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Are you a home-buyer who's looking to get "more home for your money"? What buyer isn't, right? Or perhaps you're a current homeowner who would like to make some much-needed repairs to your home. If so, keep reading...
A HUD-insured 203(k) loan may just be the financing tool you need to buy or create your perfect home! With a 203(k) loan, available through any FHA-approved lender, you can purchase or refinance a property PLUS include the costs of making repairs and improvements (not just energy-efficient improvements either).
You could also combine the 203(k) financing with other financing options as well. Consider having a home energy audit completed at the same time and you could also qualify for an Energy Efficient Mortgage, which offers either a lower interest rate, fewer points, or even a reimbursement for the cost of the energy audit. (For more information on Energy Efficient Mortgages, see my earlier blog entry on the topic.)
What properties are eligible?
You can use the 203(k) program to finance such items as painting, room additions, decks and other items even if the home does not need any other improvements. However, there are some requirements that MUST be completed as part of the overall rehab. These health, safety, and energy improvement requirements must be satisfied before the other improvements can be made.
For more information on the HUD 203(k) Home Loan program, check out the Home Improvement page on HUD's web site. For the detailed requirements of the program, visit the Rehab A Home page as well. For a listing of HUD-approved Lender's visit their Lender List and find a lender near you. And as always, you can check my web site at CyberGreenRealty.com for more localized information on the Boston green real estate market.
Until next time, Peace!
-TMC
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FIREWORK DISPLAYS
July 3rdGloucester: 9:30 PM at The Harbor
Hingham: around 9 PM
Lexington: After Sundown at Center Playground,
Manchester-by-the-Sea: 8:30 PM at Singing Beach
Milford: 9 PM at Plains Park
Needham: Dark at Memorial Field
Orleans: Dusk at Rock Harbor
Sharon: 9:15 PM at Memorial Park Beach
Walpole: 9:00 PM at the field behind town hall
Weymouth: 9:30 PM on the waterfront
July 4th
Acton: 10:00 PM at NARA park
Barnstable: Dusk at Lewis Bay
Bellingham: 9:30 PM at the Football field
Beverly Farms: 9:00 PM at West Beach
Boston: 10:30 PM on the Esplanade
Falmouth: Dusk at the harbor
Marblehead: 9:00 PM at the harbor
Martha’s Vineyard: 9 PM in Edgartown
Nantucket: 9:00 PM off Jetties Beach
Newton: 9 PM at the Halloran Field and Sports Complex
Old Sturbridge Village: Dusk
Plymouth: 9:00 PM on the waterfront
Salem: 9:15 Pm at Derby Wharf
Wakefield: Dusk at North Avenue
Waltham: 9:30 PM at Leary Field
Wilmington:
Dusk on the common
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Total Market Report is provided to give you an overall picture of the current market conditions.The following report is for single family homes sold in Berkley from April 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009.
Single Family Homes
Number of Homes on Market 62 (UP 23 from last report!!!)
Average Days on the Market 151 - An abundance of homes placed on the market in the last 4 months
Number of Homes U.A.G 5 - that averaged only 63 days on the market (Price = Pace)
Average Price of U.A.G. Homes $237,480
Number of Homes Sold 8
Average Sold Price $278,975
| ~$315,000 As of April 2, 2009 ~$300,750 As of March 3, 2009 ~$283,833 As of February 8, 2009 ~$250,000 As of January 8, 2009 ~$361,250 As of December 5, 2008 ~$259,125 As of November 2, 2008 ~$312,913 As of October 3, 2008 ~$435,000 As of September 3, 2008 ~$0 As of August 16, 2009 ~$334,250 As of July 9, 2008 ~$317,800 As of June 12, 2008 ~$418,333 As of May 1, 2008 ~$286,833 As of April 8, 2008 ~$180,000 As of March 8, 2008 ~$344,250 As of February 7, 2008 ~$349,000 As of January 8, 2008 ~$262,442 As of December 9, 2007 ~$243,125 As of November 7, 2007 ~$645,500 As of October 4, 2007 ~$331,000 As of Sept.1, 2007 ~$349,073 AS OF AUG. 4, 2007 ~$356,473 AS OF JUNE 24, 2007 |
Average Asking Price $370,375
Lowest SALE Price $110,000
Highest SALE Price $425,000
April, May and June finished with a fair amount of activity. 13 home buyers have taken or are taking advantage of the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. 13 home sellers have priced their home IN THE MARKET and have successfully sold their home. There is still pent up activity, plenty of buyers are jumping off the fence and buying. Position yourself as a Home SELLER not just a homeowner with your house on the market.
You want your home IN the market not ON the market.
The absorption rate is sitting at 7.5 months from 10 months in the month of February. Lots of inventory was purchased but lots was placed on the market as well! There has been a tremendous increase in the number of buyers in the marketplace - rates are at an historic low - the government is putting immense pressure on the banks to work WITH homeowners not AGAINST them and help them restructure their loans to try and prevent additional foreclosures from hitting the market. The lower end and modest homes are being absorbed much quicker that higher end homes. Homes over $400,000 are experiencing longer market times and more downward pricing pressure. Lower end homes are receiving multiple offers and even selling OVER asking price.
What do you need to know if you are a homeowner looking to sell?
