Best Real Estate Articles For June 2014

Excellent Real Estate Content Worth a Look

As a Real Estate agent who spends a lot of time on the internet I am in the fortunate position to get to see a lot of well written, quality real estate articles. Through my participation in a number of social media channels it is actually pretty easy.

One of my favorite places to find great real estate content is on Google Plus. Not only are there a number of terrific Realtors who share top notch content on their profile pages, there is also some fantastic material within the Google Plus Real Estate communities. One of the best features of Google Plus is the ability to readily have some awesome content to digest and share on a daily basis. There is always something good cooking at Google Plus. This is why it is by far my favorite social media channel for real estate.

Over the past month I have come across some really helpful real estate information. These are just superb pieces of content that can really help out either a home buyer or seller. I am going to share with you what I feel are the best of the best.

The first article is something that every seller should read titled things you should do before selling your home. These are really simple home sale tips that frankly don't cost a lot of money but can pay tremendous dividends when you are finally ready to put the for sale sign in your yard. There are ten great pieces of advice that you should consider if you are going to be selling your home in the near future.

The next great article comes from Joe Manuasa down in Florida who shares how a Realtor figures out real estate market value. This was an interesting article because Joe actually asked me to participate by asking me a series of questions about how to go about not only picking the right comparable sales data but then also analyzing it to come up with an accurate value for the home. This is where many real estate agents make mistakes and do not give home sellers information they can rely on. This can cause serious problems for a seller especially when they need to make price reductions.

Lynn Pineda another real estate agent from Florida also does an exceptional job of taking us through the home selling process from start to finish. Many of us Realtors take for granted what we do on a daily basis selling homes. Often times we forget that those outside our industry may not know some of the things we think they should. Lynn's article takes you through the home selling process from start to finish and she does a brilliant job with it.

Kyle Hiscock a real estate agent and blogger from up in New York steps up to the plate and delivers some terrific advice on staging a home. In Kyle's article he gives five staging tips to maximize a homes price and also the time on the market. We are both on the same page when it comes to staging. While it is extremely important for a home to look it's absolute best before it hits the market, what is just as critical is hiring the right real estate agent who is skilled in pricing and marketing homes.

In fact I had written an article a while back about how staging does not sell homes and it ruffled quite a few home stagers feathers. The point of the article was not that professional home staging does not work but that picking a real estate agent just because they offer staging is a poor way to choose the best representative for your home sale. The best way to choose a Realtor is based on past success not because they are going to bring in a stager and not charge you for it. How does that speak to the agents skills in selling a home? It doesn't!

Another superb article comes all the way from Vegas from Debbie Drummond who offers up some really good tips on how to deal with a low real estate appraisal. Anyone who is in the business knows that when a home does not appraise it creates quite a bit of stress for all the parties involved including the buyer, seller and Realtors. Debbie offers up some excellent tips on how to fix appraisal issues if you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in that position.

Another topic that is often discussed quite a bit online and also among the general public is whether to buy or rent a home. There are of course advantages and disadvantages to each. This article sums it up pretty well without being completely biased towards buying a home which is what often times happens when Realtors are writing the articles. I was actually interviewed for this one and tried to be as straight forward and honest with my opinions.

All of these real estate articles I though were very helpful. They answer questions that a lot of consumers often ask and seek answers for. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

78 South Mill Street Hopkinton MA Home For Sale

78 South Mill Street Hopkinton is the kind of home that will have appeal to a large set of home buyer's. This is due to the fact that there is a very popular floor plan that works on a day to day basis. Combine this with the fact that the home is as close as you are going to get to new construction then you have something special. The current owner just moved into the home six months ago but has been relocated.

The home was built by Ron Nation who is a very well respected Hopkinton Builder that is the developer for Springwood Estates and Connelly Hill Estates, two neighborhoods which are located only a few miles up the road. Ron is currently still building there and the homes are over a million dollars. The great thing about 78 South Mill Street is that you will see many of the same quality finishes he provides in his million dollars homes right here as well.

