Friday, December 5, 2008

Home Prices in 2009, 2010, etc?

Just My Take….
Posted by Debra Cahill under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Rates, Strictly my opinion
Home prices in 2009, 2010, etc?

A home purchase must first and foremost be looked at as shelter and lifestyle. The stability of knowing where you’re going to return to every day/night after work and the ability to make it your own. A garden to grow your own vegetables, a yard for a pool, swingset, or the safety of your pets. It has always been one of the best investments you could make over the years and most of retirement wealth comes from selling one’s primary residence and the tax free benefit. ($250,000 single and $500,000 married if you’ve lived in the home at least 2 of the previous 5 years).

Home values will continue to decrease and will ultimately drive down prices to allow economic affordability. This trend will continue through 2010 and the recovery beyond that will go hand in hand with the economy instead of our past experience of doubling and tripling every few years.

With all that said…interest rates are rumored to be falling to 4.50% very soon! What is your plan? Give me a call or send me an email….

Debra Cahill
508-697-2480
debra_cahill@remax.net

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Housing in Recovery...

What's really going on in the Real Estate sector according to The Realty Times...

Yes, stocks are down and still very volatile, economic news is not any better but look what's happening slowly in the housing sector....

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association people looking to buy houses with FHA loans were up by 15.3 percent, while applications from purchasers seeking conventional mortgages rose by six and a half percent last week. There are some great opportunities out there and buyer's are recognizing that fact and acting..Pending home sales were higher than year-earlier levels for the second straight month -- 1.6 percent higher than September 2007 . Western States are now reporting pending sales at 39.7 percent higher than there were in September 2007.

Chief economist Lawrence Yun, spoke at the National Association of Realtors convention in Orlando recently and warned not to expect a housing recovery overnight, certainly not with unemployment on the rise. But he projected a "slow, steady, multi-year upward trend, with 5.02 million total sales this year, 5.3 million for 2009, and 5.6 million for 2010."

So, if you're trying to predict the bottom to jump into the market...Hmmm. The bottom becomes apparent when the sales begin to rise and and it appears that is happening...(according to National statistics.)

Want to find out what's happening in your neighborhood? Visit www.DebraCahill.com and see "What's My Market Value, Really?"

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Start today to make a new ending...

I am a Certified Buyer's Representative and today received this great quote that I just had to share...

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.
- Maria Robinson


The real estate market may be down but life goes on. Decide what is important to do and get on with it. If it means selling for a lesser price than you could have gotten last year but that you'll be able to enjoy life today...do it!

If time is your friend (my crystal ball won't tell me for sure)...then wait. It's that simple.

If you need another opinion...give me a call. I'll be glad to go over your options with you....

Have a great weekend!

Debra Cahill
508-697-2480

Monday, November 3, 2008

Sandwich Generation Cure


Definition-The Sandwich Generation is a generation of people who care for their aging parents while supporting their own children.

Merriam-Webster

Just about everyone knows someone who is busy raising their children and also assisting their parents with weekly chores such as grocery shopping, lawn mowing, shoveling, etc.

Here in Bridgewater, Massachusetts I have the perfect Home solution for you!
51-53 Mary Lane, Bridgewater, MA is a spectacular 13 room Duplex with the lower level set up as ONE LEVEL LIVING for aging parents, physically challenged people or someone wanting privacy for their students while attending one of the local Colleges. Bridgewater State College is just a few miles away, the commuter rail is less than 2 miles and Rtes.#24 and 495 are 2-3 miles away.

For a full virtual tour of this incredible home please visit http://debracahill.vflyer.com/home/flyer/home/1996516

Friday, October 31, 2008

Bridgewater Real Estate Update week of 10/31/08

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Biggest bank to fail in US history

Washington Mutual is the biggest bank to fail in US history. What's next? Read the associated press article below...

http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=MTU5OTY1OA==

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Just when you thought you were all set!

Well this week has truly been one for the books! I've been selling homes and assisting with financing for 30+ years and thought I'd seen it all. WRONG..



As Lyndon Johnson said, "We can draw lessons from the past but we cannot live in it."



New financing guidelines and FHA loans have turned us all upside down and inside out asking for documentation one paper at a time! You put a nice clean financing package together, send it to FHA for their final sign off, they take 10 days to review the file and then send it back looking for one piece of paper. You quickly send that in. They take another 10 days to re-review the file and send it back looking for one more piece of paper. Frustrated, you send that in quickly and 10 days later they ask you for another! Call me silly but wouldn't it be easier to ask for all of them at once or would that be taking the power away from the powers that be!



We actually had to hold up a closing at the closing table because they would not fund the loan until they had approval from the next investor they were selling the loan to. This was a local banking institution and the client went to the local bank to have their loan local instead of using a mortgage broker/company because they thought their loan would be sold. Lesson well learned. Make sure to ask if they are going to sell you before you close or hold you hostage at the closing table while they scurry around looking for a buyer for your loan! This seems a little backwards to me but again, we can't live in the past.



