Drink Lots of Water when House-hunting

Yesterday, I was the agent on duty at Prudential Sawicki in Amherst. Our top agent came in and she just leaned against the receptionist's counter with her head in her hands. Another agent quickly got her a chair and a drink of water. I got her car keys and got her something to eat from her back seat. She sat in that chair, right in the office doorway, for quite a while.

I haven't yet set the stage. What I haven't yet explained, is that until this morning, western Massachusetts, and all of the North East for that matter, has been undergoing almost 100 degree heat. Yes, a heat wage just came and went from the Quabbin region.

That's why our best agent entered the office yesterday in the condition she did. She hadn't drunk enough. And in the heat we had, one couldn't drink enough water. It didn't seem like I could drink too much. The office was cold as the air conditioning was cranked up so high. But when coming and going from roasting hot car to the great outdoors or an un-air conditioned property, the heat is overwhelming! Lesson learned: Drink lots of water.

Pride gas in Hadley

Beware of add-on amounts at the pump! I filled up my gas tank this morning at Pride in Hadley. The pump had 5 cents on it before I even started pumping. I went into the office and she credited the amount to me. Then I started over and it did it again! The clerk gave me a credit and said she'd tell the manager. But beware! Check the amount before pumping your gas.

Ticks

I was talking with an older gentleman the other day. We were both rowing away at the gym. We got to talking about hiking. He said he likes to hike the trails above Laurel Lake, north of Erving. He also likes to hike the Quabbin Reservoir, gate 27. He said last time he hiked gate 27 he had eight ticks on his clothing.

Ticks cause lime disease. So always check yourself, head-to-toe, when you return from the great outdoors.

Looks like today is going to be another scorcher, so find a body of water and get out there!

49 Greenfield Road, Montague Home For Sale

Are you looking for a three-bedroom, one-bath 1880's farmhouse with two acres for $150,000? Then check out 49 Greenfield Road, Montague, Massachusetts! I showed this antique farmhouse to a customer this morning. The home is right on the busy street, the acreage is up a steep hillside, there is a sewerage treatment facility nearby. The property boasts a one-car garage, a front porch, views of the Connecticut River, and is livable in the short-term. But come winter, if you want livable heating bills, lots of ceiling insulation will be a necessity. There is room to add an upstairs bathroom. Imagine the views from a future hillside treehouse! The views from the upstairs windows are great. If you have the ability to add the tons and tons of elbow-grease and sweat equity necessary to make this classic charmer everything a modern family needs, then check this one out!

9 Edgewood Terrace, Hadley Open House

Come to my open house at 9 Edgewood Terrace, in Hadley tomorrow (Sunday), between 1pm and 3pm. This open house will be the first showing of this newly-listed cul-de-sac property. I'm told this home will receive an offer to purchase during this open house. So don't miss out! See you tomorrow.

264 Harkness Road, Amherst Open House Today

Come to my open house today at 264 Harkness Road, Amherst. This home is accessible from both MA-9 and Pelham Road/Main St. This home has huge classrooms (3), multiple bathrooms, three-car garage, three acres in a very desirable location. The home is in need up updating, but could be lived in as is. Also, there are several outbuildings and paved parking areas. This property might be considered for application for multi-family or lot sub-division. Current use is non-profit. See you between 1pm and 3pm!

290 West Street, Amherst Showing

Are you interested in a four-bedroom, one-bath cape in Amherst, on bus route, with .92 acres for $219,000? Then consider 290 West Street, Amherst, Massachusetts! I showed this home to a customer this morning. This home is located on MA-116, just 1.6 miles from the heart of downtown Amherst. There is road noise from the highway. And there is a little water in the basement. And the roof has lack of venting issues. And the one-bathroom would be an issue for some buyers. And the entire home is in need of updating. But you could live in it while you bring this 1952 home up to 2008 standards. And renting this home would be easy, as it is close to town, a big plus for those of us suffering with today's gas prices.

Professional Associations

Professional Associations keep their members trained in the latest and greatest tips, honest, in-line ethically and up-to-date in their field. Professional Associations also provide an outlet for the state to regulate/praise/sanction the profession's members, when appropriate. For example, realtors are required to attend ethics courses every four years. Every two years realtors are required to complete four hours of continuing education classes, such as the GRI class.

Today and tomorrow I'm attending at GRI class in Springfield, Massachusetts. GRI is a realtor's training course offered by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. To obtain this professional designation, I'll attend six such courses over the next many months.

Professional real estate consultants, like me, are members of many professional and business associations. For example, I am a member of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.

Bald Eagles at the Quabbin

The lead story in the Greenfield Recorder newspaper Governor Patrick Bands Bald Eagle Chicks on an Island in the Quabbin Reservoir. The Quabbin has more than a few pairs of bald eagles. The state has something like 40 pairs. I've seen one at the Pelham overlook on MA-202.

Apparently our Massachusetts Governor took 11 boats, filled with various reporters et al, to one of the 60 Quabbin reservoir islands, to do state and federal banding of bald eagle chicks. The tone of the article lead me to believe the governor has never seen the Quabbin before. As a resident of the north Quabbin, I'm shocked! Who wouldn't make the effort to tour this area?

Neighborhood Pride

What is neighborhood pride? Neighborhood pride is what others see, or don't see, when they drive through your neighborhood. For example, I was driving through the main street in Orange this morning. I saw unmowed front lawns, untrimmed weeks along the roadway. I saw a barn in serious need of paint. In other words, I saw a neighborhood without as much neighborhood pride as it could have had.

Why should you care? 1. Home prices are higher in neighborhoods with lots of consistent neighborhood pride 2. Studies prove that crime is lower in neighborhoods without graffitti, broken windows, or other signs of community neglect 3. Visitors feel more comfortable shopping/buying/eating/walking/driving/living in neighborhoods with neighborhood pride.

As a realtor, if I feel unsafe in a neighborhood, I will not take customers to that neighborhood. I will not discriminate or redline or do anything that violates my professional code of ethics. But if I fear for my safely, I will say so to my customer.

So what can you do today to imprive the pride in your neighborhood? Cut your lawn, trim the weeds at the curb, paint your exterior as needed, do that deferred maintenance you've been putting off. That will improve your property. That's a start. Then continue that by asking your neighbor to do the same. Those two things can start a wave of community pride. Beyond that, go help that elderly neighbor do some of the things they are not physically able to do anymore. Often it is the disabled and aged who are the least able to keep up with neighborhood pride obligations.

Amherst

Location, location, location. That's how any realtor describes an in-town Amherst property that is located in a decent neighborhood. Why? Because that's where "it" is to be for most buyers in the Pioneer Valley, here's why. Amherst has two colleges (UMass and Amherst), a thriving downtown, lots of community activities at the colleges and in the town common, lots of great restaurants, coffee houses and bars. Amherst also has great public transportation of all types (pizza delivery, busses, taxis, bicycle trails) There are museums, an arts theatre, and most anything else young and old desire. So where do people want to live? Preferably within walking distance (or at least public transportation distance) from downtown Amherst!

When I get calls from buyers, usually they insist on living within 15 minutes of Amherst. So, what is a savy buyer to do? Pay the extra and buy in Amherst!

But what if a buyer can't afford a single-family home in Amherst? Then buy further out, like in Belchertown. Belchertown will provide much more home for the thousands less money initial investment. But if suburban living isn't your thing, go for a condo or townhome in Amherst or Northampton.

1st Time Buyer Workshops

Are you a first time buyer and need more information from an unbiased source? Good news! Here's that source: The Franklin County Housing Authority, located in Greenfield, provides workshops for first time buyers. Just look them up online or call me. I'd be happy to help you find the next class.

Tip: FHA has loans for highly-qualified low to moderate first time buyers that go as high at $318,000. If you look up FHA loans online you can see the specific requirements. Or if you'd rather, call your own bank or credit union for more information on loans.

Personally, I'd call Dave Loeffler, First Horizon Home Loans, Peachtree City, GA. Locally, I'd call Greenfield Bank in Amherst first. Right now their 30-year fixed loans are 6.1 something percent for zero points. A point is about 1% per thousand borrowed. Remember: in today's market, the seller will often pay points and even closing costs, even if you offer 10% under the original home price. So with two points (listed in the offer for the seller to pay), you might be able to get that above loan at 5.7%!

"As Is"

Bank-owned properties don't like to advertise that they own a property. They feel that if the public knows the property is bank-owned that knowledge will stigmatize the property. So how does a potential buyer know a property is bank-owned? "As is" is the give-away. If a property is advertised as "as is" you can be pretty sure it is owned by a bank. Other indicators are pre-approval letter, no price-reduction no matter what the inspection says, requirements to sign a long offer form that basically gives the bank all the rights and you, the potential buyer, no rights. And all of the above is required with the offer.

So why would you make an offer on such a property? Because the price is so far below the usual market price for the area you can't resist! Why won't you be able to resist? Because if you buy low and add sweat equity you'll have instant equity. Who doesn't want value?

How do I know the price is right? Call me to do a market analysis. I'll check MLS and see what surrounding properties are selling for, I'll visit the property (if allowed by the seller) and see what features the property has, what the property condition is. Then I'll check MLS for comparable properties (which I will also visit, if allowed and if I don't already know them). I'll use all that information to brief you on what the property is worth according to the market right now. If the price is right, you'll know. If it isn't, you'll know to ask me to show you other properties that might be a better deal.

But in the real world, a comparative market analysis is useless when applied to making an offer on a property, in most cases. Why is this? Because the seller determines the value of their home. If the home is bank-owned, then the bank has had a professional (like me) determine the home's value. The home is then listed for sale at that price. The bank will rarely accept any other price except full price. Only after a certain amount of time will the bank agree to allow the listing broker to lower the price of that home.

Economic Drivers

What drives the economy in Massachusetts? Health care and education drive the economy in Massachusetts, according to today's Greenfield Recorder. What does the Pioneer Valley have times five? Education! Higher education to be precise, i.e., Holyoke College, Smith College, Hampshire College, Amherst College and University of Massachusetts at Amherst. According to the article, these factors tend to remain stable in an economic downturn. In other words, the Pioneer Valley and hilltowns are less impacted by the economic woes the rest of the country is experiencing. Other facts support this conclusion. For example, the housing market in our area is doing fine, and local unemployment statistics are better than the national average. Granted, gas prices are high, but not as high as other places. Why am I talking about this? Because real estate is local. I am a real estate consultant. My expertise is to know local real estate so my clients can make informed decisions regarding the most important asset they own (their home). Call me at 978-846-7398 if there is anything regarding real estate you'd like to know. I'm here to help!