Your home MUST (and I mean MUST) be in a condition that an F.H.A. or V.A. approved buyer can purchase call me to find out what steps you MUST take to ensure your home is in the condtion required by these mortgage programs
According to the facts of record we are still losing value. Not great news I know, but it stresses the importance of properly pricing your home UPFRONT!
Price it ahead of the curve and you will open your home up to the largest pool of potential buyers which will sharply lessen your market time AND increase your bottom line! I would rather see any seller get multiple offers to choose from than no offers at all.
Call me for a competent, accurate analysis of your home.

Bobbie Files
Your Bristol and Plymouth County Realtor
Visit my website at www.BerkleyMass.com
Search for Berkley Ma Homes at: http://BerkleyHomes.BerkleyMass.com
Search for Taunton Ma Homes at: http://TauntonHomes.BerkleyMass.com
For those struggling to pay your mortgage payments please visit: http://shortsales.berkleymass.com
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PURCHASING ONE OF THE INCREDIBLE FORECLOSURE BUYS ON THE MARKET???
VISIT - http://JustForeclosures.BerkleyMass.com
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Don’t think of this as just a “winter” topic either – you can save money on your cooling costs starting now by taking some simple steps to seal (or “tighten”) your home.
Most people assume the majority of a home’s air leakage occurs through windows and doors – but this really only accounts for 10-15% of air leakage in a home. So before you spend a lot of money on just replacing windows and thinking you’re saving lots of energy, consider taking some of these steps first:
Visit your nearest Home Depot or Lowe’s and pick up these simple materials. They can really help you save a lot of money year-round. And keep in mind, a trained professional with proper training and equipment is always best-suited to pinpoint specific points of air leakage and recommend the necessary improvements.
Have you tried any of these solutions to stop air leakage in your home? Share your experiences and costs savings here.
For more information, visit CyberGreenRealty.com for links to locally-trained professionals in the Arlington, Massachusetts area.
Until next time, peace!
-TMC
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Fingers crossed that the rain will end in time to celebrate the Fourth of July in Massachusetts. Whether you want to join the big party on the Boston Esplanade or would rather stay closer to home, there are plenty of Independence Day celebrations around Boston.
Boston 4th of July Fireworks and the Boston Pops
This year marks the 36th annual Boston Pops 4th of July concert and fireworks at the Hatch Shell alongside the Charles River in Boston. People make a party of the day and arrive early to get a good spot.
The Oval, the restricted area for seating, opens at 9 am on July 4th. The concert with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops begins at 8:30 pm. The fireworks show starts at 10:30 pm and lasts until 11 pm.
Cambridge doesn't have its own fireworks display but offers prime viewing for the Esplanade fireworks. People line the bank of the Charles River between the Harvard Bridge at Mass Avenue and the Longfellow Bridge. If you can snag a spot on the bridge itself you'll have an excellent view. Food concessions and restrooms will be available on the Cambridge side of the Charles.
While we're all sure the skies will clear by Saturday, if the fireworks are rained out on the 4th, the fireworks, but not the concert, will be rescheduled for 9:30 pm on Sunday, July 5th, weather permitting.
Friday Night Fireworks in Lexington MA
Start the fireworks early in Lexington, Massachusetts at the Lions Club Carnival. The Carnival is the Lions Club annual fundraiser and will be open on Friday, July 3, 2009 from 1 pm to 11 pm with the fireworks scheduled to go off after sunset.
The carnival is being held at the Lexington High School in the Waltham Street parking lot behind the high school.
The carnival is scheduled for:
4th of July Family Fun and Fireworks in Waltham Massachusetts
Bring the kids to Prospect Hill Park in Waltham on Saturday, July 4, from 10 am to 2 pm. There'll be food, drinks, pony rides, animal shows, free children's rides, music and more. Prospect Hill Park is at 314 Totten Pond Road in Waltham.
Continue the party at Leary Field from 5:30 to 9:30 pm on July 4th with a concert with the Reminicents at Leary Field off Bacon Street. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:30 pm.
4th of July Kids' Fun and Fireworks in Newton MA
Newton celebrates the Fourth of July at the Newton Centre Playground with fun activities for kids from 10 am to noon. There'll be a Pet Parade, a Teddy Bear Parade, a Decorated Doll Carriage Promenade, Foot Races, and free ice cream.
The party continues at the Russel J. Halloran Field and Sports Complex at 250 Albemarle Road in Newtonville. From 11 am to 10 pm there'll be an open air market, crafts for sale, recorded music for dancing, food concessions and amusement rides. The fireworks are scheduled for 9 pm.
4th of July Celebrations in Arlington MA
Fourth of July festivities in Arlington will be held at Robbins Farm Park (aka Skyline Park) from 7 pm to 11 pm on July 4, 2009. The park is at at 1 Eastern Avenue. There'll be refreshments, musical entertainment by the John Penny Band, and a broadcast of the Boston Pops Concert and fireworks on a giant screen.
Somerville Fireworks Rescheduled
The fireworks in Somerville MA were scheduled for tonight but were postponed because of rain. Next Thursday, July 9, 2009 catch a concert by the Somerville Sunsetters followed by fireworks at Trum Field. Trum Field is on Broadway between Magoun and Ball Squares.
A week of fun and fireworks - what could be better? Happy Birthday America!
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