Car Insurance that Covers Your Dog, Too

Early each morning, I pack up my dogs, Bobby and Tennessee, and drive a few miles to a scenic country road, where we walk along quiet vistas of open meadows and wooded streams, serenaded by occasional turkey calls and seasonal birdsong.  It's our tranquil time together, and we all look forward to it.

But I found myself wondering what would happen if our peaceful morning ritual were to be shattered by a collision with a car or a school bus.  I hope that never happens, of course, but I was pleased to learn that here in Massachusetts, there are at least two insurance companies that will reimburse medical (or even burial) costs for canine or feline passengers who are injured in vehicular accidents.

Progressive has been offering this coverage at no charge for more than five years.  It will pay up to $1000 toward veterinary costs if your dog or cat sustains injuries during a car accident, fire, or theft.

Arbella Mutual, based in Quincy, MA, offers Massachusetts drivers an optional pet coverage rider that pays up to $500 towards vet bills for a dog or cat who is hurt in a crash.  In contrast to Progressive, Arbella Mutual charges a nominal $20 annual fee for this additional protection.

My current insurer doesn't offer this option, at any price, and I think I owe it to Bobby and Tennessee to switch to a company that does.

Conquering Winter with an Electric Snow Blower

I admit it.  I hate winter.  And the truth is, I'm afraid of it.  I panic at the sight of a snowflake.  I tremble at the hint of flurries, and I manically monitor AccuWeather forecasts for weeks in advance, dreading snow and ice that may never come.  I'm a winter wimp.

My winter dread has been fueled by a lack of proper equipment to tame the snow when it eventually arrives, as it inevitably does.  My longtime plow guy and I parted ways a ew years ago when he charged me for plowing the driveway after I had already shoveled the whole thing myself.  I was able to skip along relatively unscathed during last year's relatively modest storms, but I'm afraid I'd allowed myself to become too complacent.  I was completely unprepared when two significant snowstorms hit right after Christmas.  It took me two days to dig down to the end of my 100' driveway, and I admitted defeat.  I needed help.

It came in the guide of the Greenworks 20-inch 12 amp (Electric) Snow Thrower.  It was everything I wanted:  lightweight, inexpensive (I paid $150 on Amazon, with free shipping), and best of all:  it didn't require gasoline or oil.  You just plug it in.  It arrived a few days after New Year's, and sat in its box until today, when I had to tackle the task of assembling it after a 5" snowfall.  I've never been very good at that, but it basically came down to fitting a few metal pieces together and tightening some screws.  In 15 minutes, I was good to go.

I'm laughing at myself as I write this, incredulous that I've been inspired to write about a snow blower.  That might seem silly, but to me, it's nothing short of liberation.  That nifty little green machine cleaned my driveway down to the blacktop with minimal effort in about 90 minutes. With the Greenworks in my arsenal, I'm not trapped anymore, and winter suddenly seems a lot less daunting.  I'm free, at last.

Did Buyers Purchase Homes "On Sale"?

Coldwell Banker's 10-Day Fall Home Sale Event is now history. In order to participate, sellers whose homes were priced at $750,000 or under were asked to reduce their prices by 5%, while those tagged at $750,000 or more had to slash 10% from their asking price.

The interesting part of the promotion was that it modeled itself on department store sales by trying to sell houses like were linens marked down at Macy's, "for a limited time only." We don't see that approach too often, and I applaud Coldwell Banker for stepping out of the box to try something new.

It will be interesting to see how many buyers took advantage of this unprecedented opportunity, but in at least one case, the marketing strategy seems to have paid big dividends.

215 Monument Street in Concord, a 17-room mansion on 3.5 acres abutting the idyllic Estabrook Woods, was originally listed by Coldwell Banker in April, 2006 for the heady price of $5,250,000. By March of this year, the asking price had ebbed down to $3,975,000, without any takers. And by the time the owners decided to participate in the 10-Day Sale Event by reducing their price to $3,600,000, this stately home had been on the market for more than 900 days.
But then, voila!

