Massachusetts Real Estate Podcast with Paul Brouillette

Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessFriends, The 2021 holiday season has officially begun! We hope you are as excited as we are. We'd like to take a moment to express our gratitude to all of you this Thanksgiving. We have met some truly wonderful people, and we're proud to have helped so many reach their real estate goals over the years. We wouldn't be where we are today without all of your support. Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner—that's what we plan to do! In the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any real estate questions. We would be happy to help you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are the latest news and notes from our local real estate market.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessThe real estate market is currently experiencing a boom. Our clients have seen many showings, multiple offers, and increased sale prices—much more than expected. The average sale-to-list-price ratio is about 99% right now. Both inventory levels and days on market are at 20-year lows. Mortgage rates are at 50-year lows—though they're slightly increasing, so we're keeping an eye on them. We currently have a list of buyers who are ready to purchase and just waiting for new homes to hit the market. So if you're considering selling your house, now is the time. Your property is worth much more than you think it is.If you have any questions or would like a complimentary comparative market analysis, please feel free to reach out to us via phone or email. We would love to be your real estate resource.

Here's what you can expect from the rest of our 2021 real estate market.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessWhat's the market forecast for the rest of 2021? It was anticipated that between 5 and 5.25 million units would be sold nationwide throughout the year, which would equate to about 10.5 million transactions among buyers and sellers. Strong sales were also anticipated, and we're finding that even though interest rates are low, they have a tendency to move upward, which will prompt people to move quicker.In the summertime, as more people receive their vaccinations and we're able to further bypass the COVID-19 hurdle, we expect inventory to flow into the marketplace. People who've been staying inside for the past 18 months and held off on their home-selling plans due to COVID-19 will most likely finally list their properties. As the moratoriums are lifted for rent evictions and foreclosures, we also expect to see a surge of buyers. If you'd like to talk more about what the future holds for the rest of the 2021 market or have any questions at all, don't hesitate to call or email me. I'd love to speak with you.

Today we'll discuss the status of the current real estate market.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessAs we move into the spring market, we're finding that low inventory still prevails. That means there just aren't enough homes for the number of buyers attempting to become homeowners. Low interest rates are still very attractive, but there's upward pressure on them, meaning that buyers will want to move quickly if they want to take advantage of them.Our robust economy notwithstanding, many people have suffered the consequences of the pandemic and many businesses have been adversely affected. Still, well-priced homes are selling at a brisk clip. It's not unusual for appropriately priced homes in good condition to be generating multiple offers. Buyers are waiving contingencies to stay competitive. That's why having a skilled agent by your side is so important—you'll want professional help to navigate the waters of a multiple-offer situation. That way, if you're selling a home, you'll be able to optimize your sales price and terms. In some cases, buyers are waiving inspection, appraisal, and financing contingencies in order to make their offers highly acceptable in an extremely competitive environment.If you have any questions about the market or real estate in general, please feel free to reach out to us. We'd be more than happy to provide you with answers.

Here are just a few of the benefits of working with us at LAER Realty.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessHello, I'm Pamela Sherpa from LAER Realty Partners, and I'm a closing manager. My job is to make sure your closings are successful. However, the thing that is most crucial to us is ensuring our clients are satisfied with our services. It's always a great pleasure when past clients want to buy or sell again, or they want to refer us to someone they know. So today I'm sharing the benefits of working with our team. We are a four-member team: Paul Brouillette, Maureen Kelly, Joanne Meridian, and me. We are all licensed real estate agents and work 160 hours a week prospecting, looking for buyers for our sellers, and searching for home matches for our buyers. When you have an appointment or showing, we'll work around your schedule. Since there are four of us, someone is always available to assist you. Paul is also in Business Network International, which means he diligently networks with business professionals every week and has been doing so for over 15 years. This means that whenever our clients need help from a plumber, electrician, painter, handyman, etc., we can call someone in our network, and they'll be there to assist with whatever you need. The thing that is most crucial to us is ensuring our clients are satisfied with our services. Additionally, we are part of a community of over 500 agents who share listings before they come onto the market, which is potentially a $1,000 to $10,000 savings for buyers in a seller's market. In a seller's market, information is valuable; if you know a house is coming onto the market, you can do a drive-by, and if you're interested, you can schedule a showing and be ready to submit your offer immediately. On the flip side, we have at least 60 buyer leads coming in each week that we process, and any of them could lead to a showing or be a prospective buyer for our seller clients. I could keep naming advantages to working with us, but what we truly want is to ensure our clients are happy with our service and attention to detail. We care about our clients, and we hope that comes through in our interactions with you.If you have any questions about our team or how we can help with your real estate needs, call or email us. We would love to speak with you.

