REALTORS Helping Homeowners

"Doing what we can to help homeowners, says Brian Sears member of the REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley."

Trees are still being planted in tornado damaged areas: wwlp.com

Hampshire County MA - 2012 Property Tax Rates

(Dollar amount is per $1,000 of assess property value).
Information compiled from Mass.gov website.

• Amherst  -  $19.74
  
• Belchertown  -  $16.56
  
• Chesterfield  -  $15.97
  
• Cummington  -  $11.09
  
• Easthampton  -  $13.27
  
• Goshen  -  $13.47
  
• Granby  -  $15.87
  
• Hadley  -  $10.22
  
• Hatfield  -  $10.73
  
• Huntington  -  $15.12
  
• Middlefield  -  $15.78
  
• Northampton  -  $13.35
  
• Pelham  -  $19.64
  
• Plainfield  -  Not published
  
• South Hadley  -  $14.73
  
• Southampton  -  $14.01
  
• Ware  -  $15.89
  
• Westhampton  -  $16.40
  
• Williamsburg  -  $15.49
  
• Worthington  -  $13.69

3-Points to Today's Real Estate Market



The Homes at Easthampton Meadow
See more information and photos

The Mass. Association of REALTORS recently noted:

3 major things you need to know about today's real estate market.

1. All Real Estate is Local (go to cbumr.com to see your local real estate)
2. Building Wealth (your personal wealth)
3. Timing (is now)

Check out the full article at marealtor.com and search for your next home at our website.

Real Estate Safety

KITCHEN SAFETY. . . .
Whether you own or rent your home Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont REALTORS wants to share these home safety tips with you. This is a great video on "How to Childproof Your Kitchen".  For the majority of us the kitchen seems to be the gathering place of choice, safety matters.

Weekend Events-Markets & Fair Time

Fair Website

3 County Fair 
Northampton

Massachusetts

Gate opens Friday - Monday.

Bridge Street, Northampton 

Admission is Free to $10, depending on age.  

This year events; Monster trucks, Demo Derbies, Rockwell Amusements, Midway, Animal Exhibits, antique engine and tractor show, music on several stages, horse and oxen pull..... and so much more family fun. Check out their website for schedule. Have fun!

FARMERS MARKETS

Cisa Website

As we come into the fall, be sure to visit your local Farmer's Markets. Cisa has a great website with a list of times and places throughout the valley where you can purchase your fresh produce and support our local farmers.

Massachusetts Real Estate Market Levels?

The Boston Globe reported, Massachusetts home sale market is up for the first time in 6 month.  The article written by Erin Ailworth uses sources like Banker & Tradesmen (The Warren Group) and the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS to report on the state of our real estate market.  Cory Hopkins of the Warren Group stated in the article, “Maybe [the median price] has found its level a bit and people can be more confident that what they’re buying won’t dramatically decrease in value,’’.  All encouraging news for Massachusetts homeowners.  Read More . . . 

Weekend Events

94th Heath Fair! 

August 19, 20, 21, 2011

Heath, Massachusetts

Complete Information at www.heathfair.org

Join us for an old fashioned fair with fun for everyone! 

EXHIBITS • GAMES FOR KIDS • SPEAKERS • DEMONSTRATIONS

FIREWORKS • PARADES • PULLS and so much more!

Saturday, August 20th 2011 (rain date Sunday 21st)

12-5 pm at 275 Jackson Street, Belchertown, Massachusetts

FREE and open to all!

Fun family event with local artisans, live music, hayrides,

chili cook off, farm tours and more.

Special for the kids: treasure hunt, playground equipment and farm animals.

Complete information at Stone Soup Farm-Chilifest

Coming Soon!

FRANKLIN LAND TRUST 

D2R2 BIKE RIDE

August 27th, 2011

More information and registration at: 

http://www.franklinlandtrust.org/randonnee.html

The Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnee was conceived in the 1990's as just a favorite dirt-road loop in the hilltowns of Franklin County, Massachusetts.  Since its birth as an organized event in 2005, many have hailed D2R2 as the hardest, most beautiful, most fun, most traffic-free, most unique, and overall best ride that they have ever done.  However, D2R2 will continue to maintain its original character as just a bike ride.  

