Our 2018 Charitable Giving Summary

Gray Fox Real Estate values the natural resources and the beauty of Maine.

Our way of contributing to our local communities is by donating a portion of our annual profits to organizations that focus on conservation and land trusts in Maine.

In 2018, we donated to the following organizations:

Maine Audubon Society: Maine Audubon works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation, and action.

Royal River Conservation Trust: The Royal River Conservation Trust protects the natural, recreational, scenic, agricultural and historic resources of the Royal River region for current and future generations.

Natural Resource Council of Maine: The Natural Resources Council of Maine is a nonprofit membership organization protecting, restoring, and conserving Maine’s environment, now and for future generations. For almost 60 years, the Natural Resources Council of Maine has been protecting the places and way of life that make Maine so special. 

Portland Trails: Portland Trails transforms Greater Portland into a healthier community for people powered transportation, conservation, and recreation, by creating a network of trails and green spaces that connect people with places.

We are proud to support these organizations and look forward to expanding our charitable efforts in 2019.

Happy New Year from Gray Fox Real Estate!

Just Sold in Topsham, Maine!

31 Bay Park Drive, Topsham, $299,000

This four-bedroom, two-bathroom Colonial boasts a large living room, a kitchen with island, and a dining room on the first floor. A large fenced-in backyard complements the home for outdoor enjoyment in a neighborhood where neighbors watch out for each other, safely ride bikes to fields and fishing ponds, yet with convenience to nearby amenities,

Featured Lender: Bryan Smith, Caliber Home Loans

Name: Bryan Smith

Company: Caliber Home Loans

Bryan Smith is a branch manager and loan consultant at Caliber Home Loans in Portland, Maine. Bryan has been in the industry for a decade and has committed himself to understanding every aspect of it. He believes that it is imperative to know the rules and regulations associated with mortgage lending. “If you know all the pitfalls, you can assure that there are no “gotchas” half way through the process.”  When he starts a loan, he closes it. 

We asked Bryan….

What are your specialties?

Getting loans to the closing table. Communication is paramount. My phone lines are ALWAYS OPEN!

Tips for first-time buyers?

Get Pre-Approved and work with a realtor. I’d suggest Polly Cockrill!

What’s something you think buyers should know about the market now?

Interest rates are on the rise. With that said, there is absolutely nothing they or I can do about it. Do your research. Visit as many houses as you need to. This is a HUGE decision. Life changer. Don’t take it lightly or rush into it just to capture a lower interest rate.

What makes you different than other lenders?

Communication and partnership. From the first call to the closing table, I will always be available. Buying a home, be it the first or 21st, is a big deal. There are no bad questions.  I have the answers. Do not hesitate to ask. 

When speaking on his values as a lender and how he views the client-lender relationship, Bryan said:

“From day 1, I consider myself a partner to my clients. I advise them every step of the way and show them the pros and cons of every move. During the loan process, you can consider me your full-time partner, advisor and friend. I am famous for taking the call at all times and that includes nights and weekends, unless I am eating dinner with the family.. I still get a huge thrill out of the closing table. I attend all of my closings. Whether it’s putting someone in their first home, dream home, second home or investment, I love seeing everyone at the closing!!”

---

Contact Bryan
Caliber Home Loans
(207) 400-7295
bryan.m.smith@caliberhomeloans.com

At Gray Fox Real Estate, we know that providing high-quality real estate services is only possible with help and expertise of industry professionals that we trust.

What You Should Know About Smart Homes Before You Make Yours One

With the latest advances in technology, many are getting on board with making their homes "Smart" using apps and voice-controlled features. There's autonomous vacuums that clean when you're gone, doorbells that alert you when there's someone at your door, and voice controlled outlets and lightbulbs that make the "Clapper" an antique. These features can make everyday tasks easy, or eliminate them completely. 

But with these technological advancements come necessary precautions. Giving over the security and control of your home to technology can put you in a vulnerable position, whether it's to a hacker or someone that should no longer have access to your devices. 

Let’s cover some important factors when making the decision to Smart-ify your home.

Is a "Smart Home" for everyone?
Anyone can make their home a smart home! But a house full of smart devices doesn't automatically mean your life will be easier. If you want a smart home, you need to commit to learning, setting up, and tending to them when needed. If you don't see yourself having the time or technological understanding to set up and control the devices, a smart home might be more work for you than it's worth. But if you are willing to put in some time and money at first, a smart home might be perfect for you. There are many resources online that will walk you through the process from your first purchase, to setting up, to buying the perfect accessories to make your home work together. 

Can Smart Homes be Green Homes?
Yes! A smart home's ability to adjust without you controlling it makes for many ways to save heat, water, and energy. A smart thermostat can be set to turn off or turn on when you want it to, without you remembering each time! This will save you energy, because you'll no longer forget to turn off your air when you leave or go to bed. Another way to be "green" in your smart home is with smart plugs. They can be programmed to turn on and off throughout the day or will automatically turn off when not in use. This means that your tv won't be draining energy all day when you aren't using it. You can even plug something in to charge it and set the plug to turn off when it's done. Here are even more ways to stay green in a smart home.

