They always say it costs money to make money but I don’t think that anyone ever thought that paying a mortgage could make you money. A few months ago I went to a fantastic Real Estate seminar that talked all about this concept and how it applies to homeowners all over the country. Currently mortgage rates are at an all time low, agreed? Imagine if 10 years from now you could guarantee your home to transfer to a new buyer at that same low rate that you got today. It would seem unlikely, but in fact it can and will happen.  You see two particular types of loans FHA and VA are the only loans …

Today I received a poem in my email from a customer that in a short version said “Thank you for your time.” I was over filled with appreciation at the little sentiment that truly made my day. As Realtors we are often called last minute by people wanting to us to re-arrange our schedules to show them a listing they are dying to see and have no other available time other than that exact hour! Sometimes we make the arrangement to rush over there just for them to let us know they are late, or they have a buyer’s agent (even though we asked if they were working with anyone), or they just plain don…

Remember back in 2004 and 2005 when the market was so hot? Houses were selling in a day and you were lucky if you even got the chance to bid sometimes. Even if you did get a chance to make an offer, many properties had bidding wars and went for well over the asking price. At that time I logged what was my most historic bidding war on a house that sold for $60,000 over the asking price! I know, you are thinking, who in their right mind would ever do that? Well if you price your home at such an advantageous number people will still outbid each other.  Case in point (a true story), I had a house…

Ok we all know that Asbestos is bad for you, in fact it can and does cause Cancer. However I hear many times from people that after such a long time, it’s no longer active etc… Well I’m not sure where people get their information from, but you really should heed caution here! Asbestos is a CANCER CAUSING material. It takes only one fiber embedded into your lungs to give you Mesothelomia. Asbestos is in many things, not just found on basement pipes. It can be in Vermiculite Insulation, Siding that looks like it has ridges, small vinyl looking tiles that usually measure 9x9 and some roofing …

Buying a house is much like making any relationship commitment. I was 29 (almost 30 shhhh) by the time I found my Prince and decided to get married. Prior to that of course we all have many relationships that falter for one reason or another. In house hunting, it really is the same premise. Each and every house you see will have some flaw that causes you to have a negative feeling about a property. When buyer agents fill out their feedback forms or call the listing agent with feedback, it is 99% of the time somewhat negative or they would be calling with an offer. Only one person can buy your…

I remember when my first daughter went to kindergarten. I was so very proud of each tiny accomplishment. Every little water color was like its own personal Rembrandt. I would display them like every other parent in the world on my refrigerator or somewhere in the kitchen. But after awhile it can get a little overwhelming, especially if you are selling your house. Let’s remember not everyone has kids, not everyone even thinks that they are adorable, in fact some people have kid allergy and really find them annoying. When you are selling your home if you over do the kid thing it can overshadow …

There are many types of easements that can be pertinent to any property you may own or be looking to purchase. I actually have a large easement on my own property so I am aware of how it affects your day-to-day life, basically not at all in my case. I remember about 7 years ago selling a house to a young couple who knew there was an easement in the back yard. They really did not pay too much attention to the details and I was representing the seller, so I did not talk to them directly. The property had a town sewer line easement that ran in the back of the house in a parallel line. It ran all…

I believe it was 1984 when Steve Jobs suggested that someday in the future all business would have a computer and perhaps some people might even have one at home. Back then it sounded like a Star Trek episode. I mean really, if you had a word processer at college that was big. Some of us were still using old fashioned typewriters and white out was our best friend. Well, we know now how amazingly innovative and correct he was. Almost every home has at least one computer, if not one for each family member. I know in my house we have four and we have an extra lap top for traveling. That being …

The first time I ever had a potential seller ask me to be sure the neighbors didn’t find out they were selling I was flabbergasted. As a newbie Realtor I was only too happy to accommodate this fatal marketing request, which to the best of my recollection backfired. Since that time I have been asked by other potential sellers the same thing, “Do I have to have a sign on the lawn? I don’t want my neighbors to know I’m selling.” Now 20 years later, I know not putting a sign out front is self sabotage to selling your home. The fact is your neighbors are some of the best marketing you have. No one…

Remember back in the day when we had no email, texting, facebook, IMs, and pdf’s? When we actually passed real written notes in school? Do you like me? Check Yes or No! Well sometimes it’s good to get back to basics and your house can do the same thing. I’m talking about writing an old fashioned love letter of sorts. As a Realtor we can only know about your home what you tell us. We are given exactly 500 characters to describe all the attributes of your home, and guess what? That’s not a lot of space. No one knows more about your home than you do and you can help to pass along to potential …

