Massachusetts Real Estate and More

photo cc:  Maggie Smith/freedigitalphotos.net   It's that time of the season again in New England, when the trees get covered with frost and then the branches get weighed down with snow. It's that time of the year when the streets get covered in black ice and the snow plows start their annual con...

  Just in the nick of time as flu season goes into the peak winter months, more flu vaccine has been delivered to Wellesley!  Get in line early, as there are limited quantities.  As has been the case in neighboring towns, people from all over the Commonwealth and New Hampshire are likely to look ...

  On December 3, 2009, the IRS announced the new standard mileage rates for the business use of an automobile or incurred in connection with a move beginning January 1, 2010.  The standard mileage rates are allowed as an optional way to reimburse employees in lieu of submitting receipts for actua...

        How many hats does your Realtor wear?  And how many hats does your Realtor disclose that they are wearing? We represent a large number of buyers looking at condominiums for purchase.  Similarly, we regularly go out on listing appointments for condominium sales. Invariably, we run across ...

Do Open Houses Work?  Just ask the competition.  The following is an excerpt of an e-mail written by one of my colleagues who owns a franchised office of Weichert Realtors.  He recently hired away the entire office of another national brand in his town.  I have edited his remarks to maintain the...

One of my agents came up to me today to ask if I could arrange to pay her through Commission Express.  It seems that her sister in-law was counting on my agent's upcoming closing more than my agent was. For those of you unfamiliar with this company - or the many others out there - these are simpl...

The House and Senate of our Commonwealth are reviewing final readings of proposed legislation, which when enacted, will drastically alter the licensing and continuing education requirements for real estate salespersons and brokers. House Bill 4169 will require a minimum 20 hours of continuing edu...

Bob Parsons from GoDaddy has done it again!  Each year he celebrates Veterans Day with a salute to the USMC.  Even Gomer Pyle would be proud.  Click here or on the graphic below to see this year's salute. Happy Veterans Day, everyone! And to those in our armed services, the US Navy, Coast Guard, ...

In a bit of positive news, Freddie Mac recently confirmed, in writing, that Loan Servicers may not renegotiate sales commissions below the amount agreed to by real estate brokers and sellers, whcih is now consistent with Fannie Mae policy on the same issue.  Previously, Freddie Mac officials has ...

In another incidence of media frenzy, and haste to be the first to get the news out (a la Fort Collins Balloon Boy), more inaccurate information has hit the wire.  The extended tax credit is not yet approved There is talk that the extended (and possibly expanded) credit will have the following fe...