Peter Hawley's Blog, Falmouth, MA

Tis the Season.......

Things are very busy here at my office in Falmouth MA where I List and Sell Real Estate. ( www.peterhawley.com ). I know we are beginning the Holiday Season when I drag out the Toys for Tots collection boxes and signs, and begin to tell everyone that again Jack Conway Falmouth office is a Drop Off site for new and unwrapped toys. This year the request for assistance will increase, and therefore the need for more toys is a challenge. Please visit www.toysfortots.com to find a Drop Off location in your area and learn how you might support this program.

One of the great events conducted by Jack Conway the founder of our company is the annual Thanksgiving Breakfast held each year at the Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA. If you have not visited this wonderful place, mark your vacation calendar to do so.  (www.plimothplantation.com ). This gathering typifies our company's core values, of caring for others, as we collect food to benefit MainSpring House, Home for the Homeless.

Preparation has begun for the 45^th Annual Falmouth Christmas Parade, the largest such event in southern New England. Visit  ( www.falmouthchamber.com ) for a complete list of local events. The theme this year is Christmas Wishes and the Conway elves have been hard at work preparing our 60-foot float, which we proudly drag through the parade route. One of our annual Christmas wishes is no rain and mild temps the day of the parade. Regardless of the weather this is another great example of the community of Falmouth coming together, and is why many choose to live here.

It is the Season to share, to join with friends and family, to give, to reach out to those in need, and to enjoy where we live. Here in Falmouth, MA our Season is 12 months long. I may be reached at phawley@jackconway.com to assist you with your Real Estate needs.

Accepting What Is......

Early this morning I was greeted with the first snow squall that swept across Cape Cod, and as I headed to my office in Falmouth, MA where I List and Sell Real Estate, (www.peterhawley.com), the fields and marshes were dusted with what appeared to be sugar. I am not sure if I am ready for this change in weather, I have heard that the snow making machines are cranking out the powder in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, so there is a good start to Ski season in the North Country.

Just as I am not sure I am ready to accept that winter has arrived, many in Real Estate have not accepted that the market has changed, and is going to continue to change, and I submit we will be better off if we accept what is and get on with the business at hand.

Since September 1 to November 19, 2008 according to the CCIAOR MLS, in Falmouth MA 77 Single Family homes have Sold. There were 411 Single Family homes on the market November 19^th. This means that over 18% of the inventory has been Sold, and although there are markets through out the country that have had little movement, Falmouth, MA continues to have a strong Real Estate market.

The other statistic I find interesting is the percentage difference between the last Listed price and the Sold price, and during the same period mentioned above, that percentage was 92.77%.  That is a little over a 7% discount, which indicates that Buyers continue to see value, are buying, and looking at their long term goals in a positive way.

The message to Sellers is very clear, accept what is, those properties priced correctly are in fact selling, and you might review your market position at least every 30 Days. I am available at phawley@jackconway.com to assist you in meeting your goal of either Selling or Buying property.

WHAT NOW................

Here in Falmouth, MA where I List and Sell Real Estate (www.peterhawley.com) I have spent the past few days having that heart to heart talk with Seller's. Now that the election is over and we know what is, the looming question is what will be? As I tell my seller's, the future just isn't what it used to be.

What each Seller must now do is understand what the actual cost of their present property is each month. The mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, heat, electric, lawn service, general upkeep. This total figure is critical, remembering these are out of pocket recurring expenses.

Here is an example; if it is going to cost out of pocket $3,000 a month and it is projected that the house might be on the market another 4 months. That is $12,000. My suggestion is at a minimum to do the following. 1. Lower the price this amount. 2. Offer this amount as a Sellers concession, to be used to pay down a loan interest rate, pay the PIM, pay 2 years of taxes, or pay closing costs, for the BUYER.

Seller's must be Pro-Active in a big way to grab the attention of the Buyer, and as we see in some areas prices being modified downwards, what a property is being offered for today, does not mean that the market will support that price in the future.

Seller's need to make some serious decisions. I am available to discuss innovative marketing programs and may be reached at phawley@jackconway.com

 Leaves are not the only things Falling in October....

It is a soggy day here in Falmouth, MA where I List and Sell Real Estate (www.peterhawley.com), and for the past few days I have watched the old Maple tree by my office window shed it brilliant coat of leaves, and by the end of this day, they will all be gone. Leaves are not the only things falling, house prices are falling, interest rates are falling and some say the whole economy is falling.  The economy is readjusting to inflated prices, unsustainable investments, and a re-evaluation of true value compared to speculative value. In the long run this benefits everyone, although in the short term we all might feel a little discomfort.

