5 Reasons Why Experts Say Now Is The Time To Buy Real Estate

I am frequently asked "Is it a good time to buy a new home?" I can frankly say that I have never, in 30 years of selling homes, seen a better time than RIGHT NOW. Here a are five reasons why (compliments of the Downey Patriot):

*****

After the Great Depression of the 1930s, the real estate market looked like a 98-pound weakling after going 12 rounds with Mike Tyson in his prime.

However, those market conditions sparked a post-Depression boom that sustained 65 straight years of appreciation in real estate. And according to one expert, it’s about to happen again.

"This is an unprecedented economic crisis, but it is spawning an unprecedented opportunity," said Greg Rand, a 20-year real estate veteran and author of Crash-Boom (www.crashboom.com) from Career Press. "Real estate prices are at their lowest ebb in years, but anyone with a sense of history in the real estate market knows that those prices will rise as the economy improves and the people who got burned in the mortgage crisis are ready to try their hands at home ownership again. You can’t suppress the American Dream, but you can profit from it if you can have the strength and confidence to act."

Rand’s argument is that recessions and depressions aren’t just about economics. There are other forces at play, too.

"There is a real and powerful psychological component married to a down economy," he added. "When bulls turn into bears, they create a chilling effect that makes even Joe Six-Pack afraid of the economy. Wall Street loves to track ‘consumer confidence’ statistics, and the market always fluctuates based on fear. When there’s an uprising in the Middle East, gas prices go up to $4 per gallon on the irrational fear that any new regime will say, ‘You know, we don’t really want all that money from those Americans for this gunk we pull out of the ground.’ The prices always stabilize. The real estate market is no different. People act and react out of fear. Only the smart ones see through that haze to understand the historic reality that the prices always come back up."

Rand cites five reasons why now is the best time to put your investment dollars into real estate:

1)  No Meltdown - There is no housing meltdown. There was a media and Wall Street meltdown. Housing will save us in the long haul.

2)  It’s Not About The Real Estate - The product at issue is not real estate. It’s America. You can own a piece of it, and as far as its long-term value goes, it’s better than Apple stock.

3)  Flipping Houses is a Myth -The "buy and flip" model is a sucker’s bet. It’s about building real, generational wealth.

4) Condo = College Fund - Have a kid, buy a condo. If you invest the right way, you can build an investment that is comparable to any of the riskier alternatives investors lose their money on every day.

5) Don’t Zoom In, Zoom Out - To understand the stock market you must zoom all the way in and see the pulse of the market, and that changes hourly. To understand real estate, all you have to do is zoom all the way out. If you stand too close you miss the trends, and the trends don’t change with the wind. They stay for the long term.

"It comes down to the idea that no matter how the markets change, no matter which way the winds shift, people will always need a place to live," Rand added. "That’s been true of America since the first log cabin. If you plug into that concept, and leave fear in a box on the shelf, you can be ahead of the curve and ride the wave of the trends that matter."

Reprinted from the Downey Patriot

Segway Milestones

Most of you know that I have a "List With Jay For a Free Segway" program available to qualified sellers that list their homes For Sale with me.  But have you ever wondered how the Segway got its beginning?  Or where it's headed?

For those of you that want to know more about this most amazing lean, green, eco-friendly machine, here's the history (thus far):

July 27, 1999

Renowned inventor Dean Kamen founded a new company with the vision to develop highly-efficient, zero-emission transportation solutions using “dynamic stabilization” technology. The Company’s research and development was focused on creating devices that took up a minimal amount of space, were extremely maneuverable and could operate on pedestrian sidewalks and pathways.

February 2001

The Company broke ground for its manufacturing plant in Bedford, New Hampshire. Construction was completed in November 2001.

December 1, 2001

The Company adopted the name Segway from the word segue, which means to "to transition smoothly from one state to another".

December 3, 2001

Segway unveiled the Segway® Personal Transporter (PT), the first self-balancing transportation device, to the public for the first time.

February 15, 2002

The first state bill allowing Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (EPAMDs) to operate on sidewalks is signed into law in the Company’s home state of New Hampshire. Within the year, a total of 31 states passed laws allowing the Segway PT to operate on sidewalks.

March 29, 2002

Segway auctioned three limited edition Segway PTs on Amazon.com to benefit FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a non-profit organization founded by Dean Kamen. The auction generated a combined total of $364,800.00 for FIRST and drew more than 500 bids from across the country. Segway PT #1 sold for $160,100, Segway #2 for $104,100, and Segway #3 for $100,600.

