Over the past couple of years of foreclosures being the sad part of our lives, an even sadder group of victims has emerged in the wake of such devastation. Family pets have been left behind out of desperation or indifference, but whatever the reason, the animals need our help.
It is hard for most of us who love animals to even imagine leaving our pets behind, but before we can attempt to do something about it, it is important to recognize the signs that it is about to happen right under our noses.
Homes that are lost through foreclosure happen for several reasons including but not limited to, unemployment, chemical dependence, uncontrolled credit card debt, disability, divorce or dissolution of partnership. The circumstances that lead to foreclosure do not happen over night, but rather over a long period of time and trouble. Distressed and depressed homeowners, who in better days may always have considered the welfare of their pets, are almost as helpless as the pets they now abandon.
Before a home is foreclosed upon, there are often many signs of that pending foreclosure that neighbors, friends or family members can see including the publication of the address and data in the newspapers as is required by law. Some of the signs of a distressed property include lack of upkeep of the interior, exterior and landscaping. If you know that there is a pet (or pets) in the home, and the family will be moving out, know that it is likely that the individuals will be renting. Most rental properties do not permit pets.
Sometimes the troubled homeowner is so overwhelmed that gathering information to make a decision about the pet gets lost in the chaos. Your intervention before the move can make all the difference in the world to an animal. It may be as simple as asking what plans have been made for the pet. If they have no idea what to do, they may be very grateful to learn from you about the animal welfare agency that is located a few miles away. You may also offer to make that phone call for them to be sure the animal has a chance to be adopted by another loving family in time.
If you are uncomfortable approaching the homeowner for fear of offending, erring on the side of kindness to the animal by at least providing rescue agency literature to the homeowner is a good start.
Communities have Animal Control Officers and Humane Societies that can provide contact information to help these animals before they end up on the street or worse. If you see an animal roaming the streets unattended, or “hanging out” around a foreclosed home, please make that call to the authorities. Sometimes we walk right by an abandoned pet and we never even realize it.
Realtors are in the unique position of seeing first hand what can happen to animals in a distressed property situation. Embroiled in a bitter divorce and facing foreclosure, “John” thought that “Mary” had notified the Dog Officer about having the dog picked up when the moving truck left. The animal had been tied in the back yard. John was mistaken. The neighbors heard the dog barking for what seemed like too long a time and help did arrive.
I remember a similar situation where pet rabbits had been abandoned…..in their cage inside the empty house. Each separating spouse blamed the other for the neglect. Luckily a Realtor found the dehydrated and starving animals in time to save them when she went to evaluate the property. I will not soon forget her anguish and her anger.
These may be hard times, but we can help each other if we keep our eyes open for those who can not help themselves. If you are in a position to provide information to the pet owners before the animal may be abandoned, you may have saved the animal from terrible hardship. If you suspect that an abandoned pet may have been left in or around a home, please make the call to the local Animal Control Officer and report your suspicions.
The new wave of foreclosures will start within a few months and all communities will feel the effects one way or another. We really can make a difference by paying attention to our surroundings so that the only effect the animals will feel is the same love they provide to all of us unconditionally.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
FIND YOUR WAY HOME
As this article goes to print, Senate negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend the tax credit for first time home buyers. Because passage of the deal remains uncertain, I offer this information as hopeful rather than factual, but the deal would also include a new credit of up to $6500 to present homeowners. Those homeowners must have lived in their homes for five consecutive years out of the last eight in order to qualify for the credit.
The proposed credit would extend beyond the deadline of 12.1.09 to all real estate deals entered into by April 30 and closed before July 1. Presently the income limits for those to qualify are $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples, but the deal would increase those limits to $125,000 and $250,000 respectively.
The tax credit has been a successful incentive that has worked well with the low interest rates and the very low housing prices for first time home buyers. It would be unreasonable to do away with what works especially now.
Changes in lifestyles go hand in hand with real estate. As the homeowner’s need changes with time, so do the living arrangements. After World War Two, our country needed to get back to the business of expanding the family. Cape style homes were built all over the country for the ease with which the family could expand the living area as they needed. The post war boomtown, baby boom and comfortable economy contrast sharply with the economy today, although it has never paid to bet against America.
The morning news today had more of the same “increasing unemployment”, “pending foreclosure” “government takeovers” “roadside bombings” news to start the day. In real estate, however, you always have an opportunity for a new perspective on life.
Today my morning was extraordinary from the moment the door opened and in walked a World War Two hero named Mr. G.
