Andover Mortgage Market

Right now, homebuyers and homeowners can get a mortgage at the lowest rates in recorded financial history. The 30-year-fixed rate dropped from 3.98% to 3.87%, and the 15-year-fixed rate fell to a record 3.14%. This is an excellent opportunity for struggling homeowners to refinance or first time hombuyers to get an incredible rate on a mortgage. Credit standards are still tough, so consider your financial portfolio and consolidate any outstanding debt.

The low rates have already seen a slight improvement in the housing market, including a slight rise in home prices. With the national economy nearly at bottom, the market is ripe for investing small and appreciating big. Homes in Andover are always a smart investment, and with rates this low, you can get in for less!

If you’re interested in exploring properties in Andover or elsewhere in MA, contact your local expert Susan Rochwarg at (978) 203-5273 to get started today!

Read current Andover MA real estate news or browse current properties on the market on our Andover listing search.

Andover Market Update

Now is a great time to get a terrific deal on an undervalued piece of Andover real estate. In the past year, median sales prices fell 7.4% to $458,500. For that price, you can find a totally renovated three bedroom, two and a half bathroom home in a great part of town. Home sales have fallen over 35% in the past year, and buyers can take advantage of anxious sellers to get a good discount on a home. Also, scour the market for foreclosure and short sale properties – these are often great value homes that will save you a lot of money.

When you’re negotiating, if sellers are unwilling to budge on price, ask about the extras like closing costs, furniture or home warranties. This is a buyer’s market and sellers know that. You can walk away with a steal of a deal and then laugh your way to the bank in a few years once your new home begins appreciating. Shop the market now before prices head up!

If you’re interested in exploring properties in Andover or elsewhere in MA, contact your local expert Susan Rochwarg at (978) 203-5273 to get started today!

Read current Andover MA homes news or browse current properties on the market on our Andover listing search.

10 Bailey Rd Andover, MA

Here is a beautiful Andover home with all the space, luxury and location you could want. Come see this four bedroom, two and a half bathroom new construction brick home in a desirable neighborhood attached to the High Plan/Wood Hill School District.

This new home features hardwood floors throughout the first floor, sophisticated crown molding, a gas fireplace and granite in the kitchen and bathrooms. You can choose for yourself what colors and themes you want in this new construction home tailored just for you. You’ll love life in this exciting new neighborhood in lovely Andover!

If you’re interested in exploring properties in Andover or elsewhere in MA, contact your local expert Susan Rochwarg at (978) 203-5273 to get started today!

Read current Andover MA homes news or browse current properties on the market on our Andover property search.

Andover Real Estate Resolutions for 2012

After the past few years of real estate mayhem, it makes sense to pause before the New Year and formulate a real estate strategy. Do you want to stay in your home, keep renting your apartment, sell your home, reprice your home, etc. What do you want your home to look like in 2012?

Here are a few tips if you’re trying to sell your home this coming year:

1. The Price is Right
This was a tough year for home sellers. Almost half of homeowners who spent more than four months trying to sell their home, settled for less than 90% of their asking price. So when you put your home on the market, check out the comparable sales data from your neighborhood, and keep your price in line, if not lower. You’re always better off pricing your home low and starting a bidding war. That’s one way to turn this buyer’s market around.

2. A Picture Tells a Thousand Words, But a Video Seals the Deal
Pictures of your home are terrific, but there are so many buyers who won’t make time to see your home if they don’t already think they want it. And the best way to convince them is through a clean, professional quality video that allows the viewer to feel like they’re actually walking through the home. If your agent is well-versed in video marketing and can make your home look its best, great. If not, there are several companies out there who will make a great video tour of your home for a reasonable fee.

3. Get Creative
There are a lot of properties on the market, so you have to make yours stand out. In this day and age, a fully finished basement won’t cut it anymore. Sweeten the deal with say, six months of maintenance fees on your condo, or landscaping costs on your home. Offer the buyer a year’s worth of Drano for that one problem sink. If you venture outside the normal parameters, you raise your chances of someone coming to look at your home, even if it’s just to meet the Drano nut.

If you’re interested in exploring properties in Andover or elsewhere in MA, contact your local expert Susan Rochwarg at (978) 203-5273 to get started today!

Read current Andover MA homes news or browse current properties on the market on our Andover MA listing search.

Make Your Home Part of the Holidays in Andover, MA

This year, step up your holiday home decorating game and go for the gold. Why? Because this year, the winner of the nationwide Patch.com “Best Dressed Home” contest, will win $100,000 for their school district, plus $500 to use towards their electric bill. Get out the lights from last year, but also try to find a few new ones – we want to see reindeer pulling sleighs, Santa and Mrs. Claus, snow-covered elves, you name it. This is the perfect opportunity to get the whole family involved in some creative holiday fun.

You’ve got from now through December 26th to decorate your home to its finest and then take a picture. Upload the photo and register at deckthehouse.patch.com/contest/andover/about#. There will be 24 finalists selected, each of whom will win $500. The grand prize winner will have a $100,000 check written to their school district. Call grandma and grandpa and all the local kids. It’s time for your home to play dress up!

If you’re interested in exploring properties in Andover or elsewhere in MA, contact your local expert Susan Rochwarg at (978) 203-5273 to get started today!

Read current Andover MA homes news or browse current properties on the market on our Andover listings search.