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Articles by Gary Kelley
What to Expect from a Realtor
By Gary Kelley When engaging a Realtor there are some expectations needing to be set early in the relationship. If the Realtor is acting as a buyer’s agent, they need to help review the property with complete candor recognizing they have not lived in the property either. If acting as a seller’s agent, it’s really the same. You need to be honest and open with your realtor and expect the same in exchange. If a realtor need knows something about a property they need to disclose it to you.
The Value of a Realtor
By Gary Kelley I have basically had the same job for my entire life. At one point I ran large multinational corporate data centers. Now, I help people buy and sell homes. How is this the same? In the data center, when something doesn’t work there are alerts displayed at a command center. That way, appropriate resources can be brought to bear on the issue as quickly as possible. In real estate, issues arise through the buying or selling process.
Prepping for a Home Sale during the Holidays
By Gary Kelley I know what you’re thinking. The realtor it is going to be all gung-ho around selling the house during the holidays. That is not the case (unless necessary) and I want to talk about being opportunistic. If you are contemplating a house sale for the spring, there are five things you can do now to prepare. You’ll notice we are not fully eliminating tasks. We are trying to make them more manageable and make it so everything doesn’t have to happen at once.
A House Sale Can Make Some INSANE
By Gary Kelley There once was an electronics company (Crazy Eddie) where the ad man would scream, ”Our prices are insane.” (Before Eddie cooked the books.) A survey of Redfin agents revealed home inspection or repair issues were the cause of canceled contracts 70.4% of the time bypassing financing falling through (27.4%). When it comes to houses, a house purchase or sale can make some insane. I mean the normally calm, cool and collected can go nuts. It’s understandable, it’s a very stressful time.
Gary is Back!
By Gary Kelley Well, I am back. Some of you may not have noticed I was gone. Sue Gordon did an excellent job writing the column while I was not here. The truth is, I wanted a break, and Sue is trying to launch her business. After three months, she was ready to hand the reins back to me, and I was missing it, so the timing was serendipitous. I met with the publisher of the Community Advocate on the same day Sue passed on the column. David Bagdon encouraged me to come back.
Do You LOVE Your Home?
When you think about where you live, do you love it? This article is being published on Valentine’s Day and I am doing a shameless tie in to the manufactured holiday. I understand there are times where you might live somewhere you don’t love because it is convenient or affordable. If you don’t love where you live, what are you doing about it? What’s interesting is the steps needed to improve the place you live are similar preparing to sell. And it does not need to cost a fortune.
New Year, New Home?
By Gary Kelley It’s the time of year for resolutions. One of the resolutions many people may have is getting a new house. When it comes to selling a house, the first step is a listing consultation with a Realtor®. In this discussion, my partner and I will review your objectives, your target time frame, and what you want in a new home. We will review our process and time frames. This is very similar to a first date. You are trying to see if you like us and frankly vice versa.
Selling your house over the holidays, smart or a mistake?
By Gary Kelley One of the interesting things about real estate is houses sell every day of the year. Yes, there is seasonality with more houses selling in the spring often driven by school calendars, and you can still sell a house during the holidays with some decent planning. In the wintertime there are fewer homes on the market to compete when you are selling.
How do you know it is ‘The House'?
By Gary Kelley I remember buying my first place. It was a single wide mobile home up in New Hampshire. We got to the closing, the attorney asked for the title, and the seller was not able to produce. The deal died right there. In hindsight, it was good the deal died. I did not know there was a difference in a deed versus a title (a mobile home is like buying a car.) A friend at work recommended we talk to his wife, a respected Realtor.
Buying and Selling in the Fall
By Gary Kelley I am writing this on a beautiful fall day. It is sunny outside and the leaves are just starting to turn. Does that spell the end of the selling season? Not at all! We are seeing rising inventories in the marketplace. Interest rates have trickled down a bit. It’s a great time to buy or sell! When buying in the spring, there is often a frenzy as people try to get settled for the fall school year.
