Debi Fox Joins Newcastle Realty

Company owner Dennis Hilton and Designated Broker Lorrie Zeiner are pleased to announce that Debi Fox has joined Newcastle Realty, the Damariscotta areas’ leading real estate company.

“We are very excited to have Debi join our team of professional agents,” commented Hilton. “She is an experienced broker and well known in the local communities. We know she will do a great job for her clients working out of our full-service office.” Fox was previously associated with a larger, statewide firm.

Fox is a 30-year resident of Lincoln County, having grown up in Cumberland while spending summers in Harpswell. She went to North Yarmouth Academy and graduated from the University of Maine. Debi is married to a local builder whose family was among the first to settle in the mid-coast region, and they still own a part of the original homestead on the Kennebec River. She previously owned Fox’s Glass Works in Damariscotta for 20 years, and has been a licensed real estate broker since 1995.

Debi Fox may be reached by calling Newcastle Realty at 207-563-1003, on her mobile phone at 207-350-1474, or by email at debifox@cheneycompanies.com.

Newcastle Realty, found on the web at www.MyNewcastle.com, is part of The Cheney Financial Group, with over 26 professional associates serving the property ownership and insurance needs of thousands of families and businesses throughout Maine. Together, the CFG member companies have annual sales in excess of $49.5 million. You can learn more by visiting www.cheneycompanies.com or viewing the Facebook pages for Cheney Insurance, Newcastle Realty, and Newcastle Vacation Rentals.

If You Worry About Another Housing Bubble, Consider These Four Things

It’s 2016, and home prices are rising near the levels of the housing market just before the crash. Many are asking—and wondering — if we are in some kind of housing bubble. But are we? Here are a few things to consider if you’re worried about another housing bubble.

1. The overall economy

Unemployment is low, wage growth is strong and the tech sector is hiring in droves. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates last December, and they’re likely to raise rates again in the near future as the economy continues to grow and evolve.

2. Mortgage requirements

Despite what many will tell you, getting a mortgage can be intense. It requires full documentation, including tax returns, pay stubs, letters of explanation and thorough due diligence. As long as strong requirements remain in place to secure financing, one thing is for sure: A financial collapse, if it does happen, likely won’t spawn from abusive lending practices.

3. Housing risks

Let’s say you’re putting off buying a home because you’re worried about another financial crisis. If that’s the case, you need to define what it is that you are most concerned about. If you’re concerned about your job and the future of your income, that should play a bigger role in whether you buy a home.

If your financial house is in order, but you are still not sure about buying a home because you’re worried about the market being in a bubble, you should ask yourself, “Why am I buying a house to begin with?” If your intention is to buy a house to capitalize on some market appreciation and then quickly turn around and sell, well, then, yes, you should be concerned about not being able to recoup your investment, as real estate is a long-term hold vehicle.

If, however, you are looking to purchase a home to have a roof over your head, enjoy the home, and live there for the next five to seven years, at a minimum. You may do very well for yourself. This also includes the additional tax benefit you’ll have that you wouldn’t with renting.

4. The market itself

Ultra-low mortgage rates have been around for the last few years, so at some point interest rates have to go up. The question is when. If you’re trying to purchase a home and you are qualified at a 3.625% 30-year fixed rate, for example, and interest rates rise to 4.375%, you may not be able to qualify for as much house.

Rising rates also means fewer mortgage loan originations, which means profitability in the secondary market diminishes. The only way to keep profitability going is to keep the engine running with new loan originations, and the only way to do that in a higher interest rate environment is with less restrictive underwriting.

Looser credit to the degree of the financial crisis is unlikely, given regulations that were introduced in its aftermath, but it may lead lenders to extend mortgages to applicants with slightly higher debt-to-income ratios on conventional loans or to show a bit more leniency to self-employed borrowers, for example. That’s the only practical way to offset rising rates while supporting the housing market.

So, should you buy a house or not? That depends on whether you are comfortable with the interest rate and the payment that you’re getting, and whether you feel that you can afford that payment for the long haul. If you can afford the payment and your estimated property hold time is for a while, you’re likely in a safe position. Reach out to a Newcastle Realty broker today to talk about your real estate needs.

How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost?

No matter how safe and secure you home-insurance-1024x576 feel in your home, it’s a fact of life that bad things can happen at any time—floods, fires, vandalism, theft. And that’s why homeowners insurance is a must. But how much does it cost? The average annual premium runs about $952, but a bunch of unique factors can go into calculating a specific quote, and that information could help you get a lower rate in some cases.

Age and Condition of Your Home: This includes everything from the roof to its pipes, heating system, and electrical wiring. For instance, the lead and galvanized pipes sometimes found in older homes can “result in higher premiums as they are more prone to cracks or leaks than the copper and plastic piping used in newer homes,” says Rosemary Campbell, a 30+ year veteran agent at Cheney Insurance, our sister company also located in Damariscotta, Maine.

Price to Rebuild Per Square Foot: Since homeowners insurance claims often require rebuilding whatever part of your home damaged by fire, smoke, or other covered peril, most insurance policies factor in the price per square foot to rebuild in your area based on current construction rates. While the national average is $95.51 per square foot, the overall cost of policies can differ drastically. It’s important for your agent to do a reconstruction cost estimate to ensure “the proper rating for building materials,” says Suzanne Strachan, Support Team manager at Cheney Insurance. While most policies pay replacement cost (the cost to rebuild a home), some pay only the depreciated current value for the whole house.