Mr. G is the authentic, tried and true American who rarely speaks of his accomplishments and when pressed about his war experience, almost “skips” over the fact that he was a reconnaissance soldier who served under Patton. In his capacity, as reconnaissance, Mr G. risked his life routinely to go out ahead of the army into enemy territory to report back information vital to the safety of our military and the demise of our enemy.
One of the first to step foot into Czechoslovakia, Mr. G freed the weakened prisoners and replaced them with enemy prisoners. He is the reason we can transact any business at all freely in this country or in any of a hundred others. The morning news should report on what Mr G has done with his life and what he is doing right now as a model American.
After nearly seventy years of marriage to his sweetheart, Mr G now visits his wife every day in the nursing facility the next town over where she must reside. In order that he is closer to her, he is moving out of the home they shared to take up residence at a new facility within sight of where she lives. A more tender love story does not exist and he smiles when he speaks her name.
Mr. G could never have imagined applying for home loans he could never repay. For him, hard work and good living led to a home in the country with a white picket fence, seven children and a dog. Mr. G bought and paid for his home, loved his family who return that love many times over. Today Mr. G signed a lease that will give him a bird’s eye view of the wonderful Rowley facility that takes such good care of his sweetheart.
If the tax credit is extended, it may be that Mr. G’s grandchildren partake of it some day as our country finds its way back to a better economy. For the time being, young Americans can take a lesson from Mr. G, who, despite obvious arthritic pain, moved quickly to open the car door for this Realtor. Mr. G is among the gentlemen who saved our world and he is a gentle reminder that if we follow his lead, we will always find our way home.
The proposed credit would extend beyond the deadline of 12.1.09 to all real estate deals entered into by April 30 and closed before July 1. Presently the income limits for those to qualify are $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples, but the deal would increase those limits to $125,000 and $250,000 respectively.
The tax credit has been a successful incentive that has worked well with the low interest rates and the very low housing prices for first time home buyers. It would be unreasonable to do away with what works especially now.
Changes in lifestyles go hand in hand with real estate. As the homeowner’s need changes with time, so do the living arrangements. After World War Two, our country needed to get back to the business of expanding the family. Cape style homes were built all over the country for the ease with which the family could expand the living area as they needed. The post war boomtown, baby boom and comfortable economy contrast sharply with the economy today, although it has never paid to bet against America.
The morning news today had more of the same “increasing unemployment”, “pending foreclosure” “government takeovers” “roadside bombings” news to start the day. In real estate, however, you always have an opportunity for a new perspective on life.
Today my morning was extraordinary from the moment the door opened and in walked a World War Two hero named Mr. G.
Mr. G is the authentic, tried and true American who rarely speaks of his accomplishments and when pressed about his war experience, almost “skips” over the fact that he was a reconnaissance soldier who served under Patton. In his capacity, as reconnaissance, Mr G. risked his life routinely to go out ahead of the army into enemy territory to report back information vital to the safety of our military and the demise of our enemy.
One of the first to step foot into Czechoslovakia, Mr. G freed the weakened prisoners and replaced them with enemy prisoners. He is the reason we can transact any business at all freely in this country or in any of a hundred others. The morning news should report on what Mr G has done with his life and what he is doing right now as a model American.
After nearly seventy years of marriage to his sweetheart, Mr G now visits his wife every day in the nursing facility the next town over where she must reside. In order that he is closer to her, he is moving out of the home they shared to take up residence at a new facility within sight of where she lives. A more tender love story does not exist and he smiles when he speaks her name.
Mr. G could never have imagined applying for home loans he could never repay. For him, hard work and good living led to a home in the country with a white picket fence, seven children and a dog. Mr. G bought and paid for his home, loved his family who return that love many times over. Today Mr. G signed a lease that will give him a bird’s eye view of the wonderful Rowley facility that takes such good care of his sweetheart.
If the tax credit is extended, it may be that Mr. G’s grandchildren partake of it some day as our country finds its way back to a better economy. For the time being, young Americans can take a lesson from Mr. G, who, despite obvious arthritic pain, moved quickly to open the car door for this Realtor. Mr. G is among the gentlemen who saved our world and he is a gentle reminder that if we follow his lead, we will always find our way home.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Bring On The Buffalos
What do you do when the moving truck pulls up to the property next to yours and your new neighbors begin unloading Rottweilers the size of buffalos who roar like lions? There are many folks who are terrified of dogs, yet in our society, our “best friends” live among us as cherished family members. There are a number of laws in place that speak to the barking, biting or nuisance caused by dogs, but the very best way to meet the needs of people and pets is to establish good relations with the neighbors from the very start as well as comply with the laws.
For twelve years I owned and loved one of these “buffalos” that could roar like a lion when she wanted to. I had a large home at the end of a dark cul de sac and “Nicki” served as a loving deterrent to strangers who need only take one look at her.
