Showing posts with label Boston homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston homes. Show all posts

The #1 Reason to Buy a Boston Home in 2013!




Happy New Year! How did you ring in 2013? Were you celebrating inside your Boston home, at a local establishment or at First Night Boston? I hope you enjoyed yourself and that you came up with a fantastic New Year’s resolution.

If you’re a renter in the Boston, MA area, as a Boston real estate agent, I have the perfect resolution for you. Buy a Boston home this year. Why? It’s the better investment.

While home prices are quickly rising in the Boston, MA area, rental prices are rising even faster! Boston.com reported that asking prices rose 4 percent from December 2011 to December 2012. In comparison, rental prices rose 6.4 percent! Specifically, a one-bedroom median rent in 2009 was just under $1,500 and is now $2,000. A two-bedroom rent was $1,985 in 2009 and is now $2,500.

The math speaks for itself. As a renter, you should buy a Boston home as soon as you can! With home prices and home sales predicted to continue increasing this year, houses will cost more the longer you wait, and the options on the market might decrease. But mortgage rates are still historically low right now, which really helps to make owning a home affordable. 

How can you prepare to buy a Boston home this year? Here are some steps to take. When you’re ready, contact me, your Boston real estate agent! I’ll be looking forward to your call!
  1. Schedule a meeting with a lender to find out what your credit score is and how much of a loan you can receive, based on your credit score, credit history, employment, residence, savings and numerous other factors. This first step is a must, because only then will you know what your home affordability is and what type of homes and price ranges to look at. Plus, home sellers want a buyer that is already pre-approved. It shows that you are serious about buying.
  2. If you’re credit score is less than ideal, do all you can to bump it up. Use credit cards regularly, but pay them off as often as possible. If your income level is on the low side, find a second job to increase what you have set aside for a down payment. Cut back on dining out, brew your own coffee at home, host game nights and do whatever you can to save. Every little bit helps!
  3. Once you’re ready to start looking, head to my website to browse the Boston real estate market. Contact me, so I can find you homes that are in your price range and in your ideal location. We can visit showings and open houses, negotiate prices, schedule inspections and come up with a closing agreement. As your Boston real estate agent, I’ll be with you every step of the way!
Patti Fine 
Phone: 617-642-7585
Posted by Patti Fine 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , ,

New Year’s Events and Resolutions for Boston, MA Residents!



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed a blessed holiday with your family or friends. How will you ring in the New Year in Boston? What’s your New Year’s resolutions? As your Boston real estate agent, let me help you with both!

First, let’s discuss New Year’s Eve here in Boston, MA. As you know by now, every bar seems to have a party package available, and every restaurant seems to have special menus made up. But what happened to good, old-fashioned family fun? Here’s how to do that:
  1. The Boston Pops understand that your kids want to see NYE fireworks in Boston too, before they hit the sack. So bring the kids to the Boston Common Ballfield at 7 p.m. to enjoy a 12-minute New Year’s Eve fireworks display especially for them!
  2. First Night Boston is a full day of fun for kids and adults! All you need to do is buy a button for $18. With this button, you’ll receive free admission to the Boston Children’s Museum, Magellan Gallery, Old South Meeting House, Museum of Fine Arts for the first 300 button holders, and so many more places. Some of them will have special activities, like storytelling and crafts. Later in the day, live entertainment and performances will break out all over Boston. The night will end with midnight fireworks at Boston Harbor. 
  3. Stay home and ring in the New Year! There is nothing wrong with celebrating inside the comfort of your Boston home. Decorate with sparkly silver and gold accessories, turn the music up, buy some bottles of bubbly (or sparkling juice for the kids), dress up and watch the countdown on TV with streamers and noise makers! 
Hopefully these family-fun events will help you ring in the New Year in Boston, MA! After you do, you’ll have to come up with a New Year’s resolution. It’s tradition! Here are a few suggestions from your Boston real estate agent:
  1. Improve your credit score. If you plan on buying a Boston home in 2013, or even beyond, start working on your credit score now. The higher your score is and the less debt you have, the better off you’ll be when it comes time to apply for a mortgage loan! 
  2. Start doing your research. Whether you’re buying or selling in Boston, you’ll want to know what shape the Boston real estate market is in. What are homes selling for? What types of homes are available right now? How long are they on the market before selling? What are mortgage rates? Where will you move once you sell your place? What are the neighborhoods like? 
  3. Shop around for the perfect Boston real estate agent. This is a win-win, because once you complete this task, we agents can do most of the #2 tasks for you!
Enjoy your New Year and contact me in the New Year for all your Boston real estate needs!

