Radon Advisory: Buying or Selling You Home

Radon has always been a hot topic in NH since there is so much granite bedrock in the State.

Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that occurs naturally.  It is a radioactive gas that is normally found in bedrock.  NH home wells are often drilled into the bedrock so it is very common to test for radon levels at the time of buying a home.  Dug wells normally aren’t a problem and have very little to no radon.  36% of NH residences have a private well.  Radon released from building materials is usually inconsequential.  Radon can seep into a basement through cracks in the foundation if the house is built above granite ledge.  Radon can move to the air from the water source in your home through showers, humidifiers, etc.

According to the DES, “Radon is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. and the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.”  There is also an increase in stomach cancer from radon in drinking water.

Formerly, the Department of Environmental Services recommends that homeowners and buyers test the indoor air for Radon and consult with radon mitigation companies when radon exceeds 2,000 picocuries per liter in well water, the lowest advisory level in the U.S. 

Now, as of 3/14/16, the DES advises to look into treatment if there is more than 10,000 picocuries of radon per liter in well water. 

“There are no federal or state standards for radon in drinking water. However, there are public health advisories for radon in drinking water, including that issued by USEPA. NHDES recommends the following:

·         For private wells with radon concentrations at or above 10,000 pCi/L, the treatment of water is recommended in conjunction with mitigation of indoor air radon. Homeowners should consult with radon mitigation and water treatment providers.

·         For private wells with radon concentrations between 2,000 and 10,000 pCi/L, the treatment of water may be advisable if air concentrations in the home exceed 4 pCi/L.

·         When radon in well water is below 4,000 pCi/L, you should retest air and water every three to five years.”

For more information visit http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/dwgb/documents/dwgb-3-12.pdf .

Sandy LeRette – Realtor® ABR – Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello Group (Licensed Agent in NH) – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH  03063  cell: (603) 661-7301 email: slerette@masiello.com

Bob LeRette – Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello Group (Licensed Agent in MA & NH) - 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH  03063  cell:  603-438-2550  email:  ralerette@comcast.net

Solar Panels: Buying or Selling a Home through Fannie Mae

Who doesn’t want to save some money and help save the planet too?

Solar panels are hot right now (pun intended).  They are designed to absorb the sun's rays as a source of energy for generating electricity or heating.  One solar panel only produces a limited amount of energy, so most homes have multiple modules.  Solar panels can now be purchased or leased, but all, or at least most, are installed on your homes roof.  That’s where you have to think about what is right for you.

Are you planning on living in your home for the long-term or will you be selling five years down the road?  Fannie Mae mortgages will purchase or scrutinize a mortgage loan on a property with solar panels.  If the property owner owns the panels then standard eligibility requirements apply.  If the panels are leased there is a lot more to be aware of.

• Your investment in solar power will not be included in the appraised value of the property.
• The monthly lease must be part of the debt-to-income ratio.
• The lease agreement must include that all damage caused by the installation, malfunction, manufacturing defect and removal of the equipment is the responsibility of the owner of the equipment and are obligated to repair damage.

For more information, as always, your Real Estate Agent can guide you in the right direction to get all the information you need.

Sandy LeRette – Realtor® ABR – Licensed Agent in NH - Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello Group – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH  03063  cell: (603) 661-7301 email: slerette@masiello.com
Bob LeRette - Realtor® Licensed Agent in NH & MA – Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello Group – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH  03063  cell: (603) 438-2550 email: ralerette@comcast.net

Late Summer in New England Real Estate

Sandy is a Real Estate agent in New Hampshire and I am the Real Estate Sales Manager for Boston.com & The Boston Globe right in the city, Dorchester actually.  Dorchester is the most southern neighborhood in Boston.  We could hit a golf ball into Milton but I’d probably hook it into Quincy.

Sandy’s NH business stayed strong right through the summer.  Her listings sold quickly at or above the asking price most of the time.  She worked with a lot of buyers too, relocation and local.  It was business as usual – and it was strong.

