A home inspector working in Berkely MA is required to perform a home inspection to the Massachusetts Home Inspector Standards of Practice. A copy of the standard will be provided to the client by the home inspector.

The MA Home Inspector Standards of Practice is written for the professional home inspector. United Inspection Service has created some easy to read Consumer Information Sheets illustrating what is included and excluded in a Standard MA home inspection. Clear client communications (3c) are one of our core values. See the easy to read one page consumer information sheets for each of the systems in a MA Home Inspection.

Visit the Berkley MA Home Inspection web page from United Inspection Service for some useful information about homes in Berkley MA and the Massachusetts Home Inspection.

• Massachusetts Home Inspector Standards of Practice
• Recommended Questions to Ask the Seller/Seller's Representative
• Home Inspection Photographs
• Flood Zones
• Lead Paint
• Hazardous Waste Release
• Check the Berkley MA Home Inspector web page for consumer information links ...

Easton MA First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program

The Town of Easton Affordable Housing Trust is offering financial assistance to first-time homebuyers. Participants in Easton's homebuyer assistance program must be first-time homebuyers (with some exceptions), and meet eligibility requirements including income limitations. Participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For complete details and an application for Easton's first-time homebuyer financial assistance program, visit Town of Easton Homebuyer Assistance Program.

For more information about qualifying for a mortgage and buying a home in Easton MA, please contact us.

What’s Selling – and What’s Not – in Easton MA in January 2012

On average, homes for sale in Easton MA in January 2012 are on the market for 162 days before they are sold. However, homes in some price ranges are taking a longer time to sell as compared to homes in other price ranges.

The absorption rate is the ability of the real estate market to absorb or sell all of the houses for sale in a given amount of time. That means it’s the rate at which available homes are sold in a specific real estate market during a given time period. In other words, the figure shows how many months it will take to exhaust the supply of homes on the market if no other homes were listed for sale.

The higher the absorption rate (or the less the number of days homes are on market), the higher the probability that the supply of available homes will shrink rapidly. When the absorption rate is high, a homeowner can sell his or her home for more money in a shorter period of time. When the absorption rate is low, a home buyer will have a larger inventory of homes to choose from, and may be able to buy a home for less money.

· 1 to 4 months supply of homes – has a high absorption rate. This is a Sellers’ Market.

· 5 to 6 months supply of homes – has a normal absorption rate. This is a Normal Market.

· 7 or more months supply of homes – has a low absorption rate. This is a Buyers’ Market.

Below is a chart of the number of days single family homes are on the market in Easton MA until sold:

As the graph shows, the following are the number of days the average home for sale in a given price range is on the market before sold:

• $150k - $200k: 131 days on market (Normal Market)
• $200k - $250k: 339 days on market (Buyer’s Market)
• $250k - $300k: 167 days on market (Normal Market)
• $300k - $400k: 85 days on market (Seller’s Market)
• $400k - $500k: 199 days on market (Buyer’s Market)
• $500k - $750k: 101 days on market (Normal Market)
• $750k - $1M: 110 days on market (Normal Market)

So what does all this mean?

A snapshot of the number of days homes are on the market in a given price range before sold (or the absorption rate) gives both home buyers and home sellers a better idea on how to negotiate the purchase or sale of a home in Easton MA.

If you’re looking to buy a home in the $300k - $400k price range, you may find that sellers aren’t negotiating as it’s taking less than 3 months on average to sell a home in this price range.

However, if you’re looking in the $250k - $250k price range or the $400k - $500k price range, you’ll find that it’s a buyer’s market, and you may be able to find some bargains in these price ranges -- and especially in the $200k - $250k price range.

If you’re looking in the $150k - $200k price range, the $250k - $300k price range or for homes selling above $500k, you’ll find that it’s a normal market for homes in these price ranges. Lowball offers won't cut it in a market like this, but sellers aren't in control of the market either. Both buyers and sellers should be reasonable when negotiating the purchase and sale of a home in these price ranges.

For more information about what’s selling and what’s not in the Easton MA real estate market, or if you any questions about the home buying or selling process, or if you're ready to buy or sell a home, please contact me.

The Trend in Home Prices in Easton MA in January 2012 – Improving, or...?

Sales prices of single family homes in Easton MA in January 2012 on average have been falling in recent months! Home prices in January 2012 on average are down 16.0% compared to January 2011, and are down 10.3% since July of 2011. However, it’s important to note that on average, home sales prices in Easton have been rising slightly over the past 6 months.

The average listing price of single family homes for sale in Easton MA in January 2012 was $378,143, down 12.6% from a month ago. Compare this to the current median sales price of $359,600 - where half of sales are above this amount and half below it.

Below is a chart of the trend of median sales prices of single family homes sold in Easton MA over the past 5 years through January 2012:

The number of single family homes sold per month in January 2012 in Easton MA has declined 28.6% from the average over the last 12 months.

Below is a chart of the trend in the number of monthly settlements of single family homes sold in Easton MA over the past 5 years through January 2012:

So what does all this mean? Well, if you're looking for a home in Easton MA, you may be able to find a bargain. Mortgage rates are at historical lows, and both sales prices of homes and well as the number of homes sold are down.

You can still buy a home with no money down with a VA Loan or with a USDA Rural Development Home Loan. With the FHA Mortgage program, you can purchase a home with as little as 3.5% down. With a MassHousing loan, you can purchase a home with as little as 3.0% down. When you’re ready to buy a home, find out how much house you can afford to buy in Easton MA or in the surrounding area.

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For more information about home values and the real estate market in Easton MA, if you any questions about the home buying or selling process, or when you're ready to buy or sell a home, please contact me.