They are covering every angle and making buyers and sellers jump through hoops that are sometimes so ridiculous that they just say "forget it". It's not worth it.



They actually asked one client recently who was receiving child support for a 15 year old if that 15 year old would be attending college. Well, we certainly hope so but we can't apply at 15 to make sure we are accepted! Well then, how about sending in the academic transcripts so we can determine if they will be accepted, etc. This seems like big brother looking into our homes and sort of feels like the old days when women could not get financing because they may have a child and would definitely have to stay home and not work!



Where are we heading? It's sure to get more stringent before it lightens up...Stay tuned!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Real Time Market Stats-Bridgewater, MA

As you can see we're all in the same boat when it comes to 2 1/2 overrides, schools, town government, etc. but it doesn't seem to have affected Bridgewater as much as the surrounding towns.




































Friday, July 18, 2008

Whether you say it's a bad market or a good market-You're Right!






9 Calthrop Drive, Bridgewater, MA

Sold in just 7 days!




Perspective: The real estate rule of law


You say it's a bad market for selling and you say it's a good market for buying. I like this market. Why? My clients are hiring me for my expertise, my 30+ years experience selling real estate in the Metro South Area and they are listening to my advice. For example the last 4 homes I listed in Bridgewater, MA sold in less than 2 weeks because we made a plan, staged the homes, listened to the market and were rewarded with a quick sale in a market that homes are staying on longer and longer. 9 Calthrop Dr. Bridgewater sold in just 7 days with multiple offers!


Simply click on the photos for full listing information..and virtual tours.






179 Crescent St. Bridgewater sold in 12 days with 3 offers!





































625 Curve St. Bridgewater had been listed with another agent for several months then we sold it in 6 days!





94 Broad St. Bridgewater, MA


Multi family home walking distance to center, commuter rail, shopping, Bridgewater State College, several restaurants and banks!




















Tuesday, May 13, 2008

RISING PRICES NOT JUST AT THE GAS PUMP

The price of oil and gas has trickled into our food prices too! Concerned? You're not alone. Food prices ranked just below record-high gasoline prices on the list of things people are worried about.
Here are some simple ways to help save money on food. Time your grocery shopping. With the exception of milk, eggs, and bread, most grocery store products are put on sale at least once every 12 weeks at a significant savings. Stock up on non-perishables when they go on sale. It may take a little planning ahead but it's definitely worth it. Home cooking is the healthiest and most cost effective method rather than eating out or ordering take-out and it can even take you less time if you plan accordingly. The next time you cook, triple the amount you would normally do and freeze 2/3 of it for later. Then, on those little league game nights or got home from work late nights, a home-cooked (and probably healthier) meal will be waiting in your freezer. Good items to consider freezing are meatloaf, cooked chicken drumsticks, chicken thighs, chicken tenders, homemade meatballs for pasta or swedish meatballs are some of our family favorites! The possibilities are endless.

Stop buying bottled water. Recent tests have shown that bottled water and tap water are pretty equal when it comes to safety and taste. Ask your town for a copy of the water quality test if you're concerned. Plus you'll be using less plastic and that's good for the environment as well as your pocketbook!

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Help Your Child Buy A Home

Here's a short video on how to help your child buy a home with a little help from the bank of MOM & DAD and how to do it without causing tax implications...
Enjoy...








http://www.allaboutnews.com/vc.php?a=y&b=31&i=201&rs=9ad0ab99e501657715

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Fed Cuts Rates Again!

What does it mean to you?

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates today for the seventh straight time since September of last year. Many experts believe that the Fed is done cutting interest rates and will begin a new watch-and-wait policy. This new policy is due – in part – to the fact that the first Stimulus Act rebate checks are hitting millions of mailboxes this week. The Fed hopes this money gives a boost in the arm to the economy.

If you've been taking a watch-and-wait approach with your home search, now is the time to make your decision.

Consider this: the Federal Reserve Board meets 11 times this year to review the health of the US economy and make adjustments if needed. Don't you think you owe it to yourself to take just a few minutes and do the same with your own financial goals?

Are you taking advantage of this unique market and not letting it pass you by. Here are just a few things to consider:

Today's tougher housing market means there are some great buys to be had if you're looking to purchase. This is an especially friendly market for first-time home buyers.


The government has temporarily increased FHA loan limits in many areas across the US. These government-insured loans are not FICO-score driven and require little to no down payment. Here's the catch: these new limits expire at the end of the year, so you must act now.


You really don't want to play the waiting game if you are holding out for the bottom. That's because there is nowhere for the prices to go but up from here, if we are truly at the end of the Fed's cutting cycle.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Shhhh...I hear the market stirring!


