Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
What's Next for the Empty Nester?
For many Cambridge families, this month has brought with it some significant milestones; senior prom, the last baseball game played on the high school team, and of course graduation. According to statistics posted by the National Center for Education, 3.1 million high school seniors are expected to graduate this year. Teenagers across the nation will eagerly pack their belongings and move from home towards their bright new futures.
This leaves many Cambridge empty nesters planning their bright new futures as well and wondering what to do with the family home. Is it the right time to sell? Will the sale enable the family to afford college tuition and purchase another home at the right price and size? Will there be enough to purchase the dream vacation home as well? There are numerous factors to consider when making a decision on one of the largest investments a family will make.
Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, said in a recent release that existing-home sales nationwide have been underperforming by historical standards and will rise gradually but unevenly. Though this statement is true, it is important to keep various factors in perspective and understand how they impact you as a home seller or buyer in today’s environment.
According to NAR, the median price of existing homes increased an average of more than 6% every year between 1968 and 2008, with home values nearly doubling every 10 years. If a homeowner purchased their home 10 or more years ago, the home could have a wealth of equity and offer a significant return on investment if sold in today’s market.
Additionally, the market is ripe for homebuyers. Affordability is the best that it has been in years and mortgage rates are still relatively low. Five-plus years ago, it was the prime time to approach real estate as a financial short term investment. Now is the time, as it traditionally has been, to buy a home in Cambridge because one wants a solid investment for the future.
This leaves many Cambridge empty nesters planning their bright new futures as well and wondering what to do with the family home. Is it the right time to sell? Will the sale enable the family to afford college tuition and purchase another home at the right price and size? Will there be enough to purchase the dream vacation home as well? There are numerous factors to consider when making a decision on one of the largest investments a family will make.
Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, said in a recent release that existing-home sales nationwide have been underperforming by historical standards and will rise gradually but unevenly. Though this statement is true, it is important to keep various factors in perspective and understand how they impact you as a home seller or buyer in today’s environment.
According to NAR, the median price of existing homes increased an average of more than 6% every year between 1968 and 2008, with home values nearly doubling every 10 years. If a homeowner purchased their home 10 or more years ago, the home could have a wealth of equity and offer a significant return on investment if sold in today’s market.
Additionally, the market is ripe for homebuyers. Affordability is the best that it has been in years and mortgage rates are still relatively low. Five-plus years ago, it was the prime time to approach real estate as a financial short term investment. Now is the time, as it traditionally has been, to buy a home in Cambridge because one wants a solid investment for the future.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Damn Spam!!!
My Hotmail account got spammed. Everyone in my address book has been getting junk from me. This happenned the day after I hung up on a rude telemarketer that promised to make my website no. 1 on Google. Coincidence perhaps? Hmm...
Monday, February 21, 2011
Looking Forward to Spring
There are many reasons to look forward to spring. Thoughts of spring flowers and April showers can be a real respite from the bitter ice and cold that many are experiencing in the northeastern half of the U.S. For those of us in real estate, the spring selling season is literally just around the corner and there is much to prepare for in advance.
The spring season is historically the busiest time of year in real estate so if you are thinking of putting your home on the market for this coming selling season, now is really the perfect time to meet with us to discuss your options. There is much a homeowner needs to prepare for and we can help you prioritize and map-out your plan.
The spring market is a prime opportunity for sellers to capture motivated buyers, and sellers need to ensure their property stands out from the competition. To do so, price positioning and home presentation are critical factors in attracting a buyer’s attention.
We will provide you with a competitive market analysis and review current market conditions with you. We will use this information along with a review of current inventory, recent comparable sales prices and other data to advise you. In addition, your we will know which competitive properties currently on the market will impact you and can guide you on the optimal listing price to sell your home.
We will also direct you on how to prepare your home for maximum appeal. With spring only a few months away you have just enough time to remove the clutter, repaint, repair and refurbish those areas of your home that need it.
If your home is currently on the market, it is still a great time to review your current marketing plan and prepare to make the adjustments necessary to remain competitive during the high-selling season.
