Winthrop Real Estate Blog

What are my Options if my Appraisal Does Not Come In?

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 23:06:22 -0700

Hey Susan, I am buying a Boston Condo and my appraisal didn’t come in. What are my options? The Boston condo market is rising rapidly causing many condos to go over asking price. How are the appraisers keeping up with the market? Appraisers can typically only use comparable properties that have sold in the last 6 months. Inevitably, this combination is causing some condos not to appraise. So what does this mean? Recently I had a situation where a condo did not appraise. We were one of 3 offers. Our terms were excellent and, although we were not the highest offer, we won out in the bidding war. This condo was located on one of the most desirable streets in The Fenway. All was good until I received a call from the lender stating that the appraisal did not come in. Fortunately, Boston is a small big city. After checking out what was under agreement in the area, I was able to locate 2 properties that were on the same street. A quick call to a listing agent I knew to verify that the condo had gone over asking. I could not and would not ask the price. One comp down. Next I asked for the listing agent’s help as he is a specialist in the area. Coincidentally, he had the buyer on the other condo and was able to verify that the condo went well over asking. At the home inspection, the home inspector mentioned that he had recently had a home inspection next door with someone in my office. Again I was able to verify that this condo was going for over asking. Both of these offers were cash and did not need a bank appraisal. My buyer was putting down a very large amount and was in a situation where she could accept the appraisal because of her large deposit and move forward with the sale. Fortunately, we had seen enough properties and she was confident in her decision to move forward. But what happens if you are not putting down a large amount? What are your options?Go back to the seller with the appraisal and try to renegotiate. If the appraisal is only slightly lower than the accepted offer price this is a viable option. Put down more money. Make up the difference with more money down. You would need to be confident that the condo was worth the difference. Use your appraisal contingency and back out of the sale. The appraisal process is not perfect and its rare that an appraisal does not come in. Twice in 11 years for me. Both in competitive situations. Talk to Susan more about the real estate market todayBest Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

Is living in a Community Just About the Location?

