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.