Lynn MA, Special Victims Unit…Real estate Agent police

In the City of Lynn there is “talk” of passing an ordinance making a real estate agent responsible if a home is purchased by a sex offender.

Here is the article.

http://itemlive.com/articles/2011/12/08/news/news02.txt

“However, Richard McBrien said he had two solutions to that problem.

McBrien lives directly next door to Galzerano at 34 Daytona Rd. he said he would like to see the real estate agency that sold the home to Galzerano buy it back for the purchase price plus expenses.

“If they can accomplish that then the person is not in the house any more and the real estate agent can turn around and put the dwelling back on the market,” he said. “This in my mind is a legitimate suggestion.”

Solution number two, McBrien added, would be for the City Council to require any real estate agency working in the city or anyone selling a home, to determine if a buyer is in conflict of the sex offender ordinance before they finalize a deal.

“Failure to do so would result in a $50,000 to $100,000 fine on the agency or selling party,” he said. “Is that a lot of money? Yes. Does it put some teeth into the thing if they approve it? Yes.”

The suggestion was met with an explosion of applause and City Councilor Wayne Lozzi, who moderated the meeting along with Councilor President Timothy Phelan, said the council could look into the idea.”

 

Pass the buck to the real estate agents, why not?

The bigger question is what to do with these sex offenders?  As a society we have decided to let the garbage back out.

 

 

 

North Shore Chapter Landlord Group

The North Shore Rental Property Association (NSRPA) – a new chapter of the Massachusetts Rental Housing Association – is actively seeking new members. Stacey Devendorf, local landlord and owner of Baystate|Sunstate Realty, is working closely with the Massachusetts association to bring its “Landlords Helping Landlords” philosophy to the North Shore.

The new NSRPA is open to anyone who owns/manages rental properties across all North Shore communities.  Meetings will fill a major need in the North Shore landlord community by offering an interactive support group format.  Members are encouraged to bring their most pressing questions to the table, from bedbugs and maintenance troubleshooting to finding dependable property managers and staff.  Top speakers from the legal, policy, and advocacy arenas will also offer information and resources.

Ms. Devendorf, an experienced community member and group organizer, is excited about this opportunity to mobilize and support peer landlords throughout the North Shore.

For membership information, please email:  landlords@baystatere.com or 617.674.2977.

There is also a Facebook group:  keyword “North Shore Rental Property Association.”

If you are interested in speaking at one of our future events, please contact Stacey at landlords@baystate.com.

 

What does your front door look like?

I love to collect photos of front doors.  A front door tells the story of  a house.  Was it cared for and loved?  Neglected and abused? Lived in?

Here are some front doors my husband took on a recent business trip to Wales and along the country side of England.

Send us a photo of your front door.

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Scams!

Everyday people wire me money and send me checks… no questions asked.  They do this based on ads I place on the internet for vacation rentals.

I deal a lot with summer vacation rentals in Cape Cod and year round short term rentals in Florida.  Vacationers ares my favorite population of people to deal with.  It is because they are happy! Who isn’t when they are planning a summer vacation after months of cold New England weather?

Sadly, not a year goes by where I do not hear of a story where a renter has been scammed.

There are so many scams these days.  It seems each one keeps getting better.  I could blog for months about all the different ones.

Instead I am going to offer a few tips on how to avoid  mishaps when dealing with summer rentals. No one wants their vacation ruined!

-Ask the owner to put  in writing how they will handle foreclosure proceedings should they occur before or during the time your vacation is planned.   Many people in the middle of foreclosure still rent out their homes for profit! This is a lot more common than one would think!

-Check to see if the house is for sale.  Give the town a call to see if the taxes are up paid to date, and the utilities as well.

-View lots of pictures and if possible video tours of the property. Use google earth to make sure the outside photos are indeed the property you are renting.

-Check out the city/town records online if possible to view floor plans etc.  You can easily tell if a 300 square foot home is being marketed as a 4 bedroom three story colonial!

-Some owners/agents will even show you the property if you ask.  We do not for anything less than a month rental but offer photos and video tours.

-Drive by the property for rent if possible.

-Check out feedback left by prior renters.

-Check public records to see who owns the house.  (More often than not the homes are in trusts and this should not be a reason for alert if the owner can explain it.)

-Trust your judgement.  If it sounds fishy, it is!

-Deal with an agent/owner or a real estate office/property management firm if possible when renting.

If not possible then choose an owner who has owned the property and is experienced in working with renters.

Remember agents have large networks!

They can point you to a rental in your desired area if they currently have none in their inventory.

-Ask family and friends for recommendations of owners and agents they have worked with.

Need a summer rental in the Cape or Daytona Beach?

Give us a call! 617.674.2977 or Tina in our Florida office at: 386.232.8268.

Fan us on Facebook & win a prize!

Your invited!!!!

What: to become one of our fans on facebook.

