New Announcement

Prudential Verani Realty and Real Living | The Norwood Group are pleased to announce the merger of their two residential companies. 

Margherita Verani, Giovanni Verani and Karl Norwood announced today the merger of their companies which are two of the oldest and best known real estate companies in New Hampshire. “The merger between us is a natural progression we welcome with open arms.” said Margherita Verani, President of Prudential Verani Realty. 

Both of these family run real estate organizations have had parallels throughout the past forty- plus years planting their roots in New England. Verani, founded in 1967, and The Norwood Group, founded in 1968, both started as companies based on the pillars of customer service. With Osvaldo Verani owning his own restaurant and Karl Norwood his own milk delivery business prior to founding The Norwood Group with his wife Louise, each taking with them their passion for providing quality customer service. This is what made them the real estate companies they are today.

Throughout the years both companies have cooperated and competed in delivering exceptional customer service to their clients. Earlier this year, Prudential Real Estate & Relocation was acquired by Brookfield Residential Property Services from Prudential Financial Inc.  And with The Norwood Group already under the Brookfield umbrella, this natural expansion seemed to be the perfect fit for both Verani Realty and The Norwood Group.

”When the purchase of the Prudential franchise by Brookfiled Properties was announced, the number of similarities between us made this natural alliance seem even more inevitable. We are both two long standing New Hampshire real estate families who share similar history, core values and company philosophies. We look forward to this new opportunity.” said Giovanni Verani, Vice President of Prudential Verani Realty.

“The Verani team and our group have always had mutual respect for each other over the years.” states Karl Norwood, President of Real Living | The Norwood Group. “With Brookfield’s purchase of Prudential, our two companies were already aligned. With the same corporate ownership, it made sense to continue that partnership at the state level.” Norwood went on to say “we feel this is a unique opportunity for our associates to have available the highest level of technology and expanded national relocation business ensuring continued exceptional service for our customers and clientele”. 

Giovanni added, “We are absolutely thrilled to have the wonderful associates of  Real Living | The Norwood Group joining us in providing home owners and buyers with the most professional real estate services available today.”

NAI Norwood Group, a large commercial real estate brokerage and consulting company, will continue to remain owned and operated by the Norwood family as they continue to build upon their worldwide affiliation with NAI Global. “Our clients, owners, and occupants of commercial real estate will continue to have the reputable Norwood name to turn to when they are in need of brokerage or consulting services.” stated Chris Norwood, Executive Vice President of NAI Norwood Group.

How to Choose the Right Title Company for You

For most people, buying or selling a home is one of the largest financial investments they will make; therefore you need to choose a title company who will handle this transaction efficiently and accurately.

Before choosing a title company you must first have an understanding as to what exactly a title company will do for you.

The title company will search the real estate records in the county where the particular property is located to determine the legal owner of the property, reveal any mortgages, liens, judgments or unpaid taxes which will need to be satisfied before the property is conveyed and detail any existing restrictions, easements or leases that may affect the property

When choosing a real estate title company there are certain things you should look for: for instance you want a company that understands and is familiar with the area you are buying in and knows about the local, state and federal laws. Local and State regulations can vary from state to state or jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You also want a company that will treat you well, be accessible and able to answer your questions as well as walk you through the closing process. A responsible company that will perform the title search as expected

Some real estate title companies may offer additional services such as notary and closing services in addition to the title search, not every title company does. This will save you the time of running around trying to find a notary public and title insurance, than having to coordinate all of these companies having a representative at your closing. This way all of your information is in one place, making the likelihood of your closing happening on time without any issues.

It is the clients right to choose their own title company, but asking your Realtor® for assistance in choosing a title company can lead to a much smoother closing. Title companies work for Realtor ® business and want to make Realtor’s happy so that they will repeatedly use their service. You want to make sure that you chose a company that you trust because they are responsible for a very important part of the home buying process.

Choosing the right real estate title company can make the difference between a stress free and on time closing and a delayed or problematic closing.

