Will Interest Rates Go Higher?Will Interest Rates Go Higher is one of the most pressing questions in real estate circles. Everyone from buyers and sellers to banks and brokers are looking for detailed info to provide the answer. In a presentation to our company, National Association of Realtors Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun provided a series of graphs and explanations to provide some real estate data and info.Mr. Yun provided 19 different graphs in as part of his presentation. The first of those is below. He began with an explanation of how mortgage rate resistance points are markers of the direction and stability of interest rates. And, how understanding where the resistance points are, can help see where interest rates may move or stabilize.In this graph of interest rates, you can see... 10/19/2022

Daily Conversations with God: A 30-day devotional to deepen your relationship with God, is an interesting guide to develop your self awareness. Everyone has an awareness of where they are currently. Here's an effective way to evolve further.In this divided world, you can decide who you are and whose you are.These devotionals are focused on developing God as a friendly father that you can rely on more realistically than you may currently be. Sometimes church and history have boxed people in to a set of rituals, rules, and / or requirements. These "Conversations with God" can help provide a path to get more real and personal as you continue to acknowledge / allow for / expand / accept / develop who you are and whose you are.If you are looking for gentle suggestions to further your depth, ... 10/12/2022

Interest Rates, Price Crash, Recession? There a opinions all over the media, social media, and in conversations with these three concentrations. Everyone has an opinion and most of us are along for the ride because the focus is National or Global.Sometimes an article has a catchy enough headline to make me go beyond the surface, and read it. One such article was recently on HousingWire.com and was written by By Logan Mohtashami. His article is titled: "Why the Fed’s housing reset risks a global recession."In the article he dissects the actual sentences of the FED Chairman, Jerome Powell, and he interprets what he (Logan Mohtashami) sees are the actual inferences that the Chairman is making. Logan provides his explanation of where the housing market is and where it is likely heading - wh... 10/02/2022

Housing Bubble? How to know in 2022.The first place to look is in your own real estate market. Ask the business people who are listing and selling property most often. Holly and I call them the ASR real estate agents and real estate brokers - those who Actually Sell Real estate.6 Questions to ask your favorite "ASR":A. Are the numbers of listings increasing?B. Are there more price reductions happening?C. Are properties staying on the market longer?D. Are properties in distress by foreclosure pre-ceedings/processes on the rise?E. Is average price still increasing?F. Are you seeing fewer cash transactions?Why A? Because if the number of listings are increasing, then sellers may not have as much control over pricing as they have up to now.Why B & C? Price reductions and/or a higher "Days O... 06/09/2022

Real Estate Seller Tips :1.  How has selling real estate changed since you last sold? The changes can be surprising. There can be scores of steps before the closing.2.  Once you decide to sell, understand that your property is an asset rather than your home. Let go as best you can, and enjoy the process. Deciding to sell starts the adventure.3.  Choose an experienced professional to guide and advise as to what are normal requests, forms, clauses, and business procedures. Real Estate has become more specialized than you may remember.4.  Rely on your active professional for honest information about how buyers will look at your property. Be receptive and consider their experience useful.5.  Location Location Location has morphed into varying degrees of Location Condition Price, with all be... 03/28/2022

The Top Vacation Home Counties in the USA:According to the most recent NAR Vacation Homes Report (https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2021-vacation-home-counties-report-06-15-2021.pdf), the top 1% of vacation home counties were in 16 states. North Carolina had four vacation counties (Swain,  Alleghany, Macon, Watauga); there were three each in New York (Greene, Sullivan, Hamilton), Vermont (Windham, Bennington, Windsor), Massachusetts (Dukes (Martha's Vineyard), Barnstable, Nantucket), and Michigan (Oscoda, Alcona, Clare); there were two each in Florida (Lee, Collier), Missouri (Hickory, Camden), and Maryland (Garrett, Worcester). Oklahoma, Maine, Arizona, New Jersey, Georgia, New Mexico, Delaware, and Minnesota each had one vacation home county that landed in the top ... 03/24/2022

Falmouth MA Real Estate Market in March 2021 Cape Cod The Falmouth MA, Cape Cod, Real Estate Market in March 2021 is busy and crazy. Falmouth has limited inventory and rising prices. The pictures below show some of the data that we see in 2021.With over 20,000 properties, Falmouth is one of the largest real estate markets on Cape Cod. As of this writing, there were 44 available properties in Falmouth in February 2021, and on the 29th of March there were only 35 homes not under agreement. Inventory is a real problem for our customers and clients who are trying to get their year round home and summer vacation homes settled.Experienced real estate professionals like Holly and I are resorting to using "real estate wish lists" for specific buyers. Then we look for those properties and see if... 04/03/2021

