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Save Money At Closing on Real Estate in Wellesley, MA

Save Money At Closing on Real Estate in Wellesley, MA

Call Christine Norcross for more information – cell 781-929-4994 or to research the Boston neighborhoods, visit my Wellesley Real Estate or Newton Real Estate websites.

Wellesley, MA Real Estate

It is possible to save money at closing.  Whether you are buying a new home in Newton or Wellesley, MA or refinancing one you already own, closing costs can often make the process more expensive than expected.  When refinancing closing costs can actually get in the way of making a change a poor financial decision.  What many borrowers may not realize is that cutting some of the fees out at closing can happen.

When researching a new loan check with your current Greater Boston Metro-West lender first.  Chances are, if you are in good standing, they do not want to lose your business and will work with you to keep it.  Working with your current lender may avoid a new appraisal, application fees and other charges that come along with the loan process.

Find out what a lender’s fees are well ahead of closing so that you know what to expect.  By seeing the fees in writing you may also have an opportunity to do a bit of bargaining.  The better your credit rating, the more a lender will want to work with you and secure your business.

Finally, look into wrapping your closing costs, or at least a portion of them into your loan.  If it make financial sense it can save you money up front.  With mortgage rates inWellesley and Newton, MA currently hanging out below 5% wrapping a couple of thousand dollars into a mortgage does not make too big of an increase on the monthly payment.  Shop around and speak with a number of lenders before making your decision.

Call me if you want help with your home purchase. We have a team, Christine Norcross & Partners, at William Raveis and we can help you find your dream home in the Wellesley Real Estate market – Natick, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston and more.


Click here to read an article from CNN Money regarding cutting costs at closing.

Buying A Home in Wellesley, MA is An Investment

Buying A Home in Wellesley, MA is An Investment

Call Christine Norcross for more information – cell 781-929-4994 or to research the Wellesley Real Estate Market and neighborhoods, visit my website www.ChristineNorcross.com

Wellesley, MA Real Estate

Buying a home in Wellesley, MA  is always an investment and choosing the best bang for your buck is important.  Whether a home is big or small, choosing the home that will have the best return on your investment is key.  Schools, low crime rate, amenities and walkability all affect the resale value of a home.

Key elements that attract Wellesley home buyers to a neighborhood or specific home have historically included the quality of available education, the safety of the area, the parks and open space nearby, and the shops and restaurants in the area.  Choosing a home in a walkable location can add value to a home as well.  The ability to walk to a restaurant or a store is a huge draw for many people.  Not everyone wants to hop in a car to pick up a gallon of milk or meet a friend for lunch.

While it is often hard to find a home that has it all, it is important to choose a home that has what you are looking for.  In the end if a home has what you are looking for it will most likely have what someone else is looking for when it comes time for you to sell.

Call me if you want help with your home purchase. We have a team, Christine Norcross & Partners, at William Raveis and we can help you find your dream home in the Wellesley Real Estate Market or  Natick, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston and more.

Click here to read a recent article from Realty Times regarding the walkability factor of buying real estate.

Price Matters in Wellesley, MA

August 17th, 2010 • By: Christine Norcross Sellers, real estate information

Price Matters in Wellesley, MA

Call Christine Norcross for more information – cell 781-929-4994 or to research the Boston neighborhoods, visit my website www.HomesbyNorcross.com.

Wellesley, MA Real Estate

When it comes to real estate price matters.  Most real estate professionals will aim to price your home at fair market value at the onset and some sellers are on board, others are not.  It has been a rough realization for many to acknowledge that it is a buyers market out there.  It has been an unknown in recent months as to whether home values will continue to drop, stabilize or improve and every market is different.  Regardless of what is going on, if your home isn’t selling then you may want to reduce its price.

Whether your home is seeing a lot of potential home buyers or very few, if you haven’t had an offer there could be a few factors.  What is your home lacking?  Can you fix what your home is lacking?  Chances are that if your home is on the market for sale, you are ready to sell it and you are not going to make any large changes to it.  The one change you can make is lowering the price.  Money matters, more today than ever.  If someone sees a home for sale at what they see as a bargain price then they are much more likely to make an offer.

Can you afford to hold on to your home until prices start appreciating again?  If so keep your price where it is.  If you need to sell then lowering the price could be the key to selling it now.

Call me if you want help with your home purchase. We have a team, Christine Norcross & Partners, at William Raveis and we can help you find your dream home in the Boston Metro West Market – Natick, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston and more.

Click here to read an article from House Logic on reasons to lower the price of your home.

Relocating to Wellesley, MA? To Buy or Rent is the Question

Relocating to Wellesley, MA? To Buy or Rent is the Question

Call Christine Norcross for more information – cell 781-929-4994 or to research the Boston neighborhoods, visit my website www.HomesbyNorcross.com.

Wellesley, MA Real Estate

If you are relocating chances are that one of the biggest questions looming in your mind is whether you should buy or rent a home.  Of course only you can make that decision but there are some important factors to weigh.  How permanent do you feel this relocation is?  Do you have to sell a home before you buy a new home?  Are home prices in the area that you are relocating to stable?

There is no doubt about it that buying a home today is more affordable than ever.  Low mortgage rates, higher than normal inventory levels and low home values combine to make an ideal buyers market when it comes to real estate.  If you already own a home maybe renting it out until the market stabilizes or improves makes sense.  If you can hold on to your current home, cover its mortgage, and qualify to buy a new home, you could be in an ideal situation.

Examine the affordability levels of your new location.  Is it less expensive to rent, or would a monthly mortgage payment be the same or less than paying rent?  Find a Realtor that comes highly recommended and pick his brain.  Get to know your new area and weigh the pros and cons of renting vs. buying heavily, after-all, buying real estate is a big investment.

Call me if you want help with your home purchase. We have a team, Christine Norcross & Partners, at William Raveis and we can help you find your dream home in the Boston Metro West Market – Natick, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston and more.

Click here to read a recent article from Bankrate regarding selling vs. renting a home when relocating.

Tax Credit May Be Gone But There is Still Assistance in Wellesley, MA

Tax Credit May Be Gone But There is Still Assistance in Wellesley, MA

Call Christine Norcross for more information – cell 781-929-4994 or to research the Boston neighborhoods, visit my website www.HomesbyNorcross.com.

Wellesley, MA Real Estate

The home buyer tax credit may be gone but assistance is still out there.  Potential first time home buyers have options to explore when considering jumping into real estate.  One of the first hurdles when buying a home for the first time is often coming up with a down payment.  Even a good saver may have a hard time saving the thousands that can be necessary for a down payment.  Luckily there are options for help.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has many assistance and reference programs.  HUD’s website has links to Habitat for Humanity, rural housing, and a number of home buyer programs in your area.  The HUD website can be a great resource, offering a wealth of information on what is involved in purchasing a home.

The Federal Housing Agency (FHA) is another agency offering information and assistance.  The FHA helps buyers buy homes with both low interest rates and a small down payment. Where a standard down payment can be anywhere from 10 to 20%, an FHA loan can require as little as 3.5% down.  Standard loan fees can be wrapped into the loan through FHA as well.

If home ownership seems like a pipe dream, it doesn’t have to.  If you have a steady source of income then you have mastered one of your biggest hurdles.  Contact a real estate professional today to learn more about purchasing real estate in your area.

Call me if you want help with your home purchase. We have a team, Christine Norcross & Partners, at William Raveis and we can help you find your dream home in the Boston Metro West Market – Natick, Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Wayland, Weston and more.

Click here to visit the HUD website.
Click here to learn more about FHA.