A closer look at what listing manager Maureen Kelly does for our team.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessHello, my name is Maureen Kelly, and today I want to introduce myself and explain what I do at LAER Realty. I'm the listing manager on Paul Brouillette's team, and it's my job to work with Paul before a listing is taken all the way until it's under contract, at which time it's handed to our transaction coordinator, Pamela, who you can get to know here. Before a listing is taken, I look into the home's area, history, comps, and more. Paul will compose a comprehensive market analysis, and I'll help him gather supplemental materials that might be necessary for the house or client. Before a listing is taken, I look into the home's area, history, comps, and more. Once we take a listing, I meet or speak with the owners and set up a timetable that's both comfortable for them and gives us enough time to prepare—this means ordering a sign, having a professional photography session, and having a professional stager assist with arranging the property for sale. The day the listing is launched, we'll have a full package of marketing materials, photographs, etc., that are shared with the public. Once the listing is up, I'm in touch with the sellers at least once per week (often more), and send them a meticulous report explaining how things have been going, what we can improve upon, and more. Everyone here works together and helps one another with their duties, so though the above is my main job, it takes a team to sell homes on the professional level we do.If you have any questions about my role or real estate in general, call or email us. We would love to help you.

Here's our short holiday message of thanks and good tidings to all of you.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessToday we want to say thank you for your support this year as we usher in the holiday season. This has obviously been a strange year with the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn, but thankfully, the real estate industry has maintained a steady course. We hope you and your family have a very happy and healthy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and new year.I'll leave you with these quotes to help lift your spirits in this season:“Christmas is not a time nor a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” - Calvin Coolidge“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly.” - Andy RooneyIf you have any questions for me, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Happy holidays!

Here's why the holiday season is a fantastic time to sell your home.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessHere are the top 11 reasons the holiday season is a great time to list your home:1. People who look for a home during the holidays are more serious buyers. 2. Buyers have fewer houses to choose from, which means less competition for you and (likely) more money in your pocket. 3. The supply of listings will increase dramatically come January, which means if you wait until then to put your home on the market, there will be less demand for it. Less demand means less money for you.4. Houses show better when they're decorated for the holidays. 5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays, so they're more likely to pay your asking price. 6. Buyers have more time to look for homes than they would during ordinary work weeks. By selling now, you have the opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during springtime when many more houses are on the market for less money. 7. Some buyers must buy before the end of the year for tax purposes.8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees can't wait until spring to buy, you have to be on the market now to capture this demographic. 9. Once your home is listed, you have the option to restrict showings for six or seven days when you don't want buyers walking through it. 10. You can sell now for more money, and we can mandate a delayed closing or extended occupancy until next year at your convenience. 11. By selling now, you have the opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during springtime when many more houses are on the market for less money. This will allow you to sell high and buy low. If you'd like to know more about why you should take advantage of the market now or if you're ready to start the listing process, don't hesitate to call or email me today. Feel free to reach out to me as well with any other real estate questions. I'd love to speak with you.

We're taking a moment today to express our gratitude for your support.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessWe are approaching Thanksgiving, and I wanted to extend a sincere message of thanks to all of you on behalf of our entire team. Thank you for your friendship, your business, the trust you place in us, your referrals, and all of your support in general. We very much appreciate the opportunity to help you determine where you want to live, how you want to sell your home, and more. We hope that we've made a positive difference in your lives like you have in ours, and we look forward to helping you in the future if you need us. To hear our full Thanksgiving message, watch the short video above.