From the very moment I brought Nicki home, I introduced her to the neighbors. As she grew, we continued to walk the neighborhood and always complied with the leash law. If a dog owner is in violation of the leash law and the dog injures someone, courts generally hold the violator liable. No “trace” of Nicki was ever left behind for a neighbor to find.
Even though the neighbors grew to love her and she loved children, I never left her alone with anyone as a strict self imposed policy.
Recently a family relocating to the North Shore from the mid west visited a property and fell in love with it. They have three “buffalos” with massive shoulders and paws like catchers’ mitts. None of the neighbors are aware that the “buffalo bills” may soon be howling at the moon next door or leaving “traces” behind within the neighborhood itself.
New home owners are wise to check with the town hall to learn what regulations exist for pets. It is even wiser to fence in an area to secure the pets and never leave them outside without being monitored.
Presently there is a pair of little dogs in the same neighborhood and they bark at trees, clouds, oxygen and just life in general. They bark when the sun comes up, when it stays up and when it starts its descent. They bark when the moon appears, while it continues to shine, and until the sun begins to rise again. The neighbors will do well not to feed them to the “buffalos” because the Barking Laws in many towns are stacked against the neighbors.
In real estate, we see so much of life behind closed doors. We see the good the bad and the ugly. What is always a pleasure is to see people happy in their homes. It does not take a lot to make most folks happy from what I have learned, but it is most disturbing to see the unhappiness one neighbor can cause another. The fault never lies with an animal when it frightens, injures or disturbs a neighbor. If there is any fault at all, it is usually attributed to the pet owner for not having controlled the pet.
Use fences. Monitor your pets. Bring them inside if they continue to bark after you have determined that it is for no other reason but that the moon is out. Do, however, pay attention to whatever has alerted your cherished family members. They have an uncanny way of protecting us from harm far more than causing it.
Enjoy your new neighborhoods and be sure your pets become good neighbors as well.
For twelve years I owned and loved one of these “buffalos” that could roar like a lion when she wanted to. I had a large home at the end of a dark cul de sac and “Nicki” served as a loving deterrent to strangers who need only take one look at her.
From the very moment I brought Nicki home, I introduced her to the neighbors. As she grew, we continued to walk the neighborhood and always complied with the leash law. If a dog owner is in violation of the leash law and the dog injures someone, courts generally hold the violator liable. No “trace” of Nicki was ever left behind for a neighbor to find.
Even though the neighbors grew to love her and she loved children, I never left her alone with anyone as a strict self imposed policy.
Recently a family relocating to the North Shore from the mid west visited a property and fell in love with it. They have three “buffalos” with massive shoulders and paws like catchers’ mitts. None of the neighbors are aware that the “buffalo bills” may soon be howling at the moon next door or leaving “traces” behind within the neighborhood itself.
New home owners are wise to check with the town hall to learn what regulations exist for pets. It is even wiser to fence in an area to secure the pets and never leave them outside without being monitored.
Presently there is a pair of little dogs in the same neighborhood and they bark at trees, clouds, oxygen and just life in general. They bark when the sun comes up, when it stays up and when it starts its descent. They bark when the moon appears, while it continues to shine, and until the sun begins to rise again. The neighbors will do well not to feed them to the “buffalos” because the Barking Laws in many towns are stacked against the neighbors.
In real estate, we see so much of life behind closed doors. We see the good the bad and the ugly. What is always a pleasure is to see people happy in their homes. It does not take a lot to make most folks happy from what I have learned, but it is most disturbing to see the unhappiness one neighbor can cause another. The fault never lies with an animal when it frightens, injures or disturbs a neighbor. If there is any fault at all, it is usually attributed to the pet owner for not having controlled the pet.
Use fences. Monitor your pets. Bring them inside if they continue to bark after you have determined that it is for no other reason but that the moon is out. Do, however, pay attention to whatever has alerted your cherished family members. They have an uncanny way of protecting us from harm far more than causing it.
Enjoy your new neighborhoods and be sure your pets become good neighbors as well.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
I HAVE A NAME FOR YOU…….
Recently I received a call from a woman who sounded a bit distracted on the phone as she began to explain why she was calling. As I listened to her story, it became abundantly clear why she sounded somewhat “foggy”. She had lost both her beloved parents and her brother within a very short period of time and she was in mind boggling grief. She had never had to deal with legal or real estate matters and now she found herself overwhelmed by the circumstances of her life.
Life altering events can leave a person in a most vulnerable state where decision making becomes almost impossible. It is during times of living in nightmares when the professional services of attorneys, accountants and realtors must be rendered with tenderness and attentiveness that leads to resolution.
