Local-access TV programs home in on real estate issues
Earlier this month, when a home sale in Uxbridge fell through due to what she called "an increasingly common" mortgage snag in Worcester County, realtor Kelley Byrnes-Benkart was one of the first to hear. One week later, she was explaining the cause - not at a seminar, but on public-access television.
Byrnes-Benkart, owner of Realty Executives Tri-County in Bellingham, is one of a handful of area real estate professionals using public-access cable TV to turn a laser focus on the housing market in their communities.
"We hear a lot of talk in the media about the real estate market, but many times it's painted with a broad brush. It's often from a national perspective or a state perspective," said Milford resident Michael Shain, a mortgage consultant with Medway Co-operative Bank. "But I wanted to do something that focused on specific towns because every market is different. What's happening in Milford may not be the same as what's happening in Newton, Brookline, Pittsfield, or LA."
In September, Shain began taping "Real Estate Roundtable" at Access Bellingham-Mendon. The program, which he cohosts with Byrnes-Benkart and two other realtors and is produced monthly, airs on local-access channels in Bellingham, Milford, Medway, Upton, Grafton, and Mendon, and covers market news in those towns as well as in Franklin and Wrentham.
Guests also appear on each episode to discuss general real estate topics ranging from the short sale process to how to stage your home using feng shui. But the core of the show is the panel discussion of emerging local issues. Recently they focused on the increasing affordability and availability of single-family homes being offered for rent (by homeowners unable to sell). Next month, they'll delve more deeply into those Worcester County mortgage issues.
"Worcester County has been declared a declining market" by commercial lenders, "which means they are requiring larger down payments," said Byrnes-Benkart. "In Uxbridge . . . the buyer could not afford to move forward because they would have had to put 15 percent down," after expecting to pay 10 percent.
"I try to pick topics that are important to homeowners and potential homeowners," said Shain, whose other cohosts are Joshua Lioce, owner of Realty Executives Lioce Properties in Milford and Whitinsville, and Judy Leonelli, owner of Century 21 Millennium in Mendon.
In Millis, Joe Luker recently taped his first two episodes of "The Home Show" at Millis Community Television. A home appraiser based in Medway for 20 years and a former real estate broker, Luker said he plans to produce two shows per month.
"There's so much turmoil in the real estate market. That's why I'm doing this now," said Luker.
With local lawyers, realtors, and other industry professionals as guests, Luker will cover the Millis housing market and real estate how-tos. Upcoming subjects include the foreclosure process, home inspections, and hidden issues for home buyers (such as easements, deed restrictions, and convicted sex-offenders living in the area).
"I'm not going to be out there entertaining. My goal is to produce something useful," said Luker. "There are a lot of people in trouble right now because they didn't know what to watch for. But I've seen the things that people need to know."
One example? "When people buy condos without reading the condo rules, they may wind up stuck," said Luker. "The rules might state that the association is maxed out on the number of nonowner tenants, but if you don't read them, you'll find out too late that you can't rent out your unit."
In Wellesley, residents urged public-access channel WCAC-TV to produce a local real estate show. So station executive director James Joyce is planning a monthly program with former WBZ-TV reporter Teri Adler, now a broker at Pinnacle Residential Properties. Again, their focus will be customized to fit the town.
"We've recently had new regulations passed related to mansionization and permitting, and there are people in town - developers, realtors, prospective buyers - that have an interest in monitoring things like that," said Joyce. "So it's going to be an informative program about real estate issues specific to Wellesley."
Unlike Adler, hosts of the other two shows are new to the camera, and each used the same term to describe their first appearances: "nerve-racking."
"Other than 'Boomtown' 30-some years ago as a kid, I'd never been on TV before," said Shain, referring to the former children's show featuring Rex Trailer. "But I did Toastmasters for public speaking, and that helps."
Appearing on television does provide exposure, but all involved said drumming up business is not their goal (and public-access channels do not allow commercial programs).
"I just think it's really important to offer a local perspective and this is one way to do that," said Shain. "All towns have public access, but I find that in some cases it's not utilized to its potential." 