Heath Coker, Real Estate Broker

Have you ever wanted to have a wedding or event in Europe or New York but couldn't afford the logistical expense, or schedule all the participants easily? Now you can!

The developers of Hollywood East have a vision of their sets and sound stages becoming a premier location for special events when the sets and stages are not being used for tv or movie production! Now you can host your party or event in the safety of the US, with all scheduling, services, and even the weather, planned and prepared in one location. Below is a video that explains their creative use!

The planners of Hollywood East have found a way to improve their access road! By redesigning the roadway into the Plymouth Rock Studios, more trees and open space are able to be left in place. This is another thoughful example of the developers' efforts to keep the all the green parts of the project in mind - both the environmental impact and the dollars involved.

Here is a short video explaining their approach for meeting with all parts of the Plymouth population. The time put into preparation and the thought put into the past revisions are building the trust of locals, which in New England - and especially in MA - is not easy to build. Everyone knows that they are building a money making business location, but their effort to do so with the communitys' approval, with correct and thoughtful environmental consideration from the start, and then applying the options to their bottom line rather than the reverse order, is displaying the integrity that is so often missing in a large project.

Find more videos like this on Hollywood East TV

Have you seen this information on foreclosures?

50% of United States foreclosures in 2008 came from 35 counties in only 12 states.
20% of the United States' population lives in those 35 counties.

Eight counties in Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada were the source of 25% of foreclosures.
Existing home sales in the US rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.7 million units in February, 2009, and only 860,000 homes were repossessed all of 2008.

If these things are correct and true, either 20% of the population controls the rest of the US, or the reporting is leading us to believe that they do.

Is the economy as bad in your town as the worst 35 counties? I know that the Texaplex is positive. Here on Cape Cod, we have thousands of jobs coming in from new development.

Have you ever wondered where the 40B (low income) developments are in Falmouth. The list below was provided to real estate professionals recently. The list includes the developer/applicant, acreage, zoning information, number of units, etc.

Some people don't want to be in or near a 40B subdivision. Their perception is that a 40B development is like the infamous "projects" so many cities have. But, this is not correct.

A 40B project is known as a "low income" development. This is not the same as Section 8 income assistance. In a 40B development, 25% of the properties for sale are made available to buyers who have an income below the average for the area. Those buyers still have to qualify for a loan, with good credit, an income, etc., but they are given a "break" on the purchase price of their property. Often, the discounted properties also have deed restrictions relative to when the buyer can re-sell and sometimes even what profit they can make.

If you have questions about 40Bs and how they affect your property in Falmouth, send us an email capegroup@capegroup.com.

Here's the list.

Best wishes, Heath

(While this information is specific to Falmouth, MA, a smart investor will take note and include the information as they research property in other locations.)

In the town of Falmouth, we occasionally have property for sale with "Accessory Apartments". This means that besides the main residence there is an attached or detached "other" residence on the same property. While there are many Falmouth residences being used as accessory apartments, not all of them are approved by the town.

What does approved have to do with anything? Approved is a protection for tenants, owners, and even lenders. Without town approval, a property may not be able to be insured correctly. This could be a problem for the owner if they need to repair something, it could also be a problem for a tenant if they have a health or safety issue on the property. Lenders want to keep the property in it's best condition, and they don't want complications with insuring a property they are lending on.

The following lists were provided to real estate professionals at a recent meeting with the Town of Falmouth Board of AppealsZoning Administrator, Sari Budrow. This list is from 2007, and it is apparently the most recent completed list that the Board of Appeals has.

If you believe you have an accessory apartment on your property in Falmouth, MA, and you do not see your address on this list, I'd call the Board of appeals and see what you need to do to bring the property into compliance. It could save you some headaches in the future. You can also look at your tax bill to see how your property is described, although the tax department and the other departments do not always communicate well.

Best wishes, Heath