It has been a little bit over a year and a half since I joined my new brokerage company, eXp Realty and I have to say that the training I have received has been top notch.  I'm a bit of a techie (okay, I'm totally a techie) and I naturally gravitated towards the classes on inbound marketing and search engine optimization. One of my best friends is a business owner and what I would consider a professional salesman.  My mother-in-law used to say that he could "talk a hungry dog off a meat wagon" and I have to say it is true.  He just has a natural gift to sell anything. I was recently talking with him about how I have been implementing the skills I have learned from my weekly online training classes at eXp Realty on SEO and inbound marketing and he was telling me how powerful inbound mark... 12/10/2011

  When first time home buyers are told what they might have to expect at closing, it’s like sticker shock.    First time home buyers need to be educated on what they will have to bring to the table when papers are transferred.  Cost of taxes and administrative costs vary in some states and can either be a plus or a minus.       My husband and I bought our first home in our mid years and we were naturally very excited and happy that the bank approved our loan.  From then on it was a matter of getting our affairs in order and preparing to move.  At that time we depended solely on our agent for all details and when we were given a reasonable estimate of the closing costs, we listened but with almost half an ear.  It was like the day you get married and you’re so excited during the ceremony... 11/28/2011

  Schedule a Showing/Request Info Salem, NH Real Estate Pelham, NH Real Estate Windham, NH Real Estate Atkinson, NH Real Estate Hampstead, NH Real Estate Plaistow, NH Real Estate   Prudential Verani Realty Salem Prudential Verani Realty Salem 888-723-0306 webrequest@verani.com Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property. 112 Druid Hill Ave.Methuen, MAScan with your smartphone & take me with you. Description Features Photos Maps & Local Schools     LQQK what we have here! So $ Click for current price2 BEDROOMS2 BATHROOMS (1 full, 1 half) 965 Square Feet LQQK what we have here! So Ready For Your Arrival with So Many Updates; New Roof, Central Air, Windows, Water Filtration System, Freshly Painted Insi... 10/24/2011

  Schedule a Showing/Request Info Salem, NH Real Estate Pelham, NH Real Estate Windham, NH Real Estate Atkinson, NH Real Estate Hampstead, NH Real Estate Plaistow, NH Real Estate   Prudential Verani Realty Salem Prudential Verani Realty Salem 888-723-0306 webrequest@verani.com   Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property. One Riverview Blvd Methuen, MA Scan with your smartphone & take me with you. Description Features Photos Maps & Local Schools     Bright, Sunny, Immaculate, extremely well cared $ Click for current price 2 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS (2 full / 1 half) 1291 Square Feet   Bright, Sunny, Immaculate, extremely well cared for Prides Crossing Townhouse is ready to move right in. Nothing to be ... 05/27/2011

Like new 4 bedroom Colonial on   Quick Links   Salem, NH Real Estate     Pelham, NH Real Estate     Windham, NH Real Estate     Atkinson, NH Real Estate     Hampstead, NH Real Estate     Plaistow, NH Real Estate       See Property Details   Call: for more information on this or any other property.   Visit Property Website                     Like new 4 bedroom Colonial on dead-end street in East Methuen. So close to shopping & highways. This home offers a wonderful open floor plan with hardwood flooring, gas fireplaced living room, bathrooms with granite counters. If you like to cook you will love this large kitchen with granite counters and cabinets galore. 1st floor laundry. Four generous size bedrooms. Master has 3/4 bathroom. 1,878 s.q. of open space plus a 1 car garage, deck with ... 03/15/2011

A question that I hear often is are Massachusetts property taxes higher or lower than New Hampshire property taxes?  For my valued clients, I put together a blog post comparing MA property tax rates and NH property tax rates in some select cities and towns that I cover in Boston's North Shore and Southern NH. I hope that you enjoy my post. Property Tax Rates MA Property Tax Rates NH Mass Property Taxes NH Property Taxes   02/04/2011

Methuen MA Real Estate Market Reports in Q2 2010 Single Family Home Sales The Methuen, MA 2nd quarter homes sold report indicates that there were 101 homes sold in Q2 2010 as compared to 89 in 2009. This represents a 13% increase in the number of homes sold. The average sales price changed from $258,381 in 2009 to $284,256 in 2010, a 10% increase in value. The days on market changed -30 % from 128  to 90. Visit Methuen MA homes and condos sold report for market statistics including condominium sales. Visit Methuen MA real estate for information about the community, relocation, demographics, MLS search, home buying and selling guides. Go to Methuen MA homes for sale to view current listings of homes, condos, multi-family and land listings. The Methuen MA real estate homes sold Q2 2010 r... 12/19/2010