In the event that life knocks you down and you do not know where to turn, you may hear well intentioned friends say “If there is anything I can do, just let me know.” In truth, it is just at these most difficult moments when the last thing you can think of is how to ask for help or what help to ask for.
If you can find a way to remember anything during so difficult a time, remember to ask for a referral to a professional. The time to think about who would be your trusted advisor is before something horrible saps your strength. It is most important to ask someone whom you admire for a referral for such time as you may need one. Who guided your friend or co-worker through dark waters and helped them find peace again? Keep that name or (names) handy because if you have no idea where to turn, the terrible times can become worse instead of better.
I have a lawyer in whose hands I place my children, my own legal matters and those of my clients and friends. I have trusted this kind and brilliant man for twelve years. I have a doctor in whose hands I place my health. I have an accountant who, like the other professionals I choose to keep in my life, tells me the truth and keeps my figures true.
The woman who called me in such a sad state had no such trusted advisor. What she had was a blind and desperate need to trust someone and her bottomless sorrow became even more difficult when all three fell far short of providing services or producing promised results.
These times have many folks counting pennies. Although the inventory of homes has begun to move through to closings, many homeowners have been exhausted from the housing challenge and many buyers are also exhausted from searching through the inventory. It is most important to find that special someone with whom you “click”. Lasting friendships with trusted advisors start with obtaining a name from someone you already trust. It is not unwise to interview several professionals before placing your life, your home or your peace of mind in their hands.
Although several months of unnecessary heartache befell the woman who called my office recently, life has changed yet again for her. There are now trusted advisors in place who will see her through the storm and she will never forget what it meant to be so afraid and be left out in the cold. She will also now be the one who will say to a friend in need some day… “ I have a name for you.”
Life altering events can leave a person in a most vulnerable state where decision making becomes almost impossible. It is during times of living in nightmares when the professional services of attorneys, accountants and realtors must be rendered with tenderness and attentiveness that leads to resolution.
In the event that life knocks you down and you do not know where to turn, you may hear well intentioned friends say “If there is anything I can do, just let me know.” In truth, it is just at these most difficult moments when the last thing you can think of is how to ask for help or what help to ask for.
If you can find a way to remember anything during so difficult a time, remember to ask for a referral to a professional. The time to think about who would be your trusted advisor is before something horrible saps your strength. It is most important to ask someone whom you admire for a referral for such time as you may need one. Who guided your friend or co-worker through dark waters and helped them find peace again? Keep that name or (names) handy because if you have no idea where to turn, the terrible times can become worse instead of better.
I have a lawyer in whose hands I place my children, my own legal matters and those of my clients and friends. I have trusted this kind and brilliant man for twelve years. I have a doctor in whose hands I place my health. I have an accountant who, like the other professionals I choose to keep in my life, tells me the truth and keeps my figures true.
The woman who called me in such a sad state had no such trusted advisor. What she had was a blind and desperate need to trust someone and her bottomless sorrow became even more difficult when all three fell far short of providing services or producing promised results.
These times have many folks counting pennies. Although the inventory of homes has begun to move through to closings, many homeowners have been exhausted from the housing challenge and many buyers are also exhausted from searching through the inventory. It is most important to find that special someone with whom you “click”. Lasting friendships with trusted advisors start with obtaining a name from someone you already trust. It is not unwise to interview several professionals before placing your life, your home or your peace of mind in their hands.
Although several months of unnecessary heartache befell the woman who called my office recently, life has changed yet again for her. There are now trusted advisors in place who will see her through the storm and she will never forget what it meant to be so afraid and be left out in the cold. She will also now be the one who will say to a friend in need some day… “ I have a name for you.”
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Celebrate the USA…….
It is a little known fact that the American colonies separated legally from Great Britain on July 2,1776 and not on July 4th. It took two days for the Second Continental Congress to approve the Declaration of Independence during the American Revolution, hence our National Celebration “The 4th of July”.
In his letter dated July 3rd, 1776, John Adams, referring to the birth of our new nation, wrote to his wife Abigail “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the greatest anniversary festival. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward and forever more”.
Our superb experiment The United States of America is like none other in the history of mankind. Above all else, we have kept our promise to each other and to the world that we will preserve, protect and defend the basic right to live free from tyranny of any kind anywhere.
When we celebrate the history of our country, we remind the whole world that the right to live in freedom when threatened is worth any war that has ever been fought however dreadful the reality of the fight. The beacon of hope for which our Country stands continues to draw the world to our borders. As long as our collective view of the world remains steadfastly rooted in the spirit of the United States Constitution, we will right any wrong and overcome any challenge to our way of life.
