Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Monday, October 20, 2008

Home Safety

Massachusetts has a law that before a house can sell, the town’s fire department must come in and inspect that the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in the right place and are working. The majority of the houses I see either have smoke detectors in the wrong spot or the batteries no longer work. Many houses don’t have carbon monoxide detectors until the owner installs them before the closing.

Whether you’re looking to sell now or not, take the time to replace the batteries in all of your smoke alarms and make sure that you have a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your house. Each city has their own requirements, but here are the basic rules:

Smoke Detectors

Since smoke is light, you should mount your smoke detectors on the ceiling, not on the wall
There should be a smoke detector at the top and bottom of every staircase (unless your basement stairs come up into your kitchen because the smoke from cooking will set it off, causing you to take out the battery and thereby defeating the purpose of having a smoke detector)
There should be a smoke detector no more than 10 feet away from all of your bedrooms (some towns require smoke detectors in each bedroom)
Change the batteries in your smoke detectors every time we move the clocks forward or backward to ensure you always have fresh batteries

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide is heavy, so mount your detector on the wall, not on the ceiling
Carbon monoxide detectors come either battery powered or as a plug in. If you get a plug in type, make sure it has a battery backup so your family stays safe in the event of a power failure.
There should be a carbon monoxide detector no more than 10 feet away from all of your bedrooms

Your local fire prevention office will be happy to help answer any specific questions you have regarding carbon monoxide and smoke detector placement. The goal is to keep you and your family safe!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

For Rent



GRAFTON: $3,800/month

It's like your own mini estate! Park like private setting with all the amenities you need! Top end appliances, huge family room with floor to ceiling stone fireplace, luxurious master bathroom with see through fireplace, walk-up attic, outdoor fireplace, wrap around farmers porch,heated sun room, 2 car oversized garage and plenty of storage. The perfect home for entertaining! Owner would prefer to rent with furnishings but can be flexible. Pets will be considered case by case.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Wordless Wednesday




We should count our blessings.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Positive Attitude!

MARKET UPDATE

There has been a significant amount of media attention lately on the “Credit Crunch/Crisis” that the economy is facing.

The media has done a terrific job of informing the masses about the Wall Street and global economic troubles. And while it is definitely troubling for most, it’s also not 100% accurate. The news has the public believing that there is a shortage of residential mortgage money available, and that is simply not true.

There are many mistruths and rumors running about and I’m here to tell you 5 essential facts:

FACT #1 The current credit crunch directly impacts business borrowing money but not consumers looking for residential mortgages!

FACT #2 There is no shortage of residential mortgage money for those who qualify!

FACT #3 There are very few residential loans available for those who cannot verify income, assets, or employment!

FACT #4 Qualifying criteria for residential mortgages is essentially the same as it has always been!


FACT #5 30 year fixed rate loans have been fluctuating in the upper 5%’s and low 6%’s depending on your credit score and amount of down payment!!!


While the stock market is having its troubles, the housing market is ripe for buyers.

Low rates and great home values… What a great combination!!!


MICHAEL DUNSKY
Your Lifetime Mortgage Expert
MORTGAGE MASTER, Inc.
102 Elm Street
Walpole, MA 02081
Direct 508.850.4124
Fax 508.355.0223
www.dunsky.com

Monday, October 6, 2008

Buying a House? Use a Buyer's Agent

If you’re looking to buy a house, there are 2 important steps to take. The first step is to get prequalified. With so many changes happening in the mortgage industry, you want to make sure that you can afford the houses you are looking at. Remember, there can be a difference between the amount of money that a bank will lend you and the amount of money you feel comfortable paying each month. You don’t want to be house poor - keep your monthly payment at a level that lets you sleep at night.

The second step is to interview until you find a buyer’s agent you are comfortable with. When a seller put their home on the market, they hire a seller's agent. So doesn't it make sense if you are buying to hire a buyer's agent? The agent will work directly for you. Their job is to help you get the best price and terms for the property and to guide you through the process, putting your needs first. The best part is there is NO cost to you! A buyer agent gets paid at closing from the seller. All a buyer's agent asks you to do is be loyal. They will be showing you lots of homes on nights and weekends. In exchange they (i.e. WE) want to know that you will eventually buy from us, not the listing agent directly.

I recently talked to someone who started looking at houses for sale in Grafton, MA without doing either of the 2 important steps we recommend. By the time they had received my name as a referral, they had already seen the house they liked 3 times with the listing agent. The listing agent works for the seller. Don’t put yourself into this situation. Find a buyer’s agent you feel comfortable with before you start to shop for your new house.