Things to Love About Beverly, Massachusetts

1. Great restaurants:
   
   
   • Brenden Crocker's Wild Horse. The dining room has great food as does the bar. They carry a great variety of beers on tap and have over twenty amazing martinis. There is great live music on Wednesday nights and there’s always a great crowd and a good vibe.
   
   
   • Tryst has outstanding food. It is very small, so you need to make a reservation but it is well worth it. The also have a fabulous wine list.
   
   
   • Kitty O'Sheas is a great Irish bar. They have traditional Irish food. They also are one of the only bars in the area to show European Soccer games on television. They also have live bands and a great deck located in the back for the summer time.
   
   
   • Tapas Corner is a great little restaurant off of Cabot Street. It is very small but they have great burritos and unique wraps as well. There is always interesting music and great conversation in Tapas.
   
   
   • One more is Mandrake on Cabot Street. They have amazing food and always a good crowd on the weekend nights.
   
   
   • Other specific restaurant recommendations include The Beverly Depot, Chianti, Harry's 57, and Siam Delight.
   
   
2. For outdoor fun, Lynch Park (official name David S. Lynch Memorial Park) is great. They have great outdoor concerts on Sunday nights during the summer. There are all sorts of activities and fun things for every age (kayaking is one example). The Rose Garden is one of the main attractions of Lynch Park. The Falconer statue is worth viewing as well.


3. The Beverly YMCA provides lots of activities for everyone. They have three locations through out Beverly including the McPherson Teen Center.


4. Montserrat College of Art has tons of galleries that are open to the public. Exhibits, galleries, and talks are free and open to the public. There is always something new and exciting going on at the College. Taking classes there is also very worthwhile.


5. The coast line of small beaches. Walking the dog on Brackenbury Beach is great too.


6. Beverly is a city with a small town feel. There is a diverse mix of people and neighborhoods.


7. Convenient location: Easy highway access and 3 train stations (for the commuter). You can also get to the mountains of New Hampshire, the coast of Maine, the city of Boston all within 2 hours.


8. Downtown Beverly with its variety of restaurants, coffee shops, gift shops, and art galleries.


9. The Farms Village with its boutiques and ”green grocery” small restaurants and coffee shops.


10. Cabot Cinema.


11. Concerts on the Beverly Common.


12. The Beverly Public Library.


13. The idea that whatever neighborhood a person lives or school their child attends, it is “the best.”


14. Large number of community playgrounds and ball fields.


15. Independence Park - one of the nicest ocean views on the North Shore.


16. St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic church is very beautiful inside.


17. The Cummings Center provides a large number of jobs and is home to many companies.


18. And of course, The OCEAN!!!!

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The following RE/MAX Advantage Real Estate agents contributed to this list:

Margaret Belmonte
Web Site: www.margaretbelmonte.com
Email: margaret@margaretbelmonte.com

Blaze Johnson
Web Site: www.blazerealestate.com
Email: blaze@blazerealestate.com

Tina McManus
Web Site: www.YourNorthShoreHome.com
Email: TinaMcManus@Remax.net

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RE/MAX Advantage Real Estate's Beverly, Massachusetts office:
100 Cummings Center Suite 104F
Beverly, MA 01915
978-927-9100

Things to Love About Salem, Massachusetts

1. Halloween. Every year in Salem, Halloween is a month long celebration known as “Haunted Happenings.” The Haunted Happenings celebration bills itself as “America’s Halloween Festival,” and kicks off in early October with a parade known as the “Grand Parade.” It’s not unusual to see people dressed up in costumes any day in October, at any time. Halloween itself is like one big outdoor costume party with street vendors selling Halloween-related items as well as food and drink.

2. Salem is a walk to everything city: the train, the bus, the grocery store, the bank, restaurants and live music, the park, the common, the dog park, the waterfront, you name it!

3. Dogs! Believe it or not, Salem is very dog friendly! You can walk through the city and see that the local businesses have water bowls out for dogs!! Salem has a dog park with a large fenced in area, and many wonderful other parks.

4. Salem has culture! Music and lots of it; Salem is going to have its first annual Soul and Jazz Festival at Salem Willows this summer. The Peabody Essex Museum is a world class museum; we have a thriving art community: art galleries and Artists Row (where local artists have formed a co-op to sell their wares). Don't forget the Picklepot that sells items made by local artists.

