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Hampstead, NH Real Estate News

By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
After a few mishaps getting to DC I'm happy that I can report that on Thursday May 17th I attended my NAR Professional Standards committee meeting.  I love being on this committee and am in the second year of my second 3 year term. After 4 years the newness has worn off but this year I was really looking forward to this meeting as I knew Blogs would be discussed. The first part of the meeting is the Professional Standards Forum, the forum allows all REALTOR members to bring up their concerns about the code and the enforcement process as well as sharing of ideas. As we entered the ballroom this funky looking tall guy in a white suit greeted people, congratulating them on being ethical and then poking fun at them! It was funny to see and I knew immediately who he was thanks to AR member M...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Can I blow my own horn??I passed 100 posts and never knew it! LOL I guess I was asleep at the wheel.  How exciting 110 posts in eight months!!!  Yippee! Of course it's combined but it still counts...I hope anyway!   I'm sorry I don't have a special post to celebrate but I wanted to say that I truly love this place. As crazy as it gets at times. Dare I say that I don't get many featured :) posts (that was hard to type)...even combined but thats okay because I'm having a blast and learning so much just being here. For those that don't know why I have two profiles...when I joined Active Rain, I joined as a real estate trainer and then as an agent since I also list and sell real estate.  You couldn't select two profile types at that time, so there are two of me running about the Rain.I get ...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, NH Real Estate Broker
(Prudential Verani Realty)
This was a difficult transaction that after many delays was finally given the clear to close. Because of the delays we had no say in the time or location of the closing. So it was scheduled at an attorneys office and was being fit into his tight schedule to accommodate us. This office was huge, brand new with big shiny furniture and impressive law books lining the walls. When I arrived with my customers we were put in a big conference room. I took a seat near one end of the huge table and put my pocket book and brief case on the floor. We made small talk while waiting for the sellers to arrive. It was a beautiful sunny day in New Hampshire and the sun streamed through the huge windows of the conference room bathing everything in a warm glow. It was so comfortable and relaxing that I cou...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Friday was a pretty emotional day for me.  The guy with the flag and his wife Pamela,who just happens to be a real estate agent in Massachusetts, came to Hampstead New Hampshire to meet me.  If you haven't read my story about when Hate came to Hampstead please take a few moments and read it so that this will make sense to you. Our meeting was recorded by the Union Leader Newspaper which is the largest newspaper in NH.  They also interviewed me last week about my original Hate post and I posted about that experience on my blog. Over this last week I've had a lot of people e-mail me and comment on my post...all wanting to know who the guy holding the flag was so they could shake his hand and say Thank You. He remained a mystery...no one seemed to know who he was.                          ...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, NH Real Estate Broker
(Prudential Verani Realty)
This post was inspired by Neal Bloom's post Localism works...I thinkI thought what a great idea to highlight some of my favorite localism type posts. Localism does work...I really do know that it works. My recent very local post about Hate was widely read by local people and it had the most public comments of any of my posts, ever. It was picked up by the The Union Leader a New Hampshire newspaper and that created recognition beyond anything I ever expected. Yesterday they did a follow up interview to be published tomorrow. Localism...trust me it works.  Take a virtual tour of my home town of Hampstead New Hampshire and a virtual tour of Kingston New Hampshire.Visit my Salem New Hampshire home for sale. Snow in New Hampshire...Again!Hidden New Hampshire TalentPelham New Hampshire Unique...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
The Power of the RainLast week I wrote a little post about when hate came to my town. While it wasn't a featured Post...nor widely read by Rainers, it had a life of it's own.  My little post traveled, far and wide, beyond the borders of Hampstead, New Hampshire.  A college student in Newton, Mass. found it and sent the link home to her mother in Hampstead. A woman in Maine who read it, was really touched by it, felt compelled to let me know how it made her feel. She told me that she passed my words on to others as she felt it was something that everyone should read. I've had e-mails from people talking about the impact of my "Voice" and how my post affected them.Today I'm on the front page of the biggest NH newspaper,The Union Leader and on the front page of their website...so is Activ...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Such an ugly word isn't it?  Maybe I've been sheltered but I've never really felt that word before nor have I used it. HATE is such a strong lonely word...thinking about it makes me incredibly sad.Today for the first time in my life I "felt" hate.  Hard, Cold, Ugly, Hate and it made me more than sad, it made me mad and it brought me to tears.My small town buried a war hero today, a fallen child, a human being, who fought and died in Iraq. He was newly married and a real nice guy by all accounts. He gave his life and left behind a family who loved him dearly. I didn't know him personally but I felt the incredible sadness of his death.This is not a Political/Religious Post nor is it a War Protest post...please  I ask that you don't turn it into such. This is a post about Hate...simply hat...