Apparently the "limited time only" $3.6 million price tag was irresistible, because on Sunday, October 19th, the last day of the sale, this home was finally put "under agreement," signalling that a buyer had taken the bait. The property is currently assessed at more than $4.3 million, so it looks like the new owner got a great deal.

What Sellers Need to Know

In a perceptive article entitled Be It Ever So Illogical: Homeowners Who Won't Cut the Price, writer David Leonhardt accurately captures the sentiment of many would-be home sellers here in Massachusetts who can't quite bring themselves to accept the painful reality of declining prices, coupled with the phenomenon of skeptical buyers who are determined not to overpay for a home, even when they love it.

And, as Leonhardt explains, "there is no asset more conducive to hopeful overvaluation. That means real estate slumps tend to grind on for years, until sellers submit to reality and reduce their prices." There's just no way around it.

Even though prices are coming down, it appears that they haven't declined enough to stimulate risk-averse buyers. The Warren Group reported yesterday that Bay State single family home sales dropped 19% in February 2008 from what they were in February 2007, when the slowdown had already begun in earnest. This slide was coupled with an 8.8% drop in the median single family home price here, which Warren described as the largest monthly decline in 18 years.

And so it looks like the stalemate may continue for a while longer, unfortunately, until someone blinks.

Neighborhood Environmental Reports: The Next Frontier

With all the emphasis on ensuring that the homes they wish to purchase offer clean potable water, low levels of radon, and mold-free spaces , buyers have paid somewhat less attention to the areas immediately beyond the boundaries of their new address.

Yet the presence of nearby environmental hazards can pose health threats that are equal or greater than those to be found within a home's four walls.

In the past, it required hours and hours of painstaking research to track down potential issues that might adversely impact a home's air and water. The good news for buyers and sellers alike is that it's now possible to obtain a comprehensive "home health report" from home inspectors and real estate agents who have been certified by Environmental Data Resources (EDR) to provide Neighborhood Environmental Reports, each customized to a specific property.

Each Neighborhood Environmental Report segregates the known current or past environmental issues into two categories: those within a radius of 300 feet (approximately six acres) of a property, and those beyond that circle, up to a distance of about one mile away. It includes information about the location and status of leaking oil storage tanks, landfills, hazardous waste sites, EPA priority cleanup sites, and areas of accidential toxic contamination from fuel spills or industrial leakage.

In many cases, the reports reveal that previous problem sites have been satisfactorily resolved and do not pose a present danger. In other cases, it may be possible to implement precautions or other protective measures to mitigate any risks.

But the important thing is that the EDR "NERs" arm a consumer with the data she needs to make an informed choice about whether to purchase a particular property.

As a recently certified EDR provider, I can now offer Neighborhood Environmental Reports to real estate agents, buyers, sellers, and anyone else who would like to have this information about their property. Please contact me if you're interested.

Advice for Choosing a Home When You're SAD

I was out showing homes this morning, almost giddy to be able to spend time driving around in the unrelenting streams of sunlight. I'm one of those people who really suffer during the New England winters, and I've realized that my moods are affected less by the cold temperatures than by the dreary unending grayness that tends to set in around this time in February.

My client and I looked at a selection of smallish homes in Acton, Harvard and Stow. While all of the homes were modestly priced (for this area), and none of them could be described as "fancy," there were a few that made us feel like whistling and clicking our heels, and a few that made us want to scamper out the door as quickly as we possibly could.

What was the difference? In a word, "light." And for people like me who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, the abundance or scarcity of life-sustaining light in a house may outweigh other salient characteristics when it comes to deciding whether that's the place you'll want to call "home."

We noticed that it wasn't just the size of the windows that made the difference. Equally important was the way in which each house was sited, and in what direction it faced. Homes that are shrouded by trees may reap some cooling benefits during the summer, but in winter, these places can bring you down even on a bright day.

So my advice to buyers who are light-sensitive is to be sure that you visit a home during both morning and afternoon hours before you make an offer. For example, kitchens that are bathed in morning sun may become dungeon-like after 3pm. There are always things you can do to compensate, of course (such as adding mirrors or skylights or painting dark woodwork with lighter-hued colors), but take the time to investigate before you purchase, so you won't find yourself in a funk when February comes next year.