Here's what my job as the closing manager at LAER Realty entails.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessMy name is Pemala Sherpa, and I'm the closing manager at LAER Realty Partners. My job is to make sure that your real estate transaction goes from the offer stage to the closing stage in a smooth, stress-free manner. So what exactly does that entail? To explain, let's go through what a real estate transaction looks like after an offer has been signed.The first step after the offer is signed is to schedule a home inspection, which is done by the buyer and their home inspector. The inspector's job is to uncover any issues with the property. Usually, there are issues with the home because most of them aren't brand-new. Whatever issues are uncovered, we help clients navigate them.The next step is to sign the purchase and sale agreement, which is prepared by your real estate attorney. The language of the agreement is there to protect your interests. After the purchase and sale agreement is signed, a copy is submitted to your lender, and we also make sure that your application is done and that you've ordered your appraisal. The appraisal is done by your lender to ensure that the property is worth what you're paying; the lender never wants you to pay more for a home than it's worth.Whatever issues are uncovered, we help clients navigate them. When the appraisal comes back correctly, the next step is for the lender to review all of your financial documents. If those documents are approved, the lender will then issue a commitment letter, which will allow you to have the funds for the house at the closing. Finally, once the commitment letter comes through, then we can go to the closing table where we'll help make sure that whatever needs to be done for the closing is completed in a timely manner.If you have any questions about my role or how to navigate a real estate transaction, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'd love to help you.

We've experienced record growth in home sales for June. Here's what that means for our market.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessAccording to the National Association of Realtors, we experienced a record climb in existing home sales in June. They report that the climb in real estate activity during that time constitutes a 20.7% increase. Per the report from Washington, “existing home sales rebound at a record pace in June, showing strong signs of a market turnaround after three straight months of sales decline caused by the ongoing pandemic.”‘This revitalization looks to be sustainable for many months ahead, as long as mortgage rates remain low and job gains continue to grow.' — Lawrence YunThe NAR also reported that each of the four major regions—the Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast—achieved month-over-month growth, with the West experiencing the greatest sales recovery. Existing home sales (completed transactions that included single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and co-ops) jumped 20.7% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.72 million homes in June. Sales overall, however, dipped year over year by 11.3%; during the same time last year, there were 5.32 million sales on a prorated average.The bottom line is that the sales recovery is going strong as buyers are eager to purchase homes that they had been eyeing during the shutdown. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the NAR, said, “This revitalization looks to be sustainable for many months ahead, as long as mortgage rates remain low and job gains continue to grow.”If you have any questions about what's happening right now in our real estate marketplace here in Merrimack Valley, please reach out to us. We'd love to hear from you.

Here's a brief message on the importance of upholding fair housing laws. Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessAs you already know, discrimination has no place in real estate. Now is an urgent time to act on our shared principle, NAR Director of Fair Housing Policy Bryan Greene says in NAR's latest “Pivot in Place” video. The neighborhoods where people reside, Greene notes, determine their access to education, safety, and health care—particularly critical issues in the middle of this pandemic. Therefore, equal housing opportunity is a vital component of helping everyone not only survive but thrive despite COVID-19.Not all real estate agents are Realtors; real estate agents who have not raised their right hand to affirm that they will apply all of the ethical standards and principles of our profession are not Realtors. As trusted Realtors who have taken the code of ethics, we abide by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) statues, which involve fair housing law. This type of law ensures that people of all national creeds, races, religions, genders, etc., are not discriminated against.We must never forget that some people in our cities and communities are dealing with systemic barriers that inhibit their access to the housing they need.It's important to understand that when you work with us, we will do whatever we can to abide by those ethical standards to protect you and your family under the law as it stands in the United States.We must familiarize ourselves with the recently adopted fair housing action plan, and it's also important for us to follow the principles illustrated in the “Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing” initiative; we must never forget that some people in our cities and communities are dealing with systemic barriers that inhibit their access to the housing they need. If you ever have any questions about fair housing or what needs to be done to abide by the standards of ethical conduct when it comes to your choice in renting, leasing, or purchasing a property, reach out to us by phone or email.

Here's a quick guideline of what you need to know about our market.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessWhat's happening in the real estate market right now? Here are the five main points to know:1. Real estate sales are strong and steady. I'm not just talking about Massachusetts, either—I also mean nationwide. 2. There's a lack of inventory (especially in Merrimack Valley). If you or someone you know is looking to sell, now's the time to do it. We recently listed two properties in Chelmsford that fielded six and nine offers in a single weekend. One of those properties sold for $43,000 above asking price. It's a seller's market. 3. Interest rates are still very low. The Federal Reserve set the bank rate at zero, and some buyers are getting 30-year fixed rates as low as 2.5% to 3.5%. There are also plenty of amazing programs for anyone looking to leave renting behind and make the leap to homeownership, so now's a great time to be a buyer as well. 4. We're still practicing COVID-19 safety protocols. This means wearing gloves and masks, maintaining a six-foot distance with clients, and only allowing one party in at a time during open houses (a maximum of three people). We also recommend that children not attend open houses, and we ask all potential buyers and their agents to wear masks and gloves. In some cases, people are requesting that in-home visitors wear booties on their feet.5. It's a great time to sell. I mentioned this point above, but it's worth mentioning again. With the unemployment rate still high and all of the other challenges the economy is facing, there's a chance that home values will decline near the end of 2020. If you're a seller, you're better off selling now while home values are peaking. As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to help.