Homes newly listed for sale

Amherst:
1. 135 Harlow Drive, $314,000, single family home

2. 162 Farview Way, $324. Single family home has partially finished basement

3. 321 East Pleasant Street, $499,900. Nice kitchen, hardwoods, back porch, bonus room off kitchen, there is dark paint on the walls in one room, home is located on a very busy street

4. 33 Dana Street, $549,000. The home enters onto a newly-painted front porch. There is a one car detached garage. There are mature trees in the front yard. The home is located on a nice resitential street and is a nice walk to downtown (maybe .5 mile?), but there are sidewalks all the way. This home has three floors, a back porch and the laundry room is in the kitchen. The three-season sunporch leads onto a nice back yard. When I was there today there was a friendly, large dog and someone was sleeping in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

5. 29 Webster Court, $179,900. Townhouse has detached carport, nice porch and back yard, brick exterior, sports two washers in the sort-of unfinished basement. Located near a great, full-service gym, in a very high-density neighborhood. Some of the best neighborhoods in Amherst are located nearby.

6. 264 Harkness Road, $585,000. I will be holding two open houses in this home. One is this Saturday from 1 to 3 pm. This huge property has three acres, large rooms and lots of them, a huge garden in the back yard. Smells moldy to me but maybe that's just because the air hasn't been on in the six months the property has been empty. The property is currently zoned non-profit as it was a garden school. The possibility of sub-division to two lots is high. There is a parking lot in the front, side yard. There is a three-car, attached, side-entry garage. There is wallpaper I'd remove in many rooms. The kitchen has old appliances and sports checkered red/gray linoleum. The laundry is off the kitchen, in the mudroom. I'd need to tear out the entire kitchen were I to buy this home. This home has lots of badly utilized space. There are possibilities for converting the property to a multi-family residence.

7. 12 White Pine Road, $749,006. Located in the best neighborhood on a hill on a low-trafficked residential street. I walk through an arched entryway after I note the side-entry garage and landscaped front yard. The tile entry below my feet as my eyes note the grand stairway, cherry and maple floors into the amazing kitchen. The dining area is just off the everything you could ask for kitchen. There are views, several stone fireplaces and lots to love. The one thing I disliked is there is not seperate room for dining, the closets aren't nearly large enough for my preference, and the owner has his business in the basement, so first time home tourers aren't allowed in the basement until the second visit to the home. The positives are that the kitchen and master bath are to-die-for! Light and bright throughout.

Hadley:

8. 9 Mill Valley Road, $875,000. New home just off MA-9, near the nursery and bison farm. Located between two other new homes, and has a long, unpaved driveway. Close to shopping, but not walking distance. Must be close to the bike path though I didn't see it. Loved the tile entry, the fireplace, the 5.5 baths and 4 bedrooms. The third floor is set up as a movie room. The entire home is wired for sound. There are balconies, chandeliers, a balcony overlooking the two-story family room and endless windows overlooking the backyard and has views. There is 15 acres and a grand staircase. If this is your price range, this is a beautiful home. Must want to live in-town to be willing to pay this price. Personally, I'd live where I didn't have such close neighbors if I had this much money to spend.

9. 3 Frallo Drive, $409,900. Located way off the beaten path, up MA-47, this home is in a nice, rural neighborhood. The driveway is unpaved, there is a two-car, side-entry garage. The home sits on one acre of land. There are public utilities (sewer and water), an unfinished basement, mahogany wood floors, nice silestone-type counters but the laundry is in the kitchen. The kitchen cabinets are a light-colored wood. I love the claw-foot tub upstairs in the master bath. But where do the kids bathe? There is no tub or shower in the other upstairs bath. There are no hand-rails leading down to the unfinished basement.

South Deerfield:
10. 55 Sawmill Plain Road, $399,000. Located a couple of miles west of I-91, near farms on nice street. This home is not well-lit, meaning there isn't nearly enough natural light for my preferences. The master closet and bath were very dark, especially the tub/shower area. The driveway is paved and there is a dark wood exterior and two-car garage. The basement is unfinished. I liked the family room, which has a fireplace and double doors leading to the small porch, which is framed on either side by large, blooming, lilac bushes/trees.

Produce in Season

As I drive around the Pioneer Valley I see produce stands along MA-9 and MA-47 in Hadley. Both stands have asparagus for sale; one stand also has strawberries.

Tis the season

Right now is the height of the real estate market in the Pioneer Valley and hilltowns. So, if you are thinking about buying or selling your home, now is the time!

Open houses I'll be showing in the next few weeks:
1. 31 May, 1-3pm, 264 Harkness Rd, Amherst
2. 1 June, 1-3pm, 22 Ledgewood Dr, Belchertown
3. 7 June, 1-3pm, 264 Harkness Rd., Amherst
4. 8 June, 1-3pm, 9 Edgewood Terrace, Hadley

Hope to see you at one or all of them.

Oh, by the way, if you, of or someone you know, will soon be buying or selling real estate, please call 978-846-7398 if you want the whole experience to be as stressless as possible. My mission is to provide as stressless as possible real estate.

Memorial Day

The sun is shining, the wind is breezy, time to get out the grill! There are a million state parks in the area, pick one and load up the family. My favorites are Mount Tom, Laurel Lake, Lake Wyola, and Quabbin Park.

Choices

Sometimes the flooring choices you make have a huge impact on your neighbors. So if you hate your downstairs neighbor, choose tile floors! Then you'll click click click away over their heads forever. And while you're loving every minute of your beautiful floor, be sure your neighbor is plotting your torturous, slow, painful demise! But seriously, if you live where there are others to consider, please do consider them in your decorating decision making. You'd appreciate it if if they did the same for you, I'm sure! This reminder is from my sister-in-law, who lives in the third floor of a water-front condo. Ya think the fourth floor condo owner above has tile floors?

Sociability

How social are you? The answer will help you determine the right neighborhood. Do you like to go clubbing? If so, maybe Northampton is for you. Do you prefer small town activities? If so, maybe Wendell, Orange or New Salem are for you. Knowing these things about yourself will go far in helping you find the neighborhood that feels right for you.

Personally, I love the 1794 Meeting house in New Salem and the Full Moon Coffee house in Wendell. Also in Wendell is the Deja Brew. They have live music on the weekend evenings. Also, on the last Monday of every Monday in the winter is the Spoken Word. They read poetry out loud to each other for two hours. Orange has the yearly River Rat race. I love that!

Condos

Think you'd like to live in a condominium? Here's the test: Dues/fees/assessments are counted against you when qualifying for a mortgage. In otherwords, if you qualify for a $80,000 loan on a $100,000 home you would not qualify for a condo. Why is that? Because the $100/month dues plus every 10 year assessment of $5000 would be counted as debt for qualification of a mortgage purposes. Also, the condo mortgage requirements have recently been tightened.

How have mortgage requirements been tightened? For one, the owner occupancy percentage plays a huge role now, where it didn't just a month ago. Also, the percent you can borrow is now lower. Talk to your mortgage manager at the bank where you do business to learn more.

Do you like for someone else to take care of the exterior of your property? Then condo living is for you. Swimming in the pool while others keep it clean and enjoying the lawns and gardens while others maintain them work for you? Then condo living is for you.

I'm sitting in the condo of a family member right now. We're staying here for the week. I hear the lady in the upstairs condo walking around. At night, when the window is open, I hear the bell of the elevator throughout the day and night. As I watch tv with the front door open I hear others walking to their condos, and the maintenance man stares in the door as he sweeps the common walkways. If these things bother you, maybe a single-family home is for you.

But if having a to-die-for view of a river and a boat dock to fish from is your thing, and you like walking to the grocery store and seeing wildlife out your window year-round, then maybe you can compromise and learn to live with the above-mentioned inconveniences?

Life can be a compromise. I love coming here for vacations, but I'm not sure I'd want to live like this year-round. Though being across the street from the beach and walking distance to Starbucks and everything else, really does me. At home I have to drive 11 miles just to go to the gym!

JumpTown

What is JumpTown? JumpTown is the sky diving club that operates out of the Orange Airport. I love to watch them loop around the sky as I walk the excellent jogging track at the Mahar Middle and High School. I know they're there when I hear their shutes open. It sounds like shaking out sheets in the wind.

Neighborhoods

What neighborhood is right for me? Start with what you like, and don't like, about where you live now. For instance, my first experience with home ownership was a two bedroom, two bath, two-car garage, and sunny front balcony and covered back balcony townhouse. I liked the porches and balconies, the pool and the no yard maintenance and being close to public transporation. I disliked the young neighbor who liked to hang around my back porch, the monthly association fees, the upgrade assessment lump-sum payments, the young men who drove too fast and talked too loudly to the young girl who lived across the driveway from me. I also disliked the heavy traffic that blocked the main streets at rush hour. Clearly the negatives here outweighed the benefits for me.

My next home was a four bedroom 2.5 bath home in a new sub-division far from anywhere, where we were in a crime-free, excellent school family neighborhood. We had front and back yards that I spent lots of time maintaining. There was a park up the street and lots of paved walking trails. We got lots for our money. For us, this was heaven.

My next home was a modern, three-story, two bedroom with balcony to the living room, wood-everywhere kitchen with a small balcony and almost no yard, a one-car garage, in a very "location, location, location" part of a big city neighborhood, close to everything. The neighborhood kids called our house "the castle" because it towered over the sloped street. We loved living here, except we were burgled and our son never wanted his room on the first floor again (the crooks went through his window when we were at the mall). All our future homes had two stories with all bedrooms upstairs after this.

So, which of the above sounds like you? If none, then think of what you dislike about the above. That will tell you a lot about what neighborhood you feel right living in.

Unfortunately, price often requires compromise. So if you know where you'd like to live but can't afford everything you'd like, then you have to prioritize. For some, buying more home (which usually means living in the burbs), wins due to affordability. For others, living in town is not negotiable, no matter the closet they have to live in at first, or the less than stellar public school often associated with big city neighborhoods.

