South Shore and Plymouth County, MA
Buy or sell on the South Shore and in Plymouth County with a real estate agent who has a contractor’s eye.
I help people buy homes and sell homes across the county. I look at every house the way a builder would. I keep my listings to 6 to 8 at a time, so you work with me.
A real estate agent for buying and selling
I built homes before I sold them.
I still look at a house the way a builder would. Roof, sills, wiring, heat, septic. I tell you what I see before we talk about price.
6 to 8 listings at a time.
That’s my limit, on purpose. When you call, I pick up.
Local, start to finish.
I work across the South Shore and all 27 towns in Plymouth County. When you hire me, you get me from the first call through closing.
What I see when I walk through your home
Most agents see paint and countertops. I see the roof, the sills, the wiring, the heat and the septic. I know what those things cost to fix around here, because that used to be my job.
That helps you in four ways:
Fix or skip
I’ll tell you which repairs can pay off before you list, and which ones won’t.
Real repair costs
You’ll know rough costs up front, so a buyer can’t scare you with a big number.
The right price
Your price will match your home’s real condition, not a guess.
Older and coastal homes
Antique Capes and Colonials, beach cottages, flood zones, Title 5 septic, cedar shingles in salt air. I know what to look for.
Get a Contractor’s Eye value review
This is my opinion as your agent. It is not a home inspection, and it does not replace one.
Why I only take 6 to 8 listings at a time
A busy agent hands you off to an assistant. I don’t. I keep my listings to 6 to 8 at a time and meet with 10 to 15 homeowners a month. That way, every client gets real time and real attention.
We talk.
A quick 15-minute call about your home, your timing and your goals.
I walk your home.
I look at the house the way a builder would, and I pull recent sales nearby.
We make a plan.
Price, prep and timing, in writing, so you can decide with no pressure.
How can I help?
Searching for a realtor in Plymouth or Brockton? As a licensed real estate agent, I help you sell your house, buy one, or plan both.
Selling
Get a price based on real sales and your home’s real condition. Then a clear plan for prep, photos and showings.
Learn about sellingBuying
Tour homes with someone who knows what to look for and what it may cost to fix. Make your offer with your eyes open.
Learn about buyingBoth
Selling one home and buying the next? I’ll help you plan the timing so you’re not stuck paying for two, or left with nowhere to go.
Let’s talkEvery reason to sell
The worry, then how I help.
Upsizing
You do not want to sell before the next house is set.
I map the dates so you are not stuck with two payments or nowhere to go.
Downsizing
The house is more than you want to take care of.
I price it as it is and plan a move that fits your timing.
Retiring
You want to stop the big projects before you leave.
I tell you which repairs to skip and which ones a buyer will ask about.
Relocating for work
Your start date is set and the house is still yours.
I work backward from that date and keep the plan short.
Divorce
You need a clear price, not a fight about the house.
I am not a lawyer, and I can price the home and talk with each of you separately if you ask.
Inherited or probate
You inherited a house and you are not sure what you can do yet.
I coordinate with your estate attorney, and I do not give legal advice.
Tired of being a landlord
Tenants may still be in the home, and you are ready to sell.
I follow the lease and the law, and I do not promise that a tenant will leave.
Condos and mobile homes
Budgets, reserves, park rules, or the title can surprise a buyer.
I read those before we set a price.
Needs work, or selling as-is
The house needs work and you do not want to renovate first.
I price it as it stands, and that opinion is not a home inspection.
Behind on payments
You are behind and you need a straight answer.
I am not a lender or an attorney, a listing does not stop a foreclosure, and you should call your lender too.
The house is full
You cannot empty the house before you call.
You do not have to empty it first, and I can introduce vendors that you hire and pay directly.
Buying and selling together
You need to sell one home and buy the next.
I put both dates on paper before we list.
Military orders
You have a report date, and you may already be gone.
I build the sale around that date, and I can use video if you cannot be here.
How I help sellers
From the first call through closing, you deal with me.
Pricing
I price from recent sales and the repairs that pay you back, and this is my opinion, not an appraisal.
Prep
I give you a short prep list and introduce vendors that you hire and pay yourself.
Photos and video
I arrange pro photos and video, and a YouTube feature when it fits the house. I do not promise every listing is featured.
A weekly note
I send one short email about what I am seeing.
Negotiation
I negotiate price, dates, and inspection terms, and I keep my list to 6 to 8 so I have the time.
After the inspection
I help you answer the buyer’s report. I am not the inspector.
Closing
A transaction coordinator keeps the file moving, and you still talk to me.
Every reason to buy
The worry, then how I help.
First home
You are buying your first home and you do not want to miss a costly problem.
I tell you what I see before you offer.
Moving up
You need a different house, and you may have to sell the one you have.
I line up the sale and the purchase so the dates work.
Downsizing
You want less house and a clear picture of what the next one will really cost.
