Owner: Metrowest Blotter URL:http://www.metrowesthome.com Join Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:20:37 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Local Metrowest Boston Massachusetts blog discussing community events, town links, real estate market activity, and people. Framingham, Holliston, Natick, Westboro, Milford, Franklin, Grafton, etc. Site statistics:Click here
The Dirt on Senior Housing in Holliston 2008-02-29 14:39:26 Senior housing is going to become a larger need, as we all know by now, over the coming years. Each town tends to have its own authority providing a number of units for strictly senior residents.
These units are not “assisted living”, but mostly comprised of small apartments that are easily accessible.
Ken Curley, from Promise Lenders in [...] Read more:Housing
Massachusetts Foreclosures Plummet to .3% of Households 2008-02-26 08:01:45 Sounds exciting doesn’t it? The statistic is real, but the presentation of the facts is the point. This .3% of households number is actually a 186% increase from Jan 2007, based upon a report from RealtyTrac.com.
I am getting calls every week to head out to a bank owned property and secure it. We then clean [...] Read more:Foreclosures
, Massachusetts
Great Expectations from a Short Sale 2008-02-20 22:48:32 A friend of mine called today to tell me about an upcoming offer they were going to make on a Short
Sale property. I wished them great success, but there was a lot to prep them for!
They are a young family who are First Time Home Buyers. This market holds great opportunities for these Buyers, [...] Read more:Great
, Great Expectations
Massachusetts Kids Highly Recommend Utah 529 Plan 2008-02-18 22:49:21 Research regarding saving for my almost 4 year old daughter’s education can be classified as slim to none. Ashamed to say it, but I pledge to catch up!
What drove the new interest is a good article from Money Magazine about Utah’s topnotch 529.
My daughter, Lara, will thank me in 14 years if I make a [...] Read more:Massachusetts
Top 10 Ways Sellers Guarantee Their Home Won’t Sell 2008-02-06 11:17:02 Fellow Re/max Realtor Paul Pastore, of Arizona, created this top ten list that just so happens to fit the Metrowest real estate market also!
Sellers
are still having success in selling right now, it is just that they have to work a bit harder at it. As a full time local Realtor, I have tools that [...]
Ouch, Low Credit Scores Can Drive You Into The Poorhouse 2008-02-03 14:09:58 Many people don’t know their credit score. When buying a home, this can translate into costing you a lot of money. The interest rates that mortgage companies can offer you are mostly dependant upon this 3 digit number.
I will spell out the top reasons why you should care about your score, as well as how to [...]
Foreclosure Real Estate Secrets 2008-02-03 13:38:09 First time buyers of real estate are salivating at the idea that the Buyer’s Market in Massachusetts is offering “steals” in every neighborhood. They hear of foreclosures, auctions, and people unloading property at every turn.
This is not only a falsehood, but when buyers learn of the process, they usually run for the hills.
Let [...] Read more:Estate
, Foreclosure
, Secrets
Solutions for Making a Smooth Move with Children 2007-11-27 17:09:56 You Say: “Guess what? We’re moving to a new house!”
The Reaction from the Kids: Anxiety. Young children are creatures of habit and like the certainty of routines.
How to Make it Better:
Bookmark to: Read more:Children
4 Crucial Reasons to Buy In this Perfect Market 2007-11-27 16:26:36 You have been hearing all sorts of bad news in every newspaper article for the past 2 years. These are the 4 reasons why this is THE perfect time to be a Buyer. You should not delay, even if it means dealing with getting less for your current home!
As a full time Realtor [...] Read more:Crucial
, Market
, Perfect
, Reasons
What??! Boston Area Real Estate “fairly valued”?? 2007-11-21 14:11:48 SmartMoney Magazine reports in the December 2007 issue that Massachusetts real estate is considered “fairly valued”.
They compared local housing prices with other factors, including household income, population density, and interest rates.
Bookmark to: Read more:Boston
, Estate
, Real Estate
Navigating the New MA Auto Insurance 2008-03-11 09:13:15 My head is still spinning after reading the “section” in Sunday’s Boston Globe about the upcoming changes to the Massachusetts automobile insurance rates. In case you did not have a few hours to review all your different options, let me give you some quick advice.
Pick up the phone and dial your trusted insurance agent to [...]
Our Soldier is Home! 2008-03-20 22:34:33 During this Iraq War, there is seldom a time when we have an opportunity to show our support for the great sacrifices that our Armed Forces are making for us. On March 8th, I had the opportunity, and privilege, to welcome home my brother-in-law, Michael Sanger.
In the early morning hours, and during an upstate NY [...]
Holliston Discusses School Budget Shortfalls 2008-03-22 17:51:53 Holliston School
Committee member and my neighbor, Erica Plunkett, keeps us up to date with the status of the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Process. Here is her meeting updates that she sent me thru e-mail blast:
As you may recall, the gap between the Finance Committee’s guideline of -1.72% and the School Committee’s voted budget of 4.69% left [...]
Growth Coming to Hopkinton - Ready or Not! 2008-04-11 13:23:41 The town of Hopkinton has a terrific nursery on the eastern edge of town that has been a great neighbor, a resource of great plants, and a beautiful scene to pass while driving down Route 135.
Hold on, change is coming!