Are there Ups and Downs in the Cape Cod Real Estate Market?Are there Ups and Downs in the Cape Cod Real Estate Market? The short answer is yes, like all real estate markets. More specifically, there are ups and downs each month, as well as the ups and downs that happen in the real estate cycles over a decade or so.The chart below shows the ups and downs over a 17 year period for Barnstable County Real Estate. The data is from the Cape and Islands MLS which is one MLSs that we are a part of.  And interestingly, it provides the answer to the age old question, "How's the real estate market? on Cape Cod"In this case, for all price points and including all 15 Cape Cod towns, the answer is a resounding, "H M M M M M M M ... let me think about that." Each year is an M with most activity in the... 03/29/2021

Cape Cod Weather - March 2021If you're like me you're ready to get outside and enjoy Cape Cod. Below is a calendar to help plan for the clear and the rainy days. As for the temperatures, supposedly we'll have a range from low 40s to high 40s. Of course I find that the media outlets in Boston and Providence are usually not correct.In my opinion we have very different weather on the Cape, and especially in Falmouth, for a few reasons. In Falmouth there is Buzzard's Bay, Vineyard SOund, the Gulf Stream, and the currents in the sound that all affect the weather here. We'll often have different weather than the rest of The Cape. However, if Falmouth gets a bad storm, the rest of The Cape is usually impacted also.For the rest of The Cape, there is the addition of Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic... 03/11/2021

Cape Cod Weather - March 2021If you're like me, you're wondering when to plant grass and plan outdoor projects and activities. So here is a calendar that tries to predict the weather for the rest of March on Cape Cod. I find that most of the media outlets in Boston and Providence have a hard time getting their predictions even close. So we'll see how this calendar holds up to the same scrutiny.In general, my experience is that once you're over the bridges, the temperature changes, the clouds change, and the actual weather is different. And in Falmouth, we have even more differences. My opinion is that because we have Cape Cod Bay on the west, and Martha's Vineyard and the Gulf Stream on the south as well as the currents in the Sound, we get different wind and weather than most of the ot... 03/11/2021

Well, we have already had two months of very, very, limited inventory on Cape Cod in 2021.Time flies when you're trying to get a place on Cape Cod right now.If you are looking to buy or sell there are some crazy things happening!For example, today on 3/8/21, there are 38, thirty eight, less than 40 listings "available".The average: price = 1,400,000+ , Bedrooms = 3+ , Baths 3+ , Days On Market = 71.This is all crazy, because we have usually closed an average of 38 homes a month in Falmouth in the past.If you're preparing to buy in Falmouth, here are some suggestions.Be prepared to bid higher than the asking price.Have your financing as ready as you possibly can, because you want your offer to looked on favorably.Decide how much work you are willing to take on in any property, and look a... 03/08/2021

Buyers With No Check - Beware, Deal or no Deal?What if the buyer doesn't deliver the offer check? The Cape Cod and Islands Association Of Realtors (CCIAOR) recently published an article providing direction on this question. Basically, if you used one form for the offer, the answer is no deal. If you used another form, the answer is deal. Confused? Make sure your real estate professional isn't!Because I am not a lawyer and because this is not legal advice, I need to say, "It is my understanding that" in MA, a binding real estate contract needs a written offer, acceptance of that offer with no changes and within the time constraints of that offer, and then some form of consideration delivered and received by the seller. If one of these components is not in place, then there is probably no... 08/06/2020

New Massachusetts Short Term Rental Laws 2019 MAYes, there are New Massachusetts' Short Term Rental Laws. No, no one understands them, completely. I attended on a webinar on 12/16/19 at 10 am, where even those who have been involved in the process from the start, don't have a complete rental guide, nor complete "how to" answers.Why don't they have a complete guide? All the answers aren't finalized. There are MA rental registries that aren't functioning, insurance requirements that aren't clearly defined as to how to comply, and forms that aren't in existence yet.If you're feeling in the dark, you're not alone. This webinar was for Realtors' edification. What we got from the MAR legal office is that there is still a lot of work to be done to clarify the MA taxes on rentals at both the st... 12/16/2019

How's The Real Estate Market? This is often the question when you are known as a real estate professional. Although the answer can depend on many variables, in general it is GREAT!Some of the variables include: what type of real estate, what price point, what condition, the components, and of course the location. Many use the question as an ice breaker in social conversation. But when it is asked, there is always some mount of serious interest in the answer. So how can you get a general answer that has truth?Each month, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) posts it's research results on the NAR website. One of the interesting data points to look at is the Housing Affordability Index (HAI). This is the number which indicates how much income the average American home buyer has when... 11/23/2019