See You in September
It’s been a great summer filled with searing heat and rain. Makes me think of the song See You in September (“See You in September” is a song written by Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards). It was first recorded by the Pittsburgh vocal group the Tempos. This first version peaked at No. 23 in the USA in the summer of 1959 and No. 16 in Canada. The most popular take on “See You In September” was by the Happenings in 1966, which reached No. 3.
Summer School for Real Estate Agents
By Gary Kelley I miss my summers with my kids at home. While they had events and friends occupying their time, it always seemed like a lighter time at work, without a need to rush home to do homework. We could run to Uhlmans and grab an ice cream. It was a kinder, gentler time. Alas, the kids have grown up and are now bringing their kids to Uhlmans. One thing dramatically changing this year is a new approach in real estate prompting most agents to learn new ways of doing business.
Unveiling the Year-Round Rhythm of Real Estate: Opportunities Beyond Seasonal Peaks
By Gary Kelley Brad Avergon of Fairway Mortgage and I were speaking recently, and I made the comment, “There is no seasonality in real estate any longer. With inventory constraints it’s a constant.” With apologies to Brad I overstated my point. Pre-covid there were much more pronounced peaks and valleys (see attached chart. I’m too cost conscious to print in color; suffice to say the dramatic movements were pre-2020.
We need water for life and water can destroy a building
By Gary Kelley I sat at someone’s home recently and spied the telltale signs of a bathroom leak – brown splotches following the lines of ceiling sheetrock. I suspect the leak was repaired as there was an obviously replaced area around 4’ x 4’ in the ceiling. Hopefully, there was no mold growing in the ceiling cavity. Houses and water don’t mix well. In fact, water can destroy a house. A friend had a dishwasher fail catastrophically one summer day. The washer would not stop spewing water.
Real Estate Rollercoaster: Buckle Up for the Ride or Bail Out?
By Gary Kelley How’s the market, Gary? For years I’ve replied unbelievable — a single word fitting many instances. Right now I’m saying slow…. very slow. I respect Anthony Lamacchia, founder, CEO, and broker of the Lamacchia Companies. I believe he is one of the brightest minds in the business, and whether you agree with him or not you probably know some of his outspoken positions.
When is it time to sell a vacant house?
By Gary Kelley We are amid a housing crisis in New England. Costs are escalating leading to an exodus from the area. According to NECN, “Cities like Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington; Salt Lake City, Utah; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Nashville, Tennessee, were among the top places for graduates to move to when considering affordability and employment opportunities.
Staging
By Gary Kelley The internet tells us staging is the activity or practice of styling and furnishing a property for sale in such a way as to enhance its attractiveness to potential buyers. As realtors, there’s a wide swing on staging activities. We stage houses, clean and then take photos. In some cases, there is very little to be accomplished, in other cases it can be a long road. We don’t clear the house, preferring instead to rearrange the furniture and bring in décor items.
7 Foreclosure Considerations
By Gary Kelley We recently helped a long-term friend now client buy a foreclosure property and it reminds me how “special” foreclosures can be. Let’s dig deeper. Zillow lists pre-foreclosures. Can those be bought? Yes, eventually, just like any other home. A pre-foreclosure happens when the current mortgage holder on the property starts the process to sell a home to pay off debt on that home due to the current owners no-payment.
Season of Giving
By Gary Kelley This article isn’t going to ask for money. Promise. If you are a first-time buyer or the parent of one, you may be wondering how to get the down payment together for a home. It’s hard! I tell people to shake the change out of the couch…. generally met with a nervous smile. Parents often want to help, and I remind them you can get loans for a house, and there are no retirement loan options (although sometimes you can take a loan on a 401K and pay yourself back.
It’s the holidays already. Where has time gone??!!