November 8, 2002

Popular Science Magazine awarded the Segway PT with a 2002 Best of What's New Award in the general technology category. Popular Science reviews thousands of new products and innovations each year to honor the world's most outstanding breakthroughs. The Segway PT was among only 100 winners.

November 18, 2002

Segway Personal Transporters went on sale to the public for the first time on Amazon.com. The Company hosted an Early Delivery Essay Contest and 30 lucky winners received their Segway PTs before the holiday gift-giving season, a tour of Segway headquarters and dinner with Dean Kamen.

August 29, 2003

Two hundred Segway PT owners and enthusiasts gathered in Chicago, Ill. for the first SegwayFest, an event created, organized and implemented by Segway PT owners to celebrate the Segway PT ownership experience.

March 22, 2004

The Company announced its 2004 U.S. dealer expansion program to recruit qualified dealers to distribute, market and sell the company’s line of Segway PTs, accessories and associated services.

October 2004

The U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration released a study entitled “Characteristics of Emerging Road Users & Their Safety”. It was undertaken to clarify the operational characteristics of both motorized and non-motorized transportation users. The Segway PT was found to have the second shortest braking distance, highest eye heights, one of the smallest footprints, and quickest perception-reaction time. The Segway PT met or exceeded all recommendations made by the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide to the Development of Bicycle Facilities.

November 29, 2004

TIME Magazine features Segway's four-wheeled prototype which can operate either statically balanced or balanced on its rear wheels as one of the “Best Inventions of 2004” in its Nov. 29th issue.

March 1, 2005

Segway announced the Segway Cross-Terrain Transporter (XT) and Segway Golf Transporter (GT), as well as a refresh of the flagship i Series model. Each new product is equipped with extended-range Saphion® Lithium-ion batteries.

December 12, 2005

In a ceremony held at Epcot® at Walt Disney World® Resort, the ten thousandth participant in the “Around the World at Epcot” tour was honored with a Segway PT from Segway Inc. “Around the World at Epcot” is a two-hour guided tour that allows guests to operate a Segway PT throughout World Showcase before the area opens for other park guests.

August 14, 2006

Segway takes self-balancing technology to the next level with the introduction of the second generation Segway PT. The new Segway product line includes the versatile Segway i2 and a cross-terrain model called the Segway x2, as well as six product packages tailored to specific commercial, police and consumer market segments and riding environments. All the products feature breakthrough LeanSteer™ technology and a wireless InfoKey™ controller that enhance the Segway experience by making the ride even more intuitive and adding new and useful functions.

August 14, 2006

Segway launches a new marketing campaign today to introduce the second generation Segway PT. The company’s new tagline, “Simply Moving”, and supporting communications focus on Segway’s innovative technology and the many practical ways consumers and commercial customers are incorporating Segway PTs into their everyday routines.

May, 2007

Growing global interest spurs Segway’s worldwide distribution presence to more than 250 retail points in 60 countries.

September 10, 2007

On the eve of the International Motor Show (IAA), Segway Inc. and General Motors Europe (GME) announce a design collaboration resulting in a comprehensive solution for eco-friendly mobility – the Opel Flextreme concept car with integrated Segway PTs.

April 15, 2008

Segway launches Segway Social, an online social networking site for Segway PT owners and enthusiasts. Owners can connect with others nearby, map glides and tag places, and upload photos of their experiences, celebrating the Segway lifestyle.
May 1, 2008

Segway introduces a new Segway PT i2 model color! We call it Metallic Sage, a unique stylish finish with dynamic appeal that grabs the changing light as you move. The new color complements the existing anodized black and gloss white color options.

September 20, 2008

Segway sponsors Bicycle For A Day, at the South Street Seaport in NYC. The first-of-its-kind alternative transportation event, where people are encouraged to leave their gas-powered motor vehicles at home and use alternate forms of transportation on that day, including biking, walking, skating and electric personal transportation.

October, 2008

Over 1,000 police and security agencies are using Segway PTs in their patrolling operations.

March, 2009

Segway Social users log more than 1 million miles on their Segway PTs.

April 7, 2009

Segway announces the Project P.U.M.A. prototype as part of an ongoing collaboration with General Motors (GM). The prototype leverages existing dynamic stabilization technology and electric propulsion to address growing urban congestion and pollution issues.

