Monika’s Real Estate Blog

Falling into fall and winter with falling prices seems to be the norm for our Southern NH real estate market! If you’ve been looking but can’t find the right home…maybe one of these will interest you.

Please consider:

9 Harmony Road in Deerfield NH MLS# 2744105 listed at only $259,900. This home is a show stopper at an excellent price… A 3 bedroom homes on nearly 2 acres of land located at the end of a cul-de-sac boarding conservation land for the utmost nature lover experience. Call Jay and Monika @ 603-548-7685 for more details or to set up a private tour.

31 Circuit Drive MLS # 2716150 $599,900 in Kingston NH is surrounded by magnificent fall colors this year. This home is meticulously crafted with over 3500 sq ft of living space plus 120 feet of water frontage and is just to die for gorgeous. Call Jay and Monika @ 603-548-7685 for more details or to set up a private tour.

12 Dixon Lane MLS #2749511 in Derry NH Is a lovely home located on a prime piece of waterfront on Big Island Pond and is priced aggressively and below market at $439,000. Imagine having 500 acre Big Island as your back yard?? It can be more than a dream! Call Jay and Monika @ 603-548-7685 for more details or to set up a private tour.

Interested in Short Order Sales or REO (bank owned real estate) ? Check out these listings>>>> Short Order Sales and Foreclosures

Interested in searching listed homes for sale in NH? Follow this link to >>>>Search NH homes

If you’re thinking about selling your southern NH home, please give us a call and let us show you our Unique Market Advantage Plan designed especially for our clients. Our custom plan will guide you through the process of selling your home from start to finish. It would be our honor….Jay and Monika McGillicuddy @ 603-548-7728

Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training

NewHampshireRealEstateBlog.com

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

Follow me on Twitter.com @monimcg

Southern NH Real Estate Market

The Southern NH real estate market has kicked up a few notches. Are you taking advantage of it?

Buyers are buying real estate…no matter what you’ve heard on the news!

Remember the old saying Location-location-location? Make no mistake about it…your Location begins on the internet and not curb side.

If you have a home currently listed for sale, have you googled your address lately? What comes up…your listing agent’s presentation of your home? Another agent’s web site? How does your home “show” on the internet? Open and inviting? Nice pictures? Virtual tours? Video tours? Dedicated weblog by address? Creative ad copy? Creative marketing?

Check out the following listings blog sites for examples of our internet advertising and the Google results for those addresses:

17 Marilyn Park Drive MLS # 2712993 at 17Marilynparkdrive.com

Google results for 17 Marilyn Park drive

39 Boulder Drive MLS # 2713380 at 39boulderdrive.com

Google results for 39 Boulder Drive

31 Circuit Drive Kingston NH MLS # 2716150 at NHwaterfronthomesforsale.com

Google results for 31 Circuit Drive

14 Higgins Ave Sandown NH MLS # 2709508 at http://14higginsave.wordpress.com/

Google results for 14 Higgins Ave

Contact us if you’re thinking of listing your home for sale…we’d love to show you our custom internet marketing plan and how we can help you get your home Sold.

Listing and Selling in Southern NH has been our full time profession for 23 years.

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy - Google results for Jay and Monika

Prudential Verani Realty

Southern NH

603-548-7728

Your Southern NH Real Estate market professionals

What does your MLS listing photo say about you?

It’s May and in New Hampshire my grass is green and my flowers are starting to peek out. Yet last week I got an invite to an open house being held tomorrow…the picture of the house had at least a half a foot of snow on the roof.

Yesterday I surfed the MLS and I noticed a listing that had recently expired, the listing photo had a few feet of snow on the ground. Another new listing has 2 photos repeated 3 times…so 8 photo spots used up in the MLS of the same two shots, another showed dishes and clutter on the counters. Then…god forbid a lovely picture of a bathroom showing nothing but the toilet with the lid up no less! I’m happy the house comes with a toilet but really how about showing more of the bathroom or skipping the hopper shot all together.

Remember how we were all taught about the importance of making a first impression? Today, depending on what survey you believe up to 90% of home buyers search or use the Internet to find a house. First impressions…each time a listing is viewed on line a decision will be made based on that photo. A decision to make an appointment or to inquire about more information, or the decision to by pass the home completely.

