Home
Designed by:
Welcome to House Hunter Online
Realtor Showcase: Denise Desellier PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Monday, 24 August 2009 13:34

My Real Estate career expands 22 years with no two years alike. When I started in the business interest rates were 18%.  We have been through Buyers markets and Sellers Markets, great escalations in values and decreases in values. It is NOT all doom and gloom that the news reporters and papers keep reporting.  In the past two months the real estate sales have been very good and extremely busy.  June and July sales have exceeded prior years.  And
There are many opportunities available.

What a great opportunity for First Time Home Buyers.  They have a government credit of $8000.  You need to be an owner by November 30th. Hurry time is running out. You need to act now.  Also, depending on the town they are purchasing in they have special incentives where you can receive an additional $5000.00 towards closing costs or down payment. Call now for assistance.

For many buyers who purchased last year and are trying to make improvements to their home, there are Green Mortgages available.  This would be for energy saving improvements i.e. new windows, a more efficient furnace, added insulation etc.

Home owners should be taking advantage of the Free government energy audits available.  I just had this done on my home and they are adding insulation in the attic and installing soffit ventilation and they pay up to 75% of these improvement.  They also give interest free mortgages for new windows, heating systems, and energy updates. For more information call us today.

For home owners who have a variable interest rate mortgage it is a great time to refinance with the low interest rates.  For anyone behind in their mortgage payments or had a change of income that may cause them to go behind in their payments should consider a short sale.  A short sale can save your credit history.  This should be done to prevent a foreclosure which will ruin your credit.  I was proactive in this matter and became certified to do short sales (Loss Mitigation)

Feel free to call if you have any real estate questions or need information. We also will complete a FREE, NO OBLIGATION market evaluation for you.


   

Denise DeSellier
Real Estate Specialist
Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR®), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), Loss Mitigation Certified (LMC),
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(SRES)
Office: 413.567.6392
Mobile: 413.531.8985
Toll Free: 877.567.9781
Fax: 413.525.9774
Website: www.denisedesellier.com
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.longmeadowproperties.com

Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 11:25
 
Just Imagine... PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Friday, 18 September 2009 11:37

    The real estate market has improved, and it is a great time to purchase a home, whether you are a first time homebuyer or you are thinking about a
home to fit your present needs. You¹ve been to the bank, you have a pre-approval letter and a great real estate agent. Ready, Get Set, Let's Go!!! You have chosen three homes to preview, and you are meeting your real estate agent at the first home soon. Home #1 is so cute from the outside, perfect for us and you just can¹t wait to see the inside. Your agent takes the key out of the lock box, opens the door and ...........oh your eyes immediately go to the deep gold shag carpet that covers the floors. Glancing around the room, you notice the old cigar scented drapes that grace the windows. Now we move into the kitchen....harvest gold appliances, vinyl flooring and wonderful wallpaper with large brightly colored fruit printed on it. Rose and cinnamon air freshener mixed with the scents of cigar smoke and cat litter travels throughout the rooms. As you make your way room to room, there is more wallpaper and gold shag carpet. Your agent is mentioning the highlights, great location, new heating system, new siding, windows and roof. Central air, fireplace, hardwood floors, large airy rooms, plenty of closet space, etc., but you cannot hear a word that they are saying. Your mind is caught up in a 60 's time warp. You are thinking was it my grandmother that had this carpet? My mother had this wallpaper! Aunt Ethel had these appliances and I think she still does. Oh, it smells in here.
 
    Next, we are moving on to house #2. The location is not quite as good, no fireplace or central air. This home has some updates, but is in need of many more. As you move through the rooms your mind begins to redecorate; you can remove walls, maybe add an addition to meet your needs. The mechanical systems are older, but functional. Your mind races to Thanksgiving; Could I squeeze a large table in the living room? Or, should we still have Thanksgiving at mom's!
 