March 24, 2010

Segway introduces the EN-V Project at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. In collaboration with General Motors/SAIC, the concept sets a vision for transportation in 2030. A fully-functional two-person vehicle with advanced dynamics, connectivity, and sensory capabilities, it combats urban congestion while being environmentally-friendly and fun.

There you have it...the history of the SEGWAY.  Maybe I'll be giving away PUMAs in future years!  Stay tuned.

Two Thumbs Up For This Mobile Massachusetts Home Search Application!

My Annual 10 Real Estate Predictions for the New Year

There are a lot of sighs of relief now that 2010 is past, particularly coming from the real estate industry.

But will 2011 be any better?

Having just dusted off my crystal ball, I can now offer my annual 10 predictions for real estate in 2011:

1. Inventories will skyrocket in the spring resulting from sellers who took their homes off the market during the winter hoping to capture buyers in the "spring market" and #2 below.

2. Short sales will increase and foreclosure inventory will continue to rise. The combination with #1 above = huge inventories.

3. Mortgage rates will rise and settle in around 6%+/-.

4. Builders will begin building...slowly, a result of pent up demand for new construction and a loosening of credit by the banks. Many builders have been sitting on land already approved and ready to be built upon.

5. A lot of prospective move-up buyers will continue to stay where they are.

6. The apartment/rental sector will make gains, the result of young Americans seeking escape from family homes in favor of their own living accommodations, but wary of the housing market.

7. There will be no Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. There will be lots of talk and posturing, but no reform.

8. Prices will stabilize on lower end properties and decline less on higher end properties (over $1.5 million).

9. The term "communication" will take on a new meaning among real estate agents as ever advancing technology allows for better dissemination of information, particularly on cell and smartphones. Tech savvy real estate companies and agents will provide free branded real estate applications (apps) to clients and customers that are cross-platform capable. (For example... Text: RELIST to 87778)

10. Jobs will remain the key to recovery. According to the chief economist for the National association of REALTORS, with a gain of 200,000 jobs per month, a full recovery will take 6.3 years; with 300,000 jobs/month: 3.2 years; with 400,000 jobs/month: 1.2 years. And if we can find a way to create 500,000 jobs per month...well, we will have recovered.

There you have it. Not the rosiest picture imaginable, but we all knew that climbing out of a recession would not be easy... or quick.

The good news?

A lot of real estate transactions will take place in 2011, despite the market. Reasonable sellers, savvy buyers, and tech and service-centered real estate agents will win the day.

Best regards,

Jay Burnham, VP
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
North Shore Real Estate, Massachusetts

Follow me on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/jayburnham

Download my free Mobile Real Estate Search App for your phone.

Pricing Myths That Slow the Sale of Your Home

Putting your house on the market can be an emotionally exhausting task. You have to confront questions that involve not only big money, but also an intensely personal asset - your home.

Questions like: What's my house really worth? Should I sell on my own to save the agent's commission? How can I be certain I'm getting the right advice about listing, negotiating, and selling smart in today's market?

Along with these tough questions, you come face-to-face with some enduring myths about the homeselling process. They're so widespread that it's wise to know about them in advance. If you make moves based on facts, not myths, you'll fare far better in the selling process.

MYTH: The real estate agent will set the price for my home.

Agents don't set any price. However, they'll suggest a price based on their assessment of not only your home but also the current state of the market. Most agents are careful to suggest a range rather than a dollar amount, and it's then up to you to accept or reject that recommendation. Their recommendation is usually based on a rigorous review of comparables - houses similar to yours that have sold in recent months.

MYTH: I should always list with the agent who recommends

the highest selling price in the Comparable Market Analysis (CMA).

Wrong. The CMA is just one of many factors on which to base a listing decision. The CMAs from several agents competing for your listing will probably all fall within a similar range. But if one agent's CMA is significantly outside that range - especially on the high side - don't make that the key reason for giving that agent your listing. Go with the agent whose total marketing presentation, track record, and rapport with you adds up best.

MYTH: If I sell my house myself, I'll net more money

because I won't be paying the agent's commision.

Many people look at the fee an agent stands to earn on a home sale and wonder whether there's a cheaper way to sell. In some red-hot real estate markets, where buyers are lining up outside your door with offers and competing for your home, it's possible to do just that. But most markets aren't anywhere near red-hot these days. Many are soft, sluggish, and slow (or steady at best) - the very worst climate for solo sellers of For-Sale-By-Owners (FSBOs).

