Lisa Maxwell

Today's story is titled, "The Three Brothers."

Three young brothers are sent out into the world by their mother, to "seek their fortune". Each decides that he should buy a home in order to increase his net worth and have a roof over his head. Each hires a different Realtor to help them buy their home.

The first young man finds his Realtor on the Internet. She is newly licensed and inexperienced. The man and his Realtor set out and look at many different houses, until the man finds one that he insists he must buy. The Realtor, not able to see that the construction of the home is quite shoddy, helps him buy the home, without even suggesting that a home inspection be done.

Well, shortly after the first young man moves in to his new home, a terrific windstorm blows through town and his home collapses around him! So, he goes in search of his brothers, to seek shelter and to find out how they were faring.

Meanwhile, the second young man sees an ad in the newspaper for a Realtor proclaiming "We sell more homes in your town than ANYONE!" He hires the Realtor and tells him of his modest needs for his new home. Days go by and the Realtor does not call, does not write - the second young man is anxious to get started with his home search, but the Realtor he hired is not returning his calls.

After some time goes by, the Realtor contacts the young man and shows him several homes (all his own listings) which are all above the young man's price range. The Realtor pushes the young man into making a decision to spend more money than he can afford for his new home. It isn't long before the young man, unable to keep up with the mortgage payments, finds himself once again homeless. He too goes in search of his brothers, to seek shelter and to find out how they were faring.

The third young man, the most intelligent of the three, asks a friend who just bought a home for a referral to his Realtor. His friend had a terrific experience with his Realtor and puts them in touch. The Realtor promptly meets with the young man, discusses his needs and shows him a number of properties that meet all his criteria - price, location and size. Together, they identify the perfect home for the young man and have it inspected to insure that it is a good investment as well. The third young man's two brothers find him living happily, warm and cozy in his new home. Of course, they both ask to meet their brother's Realtor so that they can all live happily ever after.

The moral of this story is: Not all Realtors are the same. Experience matters and so does Excellent Customer Service and Honesty. The best way to find a Realtor who will care for you properly is to ask someone who has already worked with one - get a referral!

Looking for a new town to call home? Dedham, Massachusetts has a lot to offer.

Dedham Square has been given new life, revitalized, with plenty of hip shops and a brand new movie theater marquee. Much thanks for that goes to the Dedham Square Circle organization and its members. Have a coffee or a meal in one of our eating establishments, shop for the holidays or any time of the year and relax at a movie or laugh at the live comedy night entertainment.

Coming this spring is the brand-new Legacy Place shopping center (from legacyplacededham.com):
"Stores will include a 60,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market; a 30,000-square-foot, two-level L.L. Bean store, a Borders bookstore, Legal Sea Foods, and a spectrum of other businesses as well as another anchor, Showcase Cinema de Lux, a 15-screen theater with in-seat dining and a lounge."

Of course, we still have plenty of shopping along the main roads throughout Dedham.

Dedham Park and Recreation commission works hard to offer our town members all sorts of activities throughout the year. They host several popular events - Flag Day parade, Dedham Day (ask us about cow flops), and co-sponsored with the Police Dept., the annual Bike Rodeo. Dedham residents have access to all of our parks, as well as the pool (for a fee). There are many sport programs offered, some of which include basketball, softball and karate/T-jitsu,

Another plus is our location. Just 20 minutes from downtown Boston by car, train or bus, you can enjoy suburban living and still head into Boston for work or leisure. Plenty of affordable homes for sale or rent are available. There are many interesting neighborhoods, with homes ranging in price from $150K to $5Million+ . Something for everyone!

For more information about Dedham, or to begin your search for a new home, contact us today!

Lisa Maxwell, Realtor, ABR
Keller Williams Realty - Boston South West
www.Maxwell-Houses.com

Short Sales occur when a property owner needs to sell their home but owes the bank(s) more than the current market value of the house. This is often referred to as being "upside down" on the mortgage. The property owner may negotiate with the mortgage note holder(s) to sell the home for less, and to have the bank pay for all closing costs, including commissions. This allows the owner to get out of the property without bringing any money to the closing table and allows the bank to avoid a costly foreclosure process. Real Estate Agents partnered with third party negotiators can guide their sellers through this sometimes lengthy (up to three months) process and can enable their buyer clients to get an excellent deal on a new home.

Auctions are held once a bank has officially taken over the property by foreclosure. Properties sold at auction require much due diligence on the part of potential buyers, who may inherit all liens, defects and possibly pre-existing tenants. Many properties that get to this phase are in rough shape due to lack of upkeep, negligence or outright destruction by the prior owners and in some cases, the potential buyer is unable to view the inside of the property until after the closing. Real Estate Agents are cautioned to beware representing Buyers in this phase because of the large risk associated with this type of purchase.

Real Estate Owned or "REO" properties are homes that went to auction, but were bought back by the bank as the highest bidder. These properties may also be in rough shape, but the new owner (bank) is required to clear all liens and other encumbrances in order to deliver clear title at the closing. REOs are sold "As Is" so once again the buyer must be diligent in their inspection process. Typically offers, once accepted, move directly to the P&S phase and require buyers to sign the seller's P&S and Addendums without modification and within 24-48 hours. Real Estate Agents will find that for buyers willing to invest in a home needing repair, REOs can be a solid investment for their clients.

Lisa Maxwell, ABR, Realtor^®
www.Maxwell-Houses.com