Interest rates have fallen again, the sun came out and so did the buyer's to check out those great opportunities that have been sitting on the market for a while. Inventory is starting to shrink and well-priced homes are moving!

This beautiful listing was priced right and sold in just 6 days!

Interest rates fell last week by nearly a quarter of a point on 30-year fixed-rate money -- down to 5.74 percent from 5.98 percent, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America.

New loan applications from purchasers were up by almost 11 percent for conventional conforming loans -- those are the types funded by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- but up by an amazing 21.1 percent for government-backed mortgages, primarily FHA.

I can hear something stirring out there!

It certainly looks like it's going to be an active Spring Market.

Now to represent the entire market...everything is not rosy.
People are worried. They're spending less, and still waiting on the sidelines until they're convinced the market won't go any lower. You don't know it's hit bottom until it starts to rise so....Don't wait. If you can afford the mortgage on that beautiful new home you've been watching...go for it. Just make sure you have a savy "buyer's broker" to help guide you with the pricing and terms. (Hint...I can do that!)

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Positive Trends

Well the news just keeps coming about how bad everything is out there...but don't believe everything you hear.

Across the nation new mortgage applications increased for the first time in more than a month according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. This increase is most likely due to the 30-year fixed rate climbing to 6.27 and then dropping to 5.98. When buyer's saw the rates plummet, they locked in on their purchases.


Number Two: The pending home sales didn't decline last month as previous months...they just stayed flat. This is "maybe" an indication that the sales decline has or is bottoming out.


Number Three: The Federal Reserve is expected to drop the overnight rates another quarter point next week -- and maybe more in the weeks ahead.

Well this sounds good to me! If the rates stay low with the lower prices the buyer's will say..I'm ready...this is for me!

Remember...the only way to know the market has really bottomed out is when it starts to rise, and you don't want to lose that opportunity!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

If you're waiting for the bottom...it may already be too late

According to Realty Times the market has already swung to a seller's market in Virginia...Could we be very far behind? I welcome your comments.


February 6, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hot Market: Arlington VA -- Double Digit Gains Return
by M. Anthony Carr


Days on market are dropping, prices have begun an upsurge and multiple contracts have returned. A walk down memory lane? No, just another market turning from buyer to seller in the last few months in the shadow of the White House.

Arlington County, the first Virginia community across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is entering the beginning stages of a seller’s market. In December 2007, the average price for a single-family home jumped 21 percent over a year earlier.

The local multiple listings service, Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, reports the days on market have been dropping throughout the year, with the average marketing period lasting around 65 days -- nearly half the amount of time for homes to sell in surrounding communities in the Washington, D.C. area.

By the way, the Capital City itself is leading the way in this recovery with reports from agents of upwards to 70 visitors to open houses and average single family home prices up more than 20 percent.

Arlington is in the beginning stages of a seller’s market only because there’s still plenty of inventory and the number of homes selling is lagging the previous year. The area will also benefit from the nearly 40,000 jobs estimated to open in the region in the coming year, according to George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Recession....NOT!

The financial press did its job. It scared Americans so badly about a possible recession that now we might just have one. Right now the inflation rate (excluding energy and food prices) is at 2.2 percent. That's a far cry from the 12 percent inflation the nation suffered through in the 1970s. (Realty Times)




People need to trust themselves and not listen to everything they read or hear.


It's time to get back to basics. Just like every January when we all make our New Year's resolutions..we need to get back to what is really important to us right now. Food, shelter, clothing, family, friends, the necessities. We don't need to give up everything, just the extras we didn't really need anyway. January is a popular time to clean out closets, garages, basements. Organize tax records, etc. Why not take this time to reorganize what's really important to us and stop worrying about all the fluff. If we didn't have so much "stuff" that we just had to have when we bought it..we wouldn't need larger closets, garages, or "STORAGE UNITS" for stuff we haven't seen or used in years.




We need to stop the panic. There are some great properties out there at great prices with great interest rates. Investors want the news to continue to be scary so they can keep on buying while sellers would like the news to back off and let us get back to living our lives. Life is what happens while you're waiting for things to change. Today is all we know for sure. If you're waiting for the market to "bottom out" you'll miss your opportunity. The only way to know for sure that the market has bottomed out is when you see it rising. Then you won't have the opportunity to negotiate like you do now...Today is the day to buy that property you've been waiting to buy. It's time to get back to living your life.




If you're a first time buyer or someone looking for an affordable home in impeccable condition, check out this featured home NOW!

















Click to view this great opportunity

Monday, January 14, 2008

Yes..it's still Winter!

5 inches of slush and snow...so what. It's Winter and to be expected. Call a friend and make them laugh and your day will be complete. No more complaining accepted for today. If you're able to complain, you're able to make someone else's day better. Think about it!

