Monday, October 31, 2011

Determine if Refinancing Your Lexington Home is Right for You!

Living in Lexington Massachusetts is the ideal lifestyle for many who enjoy historic character and a small town atmosphere close to the metropolis of Boston. For many of you, you’ve enjoyed living in Lexington for years but have questions about the current Lexington Real Estate market and what this means for your home.

If you’ve been considering refinancing your Lexington home in order to cash in on the currently low mortgage rates, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. While this can be a viable option for you, take a the time to do your research and talk with your Lexington Real Estate agent will ensure you make the right decision. Take a look at these five factors in determining if refinancing your Lexington home is the right choice for you!

1. Interest rates- Refinancing right now is great for homeowners whose current rates are above 5.5% and are hoping to save on their monthly mortgage costs. For a Lexington home; you could potentially save a percentage point or more on an outstanding mortgage.

2. Credit score and income- Most banks in today’s market will require you to have a minimum credit score of 620 in order to refinance. You will also need to prove that your household finances have been stable. If unemployment or other issues have come up that have decreased your finances significantly; you’ll find it hard to refinance.

3. Costs- Refinancing your home will cost you typically 2% of the new loan amount. This includes application, appraisal and inspection fees. Included within refinancing costs is the new escrow account you’ll need to fund. The lender will set up this account for home-insurance and property-tax payments from which they’ll draw annually. Want to avoid this fee? Use the same lender you used for your initial mortgage. Their only costs are limited to issuing new paperwork, so they’re able to keep costs low and can oftentimes speed up the process. Another option is a good faith estimate. Your Lexington Real Estate agent can help you determine which option would work best for your home.

4. Adjustable-rate mortgages- Determining whether you’d like to go with an adjustable-rate mortgage or a fixed-rate mortgage can be tricky. An ARM can be a good choice for today’s market as you’ll cash in on the current lower rates, but can be unstable in the long run. However, a fixed-rate mortgage ensures that your rates will remain stable and won’t rise if the market changes.

5. Greater pricing disparity- Based on your current credit score, the rates offered for refinancing can vary greatly. Lenders will look at Massachusetts's average loan-to-value ratio and the percentage of homes with negative equity. The higher the percentage of these homes, the higher the rate a borrower will most likely be offered.

I hope this helps answer some of the questions you may have concerning refinancing your Lexington home. As an experienced Lexington Real Estate agent, I am always here to answer your questions or help you navigate through the Lexington Real Estate market.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions you may have!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Halloween Fun In Lexington MA


Saturday Oct 29, 8:45 am-Halloween Parade- hosted by LexFUN! Calling all little witches, goblins, and superheroes and their families to parade in costume with musical instruments around the Lexington Battle Green! After the parade join in more fun with a Halloween craft. Be sure to bring a canned food and/or financial donation to enjoy our bake sale to support the Lexington Food Pantry. The event is free, and the kids are the show!

In the event of rainy weather on Saturday 10/29, please check the LexFUN! website, lexfun.org, after 7 AM on 10/29 for cancellation/rain date instructions.

Saturday Oct 29, 8-11:30-Wild Halloween Dance Party - ADULTS ONLY - at the Lexington Knights of Columbus Hall, (177 Bedford Street, Lexington).
Food; Deejay & Dancing; Cash Bar; Silent Auction all to benefit the Lexington High School Softball Team. Open to the Public. Costumes strongly encouraged! Admission is $20 in advance and $25.00 at the door. To be on the Advance purchase list, please sent check made payable to: Lexington High School Boosters and mail to: Peggy Barons, 4 Bowser Road, Lexington, MA 02420 or call 781-862-7505

Sunday Oct 30, 2-4 pm- Citizens for Lexington Conservation Fall Walk
Whipple Hill contains some of the most extensive and beautifully preserved stone walls in all of Lexington. Late fall after most of the leaves have fallen is a wonderful time to appreciate these treasures and the overall lay of the landscape. Sturdy shoes are recommended for this strenuous walk. Heavy rain will cancel the walk. Meet at the Winchester Drive parking lot at Whipple Hill.

