tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378294282012-02-02T17:11:41.713-05:00Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.comBlogger2181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-87656054125978778312012-02-02T17:11:00.001-05:002012-02-02T17:11:41.718-05:00

I had a client say something to me yesterday that I don't hear very often. "Gee, this house looks better in person than it does on line." Why are those such rare words?  Well, too many homebuyers decide not to look at anything that does look great on-line. Unfortunately, photos sometimes lie.  And while many of us get lured in by a stunning on-line presence of a so-so house, there are

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-77043421353020352162012-01-30T17:56:00.000-05:002012-01-30T17:56:04.315-05:00

I love talking to reporters but often cringe when I read what they write. This article didn't give me any reason to cringe. It's nothing but good news for Rochester. Enjoy the article!10 Real Estate Markets to Watch in 2012: Rochester, N.Y.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-81044865039873857662012-01-20T12:36:00.001-05:002012-01-20T12:36:34.523-05:00

The Greater Rochester Association of Realtors reported this morning that the number of accepted purchase offers in the fourth quarter of 2011 were up 93 percent, signaling a strong start to the market this year. Generally, purchase offers result in a close the following quarter. Home sales in the fourth quarter were up 5 percent over the same quarter of 2010 with 2,243 closings. I 

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-86871819348657334762012-01-11T14:11:00.001-05:002012-01-11T16:24:51.288-05:00

It sure seems that the whole world is learning what we've know for quite some time....Rochester, NY is an awesome place to call home.  Just this week, the city was ranked by The Street, a financial news website, as being poised for greatness in 2012! In the past six months, Forbes ranked Rochester first on the "Best Places to Buy a Home" list.  MSN says Rochester is at the top of the

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0Rochester, NY, USA43.16103 -77.610921943.0683715 -77.76885039999999 43.253688499999996 -77.4529934tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-62806027267850432462012-01-06T12:06:00.001-05:002012-01-06T12:08:47.475-05:00

If you are a senior citizen, aged 65 or older and own and occupy a house in the city of Rochester, you may qualify for a reduction in your school taxes.  This year, the senior tax exemptions will range from a 50 percent reduction for those with 2010 incomes of $29,000 or less, to a 5 percent reduction for those who didn’t earn more than $37,400. Applications must be in the City Assessor's

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0Rochester, NY, USA43.16103 -77.610921943.0683715 -77.76885039999999 43.253688499999996 -77.4529934tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-61014414533668945002011-09-19T10:29:00.004-04:002011-09-19T10:29:57.180-04:00

The house has been just sitting on the market.  No one has come to see it in weeks.  It's time to make a price adjustment and so I begin that dreadful conversation with the sellers. "Well, we are not in a big hurry to sell.  We are willing to wait for our price," they tell me.  UGH!!!!  GROAN!   And a few other words that I don't dare publish. More than ever before, buyers are

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-19707554263170570392011-08-13T13:14:00.001-04:002011-08-13T13:17:16.258-04:00

Whew! That feels good. Talk about the deal of a lifetime! We just cut more than $20,000 off the price of our home! Great negotiation skills? Nope! Foreclosure? Nada! Fire sale? No way. We just refinanced. And no, it wasn’t a 10 point drop in interest rates, either. The secret to our savings is reducing the term of the mortgage. We went from a 15 year mortgage to a ten year mortgage. Our

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-92187861173856503172011-04-29T13:11:00.001-04:002011-04-29T13:11:42.878-04:00

I showed a very nice, very expensive home earlier this week in which the dog had peed all over the welcome mat! My buyers love the house and had me write up an offer but then had me tear it up. What if they couldn’t get rid of the smell? Pets are unpredictable and I’m betting that this pooch was just stressed by all the sudden interest in the place he calls home. And then I was at a meeting with

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-44758124499676212672011-04-06T12:30:00.001-04:002011-04-06T12:32:40.561-04:00

With a difficult real estate market, almost nothing is more important than stagging when you are getting ready to sell a house. I was quite excited to find this clip from Pottery Barn (after all, what's more exciting than a house described as a Pottery Barn decor !) but was left a little unimpressed. Is it just me? What do you think of these coffee table decorations???

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-83298060519341634392011-03-29T10:55:00.000-04:002011-03-29T10:55:45.514-04:00

I remember buying my first home like it was yesterday. It was a fixer upper, which is all I could afford at the time. The only reason the roof didn’t leak was it was the bottom floor of a condo building. The windows did leak, and not just air. One morning I woke up to find a small pile of snow in my kitchen. But this was a great investment for me. Located on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., I

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-13425383010874612632011-03-27T08:49:00.000-04:002011-03-27T08:49:52.094-04:00

Monthly Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP) will increase effective April 18, 2011 and so if you are on the verge of buying a house with a FHA mortgage, consider pulling the trigger and applying for a mortgage by April 17th!  The upfront premium remains unchanged at 1.0% of the base mortgage.  In addition, down payment minimum remains at 3.5% and maximum seller concessions is still allowed at 6%

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-85778666107603600002011-03-23T22:22:00.000-04:002011-03-23T22:22:58.537-04:00

I like it where I live and apparently so do some other people. Last weekend I wrote an offer for $5000 over asking and I’m sorry to say the house went to another bidder! Why did we offer so much? Well, we lost a house the week before by writing only a thousand over asking. That’s pretty amazing considering there are parts of the Rochester area where houses sit on the market for weeks and months,

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-67228609113378340912011-03-17T21:11:00.001-04:002011-03-17T21:12:59.046-04:00

I've spent the last few weeks running from Kendal to Canandaigua to Byron.  Tomorrow I will be near Lyndonville.  I love everything about the jaunts into the country side except filling my gas tank. Here are a few shots from the last two weeks. Kind of nice to see the ground again, isn't it?