Extra Inspections

Does one inspector inspect everything? No. Normally, if there is such a thing as normal, you hire an inspector to inspect the home. Extra inspections are things like soil contamination, septic inspections (usually done by the seller), well inspections, water testing, and other things I can't even think of at the moment. These extra inspections might be recommended by the first inspector or they might be obvious by odd things in the yard or strange odors in the air. Hopefully, the seller will disclose these issues. But if these things are apparent to you don't ignore them! Hire an expert before closing on the the property.

Inspections

Never have a home inspection in the dark. How can you see if the roof is in need of repair? Also, when in the attic, you can't see light coming through where it shouldn't be coming through. And its hard to see water stains in the dark. Also, how can you see other exterior problems in the dark?

For example, I bought a home and had the inspection just at dusk. The inspector went around and was very chummy with the selling realtor. That should have put me on alert. This inspector should have been working for me. But I had to ask if the exterior siding was LP Siding. It was. The inspector said there was evidence of past termite damage near the fireplace. That should have been a huge red flag for me, but at the time, it wasn't. The inspector didn't go up on a ladder to inspect the exterior of the roof because,by then, it was completely dark. That, too, should have been a clue to me this inspector didn't have my best interests at heart. I was paying for the inspection but this inspector didn't seem to be working for me. Tip: If your inspector isn't fixing loose bolts, explaining how the systems work and how you will need to operate/fix/maintain each heating/cooling etc system, get another inspector! At the end of an inspection you should feel you know how to maintain the home. You should know about how long the roof has left, and everything else you'd ever want to know about that home. The inspections I've been to take anywhere from two to three hours.

The purpose of the inspection to help you know what you're buying before it is too late to not buy it. Traditionally, you have 10 days from the date your offer to purchase is accepted by the seller to have the inspection complete and to make a decision on whether you wish to continue to buy that home.

Yard Improvements

Is there a rule of thumb in how much I should invest in improving my yard? Yes! As a rule, you should spend 10% of the value of your home on landscaping. For example, if your home costs $200,000 you should spend no more than $20,000 on plants, hardscaping, and sod/seed. If you spend more, you'll enjoy it very much, but don't expect to see the extra return on your investment when you sell.

The reason is that you don't want to spend more money on improving your yard than your neighborhood is worth. So the above rule is just a guide. There are times you can spend more and get the return. But be careful to do your homework. For example, if you have a four bedroom home, on two acres and bought it for $300,000. This home is basic with no yardscaping. This home is a builders special. If you spend $30,000 on the driveway, walkways, sod and plants you'll be sure to get that and more (probably much more if you do just those things). But if you add a pool, you most likely won't see any of that extra cost when you sell, if that's all the improvements you do.

On the other hand, if the same home has homes in the area that are worth much more, say $500,00 or more, then it might be possible to make a lot of very pricey interior upgrages and, if done right, you'd be able to sell for thousands more than the cost of the upgrades.

For instance, if I buy the same house above and add wood floors throughout, granite counters in the kitchen and baths, a whirlpool tub in the master, crown molding, upgrade the cabinets throughout, add storage in the basement and laundry. And spend $50,0000 outside and inside on the specific improvements I've mentioned above, then you could expect to sell your $300,000 home for a tidy profit. Here's why. You paid $300,000 for the home, you paid $50,000 for the pool and yard improvements, and $50,000 on the interior improvements. That means you spent $400,000 so far on the property. If your property is located with more expensive homes in the area, and if the improvements are popular and done correctly and not too high end for the neighborhood, you could list your home for sale for $500,000 or more. But be sure not to go overboard. Buying the most expensive custom cabinets will not improve the value to most buyers. Buying value, popular part custom part stock and adding furniture-type legs on cabinets, will be worth the cost right now. But you will not see a return on the cost of the pool. Everyone wants a pool, but few are willing to pay for it. So do not over spend on a pool unless you just want to enjoy it for yourself. Happy sweat equity building!

Pricing

What do I get for the money in Amherst vs. Athol? In Amherst you will get a condo for $150,000. In Athol, you can buy a new construction, single-family home. Tip: If you see a home advertised in Pelham for $150,000, you can be sure it has major issues. But for the right buyer, those issues my be surmountable. And if you buy this "distressed" property and resolve the issues, you could have instant equity.

Financing Changes

In the last few days big changes in condo financing have occurred. So big, in fact, that if you have a condo pre-approval letter that is more than six months old, it is no longer valid. I urge you to go immediately to your lender and learn the facts as they relate to you now.

For example, if you want to finance a condo for 80% or more, you no longer can, as of this week. The financing rules just changed. So if you were planning to pay a 20% down payment on a condo and finance the other 80%, you no longer can. This is very bad news for a lot of would-be new home owners! Don't let this change in financing stop you from buying. Maybe there are Mass Housing programs for you that you qualify for. If you are a low to moderate home buyer, check online or ask your bank or credit union about Mass Housing programs. According to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors magazine I was reading the other day, there are many programs for many types of buyers. Get the facts. There is good news for buyers, it may just be a little harder to find as of this week.

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day! The sun is shining, Sunday Morning Baroque is on National Public Radio, and I'm heading out to breakfast at Johnson's Farm, in North Orange with my handsome hubby. Hope your day is excellent!

Flowers

This is the day to see May flowers. The bulbs are blooming, the wildflowers are covering lawns and hillsides. I'm even planning to mow my yard for the first time this year today. Even the yellow bushes are in full color right now.

22 Willis Rd, Athol

This 1959 modular home sits on a one-acre, level lot and is priced at $129,000. The property is on the corner of Old Keene Road and Willis Road, just north of Athol, off of Chestnut. Willis Road gets little traffic but Old Keene Road is a main road. Mapquest will not get you there (Mapquest sends you to South Royalston Road), so call for directions. This is a very rural location. There are old stone walls and ponds near the property. There are no disclosures from the seller but I'd check the flooding possibilities as the home sits right on the ground, from what I can see from the street. For homes in this price range, I'd take the time to give this one a look if acreage is something you value. I haven't been inside, but when a realtor doesn't show any inside pictures, and there six external pictures on MLS, that usually means the inside has nothing worth taking a picture of, so buyer be ready for no updates since 1959.

Bicycling

I'd love to bicycle off the road, is there a place? Yes! The Norwottuck Rail Trail goes all through Hadley, Amherst and Northampton. This trail crosses the Connecticut River, goes behind the Hadley mall, behind the homes east of MA-9's Amherst ball field, and beyond in both directions. This trail is also good for roller-blading and walking and jogging. Get out there!

The Market

The market in our area is fine. For example, there are 22 new listings this week in Amherst and Hadley. Today I toured homes in every price range from a condo for $154,900 to a mansion for $1,250,000 and everything in between. So there is a lot to choose from if you are a buyer. Unfortunately for buyers, seller's prices haven't dropped as much here as they have in other regions.

Also unfortunately, foreclosures are up, also. I heard on National Public Radio today that many renters are loosing their homes due to the home they rent being foreclosed upon because the homeowner couldn't pay the mortgage. Tip: Massachusetts requires landlords to give renters the information on where the renter's security deposit is held. The law also requires that landlord to keep that money in an escrow account not accessible to creditors. The law also requires landlords to offer to give the renter the interest earned from that deposit each year. So, if you are a renter, be sure this is the case with your landlord. This diligence on your part could save you $$s if your home is foreclosed. Don't be one of the many renters I heard about today who lost their deposit, as well as their home, via eviction. I am not a lawyer, so if you need legal advice, seek professional representation.

Historic New Salem

Is there a town in the north Quabbin with all the historic charm of old New England? Yes, Old Main Street, New Salem. If you love a tree-lined street, an old town hall and a newly restored town library, the 1794 Meeting house and a often-used town common, then New Salem is for you. And I can't forget all the historic old homes. There is even a walking map available if you'd like to know the history of each home. Just follow the signs to the town center from the New Salem General Store on MA-202. And don't forget to stop at the reservoir overlook behind the volunteer fire department.

Planning Board Election Today

Today is election day in my town. I am running for a seat on the town planning board. I was interviewed by the Greenfield Recorder last Tuesday and the article ran in the paper the next day. Apparently I am involved in the only contested election in my town. My opponent has been a long-time incumbent so the odds of my winning are long against me. But my opponent wasn't available for comment so my quotes are all that were printed. All in all it is a favorable article. I was disappointed the article didn't say I was a realtor.

So I'll be spending the afternoon electioneering on South Main Street in front of the beautiful, historic, Senflug residence.

I'll be meeting and greeting voters on their way to the polls, explaining my credentials, and passing out flyers. Wish me luck!

236 Harkness Rd, Amherst

I toured this home in January, so its been on the market for a while. Yesterday, while on floor duty at the office (agent on duty to assist customers at Prudential Sawicki), I received a call. The caller wanted to know about 236 Harkness Road, Amherst MA. I told her about it and arranged to show it to her later that day. This home is located on one acre of land, is in move-in condition, and located in a what realtors call location, location, location. The street is a through street but easily accessible to both MA-9 and Pelham Road/Main Street. The wheel chair ramp to the front door would be easily removed, I'd be happy to recommend someone who'd do a great job removing it. There is a great, full-service gym not too far away, in the same neighborhood.

Honor

Yesterday I received a high honor. I received a letter from the Cambridge Whos Who for Professional Women. The letter said their nominating committee is currently considering me for entry into their online directory.

Steering

Customer talking to realtor about his requirements in picking a neighborhood: "I'd like you to preview homes only in neighborhoods with my kind of neighbors." Depending on what you mean by "my kind of neighbors" this might be steering. Steering is when a realtor takes a customer only to certain neighborhoods based on the racial make-up of that neighborhood. Steering is illegal when it involves protected classes of people. Protected classes of people are race, color, sex, children, age, sexual orientation. A realtor may not steer customers to or away from neighborhoods with protected classes of people.

Where does this leave a customer looking for a home in a safe neighborhood with good schools? It leaves you with the ability to do your own research on the neighborhoods you are interested in living in. I'm a military spouse. The Army has moved my family all over the United States. Each time we receive permanent change of station orders (orders to move somewhere), I go onto realtor.com and type in neighborhoods and type in the city I'm interested in living in and see how the schools and crime rate compare to eachother. I also talk to people in the area I'll be moving. I explain what I'm looking for and they usually steer me to where I want to start my search. I also spend time driving all around the areas I think I'm most interested in living. Sometimes this shows me other areas I prefer, but not usually. Usually I end up right where my contacts said in the first place.