Probability of Insurance Claims in Your Area: “If your home is located in an area prone to tornadoes or forest fires, you’re going to have a higher premium due to a greater risk of damage,” says agent Kate Dunstan. In other words, the more known risk there is to your home, the stiffer the premium. For example, the annual cost of insuring a home in Louisiana is $1,722—the nation’s highest due to the claims filed after Hurricane Katrina. (The state with the lowest price: Idaho, averaging just $534.) Since every standard policy excludes coverage for natural disasters like earthquake and flood, be sure to check with your agent to see if you need the extra coverage.

Your Credit Sore, Age, and Other Personal Info: You—yes you—also factor into how much you’ll ultimately pay in homeowners insurance. According to Brittany Carter of the Business Insurance team at Cheney Insurance, everything from your credit score, marital status, age, level of education attained, and frequency of claims submitted on prior insurance policies will increase or decrease your rate. Also, a home with a swimming pool, trampoline, or certain other “fun” features signals risky business to an insurance company—and your price quote will reflect that. Same goes for homes with pets or farm animals that could be dangerous (such as large dogs or horses).

Increasing Home Prices: Inflation or the increased value of your home in an upmarket may cause your premiums to increase each year. You may be able to snag a discount if your home has a nifty feature that an insurance company may find attractive like storm shutters, security systems, or carbon monoxide detectors. If your home doesn’t have these, consider upgrading. “Installing a security system for $30 per month may reduce your premiums by at least that amount—and provide additional safety for your family at the same time.

The friendly agents at Cheney Insurance are happy to answer your insurance questions any time, just reach out to them at 207-563-3435. Tell them Newcastle Realty sent you!

Interest Rates Remain Low, But For How Long?

The interest rate you pay on your home mortgage has a direct impact on your monthly payment; The higher the rate, the greater your payment will be. That is why it is important to look at where the experts believe rates are headed when deciding to buy now or wait until next year.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fallen half a percentage point since the beginning of the year and has remained at or below 3.5% for the last 11 weeks according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

The chart below shows how far rates have fallen this year (on the left), and uses an average of the projections from Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association and National Association of Realtors (on the right). As you can see, interest rates are projected to increase steadily over the course of the next 12 months.

rates
How Will This Impact Your Mortgage Payment?

Depending on the amount of the loan that you secure, a half of a percent (.5%) increase in interest rate can increase your monthly mortgage payment significantly. According to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index, national home prices have appreciated 6.0% over the last year and are predicted to be 5.4% higher next year. If both the predictions of home prices and interest rate increases become a reality, families will wind up paying considerably more for their next home.

Bottom Line

Even a small increase in interest rate can impact your family’s wealth. We suggest you meet with a Newcastle Realty broker to evaluate your ability to purchase your dream home. Click here or call us today at 207-563-1003!

Featured Property – 49 Mills Road, Newcastle

White Rear Outside
This classic 1870’s Victorian has been well cared for and is situated on a corner lot that is just a short walk to downtown Newcastle and Damariscotta.

The 2,500 square foot home offers nine rooms, including a formal living room with gas stove, a dining room, farmers kitchen, and study. There is a master bedroom on the first floor, and two bedrooms, another study, and a music room on the second floor.

Nicely situated on a half acre overlooking fields and woods. Click here for more info, or call us at 207-563-1003 to view this property today!

What Does a Successful REALTOR Look Like?

Are you seeking help with real estate? When it comes to agents, there are a lot of choices out there, and making the right connection can ensure a successful outcome for you. Here are some things to consider:

Passion

Passion is one trait that the most successful leaders in every industry share. The brokers at Newcastle Realty share a passion for connecting people and homes, which make them the kind of REALTOR that customers recommend and return to time and again.

Attention to Detail

An effective agent needs to have all the answers and they need to have them fast. Attention to detail is not just for contract negotiations, it is for all aspects of the marketing, the search, and the eventual sale. Newcastle Realty brokers are always focused on the details.

Persistence

Our brokers have combined experience of over 100 years in the business, and are a tenacious bunch when it comes to serving clients. Add a dose of competitive spirit, and you get a persistent desire to deliver exactly what each client wants.

Curiosity

A successful broker never stops learning. Our brokers have to know about trends, technologies, marketing, finance, and so much more. Keeping up with these topics requires intellectual curiosity, which combines with persistence to create a super qualified real estate agent, just like those at Newcastle Realty.

Choose a Newcastle Realty broker

Work with one of our brokers and you will get the best of everything–someone who will work hard to help you achieve your real estate goals quickly!

Introducing Home Staging Services

In cooperation with Brittany Morgan Bardo of Alna, we are pleased to introduce the availability of expert home staging services to benefit our clients. Bardo, who is available for consultations and recommendations, has an extensive background in interior and exterior design and has built, bought, and sold several homes over the years.

Brittney is extremely pleasant and has a unique gift; she fully understands how to use colors, fabrics, and tastefully selected furnishings to make one room or an entire home more appealing to buyers—and that means we can put homes under contract sooner and for the highest possible price. She maintains an inventory of furnishings that can be deployed for photo shoots or showings, using a few items to accent a room, or completely furnishing a home as she did recently at The Standard, where we are marketing three new water view condominium units.

Here is what Brittany has to say. “Home staging is the art of visual merchandising, marketing, and using decorating techniques to create a pleasing environment that buyers feel at home in and want to stay in and own. Also, it is often hard for a homeowner to see their own home through the eyes of a potential buyer, but if they are committed to getting their best price quickly, I can help them stage, neutralize and declutter so prospects can actually envision the space as their own—which can lead to an offer. That helps both the seller and buyer reach their goals, and everyone walks away from the transaction happy.”

Contact a Newcastle Realty broker to learn more about how our Home Staging Services can help you get the best price for your home quickly.