If the Founding Fathers were observing the debates taking place between and among our political parties, economists and industries today, I suspect they might find that the more things change, the more things stay the same. We are all still “contributing” our ideas as we live in freedom under our precious Constitution. Some of our “ideas”, however, would have caused the Founding Fathers’ wigs to curl.
Centuries ago, there existed the “Debtors’ Prison” where those who could not pay their debts were sentenced. Not only was the debtor sent to jail, but he had to pay to be incarcerated. Imagine what our Founding Fathers would say about the “idea” that our lending institutions developed to create the tremendous debt under which we smother today.
During the housing and credit crisis of the past few years, Americans did not end up in Debtors’ Prison. They ended up in homes they could never afford and those lenders should now be in “Lenders’ Prison”.
The economic forecast for our Country is one of Recovery and it is on the horizon as evidenced in the most recent housing statistics today. Home sales are on the rise despite an inventory that remains high and home prices will likely begin to rise albeit ever so very slightly and over a prolonged slow period of time.
The sales of high end homes remain slow as the banks’ jumbo loan availability is significantly limited. The national inventory of homes priced at 750,000 and above now exceeds 40 months as compared with 18 months in 2007. Until the rates for these jumbo loans improve as well as the high end consumer confidence, high end properties will continue to remain on the market for longer periods of time.
Presently, about one in six homeowners owe the banks more than their homes are worth, but the economists report that most folks are current on their mortgages. The current unemployment rate is nearing 10% but the federal stimulus plan is intended to generate jobs before the end of 2009. It is still believed that unemployment will be high until 2013.
The rates will most likely remain low and the $8000 tax credit for 1st time homeowners will probably be extended beyond the 12/09 deadline.
Housing experts such as International Chairman and Co-founder of REMAX Dave Liniger, instruct that the health of the housing market is directly tied to 3 factors: affordability, interest rates and employment. He notes that there are “positive elements” in the 1st two factors, but that unemployment continues to be the “troubling wild card in the economic deck.” We will recover and we will learn from our mistakes.
Over two centuries ago on July 4th 1777, John Adams went out for a walk at night “for a little fresh air and exercise”. On the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, he was stopped in his tracks. All around him he saw the “whole city lighting up their candles in the windows.” Although the new Americans lacked the technological means to communicate their universal joy, it nonetheless abounded through out every home on every street in all the states of the union.
We Americans will continue to light the candles that illuminate the purest way of life the world has ever known. It is precious. It is worth the struggle. It will always be a cause for immense celebration.
In his letter dated July 3rd, 1776, John Adams, referring to the birth of our new nation, wrote to his wife Abigail “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the greatest anniversary festival. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward and forever more”.
Our superb experiment The United States of America is like none other in the history of mankind. Above all else, we have kept our promise to each other and to the world that we will preserve, protect and defend the basic right to live free from tyranny of any kind anywhere.
When we celebrate the history of our country, we remind the whole world that the right to live in freedom when threatened is worth any war that has ever been fought however dreadful the reality of the fight. The beacon of hope for which our Country stands continues to draw the world to our borders. As long as our collective view of the world remains steadfastly rooted in the spirit of the United States Constitution, we will right any wrong and overcome any challenge to our way of life.
If the Founding Fathers were observing the debates taking place between and among our political parties, economists and industries today, I suspect they might find that the more things change, the more things stay the same. We are all still “contributing” our ideas as we live in freedom under our precious Constitution. Some of our “ideas”, however, would have caused the Founding Fathers’ wigs to curl.
Centuries ago, there existed the “Debtors’ Prison” where those who could not pay their debts were sentenced. Not only was the debtor sent to jail, but he had to pay to be incarcerated. Imagine what our Founding Fathers would say about the “idea” that our lending institutions developed to create the tremendous debt under which we smother today.
During the housing and credit crisis of the past few years, Americans did not end up in Debtors’ Prison. They ended up in homes they could never afford and those lenders should now be in “Lenders’ Prison”.
The economic forecast for our Country is one of Recovery and it is on the horizon as evidenced in the most recent housing statistics today. Home sales are on the rise despite an inventory that remains high and home prices will likely begin to rise albeit ever so very slightly and over a prolonged slow period of time.
The sales of high end homes remain slow as the banks’ jumbo loan availability is significantly limited. The national inventory of homes priced at 750,000 and above now exceeds 40 months as compared with 18 months in 2007. Until the rates for these jumbo loans improve as well as the high end consumer confidence, high end properties will continue to remain on the market for longer periods of time.