That said, if you tell me what you're looking for, I'll most likely be able to find you the perfect home for you. I'll take you to three different neighborhoods. You'll see which feels right. To do this, you'll look at pride of ownership of the neighbor's homes. See if it works for you. You'll consider all the usual things that make every property unique. Often, you'll have to compromise, especially if your budget is modest.

Ultimately, the purpose of a realtor is to match up buyers with sellers to achieve a win-win for both. Realtors have no interest in discriminating against anyone. But it is a waste of time for me to show homes in an obviously wrong neighborhood. To avoid this and still not steer, specify exactly what the neighborhood looks like that you think you might be interested in living. Then you have a much better chance of finding it quickly.

E-Certified Training

Doesn't it seem like everyone calls themselves a professional these days? I can't speak for others, but I train almost every day to stay current in my profession. Today I'm completing an online training course from Prudential called E-Certification.

Realtors must keep current with what's new in technology. Statistics say our average customer is 32 years old, will start her real estate search online months before contacting a realtor, might contact a realtor by phone or e-mail or internet site, and will only wait for a return call for two hours before contacting another realtor.

Being a realtor is all about customer service. So if your realtor isn't able to meet the above criteria for meeting your needs, call me! I have a cell phone with internet access at 978-846-7398, a web blog on Quabbin area real estate at stresslesscathy.blogspot.com, an internet site called stresslesscathy.com, am listed on Prudential Sawicki's website, am listed on Prudential.com, and regularly I'm in the newspaper in the Pioneer Valley. Last month I was featured in The Real Estate Book, and yesterday the Greenfield Recorder wrote an article about me because I'm running for election on Monday to my town's planning board. If you'd like to give your property this same exposure, call me to come to your home to go over what the market says your home is worth. If you list with me, you can be sure my top-quality marketing plan will give your property the maximum exposure to buyers!

The perfect home

My newest customer is looking for a three bedroom, one bathroom home for under $150,000 with 1/2 acre or more for gardening. She'd like a home between Amherst and Turner's Falls, but will go as far east as Orange or Athol. Does this sound like your perfect home? Maybe not. But it is for this customer at this point in time. I signed her up in MLS and she's receiving listings that match her criteria via e-mail. Also, I'm actively looking for properties that might match her needs. My second marketing assistant is that MLS has a feature that allows reverse prospecting. Reverse prospecting is where other realtors actively look for and e-mail me properties they believe might meet my customer's needs. This is synergy at its best!

Tour

I viewed 11 homes today in Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett. One home was a 1950s ranch with a million dollar view. The Leverett home on Lead Mine Road has steep beamed ceilings. The Shutesbury home was cute but needs updating and homey touches. One home, on Buffam Road, was over a million dollars but lacked charm or views, but has lots of woods and a paved driveway; also sports a nice in-law apartment. My favorite is on Amity Place, in Amherst. This condo has an un-finished 3rd floor space. I'm told many of the other condos in the complex have finished 3rd floor rooms with another bathroom up there. This complex is located right next to the U-Mass campus. The first home I saw is also located next to the campus on a corner lot. It is an older home on a street that has no parking on all sides. One home was priced right but has a crazy floor plan and owner is willing to install a new septic system.

Professionalism

What is a professional realtor? A professional realtor works full-time helping you buy or sell real estate. The difference between a real estate agent and a realtor is that one is bound by professional ethics and one is not. The realtor works from a code of ethics established from her professional association. In my area I am a member of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. I am also a member of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.

Athol Ford closed?

Has Athol Ford, in Phillipston, gone out of business? My spouse tried to get an oil change just now and he said it looks like they've gone out of business. I know they'd laid off the service manager a while back...

Amherst and Granby homes tour

Today the realtors' tour went to eight homes, all were clean and I'd take buyers to any or all of them as the price and condition and location were all pretty nice:
1. 166 College Street, Amherst, $279,500. This is a nice old home on a corner lot on a busy street, close to public transportation and close to the train tracks and walking distance to the town center. The home is currently occupied by many renters (most likely college students or young adults). When we were there a woman was in the shower, even though they knew 40 realtors were touring their home at 9am. There were several other young people in various rooms as I went through the home. The place is in good condition and would be a great place to live for a family as there is lots of room.

2. 45 Wildwood Lane, Amherst, $365,000. This is a three bedroom, 2.5 bath ranch with 1/2 acre of land. This has a nice enclosed sunroom in the front and a garden in the back. Lots of pride of ownership. Located on a quiet dead-end street very near UMass.

3. 5 Blackberry Lane, Amherst, $409,900. This cape has .55 acres, built in 1966, 4 bed, 2 bath. I felt the kitchen should have had more upgrades for this price-point.

4. 435 Pine Street, Amherst, $349,900. Everyone raved over this cutey. Yes, it is located on a busy street, but the curb-appeal is nice, and I wasn't disappointed when I saw the interior. This conventional two-story home was built in 1860 but is updated beautifully. There is .63 of an acre, 1822 sq. ft of living space. I think this is the house with the bathroom in a closet upstairs, minus the toilet, and another bathroom unexpectedly off the kitchen.

5. 8 Emerson Court, Unit 8, Amherst $259,900. This condo is totally newly remodeled. There is lots of space in the basement. The landscaping is still going in so there are construction vehicles and rocks, but I'm sure that soon the curb appeal will be nice. This condo is located near a gym and lots of other condos. Easy commute from MA-9 or Pelham Road.

6. 28 Valley View Circle, Amherst, $309,900. This ranch was, I thought, boring on the outside. But the inside is very spacious, surprisingly so. It is located on .94 of an acre, built in 1963 and sports four bedrooms and 1.5 baths. This home is on a main street south of Amherst.

7. 15 Coach Lane, Amherst, $329,900. This split-level that was built in 1970 has .46 of an acre, 5 beds and 2.5 baths. Located on a quiet, dead-end streeet with a nice turn-around. This home is south of Amherst.

8. 121 Amherst Street, Granby, $299,900. This cape comes with 4.19 acres of land, was built in 1967, has 3 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. One realtor I spoke with thought the price was high, but I'm not so sure. The views were lovely in the back yard. It is located on a main road but there is plenty of paved, off-street parking.

Red-Tailed Hawk

What's that on MA-122, in front of the Hunt dairy farm? A beautiful red-tailed hawk! It was trying to lift its kill off the highway before our car arrived. But it realized it didn't have time and flew up to the tree. When we returned later it was still in that tree, waiting.

Gorgeous Day

Today is drop-dead gorgeous! Get out there...

Chase Road, Athol

This dirt road goes up the hill from Fairview, which is off of South Athol Road. I was very impressed with this road. There are several homes for sale on this road. There are also several homes I love on this road. I highly recommend anyone interested in knowing where the nicer homes in Athol are to check out this road. The homes aren't extravagant, and many of them are not new, though some are. But a few of them are homes I'd love to list for sale. They'd be very easy to sell as their curb appeal alone is excellent.

Open houses toured today

1. 102 Pitman Rd, Athol. $179,900. 1466 sq. ft. cape Located on a dead-end street above the river. All the carpet from the stairs up needs to be removed, there's probably hardwood underneath it judging by the age of the home (1947). There is carpet in the bathroom. There's propably lead paint, but the disclosure says unknown. There is an attached garage and a breezeway leading to the garage from the house. The master is just off the front door, not my first choice for its location. There is no master bathroom, but that is typical for this age of home. There is no sidewalk. The home is occupied.

2. 260 Fairview Ave, Athol. $219,900. 1400 sq. ft. farm house. Located in a busy street corner, below a pond with an earthen dam the homeowner is responsible for maintaining. If the dam broke or overflowed, the home would be inundated with water as it is situated on low ground. The property comes with about a third of the pond. The entire home, inside and out, has been made to seem like a new home (1900). The garage is currently unaccessible. A new bridge would be required before a vehicle could be parked in the garage. The driveway is on the right side of the house, but it ends at the creek. There is a walking bridge but it will not accomodate a vehicle. The garage also has a nice porch facing the creek. Unless you are an exhibitionist, you'd probably want to install privacy fencing in at least part of the yard. The home is empty.

Buyer beware

Set the stage: the phone rings in a real estate office. Agent answers "How may I help you?" Caller "I'd like to see the house advertised in the paper. Can you show it to me on Saturday?" Agent "Yes I'd love to show that home to you on Saturday. But first, you need to know this home won't qualify for financing, so are you able to buy it with cash or builders financing?" The caller hasn't yet gotten back to me with an answer.

Then later in the day that same listing agent (who represents the ex-wife) and the attorney for the ex-husband, are speaking together, having just returned from a Rotary lunch. They discuss how the divorce judge gave custody of the home to the wife but that the mortgage holder holds the ex-husband (not the ex-wife, as her name is not on the note) financially accountable. they're speaking about how the judge ordered the wife to allow potential buyers access to the home (she'd locked the door and we couldn't get inside, so potential buyers were turned away). But because the wife wants to get back at the husband she has allowed cats to do their thing all over the home, how she's filled the home with stuff.

Then later in the day, I hear the agent on the phone with the town health inspector. The health inspector says he's ready to declare the home uninhabitable for sanitation purposes and start fining the co-owners. The agent explains the situation and the the town representative agrees to wait for 48 hours so the agent can speak to the co-owners.

Our receptionist tells me to speak with another agent who'se recently shown this home to clients. The agent says "there are environmental issues." I ask "how so?" Agent "there was an oil tank in the basement that was removed but there was a miscommunication with the oil provider and hundreds of gallons of oil was pumped into the basement with no container to contain it."

Later the listing agent told me the oil company settled the case, meaning it was their fault. Whoever's fault it is, whoever owns the property is forever liable for oil getting into the water table or other environmental clean up costs. In otherwords, buying this property could possibly include endless financial liabilities.

