I am a very fortunate real estate agent! Over the years, many of my past clients have come to appreciate my service, trust me to get the job done, and consequently refer me to Buyers who are locating to the South Shore. One of my first questions on meeting these Buyers is: "Which towns are you interested in?" For many, Weymouth heads the "top" of their list. Why?

• Proximity to Boston
• Public transportation and convenience to the highway - especially now that the "Big Dig" is complete
• Close to beaches and the water
• Close to parks for walking and recreation, including Wompatuck State Park
• South Shore Hospital

These are only a few of the attractions to Weymouth, MA. Yes, I am fortunate. For you see, I now have the added pleasure of presenting a townhouse for sale in Weymouth:

• Proximity and convenience for accessibility and commuting - ideal!
• Move-in ready
• And ... affordably priced, too

Check out this video and stop by the Open House at 1000 Pleasant Street, Unit #4, scheduled for Sunday, February 19th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Last year I debuted with my popular free Home Buyer Workshops. I'll be following the same format for this year's series. 2012 sessions are scheduled for the following Saturday mornings:

* February 11th

* March 24th

* April 28th

* May 19th

* September 15th

* October 20th

Join me for a free, no-nonsense home buying workshop. How familiar are you with the home buying process? What does making an Offer involve? What happens to your deposit money? How do you determine a negotiating price for a home? Is it necessary to use an Attorney? How would you choose a Realtor to represent you?

This Home Buyer Workshop is designed to answer these questions and many more.

A specialist in this field, I will guide you through a straightforward, interactive workshop. As a result, you will leave with a clear understanding of what to expect on your way to home ownership.

LOCATION: RE/MAX Realty Advisors • 320 Washington Street • Norwell, MA (2nd floor).

TIME: 10:15 - 10:30am - Registration
          10:30 - 11:15am - Workshop
          11:15 - 11:30am - Q & A

Please arrive on time for registration. Our Home Buyer Workshops begin promptly. Light refreshments will be served.

Register today as space is limited. Fill out the registration form here to sign up for one of the upcoming workshops.

How often do we hear "they're not listening"?

Let me answer that! Repeatedly!

We hear and read over and over  how important listening and communication are in any personal or professional relationship. And, it's certainly critical in the home buying process.

When I first meet with Sellers and Buyers and ask what they expect of me, they answer without exception: "communication" - whether it's via e-mail, text, or a phone call. And, they want the communication to be given in the form that is most comfortable to them. They want to be heard. They want to know that someone is really listening!

In the past 6 months, two Buyers were referred to me.  Both of them commented that they had been working with other Realtors who had not listened to them.  One said, "We told her what we could afford, and she kept showing us homes $30,000 - $40,000 over that."  The other commented, "I would leave numerous messages, and he didn't respond."

Purchasing a home is the single most expensive investment most people will make in their lifetime.  Therefore, it's important that Home Buyers choose the Realtor who really listens to them.  In his book Win, Dr. Frank Luntz writes:  "... listening is more than hearing.  Listening requires genuine understanding.  ... It involves strategic questioning."

Well then ... How will you, as a Buyer, know how to choose a Realtor?  How can you  know you've selected the "right" Realtor? The one who really listens?

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

First: does the Realtor invite you to meet face to face for an initial meeting to learn what's important to you?  What kinds of questions does the Realtor ask? Is the Realtor really focusing on what matters most to you?

Second: ask the Agent how will he/she communicate? E-mail? Text? Phone call?

Third: does the Agent outline what the home buying process involves?  How clearly?

Fourth: tell the Agent what you expect of his/her services.  Emphasize how important price is. Don't hesitate to ask questions along the way - no matter how "silly" they may seem!

Fifth: does the Agent ask for and welcome your feedback after each showing - both negative and positive? Does the Agent take that into consideration in selecting which homes to view next?

Sixth: what are the Agent's credentials? Has the Agent earned a Certification as a Buyer's Agent: ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) or CBR (Certified Buyer Representative)?

