We were pleased to have John Kelsey and Sally Wilson of  Wilson Kelsey Design in Salem come to see 30 Folly Point Road in Gloucester which is currently on the market.

See what they have to say about it on their blog…..

The photos in our photo gallery for this home were taken by Jim Abts – Jim Abts Photograhy

and Number One Agents at the Coldwell Banker Beverly Office

We are pleased that Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has recognized us for achieving a spot within the top 50 real estate agents in the company! We were also included in the awards for being in the top ten for sales in the North Region and continue to be the number one agents at the Beverly Coldwell Banker office.

The 2012 Awards were just announced recently. Coldwell Banker held a company celebration at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston this past week. It was great opportunity to see many of our colleagues that work in different market areas and we have known for so many years.

……….and to get another look at Dale Chihuly’s amazing Lime Green Icicle Tower that is now at home in the museum.

The Real Estate Activity on the North Shore continues to be very active. This week in Hamilton and Wenham we will have three new properties coming on the market! The showings for these homes will start at the open houses this Sunday April 15, 2012.

1 Prides Park Hamilton, MA is offered at $1,175,000  Open House 1-3pm

26 Burnham Road Wenham, MA is offered at $574,900 Open House 11-1pm

191 Forest Street, Hamilton, MA is offered at $360,000 Open House 1-3pm

Click on the links to see a video tour of each of these homes.

The open houses we have been hosting in the last few months have had an amazing number of attendees. We have put homes under agreement and have generated multiple offers! We haven’t seen this type of activity in the market consistently in many years. The properties we held open recently, include homes in many price ranges and in many different North Shore communities.

This past Sunday we held 24 State Street, Marblehead open and had so many people we were fortunate that both John and I were there to host. We had well over 50! We are happy to report, many were interested,  and the property went under agreement. This is a fabulous older home in the Old Town area of Marblehead. So close to the harbor you can see it, with a rare spacious .24 acre yard! We are continuing to show this property for back up so if you are interested let us know.

Also let us know if you want more details on the current market or information more specific to your area. Whether you are preparing to buy or sell or just want to keep an eye on the market we are happy to provide useful information.

This past Thursday our Coldwell Banker Beverly office celebrated the opening of our new office at 50 Dodge Street Beverly MA. It’s just a few doors down from our former office. We have been enjoying the brighter space and nicer reception and conference rooms.

We were happy to have join us and participate in cutting  the ribbon our  Regional Vice President,  Erminio Grasso,  Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage President,  Pat Villani, and Beverly Mayor William Scanlon.

Our manager Katharine Pickering hosted the event and Judy DiRubio  our mortgage broker from NeMoves mortgage treated us all to a beautiful spring brunch catered by Henry’s Market.

It was nice to pause in the middle of our busy work day to chat with our guests and meet some of our neighbors.

Remember to like us on our  facebook page!

We have been working with Judy since we started selling real estate. In fact she wrote the mortgage on one of the first sales we had in 1993! We didn’t work for the same company back then. We are  fortunate that we now have been associated with Judy for the past few years. She has been a great asset to our business. We refer clients to her because we know she has a solid knowledge of her business and will be able to offer the available options. We know our clients will be taken care of and are in good hands.

How long have you been in the mortgage business? ” I have been writing mortgages here on the North Shore since 1985.”

What are the benefits of working with you? “I like the idea of one stop shopping. It is rare to find a loan originator that has been in the business for so many years and has the ability to fit buyers into so many boxes. We really can tailor a mortgage to any buyer’s needs.”

What can you say about today’s mortgage environment? “Today’s lending is not that different from when I first started out. If it makes sense- you will get approved. Documentation is at a level that today’s buyer is not accustomed. Having been a teacher, my job is to educate and streamline as much as possible.”

What is your passion? “I do a lot of charity work in my “off hours”! I am a long distance cyclist and ride over 4,000 miles a year training and fund raising for various charity bike-a-thons. Cancer (PMC) Multiple Sclerosis (Great Mass Getaway) and Diabetes (Tour de Cure) are the main charities for which I ride.“

Since we have been working from the same office in Beverly we have been able to get to know Judy and have learned about her long distance cycling and fund raising. We  find her quite inspiring and her achievements very impressive.

Contact Judy to see how she can help you with your mortgage. With interest rates so low it may also be a good time to consider refinancing as well.

“I have a house near the beach I’d like to sell. When should I put it on the market?”

We have just put 3 Wauketa Road in Gloucester on the market. It’s located in the private section of Wingaersheek Beach. This home is great for year round living or as a second home. It started out as a cottage in 1968 but like many small cottages it has been expanded and renovated. It takes advantage of the beautiful setting and light with large windows that look out to the water.

Many people look for a home near the beach year round. But there are a portion of potential buyers that want a home near the water to use this summer as a get away. They may also plan to off set the cost of owning this second home by renting it out, possibly by the week. If they are ready to buy now they are also looking at locking in excellent mortgage interest rates.

It’s early spring and if a home is purchased now the buyers will not only be able to take advantage of those great mortgage rates, they will potentially be in their homes and able to enjoy them by Memorial Day if not sooner. That may be the motivation to make that purchase now. The North Shore of Boston has considerable resources to take advantage of and the beaches are just a start. Explore the beaches on Cape Ann. The summer is fast approaching. Where do the buyers of your home want to be?

A look at Single Family Homes in Beverly MA today

Currently there are 94 single family homes on the market in Beverly MA.

In the last 12 months 239 single family homes have sold.

The absorption rate is 4.72 months which means if single family homes continue to sell at the same rate there are enough homes on the market to last 4.72 months.

Let us know if you would like more information about the market in Beverly MA or other towns and cities from Boston through the North Shore and Cape Ann.

We currently have 57 Beaver Pond Road, Beverly MA listed for sale.

*This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by our MLS partners. These entities neither guarantee nor are responsible for data accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Are you considering buying a home on Boston’s North Shore?

The MBTA commuter rail is a real asset to the communities North of Boston. We often have real estate clients follow the train line and choose communities they feel are accessible to it. When we list homes for sale in Hamilton & Wenham many people come to see them that currently live in Boston and the surrounding area. They want to move to the north shore and like the convenience of using public transportation.

The MBTA has added WIFI service and many people are taking advantage of their commuting time to work. A convenience the car cannot, or maybe should not, provide. An easy trip to Boston or any of the other towns on the line,  for pleasure is an attraction  as well.

Some look for homes that enable them to not have a car or leave their cars at home. For those that would like to drive there is an expanded parking lot at the Hamilton Wenham station.

The Hamilton Wenham train line is located right in downtown Hamilton with a shopping area that includes a market, many service businesses, drug stores, small shops, restaurants and more. Making it a great place to take off and land. Grab a cup of coffee on your way, stop at a restaurant on your way home or get a few errands done without an extra trip.

We have just listed a fabulous house at 161 Main Street, Wenham MA and it is very convenient to the train.

There are many options for train service on the North Shore and if that is appealing to you we can help you find an option that works.