It’s that fun time of year again!  I’m so thankful to live in a country where we shoot cannons and explosives into the night sky to celebrate our freedom and not to overthrow repressive governments and dictators.  Around the world there is unrest—Honduras, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan are just a few of the world regions where freedom and the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are just a distant hope and dream.  I hope you will take some time this Independence Day to celebrate our treasured heritage with family and loved ones.  Remember always how blessed we are, how important it is to protect our freedom and to give thanks to those who came before us and sacrificed much to leave us the legacy and lifestyle we enjoy today.  To help you enjoy your 4th of July Holiday, here is a list of local holiday events, activities and of course Fireworks!

Andover

July 3: Andover High School, 80 Shawsheen Road with performance by Middlesex Concert Band at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks at dusk.

July 4: The Park, Bartlet Street, with jazz band concert at 8-9:30 a.m.; pancake breakfast (adults $5, children/seniors, $3; Horribles parade, 9:30 a.m.; children’s games, prizes and entertainment, 10-11:30 a.m.; Middlesex Concert Band, 10:30 a.m.-noon. 

North Andover

July 3: Town Common in Old Center with family picnic, music by Russ McQueen, beer and wine tent, 5-8 p.m.

July 4: Town Common, 28th annual Merrimack Valley Striders Road Race starts 8 a.m.; food, children’s games, crafters and display tents, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; doll carriage and bike parade, pony rides, Rotary Club castle, beer and wine tent, starting at noon. Fireworks at North Andover Middle School, 9 p.m. Free parking and shuttle service from North Andover High to common, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

July 5: Town Common with Military Appreciation Day non-denominational service at 9 a.m. with Ulysses S. Grant re-enactor, crafters and display tents, 10 a.m.; dunk tank, pony rides at noon; vintage baseball, 3 p.m.; performance by Jazz Disciples, 3:30 p.m.; beer and wine tent, noon.

• Right now you have more time to look, so you will be better armed with the knowledge of which houses have been sitting on the market for a while. These homeowners might be more likely to negotiate.
• Consider looking at new construction. Builders sometimes offer incentives and sometimes have very attractive financing programs.
• In certain areas that have been hit a bit harder by the market downturn, you certainly do have the upper hand whilst negotiating - and can always ask for an upgrade or a major repair before finalizing the deal.
• Sellers are often happy to work with your timeline. Don’t be afraid to ask for a closing date that's convenient for you.
• Even some lenders are willing to negotiate. You might ask for free private mortgage insurance, a better interest rate or even lower closing costs.
• Hire a Buyer Agent who is familiar with the area.  A good buyer agent will know her local market and be well equipped to negotiate the sale on your behalf.
• Sign up for free MLS listing alerts so you can see what homes are available in your Andover and North Andover neighborhood.

• “Profile” the neighborhood. Ask yourself these questions: Is the quality of the school system important? Is the commute do-able for you? Do you like to be within walking distance to shops and restaurants? Do you like quiet?
• Once you zero in on a neighborhood you like you must research all school information, crime statistics, parks and recreation, neighborhood association fees and tourist attractions. Armed with this information it will be easy to make a wise decision for you.
• Take the time to visit. Don’t downplay your first impression. Take note of the community’s rush hour patterns, it’s social ability factor, it’s streetlights at night. Drive by the schools. Shop in the local grocery store. Try to meet some of your potential neighbors. All of these visual clues can be very revealing.

If you have fallen into the category of a second-home owner who is having financial difficulty and trouble selling it, there are things that you can do to try and save money.

• Wait for rates to come down again and re-finance the loan.
• Hold off on any planned home improvements.
• Rent the property. You may rent your property for up to fourteen days before having to report the income to the I.R.S. This is a wonderful option if your property is near a popular annual event that brings in many out-of-towners needing places to stay for the event.
• Donate the home to charity. You can donate a week for a charity auction and then possibly deduct the fair market rental value from your income taxes. A home can be donated as a Life Estate, which gives the homeowner the right to live there until death and provides a large tax deduction.
• If you are ambitious you could hire a tax attorney and appeal your property taxes. Many property taxes were assessed on values at the peak of the market, and are now valued much lower.
• Write up a written agreement or family limited partnership to share the financial burden of the second home with a “partner”. This could be a family member, or not.

• Make sure that you have enough in savings to cover your mortgage while you find a new job, should you lose your job. Many experts recommend at the very least to have six months worth of savings to cover all expenses, including the mortgage.
• Understand before purchasing your home, all of the expenses that will be involved to maintain the home. If you are considering purchasing a fixer-upper, make a list of all of the inevitable things that will need to be replaced or repaired and their costs. 
• Consider your other expenses, such as your car payment or transportation costs, taxes, etc. and whether or not this new home will be affordable for you.

• Hiring an inspector could be the most cost-effective thing you ever do. This is true if they find a small problem that could morph into something much bigger down the line, such as a termite infestation or a water leak.
• Tremendous value is added by simply painting a room.
• Energy efficient homes that feature items such as special windows and/or programmable thermostats, save you money and are a marketable asset if you do need to sell.
• Landscaping improvements in the form of large shade trees make homes more desirable. They can also cut your cooling costs up to 40%.
• Improve your home’s air quality by replacing old carpeting, or removing it entirely if you are lucky enough to have hardwood flooring underneath.
• By adding a small luxury item such as a water filtration system, you are adding value to your home and saving yourself money since you will no longer need bottled water.
• Replace old fixtures such as an old ceiling fan for a newer, more updated-looking model. It will make your home more pleasant on hot days, and will appeal to buyers if you need to sell.

• Flowers, flowers, flowers. Nothing welcomes a potential buyer more to a home than colorful flowers.
• Keep walkways clear, trimmed and weeded.
• Patios must be power-washed.
• Windows should be sparkling.
• Dust everywhere. Even the baseboards.
• Since potential buyers look everywhere, make sure underneath your sinks and closets are clean, clutter-free and odor-free.
• Remove all personal items such as framed photos, awards and collectibles. Buyers need to be able to imagine the space as theirs.
• Paint any room that is a bright color, a neutral color.
• Remove any worn or outdated furniture.
• Repair any chipped or smudged paint, broken fixtures or squeaky doors.
• Toss worn carpets.
• Consider replacing dated hardware.

Elegant North Andover Colonial home for sale

 Elegant Colonial set on a picuresque acre lot. Sophisticated style and first class amenities throughout including central air conditioning , hardwood flooring, custom built-in cabinetry, 5 true bedrooms, 3.5 baths and more than 1000 square feet of beautiful lower level living space. In home office, plenty of storage and desirable cul-de-sac location.  Take a virtual tour  of this fine home, schedule a private showing by contacting me at RE/MAX Partners in Andover, MA or search the entire MLS and sign up for free email updates!