Market Madness in Bolton, Mass

Lest anyone think that the pain in the real estate market is being borne solely by sub-prime buyers in the lower echelons of the market, there is ample evidence in some upscale country towns that this is not the case.

This morning's MLS updates brought the news that an 18-month-old home in the young, up-and-coming Northwoods subdivision has been listed for $950,000, with the unusual disclaimer, "Please save everyone's time; price is nonnegotiable." What makes this case so interesting is that the current owners purchased the 6000-square-foot residence (new) for $1,082,000 in June of 2006 and purportedly poured another $200,000 into it for custom upgrades, including a fully finished lower level. The property is currently assessed for $1,036,900, and ominously, the sale is "subject to bank approval."

The market has not been kind to these sellers. They first listed their home in August, 2007, for $1,250,000, and subsequently reduced it to $1.1 million in October, finally taking it off the market just before Christmas.

There are currently 47 MLS-listed homes on the market in Bolton today, with an average asking price of $833,409. Twelve of these (about 25%) are priced at $900,000 or more. Only one home in the entire town is under contract, that that one is priced much more modestly, under $500,000.

The town's current absorption rate suggests that these upper echelon homes could linger on the market for as long two years. In the last six months, 35 MLS-listed homes were sold in Bolton, with an average sale price of $619,511. Only three of these homes were priced over $900,000, including one in the same Northwoods neighborhood, which closed in December at a reported price of $912,000, excluding buyer-paid upgrades.

Consider the Neighborhood!

Real estate guru Barbara Corcoran stresses the importance of scoping out a neighborhood as part of a buyer's due diligence in buying a home. That means driving around at different times of the day, and getting out of the car to walk around and talk with residents and local merchants. You may notice things you didn't perceive from the vantage point of your dashboard, such as noise, smells, untidy backyards, or barking dogs, all of which can affect future property values.

Ms. Corcoran offers 9 Smart Tips on How to Handle Nasty Neighbors, and also counsels would-be purchasers to be wary of selecting homes that are near or adjacent to country clubs, intersections with stop signs, empty lots, or halfway houses, all of which can be sources of unwanted traffic, noise, or the kind of unrelenting activity that does not make for a serene environment.

Market Conditions Reports for Princeton and Harvard

One of my New Year's resolutions is to post regular Market Conditions reports for the towns I cover, with statistics and perspective on what is happening in the respective real estate markets for each of these distinct areas.

Here is my current report for the town of Princeton. It presents a sobering picture of what home sellers are facing, showing a 17-month supply of homes, based on the purchasing patterns during the last six months.

Today's report for Harvard shows an uptick in activity in the under-$500,000 price range, with three homes in that tier of the market having accepted offers since the beginning of January. The high-end picture is sobering, with a 24-month supply of homes in the $900,000 and over range.

Buyers' Contingency Strategies May be Backfiring

I have been involved in two situations during the last three weeks in which buyers with homes to sell submitted lowball contingency offers. Their strategy backfired.

Sellers are not fond of working with buyers who have home sale contingencies, but in this market, they have had to do so. It's possible to structure these deals so that everyone wins. But in order to persuade a seller to consider the contingency, the buyers must make an attractive offer, and they have to demonstrate that they are taking aggressive action to ensure that their home sells within a reasonable period of time.

In one recent case in which I was representing the seller, the buyers submitted an offer that was about $20,000 below the assessed valuation. The offer was sent to my clients without a preapproval letter, and with not one, but two home sale contingencies. One of the homes that the buyers needed to sell was not even on the market at the time of the offer, and we were informed that because of the holidays, it would be at least two weeks before it would even be listed. Needless to say, the sellers were less than enthusiastic about negotiating with these buyers, and the offer quickly fell apart.

Another seller client recently received a similar contingent offer, more than 12% below the asking price, contingent on the sale of an out-of-state property. The buyers asked for three months to put their current home under agreement. This would have put the sellers in the unenviable position of having to wait out the spring market for a sale that may or may not ever happen. Even with a 48-hour right of first refusal, it would not have been a "win-win" situation.