I put together a detailed Methuen MA real estate market report for single family homes and condos for the month of October 2010. Single Family Homes Here is a report summary for single family homes in Methuen, MA for the month of October 2010. Active Listings Lowest Price: $34,700 Median Price: $279,721 Highest Price: $610,000 Average Price: $283,429 Price Changed Listings 70 single family listings have had a price change of an average decrease of 4.12% in October. Pending/Under Agreement Listings Lowest Price: $74,921 Median Price: $229,900 Highest Price: $269,900 Average Price: $215,100 Sold Listings Lowest Price: $121,000 Median Price: $220,000 Highest Price: $349,900 Average Price: $217,746 Expired Listings A total of 23 listings have expired in Methuen MA in October 2010. Here is a... 11/02/2010

We have done enough short sales to see our fair share of bankruptcies occur. There is an impact to a homeowner’s credit and their short sale if they file bankruptcy. Homeowner’s in need of filing need to speak to an experienced attorney if they are considering bankruptcy as an option to stall a foreclosure or capture their deficiency from a short sale. I would even suggest they find a bankruptcy attorney that also specializes in Real Estate. Rapid Property Relief, LLC works with several experienced attorneys. When we meet with homeowners facing foreclosure or with mounting debt, we always refer our clients to attorney’s who we have worked with in the past or that we know see the value of a short sale as opposed to foreclosure. I was granted the distinct opportunity to interview one of t... 10/23/2010

Four homes sold in Methuen, MA the past week of October 15th, 2010. Three were existing single family homes and one was a brand new condo in The Village at Russell Farm, a 55+ community in Methuen, MA that is still building and selling new units.  15 Brook Street was a bank owned property.  For additional information and statistics visit my recent blog post on Methuen MA Real Estate. Chris LefebvreRealtor ®eXp Realtychris.lefebvre@exprealty.com978-835-1776 Additional Methuen MA Real Estate information is available on my personal blog site TeamLefebvre.net.     10/22/2010

People misunderstand the terms deficiency and deficiency judgment when explaining the risks in short sales or foreclosure actions.  It is easy to do.  Short sales and foreclosures are confusing for most homeowners.  Even after explaining the potential outcomes of a short sale or foreclosure in Massachusetts or New Hampshire homeowners still are overwhelmed. Do not confuse deficiency and deficiency judgment.  They are two separate terms.  In short sales, if a short sale is negotiated a lender may refuse to release the deficient portion of the note.  So for example, a home that has a note of $200,000 for which a buyer is purchasing for $150,000 has a deficient amount of $50,000.  Most homeowners cannot afford to bring $50,000 to closing so that $50,000 can either be forgiven debt by the l... 10/15/2010

Short sales are a mishmash of paperwork, time, anxiety and questions, and one of the biggest questions I receive from Massachusetts and New Hampshire homeowners wanting to short sale their home is, "What do I write in my hardship letter to the lender?" This is a simple question to answer, but the details of most hardships are never simple for a homeowner facing foreclosure.Assuming you truly have a hardship and are just not "walking away" from your home, what I tell homeowners to write is this:    Explain to your lender what circumstances from the time you took out your loan until now,  led you to not be able to afford your house and payments.Therein lies your answer to your hardship.For most homeowners I've worked with they seem to be facing job loss, or reduction in pay, medical reaso... 10/14/2010

Methuen MA Short Sales - Pre-foreclosure Values As a home buyer looking for value in the purchase of real estate a short sale may be your best option. Buying a Methuen Massachusetts short sale is a difficult and often a frustrating process. To achieve your goal, hire experienced professionals that understand all aspects of the transaction. Expert advice can be provided by real estate agents, attorneys, mortgage brokers, bankers and home inspectors. Visit Methuen MA real estate for tools and resources to evaluate the community. What is a Short Sale? Homeowners in financial distress should consider various options, including a short sale, prior to foreclosure. This process may be the best option to preserve their credit and limit their debt exposure. In MA, the laws governing foreclosures... 10/03/2010

