A Short Sale Dream - 01/30/11 10:24 AM
A Short Sale Dream
Last summer, I listed a home for sale that ended up being a short sale when it recently closed.  In terms of working with the seller's lender, this was, by far, the best experience I have ever had with obtaining short sale approval - A Short Sale Dream!
Why was it a dream?
1)      After buyer and seller agreed to terms, I sought approval of the contract from a Collections Representative at Seller's bank.  She was easily reachable by either phone or email and always returned my calls promptly or emailed me right back.  This bank had … (6 comments)

Writer's Block and Comfort Food - 01/29/11 10:39 AM
Writer's Block and Comfort Food
I think the pressure of this challenge to post every day in January is finally getting to my poor over-loaded brain and it is beginning to rebel!  I've made it this far and now I've hit a wall - the dreaded Writer's Block!
After a busy week of the real estate biz and its gnarly issues, I'm facing a busy, overbooked weekend with the added pleasure of having to ready my hubby for a last minute out-of-town biz trip (he's going to FL for 2 weeks - And yes, I've checked my schedule and I can't … (11 comments)

Yes they will put a hold on that check! - 01/28/11 04:22 PM
I read this post by Jim Braun awhile ago and thought it was good information for Home Buyers, but surely all REALTORS would know this and advise accordingly!  Not so, Watson!  I found myself with a delayed closing just recently because a Buyer on a Cash Deal didn't know that they couldn't sell stock and get the check in 2 days - I represented the Sellers; it was a short sale; the delay was gut-wrenching for them.  When the extension paperwork was flying fast and furious, I mentioned that Buyers needed to be sure the local bank would not put a hold on … (2 comments)

Musicians Wanted! - 01/26/11 06:03 PM
Musicians Wanted - Move to Bath and Play in the Band!
I read in our local newspaper, The Times Record, the other day that the Bath Municipal Band is looking for some new folks to play along!  They are recruiting musicians!
The Municipal Band is one of the really cool, throw-back to yester-year, kind of things about the City of Bath that I really love.  Picture a warm, summer evening in Library Park.  Young families, couples of all ages and singles (usually with a dog or two) are spread across the lawn, under to stately trees, on blankets or sitting in … (2 comments)

Top 10 List - Brunswick, Maine is Best Place to Live! - 01/22/11 08:58 AM
Brunswick, Maine is Best Place to Live - Angus' "Top 10" List!
Maine's former Governor, Angus King, spoke last week at the Brunswick Downtown Association's(BDA) annual meeting and gave his "Top 10 List" of why Brunswick, Maine is the best place to live.  Please note, these are Governor King's Top 10 items, but my commentary:
1.      "Walk-ability" - Yep, I checked WalkScore - 98 out of 100 - not to shabby!
2.     Brunswick's Merchants - Friendly folk, one and all!
3.     Amenities - he specifically mentioned flower-lined median strips (planted by volunteers), the Androscoggin River Bicycle & Pedestrian Path and the … (8 comments)

Serenity Friday - Photos of Bath, Maine - 01/21/11 07:59 AM
Serenity Friday - a Photo Montage of Snowy Bath, Maine
Yes, it is snowing again in Maine - - The schools are having yet one more "snow day" and many businesses will be closed also.  We are expecting another 10 - 12" by this afternoon.  But, we really don't mind because it's just so darn beautiful up here, no matter what time of year it is! The above photos show snowy scenes around Bath, truly Maine's "Cool Little City."  Enjoy. 
For help finding the perfect home to buy in "Maine's Cool Little City" call me today!
 
 
… (9 comments)

Working With Out-Of-Town Buyers - 01/19/11 08:56 AM
WORKING WITH OUT-OF-TOWN BUYERS
I've been working with a couple from New Jersey since last summer to purchase a home in Maine.  Just yesterday, I was on the phone with another woman who wants to relocate her young family from Florida and I was emailing a couple who wants to move from Vermont.  I really enjoy working with out-of-town buyers.
Each year, I work with at least a couple buyers "from away."  Last year, I had a first-time buyer relocate from Vermont for a job, and another couple move back to Maine from Tennessee (after being away for 20 or so … (0 comments)

If We Can Show It . . . We Can Sell It! - 01/18/11 07:21 AM
IF WE CAN SHOW IT . . . WE CAN SELL IT!
I was on facebook this morning and there were a number of postings from my real estate agent friends indicating that they have been quite busy in the first couple weeks of January.  A number of commenters asked if people really buy homes in Maine when the real estate signs are buried in snowbanks.  The answer is, "If we can show it . . . we can sell it!"
I showed homes yesterday - it was 0 degrees when I woke up (I think it got up to 17) … (8 comments)

Congratulations Active Rain on Hitting 200K Members! - 01/17/11 07:32 AM
CONGRATULATIONS ACTIVE RAIN!

