The author Brigitte von Weiss of VON WEISS LAW OFFICE is an estate planning lawyer and elder law attorney in Easton, MA. Website:  vonweisslaw.com  There are several non-tax reasons for utilizing trusts such as asset protection; avoiding probate; creditor protection; protection for the surviving spouse and children in the event the surviving spouse remarries; control and management of assets for spendthrifts, minors and those disabled; and avoiding ancillary probate for real estate owned in another state.  Moreover, living trusts are private (not public) documents and notice of the trust assets and accountings need be given only to the interested parties. Example:  Mr. and Mrs. Whitman have "I love you" wills whereby they leave everything to each other and they each have a taxable estat... 09/05/2014

The author Brigitte von Weiss of VON WEISS LAW OFFICE is an Easton MA estate planning and elder law attorney.   Website:  vonweisslaw.com  What is the Adult Foster Care (also called Adult Family Care) Program? Adult Foster Care (also called Adult Family Care) is a program that enables elders who cannot live alone safely to have a live-in caregiver.  The services to the elder also include meal preparation, assistance with personal care and medication, shopping, laundry, housekeeping, transportation to medical appointment and social visits, and maintaining a clean and safe living space.   The live-in caregiver receives a non-taxable stipend of up to $18,000 per year.  The amount of the stipend depends on the number of activities of daily living with which the elder requires assistance, i.... 05/04/2014

The author Brigitte von Weiss of VON WEISS LAW OFFICE is an estate planning lawyer and elder law attorney in Easton, MA. Website:  vonweisslaw.com  What is the Home and Community Based Frail Elder Waiver (Waiver) Program?    Elders who are clinically in need of nursing home care and meet the asset limits detailed below qualify for the Home and Community Based Frail Elder Waiver (Waiver) Program.     The Waiver program is funded by MassHealth and provides the following services: skilled nursing, home health aide, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, grocery shopping, meal delivery, and the wander response system.              What are the income and asset rules for Waiver Program?  Under the Waiver program, there is no income limit.  However, if the elder’s gross monthly income exceeds... 05/04/2014

The author Brigitte von Weiss of VON WEISS LAW OFFICE is an estate planning lawyer and elder law attorney in Easton, MA. Website:  vonweisslaw.com  What is the Home Care Program?   The Home Care Program is for elders with limited income and with low-to-moderate needs in terms of in-home services. The program also includes respite care for caregivers. Elders are eligible for the Home Care Program if they meet the income criteria detailed below; are not residing in a rest home, nursing facility, convalescent home, or assisted living residence; are not receiving services from an all-inclusive program such as Adult Foster Care (also known as Adult Family Care), Group Adult Foster Care (GAFC), or Program for All-Inclusive Care (PACE); and have been assessed and determined to be in need of in... 05/04/2014

A "Taste of Whitman-Hanson" event showcasing food from local restaurants will be held today at the VFW Post on Essex Street in Whitman.  The event is a fundraiser.  All proceeds from the event will go to scholarships benefiting Whitman-Hanson high school students.  What a great way to mingle with friends, enjoy superb food and support a wonderful, local cause. Participating restaurants include: Bella's II, Bryantville Deli, Burrito Wraps, Christo's, Costco Warehouse, Edible Arrangements, Gingerbread House Bakery, Jamie's Grille & Pub, McGuiggan's Pub, Mia Regazza, Mike's House of Pizza, New York Bread Company, Pinches and Pounds, PizZing's, Porter's Cafè, Portofino's Italian Kitchen, Sausages Homemade and Natural, Shaw's Supermarkets, Skinner's Sugar House, The Conor Deli and Trio Cafè... 03/03/2011

