CW Lorden Real Estate is a successful, friendly and vibrant office, which offers an exciting environment for people to grow. We pride ourselves in nurturing talent within our organization and try to help those who work with us achieve their full potential.  We are looking for experienced professional people with good communication skills to join our expanding team!

 Ideally the successful candidate must be:

• Organized and focused
• Technically proficient
• Driven to perform
• Have attention to details
• Great sales skills

• Sales and Marketing Skills required for showing, promoting, and servicing our clients
• Need to be a self-starter
• Must have strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills and be able to multi-task
• Assist clients in assessing mortgage options to ensure that they receive the best rates and terms. Meet with clients to assess their property needs; Generate lists of properties that meet the buyers' financial resources
• Comprehension of percentages and other basic math concepts
• Customer service skills required to fulfill the needs of clients and build good relationships
• Administrative and clerical skills necessary to manage files and records; Must be able to use basic computer programs

If you are interested in the position, please forward resume to: Deborah Hayes
Email Deborah@cwlordenrealestate.com  or Call direct:  978-697-7294

Motivated To Sell!

Centrally located near Townsend Center. Easy walking distance to schools, shopping and local festivities on the common. This spacious farmhouse has lots to offer with four bedrooms and plenty of storage, large kitchen with first floor laundry room, formal dining room has built in pellet stove, living room with bay window. Many updates in progress. This home has character with many original details... Title V in hand - Available for quick close! Call for more details 978-433-5900

Join us for this FREE informative workshop.

By the end of the workshop you will have a better understanding of today's Real Estate Market, Managing your Credit and an opportunity to develop an Action Plan!

Call for seating: 978-433-5900 or email: info@cwlordenrealestate.com

1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home.

2. Appreciation. Real estate has long-term, stable growth in value. While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, median existing-home sale prices have increased on average 6.5 percent each year from 1972 through 2005, and increased 88.5 percent over the last 10 years, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. In addition, the number of U.S. households is expected to rise 15 percent over the next decade, creating continued high demand for housing.

3. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home.

4. Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as gain without owing any federal income tax.

5. Predictability. Unlike rent, your fixed-mortgage payments don’t rise over the years so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will increase.

6. Freedom. The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and benefit from your investment for as long as you own the home.

7. Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and offers your children the benefit of educational continuity.
Online resources: To calculate whether buying is the best financial option for you, use the “Buy vs. Rent” calculator at www.GinnieMae.gov.

Picturesque location for this sprawling Antique Colonial beautifully positioned on 10+ acres of land with a 40 x 90 Barn. Enter this open, sun drenched property off of quiet curving drive, surrounded by open fields and oak trees. This lovely home offers top of the line chef's kitchen, beautiful wide pine floors, 6 working fireplaces, formal dining & living rooms, beamed ceilings, 3 1/2 baths, guest quarters, open airy sunroom and more! $875,000

Call for more details! 978.433.5900

Open House Sunday, March 13, 2-4!

Wonderful opportunity to purchase lovely oversized ranch on great lot on pretty Mt. Lebanon St. Large, sunny family room, oversized living room, open foyer, hardwood floors and 2 full baths. Great 2 car attached garage with workshop, unfinished walk up 2nd floor has much potential. New Septic System 2008. A real gem!

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Some promising news regarding real estate trends...Pending home sales rose again in November 2010, with the broad trend over the past five months indicating a gradual recovery into 2011, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator, rose 3.5% to 92.2 based on contracts signed in November from a downwardly revised 89.1 in October. It is crucial for first time home buyers to enter the market and capture these conditions. Affordability is key.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said historically high housing affordability is boosting sales activity. “In addition to exceptional affordability conditions, steady improvements in the economy are helping bring buyers into the market,” he said. “But further gains are needed to reach normal levels of sales activity.”
RISMEDIA, January 3, 2011—

“I’m eager to accelerate the growth of my business, and to continue delivering my clients the same level of personal service they’ve come to expect,” said Burnham. Much of my role as a Realtor is being a guide who paves the way for my clients, I approach each situation and every transaction with patience, determination, and a sense of purpose."

"We fully expect Dawn to hit the ground running here, and are very pleased to be adding a veteran with her experience to the team. We’ve seen how she handles clients, and the quality of professionalism she demonstrates in every phase of customer service".

Dawn is licensed in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

To discuss your real estate needs, please contact Dawn at the CW Lorden Real Estate Office at 978-433-5900, email at Dawn@cwlordenrealestate.com or to view more information about CW Lorden Real Estate via our website at www.cwlordenrealestate.com.