I prepared a market area report for you for Methuen, MA for the month of 9/2010. Active Single Family Listings Active Listings: 189 Average Days on Market: 187 Average List Price: $316,595 Sold Single Family Listings Single Family Homes Sold: 40 Average Sale Price: $293,281 Average Days on Market: 108 Active Condo Listings Active Listings: 83 Average Days on Market: 160 Average List Price: $252,056 Sold Condo Listings Number of Condos Sold: 10 Average Sale Price: $220,180 Average Days on Market: 87   Contact me if you would like a PDF copy of the full market area report or if you have any questions about the Methuen market.  I am a lifelong resident and know the area well. Methuen MA Real Estate information is available on my personal blog site TeamLefebvre.net.  I invite you to follow ... 09/30/2010

Tonight after a long day of work today my wife surprised me with a special dinner.  She prepared a full traditional Thanksgiving dinner about 2 months early.  I guess this was a practice run for the real thing!  My wife is a great cook and the meal was fabulous, but it made it just a little bit better knowing she bought a fresh turkey that was raised 5 minutes down the road from us right here in Methuen, MA.  Raymond’s Turkey farm has been in business in Methuen since 1950 and it is a tradition and local favorite for many local residents and visitors alike. There is no comparison between a fresh, local, organically raised turkey compared to a store bought frozen bird.  Besides fresh and frozen turkeys, Raymonds also offers all the side fixings for a complete turkey dinner, fabulous turk... 09/27/2010

Methuen MA Foreclosures, Short Sales and Bank Owned Homes for Sale Purchasing a home at a Methuen MA foreclosure auction has many risks to a potential buyer and in most cases the bank will bid and take possession of the property at auction. The property is then referred to as bank owned, REO (real estate owned) or foreclosed property. A home owner may attempt a "short sale" whereby the bank agrees to accept less than the mortgage balance based on the owner's hardship and financial status. Obtaining approval can be a long and difficult process. Additionally, there is no assurance that the lender will accept an offer at or above the listed price. Bank-owned and short sale listings are often marketed with a real estate agent and placed in the Massachusetts Multiple Listing Service (to ens... 09/12/2010

Sold $460,000 Closed August 30th. Seller walks from a large deficiency judgment with Litton Loan.  From Listed to Sold less than 4 months. One question I get from many home buyers as well as real estate agents is "how much is owed on the home?"  When it comes to doing a short sale and receiving a short sale approval the size of the deficiency is generally not important to the bank.   What the bank looks at in a short sale deficiency is what is fair market value today and what is the price of the offer sitting on the table.   If you are a short sale seller or a short sale buyer, my recommendation is do not worry about the size of the deficiency.  I have done short sales where the deficiency is over 50% of what is owed on the property.  Again, the bank does all of its calculations off of ... 09/03/2010

SELLER BEWARE  - Massachusetts and New Hampshire short sales - check your arms length transaction paperwork.   My company is a pre-foreclosure acquisition company.  We specialize in the purchase, negotiation and resale of short sales in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  Short sales can be a great way for homeowners to avoid foreclosure.   We resell the property we take title too, so our disclosures are very specific. Most homeowners and purchasers are required by most lenders to sign an arms length transaction.  I will explain that more in a minute, but because we are investors we seem to fall under watchful eyes more than most buyers.  That's fine with me because everything we do has been checked, and double checked by my team of lawyers, title companies, agents etc.   We get several c... 08/01/2010

Methuen Massachusetts Real Estate Market Reports for 2009 Single Family Home Sales The Methuen, MA real estate market report indicates that there were 322 homes sold in 2009 as compared to 315 in 2008. This represents a 2% increase in the number of homes sold. The average sales price changed from $292800 in 2008 to $265395 in 2009, a 9% decrease in value. The days on market changed 7 % from 117  to 125. Visit Methuen MA real estate for information about the community, relocation, demographics, MLS search, home buying and selling guides.   Go to Methuen MA homes for sale to view current listings of homes, condos, multi-family and land listings. Condominium Sales The Methuen, MA condominium market data indicates that there were 97 condos sold in 2009 as compared to 100 in 2008. This repre... 07/19/2010

I was sitting at my computer wondering what I was going to offer for my next blog when I realized in the background the history channel was playing the biography of President Washington.  I was getting a refresher course in how this great leader won the battles for his country and built up the Continental army.  His dogged determination and sense of liberty and justice is what made the record for his successes.  Coming back to being a full service Realtor now depended on getting my own leads.  To say the least I was daunted by the task because I had to get back to marketing and seek information to propel me forward.  It's difficult to establish yourself when your out of the public view for a time.  I could not resist listening to the rest of the program and when it finished, I realized ... 07/02/2010