The Falmouth Street Fair was held today. Between showings and meetings I snapped a few pics. The weather kept many visitors away, but there was still a steady throng of shoppers and eaters. The pictures below are outside the Robert Paul Properties Falmouth Office, looking up Main Street east toward the harbor, and looking southeast across the library lawn and Main Street. A drizzle has started now at 4:15pm so many of the shoppers are starting to head to their cars and home. Just one more fun thing to do on the Cape when you come visit! Best wishes,   07/14/2010

Bank of America has an online manual that may help agents and homeowners with a short sale. It can be found and copied by clicking on the link below. The first pages of the 40 page document show agents of a homeowner how to set up an account, and the how to utilize the BOA system - this is for the BOA system only. Keep in mind, you still have to know what you are doing! If you haven't done a short sale before, you might set up an account, read all the steps, use a search engine to study what the components of each step are made up of (like a HUD1), and then you MIGHT try it. There are qualified professionals who have experience, so it is usually better for you to leave this type of sale to them. Mistakes can be costly. I have posted the "BOA short sale manual" as a reference ONLY. You m... 07/12/2010

Robert Paul Properties Here's Your Invitation to the Open House at our new Falmouth Office!   You're invited to attend our    Falmouth Office OpeningEnjoy Good Food & Drink andCelebrate The Beginning of Summer With UsFriday July 9th - 4 pm to 7 pm 279 Main Street, Falmouth508.540.9800  click to add Heath Coker to your contacts  click to add Holly Coker to your contacts Forward as an email Robert Paul Properties | PO Box 622 | Osterville | MA | 02655 07/08/2010

Here is a note I received from the Falmouth Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS). If you or someone you know loves sailing, buy a pizza tomorrow! Print and present the coupon below to help the Falmouth Clipper Sailing Team! The request and information I received is as follows: Hi friends! Falmouth High School has a good sailing team! One problem: It is the only team in the league that does not own their own boats. Despite using rental boats that are in poor condition, they still came in 2nd in their division this year!  The 420 boats are expensive, and they have taken on a big, but achievable goal: Our student captains have set a goal to raise enough money to purchase some new "420" racing boats! In support of their efforts, one of the local Papa Gino's resturants has offered to donate 2... 07/06/2010

Trend in Home Sales in Falmouth MA - Improving, or...? Home prices in Falmouth are on the rise! They've increased by 9.7% since May of 2009. The current average listing price of homes for sale in Falmouth MA is $715,348, up 2.9% from a month ago. Compare this to the current median sales price of $482,500 - where half of sales are above this amount and half below it. 2 and 4 bedroom homes are selling for more while 3 bedroom homes have fallen slightly in price. Below is a chart of the trend of median prices of homes for sale in Falmouth MA over the past year through May 2010: Falmouth Recently Sold Homes The number of sales have risen for all styles of homes in the past 3 months, but down from just a month ago: Falmouth Recently Sold Homes So what does all this mean? Well, if you're look... 07/06/2010

Here is some housing market data for Falmouth MA. It shows that there have been twice as many properties coming on the market as have been sold. And the current inventory is almost 1 year. This chart is for Non-Waterfront properties only. While Falmouth has more waterfront that any other town in the country, there are many more homes in Falmouth that are not on the water. The average list to sale price shows 95%. The only problem I have with that nymber/percentage is that is relative to the listing price at the time it went under agreement. This does not take into account that the property may have been on the market at a higher price. Buyers can be misled to think that 95% of the listing price is what they can expect to pay on average. However, that is only true for a correctly priced ... 06/28/2010

Here is what the EPA says should be done for a correctly administered radon test. You will see some parts are hard to control if you are not in control of the activity at the property. When I spoke to Roger Parras at the MA Department of Health, he stated that if you aren't living in the home, you can't control the conditions that will produce the best test results. These EPA instructions can be found on the EPA website: When You Place The Radon Test Kit(s) Yourself For a short-term test (less than a four day period):- close all windows and outside doors at least 12 hours before beginning the test- keep all windows and doors closed for the duration of the test period (except for normal entry and exit)- do not conduct a short-term test during severe storms or periods of high winds - foll... 06/24/2010