These are some of the ways real estate has changed due to COVID-19.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessHere are a few of the key ways that the real estate industry has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic:1. Virtual options. Many listings are being presented via virtual tours, Matterport 3D tours, and social media platforms. Virtual offers are being accepted, too.2. In-person options. For the sellers holding in-person showings, they are having separate showing times and requesting that masks and gloves be worn by buyers and their agents. They're also asking people not to touch doors or light switches. We're also taking great care to make sure we don't infect a seller's home.3. Open houses with social distancing. We're having one family at a time enter the premises while the others wait outside. We're taking great care to make sure we don't infect a seller's home.4. Appraisals. Some are being done as desk reviews instead of physically going out to the property. It all depends on the lender with which you're working.5. Closing in two to three phases. There's a buyer phase with the buyer's attorney and the buyers, and a seller's phase with the seller's attorney and the sellers.If you have any questions for me, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email today. I look forward to hearing from you.

Here's how we're addressing the challenges of real estate amid COVID-19.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessOne of the main concerns for home sellers right now is our ability as real estate professionals to show and sell their homes as safely as possible during this pandemic. We achieve safety by: Forgoing group open houses.Verifying buyers have not been exposed to COVID-19, nor currently feel sick in any way. No one can enter your home unless they've been vetted. Conducting virtual meetings at a massive level. Teaching clients new ways to operate their business. The implementation of virtual signatures, contracts, and meetings have truly revolutionized many industries, including our own. While it's easy to focus on the obvious hurdles of buying and selling real estate during a health crisis, there are some real benefits for those interested in making a move in the market at this time:Only serious clients are looking for homes. There's no wasted time with looky-loos.Rates are still at historic lows. Though there's no telling how long that will last, many speculate it will remain through the end of the year. Sales are very competitive. There are plenty of active buyers out there hungry for a properly priced home in good condition. We're still expecting somewhere between 4 million and 4.5 million sales to occur nationwide in 2020. Sellers will likely net more money in June and July 2020 than in any other period for the next 12 to 24 months. This is largely because, in light of so many people being out of work, we are potentially rolling into what will be a long recession. Remember: Your safety is our No. 1 priority. We're using plenty of sanitizer and disinfectants, practicing social distancing, and wearing gloves, masks, and shoe guards. If you have any questions about real estate during these uncertain times, please reach out by phone or email. We'd love to help you in any way we can.

Do you know anyone who needs to sell? We want to speak with them!Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessI'm helping people make moves locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, and everyone's been asking how the real estate market is doing. The market is moving and very busy. Many buyers are waiting for homes to come onto the market; inventory is very low. So we're wondering: Who do you know who may want to sell their house? If you know someone who needs help selling or wants a free consultation, please reach out to us via phone or email. To learn more about our current market, watch the short video above.

The real estate industry is moving forward, and buyers' and sellers' health and safety are our top priorities. Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessDespite the COVID-19 pandemic's damaging effect on our stock market, the real estate industry is moving forward at a very strong pace, and people are still buying and selling homes. Today I'll update you on how we're focusing on the well-being of our clients, staff, and families. We're still open for business, and our day-to-day activities are continuing under CDC guidelines.As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic or are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to help, and I hope you stay safe.

We're all facing an international crisis with the coronavirus, but we're still operating our business as real estate professionals.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessWe're all facing an international crisis with the coronavirus, but we're still operating our business as real estate professionals. We're concerned with your health and well-being, and the safety of our clients and employees. Half of our team is currently working from home. We're taking special measures with social distancing, being careful about showing homes, how many people we allow into those homes, minimizing in-person contact with others, and so on. With all these precautions in place, we're still here to help you with real estate.