Will a Smart Home Have Higher Market Value Than a Non-Smart Home?
Not necessarily. New York Magazine interviewed Angel Piontek, a residential real estate agent in Virginia with 15 years of experience, to get her insight on the value of smart features. Piontek explained that there’s no guarantee that equipping your home with smart doorbells, thermostats, and lights will get you that money back when you sell. A full home system that cost $12,000, such as a Control4, will most likely add some real value but $1,000 worth of devices will likely just add some appeal to those interested in smart features. While you may not see a value increase for a few smart features, you can still benefit from adding them. If someone sees four homes that are all fairly similar in size, features, and value, but one is equipped with smart features that add ease and convenience, that one is going to sell faster.

Piontek advises that when showing your home, only leave out the devices you plan on leaving after selling. For example, don’t leave out your Nest Thermostat if you want to take it to your next home. Further, if you will be leaving a smart feature installed, make sure potential buyers and agents know what it is! Leave a pamphlet with some information about it. A feature can’t be helpful if they don’t know how it will benefit them.

One thing to consider, though, is that not everyone wants or is comfortable with smart features. If someone sees a house that is equipped with smart features and they know they don’t want them, they are likely not going to be interested. Consider the area you live in and whether smart home features are of interest to the people looking to live there.

Smart Home Safety Tips

Make sure you understand how each device works. 
Know how to adjust settings to best fit your needs. If your significant other or roommate wants to add some smart devices to your home, ask them to show you how to turn on, turn off, and use the features so you have the same amount of control over your home!

Make sure the only users with access are your home's current residents.
With the popularity of smart devices today, many home owners are equipping their homes and leaving those devices when they move. However, if you move into a new home with already existing technology, you need to make sure you are the only one with access to control. This article on lifehacker.com, shows how to "take back control of your smart home". If devices aren't reset, the past owners can actually control things like your thermostat from where they are! 

Read the fine print!
Your devices collect your data and habits. According to travelers.com, some devices have privacy policies now and "without strong privacy laws, it is up to the consumer to read agreements for each individual device". Don't assume that your information is safe.

Make your network’s strong and secure
Use strong passwords. They are the first wall to your information. Research your options before picking a product and look into their network security. According to travelers.com, a device that connects to your ethernet cord is more secure than one that connects over WiFi. 

Our Core Services Package

Gray Fox Real Estate offers a comprehensive array of services for Sellers called the Core Services Package.

We have created the Core Services Package to best serve our clients and remain transparent. We have included only activities that we believe will benefit our clients.

We are offering full listing services for 1% from now until January 31, 2019! This includes all services with the ability to add customized services.

Click below to view our Core Services Package!

You Know, There's Probably a Photo of Your Old Bathroom Somewhere on the Internet

I can't be the only one who enjoys browsing online and looking at homes in my area just for fun. But have you ever thought while examining the exquisite master bathroom fixtures or furniture, that someone actually lives there right now?

When a house is entered into Maine Listings (the online system used by Maine Real Estate Agents to list properties), the photos are there forever, along with the physical address. Some people feel that this is an invasion of privacy.

Additionally, some homeowners don't want a sign put in front of their home, and don’t want the home entered into Maine Listings. In these cases, Realtors can market to other Realtors and their clients. This is called a "pocket listing." 

In an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune, a recent homebuyer was concerned with her privacy after she was unable to get the photos of her new home removed from the internet. In an article on inman.com, Tim Harstead, a Realtor at Kale Realty Chicago stated, "It should be illegal for them to be removed, how else can we do an accurate comparative market analysis?". However, according to Inman, Steve Wynands, the co-founder of Peer Reputation, says "he’s there to promote his client’s best interest before his own, so if a request comes, he’ll accommodate it."

So if you are concerned about your privacy, don’t hesitate to ask your real estate agent about a pocket listing. However, keep in mind, you will get the best price for your house when you have the greatest exposure. You have to decide if privacy is more important than getting the best price for your house. It is a hard decision indeed!  

Featured Lender: Amy Torrey, Androscoggin Bank

Name: Amy Torrey

Company: Androscoggin Bank

Amy Torrey has worked in banking for 10 years and has over 20 years of customer service experience.  Amy attended the School for the Arts at Boston University, then moved to New York City where she lived and worked for 10 years. 

Amy joined the team at Androscoggin Bank in February, 2018 and is an assistant vice president and mortgage loan officer. Integrity, trust and great communication are the principles by which Amy has built her professional career. She joined the bank because she genuinely shares the same values. Speaking to the banks value of integrity she stated,

“I believe in doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do; and I love working for a company that truly believes and supports that.”

— Amy Torrey, Androscoggin Bank

Amy lives in Portland, ME and is a passionate supporter of the arts. She has served on the Board of Directors at Lyric Music Theater as Director of Finance and volunteers her time on and off stage.

Contact Amy
(207)518-6321
atorrey@androscogginbank.com

At Gray Fox Real Estate, we know that providing high-quality real estate services is only possible with the help and expertise of industry professionals that we trust.