By Gary Kelley You’re reading this towards the middle of November. Perhaps you wanted to buy/sell your home this year, and now you’re thinking about shelving those plans until the new year. Why? Now I’m not one of those real estate agents saying to buy or sell on a holiday. Yes, there are fewer people out. Personally, holidays are for families. Now I’m committed; I was attending a walkthrough at 6:30 AM two days ago. All I’m saying is take advantage of the holiday season.
No Need to be Scared
By Gary Kelley Friday, we met with two clients and their approaches highlighted something we often see. We helped the first client buy their home. We knew she had a new job a hike away from her home, and knew she’d need help finding a different home. She held off meeting with us for months, and then called us. She’d been busy! All personal effects were removed from the home…. fresh paint….and she had a professional cleaning company clean the house.
The Tortoise and the Hare
By Gary Kelley With apologies to Greek fabulist Aesop, today we’ll share a true (yet redacted) story of The Tortoise and the Hare. The Tortoise rented and wanted a home for the family. The Hare didn’t like renting and was always “too busy” to find something else. The Tortoise got a loan preapproval from a reputable firm, the Hare was “too busy” for preapproval. The Tortoise spent years looking at properties. As prices and interest rates fluctuated Tortoise’s affordability fluctuated.
OMG! Where is the Crash?!
By Gary Kelley Everyone is waiting for the real estate crash. A friend recently said, “I’d love to see a headline that better times are around the corner. The popular press certainly offers plenty of doom and gloom we all see. There are elements of real estate where the struggle is real….and I do not believe there is a crash coming. A big reason is home equity. The Wall Street journal reports US Home Equity is at $27.8 trillion…. That’s trillion with a T. That’s a huge piggy bank.
Navigating Challenges in Buying a Home: Workarounds for Rising Interest Rates and Lack of Inventory
By Gary Kelley Searching for a home can be very frustrating with rising rates and a general inventory constraint. I like tears of joy when an offer is accepted and right now many buyers are not feeling the love. Some buyers just feel beat up by the market and give up. Here are some of the difficulties faced by buyers and viable solutions for successfully navigating these obstacles. Rising Interest Rates: One of the key challenges faced by buyers in the current market is the rise in interest rates.
Use your Experts for Guidance
Buying a home can be a daunting task. With so many pitfalls and potential problems, it’s no wonder many people don’t know where to start. But fear not – there’s a simple solution to help you navigate these waters: work with a team of experts. When it comes to real estate, there are three essential experts to have on your side: a real estate agent, a loan officer, and a legal professional.
It’s the SPRING Market
It’s April 1 as this is penned, and it sure doesn’t feel like spring. It’s raining, in the 50s, and just raw. No joke! For sellers, April showers bring may flowers, and now the people who are “thinking about selling” are popping their heads out like daffodils after a long winter. It’s funny…. some immediately conclude it is too late in the season to sell (aka I really don’t want to move.) My response is if you don’t believe it can happen then it won’t.
Go Local
My last article, “Moving is a Hassle,” resonated with many. Yes, I have moved, and am surrounded by a zillion unpacked brown boxes. I can’t find a lot of things I need, and Amazon prime makes it too easy to replace/upgrade. The boxes simply multiply when I sleep. I accepted an offer on my townhouse two days after hitting the market…a combination of great marketing and pricing strategy. We purposefully priced the townhouse low generating multiple offers.
Moving is a Hassle
After nine years in my home, I am moving to a neighboring town. This will be my 11th move since college. And it is still a hassle. My sense is to sell the property “vacant.” My 2-bedroom condo is really a 1 bed condo with an office set up. I’m not sure buyers will understand the “office is really a bedroom.” First stop was an estate sale company. My thinking was to let them clear it out.
New Year New Me!
We are in a New Year! The gyms are packed and the credit card bills from the holidays are establishing a new high-water mark. It’s a great time to think about your next home! If you are thinking about selling, it is a great time to assess where you are in the process. It’s a great time of year to start decluttering the house, donating, or tossing the accumulations of years. I’m not a big believer in wholesale renovations to sell and know a coat of paint can be an affordable way to freshen a space.