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:17:11 -0700

Why Winthrop? An Interview with Local Resident and Photographer Richard Honan Your pictures are beautiful. The majority of your pictures are of Winthrop. Can you please explain what makes Winthrop such a good subject? Winthrop is such a beautiful place to photograph, whether it be on the ocean facing side, with the harbor islands, the jetties and breakwater along with the broad beaches and also the everyday beautiful sunrises. The other side of Winthrop faces Boston, with lots of small boat activity, Snake Island and beautiful sunsets that change with the seasons. How did you first get interested in taking pictures? I started taking my camera along on my early morning walks with my dogs. I like to record the beautiful sunrises breaking the horizon everyday. Each one different, changing with the weather and the seasons. Many people never see this time of day. I am strictly an amateur photographer, using a simple point and shoot camera. The technology today allows even an amateur like myself some very nice photos. I have noticed that many of your pictures are of the waterfront. You shoot the same places but your pictures always have a different focus. How do you accomplish this? Everyday my subject matter basically stays the same. What changes is the lighting, the beautiful cloud formations, the breaking waves, the mirrored reflections on a still calm day, the flight of the seagulls, the ships entering or leaving the harbor, maybe the airplanes landing or taking off from Logan Airport. Some days I have to say to myself, “where is today’s photograph?” It might be the clouds reflected in the wet sand, the small foot prints of a child left in the sand or a pair of running dogs silhouetted against the rising sun. Can you please send me 2 pictures of your choosing? You also own a sign company in Winthrop. What made you choose to work and live in Winthrop? I was born and brought up in Winthrop. My family has always has had several small businesses in town, ranging from my father’s gasoline station, a gift shop, selling fruit and vegetables along with a small nursery business selling flowering annuals, perennials and vegetable sets. The only time I ever left Winthrop was in the late 1960’s to join the Army and go off to Vietnam. Previous to joining the Army, I had attended a small art school studying commercial art. Following my release from the Army, by chance I was asked to make a couple of small signs for a family friend. The rest is history. It is now forty two years that I have owned Richard Honan Sign Company. Success is measured in many ways, financial just being one of the ways, but more importantly family, community involvement, sharing your success and playing it forward. I have taught ice skating to children, adult sailing lessons and I have also taught beach glass mosaic classes, I have been a spin instructor at a local gym, I lead a Proposition 2 1/2 campaign to raise $3,500,000.00 to keep the Senior Center and the local library open. For the past twelve years, I have run a program of sending care packages overseas to men and women serving with the United States Military in Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey and Africa. I have personally sent over 30,000 pounds of goods including Christmas trees, along Christmas presents to every Winthrop resident currently serving in the US Military. I am proud to call Winthrop my home town. You made the welcome to Winthrop signs that are at the 2 entrances to Winthrop as well as the sign to Belle Isle Seafood. Do you have pictures I can share? As long as I can remember there has been someone from the Honan family contributing artistically to Winthrop. How long has your family lived here? The Honan’s located here in the early 1900′s from Fall River. You also send care packages to the troops. How did you get involved? I started this program of supporting our military men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan about twelve years ago in mid 2002 with a young girl by the name of Kelly Kneeland. I had seen this young woman grow up and go from kindergarden, grade school and then onto high school with my daughter Christine. Kelly graduated Winthrop High School and then went off to study nursing at Syracuse University. While studying at Syracuse, she became a member of ROTC and was commissioned an Army Lieutenant. When the second Gulf War broke out in Iraq in 2002, she was off to Iraq as part of the initial invasion force. Being an Army Vietnam Veteran myself, I remembered not only the danger of war, but also the loneliness of being away from home. I took it upon myself to write to her and send her a care package every month for her entire deployment. I sort of adopted her and kept her under my wing until she came home. Kelly was no sooner home than I connected with another soldier , which led to another soldier, to another . . . . . one soldier came home, another one led to two more and so on. I typically ship 400 – 600 pounds of goods(approx twenty five or thirty boxes) to Afghanistan and other countries in the Middle East every month. In the tthirteen years that I have been doing this I have shipped over 29,000 pounds of goods. I have to be thankful to all the individuals and groups from Winthrop, Revere and East Boston that donate goods on a regular basis. Postage alone can run over $500.00 a month. Who are these men and women? They are your father, your brother, your niece, your aunts and uncles. They are Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen. I typically write a letter and send a care package to each of them every month for their entire deployment or until they come home. Right now I have four from Winthrop and the rest are from Quincy, Methuen, Lowell, Texas, Pensacola, Buffalo, New York City, North Dakota and beyond. I have met a few of the soldiers from Winthrop, but the rest I will probably never set eyes on or actually meet. They all have some sort of roots to Winthrop. Like I said, they are your nephews, uncles, aunts and brothers and sisters. I get their names from friends of mine at work, the local chamber of commerce or maybe from my yacht club. I like to think that I can put a smile on their face, a smile in their heart and a smile in their stomach. If someone would like to volunteer to help how should they get in touch with you? Email: RDHonan@comcast.net or by telephone: 617-846-5972 From taking and sharing your photos of Winthrop on Facebook you have started selling calendars, pictures and mugs featuring Winthrop. Why do you think so many people are interested? Many of the calendars or coffee mugs are bought by people that like to see what I see through my eyes. Hundreds of these calendars and coffee mugs are sent as gifts to former residents of Winthrop living all over the world. I know that I make a lot of people homesick with my photos of the beaches, the sunrises and the water tower(Winthrop’s Motif #1). Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or Winthrop? Winthrop is nice seaside community filled with people like me who enjoy living along side the ocean. It’s an easy commute to Boston with it’s museums, restaurants, colleges and some of the best medical facilities in the world. But, mostly it’s made up of hard working individuals who want a good place for their children to grow up. Lots of good things are happening in Winthrop, new schools, a new harbor ferry to Boston, small scale waterfront development and a vibrant arts and theater community. Want to know more about Winthrop or the beautiful photography? Contact Susan Doig today! Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