Monday Oct 31, 2-5 pm-Trick or Treating.
Sponsored by the Lexington Retailers Association, enjoying trick or treating in Lexington Center (rain or shine). Those dressed in costume are invited to stop in at participating local businesses (just look for the black, orange and white balloons) for treats!

Enjoy the day and be safe!




Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Lexington, MA Book Lovers Brunch Sign Up

Calling all book lovers! You are invited to Cary Memorial Library’s first ever Book Lovers Brunch! Celebrate great books and the joy of reading. We'll talk books, swap favorite titles, enjoy some delicious refreshments.... and have a great time!. This event will be held in the Library's Large Meeting Room on Saturday, November 12 at 10:00 a.m.

This event is free, but Advance Registration is required. Registration for this special event is now ongoing. Individuals wishing to attend can register online, in person at the Reference Desk, or by phone (781-862-6288 ext. 250.)

Special guest for this event will be local author Juliette Fay. Juliette is a Lexington native and LHS graduate. She is the author of Shelter Me, a novel that was a surprise bestseller and book club favorite. On November 12, Juliette will be discussing her new novel, Deep Down True.

So save the date and plan to join Juliette at the Cary Library brunch table! For more information about Juliette Fay and her new book, go to
http://juliettefay.com/ . For more information about this event, go to http://www.carylibrary.org or call the library at the number above.

Theresa D'Antuono
Lexington MA Real Estate Agent
Search Lexington MA Area Homes For Sale
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Lexington MA Liberty Ride Ends 10/30

Celebrate history in your own backyard! In honor of your support of the Liberty Ride we are celebrating our 10th season by giving you a special opportunity.

Daily through October 30th you can take the Liberty Ride at the original rates! Normally $25 for adults and $10 for students 17 and under, adults are just $10 and students $5. Children under 5 are always free.

The Liberty Ride is a 90 minute narrated tour of Lexington and Concord http://www.libertyride.us/
See a brief glimpse of the ride at:

http://concord.patch.com/articles/video-liberty-ride-rolling-on-61bf60fb#video-8074278

Most of the guides are from Lexington or have a Lexington connection. Three are Town Meeting members.

This offer is for Lexington residents and the guests only. (Identification required.) You must purchase your tickets onboard at the National Heritage Museum stop and only good on the 1:00 and 2:30 tours.

In addition, your Liberty Ride tickets provides FREE admission to all three historic houses in Lexington: Buckman Tavern, Munroe Tavern, and the Hancock-Clarke House. Visit the houses on the same day or different days, and the house admissions are good next season. If you have not yet seen the renewing renovated Munroe Tavern it is worth the trip!

Take advantage before the Liberty Ride closes for the season on October 30th. This special will not be available next year. Don't keep the deal a secret. Pass it along to all your Lexington friends and neighbors.

Thank you for making the Liberty Ride a "must see" in Lexington.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Advantages of Owning Your Own Home in Lexington MA

Buying

  • You will have tax write-offs
  • You may increase equity in your home
  • Housing expenses may not go up
  • You can decorate, make changes and enjoy your home as you see fit.
  • You are not at the mercy of the landlord
  • You can have pets
  • Your house will become “home”
  • Its' great to live in Lexington MA!

Renting

  • No tax write off
  • You have no equity.
  • Your rent can and most likely will go up each year
  • Your must get permission to make changes to your residence
  • You can be evicted, lose your security deposit or more
  • You may have to pay extra to have pets or not allowed to have pets at all.
  • Your living situation always feels temporary.


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Lexington Preschool Night - Wednesday, Oct 19th

Early Education Open House

(formerly Nursery School Night)

Explore Lexington’s Preschool & Childcare Programs

Wednesday, October 19, 7:00 PM-9:00 PM Cary Hall, 1605 Mass Avenue, Lexington Not sure where to start when choosing a nursery school? Curious about the variety of childcare options available in Lexington?