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By Jay McGillicuddy, Real Estate Broker
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
The Active Rain in this post has nothing to do with this community but it has everything to do with Mother Nature. The North East has been hit again with a major storm and it is pretty bad. We have friends who have been without power now for the 2nd day and no signs of getting it back soon. Luckily for them they have a motor home and are able to run their generator to run essential appliances in their home. They said the generator has been running since 8 AM yesterday morning. Their basement is flooded and the pumps working like crazy.Yesterday morning when we woke up, the bottom of our driveway was flooded. The street was halfway covered with water and it was washing over to the other side of the street. The storm drain was all plugged up and guess who had to try and unclog it.  I do n...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, NH Real Estate Broker
(Prudential Verani Realty)
Hampstead residents help make a dream come true! Now that the towns people have passed a warrant article and businesses have signed up to help support the proposed playground the Hampstead Mothers club goal of building a playground at the Depot Road complex is fast becoming a reality. However much help is still needed to make this dream come true. The club is putting on a fun comedy hypnosis night at the Atkinson Country Club next week and selling walkway bricks as well as looking for business sponsorships. Please consider helping to support the club and the children of Hampstead.Every penny matters!                                                                          Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County Jay and Monika McGillicuddyPrudential Verani Realty Hampstead N...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Kingston is a pretty little town with a rich history. Long famous for being the home town of Dr. Josiah Bartlett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Those of you that watch  The West Wing will recognize the name as the fictional U.S. president. Driving through Kingston one finds many beautiful old homes dotting Main Street where the town Common is also located. Kingston is ideally located much like it's neighbor Hampstead it is within easy reach of Boston, The White Mountains of New Hampshire and the ocean beaches. Kingston also boasts a state park interested in learning more about Kingston read my blog A little bit about Kingston.  We've put together a little virtual tour about Kingston using some photos we took...we hope you enjoy it.   Visit my other tour all abou...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Hampstead New Hampshire is called a picture perfect community by many. It's location is what attracted us many years ago, close to Boston yet a million miles away in lifestyle. I used to be an avid skier and living here made that so very possible...when my kids were younger I took them skiing often. In fact their photos are used in my post about skiing in New Hampshire called New Hampshire's White Powder . Jay and I are both ocean lovers and water babies so this is also an awesome location for those activities as well, my blog talks all about the fine lakes in Southern New Hampshire Living .  The best of the best is really what living here is all about...you can just about get to anywhere in a reasonable amount of time.I have lived in Hampstead since 1972 and Jay since 1984 and we watch...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
What do you do at a final walk through?In New Hampshire traditionally we have a final walk though prior to closing on a home. Many times this walk through happens before the house is empty and sometimes even during the confusion of the movers hauling furniture out. Typically we have 48 hours prior to closing to have a satisfactory final walk through and it is always referenced in the purchase contract.This particular home was due to close on a Friday afternoon and the walk through was scheduled right before the closing. "At the final walk through everything looked good. All furnishings were removed and the property was very clean.  The home inspection had taken place a few weeks prior and the property had been occupied by tenants.  After the home inspection, the tenants were then notifi...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
"There are dead animals down there"   Oh my!!! How does this happen?? Yesterday I showed another Old Empty Neglected House...I was pretty apprehensive after what happened last week during a showing with this same client! Of course I had to put up with a fair amount of jokes...Like my client saying he was bringing a cat! I know it won't make sense unless you read my other post about that showing but needless to say I really didn't find it amusing! This home is also very old, has 4 bedrooms,attached garage,an outbuilding and sits on a little over 6 acres of land...mostly wet land but nice for the privacy factor priced at $135,000...sounds pretty good...No? We thought so anyway.  When I called to set up this showing I left a message for the listing agent. A little later I got a call back ...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Some Pretty stupid agents out there...and I've met them!Last week I wrote a Blog Called " So what's a closing date anyway" it was about a home I showed that was under purchase agreement with a 48 hour kick out clause.  