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-66068534353668801652011-03-15T10:29:00.000-04:002011-03-15T10:29:46.978-04:00

No one will sell you a house for less than what you offer, right? So why not start very, very low with the first offer? Sometimes it works. I’ve had very low offers accepted without a single counter. Almost always it’s because the house has been on the market for a while and the seller is simply sick and tired of the process. More often, it doesn’t work. My most notable transaction was

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-20220329490611245262011-03-14T21:40:00.002-04:002011-03-14T21:41:55.314-04:00

My clients cleaned and painted and staged. Finally, we put a ‘for sale’ sign in the front yard. For weeks, they walked on egg-shells trying to keep the house ready to show at a moment’s notice. And finally we got the call! An offer was coming in. As soon as I picked up the offer, I knew my clients would not be happy. It was $30,000 off asking and this was not an expensive house. What I didn’t

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-35284834771270767972011-02-19T11:30:00.003-05:002011-02-19T11:50:39.729-05:00

Has this frightful weather got you down? A visit this week to the George Eastman House may just be what the doctor orders. There are just seven days left to the museum's Dutch Connection 2011 exhibit.(closes February 26, 2011. Daffodils, tulips and hyacinths Oh My! Not only is this a visual treat, but the fragrance is heavenly! Here are a few photos I took there yesterday.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-5726199861805167652011-01-02T22:11:00.000-05:002011-01-02T22:11:58.990-05:00

I like New Years and fresh starts and resolutions. I make lots of New Year’s resolutions. It’s not that I don’t like the way that I am, it is just that I thrive when I’m challenged. So I set lots of goals. I do lots of the typical “eat less, exercise more and get organized resolutions.” I also resolve to visit new places, learn new skills and have fun. But one of my best resolutions was to get

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-23843121557899526462010-12-20T12:32:00.000-05:002010-12-20T12:32:38.189-05:00

Every year it is a debate whether or not to leave a house on the market during the period between Thanksgiving and New Years. I tell my clients that it is a personal decision. First off, it is very unlikely that their house is going to get an offer if it is not on the market. Second, traffic should be light but those that are looking are most likely serious buyers. But if you struggle with keep

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-42420230365572803222010-11-13T21:56:00.001-05:002010-11-13T21:59:55.920-05:00

It's no secret that houses are not flying off the market like they were a few years ago.  Buyers are as picky as ever and tend to look at everything on the market before they make a decision.  If you're trying to sell your home, it's important that it shows as well as possible.  Over the next few weeks, I plan  to provide some general information about getting your house in tip-top showing

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-36781886249610314982010-11-11T18:53:00.001-05:002010-11-11T18:53:41.886-05:00

Veterans Day 2010 Originally uploaded by maryshelsby Remembering all the men and women of our Armed Forces who have and are keeping us safe. Thank you for all your sacrifices.This shot was taken at the Vietnam Memorial at Rochester's Highland Park.On a real estate note, one big change in the market is that investors are back! Perhaps they recognize the bargain basement prices out there, but I've

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-15115925593796767422010-11-03T15:26:00.000-04:002010-11-03T15:26:29.207-04:00

It’s been almost a full year since I’ve made a serious post to my blog. It’s not that I’ve forgotten about it or lost interest, I’ve just been distracted. For one thing, I’ve become a photo-holic. I’ve always liked to take pictures but I realized it was a real problem when my camera up and died in September 2009 and I came unglued. I could not rest until I went out and bought a bigger and

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-30010188660062444022010-08-14T11:00:00.000-04:002010-08-14T11:00:09.992-04:00

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-86882959933577031882010-08-07T08:12:00.000-04:002010-08-07T08:12:46.081-04:00

Beautiful 3 bedroom colonial in Irondequoit is being offer for $109,000.  The property features a newer roof, furnace, bathroom and many new windows.  The beautiful living room is large with a wood burning fireplace.  The kitchen is eat-in plus there is a formal dining room.  Be sure to stop by and see this property on Sunday, August 8 from noon till 1:30. The address is 463 Harwick Road,

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-60218205904671140422010-05-31T10:59:00.001-04:002010-05-31T10:59:37.526-04:00

Remembering Originally uploaded by maryshelsbyTaken at the Viet Nam Memorial at Rochester's Highland Park. I wish you a fun and safe Memorial Day and hope you will take a moment to remember those that gave their life so that we live free.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-77536913950518105942010-02-17T21:04:00.002-05:002010-02-18T23:00:00.646-05:00

Gosh, it's the middle of February and the blog still screams "Happy Holidays!" No, I've not gotten fat and lazy this winter. It's been extremely busy. I started the new year on January 2nd, by working with three different buyers that day and I've been running ever since. Just as predicted, the spring market hit Rochester early this year even if the weather was still winter-like. And for all the

