Open House 06/05 from 12pm to 2pm. This wonderful Cape-style home in Newton Upper Falls has gone through a major renovation, brand new beautiful kitchen with great attention to details, all brand new appliances, open space, formal dining room, family room, water-proof partially finished basement( can be used as a family room, or guest room ), brand new two and one half bathroom, fenced-in back yard. Great location, easy access to Rt. 9 and I-95. Home Warranty by AHS.
11 Rockland Pl
Newton, MA 02464-1214
Middlesex County
List Price: $629,000
Style: Cape Color: White
Total Rooms: 8 Bedrooms: 4
Full/Half/Master Baths: 2/1/No Fireplaces: 1
Grade School: Countryside Middle School: Brown
High School: Newton South
Directions: From High St. then go to Rockland Place.
Approx. Living Area: 1816 sq. ft.
Approx. Acres: 0.17 (7462 sq. ft.)
Heat Zones: Forced Air, Oil
Parking Spaces: 3 Off-Street
Living Area Source: Public Record
Trulia: Homeownership In The Hub More Expensive Than Renting
Aspiring homeowners in several major cities, including those in the Boston area, are facing big hurdles as the cost of owning remains more expensive than renting.
The cost of homeownership in Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Portland and Oakland continues to be more expensive than renting; however, it may make more financial sense to buy depending on the situation, according to real estate website Trulia.com.
Trulia released its Q2 2011 rent vs. buy index, which compares the cost of buying and renting a two-bedroom apartment, condominium or townhouse in the nation’s 50 largest cities. Since last quarter, buying a home has become more affordable than renting in nearly four out of five (80 percent) major cities.
Boston ranked third with a rent-to-buy ratio of 19 in the second quarter. A price-to-rent ratio if 16-20 indicates the total costs of homeownership are greater than the costs of renting, but it might still make financial sense to buy depending on the situation, according to Trulia.
“With home prices nearing a double dip and more foreclosures expected to flood the housing market over the next two years, the decision between renting and buying a home across most of the country has clearly moved in favor of buying,” said Ken Shuman, head of communications at Trulia. “As we head into the summer buying season, those looking to buy a home should be encouraged by improvements in the market and feel optimistic about their chances of finding an affordable home, much more so than in previous years.”
He added: “Aspiring homeowners should focus their energies on locking down a low mortgage rate sooner than later. While home prices are unlikely to return to pre-crash levels, today’s low interest rates will likely rise thanks to inflation and spikes in the Fed rates. As the government wind downs its role in the mortgage markets higher mortgage interest rates will be inevitable.”
A great view from my office in Watertown, MA. What a day! A fools day, even the mother nature is playing prank. It looks like just in the middle of Winter. I just couldn’t believe myself when I woke up this morning to discover my car was covered with snow AGAIN! I really thought my bad snow day was over. Let this be the last…please please. Every time I see the snow like this, My thought goes to my tentative open house.
The weekend forecast looks great and we suppose to have beautiful weekend, if you are considering going out to see some property, don’t cancel that thought but call your agent now. It can be one of the most beautiful Spring day for open house. I am definitely going to have an open house at 11 Rockland Place Newton, MA. And will take a few of my buyers out to see their future homes.
If you are interested to know about what is on the market and which house will have open house this weekend, please feel free to contact me. I have the whole list, and wouldn’t mind passing it along.
This is an article written by one of my best home inspector. No one can talk about Spring home maintenance better than home inspector, in my opinion. So here is how you can take care of you home for the Spring season!
As we begin to enjoy the Spring season, we know that with a change of seasons comes a new “ to do” list. So let’s get started………..
