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Law Office Named One of Constant Contact’s 2010 All Stars

Mar 16, 2011 | Interesting Stuff, News

Our office has received the 2010 All Star Award from Constant Contact®, Inc., the trusted marketing advisor to more than 400,000 small organizations worldwide.  Our office is one of Constant Contact’s 2010 top performers and most prolific user of its tools, whether within Constant Contact’s email marketing, event marketing, social media marketing, or survey products – or a combination of all four.

Constant Contact looked at criteria including the following when selecting this year’s All Stars:

  • Frequency of campaigns, events and surveys
  • Open, bounce and click through rates
  • Usage of social features
  • Mailing list sign up tools
  • Use of reporting tools

 

“We work hard to listen to our customers, and we use that feedback to create products and services designed to help them better engage with their customers and prospects,” said Gail Goodman, chairman, president and CEO of Constant Contact. “The Constant Contact All Star Awards are our way of recognizing our customers that have successfully used Constant Contact to market their companies. We have some of the most committed, passionate customers out there and we’re proud we can be a part of their continued success.”

About Constant Contact, Inc.
Constant Contact is revolutionizing the success formula for small organizations through affordable, easy-to-use Engagement Marketing™ tools that help create and grow customer relationships.  More than 400,000 small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and member associations worldwide rely on Constant Contact as their engagement hub for starting and driving ongoing customer dialogs through email marketing, social media marketing, event marketing, and online surveys.  All Constant Contact products come with unrivaled know how, education and free coaching with a personal touch, including award-winning customer support. 

Constant Contact and the Constant Contact Logo are registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All Constant Contact product names and other brand names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Revised Homestead Law Now Provides Automatic $125,000 Homestead Protection.

Mar 10, 2011 | Buying Real Estate, Interesting Stuff, Legislation, News, Realtors


In MassachusHomestead National Monument of Americaetts an estate of homestead protects a homeowner’s primary residence from the claims of certain creditors. Prior to the change in the law the declaration of homestead protected the equity in the home for up to $500,000 of its equity in the event the home owner is sued. That is, if a homeowner is successfully sued in court, $500,000 of the home’s equity could not be touched by an attachment and or execution of sale by the judgment creditor. To acquire the homestead a homeowner would need to file a written declaration and record it with the county Registry of Deeds.

The Massachusetts Legislature has recently passed long awaited revisions to the Massachusetts Homestead Act. The revised law now provides automatic protection up to $125,000 on a homeowner’s primary residence, and a written homestead can also be filed to increase the protection up to $500.000.  The act also provides homeowners additional protection: (more…)

Oil Prices and Mideast Turmoil Impacts Mortgage Rates

Mar 7, 2011 | Buying Real Estate, Mortgage Lenders, News, Realtors

Turmoil in Libya and Middle East countries may send oil prices up and affect mortgage rates.

If investors fear that rising oil prices will derail an emerging recovery, they will remove their money from stocks and put it into safer bonds, especially government Treasuries. That will help lower mortgage rates. More bond purchases will push bond prices up and their yields, or their interest rates paid to bond owners, down.  Mortgage rates would also decline, since they cannot be lower than government bond rates.

That’s exactly what’s been happening this week. Oil prices went over $100 a barrel, its highest price since September 2008.  Mortgage rates have declined for three consecutive weeks, with the average rate for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage declining from 5 percent to 4.84 percent last week.

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Drops for Third Consecutive Week

Mar 3, 2011 | Buying Real Estate, Mortgage Lenders, News, Realtors

Long-term fixed rates decreased for the third consecutive week, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.87 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 3, 2011, down from last week when it averaged 4.95 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.97 percent.

The 15-year FRM averaged 4.15 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.22 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.33 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.72 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.8 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.11 percent. (more…)

What is the Pending Home Sales Index?

Dec 3, 2010 | Uncategorized

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index measures the number of home purchase contracts that were signed in the monthly reporting period.  Once “pending” sales contracts are closed, they are considered an Existing Home Sale. Because the Pending Home Sales index tells us how many contracts were signed, it is considered a forward indicator of Existing Home Sales.  A signed contract is not counted as an  Existing Home Sale until the transaction actually closes.

Pending Home Sales Chart