Lesson-learned: If the price is too low, there's a reason! If a three-bedroom Cape in in a small upscale town, with two-acres and a two-car garage, is advertised for $140,000, there's a reason. If the ad says the home needs work, it means the home is most-likely uninhabitable and won't qualify for a bank loan. These are red flags to buyers. Realtors must market a property and represent their client. to do this we write the ads as favorable to the property as possible, so the ad says "needs TLC or first time buyer's special or handyman dream" You know that if you are looking for a home that is move-in ready you shouldn't waste your time going to see that home. But if you want the most for your money, have cash to buy it (or can borrow from a non-bank source), go for it. But get the place inspected thoroughly. And I don't just mean the normal inspector process. Get the ground tested, test the water, go above and beyond in situations where the price is far lower than surrounding homes. In real estate, you do get what you pay for.

FYI: Realtors will disclose all the home issues described above regarding the issues this home has. Our ethics require disclosure of all material facts about a property.

The shocking part to me about the above story is the disclosure about the personal issues about the homeowners. Realtor ethics require that we keep all personal issues about our clients to ourselves. The only exception is if the client gives us permission to disclose this information to others. Somehow I can't believe this client gave her agent permission to disclose all her personal business with anyone within listening radius. But I don't know that for a fact, so know knows? Anything's possible.

Moving a house

A house was being moved on Main Street, in Amherst this morning. All the parking along Main Street is blocked in preparation for the big move. The trucks were on-site so it looks like there will be something to see very soon.

Turkeys

I saw three wild turkeys on MA-202 this morning, near Shutesbury. Two days ago there was a wild turkey in my back yard.

Tour

Today is tour day. That means all the realtors in the Amherst area (mostly Prudential Sawicki and Jones) drive as fast as they can all over the Pioneer Valley. We have a list of homes just listed, that we preview for our clients. This is how we learn what's on the market. This is how we are able to be sure we take you, our customers, to only the homes you might be interested in seeing. For example, tour this week goes to South Deerfield, Amherst and Montague. There are nine homes that are new to the market, in those areas this week. We go into the home and see the condition, compare the homes' features to the price, and we file away that knowledge. This also ensures we know how to get to a home later, when with clients. Occasionally, a home is so dirty I'd never take a customer to see that home, unless that customer were warned ahead of time and still wishes to see it. This might occur if the price were so low that it would be worth buying, no matter the mess you'd have to wade through to see it. We rush into each home, see every room, then return to our cars to get to the next house on tour.

Tour is a great marketing tool for home sellers and home buyers. For sellers, tour is a way to get realtors into their home. If a realtor hasn't seen a home, she isn't as inclined to bring a client into that home, unless the client specifically requests to see it. Many realtors have clients who are looking for specific homes. Here's where tour helps home buyers. Realtors see homes and if one meets that client's need, the realtor makes an appointment the day before, to show that home to that client. Is this a win-win or what?

Decorating vs. Staging

What is the difference between staging and decorating? The difference is the purpose. The purpose for decorating is that the homeowner is decorating for his/her own enjoyment. The purpose in staging is different. Staging is for the purpose of helping potential buyers see the merits of a house enough so he/she will make an offer to purchase.

Decorating is to show off collections/personal taste. Staging is to show off the home/buyer taste.

Decorating can be wild and wacky or anything in between. A staged home has anything distracting packed away.

A decorated home can have many purposes for one room, if that's how the homeowner wants to live. A staged home needs one clear purpose for each room in the home.

A decorated home can be bright colors, like red, blue or purple. A staged house can have strong-colored accent walls, if they fit into a color-coordinated, mostly-neutral palette and there is lots of light in place and the few accessories tie the room together. But as a rule, in a staged house, the wall colors need to be off-white/beige/light gray/tan and most personal items are packed away.

A decorated home can have lots of furniture in each room. A staged home should be minimally furnished.

A decorated room can have furniture placed in the middle of walkways, blocking the path into the room. A staged room should invite potential buyers into the room, with nothing in the path that might lead potential buyers to not go into the room.

A decorated home is for the enjoyment of the family and friends of the homeowners. A properly staged house draws potential buyers into every room, the hope being that the longer a potential buyer stays in each room, the more likely he/she will be to see its merit and put in an offer to buy the house.

A decorated home highlights the tastes of the owners. A staged home is designed to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible.

A decorated home can be very expensive. A staged home is often just a re-arrangement of the homeowners' own things, pared down and coordinated and slightly supplemented with a few accent pieces.

Why would a home seller stage his/her home? Because research has shown that empty homes and homes that are not staged, take longer to sell and sell for less money than a properly staged home.

Why don't more home sellers stage their homes? Often, the realtor doesn't want to be the bad guy and point out to their home seller that their home is not ready to be sold. The realtor wants the listing. So the realtor lists the home as is unless the home seller asks the realtor how to get the home sold quickly. Then the realtor will be full of helpful suggestions on what would be most effective to sell.

Realtors see many homes every week. We know which homes will sell quickly and which will drag on for years without selling. The difference is staging.

Steps in staging:

1. Look at your home from the curb, take a picture. Look at the picture. What do you see? Do you see dirty siding? Get the siding pressure washed, include the sidewalks and driveway, too. Does the trimwork need painting? Paint it. Is the screen torn in the storm door? Go to the hardware store and buy a screen repair tool and fix the screen. Continue this process inside and outside your home.

2. Clean everything, inside and out. Don't forget the cobwebs and dust in the light fixtures.

3. Store away any un-necessary furniture.

4. Be sure each room has one clear purpose. The living room is a living room, not a living room, an office, and exercise room.

5. De-clutter. Pack up all collections and store them away. Collections are a distraction to buyers. If you want to sell, you want the home to be the attraction.

6. Update anything that is outdated or dated. Buyers want a home in move-in condition.

7. Do all that deferred maintenance you've been putting off since you bought the home.

8. Remove anything that blocks a focal point. Windows, fireplaces, these are focal points, highlight them!

9. Try to have like-styled furniture and accent pieces in each room, preferably throughout the home. For example, if the home is Victorian, try to have Victorian furniture, or at least not modern furniture. If this is not possible, at least go throught your home and put all the Queen Anne pieces in the same room and all the modern pieces in another room.

10. Store away any controversial or family items.

11. Paint is the cheapest, easiest way to update a house.

12. If you have a septic system, be sure it is able to pass inspection.

13. Be sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are up to code.

14. Trim the trees and bushes away from the walkway to the front door.

15. Plant flowers near the front walkway and door

16. Bake a pie when you know someone will be touring your home, buyers love the aroma and will be more favorable toward your home, and they will stay longer.

17. Pack away your books

18. Clean out your closets and drawers. Buyers shouldn't, but do, look in drawers and closets. If your attic and basement is a mess, buyers think there isn't enough storage. Invest in storage cabinets and shelves and then you'll have them to take with you when you move.

For more tips, watch HGTV's Designed to Sell tv show, every weekday evening at 8pm. They spend $2,000 and lots of elbow grease to get older homes ready to sell for top dollar in the least amount of time. Of course, they have carpenters and designers.

You can hire an accredited stager, if you wish professional help. But most realtors can help you with the most critical issues.

If a home seller does nothing else, he/she must de-clutter, update, clean, maintain, and arrange the furniture to maximize the interest in their home to potential buyers.

Statistics say that 70% of buyers won't even look at a home that isn't appealing in the online pictures. That means they won't even tour your home in person if it isn't staged. That means you are marketing your home to only 30% of buyers if it isn't staged!

Experts say that many home sellers don't wish to spend money on the home they're selling. They're focused on their new home. Wrong! Focus on doing what it takes to get this home sold now and for top dollar. Otherwise, you may not ever be moving into that new home because you might not get the old home sold.

Spring in the Pioneer Valley and Hilltowns

Spring is here. I see bulbs sprouting, turkeys crossing the road, even a cow being led on a leash. Birds are chirping. Spring peepers are peeping away in every marsh. And there is lots of sun, even if the heat hasn't yet arrived. We even went kayaking on Lake Rohunta the other day. It was our first time on that lake and we can't wait to go again. The fisherman next to the boat launch ramp was very genial. Even the motorcycle riders are out, so look twice. Then there is the fact that the outside ice cream windows have re-opened again. Diet? Not with all the exercise we get from all the outdoor activities we can do with all this extra evening hours of daylight! So go ahead, stop by the 202 Grille on MA-202/MA-2, exit 16 in Orange and have that milkshake. You can work off the calories by hitting a few golf balls at the range or mini-golf course. Isn't this the greatest place to live? Who needs to go elsewhere for a vacation? We live in vacation central every day!

1st Time Buyer

Are there special programs for first time home buyers? Yes! The best place is to check with your financial expert. I use Dave Loeffler, First Horizon Home Loans, Peachtree City, Georgia. I've also used my credit union. Locally, I'd use People's Bank or Easthampton Savings Bank. Dave is great for creative financing if your credit is good but you don't have much for a down payment. Credit unions often have some of the best interest rates. People's Bank and Easthhampton Bank send me their interest rate sheets each week, so just call me if you'd like to know their programs or rates. If you are nervous dealing with financial people on your own, call me. I'd be glad to go with you.

Negotiation

So, we've made an offer to purchase, now we are in negotiations, assuming the seller countered your offer rather than accepting it as is. This is where your realtor is of great value. The buyer doesn't have to go through this process alone. Your realtor will work with the seller's real estate agent. The seller will say a price and terms to the buyer. I'm keeping it simple here. I really mean the seller's agent and the buyer's agent. The agent then contacts her client for an answer. Legally, a counter is a rejection of the buyer's offer. Legally the buyer can now walk away. But in practice, most buyer's counter back. If buyer and seller come to terms, a legal contract is signed. This is the offer to purchase. In Massachusetts, this offer becomes the binding agreement if, down the road, the buyer and seller (via their attorney) can't come to an understanding on the purchase and sale agreement. That's why I recommend to my clients that they get their real estate attorney involved in this process before a home is found. That way the attorney can be working on the purchase and sale agreement at the same time the finance agent is arranging financing and the same time the buyer is looking for a home to purchase.

If a buyer does all these things in advance, they are far ahead of the game. Many sellers want buyers to be pre-approved financially before the seller will even allow the buyer to view their home. I have lived in many states in the United States. Never before have I seen sellers decline to allow buyers to enter their homes. But in Massachusetts, this is sometimes the case, so be prepared. Get your financing and attorney in place at the same time you are looking for property. I am not an attorney. Always seek expert help if you don't understand legal issues.

