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

Find out by taking our 9 minute, free online personality assessment at: http://weichertsynergy.agenttype.com or by clicking on the attached link

WEICHERT, REALTORS®-Synergy in Wellesley Hills, MA has helped many families find their dream home. We can also help you build your dream career, establish long term relationships with your clients and realize the benefits of becoming a Weichert Sales Associate. You'll have the power to take control of your future, the freedom to earn based on what you produce, the tools to see quick results, and the support of a successful team of Managers, Certified Mentors and administrative staff.

Located at 378 Washington Street in Wellesley Hills, WEICHERT, REALTORS®-Synergy is looking for both new and experienced agents to service our growing customer and client base of local buyers and sellers and transferees introduced through our corporate relocation business. Enjoy a dynamic management environment, where the systems, tools and training are in place. Tired of competing for business with your broker? Our brokers and managers run the business and systems - the agents work the leads. Need help getting your career started? No problem. With our award winning website and leads from the Weichert Lead Network, Company generated leads are distributed daily.

What have you got to lose? Give us a call at 781-237-3102 and ask to speak to Broker/Owner Martin E. Kalisker, or write to us at careers@synergy-metrowest.com. You'll be glad you did.

Independently owned and operated.

As of April 30, 2009, there were 125 single family listings in Needham and Needham Heights on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin). During April, 41 new single family listings were added to our MLSPin and an additional 2 single family homes were relisted for sale on the MLS, with an average list price of $956,849. Market absorption rates have normalized in Needham; meaning that it is neither a buyers nor a seller's market, in general. However, as with many communities in the Metrowest area, inventories of "luxury homes" are increasing as buyers demonstrate their preference for smaller, more affordable homes. Inventory levels of these "luxury homes" are predicted to rise significantly as the second wave of short sales and foreclosures crashes through the higher end of the market because of falling market values caused by defaults fueled by owners' inability to refinance jumbo loans on properties financed with "interest only" and "option arm" products.

Based on the number of active single family listings versus the number of sales during the month, there is a market absorption rate of 6.25 months. That is to say, based on the volume of sales during the past month, it will take an estimated 188 days to sell all of the single family homes currently in inventory and sitting on the Needham market. Remember, this is for the market in general. Higher-end homes have a much larger absorption rate, whereas more affordable homes actually reflect absorption rates more akin to a "sellers market."

The average list price for a single family home is $1,063,857. The lowest price is $299,000 and the highest price is $3,499,900, with the largest concentration of homes (43.2%) priced in the $1,000,000 to $1,999,999 price range. Of note, the average list price for a single family home in April 2008 was $1,006,034.

The median price is $949,000 and the average days on market are 94 days. This compares to a median list price of $799,900 and average days on market of 131 days as of April 30, 2008.

There were 21 properties that went under agreement during the month of April (April 2008- 41 properties). 20 single family homes sold during the month, with the average sales price being $672,500 and the median was $599,500, with the average days on market being 153 days. Compare this to 14 properties sold during April 2008, with an average and median sales price of $758,008 and $682,500, respectively, and the average number of days on market being 83 days.

During April 2009:

33 properties experienced price changes averaging -4.04%

Sales price to original price was 92%

Sales price to (last) adjusted price was 96%

4 property listings expired with an average days on market of 88 days

Is now the right time to sell your home? Contact WEICHERT, REALTORS®-Synergy for a complimentary Price Trend Analysis that you can use to evaluate your options.

Looking for other options? Meet with a local Weichert neighborhood specialist to discuss how our expertise can provide you with a competitive edge in selling your property. Stop chasing the market. Let the market chase you! Contact us now at http://synergy-metrowest.com/cma.htm

http://www.synergy-metrowest.com

As of April 30, 2009, there were 128 single family listings in Natick and South Natick on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin). During April, 39 new single family listings were added to our MLSPin, with an average list price of $546,577. Market absorption rates are moving back to reason, however indicators reflect that it is still very much a buyer's market in Natick. So called "luxury homes" - those with a larger property footprint and price tag - found predominantly in South Natick, are negatively affecting market absorption rates, whereas lower priced homes - perfect for first time homebuyers are selling quite rapidly. We should see continued positive activity in this segment of the Natick market. On the other hand, market trends and conditions are such that the next wave of short sales and foreclosures in the "luxury" home segment will put continued downward price pressures on certain listings in Natick - and South Natick in particular, as more homes come onto the market at distressed prices; fueling additional short sales and foreclosures in their path as home values further decrease.

Based on the number of active single family listings versus the number of sales during the month, there is a market absorption rate of 9.1 months. That is to say, based on the volume of sales during the past month, it will take an estimated 274 days to sell all of the single family homes currently in inventory and sitting on the Natick market.

The average list price for a single family home is $642,379. The lowest price is $975,900 and the highest price is $2,195,000, with the largest concentration of homes (52.5%) priced in the $450,000 to $899,999 price range. Of note, the average list price for a single family home in April 2008 was $654,350.

