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Newton, MA Real Estate News

By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
A home warranty plan, also known as a home protection plan, is a service contract that offers homeowners a way to safeguard themselves against possible breakage or a malfunction within the home. It's impossible to predict the future, which is why so many buyers look for that little extra peace of mind to comfort them when life unexpectedly throws them an unforeseen problem. Who Needs A Home Warranty Plan Basically, anyone who purchases a home and is concerned with the cost of repairs should consider a home warranty plan. This is especially true of first-time home buyers who may not be familiar with home maintenance. Factoring In The Cost When factoring in the potential cost of repairing a major appliance or other home component, a home warranty plan may not be a bad investment. The actu...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
When we have pets, they quickly become a part of our family. But when it comes to selling your home, potential buyers may not be impressed by the presence of your four-legged family member. Whether it's due to allergies or a simple case of not being a lover of animals, many buyers shy away from a home with pets. The good news is that there are strategies you can employ to sell your house without a ruff time. A Foolproof Solution If you worry about potential home buyers being scared off by the presence of your pet, find an alternate location for them while you are showing the home. Perhaps a neighbor, family member or friend could watch your pet for a few hours. Otherwise, consider boarding your pet temporarily. Without the discomfort of an unfamiliar animal, buyers will be free to tour ...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
An earnest money deposit, also known as a good faith deposit, is a specific dollar amount that a potential buyer pays to the seller in an effort to display their serious interest in a property. It's important to note that an earnest money deposit is not the same as a down payment. The Purpose Of An Earnest Money Deposit An earnest money deposit is used to secure a purchase contract, which means the buyer doesn't have to worry about the property being sold out from underneath them. Without an agreement, the seller would be free to sell the home at anytime. An earnest money deposit, however, secures the availability of the home as the potential buyer obtains an inspection, appraisal and financing for the purchase. How Much Good Faith Is Enough So, just how much of an earnest money deposit...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
Showing your home is essential in the real estate business. After all, who would purchase a property sight unseen? When a potential buyer stops in, here are 10 recommended tips to follow when showing your home: Tip # 1: Welcome Your Buyers If you are still living in the home while it's being shown, graciously greet your potential home buyers and invite them to look around. Make sure that you instruct them to take their time and to ask any questions that they may have. It may be a good idea if you leave the home for a short time to allow the buyer to look without feeling restricted by your presence. A potential buyer is less likely to voice any concerns in front of the current owner, which is why it's better to leave your buyers with the REALTOR® and announce that you will be returning i...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
When it comes to buying a home, the ability and willingness to negotiate is a must for both the buyer and seller. In general, sellers ask for more than they are actually willing to accept and buyers offer less than they are willing to pay. The trick is to find the perfect balance so that you, as a buyer, feel good about the purchase price without leaving the seller feeling insulted. Know Your Market Real estate is a business that either favors the buyer or seller, hence the terms buyer's market and seller's market. When negotiating a purchase price, it's important to know which of the two you are in. As the buyer, you will have the best chance at a successful negotiation if you research the price of other comparable homes in the area before making an offer. Make It Personal When you mak...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
An open house is one way that REALTORS® attempt to expose a home to multiple buyers at once. Not only is an open house designed to market the home in a way that differs from a simple listing, but it also opens the door for competitive offers as more than one buyer could potentially fall in love with a home on the same day. Step # 1: Make Your Home Shine A successful open house begins with cleanliness, so make sure that your home is ready to be shown. This means the clutter should be removed and the home should be “staged” to allow potential buyers to envision themselves living in a beautifully decorated home. Step # 2: Cross Your T's & Dot Your I's Your next step to an open house is making sure that the price is right. If the day is successful, you may be fielding offers within hours, s...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