The experience of sellers I've spoken with in the past year around the North Shore confirms the fact that when you go on your own in the current market, you stack the odds against yourself terribly. For starters, your home won't be listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the number one sales tool for marketing a home. And despite your best desire to avoid having to pay a commision, most buyers who respond to your newspaper ad will discount out the commission you hope to pocket. That is, they'll subtract it from your asking price even before they start to really negotiate with you on your list price. The result is that you will receive far more low-ball offers than if you were working with an agent.

Then there are the sheer practical aspects of selling on your own. Do you have the time or the flexibility to show the home during your regular working hours? That happens to be when many buyers want to visit properties and spend time walking through them with their agent.

Another important flaw in the I-can-save-by-selling-it-myself theory is that although you may think your negotiating abilities will stand you in good stead when you deal one-on-one with potential buyers, the odds are that you're mistaken. Face-to-face negotiating in the kitchen or living room blows up more FSBO sales than almost any other cause. Rather than having a cool, unemotional buffer - that is, an agent - between yourself and the buyer, you're all alone, and the buyer's demands almost inevitably get you steamed up. After all, the buyer's negotiating strategy will always be to knock down your price by pointing out every imperfection, real or otherwise, in your home.

The hard reality is that if you want to get maximum value for your home, it makes little sense to fly solo. That's why a lot of FSBOs come in out of the cold after a few weeks or months and list with a professional.*

*Here's an interesting note: A national survey has shown that sellers that list with a real estate agent realize nearly 3% more for their homes, even after considering the commission.

MYTH: Homes always appreciate.

Spoiled by real estate markets in which values had been going up for years, many homeowners incorrectly assume that their home will appreciate at levels far in excess of other investments. Yet real estate, like every other important segment of our economy, runs in cycles...and I think everyone knows what cycle we are in right now! If you bought a home at the top of the market cycle but sell it at the bottom, you may end up taking a loss. On the other hand, you might have bought at the bottom of the cycle and can now realize a significant gain.

MYTH: There's no need to make sure I'm setting an accurate

and reasonable price for my home because I can always lower it later.

Sure you can. But in the meantime, you've blown your chance of selling it within a reasonable time frame to buyers who would have been interested if your initial price had been realistic.

Pricing too high - leaving too much padding for later negotiating - is the surest technique for leaving your home dead in the water for months or even years. And when you finally correct your asking price to the true market level, you'll probably end up with a lower selling figure than you'd have obtained by having a realistic price from the start.

The truth is: The longer a home remains unsold and on the market, the less the seller will ultimately net.

Use Your Cell Phone to Scan For Information!

We've all seen the bar codes that are used everywhere from grocery stores to department stores, from supply houses to small businesses. They are featured on nearly every product you buy and they look like the image above.

Well...get ready for a new bar code called a QR code (Quick Response) that is going to begin having a huge impact on business information and how it is delivered to you via your cell phone in the coming year.

While conventional bar codes are capable of storing a maximum of approximately 20 digits, QR code is capable of handling several hundred times more information.

Expect to see QR codes in magazine advertisements, on billboards, web pages or even on someone’s t-shirt. Once it is "scanned" to your cell phone, it can give you details about that business, or details about the person wearing the t-shirt, show you a URL which you can click to see a trailer for a movie, or it may give you a coupon which you can use in a local outlet.

The reason why QR codes are more useful than a standard bar code is that they can store (and digitally present) much more data, including URL links, pictures, GEO coordinates, and text. The other key feature of QR codes is that instead of requiring a chunky hand-held scanner to scan them, most recent cell phones can scan them. The full Wikipedia description is here.

For a short YouTube explanation by Marcello Di Pietro: click here

Any business, no matter how small or large, could use QR codes in a number of ways. You might auto generate one next to every product on your web site containing all the product details, the number to call and the URL link to the page so they can show their friends on their cell phone.

You could add one to your business card containing your contact details so its easy for someone to add you to their contacts on their cell phone, without any typing!

Below is an example of my business contact information, including a photo, company logo and link to my website. All you need is the READER application which is available for download to your phone at several Internet sites. The QR code can be as small as your thumbnail or as large as a billboard.