This listing was active in MLS but with a contract and was listed as continue to show due to the kick out clause …which means that the seller had accepted an offer from a buyer who had a home sale contingency. My buyer did not have a home sale contingency and they could close fairly fast. I had been assured by the listing agent that buyer # 1 could not perform and all would be well.All was not well! Once the clock started ticking and Buyer # 1 had 48 hours to remove the home sale contingency, provide poof they could purchase without selling or their agreement would become...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Some days you work nights....or better yet some days you just shouldn't work at all. I've had a pretty interesting week...first there was my encounter with the lovely biker chick and then my encounter with Mr. closing dates aren't important. I think I should have known enough to pack it in for the rest of the week. Today we awoke to freezing rain...the dreaded black ice...there are few things in life I fear more than the dreaded black ice! Not a problem as I figured I'd just stay home and enjoy the big game ...which in my household is a big event. Then...I got a call from a client wanting to take a look at a house I discussed with him yesterday...the house was empty and in need of total rehab. I knew that I could just go show and leave a voice message letting the listing agent know, as...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Transfer of Title... Is a closing date...date of transfer...date of conveyance, what ever you might call it in your area, an important piece of the purchase agreement? Last week I showed a house...a nice house everything my buyer client was looking for. This listing was showing active in MLS with a kick...meaning it had a 48 hour kick out clause. This is a fairly common contingency in our area which is used when a seller has accepted an offer from a buyer who must sell their present residence to buy. The kick out clause allows the seller to continue to market their property while giving the buyer some additional time to sell. IF during that time frame another buyer comes along who does not have a home sale contingency the seller can entertain that offer and initiate a kick out clause. T...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
I pulled up to the house I was showing about 10 minutes early. It was a pretty mild day here in NH and I noticed a big shiny Harley boldly parked in the middle of the drive. I got out of the car to stretch and enjoy a rare warm 55 degree January day...unusual temps for us!  As I did so a woman came out of the garage and approached me. I asked her if I was blocking her in...since I wasn't expecting a co-broker to show up I assumed she was the seller and would be leaving."Nope" she said.She was dressed in jeans, big heavy work type boots, tank top and denim jacket..she had on lots of big silver jewelry and a big heavy looking chain link type belt around her waist. She held a key ring in her hand full of keys...so many keys it makes my hubby Jay's key ring look petite and he easily has 10 ...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Why am I a REALTOR® I started thinking about this after reading a particularly negative  REALTOR®/NAR blog posted yesterday. Anyway, why did I become a REALTOR®...well my broker told me I had to become one.  Very simple I had no choice.   So I did and I quickly became involved in the REALTOR® association and I saw the benefits of that association.  I like the fact that all REALTORS® have to abide by the same code of ethics...an even playing field, so to speak. I like the fact that I have a place to go to if I need help. I like the research they do and as a member I'm allowed to use it...Blog about it, like Where do Buyers come from and marketing tools that in many cases are free to use.  I like the fact that NAR lobbies on my behalf, think mortgage interest deductions, Heath Insurance i...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Are buyers really liars? Or is it us...Do we really understand the importance of asking questions or better yet of asking the right questions?  Credit for this Blog topic goes to Tricia Jumonville , when she commented on my Dual Agency Life In The Fast Lane blog, it got me thinking and we started a discussion about whether or not Buyers are Liars?  I've had several experiences with buyers where the whole truth does not come out till later and sometimes that truth is a pretty important piece of the whole. When I was a new agent my Broker told me that Buyers were indeed Liars.But, I always had a hard time getting my head around that and felt that the fault really lies with us that we don't ask enough questions, the right type or in the right way... Questions that really matter.Part of the...
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By Monika McGillicuddy, Southern NH & the Seacoast Area
(Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty)
Dual Agency Life in the Fast Lane...whoa...gotta slow down a bit. Understanding what Disclosed Dual Agency is and is not is crucial in today's ever changing real estate market. In a previous blog I talked about Reasonable Care one of the Fiduciary Duties a REALTOR® owes to their clients.  I explained that the easiest way for me to memorize the fiduciary duties I owe my clients is this way...OLD CAR.                                     O...Obedience                                    L...Loyalty                                    D...Disclosure,full                                    C...Confidentiality                                    A...Accounting                                    R...Reasonable Care and Diligence  I also learned to memorize what is compromised or limited in a dual...
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