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-5269234874995468452009-12-22T10:59:00.001-05:002009-12-22T11:00:54.058-05:00

With a few more houses on the market than what is normal for the holiday season, the question keeps coming up about decorating. My advice, over and over, is to keep it simple and elegant. That goes for inside decorating as well as outside.Speaking of outside decorating, the Democrat and Chronicle has put together a map of notable holiday light displays. To check out that map, go here: http://

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-834804307370357062009-12-17T17:26:00.002-05:002009-12-19T09:07:56.230-05:00

Just hit the market on this cold, blustery Rochester morning! (details at www.RochestersBestHomes.com/931215 )A beautiful 3 bedroom home on a simply gorgeous street in West Irondequoit. With beautiful hardwoods through, this home has lots of period charm plus many important updates, such as a newer roof and vinyl siding. And once the weather breaks, you'll enjoy the professionally landscaped

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1Irondequoit, NY, USA43.2133955 -77.579722643.150841 -77.6964521 43.275949999999995 -77.46299309999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-70404889471708050672009-12-11T16:28:00.001-05:002009-12-11T16:29:46.080-05:00

When the weather outside is frightful, you can usually count on the real estate phone going to sleep. Not this year! I worked with three different buyers yesterday during the raging snow storm. And of the 7 houses I showed, three of them were new to the market this week. That’s not a typical December day for Rochester, NY.With less than 140 days to be under contract to qualify for the home buyer

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-68021098117662269982009-12-07T14:48:00.001-05:002009-12-07T14:49:48.596-05:00

Right now, I'm getting more phone calls from people wanting to sell their home than individuals that want to buy a home. That's a change and I think it's been brought on by the federal tax credit for repeat buyers that have owned their current resident for at least 5 years. Of course, there are a million things to do to get your house ready for the market....cleaning, organizing, de-cluttering

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-28524598921538270092009-12-04T13:57:00.002-05:002009-12-04T13:59:43.091-05:00

I've made a few phone calls this week to individuals that might want to take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit being offered to qualified home buyers and was very surprised at how uninformed and/or misinformed the general public is about this program.Most importantly, this is a tax credit, not a deduction on your income tax. For most first time home buyers, the credit is for 10% of the purchase

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-44227202588487604252009-11-26T11:34:00.001-05:002009-11-26T11:34:25.547-05:00

Highland Maples Originally uploaded by maryshelsbyJust a quick note between stuffing the turkey and peeling the potatoes. I have much to be thankful for. I have a wonderful supportive husband and an awesome family back in Maryland. I am affiliated with the best real estate company that Rochester has to offer, ReMax First. And 99.9 percent of my clients feel like friends and family. There is

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-36814563443583170972009-11-09T16:07:00.002-05:002009-11-09T16:23:30.036-05:00

In some parts of the country, it's not unusual to pay a million dollars or more to buy a nice house but in the Rochester, NY area it is a rarity. In fact, for a measly million dollars you get a really, really, REALLY nice house!For just over a million, $1,059,000 to be exact, you can purchase a 6 bedroom, 3.5 bath waterfront front home with a 36 foot indoor pool, hot tub and three fireplaces. For

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-6831115552736118092009-11-07T15:45:00.001-05:002009-11-07T15:46:57.006-05:00

I just can't be quiet about the beautiful Autumn Mum Display at Lamberton Conservatory, scheduled to run till the end of November. The display featured darn near every type and color of mum you can imagine. It is beautiful. The Conservatory, located in Highland Park, only charges $3 to enter and is open every day except Christmas from 10 am til 4 pm. Enjoy the extraordinary weather Rochester

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-78901785043851149102009-11-04T09:55:00.001-05:002009-11-04T09:56:38.445-05:00

Did you vote yesterday? I hope so. When I showed up at the polls at 8:40 last night, we had less than a 20 percent turnout. And then we complain about not liking what's going on around here.Anyway, speaking of politics, this seems like an excellent time to endorse the efforts to extend (and possibly expand) the tax credit for first time homebuyers that is scheduled to expire on November 30,

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-38116966171842644952009-10-31T12:47:00.002-04:002009-10-31T16:39:19.640-04:00

I didn't mean to startle you. I know I've not been around for a while and have fallen behind in blogging. I guess you could say I've had the blogger blahs.I'll be back soon with a bunch of good real estate tips and news. In the meantime, have a fun and safe Halloween.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-89127329895587383602009-08-21T08:44:00.001-04:002009-08-21T20:29:40.266-04:00

It's that time again! We had such fun last month that I've decided to do it again.Do you know the location of the clock? Leave a guess as a comment in the blog (or shoot me an e-mail) and I'll send a gift card to the third person with the correct answer. (No realtors, please!)Mary ShelsbyReMax First585-756-7457

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-83625959282965329682009-08-20T14:11:00.000-04:002009-08-20T14:11:06.161-04:00

Last night, a young couple that I’ve been working with for several months found a beautiful home in their price range. The kitchen was simply stunning with Shaker style cabinets and a beautiful tile backsplash and floor. Both bathrooms were updated and the hardwoods were in great condition. It was so beautiful that it was easy to overlook that Rt. 490 was in its back yard. The highway was so

