Bill Janovitz and John Tse
Bill Janovitz and John Tse formed a partnership after years of working as indivdual colleagues in the local real estate market. What drew us together was a mutual respect for each other’s work ethic, business sense, negotiating skills, technological know-how, and tasteful and effective marketing approach. The two of us have been successful brokers individually but the whole of the partnership is even greater than the sum of its parts. Why settle for one broker – even one with an assistant — when you can have two professional and highly successful and proven brokers working for you for the same price?
Whether we are working as seller or buyer agents, we come to the table with up-to-date data and expert negotiation skills.
Please contact us to arrange a complimentary consultation.
Marketing and Seller Services:
We are proud of our unmatched marketing plans, tailored for each property’s unique traits, and each client’s needs and wants. And we would be glad to discuss our marketing strategy with you and offer an expert opinion of value for your fine home, investment property, or real estate project. We come armed with precise data, over a decade each of experience, and an excellent track record of results that we would be glad to discuss in depth. We are deeply experienced with and well-suited to market all architectural styles and eras of houses and condominiums, including:
- Modest “starter” homes.
- Architecturally significant houses
- Antique properties (we were featured as buyer and listing agent on the 25th anniversary project of the PBS show, This Old House)
- Income property
- Development and new construction projects
- Innovative new construction techniques
- Raw land
Buyer Services
Almost every house featured on this page is a personal listing of the Janovitz/Tse team. But we work as buyer agents on all listings, so if you’re interested in buying a home, contact us. The team approach works just as well as buyer agents as it does as seller agents. You may choose to work with one of us and have the other partner as a back-up agent in helping you search for homes or investment property. We are proud to offer our guidance to buying property in Massachusetts. We have trusted professional contacts in the mortgage field to help qualify you for the loan best suited for your situation.
Other Useful Information
Town & School Information
Lexington Median Price, 5 Year
The Best Schools/Rankings
Lexington School Information
Massachusetts Department of Education
Other District Profiles
Massachusetts Department of Education
Town of Lexington Home Page
Town of Arlington Home Page
Home Pages for All Mass. Towns
Property Tax and Prop. 2 1/2 Primer
Hayden Recreation Center, Lexington
Lexington Minuteman Newspaper
Utility Info
The Process of Buying/Closing
Steps to buying a house in Massachusetts:
1. Written Offer to Purchase—this states your offer price, your proposed closing date, the date you will sign the longer form Purchase and Sale contract, and inspection and financing contingencies. I will attach a sample blank offer and addendum. Mortgage pre-approval letter must accompany offer. $1000.00 binder check is submitted as well.
2. After acceptance of offer/agreement of terms, the binder check is deposited in an escrow account. An inspection is performed within a week, generally. Purchase and Sale (“P&S”) is usually set for a few days after the last date of the inspection contingency. Issues arising from inspection, if any, are often addressed in the p&s, either via a price adjustment or in a rider describing repairs to be made. Attorneys are usually hired for the p&s. For the buyer, the attorney is often the same attorney who will represent the lender at the closing. They might offer a break on the fee for the p&s.
3. Buyers sign P&S and broker brings it to sellers to sign. Buyer puts down at least 5% deposit, less the $1000.00 already deposited in escrow. All funds held in escrow.
4. Bank sends independent appraiser to appraise property.
5. Lender provides a commitment letter to the buyer for the loan.
6. Closing. Insurance binder must be in place for the house by closing.
Closing and Moving Checklist
- Book a moving company
- Contact insurance company and arrange for new property
- Notify old and new post offices
- Notify medical providers, banks, credit card companies, employers, friends, etc. of new address
- Register to vote at new address
- Confirm elevator, loading dock, parking space reservations at new building if applicable
- Confirm closing time and place with attorney
- Notify utilities:
- Telephone
- Alarm
- Cable
- Electric
- Gas
- Oil
- Internet provider
- Water company
- Arrange for time off from work and child care for closing and moving dates
- Arrange for a final walk-through the morning of or day before closing
- Confirm that insurance binder has been prepared and sent to closing attorney
- Confirm moving date/time with moving company
- Isolate valuables, credit cards, keys, cash. etc.
- Confirm phones working in both locations
- Drain gas and oil from power equipment
Closing:
- Bring certified check as per lender’s requirements
- Bring personal checks for adjustments and/or miscellaneous items
- Bring picture IDs