5. Tremendous night life. Many Salem bars and clubs have excellent live music. Specific recommendations include Rockafellas, Dodge Street, Edgewater Café, and Bangkok Paradise. For a more low key evening, take in a movie at Salem’s own movie theater, Cinema Salem.

6. Salem has exceptionally wonderful restaurants! Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Seafood, American, Mexican, Italian, and neighborhood restaurants. You name it, Salem’s got it. Specific recommendations include Strega, The Old Spot, Passage to India, The Grapevine, The Lyceum, Finz, Bella Verona, Red’s Sandwich Shop, In a Pig’s Eye, and the Front Street Coffee House.

7. History. Not just the famous Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but also the rich maritime history (including pirates). And don’t forget the colonial history either.

8. Stunning, must-see architecture. Some highlights include the McIntire Historical District and many of the homes located near Salem Common. One great way to view some architectural highlights is to go on the annual Christmas House Tour run by Historic Salem. Be sure to visit the House of the Seven Gables and the Witch House also.

9. The waterfront area, including the Custom House, Pickering Wharf, and Salem’s own tall ship, “The Friendship.”

10. The cobblestone streets give Salem a historic feel.

11. Salem is one of the most affordable communities on the North Shore.

12. Salem Common. Also known as Washington Square, this 9 acre park of public land is primarily used for concerts and other large public gatherings.

13. Convenient transportation options. Salem Ferry runs to Boston. The MBTA Commuter Rail travels from Salem Depot to Boston as well.

14. Education. Thousands of students attend Salem State College every year and it doubles as one of the largest employers in Salem. For younger students, Salem has an abundance of public and private schools. Foundation for Salem Public Education holds an annual Spring Auction each year at the Hawthorne Hotel. This year's date is Thursday, April 5th, 2007. Channel 5 anchor Susan Wornick will return for the 2nd year as the celebrity auctioneer. Silent Auction is from 6:00-8:00 PM and then the Live Auction is from 8:00-9:00 PM.

15. The Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and the many unique shops throughout the city.

16. Winter Street during a snowstorm.

17. Winter Island (Marine Recreational Park).

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The following RE/MAX Advantage agents contributed to this list:

Maggie Gibson
Buyer Agent for the Sullivan Team
Web Site: www.sullivanteam.com
Email: maggie@sullivanteam.com

Jenny May
Web Site: www.jennymay.biz
Email: jenny@jennymay.biz

Karyn Reardon
Web Site: www.megsteam.com
Email: karynreardon@comcast.net

Staff members Nikki and Alice also contributed to the list.

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RE/MAX Advantage Real Estate's Salem, Massachusetts office is located at:
143 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
978-740-2333

Things to Love About Gloucester, Massachusetts

1. The beaches: Good Harbor Beach and Wingaersheek Beach for the people who want a bigger beach. For those with small children that need a smaller beach, try Half Moon Beach and Cressey's Beach, both located at Stage Fort Park. Other beaches include Niles Beach near Rocky Neck and Long Beach.

2. Annual celebrations: St. Peter's Fiesta, which is the last weekend in June. Events include The Greasy Pole, Sunday Parade, Carnival Rides for the kids, live music, good fun and cheer with the locals. Other annual celebrations are the Schooner Festival, the Boat Parade of Lights, and the New Fish Festival.

3. Culture: Rocky Neck Art Colony, Hammond Museum, Beauport Museum (which is celebrating 100 years), Cape Ann Historical Museum, Cape Ann Symphony, Gloucester Stage Company, West End Theater, North Shore Art Association, Thursday night concerts at Harbor Loop, Sunday night concerts at the bandstand at Stage Fort Park.

4. Whale watches. 4 different whale watches depart from Gloucester:

Captain Bill and Sons Whale Watch
Cape Ann Whale Watch
Yankee Fleet Whale Watch
7 Seas Whale Watch

Captain Bill and Sons whale watches include informative narration by:
The Whale Center of New England.

5. Scenic views and sights: Walks along the seashore. Fabulous light, as recognized by artists for the last 150 years. Show stopping sunsets and the beauty of a full moon over the ocean. 26 square miles of crashing surf, time worn granite stones, secret coves, sand dunes, hilltop breezes, woods, trails, parks - beyond great!

