Massachusetts Short Sale Pitfalls

Over the last four years I have been diligently helping Massachusetts home owners successfully complete a short sale. If you look at the national success rate of these distressed properties you may be surprised to find out that many of them do not reach the closing table. The other day I was reading that less than 30 % of all short sales actually close!

Why does this happen? Often times it is because the Realtor who is working with the seller does not understand the short sale process. Unfortunately many Massachusetts home owners who need to short sell their home do not realize that you can't just hire any Real Estate agent and expect a short sale approval.

The Realtor you hire to complete your short sale needs to know what they are doing or more than likely you will find yourself facing a foreclosure. It is really aggravating to see Realtors who don't know what they are doing taking listings from home owners who will are trying to avoid losing their home. Watch the quick video below.

Trust me it only touches the surface on some of the foolishness that you see from agents handling these transactions. I will also emphasize that not all RE/MAX agents have short sale expertise. It just so happens that this short sale video does a nice job portraying the lack of knowledge of some of the Realtors listing these homes.



So what are some of the biggest Massachusetts short sale pitfalls that I see from Real Estate agents that don't know what they are doing? Here is a run down on a few of them:

• Underpricing or overpricing the short sale property ~ Pricing a short sale is really an art that should not be taken lightly. If you overprice the home and do not find a buyer in a timely fashion the seller is going to be that much closer to getting a foreclosure notice. On the other hand if a Realtor under prices the home the lender probably will reject the short sale. When a short sale contract is submitted to a lender, they will send out an appraiser or a Realtor to do a BPO (broker price opinion) in order to establish the value. The contract price accepted is going to need to be in close proximity to actual market value.

• Another common pitfall I see often is Realtors sending multiple unsigned offers to the lender. Remember the seller still owns the property. The lender is only there for one thing and that is to accept or deny the short sale terms submitted. When a seller does not sign a Real Estate contract the buyer can walk anytime. As a seller this is the last thing you want! Making sure the contract locks in the buyer is essential. In all of my Massachusetts short sale contracts the buyer's have to wait 90 days or they won't be buying the home!

• Having the seller sign a contract with terms that do not make sense. A short sale contracts terms should be set up the same as any other Real Estate sale. For example the short sale home inspection should be done right away NOT after short sale approval. A listing agent that allows a home inspection to occur after short sale approval is clueless! 

• The rest of the terms like the signing of the purchase and sale and the time allowed for a buyer to get financing approval are like any other transaction. There are buyers agents that think they are saving their buyers some money by doing a home inspection after approval in the event the short sale does not happen. The problem with that is if there are issues there are NO negotiations after approval. What would you rather do save a few hundred dollars or give up the chance to potentially negotiate thousands of dollars?  

• It is quite possible that your Realtor will be approached by an investor who wants to purchase your property. On many occasions the investor will ask to take over negotiations with the lender. Realtors should never let a short sale investor negotiate with a lender. Why a Realtor who has been hired to help a seller with a short sale would ever do this is beyond me.

• Another common pitfall is a Realtor not explaining that when you short sell a home in Massachusetts there can be short sale tax ramifications. If you are selling an investment property and not a primary residence you will more than likely get a tax bill.

• One of the biggest considerations when doing a Massachusetts short sale is the debt removal. One of the things that whoever you have hired to negotiate your short sale should be doing is to make sure the negotiate the best terms possible regarding the short sale deficiency. Make sure you read the article I have written on short sale debt removal.

Here are some other short sale articles that I have written that are worth taking a look at:

• Stopping a Massachusetts foreclosure auction
• HAFA short sale program

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 Massachusetts short sale pitfalls 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 24+ Years.

Getting a Massachusetts Home Mortgage

Getting a mortgage in Massachusetts or anywhere else for that matter is a lot more difficult today than it used to be. With the financial turmoil and Real Estate melt down that has taken place over the last five years mortgage lenders are far more cautious.

You can expect that when you do apply for a new mortgage or are even refinancing a mortgage you will be asked to jump through hoops. The amount of paperwork and background checks you will go through is endless. It can be a very difficult process but unfortunately is a necessary evil to make sure the right borrowers are selected to get loans.

