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Worcester, MA Real Estate News

By Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS, 'Helping You Make the Best Move"
(ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group)
My husband and I last night tried out one of the newest restaurants in Worcester last night, called "Overtime Tap". It's full name, Overtime Tap Fantasy Bar and Grill is located on 50 Front Street, Worcester and is right in Worcester's downtown business district. Owners, Dave LeDoux, Matt Bousquet and Greg Takacs share a love for our New England teams and have spent 40+ years in the food industry. My husband and I went to Overtime Tap for opening day of the Red Sox playing the Texas Rangers. During the game, Overtime Tap served free appetizers! We tried the Red Pepper Dip and Overtime Nachoes. Reasonably priced and our whole bill came to $16.00! Where can you go for that price! Local favorites like Crab Cakes, Lobster BLT Sliders or your own Mac & Cheese. The Overtime Tap menu has somet...
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  In the late hours of last night groups representing the mortgage brokers won an appeal to temporarily block the Federal Reserve rule that was going to limit compensation for mortgage originators. The law was supposed to help prevent loan originators from making too much money on providing loans with high interest rates. In other words, we need a political platform to blame the housing mess on, and Wall St. and Congress are too powerful, so lets take money away from the families of loan originators. --- Yes I'm bitter The US Appeals court, pressured by the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, and the Independent Housing Professionals were able to get a last minute objections to block the rule that was going to start today. According to the judge- "The purpose of this administrati...
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By John Saari, "The Mortgage Buddy"
A successful purchase story for March.I am privileged enough to work with several great Realtors with several different companies. I want to share the experience I had this past month with Vee Somoulaylack from the Hill Team Associates of Keller Williams in Worcester, MA. Vee called me a few days into March and told she had a client who was having a little trouble getting his financed secured. It turns out this gentleman was really being yanked around by his mortgage professional and now they had a signed purchase and sales agreement and didn't have financing in place and the closing was in three weeks.The typical nightmare scenario that no agent wants to deal with. Knowing that Vee was the buyers agent gave me a lot of confidence that we could get this closed by the end of the month an...
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By Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS, 'Helping You Make the Best Move"
(ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group)
There's no better time to buy a home in Worcester! Especially with the help from the "Buy Worcester Now" program. Worcester was named recently in the Forbe's Magazine for being one of America's liveable cities. Alittle over three years ago, City Mayor, Michael O'Brien, had a vision. His vision was that housing in Worcester would grow again by local lending institutions offering buyers special incentives. The Buy Worcester Now initiative also has local employers offer their employees to buy and live in the city that they work in. Local legal firms have also pitched in to waive closing costs through tis great program. The program also offers free advice as well as credit reports. (Participating lenders include the Bay State Savings Bank, Millbury Credit Union, Southbridge Savings Bank, Wo...
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By Jane Becker, CRS,ASP,ABR,CBR,CDPE,LMC,E-PRO,GRI
(Keller Williams Home Team AdvantEdge )
365 things to do in Worcester County - Enjoy Man of Lamancha in Worcester.  Who can forget an old man of Lamancha who is slightly not all together there and certainly a hero at heart.  This is such a sappy story that I love to see again and again.  And if you go see this spring musical, "Man of La Mancha", you will receive a special $3 discount off the $18 ticket price for the opening night performance (Friday, April 29th)  when you order tickets online and enter coupon code LAMANCHA. There is also a $3 Senior Citizen discount (60 yrs and older) for all Sunday performances.  Show Synopsis In an effort to protect himself after being thrown into prison during the Spanish Inquisition, Miguel de Cervantes tells his fellow prisoners a story he imagines in another world — the story of Don Qui...
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By John Saari, "The Mortgage Buddy"
FDIC Chairperson Shiela Bair headed a rules committee to redefine the current mortgage security model that can be sold as an investment in the form of a security. This comes on the heels of the Dodd/Frank legislation to tighten up the mortgage industry and their lending guidelines and the amount "skin in the game" the banks have when writing mortgage loans. The securitized loan was a major factor that led to the mortgage melt down. Basically bad loans were bundled with good loans, then securitized and sold with AAA ratings. Shiela Bair said that  "almost 90 percent of loans during 2005 and 2006 to borrowers with poor credit records, and loans with little documentation provided by the borrower, were privately securitized." It's easy to see why mortgage backed securities went bad when we...
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By Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS, 'Helping You Make the Best Move"
(ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group)
Nicole Luparelli sings at a local bar here called Nick's on Millbury Street, Worcester. I really enjoy her musical style. Her voice sounds like Patsy Cline. She has a huge fan base in this area and watching this video, you can see why! ENJOY!
