This week is the mid-year panels for the National Association of REALTORS and there are a lot discussions happening. The week isn’t JUST about discussions, however, it is about action and pro-action, too. Tomorrow, May 17, 2012 is the REALTOR rallyl in Washington DC.

I can’t be in DC, but there is a virtual rally, too and I am a firm believer in the value of home ownership for more reasons than the fact I am a REALTOR.

My parents brought me up in a small town in Western MA, Southwick Massachusetts. They chose Southwick, MA for the proximity to Springfield, MA and Hartford, MA which resolved both familial and work obligations. Their first home was purchased when I was about a year old for $16,000. We lived there, on Sefton Drive in Southwick, until about 1979 when my parents built a new home. We move “all the way across town” to Mort Vining Road, Southwick, MA. What a change! We went from a neighborhood (even though a very suburban one) to the true country. Barely paved road; cows; sheep and horses along the road and no cable tv.

As my parents grew, so did their real estate portfolio. They bought investments to keep (like the house my mom still lives in) and others to flip. I learned about flipping properties about two decades before it became popular. I was a kid, a teenager, but I painted, weeded, carried, sanded and did whatever labor needed to be done to help our family with our American Dream. I worked alongside my mom as an assistant folding newsletters and licking (yeah we had to lick em) stamps from 1982-1988. In 1988 I took the real estate license course and became a REALTOR, myself.

After college I wanted to move out. My mom offered me discounted rent in her multi-family in exchange for management duties. I took over the building operations from soup to nuts and I can tell you that I went nuts in that soup, but I learned lessons that no college degree can teach. I always knew the value of a dollar and the feel of a hard day’s work (one of my first jobs was tobacco in Southwick) but this was different. This was an adult responsibility.

Post graduation in 1992, there were no jobs in my degree (English PR and Communications) and I went to work once again for my mom at her real estate office in Westfield, MA.

Next up was my own home ownership. I have since owned several properties, both personal and investment and I credit my parents for the wonderful education….it has paid dividends that my college education (while amazing) never could.

Why do I share this?

Because…I believe. I believe in home ownership. I believe in Western Massachusetts. I believe that you do, too.

The following video is a national interview of the National Association of REALTOR’S financial guru, Lawrence Yun. He echoes thoughts that I have daily:

Paraphrasing NAR :

Home buyers need to stay within their means when purchasing a home. YES

The lenders are overreacting to the point where even a well qualified buyer can’t get a mortgage. YES

The pendulum has swung to overly stringent requirements in lending. YES

Cash buyers are helping to move the economy, but are preventing 1st time buyers needing a mortgage from getting the affordable homes. YES

This is a bi-partisan AMERICAN issue. YES

Home ownership truly matters. YES

Watch the video to see and hear what Lawrence Yun has to say. Comment below to let me know what YOU have to say…you already know what I have to say.

Western Massachusetts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Western Massachusetts’ investors take note: if you have been wondering when is the right time to invest, it very well may be RIGHT NOW.  Here is the facts:

* the market dropped and has been (in most parts of Western MA holding)

* the interest rates are at all time lows

* the foreclosure and short sale inventory is still there

These three facts combined equal opportunity.

If you are either an experience investor or are new to investing, you need to evaluate these opportunities and it may just be the exact right time for you to make a move.

I have a lifetime of experience in investment property.  My parents owned investment property for both rentals and flip properties and I worked with them as everything from cheap labor to management on their investments.   I learned in the trenches how to read a profit and loss statement and how to spot a property with lots of potential for resale with realistic repairs.

As a REALTOR in Western MA one of my favorite things to do is help my investor clients find the right properties for their investment portfolio.

If you are an investor in Western MA who is considering  making a new real estate investment, I hope you will consider me as your trusted advisor.

Related articles

• Five Reasons Why I work so hard as a REALTOR (westernmahomes.net)
• Why It Matters if Your Western MA Real Estate Agent is Tech Savvy (westernmahomes.net)

Map showing the counties typically considered to make up Western Massachusetts (dark green). Worcester County is considered to be either western or central Massachusetts (light green). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over the past few weeks the economic outlook for real estate has improved in Western Massachusetts. As a real estate agent in Western Massachusetts for the past 23 years, I have seen a lot of change in the local real estate market. Park Square Realty has noticed a few key elements that will impact the real estate market in Western MA this Spring.

Mortgage rates have been at a lifetime low, but they won’t last forever. Over the past week the rates have been creeping up and it is probably time to ask your lender about a “rate lock” and start seriously hunting for your new home.

Rising interest rates could spur more activity in home sales in Western Massachusetts. As a home buyer this means you want to get out there quickly and get your dream home before the competition grows. If you are a home seller in Western MA then you want to get your house on the market now to try to be there when the buyers show up.

This January and February have been the best two months in winter home sales in the past five years.

Let’s hope these economic indicators are a sign of improvement in Western Massachusetts real estate!

If you are looking to buy a home in Western MA or sell your Western MA home, I will help you make it happen!

Find out How Much Your Home is Worth…Click Here!

Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

Find your Dream home!

Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

Related articles

• Real Estate in Western MA is up by almost 200% according to Park Square Realty (westernmahomes.net)
• Park Square Realty Showing Large Growth in Real Estate Activity in Western MA (westernmahomes.net)
• Why You Should Hire Lesley Lambert, REALTOR in Western MA (westernmahomes.net)
• Why It Matters if Your Western MA Real Estate Agent is Tech Savvy (westernmahomes.net)

Showings on Park Square Listings and Pending Sales of Park Square Listings.

First 80 days of 2011 compared to the First 80 days of 2012..

January 2011 to March 20th 2011: 264 Showings 31 Pendings (PKSQ Listings)

January 2012 to March 20th 2012: 540 Showings 58 Pendings (PKSQ Listings)
These are amazing statistics….

Showings on our listings have more than doubled from last year = (204.5%)

Pending sales of our listings have almost doubled from last year = (187.1%)

Activity at Park Square has basically doubled during the first 80 days of 2012..

These videos take the first time home buyer in Western MA through the process of finding your first home from getting pre-approved with a lender, negotiating the purchase price, home inspections and other important points during the sale.

I hope that these videos will prove helpful to anyone in Western Massachusetts who is embarking on the exciting adventure of buying their first home.

First Time Home Buyer in Western MA?  Click here to get help!

First Time Home Buyer Help! Click here to get Lesley to help you find your first home!

Westfield, MA Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Agawam, MA Homes for Sale West Springfield, MA Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

My clients, Dan and Ania, had seen a home for sale in Westfield, MA that they offered on, but we couldn’t not come to agreeable terms. After a few days, I heard from Dan who said that he wanted to buy the home, but we had to get it closed in a week because he wanted to surprise his wife on their anniversary which was February 1.

It took a lot of hustling on our part, but we were able to get the home closed in time and then Dan started planning the reveal of the surprise.

Ania had noticed that the property had gone under agreement on the computer and had been commenting about it. In order to get her to the house for the reveal, Dan told her that there was an issue with the deal in place and we had to hurry up and meet to put an offer in. Meanwhile, he spent the day (Ania was at work) moving furniture and personal items so that they could spend that night in their new home.

We arrived early and Dan put up “Happy Anniversary” decorations while his mother, brother and I got our cameras ready to capture the reaction…I will let my video tell you about that part of this story:

A sweet addition to this story is that this home was the home of Albert Ferst, who is well known and loved in Westfield for his philanthropy and sweetness to his wife Amelia. It is a wonderful thing to see another family carry the romantic torch into the next generation of this home’s story.

It was a rare thrill to be part of this sweet home purchase and I wish Dan, Ania and their family many years of happiness in their new home. I am so glad that they let me help them make this dream happen and look forward to seeing them settle into their new home!

As we move into a new year I enjoy taking a look at what happened in the towns of Western MA where I work as a REALTOR.  I especially like finding out what the highest and lowest home sales were in those towns.  I guess I am a woman of extremes!

Today I was taking a peek at my hometown, Southwick, MA 01077.

Here is a glimpse of the lowest home sale in Southwick…a bank owned cottage in the Congamond Lake area needing what appears to be total rehabilitation:

At the other end of the spectrum we have a huge custom Colonial on the grounds of The Ranch Golf course:

If you are a homeowner in Southwick wondering what your home is worth or a home buyer considering making Southwick your hometown, please click the link below or give me a call!

Westfield, MA Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Agawam, MA Homes for Sale West Springfield, MA Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work

Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

Live Close to Where You Work! As we become ever more concious of being "green" or "eco-friendly" many of us are trying to shorten our commute.  I, for one, moved closer to where I work years ago and have regained so many hours each week as well as saving gas and the environment!  Moving closer to where you work can reduce your spending, your stress level and your impact on the environment….everyone wins! If you are like me and want to move closer to your job in Western Massachusetts then I can help!

Find Homes In Western MA Close to Where You Work

Westfield, MA Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Agawam, MA Homes for Sale West Springfield, MA Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

photo credit

This New Year’s Eve, throw out the Resolution and get on board with ACTION!
Every year we question each other, “Have any resolutions?”. Well…I say resolutions are for sissies and the real stuff gets done when we get off our duffs and leap into action.

I wouldn’t tell you that action is where it is at unless I had an action plan myself. So, I will go first…feel free to share yours with me, also!

• I have already started to get my “files” in order and onto the cloud so that I can be more efficient in more places.
• I love all things online, but I have begun to send good ole fashioned snail mail style notes. If you didn’t get one from me and want one, let me know!
• Real Estate is stressful. I bet your career is, too. About three months ago I began a regular work out regime that is helping me to feel better, look better and reduce my stress!
• I have a new mantra. I want to share it with you: “Any day that I have more than I need, in any way, is a day of abundance.” As a single mom, sometimes I worry about making ends meet, but I do it. I will continue to say this mantra (over and over and over) and want you to remind me if you see me worrying.

Of course, I am also poised to put into action a fabulous marketing plan to get your home sold or light up my negotiating skills to help you buy a home. Maybe it is holiday nostalgia, but I am on an action plan to make 2012 the most outstanding year, yet. Anyone care to join me? After all, ACTION is where it is at and resolutions are for sissies!

Happy New Year from your favorite Western Massachusetts REALTOR,
Lesley

photo credit