     You move on to house #3, quietly and with not much hope. It's not in a good location, but then your agent opens the door. You step inside and.....oh...you are in complete disbelief! Hardwood floors! Beautiful color paints adorn the walls, new lighting fixtures, this is it! Please write the offer! You move to the kitchen...oh, oh stainless appliances, granite-like counters, beautiful chrome lighting fixtures, tile floor. Oh, I have to have this house! The furniture is perfect, just my taste! The palm tree in the
corner, the window treatments, the Pottery Barn accessories, I have to have them, all of them, it's all just perfect. Your agent goes over the listing print-out with you; older roof, furnace twenty years old, electrical and plumbing need updating, no central air, windows and siding need to be replaced, as well as the driveway. Once again you cannot hear your agent speaking as your eyes and mind are too busy taking in every detail of this beautiful home. Please just write my offer!
 
    Thank goodness you have selected an honest, caring real estate agent to assist you. As reality takes over your mind, and you settle back down to earth, your agent goes over a market analysis of comparable properties. They also suggest and assist you in obtaining estimates for updating,  repairs and replacements that the homes are in need of. Well, it was quite a day!

    Which home do you think should be purchased?
 
    When you are thinking about getting pre-approved and began looking for a home, please call me. We will have fun, I promise!
 
Sincerely,
Betty


                   
Betty Eisold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

413-263-3943

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                 

Last Updated on Friday, 19 March 2010 11:33
 
What's a Buyer to do? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Monday, 03 August 2009 10:41

Short sales, Reo’s, bank owned, seller owned, auctions, deplorable condition, pristine condition, underpriced, overpriced, and everything in between.

It is no wonder that today’s buyers are confused. Even the professionals can be dazed and confused at times by all of the variables.

First of all, a savvy buyer will realize that this is not the time to try to go it alone. They most likely will not save money and are almost certain to mis-step

in this ever changing market and economy. This is when a true professional that understands all of the subtleties of the market will be priceless to a buyer.

A few definitions are in order right now, and I will try to pull the veil off the myriad of options and properties available to today’s buyers.

Short Sale: This is what happens when the seller of the home is still in possession of the property yet owes more on the mortgage than the home will bring in today’s market.

This type of sale always requires the lender’s approval, and buyers can get caught waiting for lender approval for months if the Realtor or seller didn’t do the correct work ahead of time.

Consequently, this can go relatively smoothly if the proper paperwork was completed prior to placing the home on the market. It is very important to know up front what has transpired

already and your agent should be getting you that information. Not all agents are adept at working short sales, so make sure you ask the right questions.

REO’s: This stands for Real Estate Owned and that means that the lender has already taken possession of the property and has the right to sell it. Normally these properties are sold “as is”

and the lender will not make repairs. This type of purchase is not for the faint of heart, and buyers should assess their skill level before attempting the most distressed of these homes.

Some of the homes require only cosmetic changes and minor repairs. These are a great opportunity for the “weekend warrior” who doesn’t mind rolling up their sleeves and working.

Just because a home is being sold as is does not mean that you cannot do an inspection, but your offer on these homes will not be as attractive to the lender if you are asking for

inspections and need to get a mortgage. Home flippers (contractors and business people who will bring the home back to beautiful and then sell it at a profit) almost always offer all

cash with no inspections. That is very attractive to the lender as they know that it is a “done deal”.

Auctions: Definitely not for the inexperienced. Typically, the first auction on a property is to satisfy the legal requirements so that the bank can take possession of a property. The homes

almost always go back to the bank at this time because no one can enter the property at the first auction if the bank is not already in possession of the property legally. The bank will almost

always then list the home with a real estate professional so that it can be marketed for highest and best price.

If you attend an auction, listen very carefully to the auctioneers opening comments because that is when he states everything else you will be required to pay for if you are the successful bidder.

Also, if you are the successful bidder, your deposit (usually $5000 to $10,000) is NON refundable if you change your mind.

Seller owned: This is easy, the seller is wishing to move and puts his/her home on the market. If you like it, you make an offer on it and everything proceeds as it normally did.

You get the right of inspection, you can negotiate repairs, etc. although these are the easiest of sales, you may or may not get as great a bargain, but at least there are no surprises either.

Where do you go from here?

Now that you have a basic understanding of the different offerings available, which one is right for you? Only you can answer that question, and with the help of the right real estate professional,

you will be able to find a home that fits your budget, lifestyle and comfort level. Some basic rules for buying a home and getting a good bargain would be:

a. Assess your skill level and the amount of time you are willing to invest from your free time.

b. Assess your pocketbook. Do you have the money (in addition to down payment) to get the work that must be done right away done right away?