Add your QR code to any print advertising, flyers, posters, invites, tv ads etc. containing:

• product details
• contact details
• offer details
• event details
• a coupon
• Twitter, Facebook, MySpace IDs
• a link to a YouTube video
• Or, in my case...Access to individual homes for sale, mortgage information, Open Houses, mapping and more.

What is it really all about? Well, some may not see it, but its yet another example of the blurring of the edges of media, as we all continue our journey to a completely connected world.

Follow me on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/jayburnham

REMV for Marketing Homes For Sale?

REMV, or Real Estate Music Video, is the newest and hottest way of video marketing homes for sale. Like the music videos you see on TV and Youtube, this application can range from hard-hitting impact marketing like this:

...to soft (think James Taylor) and smooth video marketing like this:
(which one do you prefer?)

If you think the above marketing videos are cool, you should see what can be done with a single property REMV. A key component to creating this kind of video is looking at photography in a different way. It's not simply about posting pictures and adding a soundtrack, it's about telling a story and creating a sequence of photos that take the viewer on a ride complete with images of the area as well as the individual property.

If you are considering the sale of your home, now is the best time in years to do so. If you want the most comprehensive marketing available from a real estate company, you need Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. If you want the most unique and extensive marketing available from a North Shore real estate agent, you need me. Best of all, we are on the same team. Call me for a confidential consultation to discuss your options: 978.233.2828 (direct)

Follow me on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/jayburnham

Scan my QR Code Contact information to your cell phone:

Jay's Real Estate Predictions for 2010

There are a lot of sighs of relief now that 2009 is past, particularly coming from the real estate industry.

But will 2010 be any better?

I have just dusted off my crystal ball... and I can now offer my annual 10 predictions for real estate in the coming year:

1. The residential housing market will pick up early this year, but will dip again after mid-year.

2. Short sales will increase and foreclosure inventory will continue to rise.

3. Mortgage rates will rise and settle in around 6%+/-.

4. Appraisal guidelines will tighten and mortgage lenders will require stellar credit from buyers.

5. A lot of prospective move-up buyers will stay put.

6. Commercial real estate will continue to decline.

7. Builders will continue to be cautious and not in any particular hurry to gain project approvals or begin construction.

8. New construction prices will drop significantly.

9. Prices will continue to decline on higher end properties (over $1.5 million).

10. The terms "communication" and "service" will take on new meanings among real estate agents with the need for more direct contact with clients, such as phone and face-to-face contact as opposed to Internet, email and voicemail communication.

There you have it. Perhaps not the rosiest picture imaginable, but no one said that climbing out of a recession would be easy... or quick. Take a look at the graph below and you will see why. I would put us somewhere between the "depression" and "hope" positions of the graph.

The good news?

A lot of real estate transactions will take place in 2010, despite the market. Reasonable sellers, savvy buyers and service-centered real estate agents will win the day.

Carpe Diem! Make it a great year!

Follow me on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/jayburnham

Secret Balloting in Hamilton?

The following article appeared recently in the Salem News:

Group wants ability to vote in secret at Town Meeting

By Steve LandwehrSTAFF WRITER
August 12, 2009 09:15 am—

HAMILTON — At their best, they are freewheeling wrangles over the public will, where the high and mighty and the low and powerless each have just one vote. At their worst, town meetings dissolve into name-calling, booing and other displays of boorishness before moderators restore order.

What if some people fear the latter more than they welcome the former, and claim to be uncomfortable expressing an opinion in such a forum, unwilling even to raise their hands or voices "yay" or "nay"?

They should be able to vote in secret, a group of Hamilton activists is proposing.

Members of Enough is Enough, a grass-roots group that has been lobbying for "fiscal responsibility" since 2007, have asked selectmen to place a question on the Special Town Meeting warrant this fall that would set a threshold for a secret ballot at future meetings.
Presently, town bylaws don't address secret ballots, meaning they are Moderator Bruce Ramsey's call. Ramsey said he asks that anyone who wants a secret ballot to say so before discussion of an article begins. After that, he lets a simple majority of those present make the decision.

Instead, proponents of the citizens' initiative want 20 percent of the voters at the meeting to make the call.

Ramsey can recall only one time when a secret ballot was employed in Hamilton. That was for a single-issue meeting called to decide the fate of new and renovated middle and high schools, when several thousand voters were expected. School operating budgets have been contentious in town for years. When a Proposition 2 1/2 override is called for to boost the budget, battle lines form quickly.

