Homebuyers I'll help you stop wasting time & losing real money when the time comes for you to get serious about house hunting in Massachusetts or New Hampshire.
Knowing what people tell me they think is important VS what’s really needed to get the best home at a fair price in Massachusetts in New Hampshire is a crucial piece of your success finding a great house at a price you are comfy with.
These are two very different things.
Buying a home should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Energy sucking people who lead with negativity will make it feel that way though....There I said it....Scroll down to the 🏅for the biggest tip of all.
An agent or a mortgage lender that doesn't understand the *new marketplace* or the market you are searching in can make their clients feel like finding a home is a frustrating full-time job they want to quit. A great agent helps a house hunter get prepped, excited and ready to house hunt in a meaningful way.
Many new buyers make the mistake of hiring the first agent they meet who seems friendly, only to find themselves doing all the work, searching for houses, and asking all the questions.
Don't get me wrong, kindness really matters. You deserve someone kind, knowledgeable, patient and who can handle your purchase process in a way that makes you feel confident in your decisions every step of the way.
Let’s get into it….
💭 What most buyers think….Myths....
Myth 1. Online calculators provide real costs per month :
Online calculators don’t take into account things like property taxes, insurance, and condo fees and these can impact your budget much more than people realize.
Myth 2. They need to hold out for the perfect home :
Many buyers fall in love with a dream home that doesn’t actually fit their financial picture. Remember, the "perfect" home is one that meets your needs now that’s in budget, in the right location.
We take all 3 into consideration when suggesting homes for you.
Myth 3. The down payment cash is all they need to buy a house.
Your down payment IS important, so are the closing costs, the inspection expenses, and the potential real estate agent and legal fees that you want to be aware of from the beginning so you plan appropriately.
Myth 4. Thinking hiring a nice agent who seems "OK" will be fine.
An "ok" agent does an "ok" job. When I'm making decisions about my life or my family's lives I want an expert guide, not an "OK" one. An expert, though, has a care, knowledge, and skill that makes a big difference. They get you a much better result.
📣 PRO TIP: If the agent you are speaking to hasn't taught you how seller and buyer commissions vary in the new market there is likely a lot of other important details they haven't gone over with you. 📣
✅ What you actually need to know:
Fact 1. There are great homes out there at fair prices.
Once you know how, when, and where to look, you'll feel excited to grab your latte and meet me at that open house you like. That website you've been scrolling will only bring more frustration, anxiety, and competition. A great agent will teach you how to buy a house, then how to find houses to choose from. That's right. You've got choices.
Fact 2. Online calculators are often simply random numbers.
That online calculator gives a house price without any facts. So, don't rely on it. A good lender shows your full financial picture. They help you see what you can comfortably afford each month, not just the house price. Homeownership includes more than the mortgage. You need to know other planned expenses. Ask me for lender recommendations, and I'll share my trusted contacts.
Fact 3. A $600,000 house in Andover or Newburyport looks and feels a lot different from a $600,000 house in Haverhill or Salem.
Choosing a community first means picking between a 4-bedroom house with a garage or a 3-bedroom condo. Both are great options. Smart buyers explore what each community offers. Understanding which towns provide better homes for your budget is key.
Even if you lean towards the pricier community in the end, checking lower-priced towns is smart. This way, you get a clearer picture of what to expect AND you know exactly what other buyers are seeing before they see that condo in NBPT that you have your eye on.
🏆Don’t make the mistake of waiting for a bigger AND better home to come along in your dream town while prices are rising. To be sure you know what to expect ask your agent to show you the last 3 months of sales in your price point, count how many of them you would have purchased. If you said no to 50% or more of the homes that came up chances are good you are waiting for something that may not come along anytime soon and could be much better off adjusting your search.
Fact 4. Choose your adventure - invest $10K over time or pay $66K later.
Home values went up as much as 11% in some local towns since last year. That house on the corner you liked the look of a few months ago but hated the countertops, carpet and paint may is becoming more valuable and ultimately while you wait for a more updated version the amount of money you pay for it is rising too.
Cosmetics can be easily changed. Consider each house on a house by house basis = Can you grow into the space? Is it in an area with good resale value? Is it close enough to your life locations that you need to get to and from comfortably? If so ignore the paint and check out the rest of the features seriously. Do you have dogs and need space? Does the yard offer what you need? Give each house the benefit of the doubt and rule it in and try to negotiate a deal you are happy with or rule it out.
📣 PRO TIP : Houses in some towns have been going up in price for 58 months - this means if you have been searching for more than a few months you are seeing the houses get less attractive and the prices get higher likely leaving you frustrated and possibly confused.
So what do you do? Give up? Break your budget?
Nope, it’s time to break the cycle of scrolling, when you get serious about learning how to find, negotiate on and actually buy the right house we will be here to help.
🏅🏅🏅Fact 5 - it's a big one.....With some houses and some home sellers everything is negotiable. 🏅🏅🏅
From the price to closing costs, even home repairs—you have more room to negotiate than you might think. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want (and need) from the seller. We know how to spot a house that’s ready for reductions, negotiations, repairs, closing cost credits and then some.
Start your search at www.soldbylsg.com
You don’t have to go through it alone!
A good agent makes finding a home easier than the news or friends suggest. To spot a great agent, ask about the market, look for positive energy, and check if they're full-time and their sales. This is crucial. Reports say the average agent sold 4 homes in 2024. That's too little experience to rely on.
📣You deserve better than average don’t you?
Working along side an expert is your best shot at getting a good house at a fair price before prices go up more, and they will, after 58 straight months of increases in some towns there is no end in sight to houses getting pricier.
Having someone who understands this marketplace that is constantly changing, an agent who has relationships with other agents that want to bring them the best listings and the inside scoop on who’s ready to drop their price AND someone who has a track record of success negotiating successfully for their clients is really valuable.
📣PRO Tip: How you buy a home in MA and NH has drastically changed in some ways and stayed the same in others, with new changes to inspections expected soon including how, when and by who real estate agent commissions are paid.
It's smart to start your search from step 1 and get prepared to make 2025 the year you stop putting your moving goals on hold and make your move happen.
What we do works. Really well.
We guide home sellers to their perfect buyer and house hunters to their ideal home in areas from the Andovers to southern NH to Seacoast MA and NH all the way over to west of Boston and on the north shore.
My partners and I will be here when you need us with a proven track record of success guiding more than a 1000 clients in the last years with a tiny but mighty group of good people who do good work.
Start your search at www.soldbylsg.com or call me at 978 457 3406.
We are the #1 Team for COMPASS for closed sales in MA & NH last year combined.
We are ranked top 1.5% of over 1.5 Million Realtors in the US.
We have countless 5 star reviews on many platforms.
We are real people, helping real people.
