UNDER AGREEMENT! Can we help you sell yours?

$185,000.00 – 126 Park St., Gardner MA Outstanding property!! Price change!! Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Parking Spaces: 4 Year Built: 1900 Lot Size: .24 acres Garage Size: 3 Square Footage: 2111 Agent Name: Gerry Bourgeois Sr Broker: Gerry Bourgeois Jr MLS #: 70781349 Price: $185,000.00 Additional Pricing Information: Price change! 126 Park St Gardner, MA 01440 View Map $1,000 back to Buyer for closing costs!An outstanding property.Eye appeal in & out, charm & comfort, fireplace, attached barn with loft & 3 car garage, 1st floor laundry & bedroom, very functional & well balanced floor plan, nice kitchen, formal dining room.Great Home! Great location! View of Crystal Lake, Easy to Rte’s 140 & 2! Rare offering,opportunity & value!Priced to sell. Range/Oven, Full Refrigerator, Washer/Dryer, Dishwasher, Sink Disposal, Fireplace, Hardwood Floors, Basement, Grass Lawn Watch the Youtube video for this property! Bank of America announces Mortgage Help Search the MLS! Fan us on Facebook 365 Things to do in Massachusetts Gerry Bourgeois Sr Gerrysr@realtyman.com 978-537-6401 Towne & Country, Realtors 124 N Main St Leominster, MA 01453 Powered by vFlyer.com Equal Housing Opportunity VFLYER ID: 3203816 Photo Gallery Powered by vFlyer.com Equal Housing Opportunity VFLYER ID: 3203816 All information in this site is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and is subject to change

In the red?

Channel 5 announced today that Bank of America is going to institute a new program in May that will help homeowners who are upside down – who owe more than the current value of their home on their mortgage. This may help keep people in their homes.

Why expect a bank to do this? A foreclosure in a neighborhood affects all of the property values in that neighborhood. From a purely business point of view, it makes sense for a bank to help to keep property values up. And of course, a foreclosure has incredible ramifications as far as a borrower’s ability to own a home in the near future. The sooner we can pull together and straighten out this market, the better for everyone.

Here is the link to the report.

Everyone has been struggling with the housing market. Naturally, homeowners are reluctant to list their homes for sale for fear that the property will sit on the market and either nothing will happen, or they will only get very low offers.

But consider this: possibly due to the April 30th deadline for the Homebuyer’s Tax Credit, we are experiencing an early busy Spring market.

Over the past few days in our office, we received offers on several properties; three of these came together and the properties are now under agreement, and others are still in negotiation. We brought on three new listings, all of which have seen activity- one was shown 13 times!! And we have several more quality listings soon to be listed. That is busy by any standard.

One of our buyers’ agents was lamenting the fact that she had been showing property all weekend but there is not that much quality inventory out there.

Property that is priced properly IS selling in our market – and homes that are priced properly are receiving offers that are very close to or at listing price. If you are on the fence, ask us for a Market Analysis. You may be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Towne & Country, Realtors has a comprehensive marketing plan in place, just waiting for your listing. A progressive marketing plan is paramount in getting property sold in today’s market. List with us and you will see your property on YouTube, Facebook, craigslist, twitter and featured in our blogs as part of our Internet marketing strategy.

key to housing recovery

Looking at stats is great. Numbers give any predictions that you make a more solid footing. But the thing with statistics- real estate included- is that the numbers discuss what has already occurred.
Predictions are always uncertain. Economists will look at the same numbers and come up with different conclusions- and the thing is, someone will be right. The trick is to look for someone who is right a lot of the time.
That was why I was happy to see an article in USA Today quoting Warren Buffett. Buffett has been correct enough so that I wouldn’t mind having him as my financial planner. And he knows real estate.
This is what he has to say:

“Within a year or so, residential housing problems should largely be behind us,” Buffett wrote Saturday in his annual letter to the shareholders of his Berkshire Hathaway. “Prices will remain far below ‘bubble’ levels, of course, but for every seller or lender hurt by this there will be a buyer who benefits. Indeed, many families that couldn’t afford to buy an appropriate home a few years ago now find it well within their means.”

