Selling Your Home During the Winter Months Here in New England we are blessed with 4 seasons and we're coming up on winter. Whether you're a REALTOR or the average person, I'm sure you've heard this statement "I'm going to take my house off the market because no one is looking to buy during the winter." Or, how about this? "I'm going to wait until spring to put my house on the market when there are more buyers looking and prices are higher."  While on the face of things, these statements may seem logical, let me point out a few reasons why it may not make sense to wait. Let's take a look at the first statement: No one is looking at houses during the winter - Interestingly, we aggressively market and sell property year round but Integrity Residential Brokerage closed more homes from Octo... 11/01/2010

Who said it was a buyer's market?  Often, when I speak with potential buyers, they enter the market expecting to get huge discounts on properties that are being marketed for sale or they're waiting for market values to drop further. Television, newspaper articles, and 'get rich schemes' marketed through the Internet and TV all tout the ease with which a person can buy for "pennies on the dollar".  While a person can sometimes get a good deal, more often than not, in order to move from looking to buying you have to get realistic along the way. Not every "good deal" is a good deal.  Let's also consider that in order to purchase a home at this time, you typically need to be a cash buyer, a W2 employee with verifiable income, possess a solid credit history, and have an excellent FICO score.... 10/19/2010

Home Buyer Tax Credit - Possible Pitfalls Recently, I read some articles pertaining to homeowners who took advantage of the Home Buyer Tax Credit and then sold that home within a short amount of time. The common thread was that the homeowner seemed unaware that selling the property, within three years from initial purchase, could result in a significant unexpected tax bill. As real estate professionals, we need to be aware of potential future consequences relative to the Home Buyer Tax Credit so that we can advise our clients to seek professional guidance should the situation call for it. I believe that during the next three years, we need to ask the following question when meeting with homeowner's who are thinking of selling their home.  "Did you take advantage of the Home Buyer Tax Cr... 08/23/2010

FHA Loans: Gaining Popularity Working as a real estate broker with Integrity Residential Brokerage, I've noticed a significant increase in buyers utilizing FHA loans.  FHA Loans are mortgages issued by lenders and insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). This federal government insurance gives lenders some assurance that they will be repaid if the borrower defaults. Even with the popularity of FHA loans, many buyers do not understand the potential benefits of these loans. Below, are some frequently asked questions about FHA Loans. Are FHA Loans Only For Low Income Borrowers?  The good news is FHA loans are available to everyone. There are no income restrictions. Similar to most mortgage options, borrowers will need to supply proper documentation for income and assets which a... 08/18/2010

Loan Modification and Short Sale Tips Are you a homeowner seeking to lower your monthly mortgage payment through a loan modification application? Perhaps you're attempting to process a short sale application.  The application process can be challenging and lengthy.  Oftentimes, paperwork gets lost, your file gets transferred to a new processor, or additional information is needed.  Above all, diligent follow-up and patience is needed. Below are some tips you might find helpful.  Contact Your Mortgage Company - Every lender is different so contact them to find out exactly what documentation they require from you. Make sure you send them everything they requested. Typically, they will want the following. Hardship Letter - In order to process a loan modification or short sale application, ... 07/31/2010

Pepperell Massachusetts Real Estate Market Reports for 2009 Single Family Home Sales The Pepperell, MA real estate market report indicates that there were 69 homes sold in 2009 as compared to 67 in 2008. This represents a 3% increase in the number of homes sold. The average sales price changed from $331418 in 2008 to $283670 in 2009, a 14% decrease in value. The days on market changed -23 % from 173  to 133. Visit Pepperell MA real estate for information about the community, relocation, demographics, MLS search, home buying and selling guides.   Go to Pepperell MA homes for sale to view current listings of homes, condos, multi-family and land listings. Condominium Sales The Pepperell, MA condominium market data indicates that there were 8 condos sold in 2009 as compared to 7 in 2008. T... 07/26/2010

Is Market Recovery Possible? The Elimination of the Mortgage Interest Deduction  Lately, I've read a few articles about the possibility of reducing or eliminating the mortgage interest deduction.  What next? I'm thinking... How can the nation ever expect to recover? The tax credit stimulus was a nice short-term success but since then, sales of existing homes have decreased and new home sales are at the lowest level they've been in about 50 years. On the upside, the tax credit stimulus helped move foreclosed property, improve bank balance sheets and increase buyer confidence about purchasing a home. Also, of great importance was that Congress passed legislation on June 30, 2010 to extend the closing deadline to September 30, 2010. If this extension hadn't occurred, approximately 180,000... 07/22/2010

