Signs It’s Time to Sell Your Boston Home

Are you thinking about selling your Boston home? Have you been considering this for awhile, but haven’t been sure when the right time is? As your Boston real estate agent, I’m here to tell you that when you’re ready to be a Boston home seller, the Boston real estate market is ready for you!

Home sales are up, because Boston homebuyers are eager to buy while mortgage rates remain historically low. Home prices are up, because home values and equity are returning, and also because inventory is still low. In fact, Boston home prices soared in the first few months of 2015!

When the inventory of homes for sale is low, this means that as a Boston home seller, you might receive multiple offers from buyers, and you might score an offer higher than your listing price! Bidding wars are very common right now. Boston homes are also selling fast after being listed.

So if you’re ready to sell your Boston home, now is definitely the time to do it. But how do you know when you’re ready to sell? Here are some common signs that it’s time:

• You’ve outgrown your space. Is your family growing as you have children, purchase pets or make room for aging parents or relatives? Do you need office space, or bigger closets, or more bedrooms for your growing children? If you feel like a bigger home is your next step, now is definitely the time to sell, so you can score a low mortgage rate when you purchase your next home.

• Your neighborhood is booming. Notice if other homes in the area are selling. Contact me, your Boston real estate agent, to find out what homes in the area are selling for, compared to what they were listed for, and how quickly they are selling. Get your home reappraised to find out if your home has positive equity. The housing recovery is in full force!

• You stopped caring about maintenance. Did you used to get excited about home projects, but now the paint is chipping and the gardens are overgrown? This could mean that you’re ready for maintenance-free living, or maybe you just need a change in scenery. Take it as a sign that you are ready to move on, and ready to perhaps downsize to a smaller home, or even to a Boston condo or townhouse.

If any of these signs ring a bell for you, or if your life has changed recently and you are just ready to move on, contact me. As your Boston real estate agent, I can answer any questions you may have, and I would love to help you through the home-selling process in Boston!

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

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Boston Market Statistics for the Week of 4/24/2015

Presenting you with your monthly market stats for the Greater Boston area single family homes...

             

For single family Boston properties in zip code 02129 there was a total of 8 homes listed as of April 17th. With an average of 2,008 square feet and 3.62 bedrooms, the median list price comes out to $982,612. 4 of the 8 homes were actually newly listed. Finally, with an average of 18 days on the market.

 

The numbers for Boston condos in the 02129 zip code are promising. The median listing price was at $687,329 at a total inventory of 41. The average condo size is currently sitting at 1,098 square feet, along with an average of 1.90 bedrooms and 1.56 bathrooms. With an average of 42 days on the market, 6 of the 41 condos were absorbed, and 13 are  new listings.

 Below is a graph that shows the median price for Single Family Homes and Condos in 02129.

Data and charts are based on the last 2 weeks, but are current to the day.  I have the ability to focus on different zip codes in the Boston area.  Please contact me with whatever your area of interest is; 02116, 02118, 02129 and I will be glad to help you, just let me know!

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Homes
Posted by Patti Fine

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7 Earth Day Events in Boston!

Tomorrow is Earth Day, and as such, Boston is hosting all kinds of Earth-related events and activities to celebrate. As your Boston real estate agent, I’d like to fill you in on what’s going on! Gather up your group of friends, your kids, coworkers, or just head out on your own, and enjoy fun activities that also teach you about the planet, or allow you make a positive difference.

1.  Bring the whole family to Discovery Museums for their Celebrate eARTd Day event tomorrow! You can drop into Bessie’s Tent anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to try your hand at turning trash into treasure. You can repurpose electronic equipment or you can uncover your inner naturalist, artist or builder in other ways. Both museums are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

2.  Shop at OMBE on Earth Day tomorrow and receive 10 percent off any Eco Beauty Bar items! This includes beauty products from Erbaviva, Badger Balm, LEAP Organics, Manduka and many more. You’ll be doing a favor to the earth, your skin and your wallet! 

3.  Head to Ecotarium for an Earth Day Festival on Friday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local green organizations and food vendors will be present. There will be lots of indoor and outdoor activities and entertainment, and you can explore the beautiful trails, ponds, woods and more while there. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children, seniors and students with ID. 

4.  Also on Friday, head to Franklin Park Zoo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for “Party for the Planet” Earth Day Celebration! You can meet the zookeepers and participate in scavenger hunts and an array of activities, all while finding out how you can help preserve the earth. There will also be entertainment, compost demonstrations and eco-friendly exhibits. 

5.  Help clean up the Charles River this Saturday, April 25! From 9 a.m. to noon, join thousands of volunteers and community groups to help beautify the banks of the Charles River, from Bellingham to Boston. This is part of a nationwide movement to clean up U.S. rivers, which to date, has removed over 4 million pounds of trash from waterways. Register! 

