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Marblehead property perfect for yachtingOne of the yachting capitals of the world, Marblehead, Massachusetts is a town on the coast with remarkable wildlife, beautiful ocean views and gorgeous cape properties. Whether looking for a summer home or a permanent residency, a Marblehead property is the perfect location for any family that loves the water.

Marblehead is home to some remarkable single-family properties. From cape homes and colonials to summer cottages and waterfront properties, Marblehead has it all. Many houses are close to the harbors and offer quick walks to the water. Common features include hardwood flooring, fireplaces, tall ceilings, updated kitchens, porches, gas heating and central air conditioning. Typical homes range from $400,000 to $800,000. Beach homes with breath taking water views can range from two to five million dollars.

Families looking for a Marblehead property will benefit from the Marblehead Public Schools system that boasts eight schools. From elementary and middle schools to the Marblehead High School, the area covers education for all ages right in town.

Marblehead offers quick access to Route 114 and 129 while keeping busy highways out of the town. Public transportation from the MBTA bus lines to the MBTA Commuter Rail service helps commuters get to Boston. Marblehead is a short drive from Salem and Boston.

For more information on an available Marblehead property or details on the area, please contact us today and speak with a Marblehead realtor.

Swampscott Real EstateIn the North Shore area on the Boston coast line is the town of Swampscott. With plenty of beaches, beautiful waterfront homes and the lovely Olmsted Historic District, Swampscott real estate offers residents the perfect beach town just outside of Boston.

Swampscott real estate ranges from single-family homes to multi-family houses, condos and waterfront properties. With colonials, Victorians, and contemporary homes, Swampscott offers an array of houses from $300,000 to $600,000 as well as multi-million dollar luxury homes on the water. Many homes feature central air conditioning, hardwood floors, historic architectural design, updated kitchens, patios, fireplaces, finished basements and a close proximity to the beach.

Eisman’s Beach, Whales’ Beach, Fisherman’s Beach, King’s Beach and Phillip’s Beach headline the shores of Swampscott. The town also has numerous parks, ponds and a forest. The beautiful shore landscapes are matched with historic houses like Swampscott Fish House, Elihu Thomson House and Sir John Humphreys House.

The town includes three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. With Swampscott being designated as a Green Community, the schools took on an environmental mission with a solar project for clean and efficient energy use.

Swampscott boasts bus lines for easy transportation. The MBTA Commuter Rail also stops through Swampscott making the town a great location for commuters heading into Boston.

For more information on available Swampscott real estate or details on the area, please contact us today and speak to a Swampscott realtor.

Harwich Property.Set in gorgeous Cape Cod, Harwich is a beautiful Massachusetts town with three harbors. This cape town boasts a rich history with its seven villages. Known for cranberries, the biggest lake in Cape Cod and its many beaches, a Harwich property is perfect for families looking to live on the Cape.

Harwich property types range from affordable condos and cozy capes to spacious summer homes. Multi-bedroom homes can go between $300,000 and $500,000. Many homes feature attached garages, central air conditioning, hardwood floors, updated kitchens, full basements, decks and fireplaces.

Although Harwich is a highly touted summer destination, it features many schools for year round residents. With an elementary, middle and high school, Harwich’s public school system is complimented with the Lighthouse Charter School, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School and Holy Trinity Regional School.

Any Harwich property offers easy access to major highways like Route 6 and Route 28. Residents can use the nearby Chatham airport and Barnstable Municipal Airport and are only a short drive away from Boston’s Logan International Airport. Bus services help residents get around Cape Cod and surrounding areas. Harwich also features a section of the beautiful Cape Cod Rail Trail for biking and walking.

For more information on listings for an available Harwich property or more details on the area, please contact us today and speak to a Harwich realtor.

Financing mortgage after retirement.The short answer to the question is “Yes.” Lenders are not allowed to discriminate or be biased by a borrower’s age.  Each loan is considered on the basis of the borrower’s credit history, capacity to carry the mortgage plus any additional installment/revolving debt and the value of the collateral – the property being purchased or refinanced.

Acceptable sources of income for the retiree include, but are not limited to:  Social Security; Social Security Disability Income; Military Retirement Benefits; Pension Income and Dividend or Interest Income.  Most often the borrower will be asked to document this income with an Award or Benefit letter, tax returns and bank statements.  The lender will expect the borrower to continue to receive the income/benefit for at least the next three years.

As always, the best way to determine if you qualify for a mortgage is to speak with a licensed mortgage professional.  The investment of time is a small price to pay for the peace of mind of knowing exactly how much you can afford and how to plan your home search.

Deb Campbell
Mortgage Pipeline Manager

First settled in 1694 and incorporated in 1722, Easton, Massachusetts is home to quite a lot of history. The second oldest existing house in Easton, for instance, and one of the oldest pieces of Easton property in general, the Benjamin Williams Tavern on Bay Road, was once host to a visit from general George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The Union Pacific Railroad was actually built with shovels manufactured by Easton’s Ames Shovel Company established in 1803. Much of the foundation of America lies in the streets and roads of Easton, Massachusetts.

Other landmark pieces of Easton property here include the Ames Free Library, the Old Colony Railroad Station, and the Ames Gate Lodge. If you want to raise your children in a place that is rich with history, culture and American lore and legend, you couldn’t ask for better than a prime piece of Easton property to move your family.