What surprises me, I guess, is that the buyers in each of these situations weren't savvy enough to make the sellers an offer they couldn't refuse. If they had done that, these two properties might be under agreement today.

Is the Massachusetts Market Springing Back?

No one is sure whether it's the unseasonably warm weather, or a meaningful shift in buyer sentiment, but there are rampant anecdotal reports of increased activity in the local housing market, at least in the greater central Massachusetts region.

For example, I am working with some buyers who are interested in purchasing a condo in southern Worcester County, and we've been looking at a variety of units in Grafton, Millbury, Northbridge, Hopedale, and Uxbridge.

My buyers decided to add the town of Auburn to their list of possibles, but when I called, over the weekend, to arrange an appointment for a cute townhouse there, the listing agent told me, in a tone of disbelief, that he'd just received two offers on this unit, and that the seller expected to choose one of them within the next few hours. This townhome had been on the market for about three months, with little activity, and suddenly, everyone wanted it!

There are 13 condominiums currently on the market in Auburn, with an average price of $225,408 and an average time on the market of 138 days, according to MLSPIN. (Two of these units have accepted offers but they are available to be shown for "backup.") This represents a six-month supply, based on the fact that during the last 180 days, 13 units have sold in Auburn for an average price of $192,431.

So it looks like even though current list prices for condos in Auburn are about 10% higher than the most recent selling points, buyers are making offers and whittling down the inventory.

Whatever the reason, this is good news!

What is that snake in my sunroom?

It was a pretty quiet Memorial Day weekend, except for Saturday night, when I heard a commotion in my sunroom, home of my Spanish Timbrado canaries. Intrigued, I came downstairs and turned on the light and was taken aback to see my orange tiger cat, Neil, proudly keeping watch over a coiled pile of a snake--a pretty long snake at that!

Horrified, I could see that Neil had apparently been playing with the then-unidentified snake, which seemed woozy and unhappy to be the object of the cat's attention.

I hurriedly scooped the snake onto a magazine and brought it out so that it could sidle into the bushes.

I have no idea how the snake got into my home, but I thought it would be interesting to find out what kind of snake it was. I was delighted to find a fabulous online resource on Snakes of Massachusetts, compiled by U. Mass Amherst. It offers a species-by-species guide to the snakes found here in the Commonwealth, and I was able to identify my visitor as an Eastern Ribbon Snake, a harmless snake that frequents ponds and wetlands, like those in my backyard.

Home of the Week in Carlisle!

Here's the view from the front porch of this expanded contemporary farmhouse, overlooking glorious open fields on Curve St., one of Carlisle's most scenic country roads.

On 2 acres, this appealing 4-bedroom home is loaded with extras, including an au pair suite, two laundries, a large 2nd floor studio, and a 3-car garage. It offers over 4300 sq. ft. of very livable space.

Originally listed at $975,000, this light, bright, open-concept home is currently priced at $939,000. It's listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Concord, and I'd be happy to arrange an appointment, or send more information, if it piques your fancy!

Siggy Needs a Home

This is Siggy, a beautiful black and white springer spaniel who needs a new home, now.

I met Siggy as part of my work for the New England English Springer Spaniel Rescue, an all-volunteer group of people throughout the Northeast who love Springers and spend a lot of their spare time trying to place needy ones in new loving homes.

We haven't been able to find a home for Siggy, and he's running out of time.

Siggy just turned 14 years old, but looks more like he's 10. He's healthy and friendly, and does not deserve the fate his owners are contemplating--to be put to sleep because he sometimes barks when they leave him at their summer cottage. Siggy has a lot of love to give, and a lot of life left.

He gets along well with other dogs and cats, and is very attached to his people. My feeling is that if he were in a home with other dogs, he wouldn't be so lonely.

If you'd like more information about Siggy, please contact me. Time is running out.