Home Buying can be both stressful and exciting at the same time.  Yet, if you're in the hands of an Agent who listens, focuses, and understands what matters most to you, you're well on your way to home ownership.

Attend a FREE home buyer workshop to find out more helpful tips.

One of the activities that I most enjoy is networking with successful people in a variety of businesses.  I always learn valuable life and business lessons.

Recently, I had one such meeting with Jacqueline Collins, the founder and owner of Partnering for Performance, Business Coaching and Advisory Services.

We met at Panera Bread at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham - by the way, a great place to network.  During our conversation, we discussed her journey (both business and personal), her successes, and how she overcame adversity.

Being entrepreneurial, she started a cleaning company first, sold that, then opened a retail store in Merchants Row Marketplace in Hanover, MA. While working with the retail store, she also started a career in financial services. Thirteen years ago, she founded Partnering for Performance, and in time sold her retail business.

I find Jacqueline to be caring, hard-working, resourceful, and forward-thinking: an entrepreneurial woman who is true to her core values.

What struck me most as she described her journey were her determination and drive.  In a very matter-of-fact way, she mentioned that during part of her journey she was faced with a divorce.  What she then said gave me pause as a Realtor.  She explained that what kept her motivated during that time was her determination to "keep my house".  She added that her career path was her "roadmap to keeping and maintaining the home I loved."

How interesting!

The comments and determination of one successful entrepreneur and her attitude towards home ownership reflect the findings of recent public opinion polls.

One survey conducted on January 2-5, 2012 on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders found that "Americans Place High Value on Homeownership." Key findings:

• 96% of homeowners are happy with their decision to own a home.
• 84% who are 'underwater', or who owe more on their mortgages than their home is worth, expressed the same sentiment.
• 78% of respondents said that owning their own home is very important to them.
• 7 out of 10 voters who are not currently home owners said it was their goal to buy a home.

Another survey  conducted in June by New York Times/CBS News found that 89% of respondents said that "homeownership is an important part of the American Dream."

The American Dream! Home Ownership! The polls measure it! I experience it! So clearly expressed in Jacqueline Collins's story.  So clearly expressed in my clients' eyes on "closing day". Their piece of land; their home; their dreams fulfilled.

For more information, click here or visit www.nahb.org/homeownershippoll.

Warm sun and balmy temperatures have lulled me into forgetting that we're really into winter! I procrastinated! I put off attending to a few things to prepare our home! Then, icy roads and some snow shook me into reality.

Here's where we start ... our checklist:

1. Inspect the furnace: Have the furnace cleaned and tuned annually. Schedule an automatic cleaning (we have a standard appointment to have the furnace cleaned every August  - makes it easy). Stock up on filters and change them monthly. Consider switching your thermostat for a programmable one.

2. Check windows and doors: Weather strip around doors. Caulk around windows.

3. Check the fireplace and chimney: Cap or screen the top of the chimney. Have firewood stacked in a dry  place and away from the house. Hire a chimney sweep -  we don't do this every year, but this year is time for us.

4. Check that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working: Replace batteries as necessary. Have a fire extinguisher on hand - replace if you have one older than 10 years (also a must for us this year).

5. Service weather-specific equipment: (My husband is really good at this.) Drain gas from the lawnmower. Put away summer gardening equipment and furniture. Tune up the snow blower. Have snow shovels, bags of ice-melt, and window scrapers handy.

6. Prevent plumbing freezes: Know where the shut off for the water main is located. Drain the garden hoses. Insulate exposed pipes.

7. Emergency readiness: Have candles and matches/lighter nearby. Store extra water and non-perishable food - canned tuna, nuts and raisins, and chocolates are a few that I like to have on hand. Use surge protectors for computer and electronic equipment. I can hardly wait for spring - those balmy days have been a tease! But in the meantime, we're ready for winter!

2011 was an interesting year in real estate in many respects. From my perspective, most of the sales I had in 2011 reflect a pattern that may continue into 2012.

