“For the first time this year, sales of Massachusetts single-family homes declined in July, posting a 26 percent decrease from July 2009, according to the latest report by The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.
Single-family home sales dropped 26.15 percent in July, reversing a trend of 12 straight months of increases. A total of 3,668 single-family homes sold in July, down from 4,967 a year earlier. This is the fewest number of sales in the month of July since 1990. In the first five months prior to July, sales …

Your Refund: Usually $1,000+
For home purchases $300,000 and up, Move Massachusetts only retains $5,000 of our commission and gives you, the buyer, the rest.

In this example:

You pay $350,000 for a house.
The total commission for seller & buyer agents is typically 5% (2.5% each), so the seller’s agent gets $8,750, and Move Massachusetts gets $8,750.
Move Massachusetts credits you $3,750.

For home purchases less than $300,000, our buyers still receive $500. This amount often covers the cost of your home inspection, real estate attorney, or that table that would go great in your …

It’s important to know your rights. In this blog, I provide excerpts from the Consumer’s Guide to Mortgage Lock-Ins, which is published by HSH Associations.
About this Guide…
“The Federal Reserve Board and the Office of Thrift Supervision prepared this booklet on mortgage lock-ins in response to a request from the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and in consultation with many other agencies and trade and consumer groups. It is designed to help consumers understand an important aspect of home financing.”
What is a Lock-In?
“A lock-in, also called a rate-lock …

I don’t come across many buyers looking to buy a co-op but there are a few on the market. In this post, I reference Bankrate’s “Condo or Co-Op? What’s the difference?” for the comparison.
Both condos and co-ops are considered “common interest developments.” A common interest development is a housing development in which their are individual ownership of units with the right to use/share common space.
In a…

Condo, “each unit owner owns an individual apartment in fee simple. In addition, the buyer owns an undivided interest in the common elements such …

Buying a foreclosed property is easier said than done. Similar to short sales, buying foreclosed properties often require patience, perseverance, and an eye to discern a diamond in the rough.
CNN.com presents 9 Tips for Buying a Foreclosed Home. Most of the tips are common sense, such as conduct a home inspection, consider the neighbor, and see the home for yourself. However, the article did provide some key takeaways such as…

Budget carefully. Yes, whether you are purchasing your first home, second home, pre-foreclosure, not-a-foreclosure property, you should budget carefully. But most …

To correct a common misnomer, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) does not make loans, it insures loans. This means that lenders are exposed to less risk when approving FHA insured loans for borrowers. For example, if the borrower stops payments on the loan, the lender can file a claim with FHA to recover some or all of the money.
Typically, FHA insured loans are attractive to first-time home buyers. For starters, they help make home ownership more attainable. They require only 3.5% down, of which up to 50% can be gifted …

Short Sale*. Either that term makes you shiver in despair, or makes you shiver in anticipation of “snagging a great deal.” It is no secret that the current market conditions are great for the right buyer—one who is ready, willing, and yet patient for the right opportunity.
CNN Money presents the following 7 tips to “Snag a great deal on a short sale,” which, for each, I’ve chimed in with my comments parentheses. (For a larger description of each tip, click the title of the article for the complete report.)

Know …

Whether a first-timer or seasoned home buyer, the home buying process can be as challenging as learning a new language. Before you make your move, it’s important to first understand the steps involved and the buzzwords of the “deal” to ensure the smoothest transaction possible.

My name is Shaquanna Philip, and I have been a licensed real estate professional for over 4 years. As a Real Estate Consultant, my job is to make home buying or selling a positive experience for you. Whether purchasing your first home or relocating to Boston, a trusted real estate consultant truly makes the difference. Let me bring my expertise in marketing, negotiation and client relations to your doorsteps and make your real estate transaction as smooth as possible.
Buyers can search through all available listings in Boston; Sellers can learn …