the homeBuying mentors - Allston Brighton Community

Transcripción

Working
Together,
Building
Homeownership
Homeownership Resource Guide
2013
¡Encuentre
información
en español!
First-time homebuyer classes are
offered throughout the year at
many locations.
Register today at www.TheHomebuyingMentors.org.
See page 07 for more details!
Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation
Linden Street, Suite 288, Allston, MA 02134 | t. 617-787-3874 x216
f. 617-787-0425 | www.allstonbrightoncdc.org
The Allston Brighton CDC is a HUD certified Housing Counseling
Agency, holds a Seal of Approval from the Massachusetts Housing
Collaborative, and adopts the National Industry Standards for Homeownership
Education and Counseling.
Designed by Intercreativa. www.IntercreativaDesign.com
The Homebuying Mentors
Table of Contents
05 Welcome to The Homebuying Mentors
07 Homebuying 101 & Coaching
09 Our Success by the Numbers
Spotlight
11 A Homeowner’s Experience
The Homebuying Process
13 Tips to Build, Maintain and Repair Your Credit
15 Mejorando su Puntaje de Crédito
17 Choosing a Winning Real Estate Team
19 Understanding the Loan Process
24 The Homebuyer’s Timeline
27 Top 10 Tips for Homebuyers When Reviewing a
Purchase and Sale Agreement
29 10 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Condominium
Homeownership
32 Skills to Survive Homeownership
35 Fácil Mantenimiento de la Propiedad
38 Essential Home Maintenance Tasks
Resources
40 Directory of Resources
3
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Welcome to The
Homebuying Mentors!
The Homebuying Mentors is Allston Brighton
CDC’s newly renamed, improved and expanded homeownership program.
We are an independent, not-for-profit resource for Massachusetts residents to plan
responsibly for their future through homeownership education and coaching.
We build a trusted environment where residents across Massachusetts can
engage with experienced mentors to create personalized solutions for
their homeownership experience.
For over 32 years Allston Brighton CDC has been committed to improving
neighborhood and community stability. We do this through educating
first-time homebuyers and homeowners, providing an avenue for community voice, and keeping homes affordable and green for years to come.
Join us Today!
The Homebuying Mentors, Supported by Allston Brighton CDC
Visit:
20 Linden Street, Suite 288, Allston, MA 02134
Online:
www.thehomebuyingmentors.org
Call:
617-787-3874
Follow:
@HomebuyMentors
TheHomebuyingMentors
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Homebuying 101 &
One-on-One Coaching
Your roadmap to buying your first
home
• Learn the step-by-step process of buying a
home in Massachusetts
• Receive personal coaching from the start
of the class to when you close on your first
home
• Gain access to trusted real estate
professionals
• Receive access to low interest rate first-time
homebuyer mortgages, down payment and
closing cost assistance, and more!
Homebuying 101 is an 11 hour course offered in three and four session formats. We offer classes regularly throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Check
to see if we’ll be in your area soon and register for our course today!
Register on our website:
www.TheHomebuyingMentors.org
For more information call or email one of our experienced Homebuying
Mentors today:
Michelle Meiser
Director of Homeownership
617-787-3874 x35
[email protected]
Ian Dalley
Housing & Homeownership Coordinator
617-787-3874 x35
[email protected]
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Our Success By the Numbers
Over the last 18 years the Allston Brighton CDC has educated thousands
of prospective first-time homebuyers hailing from all over eastern
Massachusetts.
Over the past five years more than 700 program
graduates have purchased their first home with
support from The Homebuying Mentors.
Classes Taught
• Each year we teach at least eight Homebuying 101 classes, with a total of
140 Homebuying 101 classes since the inception of the program.
• We have provided over 80 additional workshops for home buyers and
home owners including Homebuying 102: Purchasing a Condominium,
All About Mortgages, How to Purchase a Foreclosed Home, Home Owner
201, Condo Owner 201, How to File Your Taxes as a Homeowner, and more.
Number of Graduates
• Last year 265 first-time homebuyers graduated from our homeownership
program.
• Over 3,800 people have graduated since the beginning of the program.
Homes Purchased
• Over 1,600 graduates have purchased their first home since the inauguration of the program.
• 50% percent of our graduates purchase homes every year.
Financing Leveraged
• In total our graduates have leveraged over $288 million in mortgage financing.
• Last year the average mortgage of a graduate was $240,000.
• Last year 135 graduates purchased a home, leveraging over $32 million in
financing.
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Success Through Partnership
• We partner with 15 local lending institutions to provide homebuyer
education and coaching programming.
• We partner with 45 high quality real estate professionals including lenders,
real estate agents, inspectors, attorneys, and home insurance agents to
support first-time homebuyers as they build their real estate teams.
Where and How our Graduates Invest in their Homes
Where They Bought
Metro West &
Beyond 19%
What They Bought
South Shore 4%
Multi-Family 18%
Boston 32%
North Shore &
Beyond 23%
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Single-Family 37%
Greater Boston
22%
Condo 45%
SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE
Jennifer Lowe:
A Homebuyer Experience in Retrospect
Jennifer has called Allston Brighton home since she moved to the neighborhood as a renter in 1996. She loves the vibrancy of the neighborhood along
with the convenience to public transportation, local shops, and restaurants.
The challenge was that each year her rent continued to increase and she
wanted to find a way to stabilize her housing costs. She had the opportunity to meet with a representative from her employer’s retirement plan and
he advised her that, given her circumstances, buying her first home made
sense. Not quite sure of her next step, she signed up for the Homebuying
101 class at Allston Brighton CDC.
The class gave Jennifer the confidence to feel comfortable through the entire process. “I knew the steps and what to expect along the way. The class also
gave me the opportunity to meet attorneys, inspectors, and mortgage lenders,”
Jennifer shared. “Overall, it was a very powerful experience to know that I had
the tools, resources, and knowledge to navigate the process of purchasing a
home.” After participating in the class she was able to assemble a real estate
team that she knew would work in her best interest. The value of a trusted
team proved to be indispensable as she ran into challenges along the way.
When she realized her closing date needed to be extended to accommodate
a renter occupying the condo she was purchasing, and when unanticipated
water damage was discovered prior to closing, she was able to lean on the
expertise of her team in order to get the deal done on her terms. Jennifer
shared that, “Participating in ABCDC’s homebuying classes helped me realistically assess my readiness to take this step, helped me learn what to expect along
the way and introduced me to professionals in the field. These classes made the
experience more exciting than daunting.”
Jennifer bought her first home over eight years ago. With her new found
pride in homeownership she was able to stabilize her housing costs and re-
Photo Credits: Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts
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main in a neighborhood she considered home. Since then, Jennifer has gotten
married and is now considering growing her family and that means different
housing needs. Jennifer is now looking to find a home with more space both
inside and out. As she and her husband consider their next steps with homeownership, Jennifer advises anyone looking to sell or purchase a home, “to take
your time to understand all your available options, educate yourself on the
steps involved in the process, and surround yourself with a team of professionals who will provide their advice, guidance, and support along the way.”
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The Homebuying PROCESS
12 Tips to Build, Maintain
and Repair Your Credit
Source: www.myfico.com www.bankrate.com
• Pay your bills on time - Late payments will affect your credit score. Late
payments have the worst effects on your credit score. When you purchase
a home, having a high credit score will make it easier for you to get a low
interest rate loan.
• Check your credit reports and remove inaccuracies – You should check
your credit report at least once a year. Get your free annual credit reports
at www.annualcreditreport.com. Read all three reports and be sure to
inform all three bureaus if information needs to be corrected.
• Don’t open new accounts before applying for a loan – Apply for new
credit in moderation. You need to have credit history, but do not appear
desperate to lenders.
• Manage your debts – Keep your credit card account balances below 35%
of your available credit limits, but don’t rush to close accounts. Closing
accounts can reduce your credit score.