This mirrors what was suggested at the Inman Connect Conference, and is a welcome validation for what many real estate sales agents have mentioned to me.

If you want my take on what this means for you, please email me at gerry@realtyman.com or call 978-537-6401 x24. Or we can chat on Facebook- friend me.

Trying to figure out something fun to do in Leominster/Fitchburg or close by?? Try these! Most of these are free.

Monoosnoc Ridge Trail (see description on link at “Leominster”)

Fitchburg Art Museum

Visit the Falls at Willard Brook- when it’s warm, bring stuff for a cookout in the fire pits

Nashua River Rail Trail this starts with parking in Ayer, and is open to biking, hiking, cross-country skiing and equestrian

Looking for something with a little more elevation? Try climbing or biking Mount Wachusett, climbing Mount Watatic, or for the adventurous there is the 21 mile Wapack trail- check these out in better weather.

Same thing with Leominster State Forest- swimming here, great hiking, and cookout areas

Pick up a course at Mount Wachusett Community College (Leominster location) or Fitchburg State College. Fitchburg State College has an events schedule as well, with many events open to the general public

Check out the Activities Brochure on the Leominster Town Site

In better weather, check out Purgatory Chasm (a little drive, but worth it). Bring your cookout stuff here, too

Explore the Lincoln Woods Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Massachusetts Audubon Society’s properties

Check out the Leominster Historical Society and the Fitchburg Historical Society- they have ongoing exhibits and programs.

My kids have been to the Coco Key Water Resort and loved it

Take advantage of the programs at Fitchburg Public Library and Leominster Public Library- there are always free programs being offered for both adults and children

Keep the window to the Fitchburg Pride events calendar open on your computer to catch current happenings in town

Here’s a nice little site for when it warms up- call these places first to determine hours of operation.

Feel free to add to the comments section! There are always new events being planned!

Inspired by House Hawker or Trusted Adviser? by Rob Hahn

The effects of the economy on the housing market – and vice versa – have not been consistently predicted. I think that very few people correctly predicted the length of time that housing values have been in decline, and I seriously doubt that anyone can look into their crystal ball and see when things will begin to turn around. House sales depend on many things – mortgage rates, unemployment, and consumer confidence.

If I thought for a minute that a cost analysis of renting v buying a property was something that our clients wanted, every Realtor at Towne & Country would be doing these for every residential purchase. The thing is, owning a home is considered by most to be the best way to build personal equity over time, and people still, in spite of the market, prefer buying over renting.

I have read Rich Dad, Poor Dad – loved it, in fact. It points out that there are many, much better ways to make money than to consider your home a financial asset. I have another acquaintance who suggests that first time home buyers purchase a 2 or 3 unit home and rent the other two units, instead of going the traditional single-family route. Maybe ANY time – market correction or not – a single family residence is not the most sensible investment.

However, many of us want to own homes because for most of us it is the best way of putting away a little sum of money each month when we pay down the principle on our mortgage. This is even though home ownership is just plain harder than renting, given the additional expense of insurance, taxes, upkeep and everything else included in the package.

I am annoyed about decisions being foisted upon a public that has more access to information than any previous generation. When I meet clients for the first time, my role is to determine how I can best serve them, and this often has nothing to do with information and everything to do with expertise. Why would anyone sit down with clients who know exactly what they want and who have probably been renting up until this point and force a comparison upon them that they have already been living? And if they are selling in a down market, should I tell them to hold off on their purchase until the market turns?

I guess this is what I would like to know. I am serving my clients, not the science of conjecture.

Dear clients,

Would you like a cost analysis presenting the pros and cons of home purchase v renting?  Will this help you decide what your plans will be?