Turn That Frown Upside Down
We are in a joyous time of year. And it seems many people are just down in the dumps. The economy seems to be weighing on many. When it comes to houses, there is a sense sellers aren’t selling and buyers are not buying. The real estate market isn’t crashing…and it is adjusting to a more normal market…call it cooling. Let’s take a closer look at this, dispel some false rumors and feel better as we move deeper into the holiday season.
Crazy Times - not really
Who remembers Crazy Eddie? Crazy Eddie was a retailer known for ads proclaiming, “Crazy Eddie’s prices are INSANE.” (Yes, there was also a serious fraud eventually leading to the demise of the company. Just remember the ads. We seem to be in a similar time. Every day badness is proclaimed. Mortgages are over 7%. The fed is signaling a rise in the fed rate. Houses are no longer affordable. Tom and Gisele are divorced. Elon Musk owns Twitter. Great headlines to be sure. Let’s focus in on housing.
Nothing Real Estate
We all have curve balls that come up in life, and as we age, they seem to come up more. In my head I feel like a 24 year old, but my birthday cards seem to be flipping that first number to a 6. I’ve been suffering with something called spinal stenosis for a couple years. I started my self-prescribed treatment with massage, physical therapy, injections, a minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD), etc.
When is the Crash?
There’s a place in Marlborough called Double T’s Tavern. It’s the epitome of the hole-in-the-wall pub. The owner Tom is a friend, and his son TJ (the chef and the other T in Double T’s) bought his house with our help. Double T’s is comfortable and unassuming. I’m an early to bed and rise guy, and I’ll often drop in early before the dinner rush, and inevitably end up talking real estate with someone.
Are You Ready?
“I was born ready,” is a common response. And are you ready? To be ready means you know you’re: Plans and are ready to execute. “Plan your work then work your plan.” Know your next step. You don’t have to have the forwarding completed with the post office…. just know a direction. If dates become fluid, do you know your fallback or plan B? Financial situation or have plans to meet with a financial planner or loan officer to discuss.
How’s the Market?
People love to ask me, “how’s the market?” Some want to know; others are looking for a common topic we can discuss. It’s a softball question. Then there are the people declaring a position and looking to engage. “That bubble, it’s burst.” Slow down partner…. there’s more to the story. Here’s what I know: Inflation is impacting us all…rising at the fastest pace in 40 years. Gas is way up, as is food.
Aging and Your Home
We are working with two clients where the parents have passed away and the offspring are dealing with the home. It’s often heart wrenching for the children…and a mixture of grief over their loss and annoyance at having to deal with the parents’ stuff. Everyone has a different situation and you’re advised to get legal and financial advice from professionals. In my case, when my dad passed away my mom’s immediate reaction was to sell the house and move into an apartment.
Seven for 7: Good reads
Bury your nose in a book with these titles Okoboji has long inspired a love of its blue waters. It’s also inspired a number of books based on delving into the history of the area as well as fictional works set in the Iowa Great Lakes. Whether your tastes run to nonfiction, history, graphic novels or even kids books, there’s a book for you to enjoy on the beach or on a rainy day on the couch. 1.
What’s This Summer Mean to Real Estate
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ Gary@MoveWithGary.com 508-733-6005 By Gary L. Kelley, Realtor® The last 15 months have been rather unique in the real estate area. After COVID hit, a number of people retreated from real estate…. buyers, sellers, and agents. Now, we had the CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky throwing out the 1st pitch at a Boston Red Sox game.
Pricing Your House with Low Demand and Low Interest Rates
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ Gary@MoveWithGary.com 508-733-6005 By Gary L. Kelley, Realtor® Everyone knows inventory is “low,” and rates are still low (albeit starting to go up.) Doesn’t this make demand sky high for houses and let me set a high selling price? Yes, the combination of low inventory and low rates are driving parts of the market. Inventory is perceived low because homes coming on the market are selling very quickly.
Is an investment property right for you?