6.  All week, you can visit national parks for free in honor of National Park Week! With 14 national parks just in Massachusetts, this week would be a great week or weekend for taking some road trips and appreciating the natural beauty that surrounds us. This includes Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, Boston National Historical Park, Longfellow House, Lowell National Historical Park and many more. 

7.  All week, you can also Boston Architectural College on Newbury Street! Today through Saturday, the college’s Green Team will have a special Earth Week Exhibit that anyone can walk through. Topics and activities will include recycling, urban bicycling, movie showings and more. 

Earth Day is also a great time to incorporate some eco-friendly, energy-efficient upgrades into your Boston home! These will save you money, help protect the planet, and can increase the value of your home. When ready to buy or sell real estate in the Boston real estate market, contact me, your Boston real estate agent!

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

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How to Increase Your Boston Home’s Property Value!

Are you ready to sell your Boston home soon? Now is the time to do it! Housing supply is low, so bidding wars are high among buyers. Plus, mortgage rates are still low and rents are rising, so Boston homebuyers are eager to buy. As your Boston real estate agent, I am here to help you with the home-selling process!

Before you put your home on the Boston real estate market, consider taking some steps to increase your Boston home’s property value. To help you out, I’ve summarized some  recent tips from Realtor Magazine.

• Repair. The first things they say to check are the foundation, roof, plumbing and electrical.  Take a good look at every aspect of the home, inside and out, and make the necessary repairs. The home inspectors will find what you find!

• Declutter. Spring clean your entire home, including inside closets, cabinets, drawers and storage areas. Donate, sell, recycle or toss whatever you no longer need. Clutter turns buyers off fast!

• Lighten up. Allow natural light in by replacing heavy window curtains with lighter options or blinds that you can easily open. Clean the windows. Replace any burnt out light bulbs around the house.

• Add eco value. If you need to upgrades in the house, such as kitchen appliances, toilets, furnaces, water heaters or windows, opt for more energy-efficient options. Buyers appreciate green, eco-friendly upgrades right now.

• Refinish. Pay attention to your floors. Give your wooden floors a refinishing, along with your outdoor deck or front porch. Consider replacing worn carpeting with wooden floors, or at least have the carpeting professionally cleaned.

• Update kitchen. Kitchens are major focal points for buyers. Make small upgrades that won’t cost you your savings, such as replacing or painting cabinets, or upgrading the faucet.

• Update bathroom. Buyers also pay attention to bathrooms, so consider adding a double vanity or a walk-in shower. Upgrade the cabinets, floors or wall paint if necessary.

• Remodel. If you’re going to go all out and remodel, consider remodeling the attic or basement before adding on brand-new space to the home. Remodeling the space you have is a more cost-effective option.

• Spruce up. Add curb appeal with low-maintenance gardens, tree trimming, and lawn watering and mowing. Give the front door a fresh coat of paint, and consider replacing the address numbers or mailbox.

As you can see, there are plenty of simple, cost-effective ways to add value to your Boston home. Deep cleaning, decluttering and depersonalizing go a long way, too. Staging to sell is key to attracting interested Boston homebuyers!

Don’t let this great opportunity for selling your Boston home pass you by. Contact me, your Boston real estate agent, when you’re ready to get started with the home-selling process!

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes 

What to Look Forward To In Boston This Spring!

Spring has officially arrived in Boston! Though the weather isn’t as spring-like as most of us had hoped for, warm weather, sunshine and colorful flowers will be here in no time. To get you pumped for the spring season in Boston, as your Boston real estate agent, I’ve compiled a list of events and activities to look forward to!

1.  Done with hot chocolate and mulled ciders? Good, because spring cocktail menus have returned! Check out Brass Union’s Jumpman Julep cocktail, made with tequila, coconut foam and a blend of pineapple, orange and pomegranate juices. Or, go with Legal Crossing’s Bob Lee’s Islander, made with dark rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice and more. These springy flavors will get you ready for warm weather!

2.  Food truck season is returning so soon! Starting April 1, you can expect new and old trucks to return for your enjoyment during your lunch break, on weekends, and anytime you attend a local festival. Monday through Saturday, you can find food trucks at Dewey Square Park, Rowes Wharf Plaza, Greenway Carousel and many other locations. Check out the full Mobile Eats calendar! 

3.  Dining out in Boston seems even more enjoyable than usual when you get to eat on outdoor patios and decks. When we reached 50 degrees a couple weeks ago, Precinct Kitchen + Bar, Trattoria il Panino and Sam’s all opened their patios. So, any day that feels warm enough to sit outside to you, you’ll likely find an open outdoor patio just by walking around!

4.  A sure sign of spring in Boston is when the carousels open for the season! The Rose Kennedy Greenway carousel and the Boston Common carousel are both scheduled to open for the season on April 3. If you’ve got kids, bring them by one of these locations and enjoy the fresh outdoor air as a family.