                     Franklin Land Trust's D2R2 Bike Ride: wwlp.com

Agent of the Week - Phil Pless

Phil Pless, CRB, CRS, GRI
Shelburne Falls Office
(413) 625-6366 x104
www.PhilPless.com

PHIL PLESS SHARES A GREAT LOVE FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE AREA
"Western Massachusetts is a wonderful place to live, explore and raise families. The unique mix of natural beauty, recreation and cultural abundance makes our area unique", Phil states.  


Phil's love of the area began over 30 years ago when he came to Western, MA after receiving a B.A. from George Washington University in Washington, DC. He makes his home in Ashfield, Massachusetts where he lives with his wife, Linda for 27+ years. He has raised 2 sons, both in college now. 


Knowledge of real estate practices is as important to Phil as knowledge of the area. Phil worked to complete the requirements to receive CRB, CRS, and GRI designations. With education and love for the area Phil is proud to serve his clients and help find the right property for them, specializing in country properties in the Western Franklin and Hampshire County hill towns.


"I have sold millions of dollars and thousands of acres over the years," said Phil. He consistently wins awards for his sales performance from the RAPV, Coldwell Banker and the company. In 1978 Phil received much deserved recognition as the "REALTOR of the Year", with the Franklin-Hampshire County Association of REALTORS, for his dedication to the real estate industry and service.


Phil enjoys giving back professionally and to the community,  presently serving on the Scholarship and the Professional Standard Committees with the REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley.  In Ashfield he spends time helping with Ashfield Trails, so much enjoyed by the community and others.

Phil outside the Shelburne Falls
Office enjoying the "Bridge of
Flowers Race".

As you get to know Phil you will see he experiences the beauty of this area on a daily basis whether he is showing property to his clients or enjoying his favorite hobbies of mountain biking, skiing, trail building and gardening.  "I am thrilled to work with a great team of dedicated REALTORS," Phil said and the feeling is mutual among his peers.  If you are looking to purchase property in the area, you won't go wrong with the experience, knowledge and love of the area Phil has to offer.

Agent of the Week - Don Mailloux

Don Mailloux, GRI
www.donmailloux.com
(413) 665-3770 x104

TOPS IN HIS FIELD
Don Mailloux, a life long resident of Erving, Massachusetts, has been serving Franklin and Hampshire county residents for 21 years. Helping people on the move is one of Don's passions and "Listing and selling your home can be one of the most stressful times of your life", says Don.  His knowledge in the process is just what you need during this stressful time.  


Growing up in a small town where family, friends and working hard were the cornerstone, Don learned to appreciate how fortunate he was to be raised here. He said, "The quality of life is what kept us in the area".  Being a Dad, Don has enjoyed raising his children in an area where there are so many opportunities for them to excel.


Graduating from Mahar Regional High School Don excelled as a student and a leader, playing baseball and soccer all 4 years of high school, serving as captain of both sports his senior year. To this day, Don enjoys the team atmosphere as he spends his free time in the summer playing softball and in the fall/winter season he enjoys bowling and card games.    


After high school Don moved on the Greenfield Community College earning an Associates Degree in Business. He put his skill to work when he chose a real estate career, joining Upton & May Real Estate in 1990. Since 1995 he has been winning awards and hasn't stopped.  He has been the #1 Sales Agent in Franklin County 12 of the last 14 years and when you combine Franklin & Hampshire counties he has been in the top 10 for the last 14 years, many of them in the top 5.  Don has also been a Gold Award winner for many years with the RAPV (REALTOR Association of Pioneer Valley) and since becoming affiliated with Coldwell Banker he has been the #1 Agent for sales in Massachusetts for most of them.


As proud of the awards as Don is, he lights up when he talks about serving the community. Over the years he has devoted countless hours to supporting organizations like the Turners Falls Athletic Boosters, Deerfield Lions Club, Shutzenvine in Montague, the Elks club and many others. Again and again you will see Don as the hard working, hometown guy that gets the job done.


"Listing and selling real estate is what I am good at and I enjoy the people I have met along the way.  Making decisions in times like this are even more difficult than ever before and sharing my knowledge with anyone who needs it is what I like to do", Don shared.  If you are looking for a hometown friend to help you through the stressful process of buying or selling Don is tops in the field.

Still A Safe Move!

Loan Contingency Is Still A Safe Move!

Check out Article

There have been changes to financing a house over the past couple of years but there are some things best left alone.  A finance contingency added to your offering would certainly be one of them.  Check out this nice article by Dian Haymer of Inman News.