Homes Sales Up...Prices continue to climb

August 2012 NHAR Data

Homes Sales Up...Prices continue to climb

New Hampshire Association of Realtors® (NHAR) released data this week confirming that sales of existing homes and prices continue to climb, signs that the housing market is beginning to slowly recover.

Data released Wednesday showed that residential sales in July 2012 were 20% higher compared to homes sold in July 2011. 7,044 homes sold through the first seven months of 2012 were higher than the 5,851 homes sold through the first seven months of 2011.

The median price of home sold in New Hampshire in July 2012 was $215,000 compared to $216,000 in July 2011, just a half of a percent lower. Data confirms stabilizing median prices also.

The last five years have definitely been a buyer’s market; however the market is restricted by tight lending standards and shrinking inventory. Strict lending standards could get stricter in the coming days, as government backed mortgage such as Fannie Mae has informed lenders that it will tighten qualifications for new buyers or those refinancing their homes which could include higher mandatory credit scores for some loans. Such changes could make it more difficult for buyers to qualify for a mortgage.

Evidence in the recent months has pointed to better days ahead for the long suffering housing market. Optimism has appeared in a wide range of data showing increasing sales, homes selling faster, residential construction are up and prices stabilizing.

If the market continues on this tract for the rest of the year into 2013, these numbers should continue to change for the better.

Older Homes Vs. New Homes

When purchasing a home, one of the decisions you will need to consider is whether you want to purchase an older home or a newer one. Some buyers are attracted to the older homes charm and history while others would prefer the modern day conveniences of a newer home. Sometimes the area and your price range can make the decision for you. If you are not sure which is best for you below are some factors to consider.

Older Homes – Advantages

• Construction – Older homes were generally built using stone by experienced craftsmen which some may say you’ll get a more solid house.
• Large Land Lots – Land was much cheaper back then, builders could use larger lot sizes, resulting in more space.
• Character- Original features such as ceiling beams and open fireplaces can be very attractive to many people
• Traditions – many older homes have been owned by the same families for many generations, the houses are passed down through the years, allowing for the development of small communities within the areas

Older Homes – Disadvantages

• Maintenance- With the older homes you can usually expect a little more work such as roof and walls may need updating and many older properties may have old heating systems and wiring which can be expensive to update. Ceilings are also lower in older properties
• Smaller Storage Space – Years ago, possessions were limited therefore people did not require large storage areas. In today’s world storage is an essential requirement for many families.
• More Expensive – Many older properties can also be more expensive due to their location which is usually rural and you will pay for traditional features.

New Homes – Advantages

• Lower maintenance- With new homes modern wiring and heating systems have been installed, walls, roofs, windows and doors will also be brand new.
• Modern Appliances – Many newer homes are sold with fitted kitchens and built in appliances, therefore there is no need to purchase these items separately which can be very expensive
• Incentives – Many builders/property owners will offer incentives such as cash back or pay the closing costs.
• Energy Efficient – In the newer homes, walls and roof are insulated and the heating systems are fitted as standard to the home, in some instances you may also have the option to have solar power installed

New Homes – Disadvantages

• Identical rooms – Most houses on a modern estate will be virtually identical in size and floor plan, this can be a put off for those who prefer a unique home
• Small Land Lots – Land is now more expensive to buy, so builders have to work with much smaller plot plans, therefore newer houses will have smaller lots
• Settling – New houses will settle, this can occur at anywhere regardless of the soil or location resulting in cracks in the foundation, walls and door frames

Clearly there are some advantages and disadvantages with both newer and older properties, in the end it may just come down to personal taste and requirements. Before you buy, try to view both old and new houses, until you find what works best for you and your family.

Real Giving

As part of their “Real Giving “ charity contributions the Sales Associates at Real Living | The Norwood Group Residential Real Estate will be donating their time on July 24^th and 25^th by volunteering for painting services at the Webster House in Manchester, NH.

The Webster House is a private, nonprofit residential facility for New Hampshire’s adolescents, boy and girls between the ages of 8 to 18 who need to live away from home in a supportive environment.