Are You a Home Buyer and Unfamiliar with Septic Systems? Sometimes when I show buyers property serviced by an on-site septic system, they are unfamiliar with what a septic system is and how it works.  So, I thought I'd take a moment to provide a basic explanation of how a septic system functions. WHAT IS A SEPTIC SYSTEM?  A septic system is designed to condition untreated liquid household waste (sewage) so that it can be dispersed and percolated into the subsoil. SEPTIC TANK FUNCTION The septic tank is the first step in the process.  Without it, the untreated sewage would quickly clog the leach field.  As sewage enters the septic tank, its flow rate is reduced so that the larger solids called sludge sink and smaller solids called scum (grease, soap, etc) rise to the top. The solids are ... 07/15/2010

You Can Stop Sweating Now - Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended According to the National Association of Realtors®, up to 180,000 home buyers could lose their tax credit through no fault of their own.  These buyers met all the qualifications for the tax credit but delays and workflow jams with lenders prevented purchasers from completing their purchase prior to the June 30, 2010 deadline. Down to the wire, Congress passed an extension of the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623).  This extension only applies to transactions with ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 which haven't closed yet.   The new closing deadline is September 30, 2010. What does this mean to you?  Home buyers who meet the qualifications for the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act have until... 07/01/2010

THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU MAKE A "STRATEGIC DEFAULT" Over the past year, I've noticed a trend of homeowners who are simply choosing to walk away from their home.  When I speak with homeowners they sometimes feel that they don't have any other choice but to default and walk away.  They feel hopeless and frequently don't seek guidance from a professional to explore their options. Often, they simply give up, walk away, and start over.   Homeowners need to think twice before they make the decision to walk away from their loan obligations. Fannie Mae (FNMA) has announced new guidelines making it more difficult for homeowners to strategically default.  Defaulting home owners who have the ability to make their payments, or did not contact their lender to pursue alternatives, will be ineligible fo... 06/27/2010

Pepperell MA Home Seller: What you Need to Know about Hazardous Waste Attention Pepperell MA Home Sellers! As you prepare to market and sell your home, one item often overlooked is the "chemical stuff" that you store in your basement and garage otherwise known as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).  Often times, Sellers try to leave these items behind and Buyers are not pleased when they conduct a walk through prior to sale and see Household Hazardous Waste items in the basement or garage. On occasion, this can hold up the sale as the seller scrambles to remove the household hazardous waste items. I wanted to let you know that the Pepperell Board of Health will hold a hazardous waste collection day on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 10am-2pm at the Jersey Street Fire Station.  For more inform... 06/11/2010

NEW MASSACHUSETTS LEAD PAINT REGULATIONS and How They Affect You, Integrity Residential Brokerage, Catherine Condon, (978)433-0000 Do you own a home that was built prior to 1978?  If so, you might be interested to learn that there are new lead paint regulations regarding any renovation, repair or painting (RRP) projects undertaken on your home.  Below, I've outlined the EPA Regulation and how it may affect you. New Regulations for Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Under the Residential Lead-Based Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, the EPA developed regulations regarding renovation, repair and painting (RRP) activities in single and multi-family homes built prior to 1978. This new regulation, which went into effect on April 22, 2010, was enacted to reduce children's exposure to dust conta... 06/03/2010

Pepperell MA Real Estate, Home Buying, Home Selling, Market Report, Free MLS Search Pepperell, MA established in 1775,  is situated approximately 35 miles northwest of Boston adjacent to the New Hampshire border.  Primarily a bedroom community with good access to major routes and shopping centers, the rolling hills, beautiful New England woodlands, protected recreation areas and working farms maintain the rural character that can still be found in Pepperell.  View Pepperell, MA in a larger map Town of Pepperell MA - Market Report  Currently, there are 58 single family properties being offered for sale ranging in price from $105,000 to 884,900.  The average list price is $365,029 and the average days on market is 209.           There are currently 14 single family listings that are under... 05/25/2010

