Are you waiting to buy?

You first time homebuyers or present time renters... Are you ready to start your exciting but 'scary' property search? Homebuying is a big step...but it shouldn't be frightening...learn to enjoy the process...see it as a 'journey' from rent receipts to 'buying bricks'!

Remember they taught us in school the three major components essential to every family...food, shelter, and clothing...'homebuying' is the biggest ticket item in that picture.

Another thing, is the present market worrying you or causing you to have second thoughts as to whether you should buy now or delay your purchase until better market conditions return?

Let me give you some ideas to consider...

*If your job is relatively stable, and your finances are under control, and you plan on staying in your home for at least 4 or 5 years, then consider purchasing now...interest rates are extremely good...they may not be when the market turns...also if you're waiting for property values to 'bottom out', an increase in interest rates could negate any savings in purchase price...today's sluggish 'buyers market' provides opportunities to capture some additional funds for closing from anxious sellers...and there is plenty of inventory to select from...in other words, let the market 'work for you'!
*Are you ready to buy but lack confidence in our economy...are you leary to 'commit' to a large purchase such as a home? Maybe you can consider looking at properties less expensive than you originally intended...something less expensive to maintain...perhaps not quite so large...something smaller but more energy efficient...instead of that 2,500 square feet 2 story colonial, maybe a 1,600 sq. ft. 'cape cod'! Remember to factor in taxes and insurance. Some homes that appear similar can be more affordable...crunch those numbers...get good at it.
*If you're in a 'moving up' category, the status of the economy is of negligible consequence...what you lose, if anything on your sale, you should be able to make up on your purchase...in fact your purchase can achieve a greater savings than what you may have lost on your sale! Am I getting you confused? Reread it until you get it!

If you're still confused this is where a true real estate professional comes in!
I always advocate for the use of experienced real estate professionals which make the homebuying process a pleasure. Without going into detail, remember the agent that is showing you homes and explaining the financial aspects to you will be paid from the seller's proceeds...in essence you have a true real estate professional 'working to find you a home' at no cost to you! It is bewildering to me why many potential homebuyers take it upon themselves to accomplish this task on their own! You wouldn't pay for a flu shot if you could get one next door at no charge.


How do you find a 'true real estate professional'? It's not as difficult as you may think, call Bobbie Files. I will provide you accurate, reliable service. Putting your needs FIRST.

Bobbie Files

Realtor of Choice

Start your search at http://www.berkleymass.com/

To Buy or to Wait ~ That is the question

Everytime the tv or the radio goes on we are overwhelmed with different newscasters and financial gurus giving their opinions and market predictions. Has doomsday happened or is it yet to come? Has the sky fallen or are we still waiting for it to fall? And that oh so lovely bubble....has it burst yet???

I just want to scream!!!

What happened to buying a home that you love JUST BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE HOME?!?! I really can't remember when the change happened. Did it happen when I was sleeping? Did someone flick the switch on the lightbulb? Or did a neon sign light up that said "A home is an overgrown stock ....buy, buy, buy and flip, flip, flip!!!"

Where did "buy and stay" go?

If people looked at a home as a long term "investment" than the question "Is it going to go down more in value next year?" wouldn't be applicable. I know it isn't real life anymore to stay in your home for 30 or so years like our parents did (at least mine did and I am almost, but NOT QUITE, 40 yrs old). I can guarantee you my parents didn't buy their home wondering and worrying what it was going to be worth in 2 months or 2 years. It was a place to raise their family. They scrimped and struggled to make that payment every month, and believe me we did without. But it IS real to buy with the foresight of staying for 7 years or so. And if a home is purchased with that type of range in mind a value loss is no longer a concern. Yes, prices have corrected and yes there could be some more correction to come but then the ball starts slowly rolling the other way. First the ball stops rolling, than it takes a slow but not complete roll the other way, than it starts to creep some more, than it makes one complete roll and than it rolls again and again and again. Before too long prices start rising!!!

Don't think of your house primarily as an investment. Think of it as your home. Find a neighborhood that fits, a house you love, and a fixed-rate mortgage you can afford -- and forget about trying to game the market. If you're happy where you are, you are far more likely to stay there awhile -- which is, of course, the best way to maximize your investment.

Visit Southeastern Massachusetts most informative website.

Bobbie Files
Keller Williams Realty
508-789-0217 Direct
bobbiefiles@kw.com

Central AC ....Is it a MUST HAVE?

In my September's electric bill there was the usual newsletter from the electric company. Quite frankly I never read these things, but for some reason I picked this one up.
In it was a chart that had certain appliances and how much energy they use. Well the shocker to me is that I thought and have said that central ac is cheaper to run than window ac's, well according to their chart central ac is about equivalent to 5 window ac's. Now I have a home that in our area is considered nice sized, not huge but not small either, and I do not have central ac which was something that was on the future must haves, well I also so not use 5 window ac's. We typically have one large one on the 1st floor that is set for energy save running during the day, and then I have 2 upstairs that get set for 68 degrees and run based on temp. According to my electric company 5 window ac's running for 165 hours per month costs $80.19 the central ac costs $87.41.
That shocked me! I really always thought that the central ac was a cheaper alternative to the window ac's. I know there is a cosmetic improvement when you get rid of those things, but it seems like that is the only improvement. For approx. $12,000 I can have the central ac installed in both floors, and I wanted to do it for the savings AND for the aesthetic appearance. But now I wonder for just 2-3 months of ugly ac's is it worth the expense.

Does central ac make a break your decision to buy?
Is it a requirement on a home that you want to view the inside of?
Or is it just a nice bonus but no big deal if it is there?

I really would like to know what people think on this.

Thanks.