OZZIE and HARRIET...A Perfect Marriage!

We've always had dogs; usually two and at one time we had three. We like terriers and when we had three, one was an Airedale and the other two were Welsh terriers. If you don't know the breeds, the Airedales weigh in at about 45-60 lbs. and they are a medium-sized black and tan dog. The Welsh terriers look exactly the same, but they weigh in at 18-24 lbs. So when we had three, everyone thought the Welshies were the Airedale's pups. It was a lot of fun.

For the past several years, we had just two Welsh terriers, Harry and Lilly. They were both getting on in years and sadly, both succumbed to age in early 2005. After a few months, we simply had to get another Welsh puppy and found one with a wonderful breeder in Virginia (they are a somewhat rare breed).

I flew down to Dulles Airport where I met the breeder, picked up OZZIE, and then flew right back to Boston with him under my seat in the plane. To say that Ozzie has turned into a wonder-dog would be an understatement. He graduated from puppy training with honors and at 14 months, he now has mastered so many tricks that I had to teach him to "bow" after a typical display of his prowess.

We had Ozzie for about 10 months when Linda decided it was time to add a HARRIET to the family. So we contacted Janet the breeder again and she informed us that she did in fact have a female Welshie she would be pleased to place with us. This time we had the pup (she's actually one month older than Ozzie) flown up to Boston using United's Pet Cargo System, and we were very nervous as we drove from the North Shore into Logan Airport to take delivery. Our apprehension was replaced with joy as we opened the door to the crate at the cargo terminal and Harriet popped out- a little furry bundle of tail-wagging happiness. She was just fine.

So now we have "Ozzie and Harriet," our own terrier version of the sitcom couple from the 50's and early 60's, and they get along just like that famous TV couple...Harriet clearly runs things around the house and Ozzie just takes it all in stride. A perfect marriage, so to speak.

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Here are some trivia questions for you readers:

1. What years was the Ozzie and Harriet Show on TV?
2. How many children did they have?
3. What were their names?
4. Why don't we ever see re-runs of the show?

Happy New Year from Linda and me and Ozzie and Harriet!

Peace, Goodwill, and Only An Occasional Grinch

Isn't this is a wonderful time of year? Cheerful lights turn dark houses into welcoming neighborhoods. People are rushing about, but often they are also smiling and laughing. Drivers are more courteous, and traffic lights are dressed for the season. Good wishes and familiar carols fill the air. As Garrison Keillor said, "A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together."

But wouldn't you know…there are Grinches about, too. I just found this video on YouTube, and it as an eye-opener. It's called "Gone in Four Seconds" and you'll be surprised at what you see. SUV drivers especially should take a few minutes to view it. The identity you save could be your own!

So as you wish family and friends a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year, wish them also a safe and healthy holiday season. Then keep that wonderful feeling with you as long as possible. Calvin Coolidge had it right when he said, " Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."

May your Christmas and New Year be joyous and Grinch-free!

First Things First!

Imagine going out to purchase a new dining room suite of furniture. You find just the right set, and the salesperson asks how you plan to pay for it. You answer, "Gee, I hadn't thought about that!" The next question is, "Do you want to pay by check?" After a look at your checkbook balance you shake your head.

This scenario continues with a barrage of financial questions to set up a financing plan for your new furniture. Caught by surprise without the answers, you leave the store in dismay.

It's not likely you would let this happen if you were buying furniture, but it happens quite often when people go to buy a home. Since financing is usually essential to completing a home purchase, here's a more pleasant alternative.

Before you begin searching for a home, ask your Realtor® to arrange a "pre-qualification" interview with a mortgage lender. This allows you to speak directly with the lender and provide detailed financial information in confidence. The result? The lender can determine an appropriate loan for your new home, as well as the maximum amount for which you are financially qualified.

Once you complete the "pre-qualification" process, you are ready to being your home search confident that you have the financing available. You'll be able to spend your house-hunting time knowing your price range and finding just the right home for you and your family.

Rate Increase Sells Homes

A curious change has taken place within the real estate marketplace. I'm not talking about the shift from Seller's market to Buyer's market. And I'm not talking about mortgage rates. I'm talking about real estate commission rates going up!

Why would that be, you may ask. Well, aside from increased costs associated with marketing more properties for longer periods of time, this current Buyer's market has also forced sellers to examine new ways to make their properties stand out from competing homes for sale. And one sure way to accomplish that goal is to offer better incentives to the real estate agents. According to a recent (Nov. 9th) article in the Wall Street Journal, such "incentives have become much more widespread in recent months, especially in areas where inventories of unsold homes have soared."

Of course, proper pricing is still the most important factor, but in this declining market savvy sellers are reaching out to attract the attention of the people who work with the prospective buyers of their homes - the real estate agents. When you consider that a 1% increase in a real estate commission can represent a 20% increase in income to an agent, and that only a 2% increase in the fee can result in a 40% increase in what the agent will earn, doesn't it make sense to offer such a simple "reward" to the person that provides you with a ready, willing and able buyer, particularly in this market?

A mortgage rate increase may hurt sales, but a commission rate increase can change the status of a home from FOR SALE to SOLD.

For additional tips on selling your home, give me a call.

Show Off!

Have you noticed the way clothing stores are displaying their suits, dresses, and blouses these days? They're showing off their clothing in ways that result in faster sales at higher prices.

