Mortgage Rates Heading Higher Starting Spring 2010???

The Federal Reserve said it expects to end a $1.25 trillion program that buys Mortgage-Backed Securities as scheduled March 31, 2010. This program has been the main reason why mortgage rates have been so low. It is widely expected that mortgage rates will rise higher this year (possibly 1 point or more). So, if you are contemplating a purchase, now is a great time to buy while the rates are still historically low (5.0% for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage).

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else related to the Cape Cod Real Estate Market, please contact me. Please visit my website, www.SellingCapeCodRealEstate.com, for FREE Cape Cod MLS searching, recent sales, etc.

Rob Serroni's Recent Honors in Cape Cod Real Estate

--25 Total Sales ~ 2009
--Ranked #1 in Total Sales Volume & Number of Listings Sold at Coldwell Banker Martha Murray Real Estate ~ 2009, 2008
--Ranked #1 in Total Sales Volume & Number of Listings Sold (19 total) in Dennis Port ~ 2009
--Ranked #3 in Total Sales Volume & #1 in Number of Listings Sold (22 total) in Town of Dennis ~ 2009
--Ranked Within the Top 100 of all Real Estate Agents in Total Sales Volume in Barnstable County ~ 2009
--Ranked #1 in Single-Family Home Sales Volume & Number of Listings Sold in Dennis Port ~ 2008
--Ranked Within the Top 10 of all Real Estate Agents in Single-Family Home Sales Volume in Dennis ~ 2008

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else related to the Cape Cod Real Estate Market, please contact me. Please visit my website, www.SellingCapeCodRealEstate.com, for FREE Cape Cod MLS searching, recent sales, etc.

Sellers! Don't Overprice Your Cape Cod Homes!

If you are thinking of selling your home on Cape Cod, it is important not to overprice it. If you are thinking of testing the Cape Cod Real Estate market with a higher than market price, you will usually end up with a lower sale price than if you priced your home at fair market value. If you price your home right, it will sell in a reasonable amount of time--even in a declining market. If you overprice your home, it will generally get shown less and stay on the market for a longer period of time, because prospective buyers will just focus on homes that are priced at fair market value and lower. If you really want to sell your home quickly, it is best to price your home slightly below similar homes that are for sale in your area. If you make prospective buyers feel like your home will sell fast and they might lose it to another buyer, they will sense the urgency and put in a offer price close to your list price (if not the full price). As a Cape Cod Realtor, I have proven this to my seller clients time and time again. So, if you are a prospective seller, how do you come up with the right listing price? First, you need a knowlegeable Realtor like myself to assist you. Second, as your Realtor, I will research recent sales of comparable homes and what is currently on the market (your "competition"), then make adjustments for things like the current local market trends. Finally, I will establish a listing price that is based on fair market value, with the goal of slightly underpricing the competition. If a home is price right, it should be under-contract in under 1 month. If you are looking for Realtor on Cape Cod who will work hard to sell your home, please contact me.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else related to the Cape Cod Real Estate Market, please contact me. Please visit my website, www.SellingCapeCodRealEstate.com, for FREE Cape Cod MLS searching, recent sales, etc.

Is Now the Right Time to Buy Real Estate on Cape Cod?

If you are a prospective homebuyer, and you are waiting for the bottom of the market to hit before buying, you may need to be fixated on a more critical issue–THE MORTGAGE RATE! A small increase in your mortgage rate, can have a dramatic increase in how much you are paying for your home, over the life of the mortgage. Recently, 30-year fixed mortage rates, with no points are around 5.625%, which is an excellent rate. For example, if you borrowed $300,000 at 5.625% (30-year fixed, 0 Points), your payment would be $1,727/month. If your interest rate was 6.00%, your payment would go up to $1,799/month, and you would be paying $25,806 more in interest over the term of the 30 year mortage. If your interest rate was 6.25%, your payment would go up to $1,847/month, and you would be paying $43,266 more in interest over the term of the 30 year mortgage (compared to a 5.625% interest rate). So, as you can see, if you are waiting for the price to drop $10,000 or $20,000 on a $300,000+ valued home, and the interest rate goes up a quarter or half a point, you will end up paying more in mortgage interest. Now, is a good time to buy Real Estate on Cape Cod while the prices are at the bottom and the mortgage rates are very low.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else related to the Cape Cod Real Estate Market, please contact me. Please visit my website, www.SellingCapeCodRealEstate.com, for FREE Cape Cod MLS searching, recent sales, etc.

One of the Best Reasons to Buy a Home on Cape Cod, Instead of Investing in the Stock Market

THE TAX BENEFITS!!! When your primary home appreciates in value, you don’t have to pay Capital Gains Tax on the sale of it. If you live in your primary home for at least 2 years total (out of the the last 5 years), and you sell it, you do not have to pay capital gains tax on up to $250,000 in appreciation if your single & a combined $500,000 if you are a married couple. Of course, you receive other tax advantages like mortgage interest deductions, property tax deductions, etc.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else related to the Cape Cod Real Estate Market, please contact me. Please visit my website, www.SellingCapeCodRealEstate.com, for FREE Cape Cod MLS searching, recent sales, etc.

Septic Systems / "Title 5" Info For Cape Cod Homes

It is a Massachusetts state law that the seller must pass a current Title 5 septic inspection for their home by the time of passing of papers. The inspection report must be completed by a licensed inspector. The cost is approximately $295.00 along with a filing fee ($25.00 in the Town of Dennis). Your system must show no signs of past failure and must be sufficiently above ground water in order to pass. A passed certificate is good for two (2) years, for a home. (In the Town of Dennis, you will also need to have a “Certificate of Compliance” letter from the Dennis Board of Health indicating their approval of the septic inspection report.) A failed system will require the Seller to hire an engineer to do on-site testing, prepare plans and file them with the town board of health. Once this is completed, the engineer will forward your plans to several installers to provide you with estimates. The estimate may or may not include extras such as plumbing or electrical repairs. Most property owners are not familiar with the details and procedures that need to be addressed. If your system fails, the entire process could take a month to as much as 3-4 months. I have personally managed the installation of many systems and as your professional Real Estate Agent, I will oversee the management of the entire process.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else related to the Cape Cod Real Estate Market, please contact me. Please visit my website, www.SellingCapeCodRealEstate.com, for FREE Cape Cod MLS searching, recent sales, etc.