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

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

"The early bird gets the worm" applies to Real Estate too

"The early bird gets the worm" applies to Real Estate too - just not the worm part.

The number of homes and condos for sale across Southern NH is the lowest in recent history.  Any new listing that is priced right will be pounced on by perspective buyers.  If you're wait to see new listings online or in the newspaper, they will certainly be gone by the time you react. Forget about Open Houses - right now that's reserved for difficult properties or, worse yet, over priced.  Our property listings are under agreement within two weeks this year.

Serious buyers need an agent that will tell them what is "coming on the market".  This information allows you to do a drive-by before anyone else gets to see it.  Sandy has had cases where her clients have been able to avoid bidding wars and multiple showings, by Sandy knowing which agents have buyers and what towns and price range they are looking in.  The same holds true for buyers, not just sellers, working with Sandy.  Just this weekend, she had a client see a house coming on the market before anyone else.

In this market, working with an experienced agent is more important than ever.

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 em

GBAR 2013 Good Neighbor Award

For three years now, I have been truly honored to represent Boston Globe Media and present the Greater Boston Association of REALTORS’ Good Neighbor Award at their annual awards ceremony.  This year it was held outside at the Museum of Science in a tented pavilion along the banks of the Charles River, an absolutely beautiful venue.

Each year, I get to describe to the association membership how much one special REALTOR has given back to their community.  I am always in awe of their generosity and volunteer work with non-profit organizations.  I leave inspired by their example to help out much more in my own community.  But then I get busy with my long work week, my long commute, and overall life just gets in the way of good intentions.  That’s what amazes me the most about Good Neighbor Award winners – life doesn’t get in the way – their giving back becomes a way of life.

The Good Neighbor Award was created in 2008 and is modeled after a similar award presented by the National and Massachusetts Associations of REALTORS®.  The award recognizes real estate professionals who have made a commitment to improving the quality of life in their communities through volunteer work.

This year’s Good Neighbor Award winner was Joel Pratt of JL Pratt REALTORS in Canton, MA.  He has been working with MatchingDonors.com for 9 years. Whether he is with another REALTOR®, a prospective buyer, or a closing attorney, he uses his real estate career to also provide information about his organization, and he has saved lives in the process. How could that happen? Well, when a busy father with four adopted special needs children needed a kidney transplant, his future wasn’t looking so good. But his father, a real estate instructor, met with a real estate accountant, who had received a business card from Joel for matchingdonors.com, and almost as quickly as he could register on the site, a donor match was made, and that father of four now lives a happy, healthy life.

Joel’s goal is to save at least 1,000 people in need of organ transplants. He has personally paid the $595 membership on MatchingDonors.com for patients that could not afford the fee. In the last 18 months alone, he has volunteered 2,400 hours (30 hours plus a week), personally donated $50,000, helped raise $1,250,000 and has indirectly helped over 250,000 people.

Joel takes donations such as cars, boats, real estate, and corporate surplus and turns it into cash; raising millions of dollars for MatchingDonors.com. As the Director of Business Development for MatchingDonors.com, he and his team have been recognized by Governor Patrick as well as the State Senate and House of Representatives, and they were selected as the “Nonprofit of Choice” at the Hollywood Awards in Beverly Hills earlier this year. 

GBAR’s Award Winners knows what it takes to be a Good Neighbor, always focused on how to help those who have lost all hope.

Along with winning the GBAR 2013 Good Neighbor Award, GBAR awarded a $2,500 grant to Joel for MatchingDonors.com. 

Joel Pratt from J.L. Pratt REALTORS® in Canton the 2013 GBAR Good Neighbor Award winner.

 

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@boston.com   & Realtor® - Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello Group – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH  03063 

Where have all the houses gone?

Where have all the houses gone?

Nope, not the name of a new country song but it could be.

Why is the inventory of existing homes on the market so far down compared to last year?

·         The flood of foreclosures and short sales has all but disappeared, processing all the way through the market.  There is not another wave of of foreclosures of any meaningful size that is on the horizon.

·         New construction is just ramping up.  There are fewer new home developments with a surplus of homes built and ready to go.  Custom builders are seeing an increase in business because there are so few existing homes move-in ready.

·         There are still quite a few owners that are upside down on their mortgages – their home value is less than what they owe the bank.  Over the long run, prices need to go up to make these homes viable for sale.  Unfortunately, it takes time for prices to rise and there aren’t enough sales happening right now to speed up the price increase.  Back in the day, if a homeowner was upside down, they only had to wait a few months for the market to catch up to them.  Not anymore.

So for now, even with interest rates at historical lows, we can still expect inventory to stay low.  As prices inch up over time, we can expect to move towards a recovery with an increased inventory of existing homes.

PS – This is great news for those of you who are selling that are not upside down on your mortgage versus home value.  You will sell quickly and be at or above the current market value.

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@boston.com   & Realtor® - Better Homes & Garden Real Estate / The Masiello Group – 436 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH  03063