The median price is $549,900 and the average days on market are 107 days. This compares to a median list price of $491,250 and average days on market of 131 days as of April 30, 2008.

There were 24 properties that went under agreement during the month of April (April 2008- 28 properties). 14 single family homes sold during the month, with the average sales price being $438,136 and the median was $470,500 with the average days on market being 114 days. Compare this to 8 properties sold during April 2008, with an average and median sales price of $466,116 and $376,548, respectively, and the average number of days on market being 51 days.

During April 2009:

41 properties experienced price changes averaging -3.17%

Sales price to original price was 90%

Sales price to (last) adjusted price was 95%

3 property listings expired with an average days on market of 164 days

Is now the right time to sell your home? Contact WEICHERT, REALTORS®-Synergy for a complimentary Price Trend Analysis that you can use to evaluate your options.

Looking for other options? Meet with a local Weichert neighborhood specialist to discuss how our expertise can provide you with a competitive edge in selling your property. Stop chasing the market. Let the market chase you! Contact us now at http://synergy-metrowest.com/cma.htm

http://www.synergy-metrowest.com

As of April 30, 2009, there were 202 single family listings in Wellesley on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin). During April, 57 new single family listings were added to our MLSPin and an additional 8 single family homes were relisted for sale on the MLS, with an average list price of $1,544,698. I'm not sure if these new listings want to be the first to be sold or the last, but the average new list price is considerably higher than the average sales price for the year to date and compared to last year. Market absorption rates continue to grow staggering high as new inventory is added each month, on top of already slow moving home listings. Based on current trends, we will continue to see new inventory added to our MLSPin for the neighborhoods of Wellesley and Wellesley Hills (and Babson Park) because, unfortunately, the nationwide plague of short sales and foreclosures has arrived. Just like the flu virus, sellers need to take caution. These "forced liquidation" sales will further depress the market value of their current home listings, so instead of chasing the market, they should price their homes to sell now - not in six months when it is forecasted that there is going to be more inventory at drastically lower prices throughout Wellesley and the neighboring communities.

Based on the number of active single family listings versus the number of sales during the month, there is a market absorption rate of 20.2 months. That is to say, based on the volume of sales during the past month, it will take close to 2 years to sell all of the single family homes currently in inventory and sitting on the Wellesley market.

The average list price for a single family home is $1,752,560. The lowest price is $275,900 and the highest price is $6,500,000, with the largest concentration of homes (42.1%) priced in the $1,000,000 to $1,999,999 price range. Of note, the average list price for a single family home in April 2008 was $1,699,695.

The median price is $1,425,000 and the average days on market are 109 days. This compares to a median list price of $1,350,000 and average days on market of 101 days as of April 30, 2008.

There were 36 properties that went under agreement during the month of April (April 2008- 46 properties). 10 single family homes sold during the month, with the average sales price being $1,380,450 and the median was $1,240,000, with the average days on market being 140 days. Compare this to 17 properties sold during April 2008, with an average and median sales price of $1,363,888 and $1,275,000, respectively, and the average number of days on market being 137 days.

During April 2009:

53 properties experienced price changes averaging -4.52%

Sales price to original price was 91%

Sales price to (last) adjusted price was 94%

12 property listings expired with an average days on market of 203 days

Is now the right time to sell your home? Contact WEICHERT, REALTORS®-Synergy for a complimentary Price Trend Analysis that you can use to evaluate your options.

Looking for other options? Meet with a local Weichert neighborhood specialist to discuss how our expertise can provide you with a competitive edge in selling your property. Stop chasing the market. Let the market chase you! Contact us now at http://synergy-metrowest.com/cma.htm

http://www.synergy-metrowest.com

On April 28, the Obama Administration came out with additional details of the Treasury's plan to help bring relief to responsible homeowners under the Making Home Affordable Program. This includes, but is not limited to, measures to achieve greater affordability for existing homeowners by lowering payments on their second mortgages as well as a additional guidance help underwater borrowers stay in their homes - all coined under the phrase "Parallel Second Lien Program to Help Homeowners Achieve Greater Affordability and the Integration of Hope for Homeowners to Help Underwater Borrowers Regain Equity in their Homes."

Click here to read the entire press release and to see examples under the Parallel Second Lien Program.

This is great news for distressed homeowners, and another way Certified Loss Mitigation Specialists (LMC) to stand out from the pack and demonstrate their knowledge of this important topic.

It is interesting to note, that in a Linked-In discussion on this topic, one Realtor commented that, although the new parallel second lien program will help many of our existing clients who have listed their homes for sale "pre-foreclosure" or "short sale", it is also aimed to reduce these types of listings - now and in the future. So, how do Realtors react when the short sale listing gets pulled because the homeowner now has a new vehicle to help them stay in their homes? What will you do with all of the time, effort and marketing costs associated with a short sale listing - only to see it pulled off of the market because the seller received assistance under the Parallel Second Lien Program? Do Realtors need to start charging a "retainer" for these listings that will only be offset against the commission due at closing?

What are your thoughts?