5.  Baseball is another sure sign of spring in Boston, and the Red Sox opening game at Fenway Park takes place on April 13! They’ll be playing the Washington Nationals. Buy your tickets now for some great sports entertainment. If you miss opening day, there will be many more home games to look forward to all season.

6.  The Boston Marathon returns to Boston on April 20! Thousands of runners are expected to participate in the 119th Marathon, and the Red Sox “Patriots Day” game will take place that morning as well. Tons of people flock to the streets to cheer on the runners. This is an exciting day in Boston, full of Boston pride!

For more events and activities to look forward to this spring in Boston, check out this list from BostInno. When ready to buy a Boston home, or to sell your Boston home this spring, contact me, your Boston real estate agent! I would love to help you achieve your Boston real estate goals this spring season.

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes 

Boston Market Statistics for the Week of 3/23/2015

Presenting you with your monthly market stats for the Greater Boston area single family homes...

 

For single family Boston properties in zip code 02118 there was a total of 2 homes listed as of March 20th. With an average of 4,146 square feet and 4.00 bedrooms, the median list price comes out to $3,997,500. Neither of the two homes were actually newly listed. Finally, with an average of 80 days on the market.

The numbers for Boston condos in the 02118 zip code are promising. The median listing price was at $894,000 at a total inventory of 30. The average condo size is currently sitting at 1,411 square feet, along with an average of 2.28 bedrooms and 1.83 bathrooms. With an average of 44 days on the market, 4 of the 30 condos were absorbed, and 1 is a new listing.

 Below is a graph that shows the median price for Single Family Homes and Condos in 02118.

 Data provided by ©2014 Altos Research LLC
 
Data and charts are based on the last 2 weeks, but are current to the day.  I have the ability to focus on different zip codes in the Boston area.  Please contact me with whatever your area of interest is; 02116, 02118, 02129 and I will be glad to help you, just let me know!


Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Homes
Posted by Patti Fine

Use A Real Estate Agent When Selling Your Boston Home!

Are you getting ready to sell your Boston home? Now is a great time to do it! New home construction is on the rise, so the longer you wait, the more competition you’ll have from new homes and other sellers. Pending homes sales were at their highest level in 18 months, so the real estate market is already active! Once spring weather arrives, it’ll get even busier.

As a Boston real estate agent, I want to help you understand why it’s a smart idea to use an agent to help you sell your Boston home. With so much technology at our fingertips, it might seem like a breeze to sell on your own. That isn’t typically the case, though.

You may have heard that in a recent survey, 92 percent of buyers have used the internet in their home search. However, it’s important to also know that 96 percent of those that used the internet purchased their home through a real estate agent! Only two percent of buyers bought their home directly from a seller.

Buyers responded in the survey to say that they work through an agent to find the actual home they’ll buy, to negotiate terms of the sale and price, and to understand the process. There is a lot of information out there, and a lot of paperwork involved in closings. As the Boston home seller, you don’t want to be left to figure all that out and to connect the dots on your own!

There are a couple other good reasons to work with a Boston real estate agent, too.

We keep emotions out of it. Chances are, you’ve lived in your Boston home for a long time. You’ve grown attached to it. It’s much harder to sell the home that way. As an agent, I can lend you tips on staging your home to sell in a neutral way that suits most buyers. I can listen to the criticism from buyers without taking it personally or getting offended. I know what  buyers will be willing to pay for your home according to market trends, instead of overinflated figures that stem from pride of ownership.

We also sift through the paperwork and explain the process to you. Unless you’ve sold a Boston home in the past, you won’t realize all the steps involved in the home-selling process. It gets tricky! There is also a lot of paperwork to be filled, a lot of negotiating to be had with the buyer’s agent, and a lot of steps to follow during the closing process. I can lead you each step of the way.

When you’re ready to sell your Boston home, or you have questions about selling, contact me, your Boston real estate agent! I would love to help you understand the process, and help you sell your house as fast as you can, for as much as you can. Let’s get started!

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes 

7 Boston Events Taking Place This Week!

Do you have major cabin fever in Boston? After all the snow we’ve gotten, I’m guessing that there are a lot of you who are sick of being inside. As your Boston real estate agent, I’m here to fill your calendar with events and activities to get you out of the house and into some fun social situations!

Pull out your planner and jot down these events, which are taking place within the next seven days in Boston. Buy tickets quickly, before anything sells out!

• Listen to a performance by Audra McDonald. This six-time Tony Award winner and two-time Grammy Award winner will perform at Symphony Hall this Sunday, March 1, beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $50. McDonald has performed five times before in Boston. This is her sixth Celebrity Series performance, and she’ll be performing with piano, bass and drums. It’ll be a beautiful evening of music! 

