Liz and I attended the Mass West Home & Better Living Show today at the Mullins Center at UMASS.  It was a great show with lots of energy we will definitely attend this show again.

I had the opportunity to sit in on a talk given by Tom Sullivan of Pollinators Welcome. He talk was titled Edible Landscape Design and discussed how to attract vital pollinators to your yard and introduced the benefits of growing food where you would normally have grass.

I have included a portion of the presentation bellow.

Please contact Tom Sullivan of “Pollinators Welcome” for the complete video and details on creating edible landscapes.

Liz and I get this objection all the time when consulting clients about the value of their home. We will get into a pricing conversation and our client will often say, “But I pay taxes on X number of dollars, my house must be worth at least that amount!”. I really wished that property values work this way but unfortunately they don’t. Bellow is an overview of what the Board of Assessors does.

Overview of the Board of Assessors:

They are responsible for the valuation of real property in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws and regulations of the Department of Revenue (DOR). The property values must be reviewed and accepted by the DOR annually. By keeping values at market standard, the Assessors assist in maximizing the resources available to fund municipal services. To you and me that means maximizing the revenue that the city or town can generate from properties taxes.

What the Assessors Do Not Do:

• The Assessors do not make the laws that affect property owners. Tax laws are enacted by the Massachusetts Legislature. The Department of Revenue establishes the various guidelines and regulations to implement that legislation.
• The Assessors do not control property values. The rise and fall of the real estate market determines property values. The Assessors have the legal responsibility to discover and reflect the changes that are occurring in the marketplace.
• The Assessors do not determine taxes. The actual amount you pay in taxes is determined by the budget needs of the City. The Aldermen adopt a budget that reflects the funds to be raised through the levy and additional funds from other sources such as state and local receipts. A tax rate is adopted that will generate the dollars needed to satisfy the budget.
• The Assessors do not decide who is entitled to tax relief through the exemption process. They follow the state laws governing these exemptions.

Assessors Essential Responsibilities

• Assessors are responsible for planning and budgeting and must see that all applicable laws and regulations are complied with, that policies are adhered to, that work is completed on time, and that resources are used wisely. They also have appraisal duties.
• Assessors must deal with several publics: One is the government officials on whom assessors depend for legislation, budget appropriations, sales data, building-permit data, land-use control data, deeds, etc. The banking, business and real estate communities constitute another public. Finally there is the general public, especially property owners and taxpayers.
• The Assessors must also be public relations experts to develop printed information, contact the media, appear before groups, train staff, assist the public recover information, maintain accurate, presentable, and easily accessible records.
• The Assessor implements a revaluation of real and personal property every three years in accordance with the mass appraisal standards of the Department of Revenue. This work involves classifying property and calculating annual tax rates with supporting documentation. Relevant information and specialized reports must be presented to the Department of Revenue for certification.

Assessors Essential Duties

• Provide a variety of reports to the Department of Revenue (DOR) annually.
• Conduct a Classification Hearing before the City Council.
• Commit the yearly assessments to the Collector for tax billing.
• Responsible for the motor vehicle excise tax bills originated by the State Registry of Motor Vehicles.
• The Assessors update the bills to reflect changes and then pass them on to the Collector for distribution.
• Maintain records regarding all structures and properties by making an inventory of the quantity, quality, and important characteristics of all taxable property. An on-site inspection is almost always necessary to complete an inventory.
• Collect and analyze income and operating expense data for commercial/industrial properties.
• Maintain and update the assessment maps (cadastral maps) and property records.
• Analyze the real estate market conditions and events to determine trends and changes in the market.
• Review legislation affecting the taxable status of properties in the jurisdiction (to determine whether it may be exempt under certain provisions).
• Administration and supervision of daily operations of the Assessor’s Office.
• Prepare and oversee the Assessing budget.
• Review and act upon all abatement applications.
• Review and act upon all exemption applications for qualifying elderly, widowed, blind, or disables veterans’ citizens.
• Review all applications for accuracy and compliance regarding tax incentives for land used for recreational, forestry, or agricultural purposes.
• Review all parcels involved in a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Agreement. Maintain accurate records and calculate applicable tax credits.

When we’re helping our clients sell or buy their homes.  After the closing is finished and the dust has settled.  Many of our clients let us know that they are thinking of getting a dog.  Well just in the past few weeks this happened with 2 of our clients.  They told us that they are think of buying a dog as a Christmas for the family.   To help our clients we thought it might be helpful to talk with a professional, so we have asked Jim Helems from Dog Pals – Dog Training for his advice

To Buy Or Not To Buy A Dog For Christmas

Are you thinking of bringing home a new dog for Christmas? You may have heard the saying “A Dog Is For Life, Not For Christmas” and in most cases this is true, but not always.  First and most importantly it can not be a rash decision, but must be thought out carefully and done for the right reasons. You will need to do some research. Ask your self these questions:

1. Why are you getting the dog now?
   • Hopefully it is not because the kids are driving you crazy.
   • Maybe you have more free time in the winter. My wife designs landscape projects and she is home more in the winter and we actually plan on new additions to our pet family for the late fall or winter time. This is actually the best time of year for us.
2. Have you though about the costs of raising a dog?
   • On average a dog will cost between $750.00 to $1,500.00 per year per dog. This cost is based on a healthy dog with minimal veterinarian costs.
   • There will be:
     • Food costs
     • Veterinarian costs, flea and tick preventative, heart worm, vaccinations and maybe other medications and spay and neutering costs
     • Town licenses
     • Training crate
     • Microchip
     • Collars, leashes, bowls, and toys
     • Training classes and treats
3. Are you getting a dog because you promised one to your child?
   • If so remember it is ultimately your responsibility to care for the dog.
   • The younger the child the more responsibility you will have.
   • I recommend having the mind set that I am caring for the dog and any help from the youngsters is great and that you should reward your child for helping and not yelling because they are not.
4. Have you thought about the breed of dog you are going to choose?
   • If you live in a city and have a small apartment, a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd would not be a good breed for you.
   • Do you live a very cold environment, here a shorted haired dog will not be happy in the winter and you will need to purchase coats for your dog. These include many smaller dogs, Chihuahuas, Grey Hounds, and Cairn Terriers.
5. Have you thought about the time of year?
   • The holidays can be very stressful for many families with all the chores that go along with the holiday. Shopping, decorating, visiting family (near or far), large meals to prepare just to name a few. Having to care for a new family member can put you over the edge.
   • If it snowing outside and 5 degrees are you going to be willing to bring a new puppy outside every thirty minutes for a potty break.
   • Maybe you will not be able to put up a Christmas tree or other ornaments which could be dangerous for a new puppy or dog.
6. Where are you going to get your new family member?
   • There are many good places to get a new dog and each will have it’s pros and cons. Some of the most popular ways are through:
     • Local shelters
     • Newspaper advertisements
     • Rescue organizations
     • Local breeders
     • Pet stores
7. Have you thought about the dog and his or her feelings?
   • Believe or not dogs can get very stressed during the holidays as well. Dogs are creatures of habit. Even older family dogs may not enjoy the yearly change, the busy life style, the fact you are probably spending less time with them.
   • Now think about a rescue dog that may have been neglected and sent to a shelter only to be brought into a home that really can not properly take care of him.
   • This is not a good way for your new life partner to enter your home. It is not fair for you or them.

If all you get out of this article is to think before you buy, to second guess yourself then I have done my job. I am not saying you should not bring a new pet into your home during the holidays, but you do have to really think about your decision and make sure the timing is right.

What could be worse than bringing home a shelter dog, just to return him with all the other unwanted gifts.  Dogs do have feelings and due feel abandoned and only creates an unhealthy dog that will probably be put to sleep (killed) because of us humans.  So please think about whether or not to buy a dog for Christmas and make sure you are comfortable with all the responsibilities that go along with owning and caring for a living creature.

A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than it loves itself.

Jim Helems, CDTI

As real estate agents we tend to use our cars as traveling offices.  When we meet a  new client they always asking use “Where are we going to meet you?”   If we can’t make it back to one of our offices then we try to find the nearest Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks or Panera Bread.  Well a few weeks ago we found another great place to meet our clients and grab a bight to eat.  The Crepes Tea House in West Springfield is now going to be come one of our traveling offices.  The restaurant has everything that we need free internet access, great food and a really friendly atmosphere.

Tim is giving a tutorial about wordpress at a real estate class.

It’s time again for the Chicopee Fest Of All at Szot Park.  The Fest Of All is a place the entire family can enjoy.  If you’re looking for a place to find great food, live  music and events through out the day.  This is the event for you.  The Fest Of All is open today from 10:00 to 11:00 PM.    This evening is also the night of the fireworks at 9:30 PM.

Morgan Stanley knew early on that New Century's practices were unsound, Martha Coakley said.

A victory was won today for home owners across the Commonwealth.  Attorney General Martha Coakley office discovered that Morgan Stanley was funding New Country Financial Corp.   Allowing New Country Financial Corp to write subprime loans in 2005 through 2007.   Coakley said, “Morgan Stanley knew that New Century was making predatory loans, but continued to provide the lender billions of mortgage dollars by buying the loans to turn them into securities.” The $102 million settlement from Wall Street’s Morgan Stanley & Co.,is going to  help more than 1,000 Massachusetts homeowners who are in foreclosure or saddled with unwieldy subprime mortgages through New Country Financial Corp.

Will the Real Estate market stay strong without the first-time home buyers?

…a NAR practitioner survey shows first-time buyers purchased 44 percent of homes in March, up from 42 percent in February. Investors accounted for 19 percent of transactions in March, unchanged from February; the remaining sales were to repeat buyers. All-cash sales remain elevated at 27 percent in March, the same as in February.

see full information via Realty Times – Chicopee, Massachusetts Real Estate Market Conditions.

I will keep you informed as the post tax credit market unfolds this summer.

The Tax Credit has really helped push the market forward.  The Single family home sales have slowly been increasing since July of 2009.  The numbers for March show a 28% increase in Single family home sales in Massachusetts. The Move Up Buyers and First Time Home Buyers  that wanted to take advantage of the Tax Credit really have been keeping us busy this past few months. With April being the last month to qualify for the tax credit the urgency of finding the perfect home started to increase.  This past week has been a flurry of showings at our Listings and our Buyers looked at every possible home out there.  For a few  of our clients it came down to the wire.  We signed 4 Purchase and Sales agreements yesterday so that they could qualify for the credit.  We know just have to make sure the closing happens by June 30th.

National Open House Weekend

This weekend is the National Open House weekend.   Massachusetts Association of Realtors has made it nice and easy for us all to search for the Open House for all of Massachusetts.  This is a great opportunity for all the First Time Home Buyers and Move Up Buyers that are still looking for a home a chance to see many homes this weekend.  Remember you only have 15 days left to find a home and have your offer accepted in order to sign a P & S by the April 30th deadline.