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"The difference between perseverance and obstinancy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't."

~ Unknown

Thursday, January 10, 2008

RE/MAX Winter Sales Rally a SELL OUT!

It was a sell out crowd at the R.I.Convention center yesterday for the RE/MAX Winter Sales Rally. A motivated, upbeat crowd listened intently to what they knew to be true but were excited to hear! The news may be doom and gloom out there (newspapers were actually called birdcage fodder!) That's the best use of the doom and gloom ads. We are all still in the game and yes, it's a game. Today was quoted as the "Best of time and the Worst of Times"...where have we heard that before!

Yes it's a buyer's Market...Yes it's a seller's market. You need the right marketing specialist to position your property for success and Yes It Can Be Done!

1855 was the first recorded depression. Those companies and salespoeple who outhustled their competition emerged in a stronger market share & revenue position. Let the others hunker down...The Big R was what it was named then...the big R now stands for RE/MAX! We are RE/MAX are still out there and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with! We rise to the challenge...we look in the mirror in the morning and see "Bill Belichek"...Bill Belichek truly understands what football is all about; what makes it in my opinion the greatest game on the planet. Superstars don't win championships ...It takes skill, hard work, and staying in the game!

Who do you see in the morning?

RE/MAX website rated highest behind realtor.com for real estate company websites!

1 Realtor.com www.realtor.com 4.71% 1
2 RE/MAX Real Estate www.remax.com 2.55% 3
3 Homegain www.homegain.com 2.46% 4
4 Move.com www.move.com 2.43% 9
5 Zillow www.zillow.com 2.24% 6
6 Yahoo! Real Estate http://realestate.yahoo.com 2.20% 7
7 Rent.com www.rent.com 2.16% 5
8 ZipRealty www.ziprealty.com 1.90% 10
9 Apartments.com www.apartments.com 1.90% 8
10 ServiceMagic www.servicemagic.com 1.57% 11
11
U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban
Development www.hud.gov 1.43% 12
12 MSN Real Estate http://realestate.msn.com 1.38% 13
13 RealtyTrac www.realtytrac.com 1.31% 2
14 Trulia.com www.trulia.com 1.30% 17
15 VisualTour.com www.visualtour.com 1.27% 14
16 Homes.com www.homes.com 1.27% 15
17 Century 21 Real Estate www.century21.com 1.17% 16
18 WhiteFence www.whitefence.com 0.98% 21
19 ForRent.com www.forrent.com 0.96% 20
20 HAR.com www.har.com 0.88% 26
Source: Hitwise

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Housing Bust: Four More Quarters

A predicted 2009 housing market recovery is being tied to a convergence of smaller inventories, lower prices, looser lending and more government intervention.

read more | digg story

Monday, January 7, 2008

There's no one else to blame

As our political system spins up to a wild frenzy (and it's just getting started!), we can be expect to be served extra large rations of "lip service" as candidates strive to tell us what they think we want to hear.

Accountability is the opposite of lip service. It means doing what you say you are going to do --no matter what (now there's a concept :o) And for those who maintain accountability in their personal and business lives, there are very real payoffs...

"Accountability breeds response-ability"Stephen R. Covey

When you hold yourself accountable, you no longer afford yourself the luxury of blaming others or conditions for your situation. You are in total charge and control.

The "Golden" resolution for this New Year is to hold yourself totally accountable. The reason this one is golden is because it guarantees success for all your other resolutions.

2008 is not likely to be a very forgiving year. Be accountable by living your word and you will have nothing to fear.

Courtesy of my business coach-"Michael Russer"-Mr. Internet

I'm Still In New Year's Mode!

I have several business coaches to help keep me "Above The Crowd" without having my Head in the Clouds...Here is a quote from one of my favorites...Mr. Internet..

This new year promises to bring perhaps the wildest presidential election in our history, potentially a mortgage crisis-fueled recession, no likely end to the housing downturn and a great deal of political instability around the world. And these are the things we just know about!

If you were hoping for a more sanguine year, I'm afraid you will be disappointed. However, if you have a fire in your belly and and a hunger for opportunity, 2008 may be your best year yet. Challenge and opportunity are always two sides of the same coin and no one knew that better than Helen Keller. So if you don't like the looks of the current side, just flip it over

-Michael Russer- "aka Mr. Internet"

Sunday, January 6, 2008

It's going to be an early Spring

as far as real estate activity goes that is. I'm feeling the phrase you snooze-you lose as far as market prices go. Activity is picking up and those standing on the sidelines waiting for prices to lower even more may get more of a surprise come April than April Showers! Timing is everything and with interest rates at record lows..now is the time to buy that home, condo, investment, or second home. And oh, by the way, it's a terrific time to sell too as it works both ways!