Presently, about one in six homeowners owe the banks more than their homes are worth, but the economists report that most folks are current on their mortgages. The current unemployment rate is nearing 10% but the federal stimulus plan is intended to generate jobs before the end of 2009. It is still believed that unemployment will be high until 2013.
The rates will most likely remain low and the $8000 tax credit for 1st time homeowners will probably be extended beyond the 12/09 deadline.
Housing experts such as International Chairman and Co-founder of REMAX Dave Liniger, instruct that the health of the housing market is directly tied to 3 factors: affordability, interest rates and employment. He notes that there are “positive elements” in the 1st two factors, but that unemployment continues to be the “troubling wild card in the economic deck.” We will recover and we will learn from our mistakes.
Over two centuries ago on July 4th 1777, John Adams went out for a walk at night “for a little fresh air and exercise”. On the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, he was stopped in his tracks. All around him he saw the “whole city lighting up their candles in the windows.” Although the new Americans lacked the technological means to communicate their universal joy, it nonetheless abounded through out every home on every street in all the states of the union.
We Americans will continue to light the candles that illuminate the purest way of life the world has ever known. It is precious. It is worth the struggle. It will always be a cause for immense celebration.
Is Real Estate For You?
Last week I sat with a group of 7th grade girls in Georgetown MA and I asked them what they thought they would like to be when they grew up. Among the future professionals were a lawyer, doctor, veterinarian, two singers, two artists, three fashion designers, a teacher and a whole lot of "don't knows". It occurred to me that in all my years of asking the same question of children, I had never heard any youngster say that he or she wanted to be a Realtor some day.
There are a plethora of TV shows depicting law enforcement. There are more medical shows than one viewer can ever see. Reality TV shows have saturated the networks and shows about the supernatural are on the rise. There are game shows, forensic detective shows, and anti-terrorist shows, but with the exception of real estate "tips" shows, there is no show that centers on the profession of the Realtor.
I think the- entertainment industry has a lot to learn about the heretofore untapped wealth of human interest stories that are; behind every door the Realtor opens.
In practice, real estate has far more to do with developing relationships than it has to do with structures, acreage or properties. Every - possible life event or set of circumstances that can happen to an individual or family has direct bearing on the Realtor who holds the key to the home and becomes a member of the family.
I suspect that most Realtors had little idea what the profession entailed until they began practicing. Even with my background as a nurse/attorney, I learned early on-that there is far more involved and required of the Realtor than bringing parties to the closing table.
The Realtor who is called to the home of an elderly seller whose spouse has just died has a lifetime of memories and minute to minute sadness to address beyond obtaining the square footage of the rooms. In addition, it may be most important to determine what support systems if any the distraught seller has to draw upon during such period of uncertainty.
Divorcing couples will often require the services of a Realtor in order to sell the marital home. These are generally not happy times for families engaged in the process of separation and it is not uncommon for the Realtor to be privy to emotions that range from sadness to rage. Moreover, the Realtor is often scrutinized by little eyes and ears whose lives are torn and it can be heart wrenching to be the subject of their gaze.
So multifaceted can the personal, practical and legal needs of the entire family be during such tumultuous times, that a new Divorce Certification Specialty has emerged within the profession. (The first and as far as is known only Divorce Certified Realtor in New England is located at this office. You may call for contact information.)
The Realtor who approaches the front door of the home he or she listed and finds the door unlocked or ajar has a judgment to make right there on the spot. We caution our Realtors to return to the car and telephone the police immediately for the safety of the Realtor as well as the protection and safety of the clients. There are too many stories of Realtors and or clients who have been the victims of violent crime while engaged in the practice of real estate. at other professional advertises the times, dates and address when the door will be open to a home? The professional Realtor is trained how to avoid and prepare for such circumstances.
On a lighter note, Realtors have opened bedroom closets and have come face to face with apparatus usually found in adults only locations. It has also been the case that the adults were found wearing the apparatus during a scheduled showing they "forgot about".
Sellers report the presence of ghosts to Realtors who would then require that flood lamps be provided for any after hours' showings.
When the seller neglects to secure the cage lid before leaving the home, the six foot boa is more than capable of greeting the Realtor and a prospective buyer at the front door.
Should your water; break during your visit to the Open House, the Realtor will time the contractions till the paramedics arrive.
I believe that one day I will ask the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and I will hear "I want: to be just like the Realtor who made a difference in the lives of my family and me."
There are a plethora of TV shows depicting law enforcement. There are more medical shows than one viewer can ever see. Reality TV shows have saturated the networks and shows about the supernatural are on the rise. There are game shows, forensic detective shows, and anti-terrorist shows, but with the exception of real estate "tips" shows, there is no show that centers on the profession of the Realtor.