The Third Time is a Charm... Lessons learned about home buying

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 20:05:24 -0700

“The 3rd time is a charm…” 3 lessons learned about home buying Last year I had the pleasure of working with two of the nicest buyers. They were first time home buyers and highly motivated to get into a home in Boston. We met for an initial consult, came up with a game plan and started viewing homes. Not too long into the search, we came across a home they really liked and put an offer in. The sellers were heading to Europe for 2 weeks and asked that we wait until they returned to negotiate. We did not stop our search while they were away but had no choice but to agree. Nothing else hit the market at that time so when they returned we resubmitted our offer. After 48 hours the sellers came back to us and stated that they did not want to sell at that time (not sure what happened in Europe, but alas!). Strike 1! My buyers were disappointed but I let them know there was another house out there, possibly even a better house with their name on it! Next I got an excited call that they had seen another home during an open house that was in really great shape and would I come view the house. I set up an appointment and we headed to the home that night. The house looked great and was a good value so we put in an offer, it was accepted and we ordered the home inspection. So much for good value! Unfortunately, this home had some structural issues that were not obvious at first sight. I always urge my home buyers to have realistic expectations during a home inspection – after all most homes in Boston are older and every home is going to have something that comes up – most is easily fixable or negotiable to be taken care of. But this house had serious structural flaws. The structural issues were a deal breaker. Strike 2! I have to admit there was some hugging and a pep talk at this point. Then came a home they had viewed at an open house that they loved but it was a little out of their price range. But a while later there was a price drop and another open house scheduled for the following Sunday. I called the agent and got us in to look at the home prior to the open house. It was by far the best house yet. We made an offer and negotiated prior to the open house that Sunday. My buyers are now happily living in this house! I have the pleasure of being Facebook friends with this couple and we’ve continued to keep in touch. They sent me a Christmas Card of the two of them sitting on their front stairs holding a SOLD sign! I have watched the joy as they saw the deer in their back yard, and renovated their bedroom to discovered vaulted ceilings…among other happy home owner tales. So yes, sometimes the third time is a charm! Lessons Learned: 1. Don’t get discouraged by the home buying process. There will be bumps in the road from bad inspections to losing out in a multiple offer situation. Stick to your goals that you set out in your initial buyer consultation. 2. Have a thorough home inspection done. I recommend that every home buyer have an expert home inspection. It is money well spent! Most homes don’t have major issues like this example but some do. It pays to cover yourself. 3. Work with a good buyer agent who can help you prioritize your goals, keep your home search on track, and help you through and emotional process of buying a home. It’s a little self-serving of course, but it is valuable advice and can really help you through the home buying process. =Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

300 Days on Market? What’s wrong with this house?

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:21:15 -0700

300 Days on Market? What’s wrong with this house? BUYING ADVICE “What’s wrong with that property?” “I don’t want to see this property. It has been on the market for over 300 days.” “Something has to be wrong with it! If it was a good property, wouldn’t someone else have bought it by now?” All quotes I often hear from Buyers. What are they looking at when they ask these questions? Most of the time it’s the days on market for a property (or DOM as often abbreviated on a listing sheet). So is something actually wrong with a property that’s been on the market for a while? Well – the answer is maybe. But then again maybe not. When I meet with buyer clients for initial consults, I like to cover this topic and have a good discussion of the market. What average days on market really is and what it means for homes or condos in Boston that have been on market for longer than average. The significance can vary from area to area, and from place to place, but often times, properties that have been on the market for an extended time can provide a great opportunity for buyers – since the fact is properties can become stigmatized by long market times and get overlooked by most other buyers in the market solely based on that. For instance, recently I was assisting a client with their search for a condo in the Back Bay. First two things you should know about the Back Bay real estate market right now:there is not a ton of inventory right now and there is not a big discount in list price to selling price So I was searching and searching the inventory but nothing was quite right from my client. But I did what I have been trained to do. I thought “out of the box”. I kept going back to one listing in particular and researching it even though it was $30,000 over my buyer’s maximum price. And it had been on the market for over 700 days! I looked at the history and the seller had even raised the price 3 months ago. But besides those strange facts, the condo was a solid unit that fit most of my client’s criteria. Great location, sun streaming through the windows, and recently updated. Pretty much everything on my buyers list – except perhaps a little overpriced. Speaking with the listing agent, I explained that although the property was above my clients price range I had noticed it had been on the market for over 700 days. So I asked…..Is the seller really ready to sell? Ready to make a deal? Should I bother to show it to my client or was the seller completely unrealistic to make a deal happen? The listing agent said the seller was willing to sell so I showed it and my client loved the condo! The strange price increase 3 months ago was because the place had been recently renovated while it was on market. And not only was the seller ready to sell, he was ready to negotiate, and my client stayed within her price range and is now happily moved into her new place! Bottom line, especially when there is limited inventory for sale, keep an open mind for properties that have been on market for a while.Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

I Am In A Multiple Offer... What Should I Expect?