6. The “Ladies’ Night” and a “Men’s Night” that kick off the Holiday shopping season. All the shops, restaurants, and art galleries in the downtown area host an Open House and offer a 20% discount on all purchases that evening. The atmosphere is festive with Carolers walking the downtown area singing Holiday songs.

7. An abundance of excellent dining establishments, many of which specialize in seafood. Specific recommendations include Halibut Point, The Causeway Restaurant, The Franklin, Passports, Alchemy, The Rudder, Madfish Grill, LobsterLand, and Azorean. For more information on these restaurants and to learn about others, check out Cape Ann Web's Gloucester restaurant reviews.

8. The Fisherman at the Wheel Statue and the beautiful boulevard. Memorial services for those “lost at sea” are also held at the Fisherman statue.

9. More water-related activities – boating, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, and fishing.

10.Independent-minded residents living an island-mentality life. The people of Gloucester are great and are a blend of different cultures.

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The following RE/MAX Advantage agents and teams contributed to this list:

Jennifer Anderson and Ron Goulart
Web Site: www.jenandron.com
Email: jen@jenandron.com and ron@jenandron.com

Realty Team Homes
Web Site: www.realtyteamhomes.com
Email: realtyteamhomes@yahoo.com

Lillian LoGrasso
Web Site: www.lillianlograsso.com
Email: lillianlograsso@remax.net

Karyn Reardon
Web Site: www.megsteam.com
Email: karynreardon@comcast.net

Cricket Sperry
Web Site: www.kristalpooler.com
Email: cricket.sperry@comcast.net

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RE/MAX Advantage Real Estate's Gloucester, Massachusetts office is located at:
191 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-281-8005

Direction of Mortgage Rates

Hello everyone,

Here's the latest on mortgage rates:

I have not written a commentary since the end of last month due to extraordinary factors affecting the markets of late and I wanted to let things settle before I made another comment on the market. First, the Sub Prime debacle is causing financial jitters throughout the mortgage and banking industries as high loan defaults finally catch up with lenders originating loans with loose credit requirements.

This activity has spilled over to the ALT A market which is causing havoc to lenders who originate conforming and ALT A business such as ourselves. The result of this is we will see more companies shut their doors, wall street continue to experience liquidity issues, and a mortgage market that will remain tight for most of the year.

Currently, the market is ignoring all fundamental indicators as traders of MBS's f(mortgage backed securities) focus primarily on the stock market. Since last week, when the DOW dropped 415 points, many investors in equity have switched to bonds for safety. This will begin to unravel by the end of the week or next week, as the stock market begins the recovery of the sell-off. This may hinder any rally we might get from poor economic data due to investors exiting the market.
So, I would remain cautious at these good levels as I feel that the market will sell-off to correct the stock market related rally of last week.


John Shea
Vice President
Summit Mortgage
781-224-2809 (office)
jshea@summitmortgage.com

What are the most effective ways for buyers to use the Internet as part of their home search?

"The Internet is without a doubt a huge tool for
homebuyers. The ability to browse listings with the
click of a mouse is easy and less time consuming than
tediously thumbing through newspapers or driving
around town looking for real estate signs.

The most effective way for a buyer to search for homes
on the Internet is to first find a web site which is
easy to use. If a buyer finds the web site to be
confusing and busy, they won't re-visit. Giving a buyer
the ability to view addresses will help them rule out
houses that are not in their desired neighborhoods.
Also, buyers should make sure that the site they're
using enables them to view all MLS listings, not just
listings for that company's office.

With the majority of homebuyers now browsing listings
on the Internet for several months before physically
walking into a house, it enables them to narrow their
search, and educate themselves about the market.
This gives the buyer more confidence and knowledge than
ever before!"

Jenny May, ABR
Web Site: www.JennyMay.biz
Email: jenny@jennymay.biz
Phone: 978-828-4142

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"The most effective way for buyers to use the Internet is to sign onto my web page at www.patfenton.com and enter the towns and price range that suits them. They will be able to search all the homes currently available and see all the same data that we as Realtors see. The information provided on my web site is the highest quality they can receive in terms of content. This allows them to understand what's happening in the market, see what their dollars will purchase, and decide what they feel comfortable buying. It puts them in control of the buying process, and they will feel comfortable knowing that every property on the market is available to them."