Take blouses. Rather than just having rack after rack, the store displays a manikin wearing the blouse as part of a fashionable outfit. Over the shoulder, they drape a colorful silk scarf and add a gold scarf pin. They layer a camisole under the blouse, add a pair of designer-sytle slacks, and pull the look together with a fine leather belt.

Get the picture? They're not just selling blouses, are they? They are selling a "look," an image of the person the shopper would like to be. Selling a home successfully is no different.

You may ask "Why?" Because families do not buy homes. They buy dreams, convenience, views, space to entertain, and all the other benefits a home offers.

When selling your home, ask your real estate agent for a "mini-merchandising" course, often called "staging." Learn the many ways to create a special look or image that invites buyers to imagine themselves living in the house forever.

Some great ideas for creating such appeal are fresh-cut flowers around the home, a formal dining room set for a royal banquet, cinnamon rolls baking in the oven, soft music, or other special homey touches.

Selling your home is a unique experience. Give it the attention it deserves and you will reap the rewards!

Superior Knowledge Gives You the Edge

Choosing a REALTOR® to represent you in the sale of your home can be a mighty important decision. You might ask, "Is there a checklist available to help me compare REALTORS and make my choice easier?" Or "What traits do I look for in a person who will assist me in the sale of my most valuable possession?"

There is a long string of adjectives that could help you. A few of them might be enthusiasm, dedication, commitment, honesty, professionalism, hard-working, educated, experienced, etc. Each of these describes a part of the personality you may be seeking as your representative.

Because your home will be one of many available for sale, especially now in a developing buyers' market, you know that you need an edge, some extra factor, that makes your home stand out among the many.

There's one characteristic that can be that extra factor, that edge you need – superior knowledge, with the accent on SUPERIOR. If you want your home to be seen as superior to others with which it is competing, choose a representative who clearly has superior knowledge.

How do you identify that extra base of knowledge that can be the deciding factor for you? Look for an agent with detailed and accurate knowledge of local market conditions, someone who is aware of specific factors in your neighborhood which may affect an early sale, an agent with specialized awareness of buying habits and new and innovative financing methods and programs.

Look for superior knowledge in your REALTOR – the payoff is worth it.

Real Estate's Triple Bypass Surgery

There's a new kind of "medical procedure" being talked about in the real estate industry on the North Shore. It is being performed on sellers (patients) by buyers (doctors) and it is known as a Triple-A Bypass or "Arrogant Attitude Adjustment".

What are the symptoms that make buyers enforce this painful procedure?

1. Thinking that prices are continuing to rise. (Have you read a newspaper in the last year and a half?). An unrealistic seller is also a seller whose house does not move.

2. Refusing to negotiate reasonably with ready, willing, and able buyers. In this market there is no such thing as a "bad" offer, only an offer that needs to be negotiated and worked with.

3. Putting a home on the market when there is no real need to sell. This is called "testing" the market, and usually leads to disappointed and disgruntled would-be sellers.

4. Refusing to lower prices in the declining market, or lowering too slowly or not enough, otherwise known as "chasing" the market down. Most people only sell a few houses in a lifetime; real estate professionals do it every day. Listen to your pro.

5. Blaming everyone, but most often the Realtor®, when over-priced properties languish on the market. Reread #4.

There are other signs of needing the procedure, but you get the picture.

The bottom line is that in the Bay State and elsewhere, homeowners have had a long and very profitable run of appreciation - approximately 10 years. Now, however, the buyers are holding the good cards.

As painful and serious a procedure as a Triple-A Bypass may be, it's a necessary one if a seller is serious about selling. Homes continue to sell in our area at a fair pace, but they are most often those that are priced right on day one, or have owners that do not need "surgery."

Community Support Sells Houses

Have you ever noticed what happens when members of your community suddenly find themselves in need? Perhaps illness strikes, or fire. The call goes out from friends and family, and soon help arrives in the form of comfort, or nourishment, or many hands willing to help rebuild.

In real estate there is also such a community. When you decide to sell your home, the agent you have chosen takes action to mobilize the entire real estate community to bring buyers for your home.

Naturally, your agent is also working individually to find a buyer for your home. But, at the same time, the agent realizes that other active agents also have ready, willing, and able buyers. It is critical to the sale of your home that ALL potential purchasers be exposed to the home during their decision-making process. Obviously, the more buyers who see your home, the higher the chances of an early sale.

When selecting your agent, consider these questions:

• Is the agent known and respected in the real estate community?
• What will the agent do to catch the interest and muster the support of this community in the sale of your home?

To insure the sales support of the entire real estate community, ask your agent these questions. Peace-of-mind for you and your family will be the valuable benefit.

The North Shore real estate community is one of the best in the country. I'll help put them to work for you.

Welcome! . . . to this beautiful and historic corner of the U.S. – the North Shore of Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts North Shore is a unique area, one that we who live here treasure and those who visit thrill to discover. Historically, culturally and recreationally, the North Shore is like no place else.

Each time you visit this blog you'll find news you can use about real estate in this area. There will be articles to help you choose a real estate agent, information about pricing your home for sale, ideas on getting ready for the big move, and much more. Now and then you might find a bit about me and my interests as well as happenings in this part of New England .

Feel free come back often, and when you do stop by, leave a note. Let me know what you’re thinking and feel free to ask questions and make suggestions. I enjoy sharing information about my part of the Bay State, but it will be even more rewarding if we get a conversation going.

Welcome to North Shore Living.