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ Gary@MoveWithGary.com 508-733-6005 By Gary Kelley Many people look at rental properties as the way to make a fortune over time. It’s hard to argue with selling a property after years of appreciation. With a rising market money can be made. Are you a landlord? The key question I ask someone thinking about acquiring a rental property is, “Do you have the intestinal fortitude to be a landlord?” They always look at me like I’m insulting them.
Sell your house in January?
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ Gary@MoveWithGary.com 508-733-6005 By Gary L. Kelley, Realtor® Conventional wisdom says homes in New England sell in the spring. It’s getting warmer, the birds are out, it aligns with school calendars, and any snow is melting. With 2020 in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to greet 2021 and sell your house. Early 2020 set the real estate world on its ear and it was still a great year overall. Why is January 2021 a time to sell?
Where's the meat? - Community Advocate
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ Gary@MoveWithGary.com 508-733-6005 By Gary Kelley A North Grafton reader dropped a note to the Community Advocate that said: “I have to say that some weeks I’ve been a bit disappointed in the various articles you publish by real estate agents. From the perspective of a buyer, I believe the articles ought to go into greater detail.
Don’t overlook permits – especially before selling your home - Community Advocate
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ Gary@MoveWithGary.com 508-733-6005 By Gary Kelley At 15-½ years old, I got my first permit. It was a driver learner’s permit and allowed me to chauffeur my parents around until I got a regular driver’s license at 16. I was so happy. And looked forward to any chance to drive the car.
It’s the summer of firsts
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ Gary@MoveWithGary.com 508-733-6005 By Gary Kelley I pay the Community Advocate to run my drivel. As I sit down each month to write these articles, I think of the people who come up to me and say things like, “I can’t keep Brenda and Eddie out of my mind,” and “I’m tired of COVID, too.” The news lately is a little discouraging (I am writing this Aug. 1). COVID-19 cases are going back up slightly. Schools are debating reopening safely.
I am so done with COVID-19
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ [email protected] 508-733-6005 By Gary Kelley Before you petition the Community Advocate saying I’ve lost my mind….or am disrespecting those lost to this virus…hear me out. In this column, I cover relatable real estate topics. Lofty items like “paint your front door because buyers will look at it while their agent fumbles with the keys.” Or the ever-popular, what color should you paint (neutral, and today this means gray)?
It’s an evolving new normal
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ [email protected] 508-733-6005 By Gary Kelley Coronavirus disease is affecting all of us. When you read this, we will be in a surge of the pandemic in Massachusetts. Let’s be real: this sucks. It just sucks. Has real estate stopped? Real estate continues every day. COVID-19 is forcing agents and companies to shake decades of standard practices and reinvent parts of the process. This is ultimately good as waste will be driven out.
Strategies in an inventory constrained market
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ [email protected] 508-733-6005 By Gary L. Kelley, Realtor® It seems everywhere I go the chatter is about the real estate market and the lack of inventory. Sellers are thinking it’s time to raise prices and list “as is,” while buyers are frustrated. Here’s what I could share with them. Dear Seller, Yes, your home is fabulous and unique, just like all the others in your neighborhood.
What about buyers?
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ [email protected] 508-733-6005 (Continued from last month.) By Gary Kelley Last month I wrote about getting to an accepted offer. YAY! At this point you will be scheduling a home inspection and choosing an attorney. The home inspection timeframe is defined in the offer and generally is relatively short. You will need to select an inspector and coordinate the inspection. You must attend the inspection.
What about buyers? - Community Advocate
Gary Kelley, Realtor – http://www.MoveWithGary.com/ [email protected] 508-733-6005 By Gary Kelley “You write a lot about selling a home. Do you ever work with buyers?” Yes is the resounding answer! In 2019, we closed 36 transactions: 18 listings, 13 buyers and five rentals. Many of the people selling their homes look to us to help them find their next home, so it is a natural. We’ve also helped first-time buyers get into a home, and helped others upsizing homes.
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