Judy Boyle

What you see is not necessarily what you get when it comes to real estate ads. Here's a glossary that might help:

WHEN YOU READ IT MEANS

Luxury Living Overpriced

Great Starter Home One Room With a Toilet

Well Below Market Nobody Else Wants It

Plenty of Parking Stadium Across the Street

Extra Storage Four Hooks

Sunken Tub Floor Unlevel

Gated Community Bad Neighborhood

Rent With Option to Buy Been on the Market for Two Years

Cathedral Ceiling A Bear to Heat

Nighttime Security Street Lights Shine into All Windows

Safe Neighborhood Nosy Neighbors

Executive Neighborhood Everyone's Last Name is JONES

Victorian Sweetheart Strip 8 Layers of Paint Then Steam off the Wallpaper

Shows Well Be Prepared to Remove Your Shoes

Immaculate Remove Shoes. Tip Toe In.

Commuter's Dream At the Bottom of the Off-Ramp

Nice Condition Get Out The Paint

Quaint Better Buy a Wallpaper Steamer

Will Help Finance Owners Know They're Asking Too Much

Reduced To Move Been on the Market for Two Years

Prime Location Ask Price While Sitting Down

Close to Schools Busses Go Up and Down Your Street All Day

Everything's Been Updated But the House Has Been Condemned

Natural Setting You'll Spend Your Weekends Doing Yard Work

Handyman Special Forget It!

This is more of a survey than a question and it is directed to just about anyone...whether you are a Real Estate Practitioner, Home Buyer, Home Seller, or None Of The Above.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT... TO YOU ... TO SEE ACCURATE SPELLING IN REAL ESTATE LISTINGS?

As a Realtor myself, I know it is sometimes necessary to abbreviate to get the most information in the listing. I am referring to simple spelling errors.

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions!

What Your Handshake Says About You

In real estate, we shake a lot of hands. That's why I enjoyed this article that discusses "the different types of handshakes" and what they say about you: ten different types of handshakes. The only problem I have with the article is that all of the ten handshakes described send negative connotations. I will search for a similar article that put the handshake into a positive light. Incidentally, I did not find myself described here. Did you??

1. Sweaty Palms - When a person is nervous their sympathetic nervous system often becomes overactive, sometimes resulting in sweaty palms. Do what you can to put this individual at ease.

2. Dead Fish- Indifferent handshakes that feel like the person has no bones in their hand often indicate a passive or reserved personality. This handshake ranks as the number two least favored. Individuals with this type of clasp are generally not people-focused. Knowing this, you can tailor your presentation to de-emphasize the people aspect and focus more on the mechanical or thing-focused benefits. Exceptions to this rule might be musicians and surgeons whose livelihood depends on sensitive hands and who are therefore reluctant to open up to a bone crusher.

3. Brush Off - This handshake type is a quick grasp and then a release that feels like your hand being shoved aside. This handshake is a statement of "it's my turf and my agenda that matters, yours doesn't." Listen first to what the person wants before talking about your ideas for them.

4. Controller - You feel your hand being pulled toward the person or strongly guided in a different direction, perhaps towards a chair. People who do this are controllers. This means they want to dominate any inanimate or animate object in the room (and that would include you). If your goals are different than theirs there may be challenges ahead. Do more listening than talking and see if you can find common ground so these individuals can control the situation toward your desired objective.

5. Politician - Your hand is firmly grasped as in a normal handshake. However, their other hand may cover yours or be placed on your forearm or shoulder. Unless the two of you are good friends, this is a form of false sincerity. The person is attempting to communicate that the two of you have a deeper relationship than you actually have. After receiving this kind of handshake, I recommend you check your pockets or purse to see if anything is missing. Similarly, be cautious about relying on this person's word for anything and be attentive in your dealings with them.

6. Finger Vice - When someone grabs your fingers and not your entire hand it is meant to keep you at a distance. These people are often insecure. If they also crush your fingers they are adding a show of personal power, which is also designed to keep you at a distance or at least create some fear of challenging them. I wouldn't recommend becoming submissive, however it will serve your purpose to be somewhat deferential to them.

7. Bone Crusher - The message of squeezing your hand until you cringe is clearly designed to intimidate you. Even when the person may not know how strong they are, there is still a message of intimidation and power behind the grip. You don't have to pretend to be a wimp with them, and, in fact, they may respond positively to you if you present yourself with strength. Just don't get into a hand-squeezing contest when you shake because then it becomes a competition and even if you win, you'll lose.

8. Lobster Claw - Like the claw of a lobster, the other person's thumb and fingers touch the palm of your hand. The person doing this fears connecting at a deep level and may have challenges building relationships. Take your time. Allow them to open up at their own pace. As they become more comfortable with you their handshake may actually change. Once they fully accept you, they can become a client for life.

9. Hand Wrestler - Your hand is taken normally and then twisted under the other person's. This is usually done aggressively. Be very careful in your own presentation as this person is absolutely committed to being on top, regardless of what they say they want.

10. Teacup - This handshake feels normal except that there is no palm-to-palm contact. The other person's palm is cupped, like a teacup. This handshake indicates that the person is hiding something from you. It might just be a serious case of shyness or it could be something more substantial. Always check for missing information when working with this individual.

Market Update:

Thanks to a Fed announcement that exceeded all expectations, it was a big week for mortgage markets. Mortgage rates ended the week down significantly, falling near the lows reached in January. The stock market and Treasury market also performed well during the week.

Following Wednesday's meeting, the Fed shocked investors with an aggressive expansion of its mortgage-backed securities (MBS) purchase program. In addition to the previously announced $500 billion in MBS purchases which began in January, the Fed will buy an additional $750 billion this year, bringing the total to $1.25 trillion. To put this in perspective, $1.25 trillion represents more than half of the estimated total mortgage issuance in 2009. Similar to its November announcement about the initial $500 billion MBS purchase program, the Fed achieved its desired reaction with an immediate decline in MBS yields.

The Fed has identified the stabilization of the financial system and the housing market as key elements of an economic recovery, and lower interest rates will help achieve these goals. Inflation data released during the week contained no reason for inflation to be a concern in the short-term. With yet another increase in government spending, though, investors will be keeping an eye out for signs of higher future inflation.

This week will kick off with monthly housing data. Existing Home Sales will be released on Monday and New Home Sales on Wednesday. Durable Orders, an important indicator of economic activity, will also be released that day. The final figures for fourth quarter 2008 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be revealed on Thursday. Personal Income and Consumer Sentiment are on the schedule for Friday. Large Treasury auctions will also be a factor during the week.

Jumbo Fixed Rates:

After being near 8% for most of 2008, you can now get a Jumbo 30-year Fixed in the low 6's. We have a 15-year Jumbo around 5%! Keep in mind this is for high-quality borrowers with >20% down payments and high credit scores.

The link below will bring you to a video on New England Cable Network during which Massachusetts Association of Realtors President Gary Rogers explains the $8,000 1st Time Home Buyers Credit in very simple terms...Great to forward to your buyers!

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Business/2009/03/03/How-the-firsttime-home-buyers/1236127882.html

Sending my best wishes for a prosperous 2009!

Judy Boyle, Realtor

Worcester County, Massachusetts