Or would you like an honest assessment from me regarding market trends for your particular situation? My information does not come with any hidden price tags. I know that if I am honest with you and treat you with respect that you will come to me if and when you are ready to sell or buy your home. Frankly, since I live here too, your respect and how I am regarded in the community is more important to me than a quick sale.

In fact, I advised two separate potential clients that the time was not right for their particular situations within the last month. And I would do it again, because it is the right thing to do.

But here’s something else. There are plenty of intangible benefits that come with buying a home, things that go way beyond the dollars and cents of things, and are more important than having control over the color of the walls. You can have a dog or two. You can plan a huge garden. And if you own, you know that you are not going to come home at the end of the day and find your rent raised, or worse- be given a sixty day notice to vacate because the property has been sold, or foreclosed upon, or your landlord just doesn’t feel like renting any more. You have a little more control over your environment. These things are impossible to account for in a spreadsheet.

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Can we fix it?

There has been a grassroots initiative in the making among real estate professionals with the purpose of improving the industry- raising the bar, so to speak. This is the twitter stream about the initiative, tagged #rtb, which is mostly between real estate professionals:

Without a doubt, industries that do not try to change and improve are dead in the water. Looking at the way our industry is structured, I think the most change is going to occur locally, on the brokerage level. Our brokerage is already different, and we have many ideas in the wings that are directly intended to raise the bar for real estate. But we need you. We can talk about improving the industry, but we can’t do it without the input of you, the consumer. What was your last real estate experience like? What would you have made better? What did you like the best- that you would keep just the same if you did it over again? Please post your answers in the comment section. Thanks for helping to make our industry better!

You have a house. You need to move. Although it hurts, you have priced it where the market analysis suggests. You list it. What next?

What’s  next is probably the single most important piece of the puzzle.

If I were selling my house today, I would want to know exactly where it was being advertised. MLSPIN listings are pushed out to more than 35 different online places (including Google and Yahoo) without any extra effort of the agent or the brokerage. What extra effort goes into it?

Is this how your home is going to get sold?

Ask this question of your sales agent.

And keep this in mind- the buyer of your home will statistically be in his (or definitely her) early 30s to late 40s. This group does not scour the classified section for information, nor do they read home sales magazines in pizza parlors. They look for their information online. 90% of all home buyers this year began their exploration on the Internet.

If I were selling now, I would make sure my home was priced correctly, and I would expect offers coming in at 20% lower than asking price. Before my home was listed, I would ask my agent these things:

• Is my home listing on Realtor.com enhanced? This means it is shown to be more likely to be seen by buyers.
• Will my home listing be posted on the Internet in places other than what the MLS does?
• Does my agent have any other ways to find buyers? Is the brokerage involved in social media- Facebook and twitter? If they say yes, check it out.  Do they have a blog? These social outreach places are ways to find buyers as they are starting out.
• Does the brokerage have a presence on YouTube and are they promoting listings there? According to Social Media Revolution, YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine and you want your listing there.

Even if my Uncle Harold was the family Realtor®, I would ask these same questions. In this market where average days on market is over six months, you don’t want to lose any time.

Brokers from 4 different companies share ideas

We have just come back from the flagship Real Estate Conference of the year- Inman Connect- and what a time that was!
How do you do a recap of 5 days of real estate innovation in just a few paragraphs? Gerry and I are still sorting through our notes in preparation of what will be a really interesting year- and, I am guessing, decade.
Starting off the conference was an idea-sharing day called (oddly enough) REBarCamp. Sessions were decided by and led by the participants. I co-led one called “Finding Your Social Media Voice for Business” and sat in on an interesting one called “Raising the Bar- a grassroots initiative for Real Estate.”
This is probably of real interest to those outside of the industry. We are discussing it again on my radio show today (TQ Radio- listen to the archives here)
How do you strengthen the real estate industry as a whole? That’s the goal of this initiative- and the goal of conferences like Inman Connect. Without a doubt, we brought home ideas that are going to make Towne & Country a stronger brokerage for you. More than that- we see that what we have in place already IS the future of real estate, and that is very motivating.
Education, I think, is the key to the improvement of any industry. This conference, and the seminars prior to that, nailed this down for us. It wasn’t set up by a Keller Williams or a Coldwell Banker- it was an industry-wide meeting of the minds. Without regard to affiliation, it was the best of the best sharing what they have- and this in and of itself raises that bar for us all.
I am so happy we went, so happy we participated, and so happy that we were able to share and in doing so “raise the bar.” For us, it’s all about creating the best experience for buyers and sellers- and our agents. You can’t do that without an ecumenical approach.