Opponents of the overrides have long claimed they are intimidated about appearing to be voting "against the children" if they speak up during a meeting. "I was actively booed at a town meeting," resident Betty Gray told the selectmen during their Monday night meeting. Others in the crowded room clamored in agreement.

While state law mandates some of the conduct at town meetings, individual towns decide whether secret ballots are allowed and how they can be called. Until two years ago, Middleton allowed a secret ballot if just five voters stood for it. Now, 25 percent of those present must favor it, and Town Administrator Ira Singer said the change seems to have dissuaded those who were routinely calling for it.

Undemocratic?

In Middleton, as in Hamilton, proponents of secret ballots claimed voters were intimidated by a public vote. But opponents say open discussion — and voting — is the very essence of democracy in this most basic of forms. "It's the nature of the system," Singer said. "There's nothing necessarily wrong with people having different opinions."

Hamilton Selectman Bill Bowler was vehement in his opposition to the citizens' initiative, on a number of levels. First, he's heard the arguments about reluctant participation, he said, but thinks they're overstated. Second, "Town Meeting is the legislative branch of town government," Bowler said. "Legislators vote in public." Finally, permitting 20 percent of the meeting to direct the actions of the other 80 percent would violate the very basis of Town Meeting, he said. "It's undemocratic," Bowler said, drawing rebuttal from Enough is Enough members.

"People are intimidated to vote on certain issues," Betty Gray said.

Selectman David Carey is of two minds about the proposal. He said that he wouldn't oppose "occasional" secret votes, because some people do feel intimidated. On the other hand, the point of the meeting is to gauge the community's support or opposition for the various items on the agenda. "Secret ballots don't do that," Carey said.

Ramsey's biggest concern is a rash of secret ballots that could bog down meetings and discourage attendance. If voters are so reluctant to speak and vote their minds, why not elect people to do it for them and adopt representative town government? In Hamilton, where the subject of merging with neighboring Wenham has consumed volumes of time over the years, dumping open Town Meeting would be a nonstarter, Bowler said.

"I think we'd merge the towns before we'd go to representative Town Meeting."

For an unquestionably fine and thoughtful

response to this Salem News article, go to:

http://unquestionablyquestionable.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-not-secret-ballot_15.html

Hamilton/Wenham Officials Close Doors to Public Input

The following is a Letter to the Editors of the Salem News and Hamilton/Wenham Chronicle:

Closed-door meetings, even if not secret, send the wrong message...

In an era when trust is a factor most of our citizens feel is lacking in town governance and the School Department, along comes a group of elected officials that still don't seem to get it.

Last week, members of the Budget Process Committee (BPC) decided to have a meeting that included one Hamilton selectman, one Wenham selectman, one School Committee member, one Hamilton FinCom member and the school superintendent. When three citizen members of Enough is Enough tried to attend, they were dismissed and told by the Hamilton selectman that "the meeting was not posted, and it was optional for those attending to allow the public to attend. I polled those who were attending, and the majority wanted it to be a working meeting without the public."

He went on to say, "As for why we felt it better to meet this way, it is not to hide things; but sometimes to advance all of our agendas and do the work, we need to be able to let our hair down. We all spoke bluntly and pointedly."

I don't know about you, but I want representatives who speak "bluntly and pointedly" and honestly at PUBLIC meetings, rather than in closed meetings where the public is not allowed or permitted to even listen. Additionally, the entire point of the BPC was to improve transparency and allow for citizen input.

Come on folks, a "working meeting without the public" is just another way of saying "closed-door meeting" or "secret meeting," both of which are completely unacceptable given the public's already justified lack of trust in the budget process. This is exactly the WRONG way of conducting town business and only serves to enhance taxpayer distrust.

What the heck happened to the "openness and transparency" we were promised after the spring town meetings?

Speaking of which, did you know that as part of their efforts at "openness and transparency," the School Department is now requiring citizens to file Freedom of Information forms and pay a fee for any request for information such as where, exactly, roughly $600,000 a year in maintenance line-item costs have actually been spent for each of the past three years?

It's true. And thus far, even that has not prevented the School Department from denying EiE's request for that simple information. We have been told twice now that what they will provide "will not be a specific detailed breakdown of the Maintenance Expense"; and, "Please be advised that the information that you have requested is not a matter of public record and, therefore, I cannot honor your specific request."