How to Buy a Pepperell, Massachusetts Short Sale As a home buyer looking for value in the purchase of real estate you may consider a "short sale" as a viable option.  The process of finding and buying a Pepperell MA short sale  is not a typical real estate transaction.  To have success, you must work with qualified professionals and understand the process. Utilize the services of Realtors, attorneys, accountants, mortgage lenders and home inspectors as they all provide expert advice.  What is a Short Sale? Homeowners that have financial hardships may pursue a short sale prior to foreclosure.  This process may be a preferable option to preserve their credit and limit their debt exposure.  In New Hampshire, the laws governing foreclosures provide incentives for lenders to work with homeow... 05/24/2010

Pepperell, MA - Conservation Land Trail Maps  Are you ready to enjoy the warmer weather?  Do you like to hike in the woods? Are you looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors with family or friends?  I am the owner of a horse and enjoy trail riding on the weekend so I was thrilled to see the Pepperell Conservation Land Trail Maps posted on the Town of Pepperell website. Take a moment to download the maps and consider exploring the various Conservation Land Trails we have in Pepperell, MA.  The Pepperell Conservation Commission has a volunteer-based trails monitoring and maintenance program to help keep our trail system clear and accessible. If you use any of the trails in town and would like to help, read more about it HERE. If you spot someone riding a bike followed by a woman on a brown ... 04/26/2010

On Saturday, May 14th, the Pepperell Garden Club will hold its Annual Plant Sale on the front steps of Lawrence Library from 8:00am - 12:00 noon (rain or shine). The Pepperell Garden Club Plant Sale is one of the largest plant sales in the area! Some of the club members are professional landscapers and can lend their expertise on appropriate plant choices and design ideas for your garden.  Plants offered for sale are annuals, perennials, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Locally grown vegetable plants and herbs will also be offered for sale. All of the plants are reasonably priced. The Pepperell Garden Club Plant Sale is the largest fund raising event for the garden club. Funds from the sale are used for projects throughout Pepperell such as planters on Main Street, plantings at town hal... 04/22/2010

Pepperell MA - 14th Annual Pepperell Green-Up Saturday, April 17th through Sunday, April 25th, the 14th Annual Pepperell Green-Up begins.  Members of the community participate in the pickup of roadside litter and trash on public lands consisting of roadsides, sidewalks, parking lots, schools, the rail trail, conservation lands, hiking trails and other areas.  A map of Pepperell, MA and a sign-up list is posted in the Lawrence Library which is located at 15 Main Street, Pepperell, MA. Anyone can participate and everyone's efforts make a difference! I've participated in the Annual Pepperell Green-Up in past years and am always astounded by how much trash can be found on the roadside and trails.  Perhaps you'd like to make it a family or group activity.   Let's take pride in our town! Plea... 04/19/2010

Stage your Home for Sale: Questions to Ask when Hiring a Home Stager In today's market, it's important to find ways to set yourself apart from your competition.  Buyer's frequently tour multiple properties on any given day so staging your home could make the difference between a long marketing period with little buyer interest versus a shorter marketing period with high buyer interest. If you'd like to consider hiring a home stager, below are some questions to ask when interviewing home stagers.    Can we meet in person?  - It's important to meet them in person versus talking to them over the phone. That way, you'll have an opportunity to see how you interact with them. You'll be able to determine their communication style:  Are they pleasant when bringing up staging ideas for your home... 04/13/2010

What is that Smell? PrepareYour Home for Sale "What is that Smell?" asks the Buyer.  Whether it's a good smell or a bad smell, too much of either is a bad thing when it comes to selling your home.  Buyers will focus on the odor in a house and not focus on more important details about the property.  Buyers tend to label houses in order to help them remember salient points about the property.  Do your want your house to be remembered as "ash tray house" or "cat pee house"? I don't think so! Visual and sensory presentation is vitally important in helping you achieve the goal of selling your home for the highest price possible.  So, in preparing your home for sale, consider the following: Bad Smell Sources It's important to remove sources that create bad smells.  Many folks try to eliminate... 04/12/2010

Pepperell MA Homes and Real Estate - FREE Direct MLS Search Homes and Real Estate in Pepperell, MA - now priced better than ever! Integrity Residential Brokerage located in Pepperell, MA is ready to assist you.  Whether you're a first time buyer or a repeat buyer, the process of purchasing a home is ever-changing. Utilizing the services of a real estate professional to guide you through the process can help you achieve your real estate goals. Let us help you determine your price range and housing needs and then we'll find the right property that meets your criteria.  We are here ready to answer your questions, give you detailed property information, and offer you guidance every step of the way. Below, is our quick and easy MLS SEARCH TOOL where you'll find all homes for sale, foreclosed... 04/08/2010