Cape Cod Real Estate Sets New All-Time Median Price.According to preliminary data released on Friday November 16th,  Cape Cod Real Estate Sets New All-Time Median Price.  The Cape Cod and Islands Association of REALTORS® (CCIAOR) reported a $49,900 increase over last October's median price for single family homes. The condominium median sale price was also above last October by $47,650. This is only 7 more total homes sold in t2018 than in 2017. The median price increased, even as more inventory comes on the market. Demand has stayed strong and prices have gone higher, but read on. Comparing 2018 to 2017 Year-to-Date sales in number of units, 3,372 single-family homes have sold in 2018 which is 184 less houses than in 2017. This still resulted in an increase in the median price for a ho... 11/18/2018

Cape Cod Affordable Housing - New Lottery in Falmouth MA 2018Do you want to live in Falmouth MA, but don't have a lot of income? Maybe you could win the housing lottery for 72 Deer Pond Road, in East Falmouth. It is a brand new home that some fortunate owner will be able to buy at a lower than average cost!If you want to have a shot in this affordable housing lottery, visit the Falmouth Housing Trust website and apply to be a part of the lottery. There is an information session for this lottery on 12-4-18 (December 4, 2018) at 6 pm at the Downtown Falmouth Library Branch. Many questions will be answered there. The home that is in the current lottery is: Price: 1 Brand New Home $195,000 Description: 3 bedroom, 2 baths. 72 Deer Pond Road, East FalmouthThe Falmouth Housing Trust is an inde... 11/16/2018

Top Real Estate Agents Cape CodWe received the following note from the president of Robert Paul Properties: "Congratulations to this month’s top real estate agents across the Robert Paul Offices on Cape Cod and in Boston on a great October! We are proud of all of you!"   Do you see a familiar face?Holly and I are grateful for a wonderful year of business already. With friends and clients we have been able to help complete over $10,000,000 in transactions. We are looking forward to continuing to finish 2018 with more successful closings.Our clients have been looking at properties all over Cape Cod lately. Many of the buyers we have been chosen by, are not as town focused as in past years. When buyers who have over a million dollars invest or spend, look at real estate on The Cape, many m... 11/02/2018

Well, today is the day for the annual Falmouth Village Association Main Street Trick or Treat stroll. Each year the shops on Main Street in Falmouth open their doors for Trick and Treating. Today we have a nor'easter passing through, and that has literally dampened the turnout.But as with all challenges, I've still seen a few hearty families choosing to weather the rain and wind in search of sugar. Based on past numbers, we have enough candy for an army! A giraffe just came in, we have has a unicorn and a zebra, a power ranger, Ariel the mermaid, a vampire, and as you can see in the attached video, Superman is handing out the candy.Next year, if you are in Falmouth MA near the end of October, come to Main Street and catch a sugar buzz. Even if the weather is rougher than preferred, the ... 10/27/2018

 32 Damon Drive Falmouth MA Open House 11 To 1 Feb 3 2018.32 Damon Drive Falmouth MA Open House 11 To 1 Feb 3 2018.   We will be havin and open house at 32 Damon Drive  today, February 3, 2018, from 11-1.32 Damon Drive is an ocean view, hilltop 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial. The expansive views are to the south over Vineyard Sound. This wonderful home is beautifully finished inside. The rooms are spacious, each of the five large bedrooms have large, deep, closets.The 2015 kitchen is large and modern. The fireplaced living room, dining room, office, and a large family room provide ample space for everyone on the rest of the first level. The middle level has four comfortable bedrooms, with walk in closets, and there is a full bath with the possibility of another bath on this middle level. ... 02/03/2018

Falmouth Open Houses Feb 3 At 32 Damon Drive 11 To 1 Falmouth Open Houses Feb 3 At 32 Damon Drive 11 To 1 . This weekend there are actually some open houses in Falmouth, even though Sunday is the Super Bowl. As of this writing , there are 18 open houses scheduled for February 3 and 4 in Falmouth MA and you can get the current list of the Falmouth open houses here.  32 Damon Drive is one of those scheduled for Saturday, February 3, 2018, from 11-1.32 Damon Dr. is an ocean view, hilltop 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial. The expansive views are to the south over Vineyard Sound. This wonderful home is beautifully finished inside. The rooms are spacious, each of the five large bedrooms have large, deep, closets.The 2015 kitchen is large and modern. The fireplaced living room, dining room, office... 01/31/2018