As a 1st time buyer one of the things you may want to investigate before you actually apply for a loan is to check on your credit report. Often times you may find something that is not correct and may need to fix a credit report error. This becomes incredibly important because if there are credit report errors they can have a negative impact on your credit score. One of the factors in determining what interest rate you will get for you mortgage is the FICO credit score.

FICO scores can range from a low of 300 to a high of 850. Anything over 800 is considered exceptional and would put you into a select group of individuals with outstanding credit. According to the FICO scoring system there are five factors that determine a borrowers score. The factors include a borrowers payment history which carries the most weight, a borrowers credit utilization, the length of credit history, types of credit used and lastly a recent search for credit or amount of credit obtained recently.

If your credit report history check out with no errors you will want to find a reputable lender to work with. Of course looking around for an attractive program should be at the top of your list of priorities. A word of caution though don't be fooled into thinking the lender who has the best rate is necessarily the best option.

What you need to pay close attention to in addition to the interest rate is the fees, points and closing costs that you are going to be charged! Getting the best mortgage loan often times depends on really analyzing all the charges and costs of obtaining the mortgage.

If you need a recommendation on a terrific mortgage broker who has competitive rates and exceptional service don't hesitate to get in touch as I would be happy to provide his contact information.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on Getting a Massachusetts Home Mortgage 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge, Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

Shrewsbury MA Home For Sale 42 Saybrook Road

Are you looking for a Shrewsbury Massachusetts home for sale that is located in a great commuting location and has been well maintained by the owner? Look no further than this adorable ranch located at 42 Saybrook Road in Shrewsbury. Located just off of Rte 9 this home offer the perfect location for those that need convenient highway access.

There are three bedrooms and two full baths.With the finished lower level the home is 1900 plus square feet of living area. This Shrewsbury home is listed at $289,900. For much greater detail on this property visit 42 Saybrook Road Shrewsbury Massachusetts. You can also see a slide show video tour of this home below.



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Ashland and surrounding towns see Shrewsbury MA Homes For Sale.

Helpful home sale articles:

Staging a Massachusetts home
Handling Real Estate offers

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 42 Saybrook Road Shrewsbury Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge, Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

Village of Americas 121 America Blvd Ashland Massachusetts

Are you looking for a great Ashland Massachusetts townhome? Look no further than this beautiful condo at The Village of Americas! This condominium located at 121 America Blvd is listed for $329,900.

As you step inside you will be immediately greeted by an upgraded kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. The kitchen flows right into the fireplace family room with bay window. The unit is positioned to get great sunlight.

The 2nd floor has two outstanding bedrooms including a master that is fit for a king! You will find a 2nd fireplace along with a lavish bath and vaulted ceilings! To continue reading see 121 America Blvd Ashland Massachusetts.  You can also see a slide show video tour below as well.




To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Ashland and surrounding towns see Ashland MA Condos For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 121 America Blvd Ashland Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

Finding a Top Metrowest Massachusetts Realtor

Original Source: Massachusetts Real Estate Blog

Carefully interviewing a Realtor should be one of the most important things any home seller does when considering selling their home yet many do not.

Having been in this business for almost twenty five years I have found this to be pretty fascinating. There are lots of folks that will make contact with a Realtor from any number of sources including seeing a for sale sign in their neighborhood, visiting an open house, getting a post card in the mail or maybe even from a recommendation from a friend or relative.

One of the problems I have found is that many consumers think that all Realtors do the same things to sell homes. This could not be further from the truth!

In most businesses 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. The old 80/20 rule. In Real Estate it is a mind boggling 94% to 6% ratio! That is just an amazing statistic. Given these figures is there any wonder why there is so much dissatisfaction from consumers? It is really easy to get stuck with a Realtor who does not do much business or have a great work ethic.

Unfortunately getting into the Real Estate industry is very easy. Take and pass a Real Estate test and you have made it. It shouldn’t be that easy but that’s the way it works. So how do you avoid getting stuck with a poor Real Estate agent? Ask great Real Estate interview questions! Trust me when I tell you, these questions will make an unskilled Realtor very uncomfortable.

