Check out this weekends open houses in Andover and North Andover, MA

Andover, MA Open Houses 3-11-2010 to 3-14-2010                 ANDOVER OPEN HOUSES
North Andover MA Open Houses 3-11-2010 to 3-14-2010     N ANDOVER OPEN HOUSES

All the MLS open houses in The Andovers provided courtesy of
Mark Gracy - The Gracy Team - Keller Williams Realty Andover
(978) 861-4016    www.GracyTeam.com

The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS  /  Massachusetts REALTOR News
 
New State Smoke Detector Requirements   Andover, North Andover and the Merrimack Valley Real Estate Resource
3/8/2010
A new regulation regarding the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors goes into effect April 5, 2010.

These new regulations were enacted by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and will apply to single and multi-family homes built or most recently substantially altered prior to Jan. 1, 1975 and sold on or after April 5, 2010.  Homes built or substantially altered on or after Jan. 1, 1975 are governed by the State Building Code, which already imposes the same requirements & restrictions.

The regulations currently require two different types of smoke detectors to be in place depending upon the location in the home. In zones within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom, smoke detectors using photo-electric only technology will be required. Outside of the 20-foot kitchen and bath zone(s), both ionization and photoelectric technology must be installed. The battery/hard-wire rules are not changing at the state level.

These requirements were developed, in part, based upon research that shows that ionization smoke detectors tend to give false alarms due to fumes given off from typical cooking or steam from a shower. Frequent false alarms often lead residents to disable smoke detectors by removing their batteries.

 
527 CMR 32.00: Approved Smoke Detectors
32.01: Purpose and Scope
32.02: General Requirements
32.03   Installation of smoke detectors in the vicinity of a kitchen, bathroom or other areas
32.01: Purpose and Scope
Pursuant to the Board’s authority under M.G.L. c. 22D, s. 4 to develop a comprehensive fire safety code and under the general regulatory authority of M.G.L. c. 148, sections 10 and 28, the purpose of 527 CMR 32.00 is to enhance public safety by providing further technical qualification to the definitions of  “Approved monitored battery power smoke detector” and “Approved primary power smoke detector”, as those words are used in M.G.L. c. 148, sections 26D, E and F.

This regulation shall be effective as of April 5, 2010, and shall be the applicable standard for sellers to comply with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 148, s. 26F upon sale and transfer of certain buildings or structures occupied in whole or in part for residential purposes.              

31.02  General Requirements 
(1)  Except for smoke detectors located in the vicinity of areas regulated by 527 CMR 32.03, an approved monitored battery power smoke detector, shall consist of a working device, as defined in M.GL.c148, s. 26D, that employs both ionization and photoelectric technology, in either a single unit or by means of two separate units.  

(2)  Except for smoke detectors located in areas regulated by 527 CMR 32.03, an approved primary power smoke detector, shall consist of a working device, as defined in M.GL.c148, s. 26D, that employs both ionization and photoelectric technology, in either a single unit or by means of two separate units.   
 
32.03      Installation of Smoke Detectors In the Vicinity of a Kitchen, Bathroom or Other Areas
No smoke detector employing ionization technology shall be installed within 20 feet of an entryway to a kitchen, or bathroom containing a bathtub or shower.  The 20-foot measurement shall include and extend into common areas of a multi-family dwelling, if applicable.

North Andover, MA real estate update - Merrimack Valley Real Estate Update on the $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers.
I have been getting a lot of questions lately on the homebuyer tax credit so I thought I would take a moment and give everyone an update.  The clock is ticking on the $8,000 credit AND there is still time to take advantage and qualify for this opportunity.  Here are the revised criteria:

Home Buyer Tax Credit Revised in November 2009

First-time Buyer - Amount of Credit	$8,0 00 ($4,000 married filing separate)
First-time Buyer Definition of Eligibility	May not have had interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase
Current Homeowner - Definition of Eligibility	Must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years
Deadline for Tax Credit	Purchases after April 30, 2010 (Binding contract must be written by this date.  Purchaser has until July 1, 2010 to close on the property.)