Using Feng Shui to Buy, Sell, and Move In to a Home

I am a trained Feng Shui practitioner, and often use the principles of this ancient art of energy flow to assist my buyer and seller clients in assessing or enhancing the merits of the homes they may be purchasing or selling. I know that when Feng Shui techniques are used appropriately, and with a sincere and focused intention, they act as powerful tools to transform an environment.

Barbara Madding and Peg Donahue, who are colleagues and good friends of mine, and together offer Feng Shui analytical services through Feng Shui Connections, have founded the New England Center for Feng Shui and Intuitive Arts, which offers seminars and workshops on a multitude of fascinating topics including Feng Shui, dowsing, geopathic stress, and architectural psychology.

For the next three weeks, they will be offering Thursday evening teleclasses of particular interest to those who are in the process of buying, selling, or moving into a new home.

On Thursday, March 16th, the focus will be Using Feng Shui to Attract the Perfect Buyer for Your Home, which will outline how you can prepare both the interior and exterior of your home for sale, and highlight the strongest areas of your property to maximize its appeal.

On Thursday, March 23rd, Barbara and Peg will provide Feng Shui Tips for Purchasing Your Home, a discussion of which shapes, sites, and qualities are likely to be supportive to the lives of a home's inhabitants and which could create unwelcome challenges.

On Thursday, March 30th, the series comes full circle, with a workhop on Moving into a New Home and Settling Your Chi, which will describe simple space clearing techniques to rid your new home of old energies from the past occupants, and instill fresh life force that is harmonized to support your highest good.

You don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home to participate in these teleclasses, which will be conducted from 7:30-9pm on a conference call line. You can register online at the NECFS website; the fee is $35 per teleclass, or $90 for the series. If you're interested in participating but can't be present for the live teleclass, no worries! The classes will be taped and will be available for listening for 60 days after the event.

The Sale of Fernside

Well, it's finally a done deal.

After 899 days on the market, Princeton's beloved Fernside has been sold, for $1.9 million.

The majestic 19th century mansion will undergo a transformation from a Bed & Breakfast Inn to a residential treatment center, affiliated with McLean Hospital in Belmont, according to published reports.

New Federal Standards for Arsenic in Water

Homeowners in New England, where there are about 2.3 million private wells, should be aware that as of January 23, 2006, the EPA has greatly reduced the allowable amount of arsenic that can be present in drinking water, in order for it to be considered safe or "potable," from 50 parts per million to 10 parts per million (Maximum Contaminant Level = 0.010ppm).

It is estimated that up to 15% of all private wells in New Hampshire may not meet this standard.

Though the regulation was promulgated in January 2001, it did not take effect until today. If you purchased your home during the last several years, and would like to retest your water to ensure that it complies with the new standards, you can find a list of Massachusetts DEP-certified labs online.

If you rely on well water and are considering selling your home, it would be advisable to investigate the arsenic level now, and take remedial action, if necessary, for your protection and to forestall problems once your home goes under agreement.

The Boston Home Show

Whether you're buying a home, redoing a room, or just dreaming about the possibilities, The Boston Home Show, opening on Friday, January 13th and running through Sunday, January 15th at the Bayside Expo, offers a wealth of information.

Attendees can also enter to win a $10,000 kitchen makeover from Kitchen Magic, a $15,000 home theater from New England Home Theater, or a day of around-the-house fix-up services from the Handy Man Network.

Flora in Winter!

If you can't wait until the New England Spring Flower Show for a fix of wonderful plants and flowers, treat yourself to a visit to the upcoming Flora in Winter exhibition, an "art and floral extravaganza" that will be on display at both the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston and the Worcester Art Museum from January 26-29, 2006.

Events at Tower Hill during the four-day feast for the senses include a luncheon and lecture/demonstration on Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, and a Mozart Piano Candlelight Concert, in honor of the venerable composer's 250th birthday.

The Harvard General Store is for Sale!

All of the agents in my office were surprised and saddened this week to see that Harvard's beloved General Store (home of Harvard Camera) has come on the market.

The distinguished 19th century building, a revered landmark on Harvard's historic common, has almost 8000 square feet on three levels, with hardwood floors and original moldings. It is being offered for sale as either a residential or a commercial property, for $995,000.