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By Jane Becker, CRS,ASP,ABR,CBR,CDPE,LMC,E-PRO,GRI
(Keller Williams Home Team AdvantEdge )
365 things to do in Worcester County - Enjoy a good joke at Wisecracks comedy club in Worcester.  As my week end rolls around, I'm ready to relax, have a good time and enjoy a good laugh with family and friends.  So, this time, I am offering an outing on your Saturday night, April 2, 2011.  Starting at 8:00 pm and going till 10:00 pm, you can sit back with a drink and listen to a comedian entertain you.     Wisecracks Comedy Club @ Jose Murphy's @ 97 Water St.  Worcester, MA 01604  View map Wisecracks is Worcester's newest and hottest comedy club - they are currently in Jose Murphy's (2nd floor) every Saturday night starting September 18, 2010. You'll see comics that have been on Comedy Central, HBO and all the late night shows. This company is expanding to several other venues in centr...
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Mortgage Rate Outlook for the Week Beginning March 28th Call it the bull run  that just doesn't care what negative issues are its way, the market continues to trend to the upside. We have made just about everything back that we lost in the market on the heels of the nuclear fears in Japan. Mortgage rates had a reversal from their downward trend mid week and we are now at the top end of a three week range. There is a plethora of economic data points on the calendar this week that could move the market and the rates.Monday 10AM-Pending Home Sales:  A pending sale by definition is one in which a contract was signed, but not yet closed. It usually takes four to six weeks to close a contracted sale.This will set the tone for the week, will we seeing some positive movement to finish off the w...
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By Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS, 'Helping You Make the Best Move"
(ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group)
Sponsored by the Fallon Clinic, Cirque Mechanics Boom Town is a journey back into the old west! This newest production will bring you into the 1865 mining town, Rosebud where an unlikely discovery will take place. The show is full of talented acrobatics and one show not to be missed!Shows are on April 2nd at 7:00 p.m. and April 3rd at 2:00 p.m. Full price tickets are $25, $35, and $45, depending on seating location. Discounts for members and large groups. Please call the box office at 1-877-571-7469 for more information.
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By Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS, 'Helping You Make the Best Move"
(ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group)
GRAND OPENING APRIL 1 and 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.A unique resale stoer for new and gently used building materials and home furnishings.Location:Gold Star Boulevard/11 Distributor Road, WorcesterPhone:(508) 799-9259Website:www.habitatmwgw.orgEmail:restoredonations@habitatmwgw.org Items for sale:lamps, hardware, cabinets, chairs, office furniture, appliances, housewares, windows, flooring, interior doors, plumbing, sinks, couches, artwork, unique home accents  
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By Jane Becker, CRS,ASP,ABR,CBR,CDPE,LMC,E-PRO,GRI
(Keller Williams Home Team AdvantEdge )
365 things to do in Worcester County - see Russian National Ballet in Worcester.   The Russian National Ballet Theatre returns to present the sweeping grace and beauty of the classic ballet "Giselle" on-stage at the Hanover Theatre in the Spring of 2011.  You loved them in Swan Lake and Music Worcester brings them back again, with the lavish sets, beautiful costumes, gifted principal dancers, and the corp de ballet that takes your breath away.  Giselle was created and first performed at the Paris Opera in 1841 and continues to be a favorite classic to this day. Tickets:  Floor: 1st price $50, 2nd price $45       Balcony:  1st price $50, 2nd price $45, 3rd price $42, 4th price $39 TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM HANOVER THEATRE  Box Office 877-571-7469 Let's face it, they are the standard for c...
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By John Saari, "The Mortgage Buddy"
It's been a successful couple of days in the life of "The Mortgage Buddy". My business plan at the beginning the year really focused on cultivating new referral partners and business relationships. This is one of the main reasons I'm on active rain. The last couple of days has really been ideal days for business plan implementation. There was a quote I heard a few months ago that I had to type up and hang next to my desk. "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable". I love that quote. You see I have always done an abundance of refinance loans with a few purchases here and there but I really wanted to do a 180 with my business. Partly because that's the direction I think the market will be going in the next few years and partly because I just wanted to work with agents and have a more han...
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By Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS, 'Helping You Make the Best Move"
(ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group)
WOW, Worcester County is growing! As shown in this photo above, population has grown 6.34% since 2000! Another area that has shown growth is Nantucket and Dukes county at 6.85% and 10.3% respectively. Those areas are close to the Atlantic Ocean and on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The areas in Massachusetts that showed a decrease were Barnstable at -2.85%, Franklin at -.23% and Pittsfield at -2.3%. Barnstable County is on the Cape but the other two counties, Franklin and Pittsfield are in Western Massachusetts. The good news? Worcester is growing!!!Looking to buy or sell a home in Worcester? Give me a call at 508-330-7258!  