• Avoid Excessive Inquiries – Avoid a large number of inquiries over a short
period of time. When you apply for credit, you authorize the lender to ask
for a copy of your credit report. Too many inquiries can reduce your score.
• Rate Shopping – When shopping for a mortgage or auto loan, inquiries
made within a 30 day period will not adversely affect your score. Shop
around and find the best terms possible.
• Have just enough credit and charge it right - Only apply for the credit
you need. Two to four credit cards are more than enough. Creditors want
to see that you have successfully managed credit. If paid as agreed, you
demonstrate that you can manage your finances responsibly.
Photo credits: freedigitalphotos.net
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• Know your consumer rights – Familiarize yourself with the consumer
laws such as: Truth in Lending Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Housing
Act, Fair Debt Collection Act, and Fair Credit Billing Act.
• Avoid credit scams – Don’t let anyone else borrow your credit card,
don’t give your credit card number to anyone over the phone or Internet
unless you have initiated the transaction. Before you reveal any personal
information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with
others. Also pay attention to your statements, keep items with personal
information safe and most importantly order a copy of your credit report
at least once a year.
• Understand what co-signing a loan for a family member or a friend
means – If a friend or family member asks you to co-sign for a loan or
credit card, know that you will also be responsible for the debt. Be sure to
know what you are getting into!
• Don’t overdraw your bank account or bounce checks – You will be
charged fees, and you could damage a good reference when applying for
a loan. Fees add up to your monthly expenses and paying fees is not a
good use of your money.
• Avoid cash advances at all cost – It’s simple they’re expensive. You will
pay an upfront fee of two percent to four percent of the amount you
withdraw, and you’ll be stuck paying a high interest rate, often in the high
teens. There is no grace period on a cash advance, the interest charges will
begin to mount as soon as the money comes out of the ATM.
How a FICO Score breaks down
Payment history
35%
15%
10%
30%
10%
Amounts owed
Length of credit history
New credit
Types of credit used
These percentages are based on the importance of the five categories for the general
population. For particular groups—for example, people who have not been using
credit long—the relative importance of these categories may be different.
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COMPRANDO
The Homebuying
UNA CASA
PROCESS
Mejorando su Puntaje
de Crédito
Fuente: Brandon Cornett, publisher of Home Buying Institute
Cuanto tiempo le tome mejorar el puntaje
de su crédito dependerá, en parte, de lo
activo que usted este tratando de mejorarlo. También dependerá de las causas del
problema. Porque dependiendo de estas y
otras variables, es difícil ponerle un tiempo
exacto.
Dicho eso, vamos a decir que usted puede
hacer mejoras significantes en una cuestión
de meses – si usted está proactivamente Photo credits: freedigitalphotos.net
buscando mejorar su puntaje. Seguro, para
ser proactivo en esto, usted tiene que entender los factores que influyen en
su puntaje de crédito. Entonces usted puede poner todas sus energías en las
cosas que le ayudaran a mejorar su puntaje de crédito lo mas pronto posible.
La verdad, existen docenas de factores individuales que pueden influir en su
puntaje de crédito. Pero en este artículo, nos enfocaremos en las cosas que
tienen el mayor efecto en la menor cantidad de tiempo. Cuanto tiempo se
toma aun así va a variar de una persona a otra. Pero usted puede acelerar el
proceso enfocándose en lo siguiente:
1.La historia de pago de sus facturas: La mayoría de los estimados que
hemos visto, su historia de pago puede contar por 35% de su puntaje.
De manera que si usted tiene un habito de no pagar el carro, la tarjeta de
crédito, y otras cosas, usted necesita corregir ese habito.
2.Sus balances en las tarjetas de crédito: Este es otro factor que influye
en su puntaje. El tener una o dos tarjetas de crédito con balances, no
necesariamente es un problema. Pero si usted tiene muchas tarjetas, o si
usted está cerca o pasado de sus limites en una o mas tarjetas, eso puede
bajar su puntaje. La solución es trabajar un presupuesto que le permita
gradualmente reducir esos balances, comenzando con los que están
cerca de los limites.
3.La duración de su historial de Crédito: No hay nada que usted pueda
hacer para incrementar la duración de su historial crediticio. Pero sin darse
cuenta usted puede reducirlo. Esto en cambio puede disminuir su puntaje.
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Por esa razón usted tiene que tener cuidado al cerrar cuentas viejas o con
mas tiempo. En la mayoría de los casos, es mejor mantener las mas viejas
abiertas, aun cuando usted reduzca sus balances considerablemente.
Cuando usted cierra las cuentas mas viejas (así como la primera cuenta
que abrió cuando cumplió 18 o la primera cuando llego al país) usted está
esencialmente cortando su historia crediticia.
Cerrar cuentas que no usa, o esas que tienen balances bajos, es una
buena practica que puede ayudar a prevenir el robo de identidad. Pero
usted tiene que tener cuidado de no cerrar las que tienen mas tiempo. Si
usted cierra alguna, comience con las mas nuevas o las que tienen menos
tiempo. O mucho mejor, mantenga las cuentas abiertas pero páguelas lo
mas pronto posible. Esto mostrará una larga historia de buen manejo de
deudas, y eso es lo que los prestamistas buscan.
Conclusión y avanzando
¿Cuánto tiempo se tomará mejorar el puntaje significativamente? Como
mencionamos anteriormente, este proceso y el tiempo varia de persona a
persona. Pero usted puede acelerar el proceso primeramente con entender
como su puntaje es calculado, y entonces enfocar sus energías en las cosas
que tendrán el mayor efecto.
Si usted paga todas sus cuentas a tiempo, reduce sus balances en las tarjetas
de crédito, usted está en el camino de mejorar. Usted podrá ver un cambio
significante en pocos meses. Solo el tiempo le dirá.
Nosotros sabemos que esto no es la respuesta definitiva que usted esta buscando, en cuanto a que tiempo se toma ver los resultados. Pero es la mejor
respuesta que podemos darle. Buena suerte.
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Choosing a Winning
Real Estate Team
Source: Mark White, Esq., Hagstrom White
When purchasing your first home, be sure to surround yourself with the
right team of real estate professionals to help you reach your goal of homeownership. However, when forming that team, keep in mind that you are
its most important player – the team captain. A good captain is assertive
and makes expectations clear. As a first-time homebuyer, make it known
early in the process that this is your purchase, and that you expect the professionals that you have hired to treat you with the respect and responsiveness that you deserve, both as a person and as the captain of your team.
When it comes down to choosing a realtor, a loan officer, or a real estate
attorney, have conversations early in the process to determine who best
fits your particular goal. Make it a point to interview candidates for these
important positions on your team early in your home purchase process. In
doing so, you will have a much better chance of hiring the right people. You
hire them. They work for you. You are the boss. The interviews should
include questions about the costs, realistic timelines for your purchase, and
the services they offer. Be sure to write down their responses to your questions, so you can hold them accountable for the promises they make.
Remember – you should always feel in control of your transaction. Even
if there are bumps along the way, you will be in a much better position to
handle them if you are in the driver’s seat. The best professionals in real
estate will always make sure you get the information and responsiveness
you need to stay in control of your purchase. If you surround yourself with a
team that works to keep you informed and in control, you will achieve your
goal of homeownership.
Questions for Real Estate Professionals:
• How are you compensated?
• What do your services cover?
• How long have you been in the real estate business?
• How much time will I spend working with you vs. your assistant or other
team member?
• What percentage of your time do you spend working with first time home
buyers?
• How many transactions do you handle in a typical year?
• How many clients do you typically work with at any one time?
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Understanding
the Loan Process
“Why does my lender keep asking for all that paperwork?!”
Source: Amy Tierce, Fairway Independent Mortgage
As a result of the mortgage crisis, many layers of fact-checking have been
added into the mortgage process by regulators, and by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA (the national authorities who finance the majority of mortgage loans in this country).