There is no better recommendation than a track record of success. As a home seller you will be paying a Realtor quite a bit of money to sell your home. Why not work with a top producing agent? There is a reason most agents continue to be successful year after year.

In most circumstances it does not cost you anymore to work with a terrific agent than someone who does very little Real Estate business. To continue reading and see all the questions visit Real Estate interview questions for Realtors.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on finding a top Metrowest Massachusetts Realtor 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge, Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

4 Fox Lane Milford Massachusetts Real Estate For Sale

Are you looking for a good size home in a fantastic neighborhood? Do you have an interest in cars or have a large family and need an extra garage bay? This Milford Massachusetts home at 4 Fox Lane would be perfect! There are four bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The kitchen and master bath have been remodeled and show beautifully. The home is listed for $355,000 and is located in Milford's finest area with an easy commute to 495 and the Mass Pike. For more information see 4 Fox Lane Milford Massachusetts.

For a quick look at the interior see the slide show video presentation below.



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Milford and surrounding towns see Milford MA Homes For Sale.

Helpful home sale articles:
Staging a Massachusetts home
Massachusetts home buyer turn offs
Sold in 70 days
Handling Real Estate offers


About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 4 Fox Lane Milford Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

Chapel Hill Condo's Framingham Massachusetts

Are you a 1st time buyer and looking for a condo with a fantastic commuting location? You need to come check out this condominium at the Chapel Hill complex in Framingham Massachusetts! The formal address is 1550 Worcester Road unit #201 Framingham.

This 2nd floor condo is in outstanding shape. The owner has completely remodeled the interior with updated kitchen and baths including Corian counters, NEW vanities and marble flooring, NEW Lighting, Berber carpets and paint. This condo has an outstanding 2nd floor location overlooking the woods with private balcony area! This unit gets loads of great natural light and shows outstanding! The condo fees include heating, AC, electric, pool, security, fitness center and billiards. The unit is listed at $214,900 and is one of the best values in Chapel Hill. For a complete description of the unit see 1550 Worcester Road #201 Chapel Hill Framingham MA.

*** Update - this condo was sold on 9/1/10 for $195,000. ***

See the slide show video tour below of condo's interior.




To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Framingham and surrounding towns see Framingham MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 1550 Worcester Road Unit #201 Framingham Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

23 Devon Drive Northbridge Massachusetts Real Estate

Are you looking for a well maintained home with a farmers porch in a private cul-de-sac neighborhood? Look no further than this Northbridge Massachusetts home at 23 Devon Drive. It has just been put on the market for $339,900.

This property has lots of great features and amenities! One of the unique aspects of the home is the flexibility in the floor plan. There could be multiple uses for a few of the rooms due to the family/great room addition that was put on the back of the home.

The kitchen is well appointed with Oak cabinetry, granite counters and stainless steel appliances. You can see from the kitchen right into either a family room or dining room depending on how you like to live. These rooms take up the entire back of the home. Adjoining both of these rooms is the younger addition. This room is awesome with cathedral ceilings, skylights, bead board wainscoting and a view of the in-ground pool.

To see a complete description of this home see 23 Devon Drive Northbridge MA Real Estate. You can also view the video tour below to get an idea of all the great features of this home.



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Northbridge and surrounding towns see Northbridge MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 23 Devon Drive Northbridge Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

82 East Main Street Hopkinton Massachusetts

Are you a building contractor or someone that needs a place to put your horse? This home at 82 East Main Street in Hopkinton would be the perfect solution! The home needs some renovation work but has excellent curb appeal and the charm of yesteryear inside. Attached to the main home is a barn as well as a two car garage. The space lends the perfect opportunity to multiple uses.

The interior of the home has plenty of space including large kitchen with plenty of cabinetry. There is a formal dining room with beamed ceiling and colonial wainscoting. Adjacent to the dining room is a formal living room with corner fireplace, tall windows and a beamed ceiling. Most areas of the home have hardwood flooring.

Adjoining the house and barn is the addition of a family room or potential bedroom if needed in a pinch. There are built-in bookcases and atrium doors to a patio and deck.

The 2nd floor consists of 3 very good size bedrooms and a full bath. Look at the slide show video tour below to see the interior of this Hopkinton home. The home is listed for $299,900.