What does your on-line listing photos say about you and your house? What does it say about the professionalism of your agent?

I wonder if the Sellers of the listings I looked at yesterday know what their online first impression is?

Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training

NewHampshireRealEstateBlog.com

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

Follow me on Twitter.com @monimcgill

Visit our Listing Blogs at…

• 17 Marilyn Park Drive Listing Blog
• 39 Boulder Drive Danville
• NH Waterfront Homes for Sale
• 14 Higgins Ave Sandown

Courtesy of the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS.

Market statistics for New Hampshire single-family residential home sales statewide: 1998 to present
YEARLY

New Hampshire single-family residential home sales for the last 10 years.

6 years (1998-2004): Median price increased by 99.8 percent (12.3 percent per year average)
7 years (1998-2005): Median price increased by 112 percent (11.4 percent per year average)
8 years (1998-2006): Median price increased by 108 percent (9.7 percent per year average)
9 years (1998-2007): Median price increased by 105 percent (8.5 percent per year average)

“No offense but I don’t trust ANY real estate people.” The words cut through me like a knife. I felt bad not so much for myself, although it really stunk hearing those words, but for the woman that said them.I was involved in the 3rd offer that these people have made. I was not involved in the previous offers on the other two properties.

These people were an “up” call I got during my floor time shift.

I met them, did the appropriate agency disclosures, tried to get them to consider buyer representation and then showed them a few properties listed with my company. They had some interest in one of the houses I showed them but were not in any rush to make an offer. In the meantime unbeknown to me, they had offered on two other homes with two other agents. Those offers went nowhere.
Then called and wanted to make an offer on one of the houses I had showed them. While I am not the listing agent, I do represent the seller in the transaction. I checked on the status and was told by the listing agent that another offer was coming in. I told the buyers that an “other offer” was coming in as well and that the seller would wait to look at both offers before deciding.
I went to the buyers house, we did up the purchase agreement, It was a low offer, I explained it all, all the clauses. All the what if’s and went over the worst case scenarios, they sat and listened politely.

I suggested representation if this offer didn’t work out and thats when I heard the words “I don’t trust you” and then the clarification “I don’t trust Any Real Estate Agents”!

How can I tell the buyers that I’m different? That I am trustworthy? Can I make them believe me? I really can’t advise them. I can’t negotiate for them…I represent the other side per their choice.
They chose to be unrepresented, they chose to go it alone. They simply don’t trust real estate people. Chock it up to bad experience…chock it up to whatever, but thats the way they want it. They are classic Broker Hoppers…how very sad that they’ll never have it easy…never have someone working FOR them.
I told the listing broker that I had the offer in hand. She told me the offers would not be presented until late this afternoon. I kept all the paperwork and the check in my possession at the request of the listing agent. We would meet up before the presentation. Remember I represent the Seller.
Right before the presentation of the offer I got a call from the buyer asking me if the offer had been presented yet? Asking me if the other offer had come in? If it did then they wanted their offer presented BUT if the other offer had not come in then they wanted to wait.

It seems that they had gotten a call from the agent they had previously made an offer with…offer # 1 and those sellers were now reconsidering.
They didn’t want to lose out on it or on the house we had done the paper work on…BUT they wanted time to go look at house # 1 again and make a decision. But if the other offer had indeed come in then they would proceed???? I represent the seller…a lie would get the sellers an offer.
If the other offer had come in they would proceed….So if I lied and told them yes, that the other offer had come in…they would proceed with the offer. If I lied??? If I told the truth they would pull the offer. Very simple.
Yet they don’t trust me?? It seemed so ironic! I called the listing agent to double check the status of the other offer. Not in yet I was told.

I chose to tell the truth, knowing that the truth could hurt me, that I could lose the sale, that the seller could lose out. But I told the truth….yet I am not trustworthy!
I told the truth, I did what was Ethically Right...I am a REALTOR and the buyers for what ever reason, in the end, believed me and trusted my answer.
I wonder what tomorrow morning will bring…will they realize that they had no choice but to trust me…that I was trustworthy?
Maybe they’ll buy house number one But I will sleep well tonight. Maybe I won’t make a sale but I know I am trustworthy. That has to count for something.

