Get Regular Check-ups

Following his heart surgery last week, after an issue was discovered during his annual physical, President George W. Bush encouraged everyone to get regular check-ups. 
Another important checkup that should be done on a regular basis and can be just as beneficial for your finances is an annual homeowner advisory. Why would you treat your investment in your home with less care than you treat your car or even your HVAC system?

Consider investigating the following:

• Know the value of your home by obtaining a list of comparable sales in your immediate area as well as what is currently on the market for sale.

• Have you compared your assessed value for tax purposes to the fair market value in order to possibly reduce your property taxes?

• Even if you’ve refinanced in the last two years, can you save money and recapture the cost of refinancing in the time you plan to remain in your home?

• Have you considered reducing your mortgage debt with low-earning cash reserves that will not be needed in the near future?

• Have you considered investing in rental homes in good neighborhoods to increase your yields and avoid the volatility of the stock market?

• Recommendations of repairmen and other service providers from a trusted source who deals with them more frequently than you do.

 

My goal is to create a lifelong relationship to help you be better homeowners and to be your “go to” person whenever you have a real estate question. I want to help you not only when you buy and sell but all of the years in between by providing good, consumer-based information about homeownership on a regular basis through email and social networking. If it benefits you by helping you be a better homeowner, hopefully, you’ll consider me your real estate professional for life.

Anytime you or your friends need help, please call. Knowing where to get the answer is just as important as knowing the answer. If you’d like information on any of the items we suggested, please let us know.
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About the author: Marilyn Messenger is a licensed real estate broker associated with Andrew Mitchell and Company based in Concord MA. As a Certified Residential Specialist and Accredited Buyer Representative, she has been representing home buyers and sellers for 20 years in Wayland, Sudbury, Maynard, Stow, and the suburbs west of Boston. Her clients appreciate her extensive knowledge about local real estate and her ability to negotiate the best deal on their behalf. Visit www.marilynmessenger.com to search for homes and get information about buying and selling homes.

Stow MA - Housing Market Conditions - Great Time to Buy in Stow!

Here is what's going on in Stow Massachusetts housing market:

List prices for single family homes in Stow range from $239,900 to $798,000. The median list price is less than it was last year at this time - $474,900 compared with $580,000 last year; and the average is also less: $495,190 compared with $583,169 last year. Currently, there are 50 single family homes for sale in Stow MA. Last year at this time there were 51 listings; however, inventory levels vary by price range. The price range with the largest increase of homes available in Stow is $350,000 to $399,999 - there are 10 for sale compared with only 3 last year at this time; good opportunities for first time buyers. Additionally, there are none listed over $800,000; last year there were six.


Current activity is slow; only one sale pending and no single family homes with accepted offers. Many sellers have recognized the lack of activity and there have been 43 price reductions on 28 properties during the past 3 months; the average reduction was -4.11%; only time will tell if that is enough.

Year to date sales as of 9/30 are up over the first nine months of 2009; 48 compared with 38; and the average time on the market was less - 147 days compared with 186 in 2009. The price range with the most sales was $500,000 to $599,900 - there were 9 sold in that range. The median sale price so far this year is $442,500; the average is $444,531; both lower than in 2009 when the median was $455,000 and the average was $486,814.

Sales and prices during the month of September were less. There were 5 sales; the median sale price was $373,000 and the average sale prices $379,300. There were 6 sales during September 2009; the median sale price was $381,000 and the average was $388,083.

Lower list prices and historically low interest rates make this a great time to move to Stow! And with the stock market providing flat or decreasing returns, real estate is a good opportunity for growth. Visit www.marilynmessenger.com where you'll find complete MLS listings with addresses and maps, along with local market information and news.

Fall is the most beatiful time of year in Stow MA; gorgeous colors and best apple picking anywhere! If you haven't been to Stow, come see what you're missing!

Source: MLSPIN

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