Here’s an outline of when in the process the consumer may be asked to provide information, documentation and/or clarification. There are five distinct
steps in the loan process:
1.Pre Approval: At this stage the Loan Officer will require that the consumer provide all income and asset documentation to determine mortgage
qualification. This includes:
• A credit report
• W-2’s
• Pay stubs
• Most recent federal tax return
• Two months of bank and investment statements
Credit will be reviewed. The data will be put through underwriting and
a pre-approval will be issued. It often takes quite some time between
receiving the pre-approval and getting an accepted offer on a property. It
is important to know that the lender will want updated information when
you are ready to do the formal mortgage application.
2. Full Application: Now the loan is official, we have an address and the
Loan Officer will update any documentation already submitted (documents cannot be older than 90 days). The borrower will be asked to address:
• Any credit inquiries or issues on the credit report
• Deposits that appear on bank statements in excess of $1000 will
require source documentation
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•
A full mortgage application package will be completed by loan officer
and borrower.
3.Submitted to Processing: At this time the Mortgage Processor will review
the package submitted by the loan officer. The processor will order:
•
•
•
A title examination/legal work
An appraisal
If needed, a condominium questionnaire to be sent to the
appropriate party for completion.
If the Processor sees something that the Loan Officer missed, they will
request this documentation now. Because of the complexities of the
mortgage process a second set of eyes is very important to ensure that no
documentation is missing, and that all necessary information is obtained.
4. Submission to Underwriting: Once the appraisal report is back, the processor is required to order a “Fraud Guard” report. This report often runs
25 or more pages and reviews everything and everyone involved to ensure that no party engaged in the sale has been involved in fraudulent
activity in the past. This includes:
•
•
•
•
The borrower and their background
Appraiser
Attorney
Property and real estate professionals involved in the transaction
The processor will also review the appraisal, the condo information and all
documentation prior to submitting for full underwriting approval.
At this time any one of those reports may spur a request for additional documentation from the borrower.
5. Underwriting: The underwriter is responsible for reviewing the entire
loan package and issuing an approval. Once again another set of eyes is
reviewing all the details for compliance to all regulations and guidelines
as established by Fannie/Freddie/HUD and state and national regulators.
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If questions or concerns arise, the underwriter can approve the loan, but
make that approval subject to additional documentation. Sometimes the
loan can be approved and is ‘clear to close’ at first look.
Even after the loan is approved, there are several more steps in
the process where additional paperwork may be required.
1.After Underwriting: One week prior to closing the lender is required to
conduct a ‘verbal verification of employment’ to insure that the employment status of the borrower/s has not changed. Of course any discoveries
at this stage that differ from the mortgage application as approved will
require documentation and verification and could delay a closing.
2.Days prior to closing the lender is required to run a ‘credit refresh’ to insure that no new debt or credit has been obtained by the borrower that
may impact their mortgage qualification. The credit refresh may require
additional ‘last minute’ documentation from the borrower.
3.If any of the documents at the time of closing are beyond 90 days old
the borrower will be asked to provide updated documentation such
as a paystub or bank statement. If the credit report is beyond 90 days
old it will be re-pulled which could also require a request for additional
documentation or clarification.
4.After Closing: the loan is re-reviewed internally and by the end investor,
and at this time there could be another request for documentation.
These days, lenders are more and more concerned about making good
loans, mitigating their risk and ensuring they stay within regulations. That
often means that the mortgage process can be complicated and intrusive.
There are many times throughout the process when a borrower could be
asked to produce more and more information.
If you keep your information and documentation well organized and respond quickly to your lender the process will go more smoothly and will
help you get to your closing and the day when you can move into your new
home!
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Our trusted, professional Realtors® will provide you with the
keys to homeownership success, every step of the way.
• AccreditedBuyerRepresentatives
• Complimentarypropertyvaluation
• Mortgageservices
• Freepre-approvalinlessthen24hours
• Knowledgeable,professionalRealtors®
• Home,autoandlifeinsurance
• Homewarrantiesforpeaceofmind
• Individualandcorporaterelocationservices
Call (617) 731-2447 or visit www.NewEnglandMoves.com
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The Homebuyer’s
Timeline
What to expect from Pre-Approval to Closing
$$
Checklist
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1
Receive Pre-Approval from Lender (valid for 90 days)
2
Conduct Your Home Search
3
Make an Offer
4
Offer Accepted (within 48 hours of offer)
5
Complete Home Inspection (within 7 days after offer accepted)
6
Shop for a Mortgage
7
Sign Purchase & Sale Agreement (10-14 days from accepted offer)
Shop for a Mortgage
(within 7 days after offer accepted)
Complete Home Inspection
OK
(within 48 hours of offer)
Offer Accepted
Make an Offer
$$
Conduct
Your Home
Search
(valid for 90 days)
Receive Pre-Approval
from Lender
$
(6 weeks from accepted offer)
CLOSING
(day before closing)
Final Walk Through
& sale agreement)
Obtain Mortgage
Commitment Letter
(date established in purchase
Shop for Home Insurance
(1 day after Mortgage App submitted)
Submit Full Mortgage
Application
(10-14 days from accepted offer)
Sign Purchase & Sale Agreement The Homebuying Mentors is Allston Brighton CDC’s newly renamed, improved and expanded homeownership program.
We are an independent, not-for-profit resource for Massachusetts residents to plan responsibly for their future through homeownership education and coaching.
8
Submit Full Mortgage Application (1 day after P&S is signed)
9
Shop for Home Insurance (1 day after Mortgage App submitted)
10
Obtain Mortgage Commitment Letter
(within 30 Days from accepted offer)*varies by lender
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Final Walk Through (Day before closing)
12
Closing (6 weeks from accepted offer)
www.TheHomebuyingMentors.org
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Homeownership
Top 10 Tips for Homebuyers
When Reviewing a Purchase &
Sale Agreement
Source: Leslie C. Sammon, Esq.
Homebuyers should seek representation
by a real estate attorney who will review
the purchase and sale agreement, the final
contract between buyer and seller. These
tips do not in any way replace the expertise
of a real estate attorney.
1.Am I working with fair and comfortable deadlines? Make sure that you
have not committed yourself to a closing
date or mortgage commitment date that
is too soon. Check that your lender can
also meet those mortgage commitment
and closing deadlines.
2. Mortgage Commitment. By the mortgage commitment date in your
purchase and sale agreement you need a written commitment that the
bank will give you financing. If you do not have this, get an extension
of the date. Make sure that the correct loan amount is written into your
mortgage commitment paragraph.
3. What if I change my mind about buying the property? After signing
a purchase and sale agreement you are committed to buying the property, subject to obtaining financing. However, if you decide not to buy
for some reason, your maximum risk is the deposit that you have put
down with the offer and purchase and sale agreement. Make sure that
the purchase and sale agreement states that your damages are limited
to loss of your deposit.
4. Broom Clean. The purchase and sale should describe how you want the
property delivered, usually in “broom clean” condition. Don’t hesitate to
specify certain areas such as the yard, attic, basement, and garage. Do a
walk-through before closing to make sure the seller has cleaned out the
property in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
5. Don’t hesitate to include buyer contingencies in the purchase and
sale agreement. If you did a radon test and the results are not back
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when you sign a purchase and sale agreement, then include normal radon results as a contingency. If you are buying a condominium and
have not been given financial statements for the condominium, then
add a review of the financial statements as a condition of your purchase.
6. Be aware that the seller can extend the closing date. The purchase
and sale agreement allows the seller to extend the closing date up to
30 days if there are title issues that need to be cleared before closing.
Be sure that you have flexible living arrangements in case this happens.
7. Know the rate lock expiration date on your financing. Make sure that
the purchase and sale agreement does not allow the seller to extend
the closing date beyond the date that you locked in your interest rate.
8. If you are relying upon something the seller told you, get it in writing! If the seller told you that a new roof was put on the house two years
ago, get this in the purchase and sale agreement and/or have the seller
give you documentation demonstrating when a new roof was installed.
Oral statements are not as binding as written statements.