As the old saying goes, real estate is all about location, location, location. But, there is a lot more to it than just plain geography when it comes to finding your perfect home. There are a lot of things to consider during the search because, for most, a home is the most significant purchase they will ever make. Choose A Good Area When searching for your perfect home, the obvious place to start is with the selection of a location. If you have children, you may want to choose a home that is close to good schools and is also located in a family-oriented neighborhood. Many people also look for a home that offers a short commute to and from work. If you are shopping within a specific price range, you can also narrow the choices by finding an area that offers the best value for your dollar...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
If you want potential home buyers to fall in love with your house, they first have to know it's for sale. This is where a strong marketing plan comes into play, which not only publicizes your property but gives people a preview of your home before they get there. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Regardless of whether your home is to be featured online, in a REALTOR'S® publication or paid advertisement, quality photos are a must. You must capture your home's best qualities in each image. Take a photo of the front and back of the home, along with interior photos of every room. Try various angles and lighting situations, which gives you the opportunity to choose the best shots. When photographing any part of your home, make sure that it's spotless. Home buyers, especially those with chi...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
When it comes to buying a home, having bad credit is not the end of the world. Your future doesn't have to be defined by your past. Whether you have suffered from a bankruptcy, foreclosure or some type of financial hardship that resulted in late or missed payments, there are lenders who specialize in financing for those with less-than-perfect credit. You will likely have to produce a larger down payment and/or pay higher interest rates than someone who has good credit, but the important thing to know is that buying a home is an option for you. Bankruptcy & Foreclosure If either a bankruptcy or foreclosure is on your credit report, it could take some time before you can qualify for a good interest rate on a mortgage. FHA loans, which are especially desirable for those with past credit pr...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
In addition to location and condition, the asking price of a home is at the top of the list of important considerations. When a potential buyer is looking for a property, they want to get the best possible value for their dollar. This doesn't mean that a home should be priced too low, but it does mean that knowing how to price your home is a must. Know The Value Regardless of whether you are in a buyer's market or seller's market, it's important for every seller to know the actual value of their home with the help of an appraisal. With this information, you will be able to choose a listing price that does not exceed the home's value. At the same time, you will know how to react to various offers that a potential buyer may make. If you can select a price that is affordable to a range of ...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
Now that you've made the decision to purchase your first home, a hearty congratulations is in order! Becoming a homeowner, especially for the first time, can stir up some feelings of anxiety and excitement. With the knowledge that you gain through individual research and the help of your REALTOR®, you will soon begin to feel like a seasoned house hunter. Tip # 1: Do Your Homework Did you know that there are a number of incentives available to first-time home buyers? Everything from a 3-5 percent down payment and interest rates as low as 5.00 percent are just a few of the ways that lenders help to make the dream of home ownership into a reality for many. An FHA loan, for instance, is especially appealing to first-time home buyers. The best way to find out what's available, in terms of do...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
You would never dream of inviting guests to your house without making certain preparations, so don't invite potential buyers without first making the necessary updates by preparing your home to sell. If you are like most sellers, you want to get as much as possible for your home and you want to do it as quickly as possible. Letting Go After you've lived in a house, it becomes much more than four walls and a ceiling. It's a home and it has a lot of good memories. Your first step to preparing your home to sell is to realize that you will take these memories with you wherever you go, but you won't be taking the house. It can be difficult to let go, but the task will be much easier if you start to think of it as a new beginning rather than an ending. Cleaning House An important part of gett...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
The Process Of Buying Your New Home Once you've made the decision to buy a home, it's time to start thinking about what comes next. Every buyer needs a checklist that will guide them through the process of searching for the perfect home, evaluating their choices and making a purchase. Learn The Lingo When you set out to buy a new home, you will need to familiarize yourself with various real estate terms, conduct research on the market value of homes in the area in which you intend to shop and learn the art of negotiation. This information will help as you browse homes, talk with REALTORS® and get further into the buying process. Get A Free Credit Report Every 12 months, you are entitled to request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies -...