The dust is flying and construction in under way on our newest project on River Road in Pepperell. Take a drive by and see the progress. Foundation to go in soon, several other lots available, bring your design and join the excitement!

The majority of people looking for, or considering buying, a home had no plans to take advantage of the first-time or move-up/repeat home buyer tax credits, according to a survey recently released from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

“There has been a lot of speculation about the housing market after the tax credit extension expired,” said Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens. “The tax credit was truly a great motivating factor, with many home buyers taking advantage. However, we found that the tax credit was only one motivation. People buy homes for lifestyle reasons as well and I suspect that the normal seasonality patterns of home buying will still play out now that the tax credit has expired.”

The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate survey was conducted online during the fourth week of February 2010 by Amplitude Research, Inc. The survey results referred to above were based on 422 out of 600 respondents with a maximum sampling error of +/- 4.8% at the 95% confidence level. More information about Amplitude Research may be found at http://www.amplituderesearch.com.
RISMEDIA, May 12, 2010—

RISMEDIA, April 29, 2010—The expiration of the 2010 Home Buyer Tax Credits on April 30 is unlikely to put off Americans looking to purchase homes who believe now is a good time to buy and are confident that home prices will rise according to a survey released by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. The survey of 1,000 Americans between the ages of 25-64 with at least $35,000 household income was conducted during April 15-20, 2010.

More than 90% of consumers believe that the home buyer tax credits have helped both first-time home buyers and the U.S. housing market overall.

“The tax credits clearly helped stimulate the market when consumer confidence was low and housing inventory was high,” said Earl Lee, president, Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. “While the tax credit expiration is a concern for many, the bigger issues now are the availability and cost of financing as well as if they will have a job.”

Despite the significant downturn in the real estate market, the survey underscores that the dream of homeownership and the perception that owning a home is a good investment remain intact. Among current renters, 75% still believe owning their home is a better long-term choice for their needs than renting.

“The real estate market is precariously balanced. Consumers are clearly motivated to take advantage of the opportunities the current low interest rates and prices afford,” Lee notes. “While the market is picking up in terms of sales and confidence, and the majority still believe that owning a home is a good investment, the outlook for the market remains highly dependent upon the direction of the economy overall.”

Nearly half the homes sold in March – 48.2 percent – were purchased by first-time buyers, according to a survey of more than 1,500 real estate practitioners by Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance.

I think this is resulting in slightly higher home prices for certain properties. My experience with buyers is that they will choose those homes without a distress situation ie. short sale, foreclosure, auction...and actually pay a little bit more to save themselves from the aggravation and delays...interesting to think about.

"Many observers had felt that the pool of first time home buyers had been depleted last fall," Thomas Popik, research director for Campbell Surveys, said in a statement. "Instead, the normal spring-summer buying season is combining with the tax credit to produce blow-out results for first-time home buyers."



Source: Reuters news (04/19/2010)

3 Units still available, all are 3 bedroom with 1 bath. Kitchen is equipped with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, dishwasher and ceramic tile. Each unit has washer/dryer hookup. Occupancy May/June. Find yourself in complete comfort in this newly renovated luxury apartment. Centrally located in the heart of Pepperell, walk to all amenities. Call for more details.

Coming Soon!

Stop by and see this great location for a bright and sunny New Construction, to be built soon!

Whether you are 1st time buyer, moving up or empty nester. Great layout with first floor master bedroom suite, spacious open kitchen to family room. Many designs to choose from or bring you own and builder will take a look. Watch for signs as there is no house up yet. Stop by the lots and check them out! Prices starting @ $399,000

April is Financial Literacy Month, and the recently announced findings of the annual “Teens and Personal Finance Survey” conducted by Junior Achievement (JA) and the Allstate Foundation, indicate it might be wise to pay a little more attention to the importance of financial literacy–especially with teens.

According to the survey’s findings, 42% of the teens who don’t manage their money aren’t even interested in money management. Despite this lack of interest, 86% still think they’ll be as financially well-off or better off than their parents.

Communicate – It’s not easy to get your teen to talk or to listen, but try to include them in conversations about family finances. Help them build a better understanding about saving and budgeting through real life examples – like why there will be no vacation because the roof needs to be repaired or being able to buy a new car because you saved for it.

Encourage them to take responsibility for their own money and purchases – Don’t just handle everything for your teen. If they have a cell phone, do they pay the bill or even know the monthly cost? Tap into their interests and tie it to money, whether it’s music and what’s being spent on downloads, sports and the cost of events or equipment, or the latest fashion fad and finding a bargain or shopping at a resale store to achieve the same look. Get them in the habit of saving; even $1 a week can start a positive pattern that will last a lifetime.