In October of 2010 there were 7 homes that closed within the month for Whitman MA. This is an increase of 3 units as there were 4 homes that closed in October of 2009. The Average list price for the homes that closed in October of 2009 was $292,175The Average list price for the homes that closed in October of 2010 was $298,471.The Average sale price for the homes that closed in October of 2009 was $286,625.The Average sale price for the homes that closed in October of 2010 was $294,814.The Average Market time for the homes that closed in October of 2009 was 113 days.The Average Market time for the homes that closed in October of 2010 was 128 days. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. For more information, visit www.lewmcconkeyhomes.com .  Lew McConkeyFocused on Ho... 11/08/2010

Recent Price Reduction on this IMMACULATE 3 Bedroom Home. Graces the end of a cul-de-sac. Spacious yard. Come see for yourself at the Open House this Sunday, November 7th, from 12-2 PM. Lew McConkey | Rosen Realty | (781) 252-9789 25 Errol Road, Brockton, MA Sweet 3BR Brockton Home for Sale. Close to everything! Open House, Sun Nov. 7th. 12-2 PM Recent Price Reduction 3BR/1BA Single Family House offered at $169,900 Year Built 1960 Sq Footage 864 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 full, 0 partial Floors Unspecified Parking Unspecified Lot Size 16,553 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Immaculate 3 Bdr Brockton Home for Sale! Large yard at the end of a cul-de-sac. Extra Long one car garage is a great work area. Open House, Sun Nov. 7th. 12-2 PM Recent Price Reduction see additional photos below ... 11/04/2010

Come see this gorgeous model condo, in a quiet over 55 community. Pictured is the end unit. Smaller middle unit's available too. Add your own personal touches to our units under construction. Truly, make it your own. Open House Friday 10/29 from 1 PM to 3 PM. Call 781-252-9789 for an off hours showing just for you. Lew McConkey | Rosen Realty | (781) 252-9789 Route 14, Whitman, MA The Village at Auburnville is a 55+ yrs community. Stats reflect end unit. 2BR/2+1BA Condo offered at $369,900 Year Built Unspecified Sq Footage 2,273 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $299 per month DESCRIPTION Open House Friday 11/5 1-3pm The Village at Auburnville is a community designed for adults who are 55 years of age or older. All of our... 11/04/2010

Come see this gorgeous model condo, in a quiet over 55 community. Pictured is the end unit. Smaller middle unit's available too. Add your own personal touches to our units under construction. Truly, make it your own. Open House Friday 10/29 from 1 PM to 3 PM. Call 781-252-9789 for an off hours showing just for you. Lew McConkey | Rosen Realty | (781) 252-9789 Route 14, Whitman, MA The Village at Auburnville is a 55+ yrs community. Stats reflect end unit. 2BR/2+1BA Condo offered at $369,900 Year Built Unspecified Sq Footage 2,273 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $299 per month DESCRIPTION Open House Friday 10/29 1-3pm The Village at Auburnville is a community designed for adults who are 55 years of age or older. All of ou... 10/28/2010

Decided to sell your Home? Preparing, otherwise known as staging, your home can make or break your chances of moving the property. I posted on this a few months ago - Hardest Part Of Staging a New Listing This topic can't be hammered home enough though. Remember the old job interview maxim? - You only have one chance to make a first impression. Your property for sale only has one too and it's critical in the current, highly competitive market to make the first impression a clincher. No one buys a house on impulse. Each person who attends an open house or arranges a showing puts more than a dozen homes for sale under a microscope. For a small budget and a little elbow grease, you, the seller,... 10/12/2010

Some houses that need work sell very quickly, but others, in immaculate condition, stay on the market for months without generating any serious interest among buyers. If you are experiencing difficulties selling your home then there are several common reasons that are most likely to be preventing buyers from paying interest to the property. The number one reason for a house to remain unsold: it’s been incorrectly priced. With the massive stock of houses for sale, including low cost steals on foreclosures and short sales, and the dearth of active buyers, because of high unemployment, uncertain economy and brutal financing hurdles, the market heavily favors the buyers right now. Simple economics: Huge Supply(Competitive Houses on the market) & Low Demand(Few Buyers) = Buyer’s market. Thi... 09/16/2010

