Scott Nelson

Monday, May 4, 2009

City of Medford Public Hearing to Address Vacant & Foreclosed Properties

The city council will be having a public hearing tomorrow nite to discuss vacant & foreclosed properties in Medford and propose legislation to address these properties and their effect on neighborhoods here in Medford. There's some strong rules proposed, below is part of the public notice:

Direct Link to Public Notice: http://www.medford.org/Pages/MedfordMA_CouncilAgenda/I0242ADA3

Hopefully these regulations are adopted to make sure our neighborhoods are preserved. Medford hasn't been as hard hit as other areas of the country, this should help to avoid it doing so in my opinion.

A Public Hearing will be held by the Medford City Council in the Howard F. Alden Memorial Chambers on Tuesday, Evening, May 5, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. on a petition of the Medford City Council to amend the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Medford, Chapter 94 as follows:

City of Medford
Amendment to Revised Ordinances
Chapter 94 Zoning

Vacant and Foreclosing Properties

227
Section 94-482 REGISTRATION OF PROPERTY;
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE

A. All owners shall register vacant and/or foreclosing residential, commercial, or industrial properties with the Building Commissioner on forms provided by the Commissioner. All registrations must state the owner's or agent's phone number and mailing address. The mailing address may not be a post office box. This registration must also certify that the property was inspected by the owner or agent and identify whether the property is vacant at the time of filing. If the property is vacant, the owner or agent shall designate and retain a local individual or local property management company responsible for securing and maintaining the property. This designation shall state the individual's or company's name, phone number and 24 hour emergency contact information, and local mailing address. The mailing address may not be a post office box. If the property is in the process of foreclosure, then the registration shall be filed within seven days of the initiation of the foreclosure process as defined in § 94-481above. If the Commissioner determines that the property is vacant and that foreclosure proceedings have not been initiated, the registration must be received within 14 days of the Commissioner's first citation for improper maintenance.

B. All property registrations are valid for one calendar year. An annual registration fee as determined by the Building Commissioner shall accompany the registration form. Subsequent annual registrations and fees are due at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the previous registration and must certify whether the foreclosing and/or foreclosed property remains vacant.

C. Once the property is no longer vacant or is sold, the owner must provide proof of sale or written notice and proof of occupancy to the Building Commissioner.
§ 22
Section 94-483 MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS

A. Properties subject to this article shall be maintained in accordance with the relevant sanitary codes, building codes, and local regulations concerning external and/or visible maintenance. The owner, local individual or local property management company shall inspect and maintain the property on a monthly basis for the duration of the vacancy.

B. The name and twenty-four-hour contact phone number of the local individual or property management company responsible for maintenance shall be affixed to the property. This sign shall be posted on the front of the property.

C. Adherence to this article does not relieve the owner of any applicable obligations set forth in City ordinances or regulations, covenant conditions and restrictions, and/or homeowners' association rules and regulations.

Section 94-484 INSPECTIONS
The Commissioner or designee shall have the authority and the duty to inspect properties subject to this article for compliance and to issue citations for any violations. The Commissioner or designee shall have the discretion to determine when and how such inspections are to be made, provided that such policies are reasonably calculated to ensure that this article is enforced.
§ 227-12 Violations and penalties.
Section 94-485 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

A. Failure to register with the Commissioner shall be considered a violation of this article and is punishable by a fine of $300. Each week that such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.

B. Failure to identify the local individual or local property management company shall be considered a violation of this article and is punishable by a fine of $300. Each week that such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.

C. Failure to maintain the property shall be considered a violation of this article and is punishable by a fine of $300. Each week that such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense. Any expenses incurred by the City of Medford relative to securing or maintaining property shall be recoverable by placing a lien on the property.

Section 94-486 APPEAL
Any person aggrieved by the requirements of this article may seek an administrative appeal by making written application to the Mayor. The Mayor may designate a hearing officer to hear appeals pursuant to this article. Any person aggrieved by a final decision issued under this article by the Mayor may seek relief in any court of competent jurisdiction as provided by the laws of the commonwealth. Any appeal made shall be requested in writing within 30 days of the date of the decision

Section 94-487 REGULATORY AUTHORITY
The Building Commissioner has the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement and enforce this article.

Hopefully you'll either attend the meeting or tune in on Medford Public Access.

Choosing the Right Community for You

Choosing the Right Community for You

If you are buying a home, one of the first things your real estate professional will do before taking you on home tours is interview you to determine the type of house you want such as a 2,000-square-foot four-bedroom, split-level with a formal dining room and two-car garage. But just as important is the type of community you want to live in. Knowing what your requirements are will help narrow your home search and save time.

To expedite the house-hunting process, start by making a list of the dream home factors that are most important to you and your family's lifestyle. Consider style, location, proximity to work and schools, yard size, children in the community, and of course, price.

Price and location generally are the key factors you'll use to identify the communities that best suit you. If you are moving within the same city, you may want to start your community search by getting in your car and exploring. There are also resources on the Internet that let you compare communities.

You'll want to ask yourself critical questions, such as: Do you dream of something quaint and charming that can only be found in an older area? Or, do you prefer everything new? Are you willing to sacrifice size and space for architectural detailing? What about drive and commute time to the office and schools? Will you forgo the number of bedrooms and a big yard for proximity to a lake or other recreational areas?