I’m glad I made the decision I did…especially after my husband Jay wrote this awesome post about me.

http://www.monikamcgillicuddytrainer.com

NH Real Estate Training

ABR* SRES* Agency* Ethics* New Agent Skill Building* Professional Guidelines* Negotiations* Mediation

Happy New Year…A NH housing recovery in 2008

Well maybe not a recovery but certainly a leveling off.

We’ve had an incredibly busy week here in Hampstead NH, both personally and professionally. This past week alone we’ve written 3 purchase offers for buyer clients, had one home inspection and showed multiple properties to other customers. There are some awesome buys out there and the old saying ” he who hesitates loses” is so true.

If you’re in the market for a home or thinking of putting your home on the market do it. The time is right. If you’re unsure, don’t know what to do or what the market is doing…give us a call…no obligation and no pressure. I Promise! We’d love to talk with you.

Happy New Years from New Hampshire Real Estate blog….may it be a healthy, happy and prosperous 2008 for us all.

Nothing makes living in Hampstead New Hampshire as special as being here during the holidays.

The community shines during this time of year and everyone participates and supports some very special town wide events.

These events have been long known for memory making especially the annual Fireman’s Christmas Parade, which kicks off this years parade on December 9th at 2pm.The Parade is a not to miss local event made extra special by sharing hot cocoa and cookies with Santa back in the Firehouse.

This years theme is “Christmas In Song” and there is still plenty of time to enter your very own special float.
The Fire department also will kick off their Christmas Tree sale starting on November 24 .

They will be open both Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 6 pm. All trees cost 35.00 and will be sprayed with fire retardant and netted for easy transport to your home.

Prudential Verani Realty’s Annual Coat Drive is well underway but we are still in desperate need of coats, hats and mittens. We have many drop off locations so please go through your closets and see what you can spare.

They’ll be many more Holiday events and I’ll post them once I get confirmation. If you have a local event you’d like me to post on my Blog just send me an e-mail and I’ll add it.

Stay Safe this Holiday Season and remember tis the season for sharing and giving!!!

Monika McGillicuddy,REALTOR

Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County

Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training

http://monikamcgillicuddy.com/wordpress/

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

603-548-7728

Part 1 of a collection of Photos taken at my favorite NH spots.

.

New Hampshire has so much to offer, most people have no idea just how much.

From kayaking to being home of The International Speedway which offers NASCAR events, Bike Week a very popular motorcycle rally held each June. To rock concerts, awesome mountains, gorgeous ocean beaches and lakes.

New Hampshire has an abundance of campgrounds to cater to every type of camping need and outdoor events like golfing, hiking and just plan enjoying the simple life and breathing fresh air.

Long known as the granite state it is also internationally famous for being the first in the nation by holding the New Hampshire primary, in Dixville Notch, as well as being the home of Jay and Monika McGillicuddy.

NH is known for it’s Spectacular fall foliage…as hopefully some of my photos will attest to…or at least give you an idea of what it is like up here in the fall.

We know that you don’t care what we know ….until you know that we care!

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH

603-548-7728

Curious about where your property is in relation to the FEMA map? Check out the government FEMA site on line…

FEMA Maps On-Line and Maps Service Center

You can zoom in and check out an area all for free.

Free is good in my opinion.

Monika McGillicuddy,REALTOR

Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County
Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training
http://monikamcgillicuddy.com/wordpress/
Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

603-548-7728

Those that know me, know that I’m big into having a solid web presence. Blogging has made a big difference in my marketing approach and my real estate career. I’m no newbie and I really hate to admit that I’ve been a REALTOR professional for 23 years, only because it makes me sound so old. One thing I’ve learned is that to survive you really need to embrace change. Web 2.0 had brought us many changes…are you ready?

My company Prudential Verani publishes our web stats and I snagged the stats for August and September. As I reported last month the showing stats would be higher as many agents will call each other to set up showings and those are not reflected in the showing totals.

I think having 22,000 unique visitors is pretty good. Buyers are out there looking and I want to make sure my listings are seen. Which is why I add video, virtual tours and podcasting in all my marketing. You can see the September numbers are down compared to August but that is not unusual.

Monika
Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County
Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training
www.newhampshirerealestateblog.com
Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

603-548-7728