A 708 acre parcel owned by Weston Nurseries was put on the market in 2005, and [...] Read more:Growth
My Buyer Clients Want Your Home! 2008-04-23 21:57:56 I have searched the MLS for any indication of this phenomena that I am experiencing the past few weeks, and have come up empty. Stats or no stats, I am using my 10 years as a Realtor to tell you the following:
There is not enough inventory!
and
If you are considering a move, now is the time [...] Read more:Buyer
, Clients
How Rumors Get Started 101 2008-04-30 23:18:23 I read an article from the Milford Daily News this Sunday that made me pause. The article headline reads:
Clerk: 805 Vacant Homes in Franklin
Now that got my attention because the town is not THAT large and the housing stock isn’t all low end condos or multi-families, which I am noticing large inventories of vacant and [...]
Important Info on Local Hospitals: Customer Satisfaction 2008-05-10 12:26:25 The Metrowest Boston towns are just a short drive to some of the most highly regarded hospitals in the country. I don’t think I have ever heard of Massachusetts residents complaining about the level of care that is available nearby.
There is a survey that I discovered that does highlight some customer satisfaction numbers you may [...] Read more:Customer
, Hospitals
, Local
, Satisfaction
Crystal Ball on Holliston Real Estate 2008-05-15 21:52:40 The market in Holliston is showing signs of life. OK, not out of the woods yet, but there are certainly some indications that the slide has ended.
Take a look at this market report graph on Median Price:
Since January, the 90-day trend line has
Bookmark to: Read more:Crystal
, Estate
Bank owned properties: Investors Wanted! 2008-06-20 23:43:34 I have been working with a bank on some of their foreclosure listings. I represent the banks in the listings, but as you know, they are very interested in getting offers and having these properties off their books.
Here are a few:
Bookmark to: Read more:Investors
Why low Housing Starts is good news for the market 2008-06-20 16:30:06 I saw this graph of the Housing
Starts for the past 3 years, and I fell that it is only good news for the overall depressed housing market.
The May stats fell by 3%. The May building permits also declined, and this number is widely looked upon as a leading indicator of future activity.
Here’s the explanation [...]
Mortgage Interest Rate Historical Perspective 2008-06-18 21:55:45 A mortgage broker friend sent over this chart to me a bit ago and I wanted to share it with the readers. Sometimes with all the reporting and the daily grind we lose perspectives on our current situation. In terms of mortgage interest rates, boy, do we have it good?
If you would like to research [...] Read more:Historical
, Interest
, Mortgage
, Perspective
Foreclosure Update in MA 2008-07-30 22:14:53 The Boston Business Journal and the Warren Group reported today that the foreclosures in Massachusetts doubled over the first 6 months of the year compared to last year.
Not good news, especially for the 6,707 homeowners who had foreclosure deeds recorded on their homes.
The recording of a foreclosure deed is the final step of a foreclosure [...] Read more:Foreclosure
, Update
Committed to Blog! 2008-07-30 20:36:49 The pile of interesting articles have piled up in my office long enough. Sorry to all my visitors who have been seeing the same blogs on this site for the past few weeks. I have enjoyed the time with my new son, but feel it is important to keep my site visitors posted with fresh [...] Read more:Committed
What if City Hall Bossed You Around? 2008-08-10 23:08:11 The principle is this: as a citizen you should have a “problem” if City Hall
tells you how to run your business / investment / or life. Milford City Hall did this recently with their bylaw regarding rental housing.
The purpose of the bylaw may be reasonable on its face, but it wouldn’t make as much [...]
Holliston Community Plays Together 2008-09-11 12:50:49 The Town of Holliston has a very busy schedule for the month of September. If you are looking for fun on the weekends, there is no lack of events when you live in this town.
Sept 13th The Holliston Senior Center has a Fair and Yard Sale from 9-2pm
Sept 14th Holliston Farm Day takes place from [...] Read more:Plays
No Interest Loan of $7500 for Buyers 2008-08-28 15:22:03 President Bush signed into law the “Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008“. This rescue plan for the housing market contains a tax credit of up to $7500 for buyers. Here are the details:
If you are a First Time Home Buyer who closes between April 9th, 2008 and July 1st, 2009, you may be eligible. [...] Read more:Buyers
, Interest
Ashland: Boston Magazine Sticks a Label on You! 2008-08-27 15:55:17 Congratulations Ashland, BostonMagazine
reports that you are the top town in Massachusetts for a buyer who is “single and you want peace and quiet.”
Ok, so it’s not a very prestigious award, but you made the list!
When it comes to nightlife, Ashland offers little more than cricket symphonies. What it does provide in abundance are small [...] Read more:Label
How to Judge a School System? 2008-08-26 11:35:59 I received my Community Newsletter from the Holliston Public School
s last week. It is the type of information that I hope every town resident receives. I do not have kids in school, but it is an interesting read.
A client looking for a home in the area turned me on to another school website that you [...] Read more:Judge
, System
Rid Your Home of Asbestos 2008-09-27 15:19:55 Asbestos is found in many area homes and some homeowners may not even know that they are living with it. Is it “dangerous”? The quick answer is that it depends on if it is being disturbed, or if it is intact.
Asbestos is classified as a “special waste” under MassDEP regulations. It requires special handling and [...] Read more:Asbestos
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