Exterior
• check and seal the decks-check the steps and rails for loose or damaged boards and raised nails
• service the sprinkler system
• open the outside hose connection shutoffs
• check that the grading of the soil and hard surfaces slopes away from the foundation
• check the exterior of your home for the conditions of the paint, caulk and putty
• clean the gutters and make sure downspouts are attached and extended
• inspect the roof materials and roof flashings
• check the chimney for damage to the cap, flashing, masonry
• inspect and clean the siding
• inspect vents, chimneys and other protected areas for bird and insect nests
• clean window and door screens-repair or replace damaged screens
• inspect the weather stripping around doors, windows and the garage doors and repair as necessary
• inspect the foundation for cracks, moisture and insects
• trim trees and shrubs away from the home
Plumbing/Bath
• check the bathroom grout, caulk, and tile for damage
• clean the bathroom exhaust fans and grills – make sure that the fans exhaust outside and not into the attic
• draw sediments from the hot water heater as needed
• inspect the water heater’s temperature pressure relief valve for signs of leaking or discharge
• clean the lint from the clothes dryer duct and from the unit per the manufacturers instructions
Kitchen
• clean the range hood filter and wash the fan blades
• clean the refrigerator’s coil, drain pan, and check the drain
Basement
• turn off the humidifier and water supply and switch the humidifier’s duct damper from winter to a summer setting as needed
• clean the dehumidifier and start its operation in the basement as needed
• check the basement for any signs of leaks, mildew or condensation
• check for adequate ventilation in the crawl spaces to remove any excess moisture
• test the sump pump to make sure it removes water from the sump hole
Attic
• check the attic for signs of leaks, mildew, and condensation
• check whole-house fan – clean blades, lubricate, check belt
Air Conditioning
• have an air conditioning professional check the condenser unit to be sure it is level and clean and check the condensate drain to make sure it is clean and draining
• clean or change the air conditioner filter (unless it is a special type)
• adjust any duct dampers for a switch from heating to cooling if necessary
• high & low returns – open high returns and close low returns for the cooling season
• turn on the power 24 hours before operation – keep the thermostat off during this period
General
• replace smoke and CO detector batteries
Peter Ottowitz, Hawkeye Home Inspection & Environmental Testing
Certified Master Inspector
Certified Environmental Home Inspector
Certified Residential Mold Inspector
Licensed Construction Supervisor
CMC Certified Energy Auditor
Level One Thermographer
800-781-7130
http://www.hawkeyeinspectors.com
http://www.hawkeyeaudit.com
http://igetthehouse.com
http://www.bestmassachusettsinspectors.com
The real estate market in the winter of 2011 – I remember it so well. I predicted what would happen before the Warren Group reported the numbers months ago. The day after Christmas Massachusetts got hit by big snow storms, and they continued to come one after another every single week in January. This year, I didn’t see as many houses came on the market as in past years. To make matters worse, the number of buyers who called me to request showings in January was only two!!! I was in shock! It was easy to see why business had decreased so sharply – everyone was busy cleaning up their driveways and sidewalks and figuring out how to keep the kids amused on what seemed like unending snow days. People were looking for creative ways to entertain themselves and trying not to think about how much they would owe the snow plow drivers this year.
The Warren Group reported in Banker and Tradesman this morning that Massachusetts home sales dropped 12.5% in February compared to last February and the median home price for single family houses dropped 5.5%.
One thing that buyers often don’t understand is that, while real estate is about “location” it’s important to consider “micro location”, i.e the town(s) one is interested in as opposed to the trends of the entire state. For example, while the number of statewide sales may not seem to be too great, in some of the communities I cover such as Newton, Brookline, Watertown, and Belmont, the numbers are much better. So while the number of homes sold may be down, this is not reflected in a lower actual sales price. Buyer interest is on the rise and buyers need to act quickly to lock in good mortgage rates, before they go higher. By making a decision before the rates go up too high, a lot of buyers can save a great deal of money on their mortgage payments. An increase of 1% interest is comparable to paying more than 10% for total home price. It’s important to consider these factors to get the complete picture of what the market is doing.
To get more information on your local report, it’s better to talk to your local real estate agent than depend on the news for all the facts.
Via Joyce & Terry Thomas Anthem Merrill Ranch AZ Real Estate (US Preferred Realty):
Buying a Builder Home Without Representation Can be a Nightmare. This is a scary and unfortunately true story. All names are being protected in this story. Buyers need to take buying a home from a builder very seriously when they enter a builder’s sales center and make sure they are fully represented by a Buyer’s Agent (Realtor).
The main thing to keep in mind is that the “Realtors” working for the builder are actually “Salespeople”. They are trying to meet a quota for the week or month, to get their next plaque on the wall, or win the turkey for Thanksgiving. It is quite unfortunate that Buying a Builder Home Without Representation Can be a Nightmare.