Not a matter of public record?! Are they serious? If they can't even tell us where they have spent nearly $2 million of our taxes earmarked for maintenance, it's no wonder they keep asking for more. The last we heard they were called PUBLIC schools, operating on taxes the PUBLIC pays. Don't we deserve some straight answers to simple questions? Why do you suppose they won't give us the answers we seek?

In both instances mentioned above, the message seems clear: "Sorry, we don't want you to know how we spend your tax dollars."

I'd probably be angry if I were not so astonished.

Jay Burnham, Moderator
Enough is Enough Steering Committee

http://www.enoughisenoughHW.org

Are Followers the Same as Friends?

Followers...Friends...Fans...It seems as though whatever blog or social networking site you are on, there is a different name for basically the same item. On Twitter, you have followers. On Facebook, you have friends or maybe fans. On LinkedIn...Well, you get the picture.

So do they all mean the same thing?

Sometimes, but not necessarily. Today's blog, however, is only devoted to explaining the benefits of becoming a "follower" of a blogger that you enjoy reading. You do not have to be a "friend" in the Facebook sense of the word to follow a blogger. You simply need to want to keep up to date with new posts by someone whose writing you enjoy reading.

There are several ways to become a follower of a blog. One of the easiest ways is to visit a blog that has added the "Following widget" and click on the "Follow" button. You will then have the option of following the blog publicly or privately. Select how you'd like to follow the blog, then click the "Follow this blog" button. It is that simple, you are now a follower of the blog!

The Following widget for my blog is at the left, at the top of the column. I have just posted it today and hope that you will consider following my blog which I promise will have interesting stories and articles on the real estate market in general, and the Massachusetts North Shore in particular, posted regularly.

Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

Jay Burnham

Hamilton, MA

End The Override Addiction in Hamilton & Wenham, MA

It is time to put an end to the Proposition 2 1/2 overrides in Hamilton and Wenham, Massachusetts. When Prop 2 1/2 was enacted in 1980 it had provisions to allow towns to pass overrides, but those overrides were intended for emergency purposes. Overrides were not intended to be used to subsidize school funding on an annual basis as has become the norm in our two towns. If override supporters in Hamilton and Wenham believe that "emergencies" have existed in our towns for 10 out of the past 11 years, then the answer lies with a broken system that obviously has not and can not be fixed by simply throwing more money at it.

Here's a little something that unfortunately many of our citizens do not realize: Each override is not one-time cost event. Each override is added to the basis of our tax cost and continues in effect year, after year after year. So we will be paying for last year's $1.8 mil override amount again this year and again in 2010 and 2011 and so on. We have been paying the $660k override passed in 1999 each year for 9 years now! That override alone has cost the taxpayers over $7 million.

And here's a FACT about ALL the overrides we have had to pay since 1998: The individual override amounts add up to $7,707,000. But hang on to your seats (and your wallets!) because compounded over the years, with the 2 1/2 % standard annual increase, and the real cost of those overrides has been whooping $39,518,000! Let me repeat that: $39,518,000!

If our national economy's meltdown has taught us anything, it's that we can not, and should not support a system that does not work. $39 million has not fixed the so-called "emergencies" in Hamilton and Wenham and another override certainly will not either. And did you know that we are the ONLY two towns in the Commonwealth with this kind of outrageous history of overrides? Just last year, out of 356 towns and cities in MA, only 102 sought override attempts...and two-thirds of those were rejected.

Residents must stop the override addiction in our two towns this year... By just saying NO! $39 million is enough! Help make a difference in 2009. Start on the local level.

Thank you,

Jay Burnham

Hamilton, MA

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Ranks Number One On North Shore

The Beverly, Gloucester, Ipswich and Manchester Offices Catapult Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage to the Number One Slot Regionally (North Shore, MA) in 2008.

WALTHAM, Mass. (January 23, 2009) – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New England is pleased to announce its ranking as the number one brokerage in total dollar volume and transaction sides for the combined towns of Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Rockport and Wenham in 2008, according to the MLS Property Information Service. The success of the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices in Beverly, Gloucester, Ipswich and Manchester contributed to the company’s regional standing and total sales volume of more than $260 million in these towns.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is the largest residential real estate company in New England and has the dominant market share in Massachusetts and in New England*. The company’s Beverly, Gloucester, Ipswich and Manchester offices are home to a combined 137 real estate experts, specializing in residential re-sale, new construction, waterfront and luxury homes.