9. Condominiums. When buying a condominium unit, have the seller
represent that no special assessments are planned or anticipated and
that if a special assessment is billed prior to closing, then the seller is
responsible for it.
10. Multi-Family Homes. If you are buying a multi-family home with tenants in it, make sure that the seller discloses in the purchase and sale
agreement all information that they have regarding the tenants’ leases,
rental payments, last month’s rent, security deposits, and whether the
tenants pay their own utilities. It is important to have information about
the tenancies before you purchase and you should make your offer contingent upon satisfactory review of the tenant information.
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Homeownership
10 Questions To Ask Before
Buying A Massachusetts
Condominium Unit
Source: Rich Vetstein, www.massrealestatelawblog.com
Buying a condominium unit can be more involved than buying a single family home. This is because you have to worry about both the unit itself and the
condominium project as a whole.
10 Questions You Must Ask Before Purchasing A
Condominium Unit
To borrow from a famous phrase, not all condominiums are created equally.
Some condominiums are very well run; some are quite poorly run and underfunded. Buyers interested in purchasing a condominium unit must do
their homework: not only about the condition of the individual unit they are
interested in purchasing, but on the financial health and governance of the
condominium as a whole. Remember, you are buying into the entire project
as much as you are the unit, and your decision will impact your daily living
and your ability to re-sell.
Here are the 10 questions buyers should ask when deciding to purchase a
condominium unit:
1. What is the monthly condominium fee and what does it pay
for? The monthly condominium fee can range quite dramatically from
condominium to condominium. The fee is a by-product of the number
of units, the annual expenses to maintain the common area, whether the
condo is professionally managed or self-managed, the age and condition
of the project, and other variables such as litigation. For budgeting and
financing you need to know the monthly fee and exactly what you are
getting for it.
2. What are the condominium rules & regulations? Condominium
rules can prohibit pets, your ability to rent out the unit, and perform
renovations. Make sure you carefully review the rules and regulations
before buying. Needless to say, the buyer’s attorney should review and
approve all condominium documents, including the master deed, declaration of trust/by-laws, covenants, unit deed and floor plans to ensure
compliance with state condominium laws as well as Fannie Mae and FHA
guidelines, as necessary.
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3. How much money is in the capital reserve account and how much is
funded annually? The capital reserve fund is like an insurance policy for
the inevitable capital repairs every building requires. As a general rule,
the fund should contain at least 10% of the annual revenue budget, and
in the case of older projects, even more. If the capital reserve account is
poorly funded, there is a higher risk of a special assessment. Get a copy
of the last two years budget, the current reserve account funding level
and any capital reserve study.
4. Are there any contemplated or pending special assessments? Special assessments are one time fees for capital improvements payable by
every unit owner. Some special assessments can run in the thousands,
others, like the Boston Harbor Towers $75 Million renovation project,
in the millions. You need to be aware if you are buying a special assessment along with your unit. It’s a good idea to ask for the last two years
of condominium meeting minutes to check what’s been going on with
the condominium.
5. Is there a professional management company or is the association
self-managed? Usually, a professional management company, while an
added cost, can add great value to a condominium with well-run governance and management of common areas. But for smaller condominiums, self-management works just fine.
6. Is the condominium involved in any pending legal actions? Legal
disputes between owners, with developers or with the association
can signal trouble and a poorly run organization. Legal action equals
attorneys’ fees which are payable out of the condominium budget and
could result in a special assessment. In some states, you can run a search
of the condominium association in the court database to check if they
have been involved in recent lawsuits.
7. How many units are owner occupied? A large percentage of renters
can create unwanted noise and neighbor issues. It can also raise re-sale
30
and financing issues with the new Fannie Mae and FHA condominium
regulations which limit owner-occupancy rates. If your buyer is using
conventional financing, check if it is a Fannie Mae approved condo.
If FHA financing, check if it’s an FHA approved condo.
8. What is the condominium fee delinquency rate? Again, a signal of
financial trouble, and Fannie Mae and FHA want to see the rate at 15%
or less.
9. Do unit owners have exclusive easements or right to use certain
common areas such as porches, decks, storage spaces and parking
spaces? Condominiums differ as to how they structure the “ownership”
of certain amenities such as roof decks, porches, storage spaces and
parking spaces. Sometimes, they are truly “deeded” with the unit, so the
unit owner has sole responsibility for maintenance and repairs. Sometimes, they are common areas in which the unit owner has the exclusive
right to use, but the maintenance and repair is left with the association. Review the Master Deed and Unit Deed on this one.
10.What Does The Master Insurance Policy Cover? The condominium
should have up to $1M or more in coverage under their master
condominium policy. For buyer’s own protection, they should always buy
an individual HO-6 policy covering the interior and contents of the unit,
because the master policy and condo by-laws may not cover all damage
to their personal possessions and interior damage in case of a roof leak,
water pipe burst or other problem arising from a common area element.
Ask for a copy of the master insurance policy and don’t forget to check
the fine print of the by-laws. Sometimes, there’s language that would
hurt a unit owner in case of a common area casualty. Condominiums
over 20 units should also have fidelity insurance to protect against
embezzlement.
31
Homeownership
Skills to Survive
Homeownership
Source: www.thisoldhouse.com
1. Ensure a Light bulb’s Long Life. You know that popping sound that signals another lightbulb has burned out before its time? The cause: The little
brass tab inside the lamp socket that makes contact with the bulb base is
dirty or bent, interrupting the connection and causing the filament to imperceptibly flash on and off, shortening its life. With the fixture unplugged
or the circuit breaker switched off, clean the tab with a Q-tip and rubbing
alcohol; then nudge it up with a screwdriver so that it stays in contact with
the bulb base.
2. Fix a leaky faucet. This particular type of water torture is likely due to a
failed washer inside a handle. The faucet is just the messenger.
To replace the washer, turn off the water supply valve under the sink. Stuff
a rag in the drain so you don’t lose parts and then take the handle apart.
Pop the screw cover on top, remove the screw and pull off the handle. Use
a wrench to disassemble the stem and line the parts up on the counter in
the order they came off, so you know how it goes back together. Examine
rubber parts or plastic cartridges for cracks, and take the offending piece
to the hardware store for an exact replacement. Reassemble the parts
you’ve laid out, in reverse. Then revel in the ensuing peace and quiet.
3. Locate a stud. Say you want to hang a shelf. Knuckling the wallboard can
pinpoint a stud, but to improve the odds when your electronic stud finder
has gone missing, use deductive reasoning. Most studs are placed at 16inch intervals; once you know where one is, you can usually find the rest.
Start at a corner, where there’s always a stud, or take the cover plate off
an electrical outlet and find out on which side it’s mounted to the stud.
From there, measure 16, 32, 48 inches and you should hit a stud at each
go. Eliminate all guesswork by using a thin bit to drill a test hole at the top
of the base molding, which you can easily repair with a dab of caulk.
4. Unclog a sink. “Chemicals rarely clear a stoppage — they only make a
small hole,” says Richard Trethewey, This Old House’s plumbing and heating expert. “A full stoppage requires mechanical clearing.” Remove the
stopper and block off overflow holes. With water in the bowl — the water puts more pressure on the clog — plunge with a flat-faced plunger. If
that’s not enough, get under the sink and take off the trap to see if that’s
where the clog is lodged. If the blockage is deeper, rent a hand snake.
Slowly push the coil down the drain, carefully twisting, pulling and push32
ing when you hit the blockage. If the snake fails, call a drain-clearing service to get things flowing.
5. Secure a Loose Screw or Remove a Stripped Screw. With a loose screw
you’ll need to fill in the hole before you can get the screw back in tight.
The best filler is more wood, held in place with yellow carpenter’s glue.
Matchsticks, toothpicks, golf tees, packed in tightly, will do the trick. But
better yet is a piece of 3/8-inch dowel. First, use a 3/8-inch drill bit to enlarge the hole. Cut off a small length of dowel with a utility knife or small
saw. Dab it with glue and tap it into the hole. When the glue is dry, use a
chisel or the saw to slice off the excess. Then drill a new hole and reattach
the hardware. And put those golf tees to their intended use.
