Hello Friends and Neighbors!

Hope you are enjoying this summer weather! As a resident of Walpole and Real Estate Broker, I thought I would write my first Walpole blog chatting about the market during the first half of 2012! We have experienced one of the busiest springs in recent memory. Houses have come and gone in days, multiple offers in a few cases with properties selling over list price! That doesn’t mean we have returned to the euphoria of 2004 or 2005 – it means that a properly prepared home that is priced competitively is getting offers. We are experiencing tight inventory and eager buyers who want to take advantage of locking in an interest rate between 3-4% for 30 years.

To recap results of the past six months in Walpole:

158 properties are currently on the market

108 of those properties have made a price reduction – avg. 5.2% from list

47 properties are under-agreement today

108 have sold, on average at 97% of their most recent list price

Sellers have two choices:  make their home the “best in class” of their price range and snag buyers who bid for their home OR market In less than perfect condition and accept a lower price.

As we head into the weekend following 4^th of July holiday, I am finding buyers are still searching!  We haven’t seen any downturn in activity – in contrast, our local market saw a “quieter time” in the summer in past years as family vacations and second homes at the cape took people out of the greater Boston area – especially in the higher price ranges.

So – if you are planning a vacation  - enjoy!  If you are considering a home sale, get your house ready!  There is no time like right now!  If you have questions about what to do to prepare, just ask!  It can mean more dollars in your pocket!