Martin Kalisker, WEICHERT, REALTORS®- Synergy: Metrowest's Preferred Realtor

In a bit of positive news, Freddie Mac recently confirmed, in writing, that Loan Servicers may not renegotiate sales commissions below the amount agreed to by real estate brokers and sellers, whcih is now consistent with Fannie Mae policy on the same issue. Previously, Freddie Mac officials has publicly stated such a policy, but had not confirmed it in writing.

If the negotiated commission exceeds six percent, servicers are required to limit it to six percent. The National Association of Realtors has asked Freddie Mac officials to establish an appeals process for cases when servicers refuse to comply with the commission policy.

In another incidence of media frenzy, and haste to be the first to get the news out (a la Fort Collins Balloon Boy), more inaccurate information has hit the wire.

The extended tax credit is not yet approved

There is talk that the extended (and possibly expanded) credit will have the following features:

1) Sales agreements must be signed no later than April 30, 2010

2) Deeds must be recorded no later than June 30, 2010

3) A reduced credit of up to $6,500 is being proposed for repeat buyers who have owned their current homes for at least five years (the original credit of up to $8,000 is for home buyers who have not owned a home for at least 3 years and is limited by income)

HOWEVER, no formal vote has been taken on the floor of the U.S. Senate regarding any extension of the First Time Homebuyer tax credit. However, there is some talk that U.S. Senate leaders from both parties have agreed in principle to extend and expand the housing tax credit before it expires on December 1, 2009.

If all is approved at the U.S. Senate level and voted upon, it still must go to the House of Representatives for further action.

At this point, all is still very uncertain.

The Wellesley Department of Public Works has sent out notices to all residents informing them that the water mains will be flushed during the hours of 8am to 5pm starting yesterday (October 19) through Friday October 23. Since the Town just sent out the notices today (Tuesday), I hope that there haven't been any surprises!

The major issue (besides not having water to brush your teeth or flush the toilet during the day) is that there may be sediment left in the water pipes which could discolor or stain your clothes. So, when in doubt, run the cold water for a while before putting in a load of whites!

For more information, please read the entire alert issued by the Town of Wellesley here

In another example of "marketing ideas gone wrong", the Boston Globe recently carried a tidbit of information about a reader who wrote in with a story about how she took her daughter out to the local Dunkin Donuts one day and the daughter announced that she and her friends no longer liked to go to Dunkin Donuts. "Why" the mother asked. "Because the slogan 'America Runs on Dunkin' stands for A Rod (Alex Rodriquez of the NY Yankees - worse than poison to a member of Red Sox Nation)."

You've got to hand it to her. She has a point. As for the marketing geniuses at the Ad Agency. I think it's time to come up with a new slogan!!!

I am happy to announce that WEICHERT, REALTORS®-Synergy is once again supporting "Pie in the Sky" annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale to benefit Community Servings, based in Jamaica Plain, MA.

Community Servings is a not for profit organization that provides free, home delivered meals throughout eastern Massachusetts to 725 homebound individuals who are unable to shop or cook for themselves because they are too ill with acute life-threatening illnesses.

For every pie sold, Community Servings will be able to feed one of their clients lunch, dinner and a snack for a week.

Through the combined efforts of TEAM WEICHERT SYNERGY SELLS, we hope to sell 100 apple, pecan, pumpkin or sweet-potato pies to friends, family and neighbors in our primary service area of Wellesley, Natick, Dover, Weston, Wayland, Needham, Sherborn, Lexington and Newton, as well as to our friends and clients outside of the Metrowest area.

Pie sales are taking place now and will continue through Wednesday November 18, 2009. Orders may be placed by clicking here and selecting a pie for pick up or you may donate your pie back to Community Servings. Please choose site 129 for pickup at the WEICHERT, REALTORS®-Synergy offices during the afternoon of Tuesday, November 24 or all day Wednesday, November 25.

If you're not a pie lover, you can donate your pie to someone that Community Servings helps. This way, they too, can have a festive Thanksgiving.

For more information or to join Team Weichert Synergy Sells, go to Pie Seller Signup! and be sure to select Team Synergy Cares from the drop down list.

For more or contact Broker/Owner Martin Kalisker directly at 781-237-3102.