I point out repair costs at the showing, before you offer.
Relocating
You are moving here and the houses are new to you.
I walk the property with you and go over the practical costs.
Buying and selling
You do not want two mortgages, or a gap with nowhere to live.
I put both timelines on one page before you write an offer.
Investors
You need a multi-family building’s real condition, not a pitch.
I look at the roof, the systems, and the numbers before you offer.
Condos
Fees, reserves, and rules can change what the condo really costs.
I read those with you before you offer.
New construction
A new house still has a timeline and a list of items to check.
I help you track what to inspect and when, and I do not push one builder.
VA, FHA, MassHousing
You may use a first-time buyer program and you do not know if the house qualifies.
Those loans have house rules, so tell me early, and your lender quotes the rate, not me.
Commuting to Boston
You work in Boston and you need a real trip, by train or by car.
I talk about the rail line and the roads as facts, then I look at the house.
How I help buyers
The showing, the offer, and the inspection.
A contractor’s eye at the showing
Before you offer, I look at the roof, septic and Title 5, the foundation, and the systems.
Offer strategy
I help you set the price, the dates, and the terms for that house.
Inspections
I bring trusted home inspectors and I walk through the inspection with you.
Lenders
I can introduce lenders for you to choose, and I do not quote rates.
Negotiating repairs
After the report, I help you ask for the repairs that matter.
Towns I serve
Every South Shore town has its own kind of house. Hingham has antique Colonials. Scituate and Marshfield have beach cottages. Plymouth has a bit of everything. I know the houses, and I know the local rules that come with them.
I serve all 27 municipalities in Plymouth County. Choose a town to read about selling a house there. If that page is not up yet, call or text me and I will help you directly.
Watch: South Shore homes, the way a builder sees them
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Recently sold
Recent sales in Plymouth County and on the South Shore. Each caption is the address of a sale.
Hi, I’m John.
Before real estate, I worked in construction. I’ve seen what’s behind the walls of a lot of South Shore homes.
I’ve been licensed for 3 years. Before I went full time, I spent a year apprenticing so I could learn the business.
I help people buy and sell. I’m a licensed Massachusetts real estate salesperson, MA Real Estate Salesperson License #9585420, and a home selling specialist. My company is J. Fortes Real Estate, Inc. Brokered by RE/MAX Synergy, Brockton, MA.
Every week I share what I’m seeing on YouTube and in my newsletter. I also coach other agents.
More about me
Common questions
Selling
Do I need a Realtor to sell my home on the South Shore?
No. A licensed real estate agent can list and sell your home in Massachusetts. I am a licensed real estate agent and a home selling specialist, and I do not use the Realtor title. Searching for a realtor in Plymouth or Brockton? As a licensed real estate agent, I can walk your home, price it from its real condition, and be your listing agent from the first call to closing.
What is the Contractor’s Eye?
It’s how I look at a home after years in construction. I check the roof, sills, wiring, heat, and septic, and I give you rough local repair costs. Sellers use it to price and to decide what to fix. Buyers use it before they offer. It is not a home inspection and does not replace one.
Why do you only take 6 to 8 listings at a time?
So every client gets my full attention. I would rather do a careful job for a few sellers than a rushed job for a lot of them. When you call, you get me.
How do I find out what my home is worth?
Use the form on this page, or call or text me at 774-619-7846. I look at recent sales near you and your home’s condition, then walk you through a price range and a plan. It is my opinion of market value, not an appraisal.
Should I fix things before I sell?
Sometimes. Some repairs pay you back, and some don’t. I’ll walk your home and tell you which fixes are worth it, which to skip, and what they may cost.
What if I am behind on payments?
I am not a lender or an attorney, and listing the house does not stop a foreclosure. I can still talk through a sale with you. Call your lender too.
Buying
Do you help buyers?
Yes. I help buyers across Plymouth County and the South Shore, from the first showing through the inspection and the offer.
What do you look for at a showing?
Before you offer, I look at the roof, septic and Title 5, the foundation, and the systems, and I tell you what I see. That is a contractor’s eye. It is not a home inspection.
Will you come to the home inspection?
Yes. I bring trusted home inspectors and I walk through the inspection with you. I do not replace the inspector.
Can you help with VA, FHA, or MassHousing?
I can help you plan around those programs in general. The loans have rules about the house, so tell me early. Your lender quotes the rate. I do not.
Do you work with first-time buyers, condo buyers, and investors?
Yes. First homes, condos, multi-family buildings, and new construction are all part of the work. I look at the property and the practical costs.
I work in Boston. Can you help me buy on the South Shore?
Yes. I talk about the commuter rail and the drive as facts, then I look at the house the same way I look at any other house.
Towns
What towns do you work in?
I work in all 27 municipalities of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, and across the South Shore. That includes Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.
Let’s talk about buying or selling.
Brokered by RE/MAX Synergy, Brockton, MA
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