Andover | North Andover Real Estate & Home Town News

Historic Andover Home for Sale

Paulette Zuena — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:55:33 +0000

At the heart of Andover’s Historic Center is this gracious antique home.

Listd by Paulette Zuena,REMAX Partners.

Built in 1790 and owned for nearly 200 years by one of Andover’s founding families, the Abbots, this transitional Georgian-Federal style home is a true New England classic. Located on one of Andover’s most historic streets, this home preserves the charm, architectural detail and character of an antique home while offering all the amenities of today’s modern lifestyle.

Examples of some of the preserved original architecture include much of the original exterior clapboard with skived and lapped ends. Original windows and crown glass can be found in the family room, back bedroom and laundry room. Also featured in this home are 8 fireplaces all with period tools, 2 with ovens, and 2 which are regularly enjoyed by the current homeowners.

The living room, which once served as a law office, and dining room are both exquisitely refurbished in keeping with period details. Note the original wide plank flooring and wainscoting in both rooms as well as the Franklin stove in the dining room fireplace. Crown molding, built in shelving and custom window blinds further highlight these main living areas.

The kitchen at the Andover Historical Society, built by architect John Abbot is a copy of the home’s original kitchen. Recently modernized, the kitchen preserves its original character and features custom cabinets, granite counters, modern appliances and Viking range. For entertaining, the adjacent Butler’s pantry includes a wine refrigerator and second dishwasher. The first floor family room has a working fireplace and spacious living area making it perfect for less formal family gatherings.

Three staircases lead upstairs where you’ll find more original wide plank flooring in 3 of the 4 bedrooms and dressing area. There are 3 modern baths and ample closet and dressing areas. At the center of the home you’ll discover a private second story deck overlooking the home’s secluded rear gardens.

There are two detached garages. The lower garage at the rear of the property is one of only 240 buildings in the U.S. built by Buckminster Fuller’s Stockade Company adding to the unique appeal of this special home.

Outdoors you’ll enjoy the tranquility of beautifully landscaped grounds. The rear patio, perennial gardens, terraced walk ways and stonework provide a peaceful outdoor oasis.

Contact Paulette to schedule a private showing.

Fall housing market in Andover and North Andover

Paulette Zuena — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:45:45 +0000

Fall can be a great time to buy or sell a home. Historically, the fall season is often a busy time of year for home buyers and sellers in Andover and North Andover. According to MLS records, a total of 107 single family homes were sold in Andover and North Andover during September, October and November 2007. With the fall season upon us, it can be a great time to buy or sell a home. For more information about opportunities in today’s real estate market, contact Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners in Andover, MA.

Add value to your home for less than $50

Paulette Zuena — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:53:38 +0000

Paint the front door. You would be surprised at how much a bold, complimentary new door color will liven up the curb appeal. A freshly painted door will add instant impact to the front of your house.

Maintain your yard. A poorly maintained yard leaves the impression of a home in disrepair. Keep your lawn in good condition, haul away any trash and mow, prune and weed whack your yard often.

Install new cabinet handles. If you don’t want to go through the expense of installing new cabinets, swap out old, broken or unsightly handles with handsome new replacements. It’s easy and affordable.

Paint the walls. If you decide you want to update a room’s color palette, the right shade can dramatically change the feel of a room. Sometimes just painting one wall or section is all that’s needed.

Pressure-wash your home. You may not need to spend a lot of money repainting your home’s exterior. A good power wash will often have your paint job looking as good as new.

Contact Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners in Andover, MA for more ways you can improve the value of your home. This is especially important if you are thinking about selling your home.

Increase the value of your Andover or North Andover home

Paulette Zuena — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:58:41 +0000

If you’re considering a home improvement project consider the latest trends in home fashion and design. Take a look at some of these recent innovations in home design.

Surfaces: Engineered stone is more affordable and less porous than granite. Reflective glass tiles are becoming more popular than traditional ceramic tiles.

Flooring: Bamboo is tougher and more eco-friendly than wood flooring, but beware that low-cost versions risk warping. Concrete slabs are now retro-chic, along with exposed brick or steel in walls. Cork has become a hip, durable and quiet floor.

Home Automation Systems: Household functions including lighting, climate control, personal computers, window coverings and home entertainment systems can be wired and controlled by a single on-site or off-site control system.

Garage Conversions: Flooring, enclosed walls, lighting and furnishings can add usable living space and still provide for storage. Purpose-specific spaces are also popular in other parts of the home.

Contact me, Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners, Andover, MA for more ways to improve the value of your home.