Dartmouth property in the still-growing Massachusetts community, first established in 1664, has a lot ot offer the new parent. Surrounded by pleasant little villages like Bliss Corner, Smith Mills and Hixville, Dartmouth went from around 30,000 residents in 2000 to 34,000 in 2010 thanks in part to the Dartmouth Mall, and the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

Dartmouth is rich with American history. In 1780, seven black Revolutionary War veterans petitioned for the right to vote. The town also plays home to many pieces of Dartmouth property that have been used as Quaker meeting houses, including the Smith Neck Meeting House and Apponegansett Meeting House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From the friendly people to the history to the rich culture of the town, you can’t beat Dartmouth property for a great place to raise a child.

Abington foreclosure homes.Buying one of the many foreclosed homes in Plymouth, MA is a great way to get a new-to-you house at an excellent price. Many times you can get one of these houses for a fraction of the price that it last sold for, however there are a few things you must keep in mind as you look through the inventory of homes in Plymouth, MA:

Inspect the home thoroughly. Many foreclosures haven’t been lived in several months, or even years, so there may be some problems with the homes that weren’t present when they were last occupied. They may have been vandalized or suffered water damage, so look through the home carefully.

Keep on looking. As with any kind of house, you have to be prepared to look at a dozen or more before you find the one that’s right for you. Don’t settle for one that’s just “okay” to you or one that will take a lot of work to fix up, especially if you’re not into doing renovations or hiring the work out. Keep your eyes open, and eventually you’ll find the one that’s right for you.

Be prepared to wait. Once you do choose one of the homes in Plymouth, MA, you need to be ready to wait for the paperwork to be completed in order to finalize the sale. Foreclosed homes take longer to process, and it’s not uncommon for it to take six months.

To find out more about the foreclosure market in Plymouth, MA, contact us today and we’ll tell you where you can find some hidden gems.

Abington real estate

A historical settlement dating back to the mid 17th century, Abington offers residents a beautiful location in Plymouth County with affordable homes.Abington real estate ranges with all types of single family homes from capes and townhouses to Nantucket styled homes.

Abington real estate typically ranges from $250,000 to $600,000 for most single family homes. Many properties offer large yards, big kitchens, finished basements and two car garages. Other features include large decks and patios, updated kitchens with breakfast bars, fireplaces and air conditioning.

One of the smaller towns in Plymouth County, Abington real estate offers residents a peaceful escape from Boston’s busy streets with a beautiful inland area that boasts the Shumatuscacant River, Beaver Brook and Island Grove Pond. Abington is also home to Ames Nowell State Park, which covers over 700 acres and sports Cleveland Pond. Residents looking to hike, boat, fish, ride horses or just enjoy the outdoors have plenty to see and do in Abington.

Abington also provides easy transportation to the city and beyond. Part of the MBTA rail service runs through Abington. Residents can also drive up just 20 miles to get to Boston. Residents also have only a short distance to Logan International Airport.

Families can take note of the Abington school system that extends from pre-school to high school. The Abington High School is well known for its success in sports from baseball and football to softball as well as for their art and drama departments. Abington residents can also attend South Shore Vocational-Technical High School or Saint Bridgets School.

For more information on available Abington real estate, please contact us today and speak with an Abington realtor.

List of Massachusetts Foreclosures.If you’re thinking about taking advantage of the low housing prices that generally come with bank-owned properties, now may be the time to buy a foreclosed home for future profit. First, you need to work with a Realtor who is well-versed in the field of short sales or foreclosures. These types of transactions can be complicated and you need an educated real estate professional at your side throughout the process.

First, as with any home purchase, you need to find out how much of a mortgage you can qualify for. A mortgage consultant can explain the various financing options that will help you buy distressed properties. The program you select may be based on the amount of repairs that are needed in the home. If major work is necessary, you may want to look into an FHA 203(k) Renovation Loan, which gives you the purchase price of the property plus the money to make improvements by financing the “future value” of the home after the renovations have been made.

The next thing to consider when you invest in a foreclosure is the condition of the property you are willing to buy. Are you looking for a home that is just “cosmetically challenged” and needs some paper and paint or a good scrubbing? Or is the house “structurally challenged” and needs major renovations to make it ready for resale. How much of a fixer-upper do you want and are you prepared to do the work yourself or will you need to hire contractors?

If you don’t intend to live in the distressed property you are buying and you are planning on “flipping” it for a profit, you need to determine if your investment will pay off in the short or long term. Your Realtor can help you learn the resale values of foreclosed houses in different towns. Together with your agent, you can calculate your risks and profit when you invest in a foreclosed home. Every person involved in a foreclosure has a different profit level that they would be comfortable with. For some people it could be as little as $10,000 and others want to make $50,000. What is your comfort level? How much risk can you afford to take?

For a full list of foreclosures in your area, contact a Jack Conway agent today.

Mansfield PropertyLocated less than an hour’s drive from downtown Boston, the town of Mansfield offers a quiet respite from the big city without being too remote. Incorporated in 1775, Mansfield is well known for its pastoral beauty and its numerous natural features, including several conservation areas, ponds and lakes. The town also offers a highly ranked school system prized for its excellent scholastic performance.

Mansfield property attracts families looking for room to stretch out and grow. The town and its surrounding area offer a wide assortment of properties ranging from traditional single family homes to condominiums, townhomes and rural property. Thanks to its centralized location near Interstates 95 and 495 and nearby MBTA commuter rail line, Mansfield property offers convenient commuting options for anyone working in the Boston and Providence metro areas.

Entertainment options in the area include the Comcast Center for the Performing Arts, a 20,000-seat outdoor amphitheater that regularly hosts concerts by well-known artists throughout the year.

Contact us today for more information about Mansfield property and other real estate opportunities in the area.