I was watching the number creep up last week - - on the 10th, it was 199,142 and I knew it was going to happen soon.  Today, when I logged in at 7:22 am, the Member Count is exactly 200,000! 
AR is such a beneficial forum for its members and there's room for so many more - - 200,000 members can't be wrong!  Why wouldn't you join today?
TERRY DRISCOLL, REALTOR - MID COAST MAINE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
Cell:  207/449-9696     :    Toll Free:  1-877/277-1010
Caring, Genuine, Personal Service
SEARCH THE MAINE MLS ON MY WEBSITE
ALLEN & SELIG REALTY   … (4 comments)

Sad State of Affairs - Foreclosures Expected to Rise in 2011 - 01/16/11 05:04 PM
 
Sad State of Affairs  – Foreclosures Expected to Rise in 2011
It was reported last week that there were over 1 million foreclosures in the United States last year, and record numbers expected for 2011.
Over 5 million borrowers are at least 2 months behind on their mortgage payments.   This number is expected to grow as folks struggle with job losses and mortgage balances that are greater than the market value of their homes.
One of the loan officers from our local Androscoggin Bank visited our office last Friday and they are anticipating the next round of ARM resets in … (0 comments)

Looking Out My Back Door - Bath, Maine - 01/13/11 07:07 AM
Looking out my back door in Bath, Maine on this morning after the blizzard (technically, it was reported that only Augusta and Waterville had true blizzard conditions), this is my view of the world after a 15" snowfall

Every day I walk out that gate and adventures are waiting - adventures with my family, co-workers, neighbors, people I haven't met yet - - who knows what's going to happen and what fun (or not fun) I'm going to have?  It's amazing what you find when you just open your gate!
TERRY DRISCOLL, REALTOR - MID COAST MAINE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
Cell:  207/449-9696     … (8 comments)

Distressed Property Owner - I Just Spoke With Your Listing Agent - 01/12/11 09:46 AM
No, Distressed Property Owner, I'm not trying to steal a listing, but I just spoke with Your Listing Agent.  You see, I represent a Buyer who is under contract on a short sale; the deadline to obtain Short Sale Consent from Seller's lender is looming and it isn't looking good.  Buyer wants to look at other properties but isn't really interested in other short sales where the same bank holds the mortgage.  Normally, I would insert my rant about that bank here, but this is a different subject.
Here's what happened:  My Buyer found 4 properties to look at - one of … (5 comments)

Home Owners Have Greater Net Worth - 01/11/11 09:03 AM
Home Owners Have Greater Net Worth
Federal Reserve Board statistics tell use there is a significant difference in average net worth between Home Owners and Renters - - Home Owners have greater net worth than Renters.   How can that be, aren't home owners saddled with huge debt that is putting them into foreclosure and bankruptcy?  Yes, many are, but that would be caused by a global economic melt-down and wide-spread job losses rather than one person's decision to buy, or not buy a home. 
What the "financial crisis" and recession did was to re-set home values at lower levels which creates … (2 comments)

Buying A Second Home - A Few Things To Consider - 01/10/11 10:47 AM
Buying A Second Home - A Few Things To Consider
Maine, with its incredible natural beauty, is home to more second homes than most other states in the nation. 
 "Going up to camp" is Maine-speak for going to your second home.  "A camp" may be a rustic cabin in the woods, a lakefront cottage, a ski condo, an ocean-side family compound or anything along that continuum.  A camp may have no indoor plumbing or heat, or it may require a staff to maintain. 
Have you considered how buying a second home, and owning one, is different than a primary residence?  I've read articles … (4 comments)

JANUARY - A GREAT TIME TO SELL YOUR HOUSE! - 01/09/11 11:04 AM
JANUARY - A Great Time To Sell Your House?
I realize that in some parts of the country, it's no big deal to put your house on the market in January, but in Maine where we are usually in the deep freeze and snow banks can overtake lawn signs, why would you put your house on the market right now?
The answer is quite simple:
•       The holidays are over.  As you put away your holiday décor, it's very easy to leave the usual, everyday clutter packed away.  If you entertained at all, your house is probably in pretty good shape from … (4 comments)

So You Don't Do Short Sales . . . REALLY? - 01/08/11 08:36 AM
Did you hear the one about the listing agent who, when he found out the listing prospect would only be able to sell if they accomplished a short sale, carefully explained what that meant and then went on to tell the listing prospect that he didn't represent sellers on short sales, but he'd be happy to refer them to Agent Z who is an expert in short sales and could certainly guide them through selling their home?   Ha, Ha, Ha. 
I visited short sale land several times during the past year.  I brace myself and go there patiently and well-armed if … (4 comments)

Coffee Talk - My 2011 Economic Outlook - 01/07/11 07:57 AM
COFFEE TALK - MY 2011 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
I just finished having morning coffee with my husband before he left for work, and as often happens, our conversation drifted to talk about the economy.  I expressed that I felt optimistic for 2011 - sort of a hazard of being a REALTOR - aren't we always sounding optimistic??   So, keeping in mind that I'm no economist and I was having an unusually coherent moment for this time of day, I went on to explain why I felt that way:
•1)      The holiday retail sales numbers were strong, reflecting growing confidence among consumers.
•2)      Job … (0 comments)

New Look for the New Year! - 01/05/11 04:55 PM
NEW LOOK FOR THE NEW YEAR!
I work in a branch office of an independently owned real estate brokerage company in Maine.  We are a small, close-knit group of professional brokers and we love that our company gives as a great deal of freedom in running our businesses under the auspices of its name.  This year, we made a collective decision that we wanted a NEW LOOK FOR THE NEW YEAR!  
 
A NEW LOOK in our local print advertising, that is.  One of the things we have noticed this past year is that the weekly real estate "magazine" that is … (0 comments)

 

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