Falling property prices have in fact had a positive impact on total sales which have increased due to the combination of low, fixed interest rates, the Federal Government's program that offers a $7,500 tax credit to those who have not owned a property in the last three years and the reality that real estate provides shelter and is not only an investment vehicle, the wise buyer is planning for their future and following the idea "Buy Low, Hopefully Sell High".

Many of my clients who I have in what I call my "works in progress" file, all seem to have a number of things in common. They had run up consumer debt, but are committed to eliminate it and free up more disposable income to be used for savings and building toward their financial future by being in a position to own property. They are starting to subscribe to the philosophy of under living, which is living within or below one's financial means. By doing so they will be able to have more choices, they will be able to own a property, a house, establish a home, which for many of us is the center of our lives.

There is opportunity before us each day, for some it is time to enjoy the harvest, with lowering prices and interest rates, for some it is time to collect the seeds for future planting. I would love to assist you and may be reached at phawley@jackconway.com

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words and Maybe a Lost Buyer...

Attention all Sellers, please let me share with you how important it is to have any and all pictures of a property you are selling, be reviewed, BEFORE they are posted on any web site.

I had just arrived at my office in Falmouth MA, where I List and Sell Real Estate, (www.peterhawley.com), and met with a client that I have known for some time. I had emailed some properties that I thought she might be interested in, and her first response was "I do not want to look at any of these, did you notice the condition of the interior of every property?" Well maybe I did not review as close as I might have, so we sat down and reviewed each listing. The properties were of good value, in good locations, priced well, and not falling down, but what my client saw was interior pictures of cluttered rooms, unkempt closets, messy kitchen counters, toy strewn floors and more, which left her with the impression that the interior of these properties were a wreck. Valid point, now that I looked closer.

I appeal to all Sellers, that when pictures are being taken of your property that first you walk around and pick up the clutter, make the bed, put away the ironing board, hang up your clothes or at least close the closet doors, take the pots and pans off the stove as well as the cat. This also applies to the exterior, pull the weeds, rake a few leaves, and put away the lawn mower.

Remember you are attempting to Sell your property, you want to have potential Buyers who view your property online, be interested in seeing more, walking around your yard, walking through your living room. They just will not come to learn more if they think they might have to leave a trail of crumbs to find their way out.

If I can assist you in staging your property so that it has the BUY ME look, I may be reached at phawley@jackconway.com 

You might ask why Real Estate is a better investment than most, and there is one resounding clear answer. You can use it everyday! You cannot do that with stock certificates.

Here in Falmouth, MA where I Sell and List Real Estate (www.peterhawley.com) I am asked by many Buyers, is this the right time to purchase a property? There are many factors to be considered when I answer that question. Is it a good time to buy and try to flip for a quick profit? No! Is it a good time to buy a property where I can raise my family, have a fixed cost other than my insurance, taxes, and energy? YES!

Home ownership is not just an investment of dollars; it is the investment in how we choose to live, how we choose to interact with our community, our friends, and our families. It is our space where we surround ourselves with what we feel is beautiful, where we are often most comfortable where many say we are more  "ourselves".

You are investing dollars no question, but you are building equity, you are building for the future, and when you look at owning from the perspective of "cost of use", you have made the better investment.

October is such a fascinating month to watch and savor the harvest of so many locally grown crops. As I drive toward the sea down the winding roads leading to my office in Falmouth, MA where I list and sell Real Estate (www.peterhawley.com), round every corner I come upon fields littered with bright orange pumpkins, and I look specifically for the flooded bogs that let me know cranberry harvesting is soon to begin.

Cranberry production is a very large crop, grown successfully here on the Cape, it was once uniquely a Cape crop although now the fruit is also grown in New Jersey and Wisconsin and even in Oregon The first sign that the harvest will soon begin is when a bog (an area of soft marshy ground, where water is pumped in and out to keep it very wet), is flooded during the September and October harvesting season. When I see this I know that within days, I will see strange looking machines driving through the bog, with what appears to be "egg-beaters" in the front, that dislodge the berries from the vines, and let the fruit float to the surface.

The sight of millions of red ripe cranberries floating on the water, against the deep blue sky is a sight to behold and cherish. The cranberries are corralled by a boom and moved towards a huge vacuum hose through which they are pumped to waiting trucks, herded by people in bright yellow waders, making sure every berry is captured.

There is a sense of order and purpose when watching the harvest, which is not always the case with the real estate market, as the chaos in the financial markets, congressional wrangling, and fears of total economic collapse seem to be the leading headline, one sometimes does not know what they should do with their present and future investments.