Regardless of the amount of snow on the ground right now, the reality is spring isn’t too far away. Be prepared and call your us today.
The spring season is historically the busiest time of year in real estate so if you are thinking of putting your home on the market for this coming selling season, now is really the perfect time to meet with us to discuss your options. There is much a homeowner needs to prepare for and we can help you prioritize and map-out your plan.
The spring market is a prime opportunity for sellers to capture motivated buyers, and sellers need to ensure their property stands out from the competition. To do so, price positioning and home presentation are critical factors in attracting a buyer’s attention.
We will provide you with a competitive market analysis and review current market conditions with you. We will use this information along with a review of current inventory, recent comparable sales prices and other data to advise you. In addition, your we will know which competitive properties currently on the market will impact you and can guide you on the optimal listing price to sell your home.
We will also direct you on how to prepare your home for maximum appeal. With spring only a few months away you have just enough time to remove the clutter, repaint, repair and refurbish those areas of your home that need it.
If your home is currently on the market, it is still a great time to review your current marketing plan and prepare to make the adjustments necessary to remain competitive during the high-selling season.
Regardless of the amount of snow on the ground right now, the reality is spring isn’t too far away. Be prepared and call your us today.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
IS 2011 THE YEAR OF RECOVERY?
As we kick-off the new year and make resolutions to keep our resolutions, one question is still at the forefront of many minds. Will the housing market and the economy overall improve in 2011? Depending on what you're reading or who you're watching, the opinions of economists and real estate industry watchers are varied. It's not easy to predict what the market will do in the coming year, especially without the help of a crystal ball. However there are some key indicators to follow.
Most agree that the housing market recovery is largely based on the recovery of the job market. Consumers will make a down payment and purchase a home when they feel financially stable and secure.
According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in December, 28 states and the District of Columbia posted unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier though the national jobless rate approached 9.8 percent in November.
In December, the Labor Department issued statistics that showed applications for jobless insurance payments fell by 3,000 sending the average in December to the lowest level since August 2008, and fewer workers filed claims for unemployment possibly signaling that the U.S. job market is improving if only slightly.
Another indicator to watch is pending home sale statistics. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), pending home sales jumped in October, showing a positive uptrend since bottoming in June. The NAR Pending Home Sales Index rose 10.4 percent to 89.3 based on contracts signed in October from 80.9 in September. Of course the index remains 20.5 percent below when compared to the same time last year as buyers rushed to meet the Tax Credit deadline in 2009.
Overall, these numbers are positive, but we still have some way to go before a full recovery is realized. "It is welcoming to see a solid double-digit percentage gain, but activity needs to improve further to reach healthy, sustainable levels," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. "The housing market clearly is in a recovery phase and will be uneven at times, but the improving job market and consequential boost to household formation will help the recovery process going into 2011," he said.
Most agree that the housing market recovery is largely based on the recovery of the job market. Consumers will make a down payment and purchase a home when they feel financially stable and secure.
According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in December, 28 states and the District of Columbia posted unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier though the national jobless rate approached 9.8 percent in November.
In December, the Labor Department issued statistics that showed applications for jobless insurance payments fell by 3,000 sending the average in December to the lowest level since August 2008, and fewer workers filed claims for unemployment possibly signaling that the U.S. job market is improving if only slightly.
Another indicator to watch is pending home sale statistics. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), pending home sales jumped in October, showing a positive uptrend since bottoming in June. The NAR Pending Home Sales Index rose 10.4 percent to 89.3 based on contracts signed in October from 80.9 in September. Of course the index remains 20.5 percent below when compared to the same time last year as buyers rushed to meet the Tax Credit deadline in 2009.
Overall, these numbers are positive, but we still have some way to go before a full recovery is realized. "It is welcoming to see a solid double-digit percentage gain, but activity needs to improve further to reach healthy, sustainable levels," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. "The housing market clearly is in a recovery phase and will be uneven at times, but the improving job market and consequential boost to household formation will help the recovery process going into 2011," he said.
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