Patti Fine 
Phone: 617-642-7585
Posted by Patti Fine 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Post-Hurricane Sandy Safety Tips For Boston Residents!




As your Boston real estate agent, I truly hope that you are all safe and sound in your Boston homes after “Frankenstorm” Sandy’s visit. The experience and the photos will make this one Halloween in Boston, MA that we won't forget! 

Does anyone have a story or photo to share? If so, please do! Leave a comment or email me!

Now that the worst is over, I want to help you get back to everyday life as quickly as possible here in Boston, MA. Here are some tips I’ve gathered for how to get back on your feet after a hurricane.

If you lost power: 

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts recommends Boston homeowners and renters turn off all electrical power in the house, including all appliances. If you do notice a gas odor or a burning smell, leave your house and call a gas company. Set up a gas-powered generator outside on a dry, level surface. Do not hook one up to your home’s wiring!

Without power, that also means your fridge and freezer aren’t working, and much of your perishable food won’t be safe to eat. Here are tips to keep in mind:

  • Keep the doors to the fridge and freezer closed as much as possible, to keep the cold air in.
  • On average, a full freezer will stay good for two days as long as the doors remain closed. A half-full freezer’s food will stay good for one day.
  • Once your power does turn on, the temperatures of your refrigerator and freezer should read 40 degrees or below. If it’s higher, your perishable food may be unsafe to eat, like raw meat and dairy. Check for discoloring or odd odors.

If you have kids or pets: 

Boston.com recommends going outside with your pets to ensure that they stay away from downed power lines or animals that may have been driven to higher ground due to flooding. Check your trees to make sure that none have been broken and could potentially fall.

Find ways to keep your kids occupied indoors. Play games, create crafts, make no-bake recipes and look through old photos. With trees, power lines and standing water outside, they’re safer inside.

If you have damage to your house: 

The sad story is that con contractors will be out to get you, because they’ll know how emotional and desperate you are if your roof is torn or your windows are blown out. The Federal Trade Commission recommends still taking the time to get three estimates in writing. Also:

  • Never pay cash or more than one-third of the job upfront.
  • Ask to see the contractor’s insurance, identification and references. 
  • Do a Google search on the contractors, or check with The Better Business Bureau.

For more tips, click here. 

When driving: 

Do not drive through standing water. You have no way of knowing how deep it is or what is underneath, like sinkholes, or worse, power lines. If you see power lines, do NOT drive over them or go anywhere near them. If one falls on your car, try to drive away. If you can’t, keep the engine on, don’t get out, and wait for help. 

If you have water in your basement: 

Check out this handy, detailed article about how to dry the basement from This Old House.

Plenty of emergency crews are available to ensure your safety inside your Boston home and all around the Boston, MA area. The worst is over, but now is time for cleanup and getting our lives back to normal.

If there is any way I can help, contact me, your Boston real estate agent! Stay safe!


Patti Fine 
Phone: 617-642-7585
Posted by Patti Fine 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Choosing the Perfect Boston Real Estate Agent for You!


The Boston Real Estate market is really picking up! Not only is it summer, the busiest time of year for Boston real estate, but factors are looking up in the housing market. Home prices are increasing, due to a lower inventory of houses for sale, and home sales are looking good too. Mortgage rates are remaining at historically low numbers. With a housing recovery arriving within the next year, according to expert predictions, I’d say it really is a great time to buy and sell in Boston!

As a homebuyer or home seller in Boston, how do you know what Boston real estate agent to work with? According to recent data from the National Association of Realtors, 89 percent of Americans use an agent to help them with their real estate goals, which is at a 10-year high! Choosing one is an important decision, though. How do you know who to trust? Who will get the job done with great results for you?