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By Jim Mushinsky
(Centsable Inspection)
A Newton MA home buyer should receive a brochure, Home Inspectors Facts for Consumers Sheet, at the time of the signing of the first written contract to purchase. A standard home inspection in Massachusetts is a visual examination of the physical structure and major interior systems of a residential building consisting of one to four dwelling units. It should be understood that there are certain risks inherent in the purchase of property and a home inspection is inherently limited in its scope and depth. The information gained from home inspection conforming to the Massachusetts Home Inspector Standards of Practice may reduce some of those risks, but the home inspection is not intended to provide the client with protection from all of the risks involved. Visit the Newton MA Home Inspect...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
When listing your home with a REALTOR®, you will be required to sign an agreement. This document will outline all of the agreed upon terms, including the asking price of the property, the REALTOR'S® commission, length of the agreement, cancellation policy (if any) and other details that will govern how the listing is handled. As a homeowner, it's important to choose the right listing agreement to fit your needs. Evaluate Your Options When you decide to sell your home, talk with several different REALTORS®. Speak with them over the phone, meet with them in person, ask for references or do anything that you can to get a feel for how they do business. In real estate, punctuality is a must. The REALTOR® that you choose should return your calls, answer your questions and should provide a lis...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
When it comes to a home, you have two options: buy or rent. What is right for one person may not be right for another, which is why it's important to know which is the best option for your individual situation. Why People Rent There are a number of reasons why someone may either choose or be forced to rent, including sporadic or unpredictable income, a high debt-to-income ratio, a bankruptcy or foreclosure within the last six months, unpaid collection accounts or judgments, frequent relocating for employment or the inability to save enough money for a required down payment on the purchase of a home. Maintenance Matters As a homeowner, you will be responsible for any maintenance or repair issues that arise. This is a big consideration when choosing whether to rent or buy. When you rent, ...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
Once you've made the decision to sell your home, it's time to think about what comes next. Throughout the process, you may find it beneficial to have a checklist to help guide you in some very important choices that you will be making in the coming months. Interview Several REALTORS® A REALTOR® is a person who you will enlist to help with the selling of your home. Just like no two homes are alike, no two owners are alike and each has different needs when it comes to real estate. The REALTOR® that you ultimately choose will have access to your home at any time and will be responsible for marketing it to potential buyers. As such, you should choose someone that you feel comfortable with and will do the best job for you. The only way to know which REALTOR® this will be is to speak with mor...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
The decision to purchase a home is exciting and a major investment for your future. Because there is only so much of it to go around, real estate is the top choice for many investors and the desire for most families. This article is designed to highlight some of the many benefits of home ownership and how buying a home can often turn the American Dream into a reality. One of the most profitable markets in real estate is rentals, which means that many families are paying to live in a home that isn't their own. In some cases, renting a home is necessary. For all others, the money that would be spent on rent could instead be used to pay a mortgage. In fact, monthly rent payments often exceed that of a typical mortgage payment. One of the greatest benefits of home ownership is putting money...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
Waltham Massachusetts - Condos - February 2011 Market Statistics For Sale There are currently 67 condos for sale in Waltham, Ma. (A decrease of 5.6%.) The average list price for these condos is $309,977. (An increase of 0.7%.) These condos have been on the market for an average of 121.15 days. (An increase of 7.0%.) Under Agreement There are currently 30 condos under agreement to be sold in Waltham, Ma. (An increase of 25.00%.) The average list price for these condos is $320,036. (An increase of 12.1%.) These condos have been on the market for an average of 71.53 days. (A decrease of 4.0%.) Homes Sold 13 condos sold this month in Waltham, Ma. (An increase of 18.2%.) The average sale price for these condos was $255,262. (A decrease of 15.2%.) These condos were on the market for an averag...
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By Bob Tanski, Realtor
(Century 21 Shawmut Properties)
Waltham Massachusetts - Single Family Homes - February 2011 Market Statistics For Sale There are currently 71 single family homes currently for sale in Waltham,Ma. (An increase of 4.4%) The average list price for these homes is $428,618. (An increase of 5.8%) These homes have been on the market for an average of 156.03 days. (A decrease of 2.0%) Under Agreement There are currently 29 single family homes under agreement to be sold in Waltham, Ma. (An increase of 7.4%.) The average list price for these homes is $363,072. (A decrease of 1.3%.) These homes have been on the market for an average of 90.38 days. (An increase of 22.9%.) Homes Sold 10 single family homes sold this month in Waltham, Ma. (A decrease of 9.1%.) The average sale price for these homes was $353,490. (A decrease of 2.9%...
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