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 20:53:11 -0700

The inventory in Boston is low as are the interest rates causing many multiple offer situations. If you find yourself competing in a multiple bid situation what should you expect? There are several ways a listing agent handles a multiple offer situation. The first question I always receive from first time home buyers in this situation is “How much are the other offers?” The listing agent, unless instructed by the seller, is not allowed to disclose this information. Most of the time this information is kept private. As the listing agent represents the seller, it is the best interest of the seller to not disclose the other offer prices. I had one case where there were multiple offers and the agent told me the other offers were a few thousand higher and asked for best and finals. In the majority of multiple offer situations we do not receive this information. At What price should I start the offer process? I am encouraging buyers to put their best foot forward. It is possible you will not get a second chance. Sometimes the listing agent comes back and asks for best and finals but if there are several offers they may choose to work with just a few of the best offers. Is it possible that someone with a lower price could get the property? Yes. There are several things a seller will look at when considering offers. How much money are you putting down on your loan? 20 % or more on a loan makes you a strong buyer. Are you paying cash? A seller will sometimes take an offer that is slightly lower if it is cash. Guaranteed sale with a minimum amount of bumps in the road. Can you meet their closing date? I am seeing more and more a request for an extended closing so that the seller can locate a property. Sometimes they ask for a quick closing as they have already identified a property. The rental market is also very competitive so if you are in a lease we can most likely assist you in renting your apartment early. Getting caught up in the dates can lose you a property. What about contingencies? How quickly can you complete your home inspection? Sign the purchase and sale? The seller has agreed to take their property off the market while you are in your due diligence period. The quicker you can complete this phase the better. After the due diligence period there is only mortgage commitment. The more information you have provided to the mortgage representative the better. A simple running of your credit is not enough. The more prepared you are the better. Can your mortgage rep call the listing agent and state with conviction that you are a fabulous buyer? Are you willing to remove some contingencies? This is my least favorite strategy and for the average buyer this is not an option. However for a certain buyer this could be an option. An offer should always reflect your comfort level. There are other strategies to win in a multiple offer situation. I honestly don’t win in every situation but am successful in helping my buyers get into their new homes in many cases. I am happy to meet with you and discuss strategy. Meet with Susan to Discuss Your Housing Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

Set the Stage and Get Your Home Sold

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 22:32:33 -0700

I recently sold this home in Winthrop. It was an estate sale and the same family had lived in the house for 2 generations. When meeting with the sellers of this house I offered to do some light staging. I knew this was a quality house with a lot of potential but wanted to make it easy for buyers to see this as well. I couldn’t and didn’t try to hide that this house needed work. Just made it easy for potential buyers to see with a little love this house could be a home. First Step was to have a clean out of the house. I didn’t want to keep a lot of items so went through the house with yellow sticky notes and put them on anything I wanted to keep. Once the clean out was done I had a professional cleaner come in. Several people commented how clean the house was. It matters! Next I went around the house and placed the remaining furniture strategically. The living room: There were numerous items in this room including area rugs. I kept 2 chairs and a table and faced towards fireplace. Also decorated the mantle. Fireplaces and hardwood floors are features buyers want. Kitchen: Had all items removed from kitchen as it was overcrowded. Kitchen was fairly updated but hard to see with so many things in the room. The layout was also a little awkward but easier to imagine what you could do after the decluttering. The only thing I added were some yellow daisies in a glass vase with a ribbon tied around it. Dining Room: Again had most of the items removed minus the dining room table and buffet. Added 2 neutral placemats with dishes and a live, colorful plant in the middle. Bedrooms: Cleaned out all bedrooms. In 2 bedrooms I had them leave the beds and replaced bedding. In the third smaller bedroom I had all items removed so potential buyers could picture as a child’s bedroom or office. In the Master Bedroom the carpets were outdated. In a corner of the room my husband pulled a corner so I could show hardwood floors beneath. Sunporch: All items removed with the exception of a wicker chair and small side table. The chair was placed in the corner drawing the eye to the water view in the distance. Throughout the house there were sheer curtains with toppers and pullback ties. Removing the toppers and tie backs gave a fresh, updated look. Get your home sold! (or find a home with her) Contact Susan today! Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

How Much Does a Buyers Agent Cost?