Pat Fenton
Web Site: www.patfenton.com
Email: pat@patfenton.com
Phone: 978-524-8717

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"The obvious is as an educational resource to learn about markets they're interested in. Many use lots of different resources - Realtor sites, craigs list and Zillow (they like the satellite photo features). When they see a property that interests them, they can easily copy me on it. It's a great communication tool that saves us loads of phone time. When you're moving into an area you're not familiar with, just Googling the towns can bring up information about the community that helps you decide if it's the sort of place where you'd like to live."

Cricket Sperry
Buyer Specialist, Kristal Pooler Team
Web Site: www.kristalpooler.com
Email: cricket.sperry@comcast.net
Phone: 978-578-5446

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"It sometimes seems like before you buy a house, you'd better buy a computer and printer! The Internet has brought a wealth of information to the real estate investor that has changed the way people look at and purchase property. Today the Internet allows a buyer to find a property, view a property, and even buy a property without even stepping foot in the property! There are a lot of web sites that provide property information, but I like to make sure my clients know that not all sites are up-to-date and user friendly. The www.sullivanteam.com web site, powered by iMaxWebSolutions.com, allows the buyer to view the property in a specific price point, see a virtual tour, and with one click set up an appointment to view the property of choice, then get the driving directions for the appointment.

Members of the web site can track the property for price changes or sale trends and even allows a daily email or cell phone page when a new listing hits the market! This is a great service when you are in the heat of a property search!
You can spend hours on the Internet finding school stats, community information, flood zones maps, mortgage calculators, and some sites even offer price opinions. A well designed web site offers all of this information with a click of the mouse!

However, let me remind the real estate investor to not believe everything they read just because it is in print! A smart consumer knows that the Internet is no replacement for the personal touch or past experience when it comes to buying large ticket items! A real estate investment is no exception! I tell my clients to use the Internet as a resource for research then print articles for me to clarify and put into a local context!

Not every state has the same real estate values and there are different ways to purchase real estate globally. To an untrained eye the information on the Internet is appealing but note that it often lacks regional reference which is vital for a real estate purchase! In closing, I recommend that a real estate buyer or seller uses the Internet to learn all about buying and selling and then go to Google, search on RE/MAX and find a great local real estate listing agent or buyer specialist! Once you find the home you want to buy, this same agent will help you explore the Internet to find the sites that provide the information you'll need to get through a home inspection, a property repair, and even to close on a mortgage!"

Andrea D'Amato
Web Site: www.FindYourNewHome.biz

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"I think the use of my web site www.margaretbelmonte.com is a very effective way for buyers to use the Internet as part of the home search. The Internet is a great way for buyers to get an overview of the market in regards to price, housing style, and differences in towns. My web site is an interactive tool which enables the buyers to email any interest or questions about a particular home as well as stay on top of new listings, price reductions, and under agreement. The Internet is a valuable information tool for buyers; however, I don’t think any tool takes the place of a solid and trusting relationship with a Realtor who is experienced in working with buyers as evidenced by the ABR designation and years of full time real estate sales experience."

Margaret Belmonte
Web Site: www.margaretbelmonte.com
Email: margaret@margaretbelmonte.com
Phone: 978-927-2737

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"The Internet has definitely become the most effective way for buyers to begin searching for their dream home! The most effective way for a buyer to use the Internet for their home search is to find a local real estate agent that also has their own web site. For instance, my web site names are www.LillianLoGrasso.com and www.GloucesterandRockporthomes.com. Real estate is local and a lot of web sites out there just buy domain names to capture buyers and then offer the lead to a real estate agent for a substantial fee.

A savvy buyer should find a real estate web site that specializes in the areas they are looking in. Personally, I feel if a real estate agent does not have their own personal web site and is not up to date with technology, it says a lot about the agent. My web site offers full access to the all properties listed in the MLS and this includes properties listed with any other broker. You will never miss an opportunity! It updates every ten minutes and it can send a message to your cell phone with hot properties, it can send you daily e-mails, and best of all you can look up properties that have sold or expired which I know for a fact that most other websites do not offer! So my best advice would be to begin your search through a major search engine that includes the towns you would like to buy in and mentioning RE/MAX would ultimately get you the best result, LOL!!!"

Lillian LoGrasso
Web Site: www.LillianLoGrasso.com
Email: lillianlograsso@remax.net
Phone: 978-479-2250