Please join us to learn about the many diverse programs, including in-home care, offered in our community. Directors and teachers from many of Lexington’s preschool and childcare centers will be available to answer your questions and provide detailed program information, including enrollment applications.

This evening is a must for any parent interested in finding a preschool or childcare center for the 2012-2013 school year. Admission is free for LexFUN! members, $5.00 per family for non-members. Proceeds from this event benefit the LexFUN! Scholarship Fund. For more information, please contact Nayna Kaushek, 917-447-4544 or nkaushek@yahoo.com

http://lexfun.org
Location: Cary Hall

LexFUN! Events in Lexington MA

“LEXINGTON'S A FAMILY TIME TO GIVE” 10/17-10/22
Lexington's A Family Time To Give in partnership with Cradles to Crayons will be doing a "Winter Wear" clothing drive during the week of October 17th-Oct 22nd. Please drop off donations at the LexFUN! Drop In Center, Boston Sports Club or 27 Slocum Rd. We will be collecting new or gently used coats, scarves, gloves, mittens, hats, boots, snow pants, baby supplies and clothing for infants to kids of all ages (and winter wear adult clothing as well for St. Brigid’s). There will also be a Drop Off and Sorting Event on Saturday, October 22nd at St. Brigid's Church from 9:00 until 12 Noon. We would love to have families volunteer to help sort donations by size. It is a great way to volunteer as a family! Please email Wendy Bertsekas at wkbert@mac.com if you would like to help organize, assist or volunteer for this event.





Halloween Party at Youville!
This Sunday, 10/23 at Youville Place Assisted Living 1:45-4 pm. Get a jumpstart on the spooky thrills at this very special, first-time Community Service event for all ages. Youville Place has graciously invited LexFUN! families to join in their annual Halloween party (at no cost to LexFUN! members)! Please come from 1:45 PM - 4:00 PM for a fantastic afternoon filled with activities, trick or treating, snacks and fun! A magician will mesmerize us all of us from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM. Children are encouraged to wear costumes and bring trick or treating bags! Space is limited for this event. PLEASE RSVP to Beth Ross by Wednesday, 10/19 (beth.ross@hotmail.com) so Youville can prepare sufficient treats for our little ghosts and goblins!


Drop In Center
This Friday, 10/21 at St. Brigid's Church from 9:30-11:30am. Join us Friday mornings for loads of fun! The Drop-in Center is a great way for parents, caregivers and children 0-5 to connect with other families and have some fun! And this week is our Halloween costume swap, so please bring an old one and leave with a new one for this year!


Meals On Wheels
This Friday, 10/21st from 10:30-11:30 am. LexFUN! members volunteer to deliver meals to homebound seniors in Lexington. Please contact Kate atkathrynrcolburn@gmail.com if you are interested in helping volunteer this year.

Courtesy of LexFun! Visit their facebook page for more information on other fun events.









Monday, October 17, 2011

Avoid These 6 Mistakes When Selling Your Lexington Home!

A few weeks ago we discussed why now is a great time to sell your Lexington home! While many of you may be anxious to get your home sold and be settled into your new Lexington home just in time for the holidays, there are a few mistakes that you’ll want to be sure to avoid!


Selling your Lexington home can be a stress free process if you know what to expect and have a realistic approach to today’s Lexington Real Estate market. Feel free to take a few minutes to look over these common home selling mistakes.


1. Thinking your home is the exception- While you may have a beautiful home in Lexington; this alone will not sell your home. It’s easy to get emotionally attached to your home and feel that the time, energy and money you’ve invested makes it worth every penny of the selling price. However, to help your home sell in today’s market, you will need to price it competitively or else it will get overlooked.

2. Not checking your agent’s references- Your Lexington Real Estate agent will play a vital role in getting your home sold. You’ll want to be sure to choose your real estate agent carefully by checking their references, reviewing their testimonials and looking at their home selling record.

