You may have seen some headlines about changes going on in the real estate industry.

I am closely monitoring the proposed changes within the real estate industry as a result of the proposed National Association of REALTORS® settlement as to what this may mean to you and also to my business.

What’s Ahead for the 2024 Housing Market?

As we step into the new year, the real estate landscape is undergoing a shift. Economic experts anticipate a decline in rates, witnessed slightly in December 2023, signaling an upcoming surge of buyers and sellers entering the market.

Understanding that real estate is constantly evolving due to economic factors, generational trends, and societal shifts, let's delve into the key elements shaping the housing market in the coming years.

Plot Plan? Plat? Huh?

When searching for your new home it may surprise you to learn that most real estate agents and home sellers are not able to tell you the land boundaries with any degree of certainty.

Good news: Most of the time you can find the approximate land boundaries are located and where the buildings are located on the lot before you purchase the home.

Many home owners consider selling their home without the help of a real estate professional but in reality very few sellers choose to attempt it. As a REALTOR® I am obviously biased. By working with a well-trained team of professionals to assist in the process, legal and transaction, the seller and their assets are better protected.

What do most Home Sellers do?

You are thinking about selling your home. And while, yes, you want to sell for the highest price, you also want it to sell in the shortest amount of time!

Here are 7 tips to help you sell your home quickly

As part of my first meeting with a prospective client (buyer or seller) I ask if they know how real estate agents get paid …. and they usually answer “YES, you get commission.” Ok then I ask if they know any more about that. …. I also hear “Real estate agents make a lot of money.”

So let’s get real and talk about money where it comes from and who receives it.

What happened in the Braintree real estate market in 2022? Are you hearing about the “shifting real estate market” in the national news and wondering if the Braintree Market is shifting?

Taking a look back at 2022 shows the market was very strong throughout the year - most properties listed sold quickly and sold at an excellent price. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Looking for an extra $50,000 as a down payment for your mortgage?

Have you looked at a MassHousing backed conventional mortgage lately? MassHousing is an “independent, quasi-public agency” responsible with providing financing for affortable housing in Massachusetts.

In 2022 MassHousing is offering 10% of a home’s purchase price, up to $50,000, in down payment assistance to homeowners purchasing a home in Boston and 28 select “gateway” communities.

If you are selling a condominium or townhouse, assembling paperwork in advance is critical. Not only will potential buyers want to review the documents, a number of documents will be required by the buyer's lender for financing approval.

While preparing your home for sale, take a few minutes and gather the needed Condo Documents. Having these documents in advance will help make the transaction smoother in the long run.

Does this sound like you? You dream of home ownership or real estate investing however the sales prices of homes in great condition are beyond your current budget. You look at lists of foreclosed homes or fixer-uppers and think “Gosh, I could buy that home!” You spot a home that appears to be for sale significantly below other homes and obsess about buying it. You dream of using “sweat equity” to rehab a home.

Glad you are here! I hear things like this from many clients, particularly those just starting their home buying journey. Buying a home where you can improve the condition is a great way to build equity in the home! Let’s talk about what’s involved in buying a cheap home.

Do not let your mortgage company end up with equity you have in your home!!!

Are you behind on your mortgage? Have you missed a mortgage payment during the last 2 years? Did you enter “mortgage forbearance” as part of the CARES Act? Are you making mortgage payments and struggling, or are you not paying your mortgage?

Now is the time to make a plan if you are in Mortgage Forbearance. When forbearance ends your lender expect you to a) start paying your mortgage, b) sell you home to settle the debt, or c) go into foreclosure.

What should you do if you have fallen behind on your mortgage, are in forbearance, or are struggling to make your payments?

Here are 7 things to consider doing soon rather than later.

Who is the most likely buyer for your home? It might not be who you think!

A home seller it inevitably talks about their ideas about the person who will purchase their home. It is important we talk about the target “buyer personas” for any particular property prior to putting it into the market.

Buyer Personas are part of my "7-step Process to Price a Home. The detailed personas include the buyers’ motivations, dreams, financial picture, experience in buying, and likely flexibility.

When we talk about the target selling price of a home I am looking to match the seller’s goals and motivation with the most likely buyer behaviors. The more closely the 2 are aligned, the more likely the home sale will meet the seller’s goals! And if these are not aligned, what could be done to match up the two ….

Check out the home at 28 Pecksuot Rd, Weymouth, MA 02191.

So, what do I love about this house?

• views from the Master bedroom of Quincy Bay and Boston!

• Short walk to the beach!

• The backyard is super welcoming!

and more….

Sometimes it just take a perfect setting to start me dreaming of a new home feature….

My client selling her home at 15 Hickory St, Randolph has this wonderful, cozy screened in gazebo in her yard. The setting is just perfect! Nestled behind a privacy screen of evergreens and a boundary fence, this gazebo checks all the boxes! It is welcoming and comfortable!

The 2021 real estate market is more competitive for home buyers According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Economist’s Blog, there were 4 Offers for Every Home Sold in February 2021. So what options are available for home buyers? What are some creative ideas for getting an offer on a home accepted?

If you are looking to purchase a home for the outside of a city/metro or more urban setting, you may encounter homes that have a "septic system" and in Massachusetts you may see references to “Title V” or “Title 5” in the property descriptions.

What is a Septic System? A septic system is a private sewerage system located somewhere on the property.

First, let me apologize for our industry when you see a Home “for sale” online and you find out from me or your real estate agent that the home is already sold or no longer available. I know this info is always disappointing. There are a great number of reasons this happens - so let me try to talk about a few of them. …

“Should I hire a Home Stager?” This is something I’m frequently asked when working with new clients that will be selling their home. I usually rephrase the question as: How do I prepare my home for sale?

Home preparation is more broad than home staging and unfortunately a lot less sexy. Home preparation is about doing the hard work necessary to make a home absolutely ✨shine ✨ throughout the entire process from the professional photo shoot, to the first day prospective buyers and real estate agents walk through your home, and less visibly when a buyer’s home inspector starts poking at beams with a screwdriver.

Home Preparation includes repairs, refreshing, tidying and decluttering , cleaning, and finally setting the space (aka staging).

Is the lack of good homes to buy causing you to wait on selling your current home? You are not alone! A top concern for prospective home sellers is "Where will we move if our home sells quickly?"

People want to sell their current home but are concerned they won't find their new home in time! And no one wants to scramble into purchasing a home they will regret or be tied into a rental lease.

If you are in this situation, let’s talk!

If so, you are not alone!

8.9 Million People Relocated since the beginning of the pandemic according to the National Association of Realtors and USPS.

That is pretty amazing if you think about it! During a time where people were at home more, 8.93 million of those folks moved to another location between March and October 2020. Most people moved at the beginning of the pandemic and during the summer months. This is an increase of 94,000 people from the previous year!