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-82137564822566904432009-08-16T00:00:00.000-04:002009-08-16T00:00:44.109-04:00

It seems like the topic of seller concessions keep coming up during the negotiation processes. Often, we will be receiving a counter offer from the seller when my buyer calls me up. “My dad says the seller should be paying my closing costs!” FHA and VA mortgages allow for a seller to pay the buyer’s closing costs up to an amount equal to six percent of the purchase price. For most

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-67534270285663108162009-08-07T14:34:00.002-04:002009-08-07T15:11:12.879-04:00

Great new listing in the Neighborhood of the Arts.  Check it out with this link:  32 Delaware St Rochester, NY 14607 Shared via AddThis

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-1284728100311299712009-08-02T21:09:00.001-04:002009-08-02T21:12:02.179-04:00

Rochester has many great neighborhoods but one of my favorites has to be the Neighborhood of the Arts. Jammed packed with culture, the NotA features the Memorial Art Gallery, George Eastman House, Village Gate and ARTWalk. The neighborhood also offers great shopping, restaurants and drinking holes. If you've not checked it out, ARTWalk is a permanent urban art trail that connects the art

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0Rochester, New York, USA43.155480911291896 -77.5827026367187543.1398274112919 -77.61188513671875 43.171134411291895 -77.55352013671875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-6903173346702323342009-07-28T16:38:00.001-04:002009-07-28T16:39:25.288-04:00

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, less people moved last year than in any year since 1962! And of course, the U.S. population was much smaller then and so it you look at it as a percentage, in 2008 just 11.9 percent of Americans changed residences, the lowest move rate on record since 1948. I find that rather surprising.So, how are we doing locally in 2009. By the numbers, it doesn't look

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-88197321290771141152009-07-23T13:42:00.002-04:002009-07-23T13:52:12.129-04:00

Wow! I've seen some dirty houses on the market in recent weeks. I'm not talking dust bunnies, I'm talking dust gorillas. And these aren't cheap houses either.At one of these houses, my client turned to me and said I feel like I'd just be buying their mess. I assured her we could require that the house be professionally cleaned at closing but the husband shook his head and said, “If they can't

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-52691314406979272522009-07-16T15:43:00.002-04:002009-07-16T15:51:33.737-04:00

Do you know the location of this photo? Be the third person with the correct answer and I'll give you a $20 gift certificate to Tim Hortons. (No licensed realtors, please.) Leave your answer as a comment or shoot me an e-mail.I've been supplying photos to the Greater Rochester Real Estate Board for a similar contest during the past few years and its been a ton of fun. I hope you enjoy it as

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-73372120932999434852009-07-12T19:03:00.004-04:002009-07-12T19:18:08.215-04:00

I am advising all of my first time home buyer clients to be under contract by Labor Day to qualify for the federal tax credit being offered to most home buyers that have not owned a home in the past three years. I don’t really think it is going to take 80 plus days for a transaction to close but I do anticipate gridlock at banks and attorney offices. I do know of several real estate attorneys

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-5975399231903299512009-07-10T12:18:00.001-04:002009-07-10T12:42:32.743-04:00

Lucky, lucky me! I hot to show property on Lake Ontario this morning and it was a simply beautiful day for it. Should be a good weekend as well! I hope so! Look for me at the Corn Hill Arts Festival, credit card in hand, doing my part to improve the economy. There is a lot going on in local real estate and I'll be updating soon, perhaps this evening. I promise! Enjoy the wonderful weather!

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-19781295671445515002009-06-17T12:59:00.004-04:002009-06-17T22:37:29.785-04:00

I learned something new today regarding the Federal Tax credit for first time home buyers (defined as not owning a home in the past 3 years.) If you purchase a 2-family unit as your primary residence, you are only eligible for half of the tax credit and only a third of the credit if you purchase a three-family unit, etc.There are still no local mortgage lenders that are providing a short term

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-33480923856106350732009-06-15T09:28:00.000-04:002009-06-15T09:28:07.194-04:00

The City of Rochester is offering a lead grant for rental properties that will assist with 90% of the lead remediation related project cost up to $18,000 per unit for porch repair/ replacement, window/door repair/replacement, painting and bare soil treatment. In extreme cases, funding may be used for exterior siding. Landlords are required to contribute 10% of the total project cost. There

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-88121448023669997202009-06-12T11:26:00.001-04:002009-06-12T11:26:58.593-04:00

I've not done a home buyer Seminar in a couple of years but there is so much good stuff going on right now with the $8000 first time home buyer credit that the timing just seems right. So mark your calendar or tell a friend. Wednesday, June 24, 6 to 7:30 pm at 2024 W. Henrietta Road, Suite 2A; which is the home office of First Rochester Mortgage Corp. I'm real proud of the impressive panel of

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-21958449244666145012009-06-08T15:48:00.000-04:002009-06-10T16:04:10.345-04:00

There is absolutely nothing more fun in real estate than calling your buyers and saying, “Congratulations! Your offer was accepted!” And there is almost nothing worse than calling buyers and having to tell them their offer was out-bided. My weekend started off marvelously when I showed a house in Brighton to a young family that had been looking most of this year. We were the very first to get

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-65193718220734562382009-05-28T13:26:00.000-04:002009-05-28T13:26:59.325-04:00

