Fran MacDonald

With the FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER CREDIT OF UP TO $8,000 and interest rates at some of the lowest rates in ra history of 20years, I am amazed why we as Realtors aren't promoting this great gift to all potential buyers? But is it that we are not promoting it or---are buyers not listening---or too panic stricken to even consider taking a chance? After all, isn't life itself a chance?

I have read very recently that there has never been a better time to buy homes since Dwight D. Eisenhower was President.

I have posted this report on my website at

www.ManchesterBedfordHooksettHomes.com

with permission from the author of the "New $8,000 -First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Report, Julie Garton-Good for all to review. If buyers want to take advantage of this credit, they will need to act quickly as it ends December 1st and it can take 45 to 60 days to close on a property in this real estate environment. It's the Perfect Storm. This article is very clearly written and answers your most basic questions on this tax credit. As always if you have additional questions, your CPA is your best source of how this will apply to your situation.

It's PERFECT STORM; A Storm because with the decline of property values. seller foreclosures, short sales and bank owned properties. PERFECT because it a heavenly opportunity for first time buyers who can afford a home that was not within their means a mere two or so years ago; that coupled with some of the lowest interest rates in twenty years, puts first time buyers in a real position to purchase, to own their first home before the economy we are now experiencing recovers and they miss the opportunity.

Some of the reasons I heard are "well what if we loose our jobs?" Then what do we do?

My response was and is, and if you loose your job, won't the rent still be due? Now I am not advocating that if you know your company is going to lay you off that you act irresponsibly. In home ownership you have avenues to help you through the tough times better than in a rent. As the home owner you don't need permission from the landlord to rent out a room for additional help with the new rent payment known as the mortgage which could be the price of the former rent. It's yours and you do as you please other than you of course are not allowed to destroy the property. all I am suggesting is see a lender and act responsibly. Do your homework and see if this works for you. If it does, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND DECEMBER 1ST IS THE DEADLINE, SO PLAY SAFE, CLOSE BEFORE DECEMBER 1ST!

So let me strongly urge all renters and potential buyers to check out this gift. Go to my website and read the article for clarification---then call a lender and get pre-approved or--call me I can help. and out of my territory, not a problem I have a network of Qualified Buyers Agents (ABR) that I can refer you to.

Today Donna Harris, ASP, Texas posted a blog that said "what are you selling" showing pictures, of treadmills, lamps etc... and I must agree with her wholeheartedly. SHE IS RIGHT ON.

Too often we see pictures in the MLS where the toilet is shown, I may be old fashioned but in my opinion, that is poor taste. I even hate to those scenes in the movies, after we all don't we all have one and our bodies all funtion the same way (if we are luckly perhaps). So whay show it, why talk about it?

Cluttered counters, refrigerators full of magnets, toys everywhere and pictures of properties that should be taken over, it shows no curb appeal. Now there are times where an agent has to work with what he has. There are times where I would rather not show a room because, I can't do it justice (too small a room to get a good picture, lightning is't conductive to making it look right, etc). I have even seen in the MLS listing even shows an older car in the driveway a that comes with the house. That didn't do it for me.

I want like to see the features that will help sell a home, show the spaciousness, the curb appeal, a beautiful yard, the pride of the seller in how well he/she maintained the home during their tenure. A sunken living room might be instrumental in positioning a special feature, hight of the ceiling, make a beautiful hardwood floor look spacious or beautifully show off a floor to ceiling fireplace, two story foyers, large rooms, perhaps large windows that invite the sunshine to come right in. Make it look inviting and cheerful! We aren't selling caves!

Pictures will call attention to a property, its "Show and Tell Time" so why not put it on stage like it deserves and if you can't get nice interior pictures show the yard, the area, the nearby lake anything but make it say something about the property such as it's located near Massabesic Lake, or near all major highways, or if it's in a historical area that's an interest!

I wanted to repsond to her Blog but somehow I couldn't but she had something to say and she said it so well.

www.111derryfield.com

Kudos Donna. You did it right!!!

Thank you for sharing that with us. We can all gather something from your blog.

Fran MacDonald, Associate Broker, ABR, CRS, SRES

www.ManchesterBedfordHooksettHomes.com

I love what I do. I find homes for folks and add to the quality of their lives. What's better than that? I work the Manchester, Bedford, Hooksett and surrounding towns in New Hampshire. I feel an affinity to help my clients find the home that best fits their needs. Right now is a great time to purchase properties. The prices have come down and interest rates are great! That's what I see, that's how I feel. FHA has just raised their guidelines and the market is beginning to buzz, other than a few snags like a number of snow storms, things are picking up.

The days are getting longer and Spring is just ahead. The crocuses will soon make an appearance by peeping their heads above the blanket of snow. The grass will be green once again and Oh yes, I can get put the snow blower away and make plans for the lawn tractor that will keep that grass looking green. Did I say Green? That's a topic for another time. Right now, I can't wait to see the colors of spring, the flowers, the warm weather and the beauty of nature in full bloom! I am excited because there is so much ahead to live for and enjoy and I have two properties coming to the market very soon and either home a good value that many buyers would be proud to own.

I often have thought and said as the market has had it's trials, It's not intelligent to work as hard as I work. and with the liability that is involved, without any benefits, yet, if good Realtors dedicated to the profession, Realtors with integrity and ethics and a burning desire to make a difference, don't stay with it, then wh what will happen to keep the market hones? Who will help the clients both buyers and sellers? Then I think, Oh well, who said we all have to be Einstein, gravity has already been discovered, so--I am moving on, doing what I do best. That is working with buyers and sellers and getting the job done in the best possible way with the least amount of stress on my clients.

I have worked with buyers who looked at 5 homes and found the right home and bought, others take two years and more. They either can't find the right home with all those nice details that they really want, or they just aren't ready to commit or what they want is not in their price range just yet. But check out the market Mr. and Mrs. Buyer, it might surprise you. You might be in that special home before the next season. I work with buyers who take time, I work with buyers ready to move, I work with them all and I have the references to prove I do it well.

I have acquired so many friendships in my business of real estate, I can't think of what my life would be like without my clients--my friends, and for that reason I get up every day and start the process all over again with the same enthusiasm as yesterday and the day before and the years before that. I am ready to laugh and have some fun and enjoy the day. Now how many people can top a job like that? It's a labor of love. That's why I sell real estate!!!