The Associates believe that it is always best to give back to the community. In the past they have sponsored a successful Toys for Tots charity event in which there were over 300 toys donated for the children, they have adopted a family through the Milford Share program and Nashua Pastoral Care and have also sponsored a Food drive for the New Hampshire soup kitchen in which they donated over 7 boxes of food for those in need.

We here at Real Living | The Norwood Group feel it is important to be an integral part of the communities we serve. In our experience the givers are actually more rewarded than those we are helping. It is heartwarming to be a part of this group stated Susan Thornton, Sales Associates of Real Living|The Norwood Group.

It is so important for people to help in any way they can. By volunteering a couple of hours of your time you will not only help in building a better community, you will also put smiles on the faces of those in need.

We would like to thank Charles S. Katis of Universal Décor, Manchester for his generous donation of paint and brushes as well as a donation by Tracy Hawkins of Barrister’s Title.

May Year to Date 2012 New Hampshire Sales

After the release of last month’s 1^st quarter NH Real Estate Market data showing that home sales have begun to increased, the New Hampshire Association of Realtors® (NHAR) recent release on June 12, 2012 has not only confirmed that home sales continued to climb but we are also seeing an increase in median sales prices.

In comparing data for the first 5 months of 2011 to the first 5 months of 2012, reports show a 28% increase in year to date sales. As per the NHAR, the sales spike in May followed increases in January through April totaling 4,440 home sales in 2012 compared to 3670 in 2011.

More than half of New Hampshire’s 10 counties have seen an increase in price, even though statewide May median price saw a 2.4% dip.

Hillsborough County showed 1,183 residential sales in 2012 compared to 965 residential sales for 2011 and 364 Condominium sales for 2012 compared to 326 sales in 2011. Statewide there were 4,440 residential sales in 2012 compared to 3,670 in 2011 and 1,076 condominium sales in 2012 compared to 959 on 2011

Median residential sales prices in Hillsborough County for 2011 YTD were $210,000 and $207,500 in 2012 YTD, and condominium sales prices in Hillsborough County was $138,000 in 2012 compared to $145,000 in 2012. Statewide condominium prices for YTD 2011 was $146,000 compared to $143,950 YTD 2012 and residential was $200,000 YTD 2011 compared to $193,000 YTD 2012.

As per NHAR President John Rice, “these are very solid numbers, in the context of where we have been in recent years, where in the past we have been merely hopeful that things would start to turn, now we appear to have substance to justify that hope”.

How secure is your home?

According to the US Department of Justice a home is burglarized every 15 seconds. A typical homeowner stands to lose approximately $2000 in stolen good or property damage. With the economy at its worse, burglary has become a more common crime. A few simple tips can help your home from being invaded.

1. Bushes, shrubs and trees can offer an intruder a place to hide, trim back any overgrown vegetation so that your home’s windows, porches and doors are visible to neighbors & passerbies.

2. “Window Shopping” is one way criminals choose potential targets, use shades, drapes and other window treatments to keep tempting household items out of view.

3. Putting out boxes from a new flat screen TV, laptop, video game system etc., shows a potential burglar what new and valuable items are now available in your home

4. Have plenty of lighting around your home in the evening such as motion sensing security lighting detector. A sudden change from darkness to bright light will not only startle intruders but also alert the homeowner or neighbor.

5. Use timers that are hooked to outdoor lights as well as radios or televisions, burglars do not want to be confronted by anyone in the home, if they hear sounds of activity they will move on.

6. 60% of all burglaries take place at the ground floor doors and windows. Install deadbolts keyed on both sides on exterior entry doors and protective barriers such as ¼ “Plexiglas over existing glass windows.

7. Do not post on face book or other social media’s that you are going to be away or on vacation.

8. Do not leave vehicles unlocked while parked in your driveway or garage

9. Have someone check on your property if you are going to be away, in many instances your local police department will check on your property.

10. Have someone collect your mail and newspapers; these are other criteria’s burglars use when looking for a home to vandalize.

Most importantly the best form of protection is common sense; lock all doors and windows when leaving your home it’s the simplest and best thing anyone can do to protect your home.