I’m writing to you to ask for your support! For the past 5 years or so, I’ve supported the Golisano Children’s Hospital by donating a portion of my real estate commission for every house that I’ve sold. Well, it’s no secret that the economy has had a strong impact on the real estate market and so this past year was far from my most productive year. As a result, I’ve decided to take my support

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-34782636273098824452009-05-24T21:39:00.000-04:002009-05-24T22:36:26.739-04:00

The weather just can't be beat right now, just perfect for a holiday cookout. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday weekend. Please do take a moment to remember our veterans. The Vietnam Memorial at Highland Park is an excellent spot for that.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-25926049882319157872009-05-24T11:20:00.001-04:002009-05-24T11:29:10.717-04:00

For the past two weeks or so, there have been rumors galore that first time home buyers will be able to borrow their federal tax credit in order to use that money for closing costs and down payment towards the purchase of a home. The details have not yet been worked out but I think this is going to happen. There are some technicalities that have to be worked out because basically you are not

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-49640247664020613012009-05-20T16:39:00.002-04:002009-05-20T16:44:38.668-04:00

Property is selling in Rochester, NY, thanks in part to the federal first time home buyer tax credit. I've been struggling to keep up but Colin and Sean were a big help in putting a sold sign in front of their home in Southeast Rochester. Thanks guys. Hopefully, I'll be able to squeeze out a little time over the next couple of days to catch up on blogging!

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-29773175584709700272009-04-29T12:45:00.000-04:002009-04-29T12:45:40.475-04:00

Okay, I'm getting grumpy! I'm tired and have not had a day off in a while. With that being said, let me get this off my chest! The purpose of the home inspection is NOT to renegotiate the terms of the sale. If you put in a purchase offer on a house with a tarp over the garage roof, don't expect $5000 concession because the inspector says the garage is a piece of crap. The purpose of the

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-54015018210345396582009-04-27T21:45:00.002-04:002009-04-27T22:04:29.919-04:00

At some parks, there are signs telling you not to leave the walkway. But not so at Rochester's Highland Park. In fact, they have many park benches well off the beaten path just beckoning you to come and sit and ponder. What a delightful way to spend a spring day. Highland Park might be best know for its lilacs but I believe the magnolias are just as spectacular, if not more so. The warm

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0Rochester, New York, USA43.13030509517499 -77.6057052612304743.09898559517499 -77.66407026123046 43.16162459517499 -77.54734026123047tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-13108042109077325692009-04-19T09:46:00.002-04:002009-04-19T09:55:53.387-04:00

54 Westmoreland Drive. Cute house in a wonderful location. This property qualifies for up to $9000 in grants for full and part time employees of the University of Rochester. In addition, if you have not owned a home in the past three years, you may qualify for the $8000 federal tax credit if you close before December 1, 2009. Stop by and see me today at my open house from 1 to 3 or call me

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-26722828170397500252009-04-06T12:37:00.002-04:002009-04-06T12:48:50.047-04:00

Very, very, very quickly!Case in point, a new listing came up Friday afternoon. There were no photos but my clients decided to drive by anyway. They called me from the driveway and said we want want to see this. I pull up the listing and there is not even a flowery description of the property and call to get the appointment. There is no sign in the yard so I drive right by it but we get to see it

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-69156529127177145612009-04-05T08:43:00.001-04:002009-04-05T08:45:15.596-04:00

I've got a very good feeling that young people have been watching the news and learning from the messy financial situation facing the country and world these days. While they are enticed by the excellent market conditions (very low mortgage rates, lower house prices and a tax credit!!) there is a lot of concern and conservatism regarding personal finances. Hooray! I am meeting more and more

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-11226165808956972102009-03-26T16:17:00.000-04:002009-03-26T16:17:24.043-04:00

The only reason I have time to update my blog this week is that more than half of the houses that I've called on to schedule a showing have already been sold.  In fact, one house had an accepted offer at 6 pm on the very day it was put on the market.  I think it is safe to say that the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit is doing it's job to stimulate the real estate market. I did a quick

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-53681530606400528632009-03-16T09:16:00.002-04:002009-03-16T09:20:25.340-04:00

Some of my clients think I'm a little crazy when I advocate for buying ugly houses. Now I'm not talking butt-ugly. I'm talking about the type of ugly that a coat of paint or perhaps new carpet will fix. And I advocate for that type of house because that is where the best deals are.Houses with "Pottery Barn Decor" are fun to look at but you will "ohh and ahh" all the way to the bank if you

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-69394567764302457672009-03-12T21:48:00.002-04:002009-03-12T21:51:06.269-04:00

I spent the day in Albany yesterday with approximately 50 other Realtors from both Rochester and Buffalo to meet with several of our state legislators to discuss upcoming legislation that affects local homeowners and the real estate market.The most important item on our agenda was the need for property tax relief. New Yorkers pay an exorbitant amount of property taxes and Western New Yorkers pay

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-55191018072596688322009-02-18T12:24:00.001-05:002009-02-18T12:25:39.749-05:00

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has plenty of good news for first time home buyers that buy between January 1 and November 3, 2009. See yesterday's post for more information. One new detail has emerged that I didn't know yesterday. If a buyer takes the tax credit, it doesn't need to be repaid if they stay in the house for three years or more. If they sell before three years, the