Offer to Purchase

So, you've found a home you'd like to purchase. How much do you offer? Your realtor will be able to give you guidance here, provided she is not also representing the seller. Your realtor will have seen many homes in the area. She will know if the home price is right or not. But in the end, only you must make the decision on what to offer. Many sellers place a high value on their homes. They will be insulted if you offer too little. This is especially true if the home is already priced right. If your offer is way too low, the seller will often not even answer your offer. By guidance, I do not mean legal advice. I mean examples of what's happened in past negotiations and results of that experience. In other words, your agent will share experience, not legal advice. I am not a lawyer.

On the other hand, if the home is perfect for you, and you must have this home, then offer within 5% of full price. If the home is overpriced, and you are not firm in needing that home over many others in the area, then offer less. Unfortunately, sellers in this area seem to rather over-price their home and let it sit forever before they'll lower the price by more than $10,000. And in this market, many home prices need to be lowered much more than that amount.

Tip: If your realtor represents both you and the seller, ask for someone else in the office to assist you in negotiating the price. Then once an agreement is reached, you can then go back to working with your original realtor. Prudential Sawicki is a designated agency office, so we have the ability to do this for our clients. A smaller office would not be able to provide this service.

Simplicity

If I'm buying a home, what is the process? 1. contact me 2. meet in person to discuss your needs and wants and dreams 3. Learn how much home you can afford. You do this by getting pre-approved with a lender, unless you are paying cash (ask me for a recommendation) 4. Find a neighborhood. If you don't know the neighborhood that feels right to you, let me help. This is where meeting in person comes in. I'll learn a lot from getting to know you. That's where my knowledge of local neighborhoods goes to work for you. 5. Once you find a home, I'll help you negotiate the offer with the sellers. After that, the process is simple because I'll be there for you every step of the way.

Belchertown For Sale By Owner

Seven weeks ago I toured a beautiful home in Belchertown, off Allen Road, that was (and still is) for sale by owner. It is owned by a nice young man who is in the Air Force at Westover Air Reserve Base. I feel for him. Too bad he just doesn't realize the odds are stacked against his ever selling his home himself. The days where homes sell themselves are past, for the moment at least. I left him my card and sent him a note the other day. I know I can help him, my challenge now is to help him come to the same realization.

Shutesbury

Shutesbury is a tiny hilltown, above Amherst, on the west side of MA-202, on the west side of the Quabbin reservoir. I held an open house in Shutesbury the other day, on Wendell Road. What a beautiful home. Here are the stats: Four bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms, large living room, dining room, family room, unfinished basement, two-car garage, wood siding exterior, large deck off the large eat-in kitchen, three-season screened porch, cathedral ceilings upstairs with skylights, wood floors, granite kitchen counters, alarm system, smooth ceilings (not cottage cheese) and one acre wooded lot; Architectural detail galore; And a pond. All for $399,000! Would this be the perfect home for you? This home has been on the market for 14 days, so get it while its hot.

Feelings

Real estate is about feelings. Does your realtor say "How do you like this?" and then not even listen to your answers? Don't put up with treatment like that! The most important part about looking for a home (after getting financially pre-approved so you know the amount you can afford) is location. You need to find a location before you can find a home to buy. If you know just where you want to buy, that's great! It will save tons of time. But if you aren't sure, be sure your realtor shows you three homes in three different locations. This will enable you to get a feel for location. We all feel comfortable differently. I'm not talking race, color, age, gender or religion. No, I'm talking about style. To some, living in an up-scale location is more important than top school districts or large yards. To others, living in a location with people who keep themselves physically fit and like to dress accordingly, is where they want to live. But for some, space and safe schools and large yards are top priority. Only you know what works for you. But you will know what works for you when you see it, even if you can't explain it to your realtor. I'm not talking about steering*.

I'm talking about feelings. People know what they want. They just don't always know how to find it. Sometimes, they know, but are embarassed to say it to their agent. Say it! A realtor's only desire is to find her client the perfect home. Often, that perfect home is more about feelings than the home having three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Maybe you want to live where the neighbors drive only American cars? Maybe you want a place where you can have a home-office and know that your neighbors also have home offices? These are the questions your realtor might not ask. But if you want to be shown the right homes, tell these things to your realtor. She needs to know this to find you the right neighborhood.

*Steering is where a real estate agent (not a realtor, because a realtor would not do this, it violates our ethics) take certain legal classes of clients to certain neighborhoods because the agent feels that's where the client'll be happiest, because these neighborhoods are full of people the agent feels are like their client.

Ground Contamination

How do I know if the home I want to buy has ground contamination? Your senses will be your first clue. Do you see depressions in the ground? Do you see an air or intake mechanism sticking up out of the ground? Do you smell oil or other smells that don't seem right? Did the location used to be a dry cleaners/service station/repair shop/tanner? These would all be my first hint that maybe an expert should be called to check this out. I used to work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco, back in the days when they had the Superfund. I've also taken legal classes, though I'm not a lawyer. The courts have held that once you own property, you are responsible. So once you accept title to a property you will be held accountable for any contamination. If you want to try to get reimbursed from the person who owned the property before you, you must do so via the courts. In other words, get the soil tested, and the results known before closing. Or better yet, find a different property to buy!

On the other hand, if you already own a contaminaged property and need another parking lot, buy the contaminated land next door. Be sure the price is right. You may be in for huge expenses if the area becomes the next environmental clean up site.

So far I've heard of possible ground contamination on properties in Hadley, Wendell and Athol. Two are untested, so the seller is not obligated to disclose contamination. As far as the seller is concerned, there is no contamination known (only rumored by neighbors) and therefore the seller "doesn't know" and doesn't have to disclose what he doesn't know. Buyer beware! A small expense up front to test the soil could prevent a financial disaster if a contaminated property is purchased. The costs of cleaning up a contaminated property could be ruinous financially.

Real Estate Information delivered

Do you wish to receive Pioneer Valley and hilltown information but are not ready to work with an agent? E-mail me at cathykenyonjones@earthlink.net and tell me what you're looking for. For example: "Hi, Cathy. I'm John Doe. I'm looking for a three-bedroom, two bath, single-family home in Greenfield. Here is my e-mail address." I'll reply acknowledging I received your e-mail, I'll ask if there are any questions I can help you with. I'll ask what your urgency is (so I'll know if you need to meet personally to line up home viewing appointments). If you have no urgency to find a place to live, then I'll go into the multiple listing service database and sign you up for automatic e-mails. This means you will receive regular e-mails of homes you might be interested in driving by to see yourself. Remember: Don't feel you need to go this alone. This is what I do for a living. Please call me and I'll make your home pre-viewing far more productive by making appointments for home tours. That way we can meet in person and see the homes together. I look at homes everyday. I'd much rather have your company! I do ask one favor. Please do not call the name on the sign on the house when you'd like to view the inside of the home. Please call me. I'll work for you. The agent who has their name on the sign works for the seller, not you.

Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, Massachusetts

Is there a realtor who knows, first-hand, how to meet the special needs of military relocations? Yes! Me. I have been a military spouse for many years. The military has moved me all over this nation. I have bought and sold many homes in the process. Please call me so I can help you find the perfect home for you. For you, the perfect home, right now, may be to live on-post (if available) or to rent. I know someone who does rentals, just ask me and I'll connect you two. I have been a property manager in the past, so I can answer your questions intelligently. You can trust me to give you the right advise for your current situation. Ethics are to do what's right for your client. I take my ethics oath seriously.

For instance, I was looking at new construction in Southampton, Massachusetts. I previewed Red Brook Estates. Red Brook Estates has one model home for daily touring between 1pm and 4pm. So you don't have to wait the traditional 24 hours for an appointment. Red Brook Estates accomodates buyers with a need for more. They do this by designing homes that can be custom built for your personal wants and needs. This development has one-acre lots in a tranquil, country location. They start in the $500,000s. At the moment the model is under contract so there is a six month timeframe needed for occupancy.

I was at Westover Air Reserve Base yesterday. I dropped off a few business cards and talked with the family readiness manager.

If you are new to the area and wish you knew someone who could help you get oriented, just ask. It would be my pleasure to help in whatever way you need. I have spent my life helping military personnel and their families. I know many things as I used to be in the Navy Reserve, my son is currently in the Air Force and my spouse is currently in the Army Reserve full-time. If there is anything I can do to make a military family more comfortable, I will do it. But you have to ask! 978-846-7398 or cathykenyonjones@earthlink.net. And bye the way, if you know anyone who is buying or selling a home, please let me know so I can follow-up with them. Your referrals are appreciated.

The Orange, Massachusetts housing market

Where can I buy a nice home affordably? Orange, Massachusetts! In Orange you can purchase a nicely maintained three bedroom, one bath home for $150,000. This home will have charm and uniqueness. It will also have extras, like a gazebo and a glass-fronted storage/office located outside of the home and a yard.

But if one bathroom and the potential of having to deal with lead paint or other issues sometimes involved in older homes, then consider new construction. Orange is one of the few towns in the North Quabbin area that offers new construction, and it is very affordable!

Orange also has North Orange. North Orange is very picturesque. It has a Saab repairer, a used bookstore, a farm/restaurant/gift shop, and lots of pails hanging from maple trees. It is a lovely scenic drive at all times of the year. But of course, the fall is the jewel in the crown for scenic mountain and valley views and fall folliage color.

And the kayaking capital of the area, Lake Tully, is just up the road.

Tully Pond also has water-front homes available, if you feel the need to wake up every morning to ducks, birds, fish and other things attracted to water, as you drink your morning cup a joe. I'll bet there are even a few occasions where two-legged eye-candy is available near the shoreline.

Private Septic

If I have a private septic system, do I have to get it inspected before I can put the home on the market for sale? Not if the septic system was inspected, and passed inspection, within the last three years and you had the system professionally flushed on or before the inspection date. You can do this for up to three years to keep your inspection current. If you have not done this, or if you can't prove you have done this, then yes, you must have an inspection.

Tour

Tour for the Amherst realtors is on Wednesday mornings. Today all the Amherst realtors toured all the new listings in Amherst and Belchertown. The first home we toured was $699,000. It was very nice. The next few homes were more modest, in the $200,000 to $300,00 range. There was one in Belchertown that had a finished basement. But the windows were too small for the rooms to be considered livable, as they were not large enough for someone to crawl out of in a fire. And a bulkhead is not easily escapable, especially for a child, according to the fire department. Tip: Remember when looking at homes to compare the Title V septic permit (this applies to homes with private septic) to the number of bedrooms in the home. Sometimes the septic system is approved for three bedrooms and the home actually has five bedrooms. If the septic is approved for three bedrooms, then the home is only salable as having three bedrooms.

Business Expenses

Do you know how to keep track of your business expenses? I am not an accountant, but here's what I've learned: 1. Open a seperate checking account and credit card account in your business's name, this is for ease of accounting. 2. Keep receipts and track the income and expenses, I do it monthly. Total the columns and see if you made or lost money for that month. 3. Remember to send an estimated earnings check to the IRS quarterly, if you made more than you spend.

Poison Ivy

Do trees and bushes in your yard look like they are being smothered by some other plant? It may be poison ivy. When I first bought my current home that was how my property looked. So, naturally, I went out there with my gloves and pruning shears, and proceeded in doing what I could to clean up the situation. It turned out much of what I was cutting was poison ivy. Thankfully, it was early enough in the year that it wasn't active. So if you have this type of work, do it now.

Ask a realtor

Do you have questions you'd like to ask a realtor? Post them here or e-mail me at cathykenyonjones@earthlink.net

Do you have a favorite place you'd like to share?

Do you have a favorite place you'd like to share? Tell me about it by commenting on my post or e-mail me at cathykenyonjones@earthlink.net

Disclaimer

All recommendations on this blog are my opinion. I am not an expert judge, I just have opinions I am willing to share in hopes that you will try these places and judge them for yourselves. And maybe even come back onto my blog and tell me about your experience?

Best restaurants outside of the Quabbin hills area

My favorite restaurants outside of the Quabbin hills/Pioneer valley, Massachusetts area are
in Keene, New Hampshire:
a. Thai place
b. very expensive California cuisine, has outside tables, but very good
c. Margarita's Mexican
d. Brubaker's coffee (after lunch)

Best Coffee in the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts

The best coffee in the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts (in order of greatness):
1. Esselon Cafe on MA-9 in Hadley
2. Amherst Coffee on Amity, just west of N. Pleasant Street
3. Starbucks Coffee on North Pleasant, one block north of Main/Amity and in Northampton on the main street, toward Smith College's Art Museum, but not as far
4. Koko's Cafe in Greenfield
5. Dunkin Donuts everywhere (Two in Athol, two in Orange, and at least four stores in Amherst on Route 9, one on MA-2A in Greenfield, one in Barre on MA-122, south of town

But the best of the best is Brubaker's Coffee in Keene, New Hampshire, next to the best restored old-fashioned movie theatre in the world, the Colonial Theatre. They allow you to go next door and buy a cappucino and dark chololate bar and bring it into the theatre with you as you watch your art film. How amazing is that? Try that with any other theatre.

Athol home for sale

I toured a three bedroom, one bath home in upper Athol on Saturday. It was only $150,000 and showed very well for that price range. It was in a very dense neighborhood but had a nice backyard with a gazebo and storage shed. It had been well maintained and very clean. Worth a look if you are looking for a very affordable home that is ready to move right into. Athol is located just north of MA-2 at exit 17, then go left on MA-2A. This particular home is located off of MA-32. Call 978-846-7398 if you are interested in seeing this home.

Information of Value

Occasionally I run across information I think might be useful to you. When that occurs, I e-mail that information to you. If you would like to be added to my e-mail list just ask! Contact me at cathykenyonjones@earthlink.net

Wish to receive my free busines directory online?

Would you like to receive my free Quabbin hills business directory by e-mail? E-mail cathykenyonjones@earthlink.net and I'll send it to you right away.

Favorite Restaurants in the Quabbin Hills/Pioneer Valley MA

Favorite restaurants in in Orange, Massachusetts:
1. Jackson's Farm on Wheeler Ave, in North Orange
2. Annie's Drive-in on MA-2A
3. 202 Grill on Hwy 202, just south of Hwy 2's exit 16

Favorite restaurants in Athol, Massachusetts:
1. Edwards, From MA-2A downtown, turn onto Exchange St, toward the train (not the river), and at stop sign, go right. The restaurant is on the right side.
2. House of Pizza on MA-2A downtown, across the street from Athol Credit Union
3. There is a fish restaurant on MA-2A, in upper Athol, across the street from Athol High School.

Favorite restaurant in Erving, Massachusetts:
- Copper Angel on MA-2A just off of where MA-2A splits off of MA-2, very near Wendell Depot

Favorite restaurant in Petersham:
- Quabbin Woods on MA-122, just after where it becomes MA-32, across the street from The Garage

Dunkin Donuts are located at:
1. MA-2 and MA 202 at exit 16 in Orange
2. MA-2A in Orange, in the Hannaford grocery store shopping center
3. MA-2A in upper Athol
4. MA-122 in Barre (pronounced Barry)
And almost anywhere else you look that has businesses

Favorite restaurants in Greenfield:
1. A mexican place in downtown, just across the street from Koko's Cafe and great coffee
2. A vege place a few blocks west of the quaint movie theatre, very good
3. A Thai place across the street and west a few blocks from the movie theatre

Favorite restaurants in Northampton:
1. Paul and Elizabeth's in Thorne's mall in downtown
2. Spoleto's Italian downtown
3. Tibetan food in downtown
4. a vege place around the corner from the main street in downtown, near Starbucks
5. a Thai place on the main street, just past the tracks from downtown

Favorite restaurants in Amherst:
1. Paradise of India on Main Street, just two blocks east of N. Pleasant
2. Pasta E Basta on Main Street one block east of N. Pleasant
3. Judie's on N. Pleasant, two blocks north of Main Street
4. Chez Albert on N. Pleasant, a block south of Main Street

Promote your business for free

Do you have a business in the Quabbin hills/Pioneer valley, Massachusetts area? Would you like more visibility for your business? E-mail cathykenyonjones@earthlink.net. I publish a free monthly online local business directory. I'd love to add your business to my directory.

What's on your mind?

Is there a topic you'd like to know more about? E-mail me at cathykenyonjones@earthlink.net and ask me your real estate or Quabbin area/Pioneer Valley question. Let me know if you'd like the question answered individually or posted for everyone to read. Can't wait to hear from you.

Real estate ads

Should I call the company listed on the ad for a home I'm interested in seeing? No! They represent the seller. Yes some brokers (a broker is the agent's boss) have designated agency (meaning they can represent both the buyer and the seller while both the seller and the buyer are still represented by their own agents). This means you, the client, is represented. But both the buyer and the seller are represented by the same broker (your agent's boss). In most cases this works out fine. But if the broker sides with her best interest over yours, that can be a problem.

For example, you call me for a listing in our office. You are interested in buying home X, listed by an agent in my office. I'd work for you and the listing agent works for the seller. But both me and the listing agent work for the same broker, Tini Sawicki. That means if there is an issue the seller's agent and I can't work out on our own, Tini decides. Hopefully this situation will never occur. I can't imagine very many situations where the other agents in my office wouldn't be reasonable and make a mutually fair decision without involving Tini.

Here's an example of a broker not working in the client's best interest. I've been a seller, years ago, before I became a realtor, when my agent's broker wasn't fair. I'd listed my home for sale with broker Y's agent. Then my agent chose to un-affiliate with broker Y. That means my agent now works for broker Z. The problem is that my listing stayed with broker Y and I now had a stranger for an agent. But I wanted to stay with my original agent. So I requested that broker Y release me from my contract. Broker Y refused to allow me to get out of my contract. It is in situations like this that having an impartial broker is critical.

The moral of the story is that you should always call your own agent, not an agent in an ad. Why not call an ad? Because that agent is most likely going to show you the homes you call about first. But why would you want to see only the homes that happen to be advertised in the paper that day? Wouldn't it be more efficient to decide what your're looking for, call your own agent and tell her what you need? An agent will then do a search of properties that meet your needs as closely as possible. Also, an agent will know the properties, she'll have been in many of them and be able to tell you if you should even bother to see some of them. She knows they are not what you're looking for. Wouldn't this save you lots of time and frustration? There are lots of homes to see these days. Why not see the right one for you without looking at all the wrong ones first?

Snow removal and construction tips

When buying a home, what are the things I should consider regarding snow removal? First, how will you remove the snow. The options are 1. shovel 2. snow-thrower 3. plow (either yourself or hire someone else). Once you determine the removal method, that determines the home you buy, here's why. If you are shoveling the snow yourself, you want to buy a home where you can park your car nearest to the road that is plowed by the county or someone else. Be careful here. I used to work with a womon on a town board. She lives on a road where the town had just stopped plowing. She sued for the plowing to resume, and lost. So she quit the board in protest. But I digress. So for you, buying a home with a parking place or garage right on the road might be best. 2. If you are using a snow-thrower, you want a driveway that is paved and not too long or too steep. Snow-throwers don't work very well without pavement. 3. If plowing is your removal method, then be sure the plower has a place to move the snow to. You don't want your septic field driven on. Driving on your septic field will, over time, damage it. This can be very expensive to repair, so don't drive on your septic field. For example, when I had LaPointe Builders, in Petersham, build my two-car garage, George was careful to keep himself and his sub-contractors, off my septic field. This was especially important when the cement truck arrived. Also, when the trusses were delivered, George roped off an area for the delivery driver to put them so they wouldn't be on my septic field. Think of these things when plannng construction work and plowing.

No matter how you remove the snow from your driveway, be sure to plan your construction and yard design plan for mounds and mounds of snow, up to six-feet high and six-feet wide, on either side of your driveway. So don't put plants near the driveway, for instance. Delivery trucks will, inevitably, back down your driveway. If your driveway curves, like mine does, then they might not know that. They'll back straight out and run over your plants. And the heavy snow will not be good for plants either. So keep empty a wide area on either side of your driveway for snow piles.

By the end of winter this year, I had snow so high I could not see oncoming vehicles when leaving my driveway. Plan for this and be strategic when removing snow. This year I blew the snow on both sides of my driveway. Next year I plan to blow it away from the street as much as possible to prevent the tunnel-effect. Also, I will blow it to the right side, where the ground is lower and so when it melts it will go downhill. This way, there will be less ice on my driveway. This is because during the warm days the snow melts and in the evening that water becomes ice on my driveway. Next year I want that ice on my septic field, not my driveway!

And, remember, every town has a place where citizens can go to pick up free sand, take advantage of this! Take a few buckets and a shovel with you and keep sand onhand for when your driveway becomes an ice rink for you and your vehicle. You'll be very glad you did.

Quabbin Permission to Carry Weapons

How do I know where to buy a home that has a police chief willing to allow me a Massachusetts permit to carry a gun? That's a tough one. You have to talk to people. Every town has a police chief. Every police chief is personally responsible for issuing carry permits. So every chief is very careful to issue permits only to people he/she feels deserves that license. Unfortunately, you can't learn this information in advance of buying a home, here's why. Assume I want to buy a home. I do so. Then I call the dispatch to request an appointment with my police chief. This can be difficult as small towns have part-time chiefs who may be on vacation in Florida the week I call. Once I get the appointment, then I fill out all the paperwork. But first I ask around at the local sporting clubs or sporting stores for where there is a gun carrying permit class. Local clubs offer the class for a series of evenings or weekends or you can get it done in Springfield in an all day class. Once you pass this class and the background check the police do on you, then, weeks, later, your permit arrives in the mail and you are good to go.

But in the meantime, you are illegal if you already own weapons when you move into the state. There is no way to obtain this permit in advance unless you buy the home and take the class and do all of the above long before you actually move into Massachusetts.

The local gun stores are 1. Bucks Rub on 2A in Orange 2. R & R Sports in Belchertown 3. Dick's in Hadley 4. Ware Guns on 9 in Ware 5. Wal-Mart in Orange and in Ware 6. Tombstone Trading in West Brookfield 7. There is also one I can't remember the name of in Gardner. The two gun clubs I know are 1. The Orange Gun club on 2A in Orange and 2. The Petersham Gun Club just outside of Petersham, north, I want to say off of 32, but not sure.

The reason I know all of the above is that I have clients for whom shooting is the year-round reason to live. These clubs are very inexpensive to join, have very nice members who are very welcoming, and offer sporting clay shooting and trap shooting, even at night. For these dedicated sportsmen, these clubs are year-round. They just bundle up and off into the snow they go. If they have significant others, they, hopefully, have other things to do if shooting isn't their thing, because this sport is very time-consuming and they will be very lonely if they aren't busy with their own lives.

On the other hand, the weapons they use are very competitive and often snobby. There is much competition to go to the Amos Keig (not sure of spelling), New Hampshire auction regularly to buy new shot guns. I know one member who owns many 100-year old Parkers and Ithicas (again not sure of spelling). He is not a fanatic. He just lives at his club and lives to admire and use and show-off his shooting expertise and knowledge and hobby and collection to others who have the same interests. I think of it as women who have closets of shoes. But then, I've known sportsmen all my life. When my spouse was an Army Reserve commander of an Engineering unit in Wisconsin, he used to have to move the drill meeting date whenever the hunting season arrived. If he didn't, despite it being AWOL (absent without leave) and an Article 15 offense (legal punishment) noone would show up for work! It was experiences like this that helped me understand the sportsmen's mindset.

Quabbin Weather

What is the weather in the Quabbin area like? Real would be my first answer. For instance, the calendar says it is officially spring right now, but it doesn't feel like it to me. Right now it is snowing hard and we expect three inches today. So while spring was looking promising yesterday it isn't today. Yesterday the two feet of snow in my front yard was visibly melting and more and more ground was visible. This felt great to watch. But awakening this morning, the huge, fluffy flakes were beautiful, but we've had enough. This has been a long, snowy winter and I am ready for spring rain.

On the other hand, I'm from California so living where it snows all winter is actually fun for me, provided I don't have to be somewhere when the roads haven't yet been cleared. I've lived in places where there are no real seasons (like CA, WA) and I've lived in places that have two seasons too hot and perfection (GA) and places that have four seasons (NY, WI, MO, MA). My spouse is from Massachusetts; he loves it here and plans to stay here forever. He's home. As for me, home is where my spouse is. But I admit I am more than ready for our hot, muggy summer in New England.

Alternative Minimum Tax

Will buying a pricier home always mean bigger mortgage interest write-offs on your taxes? No. Case in point is the alternative minimum tax; for some high-income taxpayers, the alternative minimum tax might wipe out some or all tax savings they'd receive from buying an expensive home. This can mean that if your rent is low and your income is high, you may be better off continuing to rent, rather than buying an expensive home. Talk to your tax expert about your situation.

Of course, taxes aren't the only reason to own a home. Security of knowing you can never be forced out (if you pay your taxes and pay off your mortgage), the ability to alter your home's appearance (as long as your changes are within zoning and building code and permit laws), and pride of saying you own your home are among the many reasons, in addition to the tax reasons, to buy or not to buy a home.

Quabbin Reservoir

What is the Quabbin reservoir? The Quabbin reservoir is one of the largest man-made water supplies in the US. It provides water to two-million Boston and north shore residents. The Quabbin was built between 1930 and 1939. The Quabbin is fed by the Swift and the Ware rivers. It has an average depth of 51 feet. It submerged 60 hills and mountains and four towns. The four towns are Greenwich, Dana, Prescott, and Enfield. The Quabbin has 181 miles of shoreline and is 18 miles long.

The Quabbin reservoir is surrounded by wooded watershed. There are gates leading into the the watershed all around. A few gates are open occasionally for fishing or hunting purposes only. Massachusetts has a lottery where the winner is allowed to hunt certain critters in certain seasons with certain types of weapons. There are two gates I can think of that have marinas for fishing, gates 15 and 31. Gate 31 actually sells the fishing license and rents the fishing boat. Gate 15 is between New Salem and Shutesbury, on the west side of the water, off of MA-202. Gate 31 is on the north side of the water, off of MA-122.

There are strict rules on what and who can enter these gates. Anyone can enter, but there are no pets allowed and no skis. Walking and snowshoes are allowed at gates only. No entry is allowed to anyone, other than hunters, where no gate is present.

If you aren't into walking, there are two places where you can view the water from your car. One is on MA-202 near Amherst Road, in Pelham. There are excellent views of the water and the mountains beyond. We saw a bald eagle here last year. The second place is in Belchertown, at the south end of the water, off of MA-9. This is the dam and spillway and visitor's center. Hike the dam if you have the energy. There is also a park here for hiking and an excellent drive through the park and several overlooks along that drive.

I often walk gate 29. It is down hill for 45 minutes, to the water or up to Rattlesnake Hill and then another 45 minutes back to the car. There is plenty of parking and wildlife can be seen in the morning and evenings.

Bicycling is allowed at only a few gates, gate 29 is one of them. There is also another gate on the east side, but I can't remember the number. You can get a map and rules from the visitor's center on the south end of the water. That is quite a long walk, so riding is more enjoyable at that gate.

During some seasons there are outhouses available at some gates and there are two real restrooms at the visitors center, one outside, built into the retaining wall and one inside the visitor's center. During the season when the 1794 Meeting house, in New Salem is hosting musical performances, there is an outhouse next to that on the town common. And the New Salem town hall is available to those in need on Monday evenings from 6pm to 9pm and on Wednesday mornings between 9am and 11 am.

The New Salem library is brand new, so check it out. The town has wifi so you can log on here if you have a need to connect.

And while you are in New Salem, check out the lookout where you can see the water with only a short walk from your vehicle. Motorcycles often check out this view when they need a break from riding. From MA-202 just turn toward the town center, then left from South Main Street, at the volunteer fire station and drive to the end parking lot, where the rough dirt road ends. The trail continues until you see the water while sitting at the picnic table.

The closest walk to the water's edge is on the north end. Can't remember the gate number, but it might be the one with the women's forest sign on MA-122. If you park and go right at the fort and pass under the power wires and keep left at the second fork, the water will be visible shortly. Just be careful of poison ivy, it is everywhere. Tip: You can easily get rid of poison ivy quickly. Just buy the $40 a tiny tube from any drug store and use it according to the directions, and the rash will be all but gone the next day. It provides instant relief. A friend told me about this and I tried it, it works!

The ride around the Quabbin is lengthy. It goes from MA-202 to MA-122 to MA-32 to MA32A to MA-9 and back to MA-202 again. Stop in at the Quabbin Woods Restaurant in Petersham for something to eat or drink. The New Salem General Store has everything except restrooms, even a full-service deli and video rentals. There is a terrific farm stand in Granby. But Granby isn't on the loop. From MA-202 you'd normally turn onto or from MA-9 to stay on the loop. But if detouring to Granby's farmstand, you stay south on MA-202. At the intersection of MA-202 and MA-2 (also just outside of the loop, just continue north on MA-202 instead of turning onto MA-122) there is a Dunkin Donuts (with a bathroom), fast food, ice cream at the 202 Grill (also with a bathroom) and mini golf, batting cages, driving range, go-carts and indoor and outdoor hockey rinks. Lots of things to keep kids of all ages entertained in a safe, small-town environment.

The Quabbin loop is very popular with tourists looking to enjoy the fall color. Peak season is usually in late September or early October. At that time and all summer long, the roads in the area are busier than usual with motorcycles, sometimes enmasse, so look twice!

I have seen wildlife everywhere, but few deer. I've heard we have moose here but have yet to see one. I often see wild turkeys, blue jays, little brown and gray birds, a porcupine, snakes, red efts, spring peeper frogs, snapping turtles, slider turtles, toads, wasps, lady bugs (en masse, even in my home), newts, fish, and other bugs.

Kayaking is not allowed on the Quabbin, but there are plenty of other places to kayak and swim. Lake Mattawa in Orange is free and has an outhouse in the summer and Lake Wyola in Locks Village has life guards and bathrooms but charges an entrance fee. The best place to kayak is above Athol, near Royalston, at Lake Tully (there are bathrooms here). There is also a camp ground here and a waterfall and hiking. The campground rents kayaks you can then launch right into the water without lugging them in your vehicle. But if lugging isn't a problem, there are lots of area businesses who will rent you a kayak.