This story starts with a very nice couple in their early 50′s (let’s call them Bob and Bobbie Buyer) tagging along with their friends while they buy their new home. Once the Salesperson (lets call her Susie Salesperson) working for the builder had sold the community and a new home to their friends, she turns to Bob & Bobbie Buyer and says, “So are you ready to buy a home?”. Bob & Bobbie Buyer, who had absolutely no intention of buying a home (new or resale) told Susie Salesperson “no”. But Susie (being a top Salesperson in 2006 and having won all kinds of awards for meeting sales quota) continued to use her newly learned sales pitches to pressure them by telling them, “Well let’s have you get preapproved through our inhouse mortgage company just to see what you can afford. After all wouldn’t you like to live here with your friends in a beautiful new home in this fabulous community?” (Sell, sell, sell Susie Salesperson was doing.)
So you are probably thinking, “Sounds like the typical builder salesperson.” Thats what I thought too until they told me what the salesperson told them to do. They didn’t qualify for the new home through the inhouse lender, so Susie Salesperson told them that all they had to do was change their tax records so they would qualify (just for the loan of course). I don’t know about you, but I think that’s ILLEGAL???? When Bob & Bobbie Buyer questioned her, she said, “Oh it’s just for the purpose of your loan and then you just do an addendum to your taxes to correct them.” Buying a Builder Home Without Representation Can be a Nightmare especially when it is a salesperson such as this one! But this “Salesperson” learned this from somewhere…..hmmmm…maybe the builder taught her to do this? Scary!!
The saddest thing about this story is that Bob & Bobbie truly could not afford this home and never should have been approved for a mortgage. However, the excitement created by Susie Salesperson got them into a home that drained their assets and put them into foreclosure, ruining their credit. They were happy renting a home and never had any intention of buying a home. Unfortunately, they got caught up in the thrill of owning a home (after all they had never owned a home - ever!). Now, they are renting a home again waiting on a buyer to put an offer on their home which is listed as a short sale to try to avoid foreclosure because of this horrible experience of Buying a Builder Home Without Representation Can be a Nightmare.
Any buyers reading this, please beware that you must be represented by a Buyer’s Agent (Your Realtor) when buying a home through a builder. The builder’s salesperson represents the Builder and is doing everything in their power to get the best deal for the seller (builder). They work just like used care salespersons. They receive a “draw” as income and when they make a sale they pay back their “draw”. If they go without making a sale, they could get fired or laid off and owe the builder money for the draws and lack of sales. They are high pressure salespeople. When you buy a home directly through the builder without representation, you give up your right to be professionally and fully represented in the transaction and could end up in a very unfortunate situation like these poor buyers did.
The best thing is that using a Buyer’s Agent to help you buy a home costs you absolutely nothing. The seller (builder) always pays the Buyer’s Agent – you never pay anything! Buying a Builder Home Without Representation Can be a Nightmare! Make sure you are fully and professionally represented by a Buyer’s Agent (a Realtor) before stepping foot into a builder’s sales office, even if you are just tagging along with a friend to look at model homes.
A Buyer’s Agent as the following fiduciary duties to you. A Buyer’s Agent must:
- Be loyal and act in your best interest
- Obey your lawful instructions
- Protect your confidence
- Exercise reasonable skill and diligence when answering your questions
- Be accountable for handling funds and paperwork
- Present all offers in a timely fashion
A Buyer’s Agent works for YOU fully. We are Accredited Buyer Representatives (ABR) and recognized through the National Assocation of Realtors. As your Buyer’s Agent, we act on your behalf to get you the best deal possible on the purchase of your new home, whether it be through a builder, a bank or a regular resale home. Remember, Buying a Builder Home Without Representation Can be a Nightmare.
Joyce and Terry Thomas, Associate Brokers, US Preferred Realty
Longwood Towers
The rebirth of a Brookline legend is complete. Longwood Towers is now offering for rent luxury one and two bedroom apartment suites featuring top of the line fixtures and finishes, open floor plans with abundant natural light, and exceptional city views. Enjoy the comfort and convenience of valet parking, a 24-hour doorman, and on-site concierge services. The on-site fitness center is fully equipped, a well-appointed club room expands your entertaining and leisure space, and the business center allows you to conduct meetings without having to leave home. Panoramic views of the city sweep the skyline and the Emerald Necklace. Professionally designed and landscaped grounds offer a private, park-like atmosphere. Only steps from the D Line and walking distance to the Longwood Medical area, Longwood Towers offers easy access to an array of shopping, dining and entertainment venues.