-Diane

Is it time to sell?

If you are seriously thinking of selling your house, NOW is the time to get serious. So you think we are at the bottom of the market? Here are a few points to consider:

• Single Family Sales units in North Central MA are declining at a Faster rate (more than 2 times) than the same period last year.
• Single Family average Sale Prices are declining at a Greater rate than the same period last year.
• Lending standards are getting increasingly more difficult – i.e. harder to get a loan.
• Job losses are only Now starting to come into play – and there are more coming.
• The economy is eroding before our eyes.
• The foreclosure rate is increasing
• Currently we are 2-3 years before the ‘Bulk’ of the Adjustable Rate Mortgages reset (Including the Option Arms – what’s an Option Arm? Look for another post soon).
• I can go on…
Looking at these facts, is there any reason why you would think that prices are going to go up?

OK, so you are a buyer. Why Buy now? Well, 30 year Fixed Rate Mortgages (yes, FIXED – not Blend loans, Option Arms, NINJA loans, etc.) are still at 40 year lows BUT prices have been beaten up over the past 3 or so years. We are seeing prices back to levels we saw in 2003 +/- but Mortgage rates are just about as low as back then – thus setting the stage for some great affordability.

If you have a secure job, this is a great opportunity. Yes, prices may fall more, however Interest rates are almost sure to go up due (to the economy, the low value of the dollar, imminent recession, etc). So remember, small changes in the Interest rate can equate to large increases in the payment.

When I had originally written this in October of 2008, I had been reading and hearing from many sources that the bottom had been reached, and the market was going to turn around. I was NOT convinced of this, not on a National level, and certainly not locally.
Today, the advice I gave in my post holds true, I think. We have not seen the bottom yet. There is more activity- and that is good. But consider this:
Many sellers are holding back, waiting for the market to change. As soon as there is any indication of this, many will list. This added inventory will keep prices flat.
If interest rates go up even a half point from the average 30 year rate of just under 5%, this will limit the buyer pool further. A home that costs $200,000 with a monthly payment of $1073.64 under that scenario would end up costing $1135.58 at 5.5%.- a significant increase.
Questions? Call me at 978-537-6401, ext.24.

10. STOP SMOKING –  This is the No. 10 resolution because a number of Americans pretty much make this resolution every year. Some follow through, others don’t but with so many options ranging from gum to patches to electronic cigarettes and prescription programs, quitting has never been easier.9. BE NICER TO OTHER PEOPLE – And don’t lose your temper so easily. In other words be more patient with yourself and with other people. Getting irritated undoubtedly has an affect on your health so relax and this year might be easier for you.

8. QUIT DRINKING – Although not everyone drinks, there many people out there who do drink and they are going to resolve to quit drinking. This should be done for themselves, as well as for family members and friends. There are a number of resources available to quit drinking including alcoholics anonymous and many programs that provide in or out patient care.

7. EXERCISE – Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else. Studies show that exercise reduces the risk of some illnesses, increases, longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss enhances the mood of the individual and lower the blood pressure.

6. SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY – This is a resolution that applies those who work too much or have jobs that require them to be away for long periods of time. In addition, many people find the New Year as a time to reconnect with lost family members.