But like the fall harvest, those seeds that were planted in the spring, and nurtured through the growing season, produce more successes than failures. Good sound investment in real estate will also produce more success than failures, if it is nurtured.  With the continued high inventory of property, and moderating prices, it is a good time to buy, and if you keep your property in good repair, you are attentive to the landscape; you also will harvest a profit when the time comes to sell.

Green is Good....

That is correct Green is good, it is the "buzz word" for everything from kitchen cleaning products to building material. The Green that I want to speak of is money. Good old green cash. Every minute it seems there is a news flash, another financial organization is about to go under, billions are written off, and world wide there is a scramble to shore up the financial markets, to bring some stability to what has been a hard to fathom sometimes, an apparent complete meltdown.

In Falmouth MA (www.peterhawley.com) where I list and sell real estate, I have been very busy this past week responding to questions from my clients and potential Buyers. What do I think will happen? I do not know what will happen other than this. Interest rates are still at all time lows, prices continue to moderate, people want to sell and they want to sell now. There is nothing wrong with that picture if you are a Buyer.

What has been wrong is that Buyers were not and in many cases are still not in a good position to purchase due to their debt load. Buyers must make a decision, when it comes to housing, what is most important, what is the priority, what is the financial goal.

Being as clear of debt as possible will determine if you can purchase a house, lenders will only be interested in those customers who have a proven record of financial responsibility, who have high credit scores, who have a reserve. They know what happens when they lend to just about anyone, everyone loses.

The good Green is CASH, and if you are wanting to purchase a home, then it is time to sit down, review those credit card bills, understand what you are buying and understand why you are buying so much. It is time to look at those cars in the driveway, and decide if you can afford the cost of ownership, or is there some other vehicle that will meet your needs at a lower cost. If you are in debt, and I do not care how much debt you have, you can make a plan, using only the money that comes in now, and be out of debt, and you can save, and invest in homeownership. I am here to guide you toward homeownership, and the security of a sound financial investment. For further information contact me at  phawley@jackconway.com 

VOTE YES - Moving to Cape Cod

Every 4 years we have the opportunity to make changes of those that represent us in government. We must filter through the hype, the ending barrage of messages; we evaluate the choices and then make our best choice.

Campaigns are not unlike Real Estate marketing, but it is not every couple of years, it is every day. And like a voter, we must filter through all the hype, and evaluate the choices, and then make our best choice.

In Falmouth, Ma, where I Sell and List Real Estate (www.peterhawley.com), I always suggest to my clients that collecting the facts about a property is job number one. If you are buying, the adverts about a property are of course enticing, but you must go beyond the hype, and collect and verify the facts, so you know everything about what you are thinking of buying. Buying a property is an emotional decision, it is how you feel when you see, touch, walk through a house, what you see when you come and go to the house, and these are powerful motivators when we look at a property. Having the facts with you when you make that visit will put you in a better position to ask questions, look at specific points of interest, and better evaluate your choices.

Knowing the facts also include your financing, understanding what is available, how a specific mortgage package will affect you today and tomorrow. There are lots of mixed messages out there about financing. This is one area that you do not want any surprises. Let me guide you home 2 Cape Cod, with the power of the Jack Conway Team, we deal in facts and you will be glad you voted YES!

The Seasons are Changing

There was a slight chill in the air as I began my commute to my Falmouth office where I List and Sell Real Estate. (www.peterhawley.com). As I follow the winding roads spotting a deer bounding across an open field, the sweet smell of freshly cut hay floated into my open car window. Further along right in the middle of the road, my first yellow school bus of the year, which reminded me that I have to adjust my travel time, so I will not wear out my brakes. I turned to follow the beach road and on this beautiful August day, not a cloud in the sky, the water a brilliant blue, seemingly floating on the horizon was the ferry from Woods Hole steaming towards Martha's Vineyard, I am sure full of those who are getting an early start on the Labor Day weekend.

It is not only the changing of the seasons that I feel, it is the changing of business, this past few months, and hopefully continuing through the remainder of the year. Sales are up, very much ahead of the past 2 years at this time. The other Agents in my office have full schedules, showing property and this marked increase of activity is most welcomed. Prices have moderated which have made housing purchases more attractive and more affordable for many. This is the time for renters and first time home buyers to be out seeing what is available and with the addition of the $7,500 tax credit for first time home buyers which was included in the recently signed, Housing and Economic Recovery Act, HR 3221 many people may soon realize their dream of home ownership. 

If it is time for you to come back into the real estate market, or want to learn more about the many programs available to assist you in buying a property, you may contact me at phawley@jackconway.com