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-79369312275775283282009-02-17T14:00:00.002-05:002009-02-17T14:02:38.884-05:00

Unless you've been hiding out in a dark cave for the past month or so, you probably know that President Obama is signing into law a huge economic package designed to rescue the economy. Since real estate is a major part of the U.S. economy there are several important provisions that hopefully will stimulate the U.S. and Rochester real estate markets.Since this is still a bill and not yet a law, a

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-35720538416697788962009-02-04T21:09:00.033-05:002009-02-12T17:42:09.045-05:00

I am running into buyers that cannot be convinced to sit down with a mortgage loan officer to be pre-approved for financing early in the home searching process. Perhaps if I share a true life story about getting a mortgage in 2009, they will be more receptive to my nagging!A client that I've worked with for several years was pre-approved for financing with a score approaching 800. During the time

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-67651409358245963052009-01-26T08:37:00.006-05:002009-01-26T08:56:48.990-05:00

Here's a house that definitely should be sale pending! This 3 bedroom colonial with finished basement needs painting and other cosmetics but is a steal at the current list price of $63,000. Details and inside photos at Bay St . What makes this such a good deal? Similar properties in this neighborhood have sold for prices in the $73,000 to $83,000 range. Here are the recent sales: Customer Full

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-77723414008723250722009-01-25T11:50:00.001-05:002009-01-25T12:18:55.734-05:00

This should come as no surprise. New York homeowners pay highest property taxes in nationAccording to a recent report by the Washington-based Tax Foundation, New Yorkers are saddled with the highest property tax burden in the nation. The counties paying the highest actual property taxes in the nation are Westchester and Nassau with average burdens nearing $8,000 per year. Monroe County ranks

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-53506819203346146732009-01-14T15:44:00.004-05:002009-06-25T11:59:44.916-04:00

It's a new year and time for new dreams. Just a few years ago, it was very rare to find a property for sale in the Rochester area for $1,000,000 or more. Currently, there are more than 30 listings of luxury homes with a million dollar or higher price tag. And with today's difficult economic climate, these prices are dropping faster than a brick out of a 3rd floor window. Here is a link to

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-41345498767560746622008-12-30T12:35:00.003-05:002008-12-30T14:23:37.680-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone! This is a perfect time of the year to reflect back and plan for the future. As I look back over 2008, the thing that keeps coming to mind is "The Day the Phone Stopped Ringing!" Literally! I was having a little slower than average year with about 20 sales when suddenly, around September 1, 2008 no one wanted to look at real estate, no one wanted to sell real estate, no

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-83702559621366827842008-12-22T21:07:00.001-05:002008-12-22T22:45:53.995-05:00

Santa's sled should have no problem swooping from roof top to roof top here in the Rochester area as we have about 2 feet of snow on the ground. And once he gets inside, boy what treasures for his eyes! I put out an invite to my former clients and all blog readers to submit photos of their holiday decoration, and boy, what a treat it has been. I received several entries from Mendon, including

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-82333387688529681992008-12-22T20:18:00.007-05:002008-12-22T22:26:19.734-05:00

Fran and Pat (yes, the one and only from http://www.patandfran.com/ fame!) from the neighborhood of the arts e-mailed me a beautiful photo of their Christmas tree. It's been several years since I've been inside their home so it was nice to get a glimpse of it from the photo. I received several entries from the suburbs as well! Mark and Tricia of Mumford sent a photo of their beautiful red Isaac

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-30237473285091155532008-12-01T11:49:00.001-05:002008-12-01T13:09:58.462-05:00

It is a question that comes up a lot this time of year, “should we keep our house on the market through the holidays?” One for thing is certain, you have a much better chance of selling it if it is on the market than off. That being said, keep in mind that there are fewer home shoppers during late November and the month of December. Those that are out there are generally pretty serious shoppers.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-58201764328570050172008-11-27T08:40:00.001-05:002008-11-27T09:09:34.121-05:00

Maybe it's your mantel. Or perhaps you have a knack at stringing garland along your staircase. Is your tree too pretty for words? Does your yard cause traffic jams? Maybe I'm just nosy but I'm just dieing to know how you decorate for the holidays. So I'm asking all readers of my blog, even first-time readers, to send me your digital picture of your holiday décor (inside or out) before

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-11194661007498189822008-11-24T21:09:00.002-05:002008-11-24T21:51:59.604-05:00

I found a wonderful web site and since it is Thanksgiving week, it is an especially good time to visit it. It is designed to allow the public to send postcards to the troops overseas. The post cards were designed by school children across the country and they are adorable. You choose a design, then choose a message or write one of your own, then hit the send button. Xerox then takes care of

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-91361107317382182742008-11-23T12:43:00.001-05:002008-11-23T12:56:55.995-05:00

Do you twitter? I'm trying! I just signed up this morning and so looking for twitter pointers. Right now I've got one follower. It's Barack Obama! I guess things have slowed way down since the elections because I got a notice that he was following me about 30 minutes after I signed up to twitter. How's that for big brother watching over your shoulder!Anyway, I'm serious. My Twitter handle

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-5741716313272280912008-11-19T10:50:00.002-05:002008-11-19T11:12:13.093-05:00