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According to a report out today it looks like more so-called real estate experts and calling for a double dip in the housing market. Robert Schiller the co founder and developer of the famous market indicator the Case-Schiller Index is also the co-founder and Chief Market Economist for MacroMarkets LLC. This company uses surveys and blog discussions to compile data of leading economists and real estate professionals. Today he released his latest report, called The Home Prices Expectations Survey. This survey is meant to track U.S. home prices over the next 5 years. Here are is what Mr. Schiller said in regards to his survey findings. “Overall, the sentiment among our expert panel regarding the U.S. housing market outlook continues to deteriorate. Now they are expecting only a weak recov...
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By Jane Becker, CRS,ASP,ABR,CBR,CDPE,LMC,E-PRO,GRI
(Keller Williams Home Team AdvantEdge )
365 Things to do in Worcester County - apply your child in Young Artist Scholarship Competition in Worcester.  As they say, "many will enter, few will win".  What a great experience for your budding musician.  By applying to join the competition, your child will not only have an opportunity to earn a scholarship, but also to perform in front of expert judges.  I think that his experience builds character and experience in our little performers.  I know that I was so proud to hear my daughter, Leanne play at her audition a few years ago.  Now it's your opportunity to make this your 365 Things to do in Worcester County - apply your child in Young Artist Scholarship Competition in Worcester     Mackenzie Melemed 2008 - One of the finalists Music Worcester 2011 Young Artist Scholarship Comp...
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By Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS, 'Helping You Make the Best Move"
(ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group)
Can't get this song out of my head! Pat Benatar was one of my favorite artists back in my teens. Pat Benatar, born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski was a four time Grammy winner. Some of her top singles were "Love is a Battlefield", "Hit Me with your Best Shot" and "We Belong". But "Heartbreaker" was my all time favorite. ENJOY!
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By John Saari, "The Mortgage Buddy"
Rate Outlook for the Week Beginning March 21st We have been navigating through a favorable rate environment the past few weeks. Starting with a successful 10yr bond auction a few weeks ago and then continuing with a the Middle East tensions and then most recently the tragic earthquake in Japan, rates have had a nice pull back. It seemed in January we were staring down the barrel of over 5% interest rates, now we are back on the refinance train and with the spring market starting to sprout, everything could be coming together for an amazing sprint market. The week ahead has some market moving real estate data points to pay attention to. Monday 10AM: Monday could set the tone for the week with the release of the existing home sales numbers. January numbers were up 2.7% amidst horrible wea...
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By Keith Pentz, Keith Pentz
(RE/MAX ADVANTAGE 1)
203k Seminar in Worcester, MA: Why You Should Attend Our seminars in Wakefield, Taunton, and Meriden were HUGE successes and I want to thank all that attended!  This Thursday, March 24 is our WORCESTER 203K Seminar and Rally at the Hilton Garden Inn! What will you learn? How to move your listings FASTER with 203k MARKETING, SIGNAGE and ADVERTISING through PROSPECT GREATER WORCESTER How to have staff for AS MANY open houses as you want The details on our upcoming INVESTOR RENOVATION products How PROSPECT GREATER WORCESTER achieves a 44 day average close time for 203k Loans How our HUD CONSULTANTS can help you with making your listing MORE MARKETABLE And much more! This seminar is not designed to make you an expert in the 203k guidelines, it is designed to help you sell MORE LISTINGS in L...
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By Jane Becker, CRS,ASP,ABR,CBR,CDPE,LMC,E-PRO,GRI
(Keller Williams Home Team AdvantEdge )
365 Things to do in Worcester County - Welcome Spring at the Ecotarium in Worcester! Today is such a wonderful day.  We're finally getting the seasonal weather we deserve and on March 20th or March 21st (depending what calendar you're looking at) is the first day of Spring.  So this week end the Spring season really begins.  I would like to invite my readers to Welcome Spring at the Ecotarium.  Today, on Friday, March 18, 2011 at Ecotarium-A Museum Of Science And Nature ,222 Harrington Way  Worcester, MA 01604, you're invited to participate in activities celebrating the end of the winter doldrums.  Local florists, designers and members of area Garden Clubs unleash their creativity as they interpret the EcoTarium experience through floral designs. Children's flower arranging takes place...
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