I think the- entertainment industry has a lot to learn about the heretofore untapped wealth of human interest stories that are; behind every door the Realtor opens.
In practice, real estate has far more to do with developing relationships than it has to do with structures, acreage or properties. Every - possible life event or set of circumstances that can happen to an individual or family has direct bearing on the Realtor who holds the key to the home and becomes a member of the family.
I suspect that most Realtors had little idea what the profession entailed until they began practicing. Even with my background as a nurse/attorney, I learned early on-that there is far more involved and required of the Realtor than bringing parties to the closing table.
The Realtor who is called to the home of an elderly seller whose spouse has just died has a lifetime of memories and minute to minute sadness to address beyond obtaining the square footage of the rooms. In addition, it may be most important to determine what support systems if any the distraught seller has to draw upon during such period of uncertainty.
Divorcing couples will often require the services of a Realtor in order to sell the marital home. These are generally not happy times for families engaged in the process of separation and it is not uncommon for the Realtor to be privy to emotions that range from sadness to rage. Moreover, the Realtor is often scrutinized by little eyes and ears whose lives are torn and it can be heart wrenching to be the subject of their gaze.
So multifaceted can the personal, practical and legal needs of the entire family be during such tumultuous times, that a new Divorce Certification Specialty has emerged within the profession. (The first and as far as is known only Divorce Certified Realtor in New England is located at this office. You may call for contact information.)
The Realtor who approaches the front door of the home he or she listed and finds the door unlocked or ajar has a judgment to make right there on the spot. We caution our Realtors to return to the car and telephone the police immediately for the safety of the Realtor as well as the protection and safety of the clients. There are too many stories of Realtors and or clients who have been the victims of violent crime while engaged in the practice of real estate. at other professional advertises the times, dates and address when the door will be open to a home? The professional Realtor is trained how to avoid and prepare for such circumstances.
On a lighter note, Realtors have opened bedroom closets and have come face to face with apparatus usually found in adults only locations. It has also been the case that the adults were found wearing the apparatus during a scheduled showing they "forgot about".
Sellers report the presence of ghosts to Realtors who would then require that flood lamps be provided for any after hours' showings.
When the seller neglects to secure the cage lid before leaving the home, the six foot boa is more than capable of greeting the Realtor and a prospective buyer at the front door.
Should your water; break during your visit to the Open House, the Realtor will time the contractions till the paramedics arrive.
I believe that one day I will ask the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and I will hear "I want: to be just like the Realtor who made a difference in the lives of my family and me."
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
How Can The Market “Come Back” If It Never Left?
This morning a young gas station attendant noticed the real estate signs in the back seat of my car. He was very excited as he said “The market is really coming back!” Although the market never left, I knew what he meant as a consumer who learns what he can from the news media. The market consists of a property, a seller, and a buyer period. Properties are bought and sold every day everywhere. Factors such as the economy, supply and demand may affect the market, but the market itself goes on like “Old Man River”.
One key point that appears to be misunderstood by many consumers is the fact that the increase in market activity does not mean increase in home prices. It means increase in the number of homes that are being sold now. Home prices will increase again, but those prices will not be increasing anytime soon. “Real Trends” (http://www.realtrends.com/) is a resource upon which Wall Street and the Real Estate industry rely for accurate research data. The CEO is Steve Murray who found that the prices of 2005 will not be seen again until about 2020. “Standard and Poors” estimates that the price of a property purchased in 2003 has returned to about that same value right now in 2009.
During the height of the market in 2005, a listing Realtor could hang a Purchase and Sale contract out the car window and buyers would chase that car down the street in bidding wars to entice the seller to accept over-asking prices for the high priced properties. In the years that have followed that hay day, the inventory has increased with over priced properties that have languished on the declining market for longer periods of time. In addition, as a direct result of the irresponsible lending practices over the past several years, we have seen the tidal wave of short sales and foreclosures that have contributed to declining prices.
The pricing overall has been corrected and homes are more affordable now than ever. The very low interest rates and tax credits for first time homebuyers have enticed consumers to act now, hence the increasing market activity of homes being purchased.
If your present home no longer meets your needs, price it intelligently, not “hopefully” and it will sell to a buyer who will purchase it intelligently not “dopefully”. One of the most common concerns voiced by sellers is “I don’t want to give my house away and then have to pay too much for the house I buy.” The market exists and continues across the board. All home prices were high in the hot sellers’ market, and all prices began to fall in the buyers’ market. If you sell at a lower price than you had hoped for, know that the seller of the home you wish to purchase has had to do the same with you.
