We are bursting at the seams with amazing - sometimes hilarious and sometimes disturbing - quotes from listing agents. We can no longer keep them bottled up so we have decided to share the wealth ….

The point: ever get on the phone with a listing agent - the intent is to bring them your interested buyer - and for no reason you are subject to un-invited attitude and/or ridiculous negotiating strategies/behavior (often bordering unethical)? Well, we have, and it is so mind-boggling that we are sharing the war stories using actual quotes in hopes that you could either make sense of the madness or get a good laugh (with us) at their expense.

EX:

Left field response during my follow up call about an email requesting a showing:

[snappy tone]: “I don’t do emails! “

( Insert confused 10 second pause from me during which i thought …)

A) What do you mean you don’t do emails? Hello 21st century. I wonder if the seller knows their agent “doesn’t do emails” …

B) Geez, what’s with the attitude? Unless I am completely ignorant and this agent and seller have some cutting-edge agency relationship, I am pretty certain the agent was hired to sell the property (which includes showing it) … So, “shhhh ..!” and just set up the darn showing!

**WARNING: I have so many quotes this may become a daily blog … **

The neighborhood surrounding Boston’s Jackson Square MBTA station is about to undergo a major transformation (the development of 400 new homes in addition to retail and office space).

The Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations and its four-year campaign to build or preserve 6,000 homes and 9,000 jobs, and attract $1 billion in private and public investment to revitalize Bay State communities, is behind the project.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is expected to vote on the development’s first phase by as early as this Fall.

- Banker & Tradesmen

According to Listing Information Network Inc.’s recent report on the city’s condo market sales of luxury condominiums in Boston surged 7.5 percent this quarter, with prices up as well.

Debra Taylor Blair, Link’s president is “loving these numbers”. Anthony Longo, chief executive of Condodomain.com, was shopping for a condo in the South End this spring, and lost out in three bidding wars before snaring a place. In each case, the rejected offers were either at or above asking price. I wonder if Mr. Longo shares Debra’s enthusiasm.

- Boston.com

In 2005, the city of Marlborough shelled out $1.1 million in grant funds to fix up the Old Central Fire Station. Today, only 2 years later, city officials announced developer, WRT Management Corp, has won the right to buy the building for $850,000. After the completion of the sale, the city will have to reimburse the state $209,950!

The Boston Herald reports that most City Council members agreed the sale should “boost” the city’s economy.

This photo accompanies an article in today’s Banker & Tradesmen titled “Slow Going at Midyear Point: Stalling Home Sales, Prices Lead to ‘Period of Painful Adjustment’ for Owners“. Is there more to this picture than the obvious reference to turtles being “slow”? Every time I look at it I think about the tortoise and hare story.

AARP Magazine, self proclaimed as the world’s largest circulation magazine, has named Boston as one of the top 5 best cites for seniors to live. The other 4 were Atlanta, Chandler, AZ, Milwaukee and Portland.

In Boston, the AARP praised the Beacon Hill Village, a network of services for older residents who pay an annual fee to get concierge-like help to arrange everything from plumbing and rides to tickets for concerts.

Sounds great. Do I really have to wait until I am 65 to sign up?

The old maxim, once again, proves to be true.

Boston.com is reporting today on how neighboring towns can experience very different real estate markets.  Using data provided by MLSPIN they compare average days on market in Franklin (102) to Foxborough (156), Medway (164) to Norfolk (158), and Arlington (86) to Belmont & Lexington (112).

Everyone wants to know where the market is heading but the truth is that the experts don’t even know where it is right now (so who the heck knows where its going)! Most of the statistical data is conflicting or irrelevant and when you mix data for micro markets (neighborhoods) with data for macro markets (states) things only get more confusing.

My personal experience is that the market is down (there are pockets of the city where this not the case, hello South End) and generally a buyer’s market but this is directly related to the preponderance of sellers who have their heads in the clouds. It’s hard to blame people for overpricing their homes especially now that we’ve all become accustomed to spectacular year over year appreciation.

Note to sellers: The past is history. We are talking 2-3% annual appreciation max these days. So if you want to sell your house get real, and get it done. God forbid you end up like this poor fellow…

Nothing like a $320,000 price reduction (43%) to turn an overpriced listing into an under-priced listing… buy it

Money Magazine came out with their 2007 list of the Best Places to Live and 5 Massachusetts towns were included.

7. Milton - listings

Just eight miles south of the heart of Boston, Milton borders the Blue Hills Reservation, a 7,000-acre park with hiking, swimming and skiing. Proximity to the city is what brings - and keeps - Milton residents where they are. Its loyal citizens do age, but even then they don’t move. Milton boasts a diverse population, with minorities making up 30%. All six schools have recently been rebuilt, and the library is now expanding. East Milton Square is the town’s Main Street, with coffee shops, a pizza place and a small grocery store. What’s missing, most agree, is a destination eatery.

21. Chelmsford - listings
48. Easton - listings
73. Westborough - listings
94. Wilbraham - listings

Well, what are you waiting for? Go on already, buy something.

Poor NYC, it just never ends … The price of parking, the high closing costs, the monopolistic real estate agencies (oops, did i say that?!) …

According to Bankrates nationwide survey of closing costs, the national average is $2,736. This is down 9.5 percent from 2006 (average: $3,024).

The study also showed great variance between states: some were as low as $2,339 ( Indiana) and others as high as $3830 (NY).

One reason they might be higher in some states rather than others: Closing Attorney’s.

“Costs may be higher when closings are conducted by lawyers, rather than title agents or escrow officers, the report said. While it’s customary for lawyers to conduct closings in New York and other Northeastern states, the report said attorneys are less likely to be involved in other states, especially in the West.”

Source: Inman News