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Hopkinton and surrounding towns see Hopkinton MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 82 East Main Street Hopkinton Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

Getting Massachusetts Short Sale Debt Released

Original Source: Hopkinton MA Real Estate

If you are an avid reader of my Massachusetts Real Estate blog you probably have guessed that one of my passions is to help out those that are in need of completing a short sale.

Massachusetts home owners struggling to make mortgage payments are often turning to doing a short sale as a means of escaping their debt.

If you are not familiar with the term, a short sale is when a bank or mortgage lender agrees to discount a loan balance because of a financial hardship on the part of the borrower. The home owner sells the mortgaged property for less than the outstanding balance of the loan, and turns over the proceeds from the sale to the lender.

One of the most important considerations when pursuing a short sale of your Massachusetts home is to make sure that the debt has been canceled!

There are Realtors that are handling short sales that don't know the 1st thing about debt removal. Don't be caught owing money years later! Continue reading the article at make sure your get your Massachusetts short sale debt released!

Milford MA Home For Sale 47 Grove Street

When you enter this home at 47 Grove Street Milford you are not going to want to leave! The owner is a building contractor and has completely remodeled the home. There are so many updates that will make you feel like you are in a newer home. There are new walls, doors and wood work. Other major renovations include a new kitchen, new baths, new hardwood floors throughout the 1st floor, new lighting and new paint. There is also additional living space from an unheated porch that was finished. This Milford home is listed at $239,500.

*** Update - this Milford home closed on 5/27/2010 for $233,500 ***

For more information and pictures see 47 Grove Street Milford Massachusetts. You can also watch the video tour below.



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Milford and surrounding towns see Milford MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 47 Grove Street, Milford Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham, Douglas and Uxbridge MA.

17 Metropolitan Avenue Ashland Massachusetts

If you have been looking for a home that offers the potential for an in home business come check out the property at 17 Metropolitan Avenue in Ashland. This home features a 2 car attached garage that has high ceilings and a finished room on the upper floor. It is currently being used as an art studio but could be used for just about anything. The interior of the home features a large great room with fireplace. It is listed for $325,000.

*** Update - This Ashland home closed on 6/3/2010 for $314,000 ***

The home has a terrific location right off the center of town and just a short walk down to the Ashland Reservoir. For a full description of this home with pictures see 17 Metropolitan Avenue Ashland MA.

You can also watch the slide show video tour below.



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Ashland and surrounding towns see Ashland MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 17 Metropolitan Avenue Ashland Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

7 School Street Hopkinton Massachusetts

Have you been looking for the perfect lot that has an enormous amount of privacy and just can't seem to find it? You need to come check out this Hopkinton Tudor that is set on a magnificent 10 acre plus lot in one of Hopkinton's finest areas off of School Street. Set hundreds of feet of the road you will feel right at home in this luxury property.

Some of the highlights on this home include a beautiful two story entry foyer with marble flooring, a two story library with floor to ceiling stone fireplace and built-in bookcases, a large cherry kitchen with new granite counter center island and a huge entertainment sized great room! This Hopkinton gem is listed for $749,900. For additional information see 7 School Street Hopkinton Luxury Home.

You can also see the slide show video tour below as well.



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Hopkinton and surrounding towns see Hopkinton MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 7 School Street Hopkinton Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

8 Aris Way Granite Woods Milford Massachusetts

Come take a look at this terrific town house in the Granite Woods neighborhood in Milford Mass! The condo is located in a perfect commuting location just off of RTE 109. The property is in exceptional condition. Some of the highlights include an open floor plan, Maple cabinet kitchen, two large bedrooms with cathedral ceilings and a 1 car attached garage. The condo is listed for $229,900. For more information see 8 Aris Way Milford MA.

You can also see a slide show video tour of the home below.



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Milford and surrounding towns see Milford MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 8 Aris Way, Milford Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham, Douglas and Uxbridge MA.

164 Olive Street Ashland Massachusetts

Come check out this awesome home I just put on the market in Ashland Massachusetts at 164 Olive Street! The home is set on a gorgeous piece of property and is located very close to the Hopkinton town line. If you like a really open floor plan I bet you will love this Ashland home. The 1st floor has a fabulous family room with a floor to ceiling brick fireplace and beautiful wood floors as one of it's many highlights. It is listed for $279,900.

