Homes, multifamily and commercial. In Worcester.

I’m John Chalino, a real estate agent with REMAX Partners. What are you planning next?

Buying your first home? Start here

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Homes, 2-4 families or commercial. Which is yours?

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On the market

Current listings.

Homes, multifamily buildings and commercial property. See what is available, then talk to me about your next step.

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Find your next property.

Browse current properties on my REMAX site, or tell me what you are looking for. I can help with residential and commercial property.

REMAX Partners, 164 Harding St., Worcester, MA 01604, (508) 635-1600. Towns served: Worcester, Shrewsbury, Auburn, Millbury, Holden and Westborough, MA. Privacy policy

Six steps from here to your keys.

Talk to John
  1. Step 1: Talk it through

    You are here
    More about step 1, Talk it through

    By phone or in person, we go over:

    • Your budget
    • The towns you like
    • When you hope to buy
    • Your must-haves

    Talking needs no agreement. You sign one before you tour a home.

    I speak English and Arabic.

    Buyer agreement rules: NAR settlement FAQ (opens in a new tab).

  2. Step 2: Get pre-approved

    You are here
    More about step 2, Get pre-approved

    Pre-approval: how much you may borrow.

    • A lender checks your income, debts, down payment and credit.
    • You get a letter with the amount.
    • It helps you shop. It is not a promise of a loan.

    Pre-approval: Mass. Division of Banks (opens in a new tab) and CFPB (opens in a new tab).

  3. Step 3: Tour homes

    You are here
    More about step 3, Tour homes

    Before the first tour we sign a buyer agreement. It sets what I’m paid. You can ask the seller to pay it.

    I point out what to check in an older house. 59% of Worcester homes were built before 1960.

    Buyer agreement rules: NAR settlement FAQ (opens in a new tab). Homes built before 1960: Worcester Regional Research Bureau (opens in a new tab), May 2026.

  4. Step 4: Make an offer

    More about step 4, Make an offer

    An offer: your price, in writing.

    • I back your offer price with recent sales nearby.
    • In Massachusetts a signed offer is a contract, so have an attorney read it before you sign.
    • A small deposit usually goes with it.

    Offers: Mass. Division of Banks (opens in a new tab).

  5. Step 5: Inspect and sign

    More about step 5, Inspect and sign
    • Inspection: an expert checks the house. Then you get time to decide.
    • Built before 1978? You get a lead paint notice and 10 days to test for lead.
    • Purchase and sale agreement (P&S): the final contract. Attorneys usually write it.

    Lead paint notice: Mass.gov (opens in a new tab). Time to decide: Mass. inspection rule (opens in a new tab). P&S: Mass. Division of Banks (opens in a new tab).

  6. Step 6: Close and get keys

    More about step 6, Close and get keys

    Closing: the home becomes yours.

    • Your final costs, in writing, 3 business days before closing.
    • The lender’s attorney must take part. Yours can too.
    • Usually, one last walk through the home.

    I see the deal through inspection, financing and closing.

    Final costs: CFPB (opens in a new tab). Closing attorneys: Mass.gov (opens in a new tab).

Talk to John

You bring more than the down payment.

Starts near the typical Worcester house price.

Down payment

At $470,000 with 5% down, your down payment is $23,500. Closing costs are about $9,500 to $23,500. You bring about $33,000 to $47,000.

Down payment
$23,500
Closing costs
about $9,500 to $23,500Fees to finish the sale.
Cash to bring
about $33,000 to $47,000Down payment plus closing costs.

There is help

Price: Redfin (opens in a new tab), City of Worcester median house price, $471,369, August 2026. Tax: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Worcester home rate, fiscal 2026, $13.28 per $1,000 of assessed value. Closing costs, 2% to 5%: CFPB (opens in a new tab).

How I’m paid

We agree on my pay in writing before you tour a home, even by video.

  • One set amount: a flat fee or a percent of the price, never a range.
  • No law sets it. You and I agree on it.
  • You can ask the seller to pay some or all of it, in your offer.
  • I can’t be paid more than it says, no matter who pays.
  • If you pay it, it can’t go into your loan.

Read it and ask me anything.

Buyer agreement rules since August 17, 2024: NAR settlement FAQ (opens in a new tab).