Some of my least favorite words in Rochester are "Lake Affect!" Well, we've had some lake affect over the past few days which left a nice blanket on Nathaniel Rochester. Photo taken at the Sculpture "Reflecting," located at South Avenue and Alexandria Streets, in the South Wedge. For more information about Nathaniel Rochester and his interesting life, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-24978645887876795732008-11-18T22:37:00.001-05:002008-11-18T23:11:09.951-05:00

Usually, I can hardly wait to check my e-mail. You might say I'm an e-mail-holic! But it seems that in the past few weeks, I've found more bad news e-mails than good news e-mail. And pretty much all of the bad news has to do with employment, or more accurately, lack of it. All the scary news on television starts to hit home when you hear from a recent client that they no longer have a job or

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-53154929813417418372008-11-07T16:57:00.002-05:002008-11-07T17:21:11.823-05:00

Usually, the first home is the most difficult to buy. In most cases, you must still pay rent while trying to pull together the funds needed for closing costs and down payment. Well, M & T Bank has a very nice program to help low and moderate income buyers save for a down payment.The M & T First Home Club is a savings plan in which participants must make a monthly deposit into a M & T savings

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-85868093915312257892008-11-05T11:01:00.002-05:002008-11-05T11:37:55.807-05:00

One of the very best things about being a real estate agent, is turning over the keys to excited buyers at closing. There is always such optimism about the new beginning.But sometimes things don't work out to be happy ever after, especially in today's economic climate. I just noticed a listing for a house I just sold a couple of years ago. It sold for $127,500 but is now being offered at $114,000

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-16653127512391808292008-11-04T07:55:00.003-05:002008-11-04T09:35:25.630-05:00

To watch the media today, it's easy to conclude that the next president has already been chosen. But in the last few weeks I've asked hundreds of individuals if they knew who they were voting for and many, perhaps even most, were still undecided.I've found a web site that takes personality, race and even Saturday Night Live out of the mix and instead focuses on the issues. You answer 12 questions

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-17825641821138330722008-11-03T12:18:00.001-05:002008-11-03T13:47:49.501-05:00

Last week I showed two properties back-to-back that were listed as potential short sales (the bank agreeing to taking less than owed, i.e., shortage) but when I arrived both had bright "Winterized" caution stickers and duct-taped toilets that indicate foreclosure. So I was surprised when I got an e-mail stating that in the state of New York, foreclosures are down 10 percent in the third quarter

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-8856380465839969102008-10-31T20:02:00.001-04:002008-10-31T20:10:33.343-04:00

Have a super Halloween!

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-58434625680804920132008-10-30T10:46:00.002-04:002008-10-30T11:04:43.229-04:00

Maybe you got an e-mail from me asking you to vote for my photos. Maybe I tried to bribe you with coffee and asked you to vote for my photos. Or maybe it was the tears as I pleaded with you to vote for my photos. Whatever it was, it worked because not only is one of my photos included in the Capture Rochester Book but it also won a People's Choice Award for being one of the top 25 photos in the

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-82270626152569530472008-10-28T08:53:00.001-04:002008-10-28T09:21:39.975-04:00

It's been tough to blog lately. I'm a firm believer in the saying that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. So I've been silent. There is not much nice to say about the local real estate market right now.I've got clients, mostly buyers, but they just are not finding anything to buy. It seems that with all the doom and gloom in the news, sellers are not selling unless

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-50167545476458484512008-10-06T08:44:00.001-04:002008-10-06T08:58:33.991-04:00

I know that this mornings headlines scream that the credit crunch hits local, but after surveying several banks and mortgage brokers, I've learned there are still mortgages available in Rochester! In fact, you don't need perfect credit either. FHA insured mortgages are still available for individuals with a credit score as low as 580 with 2.25% down payment!!! Minimum down payments will increase

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-13714110247851911412008-10-01T08:03:00.006-04:002008-10-01T08:21:32.379-04:00

When I was 16, it seemed like the whole world evolved around the phone. There were no e-mails or text messages. In fact, there were no cell phones and instead of voice mail, there were busy signals or no answers. As a result, there were many hours spent fretting, waiting for the phone to ring.Well, I'm feeling like I'm 16 again. I didn't sell a single house in September and I've spent many hours

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-27141100302500060442008-09-28T14:54:00.007-04:002008-09-28T16:08:49.382-04:00

Blogging is all about telling you what I think but for a moment I'd like to switch roles. I'd like to know what you think. The news, as usual, is full of doom and gloom and is reporting an economic crisis. Are you feeling an impact from the economy and is it impacting your decisions about real estate? I've put together a quick and unscientific survey about the 2008 Rochester Real Estate Market.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-50371358333765667812008-09-27T13:10:00.003-04:002009-06-16T10:38:53.553-04:00

I set a goal this year to walk the entire Riverwalk, a 15 mile urban trail that starts at the Port of Rochester and runs south along the Genesee River to Genesee Valley Park. I've done numerous mini trips and have yet to see the entire thing, but I got to tell you it is TREMENDOUS. The walk includes a lighthouse, three waterfalls, numerous historic districts, the Erie Canal aqueduct, many parks

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-54909667158473379152008-09-27T08:38:00.001-04:002008-09-27T09:17:08.574-04:00