I’m always amazed that the Real Estate industry in the Greater Boston (but mainly the City of Boston) all but shuts down for the second half of July and the whole month of August.  And not just RE, but most companies are operating with a skeleton crew.  The daily commute had noticeably lighter traffic.

There isn’t an agent to be found in the city.  There truly is a mass exodus to the Cape & Islands; and a couple to the Seacoast in Maine.  Some agents were conducting business from their cell phones on the beach but most just weren’t answering their phones.

In NH, we’re use to seeing heavy traffic coming north into our state on Fridays year-round.  The summer is for those going to the lakes region or camping, the fall is for leaf peeping and winter is for skiing.  Yet all the while business of all kinds continues to be conducted.

I think getting out of the city for the dog days of summer is left over from the days before air conditioning.  It has just become a tradition.  The vibrant Seaport area in Boston is a great reason to stay in town, as is the cool deep green shaded paths along the Charles.  There are summer arts festivals, kids’ festivals,  concerts at the Half Shell … but if you threw a party and nobody came, is it still a party.  It’s funny but most of the people at the city events are coming from outside the city (no hard facts here, just my guess).

Genuinely, the Boston Real Estate industry attempts to do in 10 months what other markets do in 12.  Thank goodness property values continue to rise and make the market in Boston look even better than it is with low inventory.

Sandy LeRette – Realtor® ABR – Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello Group – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH  03063  cell: (603) 661-7301 email: slerette@masiello.com

Bob LeRette – Div. Sales Manager/ Real Estate – Boston.com & The Boston Globe,  617-929-2104  email:  robert.lerette@globe.com

Listening to a Survivor

I represented Boston Globe Media at the recent Massachusetts Association of Realtors Conference and Tradeshow in Falmouth.  The Globe helped sponsor this year’s event. 

At the event, I was especially excited and moved to hear Jacqui Webb speak about her experience at the Boston Marathon tragedy.  Jacqui is a young Realtor whose life abruptly changed that day.  I cannot begin to comprehend how brutal her road to recovery has been.   She has had several operations and has been working hard in physical therapy.  The shrapnel scars on her legs were prominent as she proudly wore a dress.  She said she is not a victim, she is a survivor - inspiring.

While the Boston Marathon bombings is a footnote to those in other parts of the world, it remains and open wound in New England; a healing wound that shows the strength of character of Bostonians.

No story has ever been more personal for Boston Globe Media to report on than the Boston Marathon.   Boston Globe Media had reporters, photographers and marketing personnel at the finish line, as well as many employees running the race.  Besides for covering the horrific events, some of our team members were also some of the first responders.

When people wanted/needed information about what was currently happening at the finish line and later during the manhunt, they grabbed their laptops, tablets and smart phones and went to Boston.com and Boston Globe.com.  Our coverage was inspiring.  I’m in sales and take no credit what-so-ever for the fine work done by our newsroom, but I for one, am incredibly proud to be part of the organization.

A little info I’d like to pass on ….

Friday - when Boston was in lockdown and the manhunt ended in capture - was the highest traffic day in the 18-year history of boston.com.  Boston.com had 22 ½ -Million page views for the day alone.  To put that in perspective, when the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1918, we had 21-Million page views.

In addition, we took down the pay-wall for BostonGlobe.com and served another 12M page views for free.

The reason why we can provide you the audience and environment you need to spread your business message is because the region turns to us for this type of vital information.  So, as much as I want my team to help you brand your business and market your listings with Boston.com, the Boston Globe, Design New England, Globe Magazine and RadioBDC …

Please remember that you are also supporting our journalistic mission of bringing a world-class news source to Boston and all of the New England market.

Sandy LeRette – Realtor® ABR – Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello Group – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH  03063  cell: (603) 661-7301 email: slerette@masiello.com

Bob LeRette – Div. Sales Manager/ Real Estate – Boston.com & The Boston Globe,  617-929-2104  email:  robert.lerette@globe.com