Falmouth Massachusetts Real Estate and Homebuying Guide How to Buy Real Estate in Falmouth, Massachusetts Purchasing a home can be a very stressful and complicated process especially if you are a first time buyer. Enlisting the services of experienced real estate related professionals will provide you with the information and advice to make sound decisions in buying Falmouth MA real estate. Buyers often interview mortgage loan officers, Realtors, attorneys, home inspectors, accountants and financial advisers during the process of purchasing a property. Information regarding the home buying and selling process, demographics, commuting, school and relocation information can be found by visiting Falmouth MA Real Estate and Homes for Sale  Financing  Most home buyers will obtain a mortgage ... 06/06/2010

Falmouth MA Short Sales - Buying a Home at Pre-Foreclosure How to Buy a Falmouth, Massachusettts Short Sale  As a home buyer looking for value in the purchase of real estate you may consider a "short sale" as a viable option. The process of finding and buying a Falmouth MA short sale is not a typical real estate transaction. To have success, you must work with qualified professionals and understand the process. Utilize the services of Realtors, attorneys, accountants, mortgage lenders and home inspectors as they all provide expert advice.  What is a Short Sale?  Homeowners that have financial hardships may pursue a short sale prior to foreclosure. This process may be a preferable option to preserve their credit and limit their debt exposure. In Massachusetts, the laws governing foreclos... 05/31/2010

In the past a borrower would have their credit scores checked once during the application process to see if they qualified for a loan. The credit report was generally good for 60 days. Now the law has changed and the lender will pull the borrower's credit report right before closing. So tell your customers not to put any unneccessary expenses on their credit cards until after the closing. The new appliances and furniture will have to wait. Here is copy of the post from the Massachusetts Real Estate Law Blog: ________________________________________ New Fannie Mae (LQI) Rules: Lenders Likely To Order Last Minute Credit Reports On Borrowers Posted: 25 May 2010 02:52 PM PDT Fannie Mae’s new Loan Quality Initiative (LQI) mandates become effective on June 1, 2010, and this will definitely cu... 05/29/2010

I have recently been involved with a bank owned property representing the buyer as a buyer's agent.  The listing agent assured me during the home inspection that the utilities would be accessible for the home inspection.   When the home inspector inspected the furnace which had a tankless hot water heater and serviced by an oil burner he realized that the old furnace, which was obviously obsolescent, was out of oil. I spoke to the listing agent after the home inspection was over and told her that she had overlooked this item in preparing the house for the home inspection.  She said she was aware of it but it wasn't a big deal.  The tenants who had previously occupied the house assured her the furnace worked.  I told her that it was important because the client who was making a decision ... 05/24/2010

Each year for the last 16 years, Falmouth resident Sandy Cuny and many volunteers and contributors have produced an all night party for juniors and seniors at Falmouth High School. The post-prom celebration is an all-night safe haven for teens in Falmouth where they can eat, create, play games and enjoy entertainment at no cost. All the decorations, food, games, and entertainment are provided by local businesses and individuals. For three days, teams of parents decorate the inside of the Gus Canty Community Center in a theme that is picked at the annual Celebrations meeting. This year they chose "Holidays/Festivals" as their theme. There was a sports room for Fathers' Day, a Valentine Cafe, and the Casino Room was modeled after New Orleans and Mardi Gras! Planning and fund raising goes ... 05/23/2010

Here are two market reports that show the number of days a house has been on the market from 2006 to 2009 has increased from 116 days to 152 days in 2009.  Essentially it is taking 5 months to sell your house given the current market condition. In addition, the number of houses sold in 2006 was 427 homes.  This number was down to 387 homes in 2009.  It is interesting to see the same number sold in 2008.  Does this indicate that we have reached the bottom?   The average home price in 2006 was $581,703 the average home price in 2009 was $457,006.  This is down 27% from 2006. 05/20/2010

I just received a call from the Falmouth fire department informing me that smoke detector inspections in the town of Falmouth MA cannot be scheduled until after June 16 because all the slots are full. On the one had this is good news, because that means that there are lots of closing happening! On the other hand it means that offers have to carefully written. This may be a temporary blitz because of the end of the tax credit. Or, it could be a good sign that the real estate market has at least stabilized in Falmouth. Or, it cold be the fire departments way of telling the public that they are short staffed. For what ever reason, if you are buying property in Falmouth, make sure you are writing your offer with the understanding that scheduling a smoke inspection could be a problem. A smok... 05/20/2010