3. Not scouting the competition- Getting an idea of your competition- what the homes are like and what they’re selling for- is imperative for pricing your home correctly. It will also give you a realistic view of the current Lexington Real Estate market and what you can expect from your home sale. Your Lexington Real Estate agent will provide you with a list of “comps” (comparable homes that are currently on the market or that have sold recently), which will also help you get an idea of how your home will fare on the market.

4. Not prepping the property- Selling a home in today’s real estate market means having it in prime condition. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint, cosmetic repairs or removing clutter from your home, making sure your home shows well to buyers is key. Buyers want to know the home is in move-in ready condition, so they can easily begin enjoying their Lexington home from the moment they move in.

5. Being present during an open house- You’ll want to leave your home anytime there’s an open house or showing. This allows the buyers to feel at ease and to talk freely with their real estate agent about the home. They will also feel more free to explore the house and take their time envisioning themselves in your home.

6. Taking negotiations personally- You can’t take offers on your home or negotiations personally. While you do have a lot invested in your Lexington home, the emotional ties you have need to be kept at bay. This will give you the opportunity to think clearly and be flexible with what the buyers is looking for and can make the negotiation process run smoothly.

As a Lexington Real Estate agent, I know it can be easy to want to just get your home sold as quickly as possible, but thinking carefully through the process is the key to your home selling success and avoiding any unnecessary mistakes. If you have any questions about how to get started with selling your Lexington home, or you’d like more information on the current Lexington Real Estate market, please contact me! I’d enjoy the opportunity to talk with you about your home selling needs and come up with a strategic plan to get your home sold!

Feel free to contact me today to get started!



Monday, October 3, 2011

Thinking of Selling Your Lexington Home? 5 Great Reasons Why NOW is the Perfect Time!

As a Lexington Real Estate agent, I’m often asked about the current market conditions, especially by those Lexington residents who are considering selling their home. Because the market is currently leaning in favor of buyers, sellers fear trying to sell because they feel they won’t get a good return on investment.


While it’s true that competition among sellers is heightened due to buyers having the upper hand; now is actually an ideal time to jump into the market and get your home sold! Here are a few key reasons why:


1. Exposure- As you know, fall is a gorgeous time of year where we live and many people want to be outdoors as much as possible. Buyers will be actively viewing homes that are on the market and will want to close on a home and move in before winter hits. You’ll also not get as much activity on your Lexington home in the winter months when the snow and cold drive people indoors.


2. Moving Up- Now is an ideal time to move up into your dream Lexington home. Selling your home will free you up to cash in on all the benefits buyers are currently taking advantage of, and you’ll be glad you decided to sell! There are many beautiful homes on the Lexington Real Estate market that are well priced and move-in ready!


3. Competition- It’s expected that short sales and foreclosures will rise later this fall and winter, so selling now will keep you ahead of the competitive prices of these types of homes. While your Lexington home may be in great condition and well priced, buyers will have a hard time passing up the even lower prices on a distressed property.


4. Surplus of Buyers- Mortgage lenders are looking for new ways to tighten the reigns of those who qualify for a loan. The harder it becomes for buyers to qualify, the fewer the amount of buyers who will be searching the Lexington Real Estate market. Selling now ensures you’re dealing with the most potential buyers which will translate more easily into a sale.


5. Moving On- Although this is more of an emotional reason, it’s still valid. Whatever reason you have for selling your home in Lexington, you don’t want the process to linger on longer that it has to. You have certain goals with selling your home that you want to achieve, and there’s also a sense of being able to move on with your life.


I hope these tips encourage you and show you that if you’re thinking of selling your Lexington home, now is the time to do so! I understand it can be overwhelming to think about going through the entire home selling process with the busy fall season underway, but with my years of experience in the Lexington Real Estate market, I assure you that you can have a smooth and efficient experience!


Please feel free to contact me today to discuss any questions you have about selling your home, your real estate needs or to get started! I look forward to helping you sell your Lexington home!



Theresa D'Antuono

Lexington MA Real Estate Agent
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