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 21:47:52 -0700

“How much does a buyer agent cost?” That’s a reasonable question often asked of me at an initial buyer consultation. At the consult I tell you that I represent only buyers and explain all the things I am going to do to make your new home purchase as easy as possible. The next question is always “How much do your services cost?” Great news! There is no out of pocket cost for my buyer representation service. I get paid for my service by the listing agent. Through the agent to agent multiple listing service (which you can search for listings here), the listing agent shares their commission for bringing and assisting a buyer in the transaction. The listing agent represents the seller’s needs, I represent the buyer, but we’re both paid from the commission paid by the seller. Recently I sold a condo in the Back Bay. What made this buyer different was that he knew exactly what he was looking for. Only condos in the Back Bay and within a very specific price range which greatly limited the inventory available. This particular buyer had a list of potential places he had viewed at open houses. He wanted to know if they were still available and if yes could we go back and see them as he was now ready to buy. This buyer was highly educated and knew what he wanted. I know what you are thinking. If this buyer knew exactly what he wanted then why did he need a buyer’s agent? This buyer also knew that as educated as he is, he is still in no way a specialist in the Boston Real Estate market or in negotiating a purchase. Having the training to represent buyers and the experience of seeing most of the properties on the market on a day to day basis allows me to provide accurate property valuations, quickly spot the great values on the market, and conduct effective negotiations on behalf of my buyer clients. So much did my services cost this buyer? I would like to think my services were priceless to this buyer! But while they may not be truly priceless, I am certain that I saved him a great deal of money every step of the way. We went back and saw condos on the list as well as a couple of new condos that fit the criteria before putting in an offer on a Back Bay condo that had great space and lots of potential. The buyer was prepared to write an offer about $10,000 below listing price and was willing to go higher. As this property had been on the market for a little while in a very hot Boston market, I recommended we go in $20,000 below asking. Buyer agreed and we negotiated to a price that was $5000 below where buyer wanted to even start! Next we had home inspection. Most issues were minor, but it was discovered that electrical needed to be upgraded. After I helped negotiate the electrical deficiencies, the buyer received another $2500 off the price. On top of that, a special assessment was discovered after signing of purchase and sale and prior to closing. Now, a good attorney at this point can help with proper wording in the purchase and sale agreement to protect the buyer (and ours did in this case) BUT I also had wording in the offer to protect the buyer if a special assessment came up – so there was no way for it to be left out of a purchase and sale agreement. Guaranteed buyer risk protection and another $1400 saved! All told, at least $8900 saved by hiring a buyer’s agent plus peace of mind. All at no cost to the buyer. Are you a buyer? Schedule a free, no obligation consult with Susan to learn the market and the home buying process and find out how Susan can help you save $1000′s on your home purchase. Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

Is Selling Your Home an Emotional Transaction?

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 23:07:57 -0700

Have you looked at your home through the eyes of the buyer? I have heard it said that, “buying is emotional and selling is a business transaction.” I am not sure this always true but to a seller it is great advice. I recently wrote a blog about painting to refresh your home. I have lived in the same house for 17+ years since I met and married my husband. Once we painted the rooms, we started to noticed other little things that needed work. I have to admit that at this stage in our life, our home is not always our first priority. We have 2 young girls, both work full time, and like to travel when we can. But if we come to the point when we want to sell, I also know we would have some work to do. We would make a concerted effort to remove any emotions we have regarding selling this home and get it ready to appeal to the most amount of buyers. As I look around my home, I see lots of pictures of my children and things my girls have made that I proudly display. All of this would have to removed so that buyers would start to picture their own memories. Closets and basement would need to be reorganized to show off my great storage space. Want some more specific tips? Spring is coming and I would make sure my outdoor space looked pleasing and welcoming. Arrangements would be made for the dog when showings were scheduled. My hallway would also be welcoming. I know as an agent that getting into a home often takes a few minutes figuring out the keys. I would want buyers to have a great impression while waiting to enter the home. This is their First Impression – Make it Count! I would make sure that the house was immaculate. And I would have a trusted friend come over and tell me what they see that I may have missed (your agent can do this for you). Is there a list of minor repairs/ updates that would improve my chance of selling? Could the home usesome staging? What is my return on this type of investment? Have some more questions about getting your home ready to sell? Like what Susan has to say? Ask Susan a Question! Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