Be a role model - Take a good look at what you do and say when it comes to money. If it seems to flow freely without any questions or concerns, then your teen might make the assumption money will always be there.

Provide positive reinforcement - When you talk money, the topic shouldn’t be all doom and gloom despite the current economy. Make the connection between the right decision and a reward. Notice smart choices and a little spending restraint, and compliment your teen on their wise money moves not just their mistakes.

Educate yourself, so you can educate your family - Make sure you’re armed with some financial knowledge so you can pass along that knowledge to your children. Beyond such basics as budgeting and saving, know what a good credit score is and the impact it has on your ability to get a mortgage, car loan or credit card.
RISMEDIA, April 5, 2010—

Mortgage applications for purchases of homes rose 2.7 percent last week on an adjusted basis compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey. However, refinancing activity decreased as rates rose.

On an unadjusted basis, mortgage applications increased 2.8 percent. They declined 15 percent compared to the same week a year ago.

The refinance share of mortgage applications decreased 7.1 percent last week. Overall, the bankers’ applications index declined 3.9 percent compared to the previous week.

Here are the average rates:
30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.01 percent from 4.91 percent.
15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.33 percent from 4.24 percent.
1-year ARMs remained unchanged at 6.75 percent.

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (03/24/2010)

Want to sell your home? Get out the bucket, mop and Mr. Clean. The key to making a positive first impression is simple; clean, clean and clean said Sandra Rinomato, host of HGTV’s popular “Property Virgins” show, Rinomato offered the following tips for staging a home:

1. Visit model homes and examine shelter magazines for inexpensive decorating ideas. Always keep in mind you are not decorating for yourself but for the general public.

2. Start with the outside. Give the house a fresh coat of paint, add shiny hardware to the front door and plant a few flowers to send a subliminal message the house is loved and well cared for.

3. Declutter every room to make it look larger. Get rid of family pictures, trophies and knickknacks. Closets and drawers should be no more than 30% full.

4. Invest in eco-friendly but bright lights. Open the drapes or remove them completely. “Light, bright rooms give the impression this is a happy place—and everyone wants to move into a happy place,” said Rinomato.

5. Feature only a few pieces of furniture with mainstream appeal. Pull pieces away from walls to make rooms look bigger.

6. Make sure a room’s primary use is obvious. A bedroom should look like a bedroom, not an office, hobby center or gym.

7. Bedrooms and kitchens are difficult to stage because they are in daily use, but make the effort. Clear everything off the counters and nightstands, roll up the rugs and hide the laundry hamper. Buff the cabinets with car wax and clean under the sinks. Invest in pristine white bed linens and towels.

8. Minimize the “pet effect.” Remove food bowls and litter boxes to the utility room. Deodorize thoroughly.

9. Organize the utility room and garage. Hang up the bicycles, roll up the hose. Renting a storage locker is worth the cost if it helps you sell faster and for a higher price.

10. Once your house is staged, invite your friends or Realtor over and walk them through to get an objective opinion.

U.S. Foreclosure Activity Decreases 2% in February 2010

RISMEDIA, March 11, 2010—RealtyTrac, a leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, released its February 2010 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows foreclosure filings—default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions—were reported a decrease of 2% from the previous month but still 6% above the level reported in February 2009. The report also shows one in every 418 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing in February.

Tough stuff still, but some good news is better than none! I'm hoping for this to be a continuing trend.

Existing-home sales fell in January 2010 but are above year-ago levels, according to the National Association of Realtors. Existing-home sales- including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops- dropped 7.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.05 million units in January from a revised 5.44 million in December, but remain 11.5% above the 4.53 million-unit level in January 2009.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said there is still some delay between shopping and closing that affected current sales. “Most of the completed deals in January were based on contracts in November and December. People who got into the market after the home buyer tax credit was extended in November have only recently started to offer contracts, so it will take a couple months to close those sales,” he said. “Still, the latest monthly sales decline is not encouraging, and raises concern about the strength of a recovery.”

Total housing inventory at the end of January fell 0.5% to 3.27 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 7.8-month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 7.2-month supply in December. Raw unsold inventory is 9.6% below a year ago, and is at the lowest level since March 2006.

“Activity should be picking up strongly in late spring as buyers take advantage of the tax credit, which is critical to absorb distressed properties reaching the market and to continually chip away at inventory,” Yun said. “With a downtrend in the number of homes on the market, especially in the lower price ranges, values are beginning to firm but with great variance around the country.”

1]RISMEDIA, March 4, 2010