. We can offer a 100% program a la the way VA does it. Again, if you default, the top 5% would come from your tax refunds!

7. If a loan has to go to foreclosure, there will be a limit as to what a loan servicer gets (including legal fees) and when a loan goes more than 60 days, the servicing fee would be shut off unless certain guidelines are met.

We need the entire mortgage business restructured, streamlined and made more practical.

These items above get it going.

Rehoboth Ma Real Estate- More Banks Really Are Likely Work With Homeowers Who Are Late With Their Mortgage.. if The Homeowner communicates.

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:51:11 -0600

I met with a woman this past summer that was 3 months past due with her mortgage. I recommended that she call the bank and see if she can get them to help her stay in her home. She lost her high paying job, took a new job that where she was earning far less than what she was when she first bought her home. Further, she has a pay option arm mortgage.

The homeowner called me this morning and informed me of how grateful she was:

She worked out minimum monthly payment agreement for 6 months with her mortgage company last month.

However...

This month she couldn't make the payment again, but she called her bank. She indicated that the Loss Mitigator was compassionate and understanding.

The bank gave her another agreement for 6 months until she "got back on her feet". this time, the bank lowered the payment signifigantly lower than the last agreed upon amount, the homeowner felt that her new payment would help her keep her home. They also said she could wait until February 15th to make her first new, new payment!!

The bank also said she should call "Hope Now" a non-profit organization that will advise and assist homeowners who are behind in their payments. Some options are: Short Sale, Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, Loan Modification and Refinance.

I cannot give the rest of the

We see people loosing their homes every day. If the homeowners see a problem, they should call their bank as soon as possible. The bank really doesn't want to foreclose. It costs them more money to repossess the house.

Since home prices have drastically fallen, more and more financial institutions are not as quite as quick to play the foreclosure card.

Moral: If you are falling behind on your mortgage payments.. CALL YOUR BANK or Mortgage Company right away.. you

Lori Lincoln is a successful Professional Realtor/Consultant with Keller Williams Realty. Lori Lincoln is one of the few educated full time professionals in the area that works on a higher level

Lori sells homes in Rehoboth, Taunton, Dighton, Assonet, and other Surrounding Communities in Bristol County Massachusetts.

You can reach Lori

Fran's Friday Forum For Freedom Fraught Fealty Filled Friends...!!!

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:00:53 -0600

Fran,

Readers: Read this comical "Friday Forum" from Fran the title man

This is too funny. Very true. I am married to a man of few words.. I am the big mouth.

Via Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.):

C'mon, go out and get those dictionaries opened and discover new words and add them to your vocabulary...!!!

*******

A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day...30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, 'The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men...The husband then turned to his wife and asked, 'What?'

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One of my favorite sayings is, "You learn something new every day"...And if you don't think that's true, you're probably in the wrong business...

Actually, that's true in any business...and, in fact, it's true in life as well...!

Whether you're a pot washer, a candle maker, a floor sweeper, a title person, or whatever, you ought to be able to do a better job today with what you learned yesterday, and the day before, and so on...

It's all about attitude...

We all have brains...even though the smartest among us uses a very small portion of it...

Our capacity to learn is without limits...it's like a hard drive that can never be filled...an amazing gift God gave us...

It's TGIF...let's vow to amend our thinking and our actions to accomplish at least one small thing each day...and guess what...after not too many months of this kind of thinking...we're going to see real success in our lives...

Yes, our bank accounts may be diminishing, our financial assets eroding, but WHO WE ARE should always be increasing...

Think about it...and be thankful...!!!