“Our ranking as the number one brokerage in this area is a testament to the hard work, dedication and high-quality service our sales associates provide,” said Rick Loughlin, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New England. “In any market, success can be achieved with the necessary resources and tools. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage remains committed to supporting our sales associates with innovative tools, expert knowledge and varied resources to best serve their clients.”

The managers of these offices, Linda Morey, Alyson O’Hara, Katharine Pickering and Joan Wogan strongly believe that their sales associates’ expertise and local market knowledge along with Coldwell Banker’s national and international presence provide the best possible experience in the buying and selling process.

[* Source: MLS Property Information Network]

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is the largest residential real estate brokerage company in New England. With more than 4,000 sales associates and staff in more than 90 office locations, the organization serves consumers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company.



Congratulations to all my colleagues and friends at Coldwell Banker, North Shore! Another great year as number one!

...Jay Burnham, VP

Introducing REMV...Not heard of it yet?...You will.

REMV, or Real Estate Music Video, is the newest and hottest way of video marketing homes. Like the music videos you see on TV and Youtube, this application can range from hard-hitting impact marketing to soft (think James Taylor) and smooth video marketing.

To give you an idea of what an REMV can look like, here's a sample:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spj8xa9lIGA&fmt=18

If you think this marketing application is cool, you should see what you can do with a single property REMV. A key component to creating this kind of video is looking at your photography in a different way. It's no longer just about posting pictures and adding a soundtrack, it's about telling a story and creating a sequence of photos that take the viewer on a ride complete with images of the area as well as the individual property.

Best regards,

Jay Burnham, VP
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Direct: 978.233.2828
Text: 978.578.5590

The Complete 2008 North Shore MA Real Estate Update

Hot off the "Actual Statistics" press, it is now time for my Complete 2008 Report of how the real estate market fared in my area of the country - the Massachusetts North Shore, north of Boston. The area of observation consists of 22 towns on the North Shore and considers only SINGLE FAMILY homes for comparison.

So how did we do in December and thus far this year? In December, 145 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 148 homes went under contract. That marks the first time in 12 months that more homes SOLD in a single month than came on the market. Unfortunately, this is proving to be common for the month of December as last year and the year before we experienced the same occurence in December and it is likely a result of sellers taking their homes off the market for the holidays or waiting until the new year to place their homes on the market.

Except for December, every month in 2008 showed more homes coming ON than going OFF the market. In January, that difference was +150, in February, +188; in March, +226; in April, +262; in May, +199, in June +175, in July +148, in August +99, in September +167, in October +113 and in November +40.

That's 1,767 more homes that came on vs. went off during the year 2008.

At first glance, this seems like good news because in 2007, 2,146 more homes came on vs. went off the market. So 2008 showed a drop of almost 18% in the delta. Unfortunately, upon closer examination we see that the overall number of new listings for 2008 was down by 847, or nearly 17% less than in 2007. Likewise, the number of Under Agreements for 2008 were down 468, or about 16% over 2007. So overall, 2008 was nearly identical to 2007.

So, what does this mean in general for our market area?

It means that we will likely continue to remain in a DEPRECIATING market and will continue to remain there until this trend reverses...but there is "light in the tunnel"...it's just faint.

Here's a recap of the previous 12 months:

In December, 145 single family homes came on the market on the North shore and 148 homes went under contract.

In November, 190 single family homes came on the market on the North shore and 150 homes went under contract.

In October, 308 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 195 homes went under contract.

In September, 374 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 207 homes went under contract.

In August, 317 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 218 homes went under contract.

In July, 374 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 226 homes went under contract.

In June, 444 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 269 homes went under contract.

In May, 497 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 298 homes went under contract.

In April, 518 single family homes came on the market in the North shore and 256 homes went under contract.

In March, 454 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 225 homes went under contract.

In February, 357 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 169 homes went under contract.

In January, 313 single family homes came on the market on the North Shore and 163 single family homes went under contract.

The solution? Sellers need to continue to price their homes ahead of the declining price curve. As noted above, many homes are selling, but they are the ones that are priced properly and AHEAD of the declining value curve.

I will continue to provide updates throughout the year and we'll take a look and see if the market is changing or if we can expect more of the same for a while.

Regards,

Jay Burnham, VP
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
North Shore, Massachusetts

http://www.thecoldwellbankerguy.com/