Click this link to do so!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baystate-RealtyMA-Sun-State-RealtyFL/141368395909010

When: NOW!!! Suggest us to your family and friends as well.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baystate-RealtyMA-Sun-State-RealtyFL/141368395909010

One random winner will win a gift card to a local Boston and Florida business of their choice!

Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

WhatutalkingaboutWillis???? & Lobsters…

 Disclaimer:  This is an actual article printed in a local North Shore newspaper.  Not the Onion.
http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2011/03/09/news/news01.txt

DISCLAIMER:  THE OWNERS PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES !!!!!!  THEY SHOVEL THE SIDEWALKS.

Downtown Lynn has a rash of empty unkept store fronts.  This is not one of them.

DID I MENTION THEY PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES????

Walmart Pond Woods???

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2011/02/08/news/news02.txt

Is it me, or is anyone else sick to death of reading and hearing about this small minority of people opposed to a Walmart expansion on Highland Avenue in Salem?

Does anyone else think the city of Lynn could use their lawyers for more pressing issues that face the city?

The laundry list is too long to even list.

Walmart in Salem is not our concern!  Hopefully Lynn will come to their senses and welcome the opportunity that the new businesses will offer their residents.

It’s snowing ya’ll

Here in Massachusetts we have lots of snow.  Snow makes people angry.

We were angry when the neighbor blowed/plowed excessive amounts of snow and ice  in our driveway.  We assumed that it was a one time issue.  We had no desire to partake in his sport. This is the same person who calls me at home when a tenant parks across the street from his house.  I guess those spaces are reserved for him?  (And no we are not in Southie)

One of my tenants just called me to say that he is back at his games again blowing snow on her as she is shoveling!!

Now comes the fun….

How’s this…some random Mormon kids (from out of state) just so happened to be in the area doing mitzvahs and helped her shovel out!

This made my day.

Mafia Shakedown. Realtor Style….

I cannot call myself a Realtor.

I adhere to the same code of ethics as they do.

After all when one becomes a broker or sales person they are required by the state in which they conduct business to do so.

It’s also just good business practice.

Few real estate professionals succeed without good solid ethics!

Why haven’t I joined the Board of Realtors after almost 10 years in the business? My own personal ethics and believes.  I see no benefit.   I see it costing excessive amounts of money.  If I join my agents are forced to join as well.  I do not care if I cannot call myself a realtor, nor do clients.  Being a realtor is NOT a special achievement.   Anyone, yes anyone, with a license can pay the dues and become one.  How is this ethical?

I am very lucky that here in the greater Boston area I have joined the ranks of many real estate workers who simply refuse to join the Board.

We may not save the $8.  on our cell phones or that $100. a year on our mls dues…  I get great discounts with an  AAA membership and  it only costs me $50. a year. We have the option to join or not in Massachusetts.  There is one MLS system for the state in which all listings are entered, with one exception.    The only bully in the state is the Cape Cod Board of Realtors with their own, seperate MLS database.   Accessible only by joining their board!

Some may see benefits to joining.

I am in the process of opening an office in Florida and have gotten quite the surprise when I am FORCED to join a board. There is no choice. MLS is run by the boards. There are several MLS systems owned and run by different boards in same county!

You need to join them to get mls.

The start up fees and initial dues are over $2,000. in some counties!  The majority have huge set up fees.  Someone needs to pay for that website designed in 1997 and for the secretary’s salary!  There is an mls set up fee, a new office set up etc. I have made calls to almost every board in Florida and this is the norm. Florida doesn’t have one unique state wide system that the majority of boards belong too.

Gee, wouldn’t it make sense to combine everything into one system.

-We have the National Board of Realtor Dues

-We have the state board dues

-We have the local dues.

-You can join as secondary member dues.

.. How much money can be gouged out of agents in these tough times?

Once you join,  there are lots more options to part ways with your money! (Can I interest you in a special lock box key you can only use with your IPOD super deluxe cell phone?? Did we tell you we offer a discount to agents for the IPOD super deluxe cell phone?)

Then comes into play the Miami Board of Realtors.  Recently they merged with several other local boards.

THEY ELIMATED THEIR INSANE START UP FEES!

For about $800.(which is kind of a bargain at this point) you can join the state, local, and national boards.   This includes the MLS access for a year and e-form service.   They are one of the largest boards in the state, and their webpage is not from 1997 !!

When asked why they did not have all these “fees”, the customer service rep simply said. “People were sick of them.”

It is tough enough to eek out a living in the real estate industry without these Realtor Mafia bosses shaking you down.

The code of ethics they tote is completely false since they themselves operate one of the most unethical business models I have ever seen!

I hope that real estate agents say “enough is enough”, and lead a revolt to make them go back to what they once were; A well respected organization that agents joined to distinguish themselves from others in the business! They could not be any further from this now.

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