• Watch an out-of-the-box theatrical performance. Simon Says begins this Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre. Tickets range from $30 to $40. This play, produced by Little Seer Productions, is about a psychic who explores different realms alongside an ethereal force, including physical and metaphysical, religious and scientific. It’ll get you thinking! 

• Try new food around Boston. Dine Out Boston is back, beginning March 1! You can enjoy a prix fixe menu at more than 170 restaurants around Boston. You can enjoy lunch for $15, $20 or $25, and dinner for $28, $33 or $38, depending on which package you choose. Part of proceeds will benefit ArtsBoston this year. So branch out from your usual dining spots and try something new! It’ll get your mouth watering. 

• Cheer on beautiful dancers. The cast for the next season of Dancing with the Stars was revealed this morning! Want to see some live dancing? Dancing Pros Live is coming to The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts on March 1. Tickets range from $40 to $65. Watch DWTS pros, such as Chelsie Hightower and Edyta Sliwinska, present dancers competing for audience votes and prizes. It’ll get you wanting to dance! 

• Participate in an ongoing event. Boston has some events that have been going on for weeks, but they will soon come to an end! The Boston Wine Festival runs through March 27, with special events and activities taking place throughout this time at Boston Harbor Hotel. The Winter Carnival in Harvard Square runs until March 8 and has a never-ending list of events taking place. Winter on the Wharf at the Boston Harbor Hotel runs through March 15. Take advantage of these fun winter activities!

Get out and enjoy all that Boston has to offer. Winter might be sticking around for a while. Don’t let the cold or piles of snow stop you from enjoying yourself. Don’t let it stop you from achieving your real estate goals in the Boston real estate market either! When ready to buy a Boston home, or ready to sell your Boston home, contact me, your Boston real estate agent!

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes 

Boston Market Statistics for the Week of 2/23/2015

Presenting you with your monthly market stats for the Greater Boston area single family homes...

For single family Boston properties in zip code 02116 there was a total of 1 home listed as of February 20th.   With an average of 4,675 square feet and 5 bedrooms, the median list price comes out to $4,500,000. None of the homes were newly listed. Finally, with an average of 70 days on the market, 0 of the 1 home was absorbed.

The numbers for Boston condos in zip code 02116 are promising. The median listing price was at $2,400,000 at a total inventory of 41. The average condo size is currently sitting at 2,180 square feet, along with an average of 2.80 bedrooms and 2.65 bathrooms. With an average of 99 days on the market, 6 of the 41 condos were absorbed.

Below is a graph that shows the median price for Single Family Homes and Condos in 02116.

Data provided by ©2014 Altos Research LLC

Data and charts are based on the last 2 weeks, but are current to the day.  I have the ability to focus on different zip codes in the Boston area.  Please contact me with whatever your area of interest is; 02116, 02118, 02129 and I will be glad to help you, just let me know!

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes

Fall in Love with a Boston Home This Valentine’s Day!

Are you ready to buy a Boston home? Now is the perfect time to do it! Consumer confidence is at its highest level in over a decade, which is expected to create a very robust Boston real estate market. Already, foot traffic is higher than usual this time of year. Boston homebuyers want to buy now, while mortgage rates are still at record lows. Don’t miss out!

As your Boston real estate agent, I would love to help you through the home-buying process. I have some tips I’d like to share with you on how to know when you’ve found “the one.” Similar to how you know when you’ve found the one to marry and spend the rest of your life with, finding the house you’ll spend many years living in is an important decision, too!

Here are some tips from RIS Media to help you know when it’s the one:

• The home makes you happy. It sound simple, but sometimes checking in with your intuition is the best way of knowing if you’ve found the right Boston home. Do you feel anxious, or like you’d like to keep looking, or do you feel excited and hopeful when you think about the home? Just like in a relationship, butterflies in the stomach can occur when you’ve found your Boston dream home, too!

• The home has a strong foundation. You need a strong foundation in a relationship, but also with a home. Of course, we’re talking literally with a home. Make sure to have an inspection done to find out if the Boston home needs any repairs, and if it does, if the Boston home seller is willing to pay for them. If the home is good to go, you’ve found a winner!

• The home meets your need. Why are you buying a Boston home? Are you relocating for work, or are you buying bigger for your growing family? Do you want to be closer to a bustling downtown, or further away in a family-friendly, quiet neighborhood? Consider the home and the area around the home, and if it suits all of your needs.

• The home supports your future. Don’t just think about whether the Boston home has what you need right now. Think about your future too, because you’ll most likely be spending many years living in this home! Can you visualize raising a family, or retiring as empty nesters, or living on your own in that particular neighborhood? Can you imagine nights out on the patio, and cooking dinners in the kitchen.

Whether you buy your Boston dream home this Valentine’s Day, or sometime in the months to come, I’d love to help you out! Contact me, your Boston real estate agent. I will help you make sure that you have found “the one” before you officially close on your new living space.

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes