Perceptions

When I meet someone, as soon as they learn I'm a realtor, the first thing they ask is "How's the market?" I say, great. I can immediately see they don't believe me. But they received that opposite impression by listening to the news! The truth is, all real estate is local. And local real estate (Quabbin region of Massachusetts) is great, especially for buyers. The selection is excellent, sellers know they can't overprice as a result. That means buyers have lots to choose from and realistic sellers. Combine that with years of bad news about home sales, convincing non-motivated real estate professionals to find other careers, and you end up with an excellent real estate environment. Who could ask for more than excited buyers and motivated sellers and agents? I say the answer to that is mortgage availability at reasonable interest rates. Guess what? Mortgage interest rates are very available for qualified buyers. Very-well-qualified buyers with high FICO scores can still get 100% financing. Add to that the just raised caps on some low-to-middle income federal loans and the availability of jumbo loans (loans that are over the limit of regular federal loans) and you are in heaven, right?

I was watching Suze Orman on CNBC last night. She told someone not to buy a home because the market was so terrible. I love Suze but I believe she is very wrong. I have bought and sold seven homes in six states in the last 24 years. I made money on all except one. Who hasn't lost money once on an investment?

Do you have any real estate questions you'd like to post for me to answer?

Tip of the post: Never call the number on the sign in front of the home you'd like to tour. Always call your own real estate professional; you want your own advocate. In real estate you are owed honesty, a financial fiduciary duty, obedience to the client (within the law), loyalty, due diligence, care to see the transaction completed on time and correctly, accountability and responsibility to the client, and disclosure of all material facts regarding the property. When you call the same agent whose client is the home-seller, you loose many of these rights. That's why I advise my customers and clients to call me. They know that even if I don't work in the area where they're buying a home, they know that I (Cathy Jones at Prudential Sawicki Real Estate, 978-846-7398) will either help them myself or refer them to another Prudential agent in the area they're interested in. The reason this is important is that Prudential has a nationwide, rock-solid reputation. They train their agents to keep them current in their profession so you, the client, receive the most stressless experience a real estate professional can provide.

Bye for now, and by the way, will you, or someone you know, soon be buying or selling a home? If so, please contact me.