Whether you have children or not, buying a home in a community with good schools is important. It not only adds value to your property, but also is an attractive feature when and if you decide to sell. There are plenty of resources available to get information about schools within the communities you are considering. Various Internet sites offer school reports and profiles. They provide statistical data such as graduation rates, college-bound percentages, and standardized test scores. You can also learn about special programs the schools offer. In addition to these reports, many schools have their own Web sites you can peruse. And of course you can always talk to people in the area or take a tour of the school.

Additional factors you'll want to consider during your community search are crime, recreational activities, proximity to shopping and restaurants, and other specific family needs.
Once you've narrowed your search to two or three communities that fit your price range and lifestyle, make comparisons of price and sales activity. Your real estate professional can help you determine which communities are most sales-worthy at present, and which are more likely to continue to be.

There are many factors involved in selecting the right community for you and your family. Discuss your options with your real estate professional. This will provide the information he or she needs to help you find property listings to tour. Remember, a targeted approach to house hunting is less time consuming, less expensive and more efficient.

5 Tips for a Green Home and Save Money

repost from my blog: www.MedfordHouseBlog.blogspot.com

Five Tips for a Green Home & Save $$$

Eco-friendly. Carbon footprint. Global warming. Energy-efficient. These catch phrases have become part of our lexicon as we've become more aware of our impact on the environment and our role in protecting it. As a homeowner, there are some simple, inexpensive steps you can take to make your home energy-efficient. Get started on the road to being "green" with these five tips:

Change Your Light Bulbs
By replacing just five incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, you can save $100 per year on electric bills while using up to 75 percent less energy and removing greenhouse gases from the environment.

Buy ENERGY STAR® Appliances
ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, such as refrigerators, washers and air conditioners, meet a higher level of energy efficiency set by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy than standard models. According to ENERGY STAR, if just one in 10 homes used ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, the impact could be compared to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees. And, switching to these appliances is not only good for the environment, but easy on your pocketbook. Although these appliances may costs more, you can reduce your energy bill by $80 per year.

Seal Up
Cracks and air leaks represent cash seeping from your doors and windows. Get rid of air leaks in doors, windows and other areas by caulking gaps and cracks. This will help decrease your heating and air conditioning bill. But make sure you use silicone sealants. Acrylic caulk tends to shrink, while silicone sealants are waterproof and won't shrink or crack, creating less waste.

Use Less Water
Did you know that roughly 60 percent of a home's water consumption takes place in the bathroom, according to the California Urban Water Conservation Council? The largest culprit is the toilet, which accounts for 27 percent of your household supply every year. By installing low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets, you can save thousands of gallons of water each year. In addition, replace leaky fixtures. That slow-dripping faucet can waste as much as 2,400 gallons of water per year.

Adjust the Thermostat
When adjusting your home's thermostat, the rule of thumb should be: turn up the dial in the summer and down in the winter. Lowering the temperature by just one degree will reduce your electrical costs. And if you use a programmable thermostat, you can program your air-conditioning and heating systems to reduce output while no one is at home or at night while you sleep. Ceiling fans are also helpful in circulating the air to keep the room cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Going green doesn't have to be overwhelming or costly. By making just a few small changes within your home, you can help decrease energy consumption and help make the world a "greener" place.

Prudential Rock Solid Eco-Smart

Repost from my blog: www.MedfordHouseBlog.blogspot.com

Going Green in Real EstateConsumers' interest in the "green movement" has never been so high. Home builders, retailers, financial services providers, and product manufacturers are all seeking to satisfy consumers' demand for eco-friendly products and services. From energy-efficient light bulbs to solar-paneled roofs, from recycling plastic and paper to driving more fuel-efficient cars, consumers have gravitated to the idea that they can help the earth by making smarter purchases and lifestyle decisions. This is something I care about, not only can we ease our impact on the environment but we can also save some $$. By the way, buyers also like properties that are energy efficient, it helps them when it comes to crunching numbers to know that a seller cares too.

Earth Day & Prudential Real Estate & EDR

Repost from my blog: www.MedfordHouseBlog.blogspot.com

Today is Earth Day 2009, I hope your enjoying your day if you celebrate today. I had mentioned this in a previous post how Prudential Real Estate has partnered with EDR to gather environmental information on listings & neighborhoods.

This information can come in handy when dealing with short sales, foreclosures where not much is known about a property due to lower disclosure statuses. It's also a great source for info on regular sales. It's another tool to assist sellers & buyers in identifying any issues in or around a specific property. Here's info on EDR & Prudential Real Estate: Environmental Data Resources Inc. (EDR) is the leading national provider of environmental risk information services and related workflow applications in the U.S. As the innovator of the most comprehensive and accurate database of environmental and historical land-use information, the company provides reports, subscription services and other solutions to help its customers assess and manage environmental risk. EDR customers include commercial and residential real estate professionals, environmental consultants, lenders, corporations, attorneys and government agencies.
Our EDR Strategy
All consumers visiting prudential.com/realestate will be able to access an ▶▶environmental study of a particular property by entering a street address into the search box and clicking on Environmental Profile.
Prudential Real Estate is also advertising these Environmental Profiles on ▶▶various real estate Web sites to send traffic to this customized reporting available from Prudential Real Estate.