Remodeling trends

Paulette Zuena — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:00:26 +0000

Is your home ready for a change? Even if you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money on a major remodel, there are many options that will give your home an instant facelift and provide a great return on your investment. Across the county, homeowners are looking to upgrade their homes with purpose and style. Whether to increase value, add functionality or create a more enjoyable living environment remodeling projects account for about 40% of all residential construction spending and about 2 per cent of the U. S. economy. Homes that lack features of other homes in the neighborhood tend to sell for less and stay on the market longer. Still its important to remember that some home improvement projects will give you a better return on your investment than others. For example, the addition of a new office, extra bath or a spare bedroom are projects which add the most value to your home while a "lifestyle" home improvement project such as a swimming pool or tennis court may be important to you as a home owner but may not add measurable real estate value. For more information about the latest trends in home design or to find out more about which projects will give you the greatest return on your home improvement investment, give me a call or contact me, Paulette Zuena, RE/MAX Partners in Andover, MA.

Don’t confuse a loan preapproval with a loan prequalification!

Paulette Zuena — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:30:10 +0000

Don’t confuse pre-qualification with pre-approval. If a lender pre-qualifies you for a loan, the lender is saying that based on the information you provided, you will probably be approved for a loan. Pre-approval indicates that the lender has examined your financial records and has determined that it will approve a loan up to a specific amount of money. Pre-approval is like having cash in hand. To provide final approval, all the lender needs to do is determine whether the value of the collateral (the appraised value of the property) is sufficient to cover the amount of the loan. Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners can help you arrange your mortgage preapproval. Then with your mortgage preapproval in hand you and Paulette Zuena will be ready to find your new home in Andover or North Andover, Massachusetts.

Financing your home in Andover and North Andover MA

Paulette Zuena — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:24:55 +0000

Having "cash in hand" means having the cash sitting in your bank account, but you can have the equivalent of "cash in hand" by lining up your financing in advance. For example, you can have any of the following financing already in place:

• Home equity line of credit: With a home equity line of credit, a lender allows you to borrow against the equity in your home. For example, if your home is worth $200,000, and you owe $80,000 on it, you may open a home equity line of credit for $100,000. The bank provides you with a check book for your home equity line of credit account, so you can make payments out of that account. You pay interest only on the money you borrow.

• Pre-approved financing: A lender can provide you with a pre-approval letter, essentially stating that based on your income, assets, liability, credit history, and other financial records, you are qualified to borrow a specific amount of money.

Remember, in the real estate business, money talks – and buyers with cash in hand are the buyers who get the best deals.

For more tips on how to get the best deal on your new home contact Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners in Andover, MA.

Having your financing in order can save you money when buying a home.

Paulette Zuena — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:06:14 +0000

Whenever you’re shopping for a home – whether you plan on living in it or using it as an investment property – you can usually get a better price when you have cash in hand. Why? Three reasons:

• A bird in the hand is worth a half dozen in the bush. Smart homeowners would rather sell to someone who is more likely to close on the deal rather than a buyer who might not be able to secure financing. This gives the sellers confidence to move forward with their purchase.

• Distressed homeowners may need to sell in a hurry. With cash, you can buy in a hurry, without having to wait for a lender to approve your loan.

• If you want to bid on a property at a foreclosure sale, you will need a certified check for the opening bid amount or at least enough to cover the deposit (usually about 10 percent). You have very little time to come up with the rest of the money – hours or days, not weeks or months.

Buying a home with Paulette Zuena

Paulette Zuena — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:36:57 +0000

In searching for your new home in Andover, North Andover or in neighboring communities I will assist you every step of the way…

Together we will develop a customized search specifically tailored to your needs.

I will listen carefully so I understand your objectives.

I will explain the home buying and financing process.

I will assist you in preparing, presenting and negotiating your offer to purchase according to your most favorable conditions while protecting your financial interest.

I will advise you regarding your home inspection options and review your options during and after your inspections.

I will review what happens from the time of contract through closing.

I will provide constant communication regarding the contract status, deliver contracts to appropriate parties and assist in finalizing all financing and closing conditions.

Buying your first home in Massachusetts

Paulette Zuena — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:05:03 +0000

Without a doubt we are living in an extraordinary information age. Media reports, statistics, advertising and market data are all truly at our fingertips. The key is understanding how all of the market reports, trends and mortgage options impact your unique personal, financial and family needs. Like all major financial decisions it’s important to have advise and knowledge you can depend upon. As a REMAX agent with expert knowledge of the Andover, North Andover and Boxford real estate markets I can help you find the facts you need to make a wise home buying decision. In my decade of experience helping both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs I understand that no two home buyers or sellers are alike. Please contact Paulette Zuena, to learn how I can help you find the home that’s right for you.