Simple fixes for distressed homes include replacing counters, flooring (as long as the structural part of the floor is sound) painting and landscaping. These things can be done relatively

quickly and inexpensively, depending on materials chosen. Bigger jobs would be rehabbing entire kitchens, baths, and any structural work needed. If you have never attempted major home

improvements, now might not be the best time without the aid of a licensed contractor.

Don’t forget the tax credit if you are a first time buyer. The government will give you up to $8000 if you close before December 1, 2009 (the clock is ticking so if you are a first time buyer,

get out there and at least look at your options).

FHA also has a special loan for buyers of distressed properties. It is called a 203K mortgage and allows buyers to borrow the money they will need to bring the home up to a habitable condition.

Again, a real estate professional will be key here as the paperwork for this type of loan is more extensive and you will need to provide the lender with estimates from licensed contractors.

The news on the housing market has been positive lately, and we just completed our third month in a row where housing sales climbed. That doesn’t mean that the market will rebound overnight,

but it might be an indication that we have hit the bottom of the recession. Now is the time to buy because if the indicators are right, next year you will be looking backward and saying “I wish I had….”

 

Laura Stevens

Operating Principal/Broker

Longmeadow, Agawam, Northampton

Last Updated on Friday, 18 September 2009 12:44
 
Why now is a good time to buy! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kevin M. Sears   
Tuesday, 16 June 2009 14:06
I believe that when our economy comes out of this recession, it will be the strength of the Housing Market that leads us out.  So, why not start the recovery now.  

You may ask yourself, what opportunities are out there?  I¹m here to tell you that the opportunities are abundant.  Whether you are a First-Time Home Buyer, a Move-up Buyer or an Investor, you should give some serious consideration to getting into this market.  We have the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, sufficient inventory, declining prices, and near record low Interest Rates (in the 5-6% range) which have created a unique situation when you look the Housing Affordability Index.  

First-Time Home Buyers - Perhaps you¹ve heard, there¹s an $8,000 Tax Credit available for eligible First-Time Home Buyer.  On February 17th, President Obama signed the ³American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009² into law. This economic stimulus package has provisions specifically designed to revitalize the housing market.  And for more information about the tax credit and eligibility requirements, please check the link on my website at www.KevinSears.com.

There are many First-Time Home Buyer classes and programs available through local non-profit agencies and municipalities.  The City of Springfield, in conjunction with several non-profit agencies, MHFA and the Realtor® Association have begun the ³Buy Springfield Now² campaign, offering additional incentives to buying in Springfield.  For more information on this program, check out the website at www.BuySpringfieldNow.org .

Move-Up Buyers - While you will have to sell in this Buyer oriented market, you in turn get to buy and move-up for less money.  My advice to you is to be realistic on pricing, in order to sell your home.  And be equally realistic when making an offer on the house that you want to buy.  The majority of Sellers are not ³under water², ³subject to a short sale² or desperate to sell.  Rely on your Realtor® to give you sound advice on the value and offer accordingly.  You will definitely get more bang for your buck, if you move-up in the current market!

Investors - There are some real investment opportunities available in the market today.  I am seeing banks selling their foreclosed inventory at significant discounts.  We all know that Real Estate is a great long-term investment, especially if you buy when prices are low.  Today¹s your chance to expand your portfolio and improve your net worth.

A few words of caution:  First, the banks are discounting because there are typically some significant structural and/or mechanical upgrades needed.  Have your contractors lined up and ready to get to work.  Second, you may have some difficulty financing the purchase.  Talk to your local commercial lender and find out the terms that you will be eligible for, in advance.  Third, I am seeing multiple offer scenarios on these types of properties.  If at first you don¹t succeed, try try again.

In conclusion, this is the best buying market that I have seen in my 15 years in the business.  Do your due diligence. Be prepared.  Be realistic.  And call your Realtor®, to help you take advantage of this market, while this cycle benefits you, the Buyer.

Kevin M. SearsKevin M. Sears

2009 President-Elect - Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®

2006 Massachusetts REALTOR® of the Year



Sears Real Estate
928 Belmont Avenue
Springfield, MA   01108-2421

(413) 785-1636 - Office
(413) 787-1944 - Fax
(413) 348-9631 - Cell
Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 June 2009 14:19