The latest verification strategy for landlords is to search social media sites for information and pictures about tenants. Social media sites are a source of what people are like at home, work, and play. Many people place pictures that help describe their lifestyle, interests, and hobbies. There are many examples of how social media pictures and posts have changed celebrity endorsements and public impressions for many publicly notable people. That has evolved into tech savvy landlords researching their prospective tenants to see what social media sites display. Sometimes the info is reassuring and sometimes it is enlightening. If you are a tenant or a prospective tenant, the next time you are tagged in a picture, or referenced in a blog or post, consider how a landlord might contemplate... 05/07/2010

Here is a simple, five question test. These questions not only test what you know, they test how well you pay attention. Sometimes it is not what we know but how we respond to what is being asked. It is amazing how the mind works. How well does yours work? Here is a warm up to get you started: What is the opposite of black?What color is snow?What color is a polar bear?What do cows drink?     Cows dring water. Ready?   FIRST QUESTION: YOU ARE A PARTICIPANT IN A RACE. YOU OVERTAKETHE SECOND PERSON. WHAT POSITION ARE YOU IN?     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~        ANSWER:  IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE FIRST, THEN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG! IF YOU OVERTAKE THE SECOND PERSON AND YOU TAKE HIS PLACE, YOU ARE IN SECOND PLACE! TRY TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME.NOW ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION, BUT DON'T TAKE AS M... 05/06/2010

Falmouth, Massachusetts Real Estate and Homes for Sale - Direct MLS Access The Falmouth MA real estate and home buying process can be complicated and you will benefit from the guidance of industry professionals. A real estate buyer's agent, mortgage lender and an attorney are the primary advisers in the purchase of property. If you are a first-time home buyer or an existing owner, you may qualify for a tax credit and could be eligible for special financing programs. Start your search be determining your price range, housing needs and lifestyle you desire. Falmouth MA real estate will assist you in finding the right property to meet your needs from local area homes for sale, foreclosed listings (bank-owned), land, condominiums,  all through the MA Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Request ... 05/03/2010

Map based search will locate all available listings or specifically FORELCOSURES in Falmouth on a map. View listings by street, neighborhood, commute, satellite view and listing density. Go to: FALMOUTH FORECLOSURES MASHPEE FORECLOSURES SANDWICH FORECLOSURES BOURNE FORECLOSURES You will see located on the map: All foreclosures listings currently on the market Search criteria options List and thumbnail pictures of the listings Select FALMOUTH, MA WATERFRONT under Popular Searches to view waterfront homes on the map. Virtual Homes agents will provide follow up assistance. 800-856-2479. Visit the following web sites for additional resources on Cape Cod. FALMOUTH REAL ESTATE CAPE COD REAL ESTATE Go to MA MLS SEARCH if you would like a map search of all listings in the Massachusetts MLS Vis... 04/27/2010

Laurie C. Bailey-Gates | Virtual Homes Real Estate | 508-265-6722 00 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA 2.25 Acres located on the scenic west falmouth highway with 150 feet of frontage on 28A. 97,923 sqft Vacant Land offered at $359,000 Lot Size 97,923 sqft DESCRIPTION This a 2.25 acre lot with 150 feet of frontage. see additional photos below LOCATION FEATURES - Rectanglular, wooded, sloping lot ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Photo 1Photo 1Photo 1Photo 1 Contact info: Laurie C. Bailey-Gates Virtual Homes Real Estate 508-265-6722 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Apr 26, 2010, 1:15pm PDT 04/26/2010

Mortgage Rate Forecast for Falmouth MA for April 15, 2010 Here are some of the events affecting mortgage rates today in Falmouth, MA: What Mortgage Backed Securities Are Doing Today: The price of the FNMA 30-Year 4.5% MBS coupon opened at 99.97 this morning - the same as yesterday's close. At 9:30 AM, the 4.5% MBS coupon was trading at 99.94 - down 1/32 from its opening. Price Trend in Mortgage Backed Securities: The chart below shows the price trend of the FNMA 30-Year 4.5% coupon over the past 30 days from 3-16-2010 to 4-15-2010: Remember, on mortgage backed securities (MBSs), as the price goes up, the yield comes down - and so do mortgage rates. However, mortgages rates are up from early yesterday's trading. I expect that mortgage rates will be about the same in price this morning as... 04/15/2010