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Student housing is one of the biggest and most important residential leasing in Boston. These student are the first time renter and a lot of them don’t event know what to do. Learn some tips, rules and laws will help keep them from trouble.
Due to the large number of excellent universities and colleges in the Boston area, there are expanding numbers of students searching for off campus housing every year. In a city that is rich in history and full of charm, there are many options available. From high rise condos to quaint apartments located in some of the finest pieces of real estate in Boston, any student is sure to find something that suits their needs. In fact, many students actually make it an objective to live in an area of Boston that suits their cultural, spiritual or educational interests and backgrounds.
The Back Bay or South End areas of Boston offer many charming, cozy apartments within renovated brownstones. If you love high ceilings and an old world feel, shopping among an array of fine and interesting boutiques, or the opportunity to stroll casually through Boston’s beautiful Public Gardens, you might very well look for an apartment here.
Although actually a town and not a part of Boston, Brookline is another area that appeals to many students searching for housing. Full of charm and charisma, like many areas of Boston, Brookline offers many choices for apartment living. Within the bustling activity of Coolidge Corner there are shops and businesses that provide a multitude of amenities attractive to the student population. Prices in Brookline are said to be quite a bit less expensive than those in Back Bay or South End real estate, so students finding something here that suits their taste are bound to get a little more for their money.
Naturally, price and location are very important considerations when searching for student housing, but they are by no means the only factors. It is imperative that students find places to live that are also clean, safe and properly maintained. Students must also understand all the legal implications and responsibilities of renting. When searching for student housing in Boston, be sure to consider these 5 important guidelines:
1. A lease is a legal contract, and not easily broken. Before you sign a lease be sure to read it over completely and understand the terms that it contains.
2. There are certain things a landlord can and cannot ask for. Legally, you can be asked for the first and last month’s rents, a security deposit, a lock fee and a portion of a re-inspection fee. No other fees, such as a finder’s fee or brokerage fee may be charged.
3. If you are renting with roommates, be aware that the lease must still be adhered to, and the rent paid in full even if one or more of the tenants decide to leave.
4. Always take a tour of the apartment with the landlord and make notes about the condition of the apartment before moving in. This will prevent you from being charged with damages that were already there.
5. For your own protection, it is always wise to insure your personal belongings that will be in the apartment. You may not realize it but computers, stereos and furniture can be worth a lot of money and costly to replace.
I just love the 80-20 rule. It can apply to many aspects of real estate. Like 80% of real estate agent’s time is not spent on generating more leads. 20% of agents sold 80% of the home inventory. This is another 20-80.
Via Valerie Zinger (Royal Lepage Gale Ottawa-Ontario-Canada):
You wear only 20% of what you own.
When selling your home, you will want prospective buyers to think that your closets are big enough for them and their clothes. It is imperative that your closets not be jammed to the rafters. I am sure that you have seen those decluttering shows where the person has gone from being unable to see into the closet to having a closet with clothes on hangers and neatly organized. How on earth did they go from a bazillion items to so little. Here are a couple of tricks that were used and that you can apply yourself.
You wear only 20% of what is in your closet on a regular basis. That means that you can safely eliminate 80% of your closet and not go naked in the streets. In the 80% there may be a couple of items that you have to save for sentimental or celebration reasons but the rest can be given away, sold on consignment, traded with friends (but not for more clothes) or packed until you arrive at your new home.
What do you really wear? Take all your hangers and face the hooks in one direction. Each time you take something out and return it to the closet after wearing it, face the hanger in the opposite direction. After a few months, you will see what clothes you never wear – the hangers are still going in the original direction. These are the items you can give away or sell.
Put your remaining clothes or nice hangers and spread them apart on the rod so there is space. The wire hangers from the dry cleaners have to go. Buy a few boxes of matching wood or white plastic hangers. When on the rod , the same style of hangers lends continuity and also visual space. A Buyer will be so happy to see how big the closet is.
Reduce the 80% to increase the value of your home.
A 4,449 SQFT. COLONIAL HOME ON 0.43 ACRES LOT WITH 6 BEDROOMS 2 HALF BATHROOMS IS SOLD FOR $1,327,000
IT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE MARKET FOR 1.599 MILLION IN THE SPRING OF 2010, THEN REDUCE TO 1.499 MILLION BEFORE CLOSING AT 1.327 MILLION ON DECEMBER 28TH 2010.