There are two types of probate situations that I lovingly call the two “D’s” -  Death and Divorce. Both situations can create an enormous amount of extra emotions behind a real estate transaction and often times turn Realtors and probate attorneys into psychoanalysts, to say the least. Yes, we already have to be good listeners but sometimes we go a little beyond that! Divorce is obviously a situation that you never expect yourself to be in. Unfortunately, when you are in a divorce your home is most likely one of the largest marital assets needing to be divided, and usually this means having …

Acronyms or abbreviations have been a part of our everyday lives for a long time. We’ve used them easily in conversation with mention of the IRS, OSHA, DSS, DOR, DOE, and often DWI … but today, with Twitter and text messaging, the use of acronyms has become more widespread. Teenagers are often criticized for always being on their cell phones or computers, texting or instant messaging to friends in a language not all parents can understand: Wazup. Howru. OMG Thx 4 the tix! The concert was gr8. Im glad I went wit u. I hope 2 c u soon! KIT!  Luv u. bye. Translation:  “What’s up? How are you? Oh …

No one can ever dispute that the original Saturday Night Live was really the best! Nothing compares to John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd doing the Bass-o-Matic or Gilda Ratner being Lisa Lupner. But one skit from the golden oldies that relates to Real Estate is Shark at the Door! Chevy Chase was brilliant at fumbling the names and somehow always managing to get the girl on the other side to open up. Well when you are selling your house you should always be prepared for a potential shark at the door and remember not to open up for just a candy gram or flower delivery. Here are some safety tips for …

It wasn’t that long ago that we were dealing with 20 inches of snow on our roofs. We were all shoveling like mad to avoid roof problems, dealing with snow days and looking forward to the warm sunshine on our faces. Yesterday I was in line at Stop & Shop when I heard someone complain about how hot is outside. I had to laugh, but I must admit I was right there with her. As a true New Englander, we are constantly complaining about the weather and waiting for the next season to approach to give us our needed change of scenery. This change of scenery affects not only us as New Englanders, but our …

On a recent trip from Framingham to Times Square, NY on the LIMOLINER, the film Burlesque was shown. While I enjoyed the music and choreography throughout the film, the Realtor side of me saw the film from another perspective. More memorable to me was the storyline which involved the owner of the burlesque club saving her business and paying off her mortgage by selling the air rights above her building for a hefty sum to a property owner who was in jeopardy of losing his water views due to the potential development of another commercial property. This was my first encounter with the topic of …

Stop, Drop and Roll ... I distinctly remember being in the third grade and thinking how funny it sounded to say those words. Now that I am a mother of two I hear my kids and their friends making fun of that same saying. The unfortunate thing is that it is not funny. It is very serious and when you are selling your home you will need to be sure your house meets current and local fire codes in the town which you reside.  To go about this you will need to contact your local fire department and make an appointment for them to come to the house to do a fire inspection.  The cost is usually $50. …

About 8 or 9 years ago, I was starting to feel that we were outgrowing our first home. The kids were starting school, the toys were seemingly breeding overnight and the garage was filled to the gills with “stuff." My husband and I went on a 2 year on and off search for the perfect house. I was my own worst client, indecisive on just about everything! Well except for one thing that is, a pool. I was drop dead certain I would NEVER live in a house with a pool. The words that came to mind were: maintenance, cleaning, safety and liability. My husband had grown up with a pool so he was on the …

It’s time to sell your house. The kids are married and have their own homes, the neighbors you loved and shared the vegetable garden with have long since moved away, and you retired from your job a half dozen years ago. You’ve always loved your home.  As you declutter, pack, clean and get ready to put the house on the market, you remember all of the reasons why you first bought it, why you loved it then and perhaps still do. As a normal part of the moving process, you begin to replay in your mind, all of the significant life events that took place there; your first anniversary, the kids’ …

I have had the situation arise on many a soccer field or at a dinner party when I overhear one person telling another person, “I am building a house!” I try so hard to bite the old tongue but eventually the wisenheimer in me comes out and I very politely say “Oh I didn’t realize your husband was a builder.” Of course, I already know that he is not and that what she really means to say is that they are buying a new construction home. Yes, there is a big difference!! HUGE! Having the opportunity to buy a new construction home is fun. It gives you the chance to choose your cabinets, flooring, …

Never the same deal twice! I often get asked the same question over and over by both buyers and sellers while negotiating a deal ... "What is normal?” I have to chuckle, under my breath of course, because I have learned over my 20 years in this business that nothing is normal. In fact what is normal anyway? Webster’s’ says normal means in conforming or standard but we are all created with our unique ways making the word normal seem almost strange. In fact every transaction takes on a life of its own and is almost like a strand of DNA, never to be duplicated twice. Remember you always have a …