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Buying a Home

The Housing Shortage by the Numbers

If you are feeling like there are just not enough houses on the market this spring, you are not imagining things.  A recent article on Realtor.com outlined the problem.  In short: From 2009 (the slump) to today new construction…

Condition and Home Value

I just finished reading an article about improvements that do not impact home value – and could not agree more.  Why?  Because most of these “improvements” fall under the category of maintenance – painting the house, new roof, new…

MA Small City Rankings on WalletHub

WalletHub has ranked the best and worst small cities in the U.S.  Lots of positive news for Massachusetts. Northampton ranked the highest MA town on the overall list at #8.   The rest of the Top 10 are: 14…

August MAR Report – August is strong month for Home Sales

Strong Month for Massachusetts Housing Market in August as Sales and Prices Move Up From the Mass Association of Realtors The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that buying activity remained strong through late spring/early summer as single-family…

Home Equity is Your Best Investment

  Like most Americans, it’s home equity, not stock equity, that will pad my bank account when I hit the retirement finish line.  About two-thirds of Americans invest in home ownership, but only half of us invest in stocks. (I suspect…

Boston’s Best Places to Live 2013: The Boom Is Back!

Boston’s Best Places to Live 2013: The Boom Is Back!. Throughout Boston, the upside-down real estate market is but a distant, unpleasant memory. Bidding wars are once again erupting, houses are selling for above asking price, and some homeowners…

Why aren’t Homeowners Selling their Houses?

Overall, since the recession, buyers have felt that the time was not right to buy a house.  They were not confident about their jobs and income, they were having a harder time amassing a down payment and they also didn’t believe…

Real Estate Provisions in “Fiscal Cliff” Bill

Wondering how the fiscal cliff will affect your real estate transactions in 2013? On Jan. 1 both the Senate and House passed H.R. 8 legislation to avert the “fiscal cliff.” The bill was signed into  law by President Barack…