My favorite room in the home is the kitchen which is just spectacular. You will find custom Cherry cabinetry with granite counters along with a good size island, stainless appliances including a wall oven and gas cook top. There is a very large eating area that is flooded by natural sunlight from an over-sized slider. The kitchen opens onto an awesome family room that is comfortable yet big enough for entertaining quite a few guests. The room is proportioned well at 18x24 feet and has cathedral ceilings and a gas fireplace.

For a lengthy description of 78 South Mill you can visit the Maximum Real Estate Exposure website at  http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/listings/78-south-mill-street-hopkinton-massachusetts-01748/
which will give you all the information on this Hopkinton home that you could possibly need.

You will find that South Mill Street is conveniently located with easy access to major routes as well as only a few miles from the center of town. The home has just been listed at $699,900. If interested in a private viewing or have additional questions you can contact me at 508-435-5356.

What to Ask When Buying A Condo

There are quite a few things that buyer's should be considering when purchasing a condominium. The issues are far more complex in a condo purchase vs buying a home. Not to say that buying a home does not have it's challenges but with condo's there are far more things to worry about because you don't have complete control over them.

Here is an excellent article that discusses all the the questions a buyer should be thinking about when buying a condo: http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-condo/

The article goes into a detailed discussion of what you should be thinking about as a buyer including how much are the condo fees and what do they cover. Is the condo development run professionally through a management company or is it a home owners association. Does the condo complex have lengthy rules and what exactly are they? What is the parking situation for my condo unit? Is the condominium project able to be financed using an FHA loan?

These are just a few quick examples of the types of questions you will find in the article above.

4 West Main Street Hopkinton Massachusetts Real Estate For Sale

What most buyer's figure out after they have started to browse the local Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate market is that homes here are not cheap. If you are looking for a younger colonial in a destination town such as Hopkinton it is nearly impossible to find anything decent under $350,000.

Every now and then a diamond in the rough comes along. This home at 4 West Main Street Hopkinton certainly could be described that way. The property was bought by a builder around twelve years ago who completely gutted the property down to the foundation. Everything in the home at that time was new including the walls, windows, plumbing, heating, electric, roof and even the septic system. You might as well say it was considered new construction as almost everything was removed except for the old stone foundation!

Fast forward about twelve years to today and you have a young Hopkinton colonial that is on the market for only $309,900!

You can get a complete description of 4 West Main Street by clicking this link: http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/4-west-main-street-hopkinton-ma-01748/ 
but I will give you a quick summary of some of the best features. What I love about the property besides the fact that it is a young home is the fact it has a wide open floor plan. The minute you walk through the door you are able to see all the rooms on the first floor! It has a beautiful Maple kitchen, fireplaced dining room, central air and Hickory hardwood floors throughout.

The proximity to schools, town center and major highways is excellent. Come take a look you won't be disappointed!

31 Giacamo Way Uxbridge Massachusetts Real Estate For Sale

There are some homes that just stand out due to their curb appeal. This home at 31 Giacamo Way in Uxbridge is certainly one that fits the bill. This double wing colonial is set on a 1.54 acre lot at the end of a cul-de-sac in a popular neighborhood setting. The home sits perfectly on the lot with an abundance of both front and back yard.

The interior of the home offers three levels of excellent space. The total gross living area with the basement is about 3208 square feet. There are 10 rooms, 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.

Some of the outstanding features include a large country kitchen with birch cabinetry, tile floors and sliders to a private deck. There is a spacious family rooms that is appointed with a brick fireplace, plenty of windows and cathedral ceilings. There is no doubt this is a room that will get a ton of use. There is also a formal dining and living room on the first floor as well.

The second floor offers four good size bedrooms including a very nice master suite that features a private bath and large walk-in closet.

What really completes this home however, is the large finished lower level. There is plenty of room for just about anything you have the need for. There is a large open room that would make a perfect place for a game room as well as a smaller room for either an in home office or exercise area.

For additional information on 31 Giacamo Way see the following link: http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/31-giacamo-way-uxbridge-ma-01569/

This Uxbridge home is currently for sale at $379,900 and offers an excellent value.

145 Hayden Rowe Street Hopkinton MA Real Estate For Sale

145 Hayden Rowe Street is the type of property that will have appeal to a few different markets including first time buyer's and possibly an empty Nestor. The home clearly shows pride of ownership as they current owners have made a ton of additions and improvements. All the major updating has been done including the roof, windows, electrical, plumbing and baths.

