Heath's Blog

Preliminary CC&IMLS Statistics for October 2009

Single Family | #Sales | Median | $Value | DOM

• October 2009 | 330 | $336,700 | $154,029,292 | 150
• October 2008 | 296 | $337,250 | $155,716,315 | 157

Condominiums

• October 2009 | 79 | $260,000 | $20,972,155 | 224
• October 2008 | 79 | $259,500 | $21,961,262 | 192

All Sales

• October 2009 | 431 | $184,528,417
• October 2008 | 393 | $183,596,997

The Information shows an uptick in volume!

Here is a concise explanation of the benefits, tax advantages, tuition gifts and other subsidies that are planned for people in the US without permission. I watched the video below and kept waiting for the "april fools" punchline or the saturday night live cast to break in. You can't make this list up. Here is the youtube of the CNN report about the new bill.

If you don't want to watch the video, here is what the bill includes:

• No taxes for people who are in the US without permission
• People who are in the US without permission would be able to claim an earned income tax credit from US taxpayers
• English is not required for people who are in the US without permission, until nine years after an application for amnesty
• In state tuition would be provided for people who are in the US without permission
• All emigration procedings would be stopped and allow any people who are in the US without permission to apply for amnesty
• If people were in the US without permission and got deported, they could now get amnesty
• Temporary Visas will be renewable indefinitely
• Priority given to Mexican citizens for admission to the US
• Legal status 24 hours after applying for it, regardless of whether a background check is complete.
• Imigration attorneys for imigrants to the US will be paid for by the US taxpayers
• If a gang member says they aren't a member anymore, they will receive amnesty
• Us will give money to the Mexican government so they can try to convince Mexicans to stay in Mexico
• Top priority for eliminating borders between the US, Canada, and Mexico
• Border fence shortened from 800 miles to 200

Of course, these benefits are all for people who are not US citizens. Am I missing something?

If you need something different for Thanksgiving to spice up the usual cranberry sauce, take a look at the selection at Tihonet Market Village in Wareham, MA. They are actually the world's largest cranberry grower. I tried their cranberry vinaigrette salad dressing - very good!

During the growing and harvest season they have tours. I saw a few bogs still being harvested, but the tours have now ended for this year. They have some good pics on their site though.

The market area is open all day for food and cranberry specialties like the salad dressing I mentioned. I forgot to look but you can probably get cranrasins there too. It is a quite and peaceful place for soup and a sandwich if you're in the area.

The prices are reasonable, under $7.50 for the most expensive - 1/2 a sandwich and a cup of chowder! I'll be up there again today and might just have to stop again.

Should you get a septic inspection?
It is extremely important to have a proper, thorough, inspection of the septic system components if you are buying a home with a septic system. Unfortunately for many home buyers, the typical brief septic inspection tells you very little about the real state of the septic system. In my state, the tank is uncovered and viewed, and the scum level and depth is noted. A diagram is drawn indicating the location of the components. Septic inspections for the sale/purchase of a home is a limited visual inspection to determine the condition of the septic field and function of the sewage disposal system.

In some parts of the country, septic inspections are paid for by the sellers and in others, the buyers have to do their own inspections. As part of the home inspection process, in my part of the country sellers provide the septic certification. My state requires an inspection before a closing can occur. It does not require a functioning system, only a test. In other states, the inspection is optional. When the system is not functioning properly, the parties negotiate a correction acceptable to the parties involved.

The importance of a septic inspection.
If the house has a private septic system it should definitely be inspected by a professional septic contractor. An improperly functioning system can be a messy health hazard.  If you are already working with an agent, ask the agent for names of local, dependable home and septic inspection companies, then contact several companies or visit their company websites to learn what services are offered and to ask about rates. Sometimes yu can arrange to have a septic inspection company present on the same day as the home inspection which makes it easy to attend both inspections. If the septic inspection is scheduled on a different day from the home inspection, you may want to be there. In my state, a records kept of past inspections and pumpings, so you can check on the history of the system before the inspection.  Also, if you have a private well and a septic system it is be a good idea to have a water test as well as a septic inspection. In my state, most lenders will require a well test anyway.

The septic inspection should be completed and reported to the parties early in the negotiation process. Both the buyer and the lender have an interest in the operation of the existing system. Occasionally a repair or repacement is necessary. Banks usually won't lend unless the system is good or scheduled to be made good. In my state, a system can be repaired upto two years after title changes to a new owner. How the system is corrected and when is left up to the parties involved. My experience is that lenders will "hold back" an amount equal to one and a half times the estimate for the fix. Once it is fixed, the bill is paid from the held back funds and any excess is distributed according to the agreement between the parties.

The Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs has issued an environmental certificateto Plymouth Rock Studios. This is another foundational part of the construction of Hollywood East in Plymouth, MA. The certification came on Friday.

The PRS press release (found here) includes the following information:

"This decision demonstrates that the project will create jobs and establish a clean new industry in the Commonwealth. The Secretary's certificate represents a comprehensive review of the environmental impacts related to the project," said Plymouth Rock Real Estate Investments, President and CEO, Bill Wynne. "This certificate not only allows us to move forward but also validates the measures we have taken to minimize environmental impacts and go the extra step to provide regional environmental benefits through our low impact design and off-site infrastructure improvements."

In the press release The MA Secretary of Energy is quoted as saying that there are over 3,100 jobs being created by PRS at Hollywood East - more than originally reported. Welcome news for Southeastern MA.

If you'd like to learn more about Bill Wynne, he is interviewed in the latest installment of The Series.

There is a bill in Congress that appears to be intended to create more extensive power for the president. It would establish a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency under the executive branch, with the authority to oversee, review, and police consumer protection laws for financial products and institutions.

The agency's jurisdiction for reviewing financial matters would include mortgages, credit cards, student loans, auto loans, payday loans, and more. It is sponsored by, Mr. Fixit, Barney Frank. There's an interesting kicker in the amendments.

Some who keep a watch on bills in Congress have concluded that a recent ammendment would provide for the appointment of board members from groups like ACORN. The bill doesn't name the controversial group specifically, but this most recent amendment includes language that makes it easy for ACORN like groups to qualify as board members.

The bill is HR 3126 Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009. It can be read in a number of places, in its entirety, on the Internet. One site that Intrigued me is the Open Congress Site. The bill is linked, referenced, and discussed. Extra information is provided about those who support it and who oppose it.

Proponents comment that something needs to be done. They argue that toasters have to pass more scrutiny than financial products. Financial products can have more impact on families than toasters can. We probably could use more protection in the financial industry, but we already have a few agencies in place don't we?

You can buy an ebook for every social media site. You can take every course offered for each social media site. There are tons of social media specialists.

But this article, "10 Small Business Social Media Marketing Tips" by Ross Kimbarovsky is one of the most concise and complete quick lists I have seen. He goes through what the most well known concepts and sites are and how to use them. There is a section under each one for the novice and for the advanced user.

If you need to start a Social Media Map, then this article can be your GPS.

Happy listing and selling!

Now that Plymouth Rock Studios has their $550,000,000 to build the Hollywood East Studios in Plymouth MA, now is the time to secure your east coast privacy! Falmouth MA claims to have more waterfront than any other town in the United States. Private locations with waterfront, are desireable and will probably become moreso as interest grows in the Hollywood East complex.

Right now in Falmouth, there are some wonderful properties that provide views, beach, and privacy for the discerning buyer. Cape Cod has long been known as having some of the best weather in the world for vacationers. Those of us who get to live here in Falmouth year round, know that we actually have pretty good weather all year!

If you are planning to work at Hollywood East, you should get to know the Falmouth real estate market.

The FBI has verified, on their web site, that there is a "Jury Duty Scam". This is a phone related scam, so if you know anyone who doesn't use the Internet, especially older people, you should make sure they do not become a victim. The caller claims to be a court officer, and then accuses the victim of missing a jury duty appointment. After the victim is sufficiently worried about failing to report for jury duty, the caller then suggests that they verify if they have the correct person. It is at that point that they ask for ss number, birth date, and sometimes even credit information.

The caller works the conversation into a threat of a fine that can be paid over the phone by a credit card. What is amazing is that this has been going on in some form since early 2005! If you have one of these calls, or know someone who has, one thing to do is *69 after you hang up. This will give you the phone number that the call was made from.  Then contact the FBI and report the incident.

You can also use *57 which records the phone call at the phone company as a "call trace". One web site says: "When you activate the Call Trace code (*57) immediately following the harassing call, the caller's phone number is recorded by the phone company."  But *57 doesn't give you the phone number. The phone company has to get an authorization form before the harasser's phone number can be turned over to law enforcement and there may be a fee. Some phone companies charge you each time you use Call Trace and others have a monthly charge for an unlimited number of traces.

If the phone number is blocked, tracing the call may help the FBI or other law enforcement agencies gather enough information to go after the schemers even from the perspective of "Do Not Call" fines and penalties, especially if your phone is on the DNC list. In any case, don't get your identity stolen this way. Tell someone who might be a victim to be careful, too.

It was a peaceful morning on the Vineyard as I walked by this small fishing shack. It was a short trip to check on a house. There were a few ducks and birds still swimming around that had not gone south yet. The leaves on the Vineyard trees were still changing. They are probably peaking right now. I'll be back on the Vineyard for a class in the afternoon. It wil probably more busy.