I am Sorry but You Can't Buy That Condo

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 23:34:31 -0700

I am not a mortgage lender. I am a Realtor but there are certain basics of the mortgage process that I need to understand and educate my buyers and sellers. I also have some excellent mortgage professionals on speed dial, not just for loans but to verify or answer questions. Depending on what type of mortgage you are using to purchase your new home you may not be able to buy a certain property. In Massachusetts we have a Mass Housing Loan. This loan is popular with home buyers that have great credit, are established but don’t have a big down payment. 3% down, no MI. But like any other other mortgage there are certain guidelines that not only the purchaser but the condo have to meet. I have a listing that was listed previously with another agent. Two offers fell through because of financing. I had an interested party that came in with another agent. Based on the circumstances and the fact that the pre -approval letter was outdated I requested the buyer get pre -approved through a lender I trusted. They did not have to use this lender, just qualify with them. Turns out this buyer was not qualified to buy this property. I also learned the condo itself was not eligible for a Mass Housing Loan. The property is a new condo conversion, converted 2 family. The upstairs unit has already sold using a Mass Housing loan and it turns out Mass Housing will not take on the risk of loaning on a whole building. I’ve been a realtor for 12 years and am continuously learning new things in order to best represent my sellers and buyers. There are many nuances involved in purchasing a condo. Are you considering buying a condo in or North of Boston? Do you have questions ? Please contact me.Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

The Seller Doesn't Come With the House

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 05:22:35 -0700

Not every real estate transaction is simple. Though many move forward without a hiccup there are a few memorable instances where this was not the case. Buying or Selling a home is a huge deal and emotions can run high. There are two sides to every story. Often the problem arises when a buyer feels they are making reasonable requests and a seller feels they have given in to too may of these requests. Who's right? The answer usually lies somewhere in the middle. A good agent doesn't get into the he said, she said but redirects their client and keeps them focused. When working with a buyer and things start to go off track I remind them to keep their eye on the prize. The Seller Does not Come With the House! Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

Discover Winthrop: How's the Restaurant Scene?

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 22:44:50 -0700

Discover Winthrop: How’s the Restaurant Scene? Watch the interview with Jim Costin Of Belle Isle Seafood here. Winthrop is a seaside community located just outside of Boston. It is located on a peninsula 1.6 square miles in size. For such a relatively small community we have an abundance of restaurant choices. What is the restaurant scene like? Wanting to share our great restaurants I asked for the assistance of Anders Nilsson. Anders is a lender with Mortgage Masters. If you follow Anders on Facebook you will also note that he is a foodie and a chef in his own right. A few years back he was written up in the Boston Globe for his culinary abilities. So who better to ask along to visit and review a few restaurants? Here is a picture of Anders dogs Gracie and Lulu. They insisted on coming along but waited in his car. Everywhere we visited the owners were welcoming. It was impressive that each restaurant owner took time to speak to Anders and I not only about their restaurants but also about the community. All of the restaurant owners interviewed today live and run their business in Winthrop. They are invested in this community. My intention is to eventually visit all restaurants in the community.Our first stop was Belle Isle Seafood. Owner Jim Costin graciously accepted our request for a brief interview. Jim is quiet and unassuming preferring to stay in the background. Belle Isle Seafood recently expanded into a lovely waterfrontspace with outdoor seating and boat docking in the works. There is some limited wait service to the outside deck. You order your food, receive your lobster pager and grab a table. A picnic table that is! The space is bigger, clientele larger but the prices have remained the same. Jim is relying on the volume of visitors. It was interesting that the majority of restaurant visitors are from out-of-town. The seafood is fresh and cooked to order, fantastic laid back atmosphere and a bargain by Boston standards. Jim admits he prefers to do things old school. We spent over an hour speaking with Jim. He’s extremely likeable and genuine. Part of his appeal is the simplicity with which he is running his business. Anders and I split a lobster roll as recommended by the owner. It was fresh and a very generous portion. It was such a fun day. We got to visit some really great restaurants and meet some really nice people along the way! Throughout the day we also had contests on Facebook. Thanks to all of you who played along. Next week see my interview with Paesan’s. Have questions about Winthrop? Connect with me. I love to talk about Winthrop!About these ads Occasionally, some of your visitors may see an advertisement here. Tell me more | Dismiss this message SHARE THIS:Press This Twitter1 Facebook Google RELATED Discover Winthrop: What's the Restaurant Scene Like?In "Paesan's" Discover Winthrop: What's the Restaurant Scene Like?In "blackstrapbbq" Interview with Winthrop Musicians John and Lori WadkinsIn "Winthrop" POSTED ONAPRIL 22, 2014AUTHORWINTHROP REAL ESTATE BLOG1 COMMENTEDIT Post navigation PREVIOUSGetting ready to Sell? Paint to Refresh your Home! NEXTWinthrop Photographer of the Week- John Munson ONE THOUGHT ON “DISCOVER WINTHROP: HOW’S THE RESTAURANT SCENE?”Wendy Corkhum JUNE 10, 2014 AT 3:04 PM EDIT I enjoy reading your posts Susan! REPLYLEAVE A REPLY Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