For a complete run down on this home with photos and descriptions see Ashland MA Home for sale 164 Olive Street. Also take a step inside by watching the slide show video tour below.

*** Update - this home sold on 9/28/2010 for $260,000 *** This was another successful Ashland Massachusetts short sale closing!



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Ashland and surrounding towns see Ashland MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 164 Olive Street, Ashland Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham, Douglas and Uxbridge MA.

12 Sunset Drive Douglas Massachusetts

Come check out this Douglas Massachusetts home that just hit the market at 12 Sunset Drive in Douglas! The location of this home is just terrific as it is located right off Route 16 near the town center. It is listed for $314,900.

Some of the outstanding features include a very large great room that will blow your socks off! There is a beautiful floor to ceiling brick fireplace and a deep bay window that brings in plenty of natural light. The kitchen is also quite large and has attractive white cabinetry. For a complete run down on this Douglas property you can see 12 Sunset Drive Douglas MA Real Estate. Below please enjoy the slide show video tour for this home.

**** Update - this Douglas home sold on 6/23/2010 for $300,000 ****


To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Douglas and surrounding towns see Douglas MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 12 Sunset Drive, Douglas Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham, Douglas and Uxbridge MA.

97 Front Street Hopkinton Massachusetts

 In Hopkinton there are some types of properties that you know will have a high interest level. As of January 2010, there is a lack of good housing inventory in the 400k price range. When a well maintained colonial in a good area comes on the market you know it will not last. This home at 97 Front Street is no exception.

There have been quite a few updates done to the home over the last few years including a new Maple kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances. Most of the flooring on the 1st floor is new along with updates to the bathrooms.

Check out the slide show video tour below that will take you through most of the home. The property is about 2050 square feet and is on the market for $419,900. There is public water and sewer and the home is located only a few miles from town center.

**** Update - this Hopkinton home sold on 5/5/2010 for $390,000 ****



To sign up to have MLS access to view all home and condo's on the market in Hopkinton and surrounding towns see Hopkinton MA Homes For Sale.

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on 97 Front Street Massachusetts 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 24+ Years.

Bill services the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Framingham, Mendon, Upton, Hopedale, Medway, Franklin, Grafton, Northbridge,Northboro, Shrewsbury, Bellingham and Uxbridge MA.

Creative Hopkinton Massachusetts Real Estate Advertising

Working as a Realtor for the past twenty four years one of the things I have always been passionate about is marketing. Whether it is marketing one of my clients homes or my own personal abilities as a top agent.

Over the last week my creative juices have been flowing and I have decided to create some ads to promote the fact that I am one of the top RE/MAX agents in Massachusetts. Below is an add that is going to run in the Hopkinton Independent newspaper in the middle of January.

This is one of many ads that is going to be run over the course of the year. The theme of the ads is basically "something different" than the run of the mill Real Estate advertising you normally find. I am excited to see the kind of response I am going to get from Hopkinton residents.

About ten years ago I did something similar and the results were spectacular. I got away from doing the advertising because my partner at the time, Chuck Joseph did not care for it. Well the big news here is that I am not longer partners with Chuck Joseph and Mary Korbey so any marketing decisions I make will be completetly my own. I'll be back pounding the pavement as an individual and not part of a team. I am already excited about the Real Estate prospects for 2010. It is going to be a great year!

The ad is missing my Hopkinton work number (508-435-5356) but that was corrected for the final version that will go to print in the newspaper.

No doubt there will be snickering from some of the local Realtors when they see my advertising campaign. Oh well...I have never given a hoot what my competition thinks:)
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About the Author: The above Real Estate information on creative Hopkinton Massachusetts Real Estate marketing 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.
Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!
For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Hopkinton MA Homes for sale. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.
I service the following towns in Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Douglas, and Framingham MA.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 24 years.