If the screw giving you trouble is stripped, get a hand screwdriver appropriate for the screw and a double dose of elbow grease to fix this unfortunate bit of handiwork. Gently hammer the screwdriver into the head.
Then use as much downward force as you can while you slowly back out
the screw.
6. Stem a flood — and save your wiring. As a safety measure, you should
know where your main water and electrical shutoffs are. The water shutoff
will be near where the water enters the house. Look for a metal wheel or a
flat handle like a paddle. Or check outside for a mini manhole cover — the
shutoff may be there. The main electrical switch will be in or near the main
box. On an old fuse system, it may be a big lever or a handle that pulls out
a whole block. On a modern breaker box it will be an isolated switch near
the top of the box. Flip it to keep the circuits (and you) from getting fried.
7. Stop an overflowing toilet. A toilet works by gravity: The water in the
tank — just enough to fill the bowl — drops down and pushes waste
through the drain. The float drops, opening a valve that lets in water to refill the bowl and the tank simultaneously. The valve closes when the float
rises far enough to shut off the water.
33
8. Drill Through Tile Without Cracking It. Go get a drywall screw and a
hammer. Place the tip of the screw exactly where you want to drill, then
tap it ever so gently with the hammer to pierce the glaze and create a little
divot. Now load a masonry bit into your drill driver and use the divot to
hold it in place as you start drilling. No fissures, no scratches, no fuss.
9. Pick an Interior Lock. Your two year-old is in the bedroom bawling, you’re
out in the hall, and there’s a locked door between you. On the door’s knob
or on the plate around it, there should be a small hole that’s made just for
this situation. Take a slim piece of metal, such as a small flathead screwdriver, and slip it in the hole. Compress the spring inside or slip the screwdriver head into the slot on the spring and turn. Door unlocked, toddler
safe, shoulder not broken.
10. Unstick a Door. Doors stick for
a lot of reasons: a loose hinge,
too much paint, a settling house,
or humidity in the air,” says TOH
general contractor Tom Silva.
If the door suddenly jams in
dry weather, your problem is
the hinge, likely a loose screw.
A door that’s been painted too much or is sticking because the house
is settling can be sanded or planed at the trouble spot, then repainted.
If the door is swelled by humidity—often a front door or bathroom door—
it’s usually because part of it wasn’t painted and moisture is getting into
the wood; check the top and bottom edges. Shave down the door as little
as possible to make it just fit. “Normally you want a crack the width of
a nickel around a door, but in this case make it a dime,” says Tom. Then
paint over any exposed wood on all six sides to seal it. When the humidity lessens, the door will shrink to a perfect fit, opening without a hitch.
34
Homeownership
Fácil Mantenimiento de la
Propiedad:
Tomado de: Homeowner’s Resource Guide, Masshousing.
Febrero
Sistemas de Seguridad: En este mes es un buen tiempo para inspeccionar
el sistema de seguridad de la casa. Asegúrese que todos los detectores de
humo y de monóxido de carbono están funcionando y que tienen buenas
baterías. Una buena forma para recordar cambiar las baterías, es hacerlo dos
veces al año, una en la primavera y la otra en el otoño. Ambas cuando se
cambia la hora en el reloj.
Marzo
Sótanos Mojados: Marzo es un mes húmedo. Observe si hay goteras en el
sótano. Si usted tiene una maquina para sacar el agua del sótano, asegúrese
que este funcionando apropiadamente. (la bomba de agua está usualmente
ubicada en la parte mas baja del sótano y comienza a funcionar automáticamente el nivel del agua sube.) Una buena forma de probar la bomba de
agua, es poniendo agua en el hoyo donde se encuentra la misma y ver si
enciende. Si usted no tiene una bomba de agua, pero tiene alguna razón
para creer que puede tener un problema de agua en el sótano, entonces
puede invertir en la compra de una aspiradora de agua (wet/dry vac). Esta es
una herramienta relativamente barata, tiene una gran fuerza de aspiración,
y puede ser usada para sacar porciones de agua, así como otras funciones,
tales como limpiar el taller, el carro, y las ventanas.
Abril-Mayo
Canaletas: Abril es un buen mes para salir e inspeccionar el exterior de la
casa. Examine las canaletas y los bajantes para asegurarse que no se han salido de su lugar y que están limpios de basuras. Asegúrese de quitar la basura
que está cerca de los bloques que están ubicados al final de los bajantes.
Si es necesario reubique los bloques para mover el agua hacia afuera de la
fundación de la casa. Los bloques que están mal ubicados pueden provocar
que el agua entre al sótano. Este es un buen tiempo para hacer cualquier
otro ajuste o reparación necesaria a las canaletas.
Si usted sube al techo, inspeccione si las hojas del tejado están rotas o dobladas (una causa común de goteras) y haga las reparaciones de lugar. Además,
chequee la chimenea por algún ladrillo flojo o suelto e inspeccione las antenas y cables de televisión.
Devuelta abajo inspeccione los lados de la casa. La condensación entre las
paredes hace que las maderas se salgan de su lugar haciendo que la pintura
se levante. Usted debe mejorar esta situación si planea pintar la casa.
35
Jardines: Si usted va a tener un jardín de vegetales o de flores, ahora es el
tiempo de comenzar a plantar. Como usted ahora es dueño de la casa, usted
podría pensar en plantas perennales para su jardín de flores. Plantas perennales salen cada año al contrario de las anuales que solo brotan una vez al
año. Si usted no tiene patio, usted podría invertir en cajas de flores para las
ventanas. También, usted podría sembrar hiervas dentro de la casa.
Junio
Proyectos de afuera: Como Junio tiene
los días mas largos, este es un buen tiempo
para hacer todas las reparaciones que requieren ventilación, así como pulir los muebles,
pintar, y encerar los pisos. Este es un buen
mes para poner sellador en la terraza, si usted tiene una.
Julio
Reparar o pintar: Este es un buen mes para
reparar o pintar la parte externa de la terraza, las escaleras de maderas o de cemento, y
las verjas. Chequee el sistema de seguridad
y el timbre de la puerta para asegurarse que
funcionan.
Photo credits:
Agosto
Sistemas de Calefacción: Con el tiempo frio al doblar de la esquina, es tiempo de limpiar el sistema de calefacción y de darle mantenimiento. No espere hasta que los técnicos están ocupados atendiendo llamadas de emergencias. Si usted alguna vez huele algo que sale del sistema de calefacción,
llame a una compañía de servicio inmediatamente. Un olor de humo quiere
decir que usted ha esperado mucho tiempo para limpiar el sistema.
Septiembre
Al final de este mes es un buen tiempo para cosechar todo lo que quede de
los vegetales antes del frio.
Recoja las hojas en la medida que caen. La acumulación de hojas, particularmente las hojas mojadas, pueden causar daño a las hierbas.
Este es un buen mes para preparar su casa para el invierno instalando insolación y aplicando selladores en las puertas y ventanas. Si usted piensa rellenar las grietas con masillas en la casa, ahora es buen tiempo para hacerlo
antes del frio, ya que la masilla se dificulta en pegar con el frio.
Este mes es bueno también para limpiar el garaje y lubricar el abridor de la
puerta del garaje, si usted tiene uno.
36
Octubre
Áticos: Octubre es un buen mes para limpiar los áticos. En este tiempo del
año el ático no esta insoportablemente caliente y esto hace la limpieza mas
fácil. Un ático limpio le permite tener espacio para los artículos del verano
que usted planea guardar.
Pintura de Oxido: Ahora es un buen tiempo para aplicar la pintura de oxido
a las piezas de metales que van a permanecer fuera.
Chimenea: Antes de encender el primer fuego del invierno, cheque la
chimenea o su estufa de piedra para ver si hay algún animal dentro de la
misma. También puede chequear por basura que haya caído dentro de la
chimenea durante alguna tormenta.