  You're retired or planning to in the next few years. You have a nest egg tied up in the house you've built your life and family in, possibly more in various savings/investment vehicles. With the leash of an office either removed or soon to be, you're free to move to consider a new lifestyle in a new environment, anything within your budget.     Frequently, as a recently retired person, living in the same home, in the same environment that you enjoyed when you were working, can be depressing when retired. Suddenly, the rush from the job you've always done well is gone. The needs of friendly co-workers or the business isn't there. Eight or more hours of your typical day are suddenly gone. You live the same life you've always successfully lived, with a giant, unexpected hole in your sche... 09/02/2010

Mortgage Rate Forecast for August 18, 2010 - Improving, or...? Here are some of the events affecting mortgage rates today: What Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) Are Doing Today: The price of the FNMA 30-Year 4.0% MBS coupon opened at 102.44 this morning - the same as yesterday's close. At 9:30 AM, the 4.0% MBS coupon was trading at 102.66 - up 7/32 from its opening. Remember, on mortgage backed securities (MBSs), as the price goes up, the yield comes down - and so do mortgage rates. I expect that mortgage rates will be about the same in price this morning as compared to yesterday. Price Trend in Mortgage Backed Securities: The chart below shows the price trend of the FNMA 30-Year 4.0% coupon over the past 30 days from 7-19-2010 to 8-18-2010: Economic Reports, News, and Events Affecting ... 08/18/2010

The Trend in Home Sales in Whitman MA - Improving, or...? Home prices in Whitman on average are falling! Home prices have fallen 4.8% since July of 2009. The current average listing price of homes for sale in Whitman MA is $275,737, down 2.3% from a month ago. Compare this to the current median sales price of $247,500 - where half of sales are above this amount and half below it. Prices of 2 bedroom homes are up from year ago levels while prices of 3 and 4 bedroom homes are down. Prices of 2 bedroom homes are up 12.6% while prices of 3 bedroom homes are down 3.9% and 4 bedroom homes are down 4.4% from year ago levels. Below is a chart of the trend of median prices of homes for sale in Whitman MA over the past year through July 2010: Whitman Recently Sold Homes Although cyclical, the num... 08/18/2010

Trend in Home Sales in Whitman MA Through April 2010 According to Trulia.com, sales prices of homes in Whitman have increased 2.1% over the past year through April 2010, but have depreciated 25.3% over the past 5 years. The current average listing price of homes for sale in Whitman MA is $294,900, while the current median sales price is $243,000. The median sales price is the price at which one half of the homes sold above that amount, and one half of the homes sold below that amount. Below is a chart of the trend of median prices of homes for sale in Whitman MA over the past 5 years Whitman Recently Sold Homes Below is a chart of the trend in home sales in Whitman MA over the past 5 years through April 2010: Whitman Recently Sold Homes If you're looking to buy a home or condo in Whitma... 06/04/2010

The Village at Auburnville in Whitman is an established active adult community 30 minutes south of Boston. The village is located in the quaint town of Whiman. 70 of the 92 townhomes are completed and occupied. The common areas are complete including the 5000 square foot clubhouse with billiard room, fitness center, media room and putting green. Our townhomes range in size from 2100 sq ft to 2300 sq ft. All units come with a garage, first floor master suite, full basement, lofted familyroom with guest bedroom and bath and a great builders package that includes granite counters, hardwood floors and central air. 07/08/2009

The metro south area of Whitman, Abington, Rockland, Hanson and East Bridgewater has seen drastic reductions in single family inventory from a year ago.  Lower inventory is the first step in price recovery.                           7/2008              7/2009 Abington                  71                   42 Whitman                  77                   36 Rockland                  77                   57 Hanson                    67                   30 East Bridgewater      87                   56 A number of price points are seeing a low amount of supply in these towns. The lower the supply the higher the demand and the sooner we see price stabilization. Only time will tell.                              07/03/2009