Cost V.S Value for Remodeling Massachusetts Homes

Cost V.S Value For Remodeling Massachusetts Homes 2009

Every year Remodeling Magazine does a great report on what you can expect to see as a return on your investment for various projects around the home. The report does an analysis between a specific projects cost and what you can expect as the resale value or what you would re-coup when selling.
This year was no different as Remodeling Magazine sought out Realtors across 80 Metropolitan areas around the United States.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the Realtors interviewed for the article by Jim Corey. Here is an excerpt from the story which discusses how properties that are in turn-key condition fair much better in the current Real Estate environment.

"What is high up on that list is move-in condition. In a booming real estate market, marginal locations move because buyers are willing to invest the time and money into customizing. They think of the investment as part of the long-term cost of the transaction. In lean times, the opposite psychology holds sway. Marginally maintained houses get house hunters’ short shrift."
Bill Gassett ought to know. The Hopkinton, Massachusetts market where he has sold homes for 25 years hit its pricing peak in 2005 and is down about 25% since that time.
“The houses that get most significantly hurt by the market,” Gassett says, “are the ones that haven’t been cared for.”

You can see the full article at Curb Appeal is King. I would like to thank Jim Corey again for the opportunity to be interviewed as getting quoted in a National magazine is always nice:)

Topping the list in 2009's cost v.s value report were items that were most practical. Given the state of the economy people seemed to be more frugal with their money and invested in more of the necessities.
Interestingly enough seven out of the top 10 value-yielding projects of the 33 projects ranked by Realtors in this year’s Cost vs. Value Report were exterior projects!

In the charts below you are going to see cost v.s value data for the New England region for both mid level and upscale projects. Some areas of the country will see a difference is in the value recouped for certain projects.

One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of exterior replacements is energy efficiency and tax credits! Introduced this year was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act tax credit which is available for energy efficiency upgrades, including qualified roof and window replacements. That has helped boost homeowners including buyers and sellers awareness of such improvements.

You will notice below that none of the upscale projects for 2009 had a positive return v.s 2008.

Looking over the data it is safe to say that other than some of the exterior projects shown, kitchen and baths tend to be very good places to invest your money in a home. Just remember even in these high return places you will not be getting back a 100% or more return!

As a Realtor selling homes all over the Metrowest Massachusetts area for the past twenty four years it is amazing how often I meet sellers who believe there is a one for one return on every dollar they invest in their homes. Some even believe it is more.

The most common things I hear are "how can my home only be worth X when I just spent $60,000 on my new basement" or "I just added this swimming pool for $50,000 my home has to be worth more."
In these examples people believe you can just tack on the amount you spend to the existing value of your home. Well maybe in Florida if you invest $50,000 in a pool you will get it back completely. Here in Massachusetts you would be lucky to get a small percentage of it back.

One of the best way to think about home improvements is not so much the exact dollar you will recoup but your own personal enjoyment from these items. When it comes time to sell, there are plenty of buyers that will appreciate the improvements you have made if they are tasteful and fit what the general population is looking for.

Now more than ever if you are going to be selling your home it makes sense to put money in places that are going to improve the general appearance of your property. Buyers are very unforgiving today and the homes that are in less than stellar condition are the ones that get punished the most.

If you are thinking of selling your home be sure to read the top ten mistakes to avoid when selling a Massachusetts home. The article gives pointers on such things as staging, taking care of necessary repairs, along with a host of other issues that you can prepare for.

*** According to the survey home owners recouped an average of 63.8 percent of their investment in 33 different home improvement projects, according to REALTORS® who responded to the survey. The expected cost recoup was generally down from previous years in line with the drop in home prices nationally. The return on home owners investment in remodeling projects has declined an average of 3.5 percentage points between 2008 and 2009. That’s down from the 2.7 point drop between 2007 and 2008 and much less than the 5.5 point drop between 2006 and 2007 and the 10.5 point drop from 2005 to 2006.
Click here to see Best remodeling projects cost v.s value 2008.

Related Real Estate articles:
Metrowest Massachusetts home staging
Duration paint Sherwin Williams
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About the Author: The above Real Estate information on best remodeling projects cost V.S value for Massachusetts 2009 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.
Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!
For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Massachusetts Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.
I service the following towns in Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Douglas, and Framingham MA.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 24 years.