What's the latest word on the rental industry in the U.S.? Today I'll share what research has to say.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessHavard studies find that dwindling new home construction nationwide resulted in lower inventory for would-be buyers and accordingly, real estate developers have focused on building more upscale rental apartments in recent years. There are many people in the middle class who have opted not to purchase and are instead renting standard apartments or higher-end properties.According to Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, a research associate with Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, we're in a rental affordability crisis. Just a decade ago, more than two-thirds of people who rented an apartment or a single-family home in the U.S. earned less than $30,000 a year. Recently, however, Havard's research shows that in 2010, with the economy still suffering the effects of subprime mortgage crash, the share of middle-class renters had surged.Many Americans are struggling to find a home that they can afford to buy and are increasingly at pains to find a place they can afford to rent.As of 2018, 62% of renters (27.1 million people) earned middle-class incomes of between $30,000 and $75,000 per year. According to the study, at least 10.3 million families with annual incomes of at least $75,000 are renting the roof over their heads, which is a jump over the previous years. Many, many Americans are actually struggling to find a home that they can afford to buy and are increasingly at pains to find a place they can afford to rent because the influx of middle-class renters is pushing up prices in much of the country.If you have any questions about renting, buying, selling moving, feel free to reach out to us at LAER Realty Partners. We'd love to help you.

Juergen Keller was a pillar of the Chelmsford real estate community, and today's video blog is dedicated to him.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessToday's video blog is dedicated to my good friend Juergen Keller. Juergen passed away on January 3 of this year. Born March 22, 1927, he was 92 and a distinguished member of the real estate community for over 50 years in the Chelmsford area.He'll always be remembered as a statesman, gentleman, and mentor to many.His life was an outstanding example of what it means to be a man of integrity, and I'd like to share a few facts about him:He served as broker/owner of Century 21 Minuteman Realty for over 30 yearsHe was a part of the National Association of Realtors for over 50 years He introduced over 100 agents to the real estate community (including myself)He helped his company win The Centurion Award for productivity for 20 of the 30 years he headed itHe lived by the mantras, “Be a peacemaker always,” “Don't sweat the small stuff,” and “So shall it be written, so shall it be done.” Whenever someone asked him how he was doing, he always replied, “Terrific!”His hallmark virtues were integrity and honesty in all circumstances, which isn't always easy for those working in the real estate industry. He'll always be remembered as a statesman, gentleman, and mentor to many. Rest in peace, Juergen, and thank you for your friendship and support—not just on behalf of the Chelmsford community, but the entire real estate industry.

Investing in real estate is your next best move. Here's why.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessInvesting in real estate may be your next best move. Roughly 68% of all Americans are homeowners, so if you're a part of the 32% who keep helping their landlord become wealthy with monthly rent payments, the question is this: What would it take for you to go from a renter to a homeowner, and why is this important?There are loan programs across the country designed specifically for wannabe homeowners who don't have a lot of money saved. FHA loan programs, for instance, require only a 3.5% down payment to initiate your home purchase. There's also a program called Mass Housing which helps Massachusetts residents get better terms and conditions and lower interest rates—even if you have credit issues. If you upgrade your property, those benefits accrue to you over time.There are also great tax advantages to becoming a homeowner that you don't get as a renter. Additionally, you can take advantage of appreciation rates. Nationally, properties have been appreciating anywhere from 4% to 7% over the past seven or eight years. Wouldn't it be better for you to enjoy these benefits?Furthermore, if you upgrade your property, those benefits accrue to you over time. If you upgrade your rental, those benefits accrue to your landlord. If you'd like to know more about the benefits of homeownership or how you can transition from renter to homeowner, don't hesitate to give my team and me a call or send us an email. We'd love to help you.

A connected agent is an agent who will help make your real estate transaction much easier. Here's how.Selling your Massachusetts home? Get a home value reportBuying a Massachusetts home? Click here for full MLS accessWhy is it important for your real estate agent to be locked into networks that can assist you in your next real estate transaction? Essentially, it makes the entire process easier and faster. Your agent needs to know people in the insurance, financing, and banking industries who can help get the money together for you to optimize your sale or purchase.If your agent has a network like this, it will help you formulate a successful plan for your transaction.It's also important for home inspections to be handled in a professional way by your agent. The way that this can be facilitated is if your agent is well-connected with home improvement specialists such as carpenters, builders, kitchen experts, plumbers, etc. For any kind of issues that can happen in your home, it's important that your agent has a relationship with someone who can help fix it.Having a network like this will enable your real estate professional to help you formulate a successful transaction when you decide to buy, sell, or invest. If you have any other questions for me regarding real estate, don't hesitate to reach out to me via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.