Noviembre
Tuberías Externas: El invierno esta en la esquina. Asegúrese de limpiar
las canaletas cuando las hojas dejen de caer de los arboles. Para prevenir
congelamiento de tuberías externas, cierre las válvulas y deje las llaves
externas abiertas. Guarde las mangueras.
Radiadores: Si usted tiene radiadores de agua caliente, antes de usarlos
sángrelos. Sangrarlos quiere decir permitir que el aire atrapado dentro de
las tuberías salga y esto requiere una pequeña y económica herramienta. La
mayoría de las tiendas la tienen.
Diciembre
Relájese y disfrute los días feriados. En Enero ya será el tiempo de comenzar
de nuevo, y el mantenimiento de la casa podría ser tedioso si usted no toma
un receso.
37
Homeownership
Essential Home
Maintenance Tasks
Roof: Check your roof for any leaking around vents, skylights, and chimneys. The sooner you deal with any leaks the more money you will save.
Don’t wait for too much damage to deal with a leaky roof issue.
Gutters : Cleaning your gutters every spring and fall will help ensure you
don’t have any unwanted water damage to your home. Leaves and debris
will breakdown very quickly, clogging your gutters and preventing excess
water from flowing away from your roof and foundation. This can result in
damage to your roof, walls, and siding, as well as flooding in your basement.
Storm Windows: Change out your removable screens in the fall and install all storm windows. Don’t forget to install or close the storm window
on your screen/storm door. Without shutting the screen door in the winter
months, snow can cause damage to the door, which may lead to a replacement cost of over $100.
Basement : Check your basement throughout the year for moisture, leaking and flooding. If your basement is damp you may consider purchasing a
dehumidifier to prevent moisture from damaging items stored in your basement. If you have small floods, periodically consider buying some palates to
keep stored items above ground level and use a wet-dry shop-vac to clean
up small water issues. If you have a sump pump, be sure to test it annually
by pouring water into the drain to ensure it is working properly.
Heating and AC Systems: Before it’s time to turn on the heat, test your
heating system to be sure it is working. Most likely your system has not been
used all summer. Your system will run more efficiently and save you money
in the long-run if you do annual maintenance. The cost is typically based on
the hourly rate of your HVAC professional. Basic maintenance could be up to
2 hours of work at a rate of $90/hour, plus any materials that may be needed.
If you have an outdoor A/C unit be sure to drain and flush out the pipes. You
could do this yourself with a wet-dry shop-vac or pay a professional HVAC
professional at a typical hourly rate of $90. If you have a window unit, don’t
forget to remove it from the window and store it for the winter. You may also
install an insulation cover over the unit but you will likely conserve the most
energy and get the most savings by removing the unit from the window for
the winter.
Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarms: Check batteries twice a year to
ensure proper functioning.
38
Siding: Keeping siding in good condition and touching up peeling paint
could save you hundreds of dollars down the road, preventing costly repairs
due to rotting wood or unnoticed damage inside your walls.
Pipes and hoses: As you prepare for cold weather months don’t forget to
drain outside pipes and store your garden hose inside for the winter, as the
water freezing and thawing in the hose will create leaks and greatly shorten
the life of your hose.
In the winter months during extreme cold snaps you may consider allowing
your faucets to drip to prevent your pipes from freezing
Appliances and Fixtures: Pay attention to leaky faucets, low water pressure, and continuously running toilets. You can often fix these items yourself.
If your faucet is leaking or has low flow consider replacing the aerator. You may
find installing a new faucet will resolve low water pressure issues. If you have
had leaks, be sure to inspect any tile grout, and to patch and seal where necessary. If your toilet has an issue with continual water flow you may just need a
new flap. Clean your garbage disposal by running ice and vinegar through it
periodically. If it clogs, all you may need is a plunger.
Avoid using liquid plumbing products as the chemicals can destroy your disposal as well as discolor your sink if the chemical sits for too long in the backed up
sink. Check your refrigerator and freezer to be sure the doors are tightly sealed.
You can check this by placing a dollar bill in the door. If you can easily pull the
dollar bill out, you may be wasting energy. To solve this problem, you can easily
adjust the latch or replace the seal. If you have a coil-back fridge, don’t forget to
vacuum out the coils for maximum efficiency.
Ongoing Care for Your Yard
Mow lawn: Be sure to regularly
mow your lawn as lawn mowers struggle to deal with very long grass. Also,
if grass clippings are left on the lawn,
they can prevent healthy lawn growth,
leaving you with brown patches.
Trim hedges: Trim your hedges at
least twice in the late spring and in the
fall. If you leave your hedges to grow
too large you may find you won’t be
able to trim them back to the ideal
size and you will have to invest large
sums of money to have the hedges removed and new ones planted. Be sure
to keep your hedges, trees and bushes
from covering windows and doorways
as both a safety issue and a way to ensure more natural light.
Weeds: Weeds will take over your
yard killing the plants and hedges you
love. You will often find that small
trees have begun to grow. If left for
too long, you may find trees growing up through hedges and in places
where you never intended. Removing
small seedlings is easy, but once they
take root you may find it impossible to
remove without digging out the full
root.
39
2013 Directory
of Resources
Make sure to check us out at our new
website, on Twitter and Faceook!
www.thehomebuyingmentors.org
@HomebuyMentors
TheHomebuyingMentors
Habla: Español
Speaks: Multiple Foreign Languages
Leonardi Aray Architects
Michele Adrian, Int’l Assoc. AIA
600 Huron Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-584-0897
[email protected]
www.larayarchitects.com
Attorneys
Adams & Sammon
Leslie C. Sammon
295 Devonshire Street, 2nd floor
Boston, MA 02110
617-451-7241 Office
617-422-1428 Fax
[email protected]
Lee & Associates, P.C.
Nancy A. Lee, Esq.
730 Hancock Street
Quincy, MA 02170
617-934-1668 Office
617-934-1638 Fax
[email protected]
www.leeassociatespc.com
Ligris + Associates, P.C.
Elizabeth Grimes
1188 Centre Street, 2nd Floor
Newton, MA 02459
617-274-1500 Office
617-274-1515 Fax
617-921-9555 Cell
[email protected]
www.ligris.com
Liss Law, LLC
Avi Liss
2 Sewall Avenue
40
Brookline, MA 02446
617-505-6919 Office
[email protected]
www.lisslawboston.com/
Sassoon & Cymrot
Scott J. Wittlin
84 State Street, 8th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
617-720-0099 Office
617-720-0366 Fax
[email protected]
Elizabeth Barletta
617-720-0099 Office
617-720-0366 Fax
617-304-3404 Cell
[email protected]
www.sassooncymrot.com
Transactional Law Clinics of
Harvard Law School
Brian Price, Director
6 Everett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-998-0101 Office
617-998-0146 Fax
[email protected]
HarvardTLC.org
Business and Non-Profit Clinic, Real Estate Clinic, Entertainment Law Clinic
Tobin and Tobin, P.C.
Michael J. Tobin, Esq.
735 South Street
Roslindale, MA 02131
617-325-1010 ext. 111 Office
617-325-1055 Fax
[email protected]
www.tobinandtobin.com
Building Materials
Boston Building Resources
Deb Beatty Mel
100 Terrace Street
Roxbury, MA 02120
617-442-2262 Office
617-427-2491 Fax
[email protected]
www.bostonbuildingresources.com
A non-profit consumer co-op selling
windows, doors, kitchens, weatherization products, and other building materials.
Boston Home Center
26 Court Street
Boston, MA 02108
617-635-HOME (4663) Office
www.bostonhomecenter.com
Provides foreclosure prevention services, homeownership education, information to first-time homebuyers
and homeowners, as well as financial
assistance to income-eligible residents
for home purchase and repair, including lead paint abatement.
Provides Services in Spanish and
Creole
ESAC Sustainable Homeownership
Center
3313 Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-524-4820 Office
617-524-2430 Fax
www.esacboston.org
Provides foreclosure prevention services, housing counseling and advocacy, and lead paint education and
assistance. Manages the Senior Home
Repair Program.