Another common concern voiced by sellers is “I don’t want to put my house on the market until I know which home I will be purchasing.” The key to a successful move is to focus on the sequence of events that must take place for the most successful outcome. Unless you are able to carry two mortgages until your home sells, you must sell your home before you can purchase another. Being on the market can be very stressful for a number of reasons, so here are some tips to navigate from one address to the other and minimize the stress. You must have a plan.
Put your property on the market and price it intelligently with your chosen trusted advisor.
Looking for the right home can be a full time job. Work with your trusted advisor to narrow your search and save countless hours.
Be sure you have an updated pre approval letter from your lender.
Have a contingency plan in place in the event that your home sells before you find your next one. (Selling your home is the biggest hurdle and it should be a cause for celebration, not concern.) Many folks can rent storage and stay with family. One other increasingly popular option for that “in between” time are short term rentals at major complexes and huge hotel townhouse accommodations for relatively affordable costs. These interim accommodation places are on the rise in response to the growing need of consumers. (Ask us here at the “Crossroads” about discounted rates that a major hotel chain offers to our clients who use our name).
Know that when you put the cart before the horse, you will inevitably walk into the house of your dreams only to find that it will be purchased by another buyer who took that leap of faith and got his property sold first. No seller wants to wait until you sell your property when there is a ready willing and able buyer standing next to you at the open house.
The market is not “coming back” because it never left in the first place. Take that intelligent leap of faith and know that every home sells at the right price and time without exception. Good luck and we’ll be here to take that leap with you!
One key point that appears to be misunderstood by many consumers is the fact that the increase in market activity does not mean increase in home prices. It means increase in the number of homes that are being sold now. Home prices will increase again, but those prices will not be increasing anytime soon. “Real Trends” (http://www.realtrends.com/) is a resource upon which Wall Street and the Real Estate industry rely for accurate research data. The CEO is Steve Murray who found that the prices of 2005 will not be seen again until about 2020. “Standard and Poors” estimates that the price of a property purchased in 2003 has returned to about that same value right now in 2009.
During the height of the market in 2005, a listing Realtor could hang a Purchase and Sale contract out the car window and buyers would chase that car down the street in bidding wars to entice the seller to accept over-asking prices for the high priced properties. In the years that have followed that hay day, the inventory has increased with over priced properties that have languished on the declining market for longer periods of time. In addition, as a direct result of the irresponsible lending practices over the past several years, we have seen the tidal wave of short sales and foreclosures that have contributed to declining prices.
The pricing overall has been corrected and homes are more affordable now than ever. The very low interest rates and tax credits for first time homebuyers have enticed consumers to act now, hence the increasing market activity of homes being purchased.
If your present home no longer meets your needs, price it intelligently, not “hopefully” and it will sell to a buyer who will purchase it intelligently not “dopefully”. One of the most common concerns voiced by sellers is “I don’t want to give my house away and then have to pay too much for the house I buy.” The market exists and continues across the board. All home prices were high in the hot sellers’ market, and all prices began to fall in the buyers’ market. If you sell at a lower price than you had hoped for, know that the seller of the home you wish to purchase has had to do the same with you.
Another common concern voiced by sellers is “I don’t want to put my house on the market until I know which home I will be purchasing.” The key to a successful move is to focus on the sequence of events that must take place for the most successful outcome. Unless you are able to carry two mortgages until your home sells, you must sell your home before you can purchase another. Being on the market can be very stressful for a number of reasons, so here are some tips to navigate from one address to the other and minimize the stress. You must have a plan.
Put your property on the market and price it intelligently with your chosen trusted advisor.
Looking for the right home can be a full time job. Work with your trusted advisor to narrow your search and save countless hours.
Be sure you have an updated pre approval letter from your lender.
Have a contingency plan in place in the event that your home sells before you find your next one. (Selling your home is the biggest hurdle and it should be a cause for celebration, not concern.) Many folks can rent storage and stay with family. One other increasingly popular option for that “in between” time are short term rentals at major complexes and huge hotel townhouse accommodations for relatively affordable costs. These interim accommodation places are on the rise in response to the growing need of consumers. (Ask us here at the “Crossroads” about discounted rates that a major hotel chain offers to our clients who use our name).
Know that when you put the cart before the horse, you will inevitably walk into the house of your dreams only to find that it will be purchased by another buyer who took that leap of faith and got his property sold first. No seller wants to wait until you sell your property when there is a ready willing and able buyer standing next to you at the open house.
The market is not “coming back” because it never left in the first place. Take that intelligent leap of faith and know that every home sells at the right price and time without exception. Good luck and we’ll be here to take that leap with you!
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