What are closing costs?
  • Fees to finish the sale: usually 2% to 5% of the price, on top of your down payment.
  • Some are bills paid early, like home insurance.
  • Your lender’s Loan Estimate form shows the total.
  • Sellers can agree to pay some.

Closing costs: 2% to 5% of the price, CFPB (opens in a new tab).

Each month, you pay more than the loan.

  • Loan payment: on the Loan Estimate your lender sends after you apply.

  • Property tax: about $520 a month at $470,000. Worcester’s yearly rate: $13.28 per $1,000.

  • Home insurance: get a quote. Many lenders add it to your payment.

  • Mortgage insurance: often required under 20% down. Protects the lender. It can end later.

  • Condo fee: only if you buy a condo.

No loan payment here. Your lender sets it, with your rate.

Price: Redfin (opens in a new tab), City of Worcester median house price, $471,369, August 2026. Tax: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Worcester home rate, fiscal 2026, $13.28 per $1,000 of assessed value. Mortgage insurance: CFPB (opens in a new tab).

You could get down payment help.

Cash to bring

Help

Programs can pay part. Illustration, not to scale. Amounts depend on the program.

Down payment help

More about down payment help

Money toward your down payment.

  • MassHousing: up to $30,000 for first-time buyers whose income is under its limit, with a MassHousing mortgage. It’s a loan you pay back. One option has no monthly payment until you sell or refinance.

Amount and payback: MassHousing (Down Payment Assistance), read October 2, 2026.

Low down payments

More about low down payments

You don’t need 20% down.

  • FHA loans (government-insured): 3.5% down with a 580+ credit score.
  • Regular loans, called conventional: as low as 3% down.
  • ONE Mortgage: as low as 3% down, no mortgage insurance.

Ask a lender which fits you.

Down payments: HUD (FHA and its credit score rule), CFPB (opens in a new tab) (conventional loans) and ONE Mortgage, read October 2, 2026.

Homebuyer classes

More about homebuyer classes

A class on how buying a home works.

  • MassHousing and ONE Mortgage require it.
  • MassHousing-approved groups teach it, in person or online, in several languages.

Classes: MassHousing (Down Payment Assistance and Homebuyer Education) and ONE Mortgage, read October 2, 2026.

Owned a home before?

ONE Mortgage counts you as first-time if you have not owned a home in the last 3 years. Other programs may differ. Ask a lender or me.

First-time rule: ONE Mortgage program requirements (opens in a new tab), read October 2, 2026.

Ask me about help

Easy to understand, buyers say.

5.0out of 5. Zillow rating from 6 client reviews

Read them on Zillow (opens in a new tab)As of September 30, 2026

Choose a review

John was a huge help in the purchase of my first home. He made the process easy and understandable. …

lcristo85 Bought a first home in Worcester Zillow (opens in a new tab) review,
Read the whole reviewHide the whole review from lcristo85

John was a huge help in the purchase of my first home. He made the process easy and understandable. He was a pleasure to work with. Looking forward to using him again in the future.

… He took the time to make sure that the house we decided upon made sense realistically and long term. …

natiixo Bought a single-family home in Worcester Zillow (opens in a new tab) review,
Read the whole reviewHide the whole review from natiixo

Is it possible to give 6 stars?? Working with John was the best decision we made in our house hunting process.

John’s character was always genuine, professional and honest. He took the time to make sure that the house we decided upon made sense realistically and long term.

He made the whole process feel like we were joined by a friend searching for our future home who was invested in our best outcome.

You cannot make a better decision than trusting John in this process. His knowledge of the real estate field, combined with his fun personality will put you in the best hands.

Prompt, Courteous, Top notch negotiator … Honest, easy to work with - Gets the job done! …

Jill Sunshine Facebook (opens in a new tab) recommendation,
Read the whole recommendationHide the whole recommendation from Jill Sunshine

Prompt, Courteous, Top notch negotiator, Knowlegable, Honest, easy to work with - Gets the job done! Wonderful to work with! Highly recommended for his expertise in real estate and closing the deal!

Parts of longer reviews, in the clients’ own words.

Step 1 is a talk with me.

Talking needs no agreement.

John Chalino

Real estate agent, REMAX Partners

I speak English and Arabic.

Where are you now?

So I know where we start.

Pick one to continue.

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When do you hope to buy?

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So I can call you about this.

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How should I reach you?

I’ll call unless you pick text or email.

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