Why Winthrop? Winthrop Photographer of the Week John Gambradella

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 03:41:19 -0700

Why Winthrop? Winthrop Photographer of the Week John Gambardella Why Winthrop? A picture is truly worth a thousand words. Please enjoy these beautiful photographs of Winthrop by the Sea. John Gambardella is a Local amateur photographer. Have questions about living in Winthrop? Connect with me. I love to talk about Winthrop! About these ad SHARE THIS: Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

The Movie Almost Killed the Deal

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 22:58:57 -0700

The Movie Almost Killed the Deal During my initial consults with home buyers I go over the process, give an overview of mortgages, talk about the local market conditions and answer questions. I also mention credit and how you should not do any of the following during the home buying process:Buy a Car Open a new credit card Buy all new furniture Quit your jobI review this again when the buyers locate a home and are under agreement.The lender pulls your credit and verifies your employment right before closing. Recently I was working with some very nice buyers on the purchase of their first home. About a week before closing my clients went on a trip. When they got their hotel bill there was a movie on their bill that they did not order. The hotel would not take the movie off the bill so they put in a dispute with the credit card company. They were cleared to close and the lender pulled their credit as one of the final steps in the process. The dispute showed up causing a delay to the closing. Fortunately, this lender was able to give the buyers advice on how to remove the dispute in a timely manner. It’s not always easy to remove a dispute once it is on your credit. You can not get a mortgage with a dispute on your credit. I will be sharing this story in my initial home buyer consult. Do you have questions about the home buying process? Please contact me. Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com

Discover Winthrop. What's the Restaurant Scene Like?

Susan Doig (Charlesgate. Realty Group) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 19:34:05 -0700

I recently met with Rob Pisani owner of Paesan’s Restaurant in Winthrop. My assistant was Anders Nilsson, mortgage lender, foodie and friend. Watch the interview here. Rob of course made sure we were over fed. We enjoyed calamari, buffalo flat bread and chicken cutlet. Everything was exceptional but Anders and I both agreed that the buffalo flat bread was our favorite if for no other reason than it was different. Shout out to Michael, our waiter, as we he was so pleasant and helpful. I was tempted to call this article “A Simple Twist of Fate”. Rob’s story is interesting and one of following your destiny. His mother was in the restaurant industry and Rob was helping out at the restaurant in Faneuil Hall when he was a young boy. The restaurant was 2 levels and Rob was helping on the second floor. One night the upstairs cook became unable to cook and since there was no one else Rob took over for the night. And he liked it! A short time later Rob walked into high school late. He knew he was most likely getting suspended as this wasn’t his first time being late. He was met at the door and asked if he was here for the meeting. Of course he said yes. Suspended or mystery meeting? It turns out the meeting was with Johnson and Wales. The rest as they say is history! If you have been to Winthrop Center lately you probably noticed that Michael’s Mall is under new ownership and will be undergoing a major renovation. Rob has been asked to expand the restaurant. When we interviewed Rob he wasn’t sure what his next move would be. Expand on his own, take on a partnership or sell. I for one hope to see Rob stay on and expand. I also understand Rob may be ready to enjoy life with his lovely new wife Lisa. Best of Luck wherever your journey takes you next! Next week see the interview with Blackstrap BBQ. SHARE THIS:Twitter Facebook Google Best Regards, Susan Doig Realtor Charlesgate Realty Group www.Susan.LiveCharlesgate.com Cell 617-504-4381 Sdoig@charlesgaterealty.com