There are some additional income and property purchase price limitations.  Give me a call of shoot me an email for details.  Don't hesitate.  Interest rates are at an all time LOW and will be going up, home prices have never been more affordable and the tax credit will be going away SOON.  Don't miss this historic opportunity to capitalize on your real estate investment.   SEARCH FOR ALL MLS PROPERTIES IN MA AND NH today and find your perfect home.
Mark Gracy - Your Real Estate Resource in the Merrimack Valley
(978) 861-4016    (tel &fax)      Visit our website for FREE Homebuyer reports

North Andover, MA real estate update - Merrimack Valley Real Estate Update on the $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers.
I have been getting a lot of questions lately on the homebuyer tax credit so I thought I would take a moment and give everyone an update.  The clock is ticking on the $8,000 credit AND there is still time to take advantage and qualify for this opportunity.  Here are the revised criteria:

Home Buyer Tax Credit Revised in November 2009

First-time Buyer - Amount of Credit	$8,0 00 ($4,000 married filing separate)
First-time Buyer Definition of Eligibility	May not have had interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase
Current Homeowner - Definition of Eligibility	Must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years
Deadline for Tax Credit	Purchases after April 30, 2010 (Binding contract must be written by this date.  Purchaser has until July 1, 2010 to close on the property.)

There are some additional income and property purchase price limitations.  Give me a call of shoot me an email for details.  Don't hesitate.  Interest rates are at an all time LOW and will be going up, home prices have never been more affordable and the tax credit will be going away SOON.  Don't miss this historic opportunity to capitalize on your real estate investment.   SEARCH FOR ALL MLS PROPERTIES IN MA AND NH today and find your perfect home.
Mark Gracy - Your Real Estate Resource in the Merrimack Valley
(978) 861-4016    (tel &fax)      Visit our website for FREE Homebuyer reports

North Andover, MA real estate update - Merrimack Valley Real Estate Update on the $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers.
I have been getting a lot of questions lately on the homebuyer tax credit so I thought I would take a moment and give everyone an update.  The clock is ticking on the $8,000 credit AND there is still time to take advantage and qualify for this opportunity.  Here are the revised criteria:

Home Buyer Tax Credit Revised in November 2009

First-time Buyer - Amount of Credit	$8,0 00 ($4,000 married filing separate)
First-time Buyer Definition of Eligibility	May not have had interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase
Current Homeowner - Definition of Eligibility	Must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years
Deadline for Tax Credit	Purchases after April 30, 2010 (Binding contract must be written by this date.  Purchaser has until July 1, 2010 to close on the property.)

There are some additional income and property purchase price limitations.  Give me a call of shoot me an email for details.  Don't hesitate.  Interest rates are at an all time LOW and will be going up, home prices have never been more affordable and the tax credit will be going away SOON.  Don't miss this historic opportunity to capitalize on your real estate investment.   SEARCH FOR ALL MLS PROPERTIES IN MA AND NH today and find your perfect home.
Mark Gracy - Your Real Estate Resource in the Merrimack Valley
(978) 861-4016    (tel &fax)      Visit our website for FREE Homebuyer reports

North Andover, MA real estate update - Merrimack Valley Real Estate Update on the $8,000 tax credit for homebuyers.
I have been getting a lot of questions lately on the homebuyer tax credit so I thought I would take a moment and give everyone an update.  The clock is ticking on the $8,000 credit AND there is still time to take advantage and qualify for this opportunity.  Here are the revised criteria:

Home Buyer Tax Credit Revised in November 2009

First-time Buyer - Amount of Credit	$8,0 00 ($4,000 married filing separate)
First-time Buyer Definition of Eligibility	May not have had interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase
Current Homeowner - Definition of Eligibility	Must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years
Deadline for Tax Credit	Purchases after April 30, 2010 (Binding contract must be written by this date.  Purchaser has until July 1, 2010 to close on the property.)

There are some additional income and property purchase price limitations.  Give me a call of shoot me an email for details.  Don't hesitate.  Interest rates are at an all time LOW and will be going up, home prices have never been more affordable and the tax credit will be going away SOON.  Don't miss this historic opportunity to capitalize on your real estate investment.   SEARCH FOR ALL MLS PROPERTIES IN MA AND NH today and find your perfect home.
Mark Gracy - Your Real Estate Resource in the Merrimack Valley
(978) 861-4016    (tel &fax)      Visit our website for FREE Homebuyer reports

Fewer Sellers Are Cutting Prices
The prices on 19 percent of homes for sale as of March 1st have been reduced at least once, the lowest percentage in the last year, according to Trulia.com.

In October and November, when the market was feeling the effect of the tax credit, 26 percent of sellers cut their asking prices.

“Better pricing is leading to less time on the market, less price reduction, and in a lot of markets we're starting to see bidding wars on lower end properties," said Ken Shuman, spokesperson for Trulia.

Trulia calculates that these U.S. cities experienced the biggest decline in price reductions from Feb. 1, 2010 to March 1, 2010:
Charlotte, N.C.
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Houston
Raleigh, N.C.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Albuquerque, N.M.
Tucson
Omaha, Neb.
San Antonio, Texas
Source: Trulia.com (03/09/2010)