Homeowner Options for Massachusetts Elders (HOME)
150 Grossman Drive
Braintree, MA 02184-4964
800-583-5337 Office
http://www.homeowneroptionsfor
massachusettselders.org
Assists low or moderate-income homeowners 60 years of age or older to make
informed decisions that allow them to
stay in their homes.
Liss Law, LLC
Avi Liss
2 Sewall Avenue
Brookline, MA 02446
617-505-6919 Office
[email protected]
www.lisslawboston.com/
National Consumer Law Center
7 Winthrop Square
Boston, MA 02110-1245
617-542-8010 Office
617-542-8028 Fax
nclc.org
The National Consumer Law Center is
America’s consumer law expert, helping consumers, their advocates, and
public policy makers to use powerful
consumer laws build financial security
and assure marketplace justice for vulnerable individuals and families.
Neighborhood of Affordable
Housing (NOAH)
143 Border Street
East Boston, MA 02128
617-567-5882 Office
www.noahcdc.org
NOAH counselors work with clients
one-on-one to develop an action plan
based on individual needs, create
budgets, contact lenders, negotiate
mortgage terms, and more. They also
conduct weekly foreclosure prevention
clinics every Monday at 5:30 PM in both
English and Spanish.
Urban Edge
142 Columbus Ave, Suite 2
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-989-9300 Office
617-427-8931 Fax
www.urbanedge.org
Urban Edge’s Homeownership Center
provides foreclosure prevention services, financial fitness classes, first-time
homebuyer workshops, post-purchase
training, and more.
Directory of Community Resources
Foreclosure Prevention
Home Inspection
Boston Home Inspectors
James Brock
1326 Columbus Ave
South Boston, MA 02127
617-464-1047 Office
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.bostonhomeinspectors.com
Jackson Home Inspection
Raymond Jackson
12 Essex Street
Andover, MA 01810
978-475-0444 Office
978-475-6140 Fax
[email protected]
www.jacksonhomeinspection.com
41
O’s Home Inspection
Otis Ellerbee
7 Edson Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
617-288-2149
[email protected]
www.oshomeinspection.com
Tiger Home Inspection
Sean Rizzo
969 Washington Street
Braintree, MA 02184
800-628-4437 Office
781-356-4487 Fax
[email protected]
www.tigerhomeinspection.com
Insurance
F.I. Patnode Insurance
Jason Patnode
Brighton, MA. 02135
617-787-1400 Office
617-783-5551 fax
[email protected]
www.patnode.com
John J. Ryan Insurance Agency
John J. Ryan, Jr.
Brighton, MA 02135
617-254-0600 Office
617-254-0404 Fax
[email protected]
www.johnjryaninsuranceagency.com
Lead Paint Inspection
ASAP Environmental, Inc
John MacIsaac
1 Arcadia Street
Dorchester, MA 02122
617-288-8870 Office
617-282-7783 Fax
[email protected]
www.asapenvironmental.com
Mortgage Lending
Boston Private Bank & Trust
Carrie Carrizosa
1295 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02446
617-912-4213 Office
617-912-4556 Fax
[email protected]
www.bostonprivatebank.com
42
Brookline Bank
Brookline, MA 02445
877-668-2265
www.brooklinebank.com
Citibank
Gregory Aikens
One Brattle Square
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-899-8027 Office
866-215-1537 Fax
[email protected]
NMLS Identifier: 355635
Eastern Bank
Carolina Trujillo
2060 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02466
617-504-9172 Office
781-477-1368 Fax
[email protected]
www.easternbank.com
Fairway Independent Mortgage
Corporation
Amy Tierce
18 Crawford Street
Needham, MA 02494
781-719-4665 Office
781-719-4684 Fax
[email protected]
www.amyrates.com
www.fairwayne.com
Leader Mortgage
Ivy Pretto
180 Massachusetts Avenue
Arlington, MA 02474
781-648-7900 x 113 Office
781-648-8444 Fax
Massachusetts & NMLS MLO # 196654
[email protected]
www.leadermortgage.com
Peoples Federal Savings Bank
435 Market Street
Brighton, MA 02135
617-254-0707 Office
617-254-0087 Fax
John Arvanitis, 617-254-0707 x 2546
[email protected]
Patricia Grady, 617-254-0707 x 5242
[email protected]
James Gavin, 617-254-0707 x 5205
[email protected]
www.pfsb.com
Buyer Agents of Boston, LLC
Gary Dwyer, CRS, GRI, ABR
806 Tremont Street, Suite 2
Boston, MA 02118
617-997-5570 Office
617-507-8104 Fax
[email protected]
www.buyeragentsofboston.com
Coldwell Banker – Pena Realty
Maria Peña
715 Broadway
Everett, MA 02149
617-389-1777 Office
617-389-7160 Fax
617-201-0030 Cell
[email protected]
Coldwell Banker Residential
Brokerage
Marc Decker
1375 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02446
617-731-2447 Office
617-731-4477 Fax
[email protected]
www.nemoves.com
Provides Services in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Farsi, Hungarian,
Persian, Romanian, Italian, Lithuanian,
Russian, French, and German.
Keller Williams Realty
Chris Kostopoulos
1151 Walnut Street
Newton, MA 02461
617-751-4111 Office
617-607-9103 Fax
[email protected]
www.EasyBostonHomeSearch.com
Prime Realty Group
Norman O’Grady
Brighton, MA 02135
617-254-2525 Office
617-254-9525 Fax
[email protected]
www.normanogrady.com
www.primerealtygroup.org
State Mortgage Programs
MassHousing
One Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108-3110
1-888-843-6432 Office
[email protected]
www.masshousing.com
MassHousing provides affordable
home mortgages and home improvement loans for low- and moderate income homebuyers. Features include
30-year terms, fixed interest rates and
job loss protection insurance that helps
pay your loan if you lose your job.
Massachusetts Housing Partnership
SoftSecond Loan Program
160 Federal Street, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
1-800-752-7131 Office
http://www.mhp.net/homeownership
The SoftSecond Loan Program, offered
by MHP, is a low-interest rate and low
down payment mortgage program for
eligible first-time homebuyers. SoftSecond offers valuable benefits toward
the purchase of a condominium, single-family, two-family or three-family
home in Massachusetts.
Sustainable Living
Real Estate Sales
Boston Building Resources
Deb Beatty Mel
100 Terrace Street
Roxbury, MA 02120
617-442-2262 Office
617-427-2491 Fax
[email protected]
www.bbmc.com
A non-profit consumer co-op selling
windows, doors, kitchens, weatherization products, and other building materials.
Energy Federation Inc.
40 Washington Street, Suite 2000
Westborough, MA 01581-1088
800-379-4121 Office
www.efi.org/store
Energy Federation Inc. is an online store
featuring over 1,000 energy efficiency
related products for the home. EFI often automatically includes rebates into
the price, making it easy to save on energy.
Mass Energy Consumers Alliance
Larry Chretien
284 Amory Street
Boston, MA 02130
617-524-3950 Office
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800-287-3950 Office
617-524-0776 Fax
[email protected]
www.massenergy.com
Provides reduced-price fuel to members and information about energy
efficiency.
Mass Save
1-866-527-7283
www.masssave.com
Mass Save provides residents in Massachusetts with free home energy
assessments and low-cost energy efficiency improvements and services to
help save energy and lower utility bills.
Homeowners and renters are eligible for
Mass Save services.
NSTAR
www.nstar.com
Vida Verde Co-op
697 Cambridge Street, Suite 106
Brighton, MA 02135
617-202-5775 Office
617-779-9586 Fax
[email protected]
www.verdeamarelo.org
Vida Verde is a Brazilian worker owned
cleaning co-op that supports housecleaners in their profession while creating community and promoting healthy
and environmentally friendly methods.
Members use cleaning alternatives that
do not harm the environment and protect both workers’ and clients’ health.