I've worked with many a first time homebuyers that have long term goals of building a portfolio of investment property. Often they start with a starter home with plans to stay there for just a few years. As they get more established in careers, they plan to buy a bigger and better home but retain the starter home for rental income. Well, that scenario is about to become a whole lot more

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-46485217164386160292008-09-25T15:17:00.004-04:002008-09-25T15:46:33.351-04:00

With all the turbulence in the stock market the past few weeks, I'm starting to hear from investors again! As one client put it yesterday, he's losing money in his 401K but seeing a 20% return on his city of Rochester rental properties. He wants to buy at least one more property before the end of the year.What is nice about this particular client is that he knows that rental properties do not

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-80300380051960250912008-09-08T20:24:00.005-04:002008-09-08T21:01:25.881-04:00

What does the news about the Federal Government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mean to Rochester area home buyers and sellers? The biggest immediate news is a significant drop in mortgage rates. Home buyers Kerry Ryan and Joel Jensen have an accepted purchase offer on a property with a scheduled closing of October 15. Their inspections are done and mortgage commitment received two weeks

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-73932965198916935452008-09-05T08:57:00.007-04:002008-09-05T10:42:45.080-04:00

I lost my business partner this week. Tasha, our beloved Lab and Rottweiler mix, loved to sleep in my home office and so we nicknamed her "The Real Estate Dog." And she was so attuned to my routines that as I would prepare to leave for a business appointment, she would plant herself at the back door, wag her tail and plead to go with me."No, Tasha, I'm not selling dog houses today. You'll going

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-73720522525723390742008-08-23T11:05:00.003-04:002008-08-23T11:18:33.974-04:00

Come on by 2084 Michigan Ave in the Village of Lima for an open house at a sweet little ranch. Everything is updated.....new kitchen, new roof, new windows, new flooring and more, all for the price of $124,900.This property features 3 bedrooms on the first floor and one (possible two) in the walk-out lower level. Two full baths!The kitchen is super nice with lots of counter space and storage.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-39079237615126198922008-08-14T12:44:00.004-04:002008-09-04T22:32:58.891-04:00

I've been working with a number of families relocating to Rochester and they have suggested that I add some blogging posts about fun and/or unique spots to visit in Rochester. I've added a tag line of Discover Rochester so click on it for fun places to explore.If you are near Highland Park this summer, you may want to check out the sunflower patch that was planted near the corner of Goodman St

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-38386215206476013382008-07-31T14:29:00.000-04:002008-07-30T08:51:35.011-04:00

To see everything currently on the market in the Rochester, NY area click on http://www.rochestersbesthomes.com/

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-29684402411047909532008-07-30T08:28:00.000-04:002008-07-30T08:51:14.404-04:00

It was reminiscent of 2005!I had an appointment to show a property at 8:30 last night in the Ellwanger Berry/Highland Park neighborhood and when I arrived, there were people lined up on the street to get in. It wasn't too big of a surprise since the last three properties I tried to show in this neighborhood sold before I could get in.In a similar fashion, I put a "for rent" sign up on my South

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-19076867347893395332008-07-16T14:57:00.004-04:002008-07-16T15:36:44.592-04:00

Every time I watch the news these days I have an anxiety attack. Price of Oil! Recession! Crime! Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac! Global Warming! Cancer! Depression (no, not the economy; me!) And just about the time that I'm convinced that times are too difficult to sell real estate, my phone starts ringing.Fortunately, real estate is local and the Rochester market is not all doom and gloom.

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-90819435195389147442008-07-08T18:01:00.005-04:002008-12-09T22:29:40.083-05:00

Most of my real estate dealings are residential transactions but every once in a while I get to dabble in commercial real estate. I was tickled pink when my friend David Soldi called me when he decided he want to open his own salon and spa. We spent several months searching until we found a nice spot in East Rochester.Finding the spot was easy compared to what followed. For the next few months,

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-41165580493766994342008-07-04T11:17:00.003-04:002008-12-09T22:29:40.302-05:00

I finally did it. I signed up and submitted a few photos to the Capture Rochester program being conducted by the Democrat and Chronicle. You can check out my photos here: http://www.capturerochester.com/people/MaryShelsby And if you want to vote for them, well, I'd like that very much too!It is a pretty neat project for those that love photography. Photographers submit their photos, complete with

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-57338749702761116392008-06-26T14:00:00.003-04:002008-06-26T14:24:10.359-04:00

The Internet brings lots of helpful information at our fingertips. Unfortunately, not all of it is accurate. And it is difficult to know what is reliable information and what isn't.Case in point, is the fair market value of real estate. A lot of what Realtors do is recommend prices for property, both to buyers and sellers. These profession opinions are based on going in and out of a lot of

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37829428.post-16839943209709514092008-06-24T21:08:00.003-04:002008-12-09T22:29:40.833-05:00

The folks at Eagle Vale Golf Course in Fairport were nice enough to allow me to wander the course to attempt to photograph blue herons. The herons were not very cooperative but this teen-aged goose didn't seem to notice me as he scratched his belly.It's summer in Rochester and the weather is simply glorious! I hope you are getting out to enjoy it!

Mary Shelsbyhttps://profiles.google.com/109632485822716422688noreply@blogger.com0