5. READ MORE BOOKS – Not only electronic versions of books, but actual books. The experience of getting lost in literature is wasted on new technology, but you can resolve to take some time out to relax with a good book instead of reading on the go all the time.

4. LEARN SOMETHING NEW – Taking up a new hobby is a very popular resolution. There is a wide variety of hobbies available for every facet of a person’s imagination. Look to local resources to find something that interests you.

3. ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE – Most Americans are very disorganized spend a lot of time searching for papers through the piles of files on their desk. If people would organize their paperwork and their office space they will be more efficient and will have more time with my family as well as finish projects more quickly. If you know where things should be — and put them there — you will waste less time searching.

2. GO ON DIET/LOSE WEIGHT – America’s waistline is expanding and this is happening at an accelerated pace. Obesity is possibly worse for your health than smoking and losing weight will make a person feel better. Many local groups host biggest loser competitions. You can also speak with your doctor about weight loss options that are tailored for your specific needs.

1. GET OUT OF DEBT/HANDLE MONEY BETTER – Millions of Americans are carrying debt. Much of it is on credit cards, which apparently is the worst kind of debt to have as the interest rates. The way the economy is these days, getting out of debt is more important than ever because freeing up line of credit can save a person and their family members as well should a family member lose their job.

via stuttgartdailyleader.com

The New Year is a great time for reflecting and deciding on improvement. Whether you choose one of the above resolutions, a combination of them or something different altogether, the quiet of winter is a great time for putting goals into place.

When you run a business, you have to look beyond (or in addition to) personal resolutions and include goals for the business as well. This past year has been a time of learning for us, and this blog as well as the pending redesign of our sites, have been the product. Being actively involved online is the only way that a Real Estate Brokerage is going to thrive in the years to come, when more than 90% of all buyers begin their home search on the Internet. This past year, we have developed a presence on all of the important online places that can be used to link buyers with sellers: Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn.

It takes time, but we used 2009 to establish ourselves there. Why? One reason only: Because we will be doing the absolute best job that we can for our buyers and sellers. That is our reason for existence.

The truth is that any real estate brokerage can SAY that they can give your home the best online exposure. Anyone can SAY that they provide excellent service to buyers.

Google “Towne and Country Realtors” or RealtyMan and see who is really there for you.

Don't ignore the value of the Internet

Posted via web from Neighborhoods & Homes for sale in Leominster & Central MA

]]> http://towne-country.com/top-10-resolutions-stuttgart-ar-stuttgart-daily-leader/feed/ 0 http://towne-country.com/holiday-giving/ http://towne-country.com/holiday-giving/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:33:10 +0000 RealtyMan http://towne-country.com/?p=109

Christmas Decorations

The holidays are a time of receiving, but they are also a time for remembering those who are in need. They are definitely a time of giving.

Interested in improving the school system in Leominster? A classroom has a call out for investment in their students’ library. Any amount can be donated, and they are looking for a total of less than $300 to buy a set of Roald Dahl and Beverly Cleary books.

Looking for Toys For Tots locations? Here is all of the local information you need- from the hub in Devens, MA.

Times are hard for many people. If you find yourself in need of assistance, you can call Project Bread to find a local food pantry. YOU DO NOT NEED TO APPLY if you need help. Here is their site, or call 1-800-645-8333.

To donate: Loaves and Fishes in Devens, MA has a specific list of items needed. They serve Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley but if you are from a different town the list is helpful for shopping more locally:

• Flavored rices
• “Helpers” (Hamburger, Tuna)
• Instant Potatoes
• Baked Beans
• Cereal
• Pasta sauce
• Diced tomatoes
• Tomato products
• Canned vegetables
• Diapers

You can check out either the Project Bread site or the Loaves and Fishes site to donate.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

On the National front:

CitiMortgage and Citifinancial- 30 day suspension

You can read the entire article at BusinessWire here . While this isn’t a solution by any means, it DOES give people a little break through the holidays.

Here’s hoping other banks can follow suit.