Non-Profit & Other Resources
Allston Brighton Community
Development Corporation
20 Linden Street, Suite 288
Allston, MA 02134
617-787-3874 Office
617-787-0425 Fax
[email protected]
www.allstonbrightoncdc.org
Action for Boston Community
Development (ABCD)
178 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
617-357-6000 Office
617-423-9215 TTY
www.bostonabcd.org
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Coordinates youth, elderly, career development and other programs. Assists
low-income families in obtaining funds
to purchase home heating oil.
American Consumer Credit
Counseling
130 Rumford Avenue, Suite 202
Auburndale, MA 02466-1371
800-769-3571 Office
617-244-1116 Fax
www.consumercredit.com
Offers confidential credit counseling
and financial management education
to consumers nationwide. ACCC is dedicated to helping people regain control
of their finances and plan for debt-free
future.
Citizens Housing and Planning
Association (CHAPA)
18 Tremont Street, Suite 401
Boston, MA 02108
617-742-0820 Office
617-742-3953 Fax
www.chapa.org
CHAPA’s mission is to encourage the
production and preservation of housing
that is affordable to low-income families
and individuals through research and
advocacy campaigns.
Fair Housing Center of Greater
Boston
Boston, MA 02108
617-399-0491 Office
617-399-0492 Fax
[email protected]
www.bostonfairhousing.org
A non-profit organization focused on
ending illegal housing discrimination in
the Greater Boston area.
Greater Boston Legal Services
197 Friend Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-371-1234 Office
617-371-1228 TDD
www.gbls.org
Provides legal assistance to low-income
people. Issues covered include housing, immigration, employment related
concerns, public benefits, domestic
violence, and legal issues of importance
to elders. Calls taken M, Tu, Th, & F from
9am to 3pm.
Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA)
1803 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester, MA 02124 617-822-9100 Office
617-265-7503 Fax
www.mahahome.org
Conducts workshops for first-time
homebuyers and homeowners. Coordinates statewide campaigns for increased investment in affordable rental
and homeownership housing, including the SoftSecond Loan Program.
Massachusetts Association
of Community Development
Corporations (MACDC)
15 Court Square, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02108
617-426-0303 Office
617-426-0344 Fax
www.macdc.org
Supports community development
corporations (CDCs) in their efforts to
encourage social change and empower poor and working class people
through activities such as affordable
housing development and rehabilitation, commercial real estate development, employment training, small
business development, and community organizing.
Massachusetts Bar Lawyer Referral
Service
20 West Street
Boston, MA 02111-1204
617-654-0400 Office
www.masslawhelp.com
Provides referrals to find real estate
and other lawyers.
Metropolitan Boston Housing
Partnership (MBHP)
Christopher Norris, Executive Director
125 Lincoln Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02111-2503
617-859-0400 or
800-272-0990 Office
[email protected]
www.mbhp.org
Offers help for individuals and families
to find and retain affordable housing. Also provides rental voucher assistance, serving homeless, elderly, disabled, and low- and moderate-income
residents of Boston and 29 surrounding communities. Specialized Housing, Inc.
45 Bartlett Crescent
Brookline, MA 02446-2220
617-277-1805 Office
617-277-0106 Fax
[email protected]
www.specializedhousing.org
This is the first housing program in the
US to enable adults with special needs
to own their own homes while receiving professional support. Specialized
Housing, Inc. works with families
seeking supportive independent living
situations for adults with developmental disabilities, learning disabilities,
traumatic brain injuries, physical disabilities, or psychiatric illness.
Joseph M. Smith Community
Health Center
287 Western Ave
Allston, MA 02134
617-783-0500 Office
www.jmschc.org
The Health Center’s physicians and
Nurse Practitioners provide high
quality, culturally competent, affordable care to people of all ages, from
newborns to seniors.
Transactional Law Clinics of Harvard
Law School
Brian Price, Director
6 Everett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-998-0101 Office
617-998-0146 Fax
[email protected]
HarvardTLC.org
Business and Non-Profit Clinic, Real
Estate Clinic, Entertainment Law Clinic
West End House Boys and Girls Clubs
105 Allston Street
Allston, MA 02134
617-787-4044 Office
617-787-4386 Fax
[email protected]
www.westendhouse.org
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Offers youth programs, such as summer
camps, and life shaping opportunities
for youths.
City of Boston Resources
Boston Fair Housing Commission
1 City Hall Square, Room 966
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-2500 Office
617-635-3290 Fax
http://www.cityofboston.gov/
civilrights/housing.asp
Enforces city, state and federal housing
laws.
Boston Home Center
26 Court Street
Boston, MA 02108
617-635-HOME (4663) Office
www.bostonhomecenter.com
Provides foreclosure prevention services, homeownership education, information to first-time homebuyers and homeowners, as well as financial assistance
to income-eligible residents for home
purchase and repair, including lead
paint abatement.
Provides Services in Spanish and Creole
Boston Redevelopment Authority
1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
617-722-4300 Office
http://www.
bostonredevelopmentauthority.org
Runs affordable rental and homeownership lotteries.
Inspectional Services
617-635-5300 Office
www.cityofboston.gov/isd
Provides information regarding building
permits, legal occupancy, and zoning.
Conducts free home inspections at tenant’s request.
Lead Safe Boston
617-635-0190 Office
http://www.cityofboston.gov/dnd/bhc/
Lead_Safe_Boston.asp
Offers affordable de-leading options.
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Rental Housing Resource Center
617-635-4200 Office
[email protected]
www.cityofboston.gov/rentalhousing
Provides information and assistance to
tenants and mediates landlord/tenant
disputes.
Elected Officials
To find your local elected officials and
voting information, visit the following
sites:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com
http://www.malegislature.gov/People/
Search
http://vote-usa.org/
Federal Government
The President of the United States
Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
202-456-1414 Switchboard
202-456-2461 Fax
[email protected]
www.whitehouse.gov
U.S. Senator John Kerry
1 Bowdoin Square, 10th floor
Boston, MA 02214
617-565-8519 Office
617-248-3870 Fax
www.kerry.senate.gov
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren
*Contact information unavailable at the
time of print.
You can check for updates on Senator
Warren’s website:
www.elizabethwarren.com
U.S. Representative Michael Capuano
110 First Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
617-621-6208 Office
617-621-8628 Fax
www.house.gov/capuano
City of Boston
Governor Deval Patrick
Office of the Governor
State House, Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
888-870-7770 or 617-725-4005 Office
617-727-3666 TTY
617-727-9725 Fax
[email protected]
www.mass.gov
Mayor of Boston
Thomas M. Menino
One City Hall Square, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-4500 Office
617-635-2851 Fax
[email protected]
www.cityofboston.gov/mayor
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108-1698
617-727-2200 Office
617-727-4765 TTY
[email protected]
www.ago.state.ma.us
State Representative Kevin Honan
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2470 Office
617-722-2162 Fax
[email protected]
www.mass.gov/legis/member/kgh1.
htm
State Representative Michael Moran
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2460 Office
[email protected]
www.mass.gov/legis/member/mjm1.
htm
State Senator William Brownsberger
State House, Room 213A
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-1280 Office
[email protected]
Profile/wnb1
State Senator Sal DiDomenico
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-1650 Office
[email protected]
Profile/SND0
Councilor At-Large Felix Arroyo
Boston City Hall
1 City Hall Square, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-4205 Office
617-635-4203 Fax
[email protected]
www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil
Councilor At-Large John Connolly
Boston City Hall
1 City Hall Square, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-3115 Office
617-635-4203 Fax
[email protected]
State Government
Councilor At-Large Stephen Murphy
Boston City Hall
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-4376 Office
617-635-4203 Fax
[email protected]
Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley
Boston City Hall
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-4217 Office
617-635-4203 Fax
[email protected]
Councilor Mark Ciommo
1 City Hall Plaza, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-3113 Office
617-635-4203 Fax
[email protected]
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the homeBuying mentors - Allston Brighton Community

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