One of my goals, as a local real estate professional, is to assist people in transition. Transition can manifest itself in many ways, but one of the most natural parts of life is your current home “outgrowing” you and your need to address the need to sell that residence and move on to smaller housing arrangements, many times in Boston. I have helped many people in that type of situation, and because my kids have left our home and currently are working, and residing elsewhere, and will not be coming home, I am in a “transitional” mode, myself. If you are faced with a similar situation, I would like to work with you on your transition to smaller housing arrangements.
I am prepared to take this assignment on with a multifaceted goal. The first would be to sell your suburban home for a price which we agree upon. Fortunately, this a time of a rising market, especially in Milton and Quincy, so you may be pleasantly surprised to find out how much your home would sell for. I will sit with you, review the features of your home, provide you with a Comprehensive Market Analysis and enter into a Listing Agreement to get your home sold this fall at a price you are happy with.
At the same time as we are marketing your current home, I will be working with you to find new living arrangements. We can review the “buy-rent” scenario. You may be surprised to discover that the rental market, even in Boston, has softened, and there are some rental opportunities that may be attractive to you. We can also discuss new projects which are still not completed but which you may buy now with the thought that you will have a temporary period of rental prior to your moving in to the newly purchased Condominium Unit or Townhouse in Boston.
While some of these choices may seem daunting to you, I assure you that if we work together, we can establish a flow of milestones and responsibility, which will make the process much less stressful than you anticipate. Among other things, my husband, Elliott S. Topkins, (617-596-3184 Cell) is an experienced real estate attorney, and he has proved a reliable source of answers to legal questions for my clients in the past. His services come along, at no charge, when you work with me, and he is happy to help me help you.
So, if transition is in your future, please feel free to contact me. I have gone through a few of my own “transitions”, and I have helped others with theirs. I can give you full service, with suggestions of reputable movers, painters, electricians and other necessary people who you will need to complete your transition. Give me a call, or send me an email. I make house calls on a regular basis, and I welcome the opportunity to work with you.

You just finished your refinance. You could not be happier. You shortened you loan term and lowered your rate. What could be better? Little did you know that the closing you completed would prevent the timely sale of your home. If you had just chosen an attorney to do your refinance that knew what he or she was doing. When you refinance, you pay off off your existing loan. The loan was held by Big Bank and serviced by Mega-Servicer. The attorney that closed the loan sent your payment to Mega-Servicer and received a discharge. The discharge was then recorded at the registry of deeds. This process is completed thousands of times every day, but there are hundreds of things that could go wrong. What would happen if the refi-attorney that received the discharge did not check it before sending it to be recorded. The discharge was executed by Mega-Servicer but your loan was held by Big Bank. The discharge that was recorded is ineffective and the mortgage that was paid-off at your refi is still outstanding of record.
You are now selling your home. The closing attorney contacts you to let you know that your mortgage has been improperly discharged and a new discharge has to be obtained and recorded. The buyer is requiring that you convey good marketable title free from all liens; your paid-off mortgage is still a lien. What are you going to do? The terms of your purchase and sale agreement may allow you to continue the sale for 30 days but now you cannot buy your new house because you were relying on the money from the sale of your old home. You may not be able to resolve your title issue within thirty days; maybe your buyer will walk.
Total panic sets in. You may be defaulted under the terms of the agreement to buy your new home. You could lose your deposit. The dominoes that were supposed to be falling in such an orderly fashion are now stuck behind your improperly discharged mortgage. What if Big Bank has been merged or has been taken over by the FDIC. How will you get the discharge and how long will it take?
This all could have been avoided if the closing attorney that did your refi knew what he or she was doing. Take the time after your refinancing transaction to check with the closing attorney to see if your old mortgage discharge has been recorded. Ask for a copy of the Discharge and the Book and Page where it is recorded. It is much too late if you leave this step to the last minute!! Think ahead. I will help you with if I have your listing, rest assured of that.