Throughout the year, I had the pleasure of helping both Buyers and Sellers - each is special, each had specific dreams, each had specific needs, and some had to work through incredible adversity.

As I helped them, it became increasingly clear that there is a common thread in the market place. For the most part, the properties that are on the market are homes that are in a short sale position, are facing foreclosure, are dealing with the issues of a divorce, or have been inherited due to a family member’s passing.

From my recent experience, those who face a short sale are hard-working people who dreamed of home ownership and then found themselves unemployed, were unable to sustain the mortgage payments, and were unable to refinance because the market value of the home had declined. And what is little known in the market place is this: I can speak to those homeowners who took their responsibility seriously and struggled to make payments against all odds for long periods of time before they came to the realization that they could no longer sustain increasing debt.

On the other side of the coin, the market place provided opportunities for the Buyers who were qualified to buy – first-time buyers, investors with cash, and relocating families.

On the supply and demand side of the real estate market, there is very little new construction available, and I sense that there is a growing demand. Those developers and builders who have projects under way or are in the process of readiness are well-poised to capture that market.

From a business perspective, I analyze the real estate market at the end of each year, recognizing that all real estate is “local”. As I review the data provided by MLS-PIN regarding single-family homes sold in Plymouth County, MA and compare the first half of 2011 with the second half, there appear to be several stabilizing trends. Those stabilizing trends include: the number of single-family homes sold increased by 19%; the number of days on the market decreased by 8%; and the average sale price stayed somewhat steady.

While these are indicators of positive trends, real estate is always in flux due to local, economic, and environmental factors that impact it, and it would be foolhardy to predict the future. However, all in all, I anticipate that Buyers will continue to take advantage of low mortgage rates and opportunities that the market provides.

I’m also optimistic that the stabilizing trends in Plymouth County – an increase of the number of homes sold, the decrease in the number of days on the market, and steady pricing – will continue into 2012. Certainly, there will be bumps along the way, but the promising trend for 2012 appears to be “slow and steady"!

This story warmed my heart - here's the true meaning of Christmas!

At Kmart stores across the country, Santa got some help this year. Anonymous donors paid off strangers' layaway accounts, buying Christmas gifts other families couldn't afford.

The benefactors generally asked to help families who were squirreling away toys and children's clothes. They often paid a portion of the balance, usually all but a few dollars or cents so the layaway order stayed in the store's system.

"It is honestly being driven by people wanting to do a good deed at this time of the year," said the Kmart V.P. of layaway.

"You know, 50 bucks may not sound like a lot, but I tell you what, at the right time, it may as well be a million dollars for some people," said the assistant manager of one store.

Isn't it heartening to know that the true spirit of Christmas has infected so many people, despite our difficult economic times?!

Click here for the full story.

How much do you think you know about mortgages? Take this quiz to find out!

Price Grabber (for iPhone, iPad, and Android)

Developed by Pricegrabber.com, a leading website for online comparison shopping, these apps allow you to scan barcodes, compare products, read reviews, and create a "favorites list" all from the palm of your hand.

SnapTell  (for iPhone and Android)

ShopSavvy (for iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7, and BlackBerry)

RedLaser (for iPhone and Android)   

RedLaser compares product prices using TheFind.com, Google Product Search, eBay, and Half.com and finds stores that carry the item. However, the app offers more than just product comparisons. Book lovers can use it to locate books in their local libraries or online; gamers and electronics afficionados have instant access to product reviews; and people with allergies and special dietary needs can view allergy and nutritional facts about food products. If you can't find the barcode, RedLaser also accepts UPC and EAN codes.

Amazon Mobile (for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry)

The Amazon app gives you access to products on Amazon and other merchants. In addition to accessing existing Amazon account settings, you can also create a visual list of products through Amazon Remembers. The app searches for similar products using the photos on the list.

* Source of statistics: Experian

©2011 Buffini & Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

LGK NOVEMBER E-REPORTS