As a Boston Real Estate agent, I strive to succeed in every expectation of my clients. Their success and satisfaction is always the most important factor. It’s important for me to keep up with what clients are looking for in an agent, and in my research, I found a great article from Trulia and another from AG Beat. I’ve summed up here what you should look for in a Boston agent.
Background
When choosing a Boston real estate agent, it’s important to do a background check. Google each one. Do they show up in the search results for that area? Do they have a website that they keep updated? Do they have a blog that they post to regularly? Can you find them on social media websites, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn?
We’re living in a technically advanced age, where most homebuyers turn to the Internet for home-buying searches and for finding an agent. Therefore, it’s important that your agent be up to par with the latest technology, easy to get a hold of and known in the community.
On their website, see what the agent has to say about themselves. See how many years of experience they have, and if they’ve received awards or extra certifications.
Also, check out their listings. As a home seller, you’ll want to see what your listing will look like on the agent’s website!
Questions
After you do your own background check, contact agents to have them answer your questions. Never be afraid to ask questions! We expect it.
Ask about their experience, and make sure it matches what your research has told you. Find out how long they’ve lived and/or worked in the Boston area. Ask questions about the current Boston Real Estate market, such as what homes are selling for in the area. Find out what their selling success rate is. Find out what they would recommend pricing your house for.
An important factor to keep in mind is that the agent who gives you the highest asking price for your home is not the best agent. It could just be an agent trying to get your business, telling you what you want to hear. The number one reason homes don’t sell is because they’re priced too high. You want an agent that will price it correctly, with facts to back it up!
My Information
To help you with your research, check out my website, where you’ll find listings, buying and selling tips, schools and community information, a mortgage calculator, links to my social media sites and so much more!
Check out my background information. You’ll see that I’ve lived in Boston for 30 years and have over three decades of experience in all phases of the real estate profession. I’m active in community service, I have award-winning sales achievement and national recognition for superior customer service!
Feel free to contact me at any time for questions or to get started on your home-buying or home-selling endeavors in Boston! As an experienced Boston Real Estate agent, I am always here to help you out and put your priorities first.

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Posted by Patti Fine 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , ,

It’s Time to Sell Your Home in Boston, Here’s How!



Good news for homebuyers in the Boston Real Estate market has been flowing for years now, but good news for sellers is starting to appear in rapid speed! According to a recent press release from the National Association of Realtors, home prices are stabilizing in most metro areas, home sales are still increasing and inventory is down. Those are ideal circumstances for Boston homeowners looking to sell!

Not only that, but MSN Money recently released a list of America’s comeback cities, and Boston was one of them. It said Boston’s low unemployment rate and storied institutions serve as magnets for people from across New England. This means that home sellers in Boston can expect a wave of homebuyers!

So, how can you prepare to sell your Boston home sooner than later? Here’s a summary of some of the great tips that a Realty Times article recommended:
  • Hire a professional. As a Boston Real Estate agent, I couldn’t agree more with this one! Because it’s still more of a buyer’s market than a seller’s market, it’s smart to work with an agent that can help properly price your home, attract potential homebuyers, handle contracts and market to the masses. I am confident in saying that I can do all of these things, while still keeping you involved as much as you prefer!
  • Fully Disclose. This is no time to try to get away with anything. Buyers know what they want and won’t give up the fight until they find it. They’re smart, too. If you know your home needs work, or there is a problem somewhere, you must disclose with me and potential buyers. If they find a problem later that you knew about, you’ll have a lot of trouble to deal with.
  • Be realistic. You have to be realistic about your expectations and with the current Boston Real Estate market when pricing your home. Chances are, you’ll see your house as worth more than it is because you have an emotional attachment or because you expected the house to be worth more by now. Allow us to work together to come up with a price that compares to other homes, like yours, in the Boston area.
  • Stage your home. Yes, you’ve lived in this space for years and have probably found ways to make it your own. Potential homebuyers don’t want to see that. They want to see an area that they can make their own. So, take every personal knickknack and photo out of the room and stage each room with neutral décor and open space, until the home almost looks like a model home.
  • Be involved, but not too much. As your Boston Real Estateagent, I admire home sellers who want involvement in the selling process of their Boston home. It’s good for us to have regular conversations about the status of your sale and each step of the process. However, you don’t want to make potential buyers uncomfortable, especially during open houses. Make yourself scarce and I will fill you in on everything you miss!
These are all great tips for making your home-selling process go as smoothly as possible! Since inventory is down, potential homebuyers will be interested in your listing. As your Boston Real Estate agent, I would love to work with you to price your home, stage your home and show off your home. Let me help you! The time to sell in Boston is now. Don’t wait. Contact me!

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Home
Posted by Patti Fine 0 comments
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)