There is a spacious kitchen with hardwood floors and wood cabinetry that is the heart of the home. There is a nice sitting room with wood walls, ceilings and attractive built-in bookcases. A ton of glass floods this room with natural light. There is also a living room, 1st floor bedroom with sliders to a private deck and a full bath/laundry room combination.

The second floor is dedicated to an entire master suite. The owner added a full bath about eight years ago that shows terrific. There is a five foot shower, extra wide vanity and tile flooring.

My favorite feature of 145 Hayden Rowe Street is the back of the house. There is a large deck and brick paver patio for entertaining along with a beautifully manicured lawn. You will not want to leave when you see the backyard area. As an added bonus there is a two car attached garage.

You can see more information by visiting this link:
http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/145-hayden-rowe-street-hopkinton-ma-01748/

The home is being marketed at $264,900.

31 Overlook Road Hopkinton MA Luxury Real Estate

This home at 31 Overlook Road in Hopkinton Massachusetts is located in a prestigious area know as The Estates at Highland Ridge. It is located off of Cedar Street Extension and was developed by National builder Toll Brothers. It is certainly the kind of property that you will be saying WOW to yourself as you enter the home and start walking around. There really is nothing missing that a buyer would want in a luxury residence.

Some of the many highlights include a two story foyer with a sweeping staircase, a gourmet kitchen with Cherry cabinetry, granite counters/stainless appliances, and a two story family room with coffered ceiling and fireplace.

If you like to entertain the layout is perfect. One hard to find bonus is a very spacious room located over the garage that is perfect for large gatherings. The room is set up to be just about anything you have a use for. It has tons of glass and is wired for surround sound. The first floor also has a private study as well as a front to back living/dining room with attractive columns, hardwood floors and crown moldings.

The second floor features four good size bedrooms including a lavish master suite with sitting area, huge walk-in closet and a beautiful bath. The total gross living area of this Hopkinton home is 4250 square feet.

For a complete description of the property with additional details visit: 
http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/31-overlook-road-hopkinton-ma-01748/

The home is being marketed for $875,000. Hopkinton is well know for their outstanding school system as well as an easy commuting location for those traveling to Boston, Worcester or Providence.

46 Adin Street Hopedale MA Real Estate

There are some homes that naturally stand out in a crowd due to the appeal they have with a wide range of buyers. After looking at 46 Adin Street in Hopedale Massachusetts you can easily see why this Victorian property fits that description. Without question the current owners have done a fantastic job of blending the character of an older home with them modern amenities most buyer's expect.

Before even heading in the door what you will immediately notice are two things - how well the grounds are maintained and the striking front porch. Taking a quick stroll around the home you will notice a private garden area with a brick paver patio and an absolutely stunning backyard. The perfect word to describe the back of this Hopedale home is PARADISE!

If you like to entertain you won't want to leave this place. For starters there is an outdoor kitchen with stove, fridge and granite counters! A large brick patio houses a fire pit perfect for gathering around with friends and family. A Koi pond with a built-in waterfall adds to the ambiance of this perfect get away.

Heading inside your will find a six bedroom three and a half bath home with about 3250 square feet. There are three floors of quality living area. Some of the many highlights include a custom Birch kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances and a huge eating area. There is a back staircase which most folks find attractive for easy access to the second floor. A spacious family room with handsome fireplace and walk-out bay window compliment the front of the home.

The second floor has four good size bedrooms including a terrific master with a private bath and walk-in closet that you seldom find in older homes. On really neat feature is the 4th bedroom has a built-in Murphy bed that folds into the wall and is surrounded by built-in. In a snap the room can go from a bedroom to a study!

Lastly the third floor offers a retreat that can be used for just about anything you would want. To see complete details of 46 Adin Street visit this link: http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/46-adin-street-hopedale-ma-01747/ The home is being marketed at $499,900 and is located in one of the most prestigious areas of Hopedale.

88 Blackstone Street Mendon MA Real Estate

There are some homes that really just stand out in your mind after having viewed the property. If you are a lover of antique homes there is no question that the property at 88 Blackstone Street Mendon MA is the type of home you are not going to soon forget. This Mendon MA home was built in the early 1700's and has many of the original features of the period.

The home is loaded with charm and character seldom found in today's new construction. What you will find it a blending of old word craftsmanship combined with modern conveniences.

Most of the antique details are intact but the current owner has also added some improvements that most buyer's would appreciate including an upgraded kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances. You will also find modern baths including one that the owner installed a custom tile shower as well as a sauna!

Some of the other terrific features of the property include multiple fireplaces including one in the family room, dining room, kitchen and one of the bedrooms. All of the fireplaces work and have beautiful woodworking. You will also find a magnificent four season sun-room with cathedral ceilings and tile flooring with radiant heat. A hot tub sunken into a mahogany deck is seen directly off this fantastic room.

There are so many other features of this home worth mentioning. For a complete run down on this Mendon property including photos, descriptions and a video tour see the link provided above. The home is currently being marketed for sale at $264,900.

Walden Woods Condominiums Milford MA

Walden Woods Milford MA

Walden Woods in Milford MA is not only the top selling condominium community in Milford but one of the most popular townhome neighborhoods in all of the Metrowest area. The development is not age restricted so it has a wide appeal to both young and old. You could not ask for a more convenient location as Walden Woods is only a few miles from the border of Hopkinton on Route 85 and just down the street from the route 495 interchange.

From a commuting stand point the neighborhood is fabulous as you can jump on 495 and be at the Mass Pike exits in a matter of minutes. Getting to Boston, Worcester, Cape Cod and Providence are a breeze.  Other major conveniences such as shopping and restaurants are just down the street from the neighborhood.

http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/walden-woods-milford-massachusetts-01757/

For more information on Walden Woods including detailed descriptions, photography, video tour and a Google map showing the exact location click the link provided above. The home is currently listed at $414,900.

Metrowest MA Real Estate Market Reports For 2011

The following is a list of Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate market reports for a number of area towns. By clicking on the individual links provided, you will be taken to a detailed summary page of each of the respective towns. There you will find an analysis of the Real Estate market in 2011 compared to the previous two years, as well as a snap shot of how Real Estate sales looked December 2011.

The individual town report also will take a look at the current inventory of homes for sale in each of the towns with pictures and details of the properties. Click the links below to be taken to each of the towns Real Estate info for the past year. From these market reports a basic understanding of what has been happening in the Metrowest market can be achieved.

Hopkinton MA Real Estate Market 2011

Holliston MA Real Estate Market 2011

Ashland MA Real Estate Market 2011

Milford MA Real Estate Market 2011

Framingham MA Real Estate Market 2011

Southboro MA Real Estate Market 2011

Westboro MA Real Estate Market 2011

Shrewsbury MA Real Estate Market 2011

Northboro MA Real Estate Market 2011

Grafton MA Real Estate Market 2011

Northbridge MA Real Estate Market 2011

Medway MA Real Estate Market 2011

Franklin MA Real Estate Market 2011

Bellingham MA Real Estate Market 2011

Upton MA Real Estate Market 2011

Mendon MA Real Estate Market 2011

Sutton MA Real Estate Market 2011

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About the Author: The above Real Estate information provided on the Metrowest MA Real Estate market  was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 25+ Years.

Top Massachusetts Home Selling Tips

Original article Source: Top Home Selling Tips

After being in the Real Estate business for the last twenty five years I have been involved in all types of markets.

I have been through boom times and recently some of the most difficult times you could ever imagine.
With these experiences I have continued to learn what makes a home sell for the most money, in the shortest period of time, with the least amount of headaches.

When I interview with a potential client I like to share what works and what doesn’t.
I am also candid even if it is not what the seller wants to hear. A “yes” man will never be a great Realtor. Keeping this in mind here are the top home selling tips for Real Estate. The best piece of home selling advice I can ever give any client is to price the home properly coming out of the gate. Overpricing a home is one of the hardest things to overcome.

In fact I tell people all the time that the price you set on a home is 80% of the marketing. What do you mean by that Bill? If you set the wrong price all of your other efforts to sell the home will be meaningless. The best online marketing, fantastic photography, beautiful brochures and fancy video tours aren’t going to mean squat if you help sell the competition by overpricing YOUR home.

One of the sure fire ways to prevent your home from selling is to list it at a price that the market will not bear. Most people don’t like to overpay for any kind of purchase, never mind one as large as a home. Selling a property can become an emotionally charged event. Many people think of their homes as an extension of who they are and their life time memories. Our homes are places where some of the most important events and memories in our lives occur. From holiday gatherings, birthday parties, the baby’s first steps, to simple things like family meals. These are all special things to many of us.

When selling a home however, you need to take the emotion out of it and think of it strictly as a business transaction. Trust me I know this can be hard to do! Keep in mind that market value is determined by what a motivated and qualified buyer is willing to pay for your home, not simply what you feel it should be worth.

Carefully looking at comparable sales data is very important. The last thing you want as a seller is to let “the days on market” become inflated. I can tell you with certainty every buyer will ask their Realtor how long has the home been on the market. Buyer’s do this because they want to know how much they can negotiate.

To continue reading top home selling tips come take a look at my new blog over at Maximum Real Estate Exposure. If you like the article I would appreciate you sharing it in your social media networks!

Real Estate Mortgage Tax Deductions

Original article source: Home buying tax deductions

If there is anything in this world that is certain it’s the fact that everyone likes to save on their taxes when April rolls around. If you have purchased a home in the last year you are going to want to make sure that you have remembered all the allowable tax deductions.

When taking out a mortgage to buy a home, there are certain deductions that the IRS allows that you are going to need to remember. The list below summarizes the deductions that many people forget about when buying Real Estate:

MORTGAGE POINTS
Points paid when taking out a mortgage are tax deductible if they are used to reduce the mortgage interest rate. In the event you don’t know, a point is 1% of the loan amount. For example on a $200,000 mortgage a point would equal $2000.00.

Typically most people would not want to pay points on a loan unless the expectation was to be in the home for a while to recapture the cost of such points in the form of reduced payments. In order to figure out if paying points makes sense, you need to calculate the mortgage payment amount both with and without points.

By looking at the spread between these figures you can determine how long you would need to be in the home before it would make fiscal sense. For a complete explanation see when to pay points on a mortgage. Points or origination fees paid when you buy a home or other Real Estate are generally tax deductible in full for the year that you pay them.

It should be made clear that origination charges from the lender that constitute a “service fee” are not tax deductible. Another method you could make is to amortize the points over the term of the mortgage. This choice is usually made only when your itemized deductions are less than the standard deduction for the year you purchased the home.

Additionally when you refinance a mortgage the points must be deducted over the term of the loan. If you deduct points over the term of the loan and sell the home or refinance it again before the loan expires, you can deduct in the year of the sale or refinancing any points that you didn’t previously deduct.

Keep in mind that you will be able to get the best mortgage interest rates when you have a great FICO Credit Score.See how to increase a credit score to help in your efforts to get a terrific interest rate.

To continue reading the full article see home buying tax deductions.

 About the Author: The above Real Estate information on Real Estate mortgage tax deductions was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 25+ Years.

Homestead Protection Massachusetts Real Estate

If you are considering purchasing a Massachusetts home one of the things you may be asked at some point, more than likely by your attorney or even possibly by the bank’s attorney, is whether you would like to have Massachusetts Homestead Protection.

Folks this is one easiest Real Estate decisions you could have make! Raise your hand immediately and say you want it.

What an estate of homestead does in protect a persons residence from most creditors. The Massachusetts declaration of homestead protects the equity in your property for up to $500,000 in the event a lawsuit is brought against you.

So if you are sued, $500,000 of your equity could not be touched by an attachment and subsequent levy on execution of sale. As most people realize, we live in a litigious society. The chances of getting into an accident and someone suing you should not be taken lightly! It happens to quite a few people everyday.

The Homestead protection document is filed at the registry of deeds in the county that your residence is located in.  All that is needed is the preparation and recording of a Declaration of Homestead as well as the payment of a state recording fee. The total cost is usually only around $100 to prepare and record the document.

I am sure your attorney would be happy to prepare this document for you or possibly even the banks attorney if you don’t have legal representation at your closing. To see the full article visit homestead protection Massachusetts.

 About the Author: The above Real Estate information on Massachusetts homestead protection was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 25+ Years.

Massachusetts For Sale By Owners Typically Fail

The typical driving force behind most for sale by owner homes (FSBO) is to save a Real Estate commission. Even though I am  in the business of selling Real Estate I can clearly understand a home seller’s motivation to save the kind of money that is handed out in a typical sale.


There are not too many people I know who don’t like to save money where ever they can especially in a tough economy.  In a Real Estate sale saving a commission translates into a tremendous amount of money. It is hard to blame any home seller for their desire to save the type of dollars that are made when a Realtor sells a home or condo.

While commission rates are negotiable, in most parts of Massachusetts if you are selling a home you will more than likely be paying a Real Estate commission between 4%-6% on the sale price of your property.
On a $450,000 home a commission of 5% is $22,500. There is no doubt that is a lot of mullah! Selling a property for sale by owner however is not an a simple task and that is why most home owners end up hiring a Realtor.

Nationally the success rate of a for sale by owner (FSBO) is very low. Over 80% of all FSBO’S end up hiring a Realtor to get the job done after unsuccessfully trying on their own. Why is going the route of selling without a Realtor such a difficult task? There are quite a few reasons why selling FSBO is a difficult task to pull off. To continue reading the full article see Massachusetts for sale by owner.

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About the Author: The above Real Estate information on Massachusetts for sale by owner homes was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 25+ Years.

Real Estate Title Insurance Explained

When buying a home or other Real Estate one of the things that buyer’s will try to figure out is whether or not they should purchase Real Estate title insurance. Often times I find that some buyer’s really struggle over this decision because of the pretty hefty expense involved. Real Estate title insurance is certainly not inexpensive!

While title insurance is a one time expense, it can be tough for a buyer who lacks a lot of funds in reserve to come up with such a substantial expenditure at closing. Real Estate title insurance can easily run into thousands of dollars in a home purchase.

Real Estate title insurance policies however differ from other types of insurance as there is no monthly premiums .Title Insurance is a one time expense covering the owner until the property is sold to the next buyer. One of the questions I often get by my clients is “should I purchase title insurance’?

Let me first explain the definition of title insurance is and what this special insurance covers. Real Estate title insurance is an insurance that covers financial loss from defects in title to real property and from the invalidity of mortgage liens.

A title policy is put in place to protect an owner’s or lender’s financial interest in a property against loss due to title defects, liens or other matters. This type of insurance will defend against a lawsuit attacking the title as it is insured, or reimburse the insured for the monetary loss incurred, up to the dollar amount of insurance provided for in the policy. To see the full article with an in depth discuss on what Real Estate Title Insurance does click the link which will take you to the Massachusetts Real Estate Blog.
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About the Author: The above Real Estate information on Real Estate title insurance was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 25+ Years.

3 Types of Home Equity Loans

When looking to take money out of an existing home or other Real Estate borrowers often have a decision to make on what is the best method to do so. There are basically three financing options that are available to home owners. These include a cash out re-finance, home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC).

Determining which of these type of loan options will work best basically comes down to what purpose the money is going to be used for.
Unfortunately being in the Real Estate field, I often come across folks who have over extended themselves and find that they have created undue hardships .

Going back ten years ago this was not so much of a problem as Real Estate markets around the country were booming and a home was an investment windfall.  Every few months the value of homes would continue to rise and did so for over a decade. Of course all good things must come to an end eventually and now we are left with property values decreasing in most areas.

When the economy and Real Estate values are soaring it is hard not to look at a home as a giant piggy bank from which you can tap at a moments notice. When times are tough however, you may regret taking your equity for granted by pulling it out of the home.

If you click on the link below you will find a guide to help you determine whether borrowing against the equity in your home via a home equity line of credit (HELOC), home equity loan or a cash out refinance makes the most sense. To continue reading see home equity loans.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on home equity loans was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 25+ Years.

Repairing Home Water Damage

Original article source: Massachusetts Real Estate Blog

If you have ever been in the unfortunate position of having a pipe burst in your home, a washing machine hose give way while you were gone for the weekend, or a finished basement become flooded by a 100 year storm, you know what a royal pain in the $#@ it is to clean up and remedy water damage!

There are few things that can damage a home more than water. One of the most important things you can do when faced with a water damage problem is to tackle it right away. Without taking immediate action the threat of getting mold becomes very likely which can further increase an already expensive proposition.

If you can get take care of the water in under 48-72 hours you stand a much greater chance that you can keep the mold at bay.

If it all possibly the 1st thing that you are going to want to do is take everything out of the area where the water damage has occurred and get it into a warm and dry environment. Even if it means taking these things outside that is what you should do.

The next step will be to either get in touch with a water damage and restoration company or take the same steps they would make in getting the water re-mediated from the home.

To finish reading the article and to see all the ways to fix home water damage click the link.

Buying a Home After a Short Sale

Original article source: Massachusetts Real Estate Blog

As a Realtor who has been heavily involved closing Massachusetts short sales over the last five years, one of the questions that I get asked quite often from home sellers is how long will it take before I will be able to buy a home again.

The answer to this question does not have any clear cut and dry answer. There are quite a few variables involved when trying to figure out when someone will be able to purchase a home after a foreclosure or short sale.

Going through either a short sale or a foreclosure has the potential to seriously impact ones credit.  Government entities Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA do not directly loan money to individuals but are the governing body that work with lenders to guarantee loans and free up money to provide mortgages.

Banks typically have the authority to lend to whoever they want but will generally follow the guidelines set forth by these entities. There are some lenders of course that will take greater risks with some borrowers than others.

Below are the general guidelines that FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac follow when considering whether to fund a mortgage loan to a borrower after they have completed a short sale or foreclosure:

See Buying a home after short sale for a complete understanding of how your credit will be impacted, as well as the time period before a borrower will be able to get financing to purchase another home or other Real Estate.

There are different guidelines for getting a new mortgage based on circumstances as well as the type of mortgage loan.

In this article the time periods for getting a mortgage after both a short sale and foreclosure are discussed. On of the top concerns of any borrower after completing a short sale or foreclosure is how to increase a credit score.

If you are needing to complete a  short sale of your home or condo in Ashland, Bellingham, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopedale,  Medway, Mendon, Milford, Hopkinton, Southboro, Westboro, Natick, Northboro, Northbridge, Whitinsville, Upton, Uxbridge, Shrewsbury, Worcester, or Douglas Get in touch! I would love to interview for the chance to represent your best interests.

Completing a short sale remains a much better option than letting a property go to foreclosure for a number of reasons centering around credit and your ability to buy another property in the future.

I am successfully completing short sales through out the Metrowest Massachusetts area as well as parts of Worcester County. As of this writing in almost four years, knock on wood, I have a 100% success rate for short sale approval!

I work hand in hand with a local short sale Real Estate attorney who knows how to get short sales done! I will admit there is some luck involved in my success rate but the team I have put together does a stellar job.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on buying a home after a short sale was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 25+ Years.

Home Finance Tips for Increasing a Credit Score

Original article source: Massachusetts Real Estate Blog

Credit scores can have a dramatic effect on a borrowers ability to get the best rates for many types of financing including a home mortgage and a car loan.

If your credit score does not meet minimum standards you may not even have the ability to get a home mortgage period!

There are a number of factors that the credit bureaus use to calculate your credit score. One of the most important factors they use is your past payment history which generally accounts for 35% of your credit score. In the mortgage article how to improve a credit score, all the various ways you can achieve and maintain a great credit score are discussed. If you pay attention to these credit scoring factors you will be well on your way to achieving an exceptional credit score.

When it comes to your home there are ways to improve a credit score with specific home finance tips.

Pay Your Mortgage On Time

It goes without saying that paying your bills on time is a must if you want to have excellent credit. Above all else you want to make absolutely certain you pay your home mortgage when it is due. As mentioned above, past credit history is a critical factor on how you be viewed by a lender when applying for financing.

There is nothing that will hit your credit harder than a missed mortgage payment. Credit scoring agencies will look at a missed mortgage payment in a far more negative light than a missed car or credit card payment. If at all possible you should always consider making your mortgage payment before other bill that are due.

To continue reading and see all of the financial tips view increasing a credit score.