Showing posts with label Homeownership in Boston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homeownership in Boston. Show all posts

5 Art Events Coming Up in Boston, MA!


I hope you had a fabulous Fourth of July in Boston, MA! Do you ever feel down after the holiday weekend passes by? If you think the best of summer in Boston is over, I’m here to let you know that’s not true! Tons of events and activities continue to fill the Boston calendar. Check out my Boston events page for a full list.

Aside from mainstream events, Boston, MA has a very original artsy and musical following, with lots of art events every week. As your Boston real estate agent, I’d like to introduce you to five events coming up. Bring the whole family, because most of these are appropriate for kids, too!
  1. Every Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., bring the kids onto the Boston Harbor Islands for Arts in the Park! Each week, free art and craft activities are designed especially for kids, including watercolor, drawing, ocean-themed creations and more. This Thursday will take place on Spectacle Island, while July 18 will take place on Georges Island. You can catch ferries to the islands from downtown Boston’s Long Wharf North. 
  2. Also on Thursday, head to the Institute of Contemporary Art from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for Harborwalk Sounds 2013. This week is Wambura Mitaru Synergy, which combines African root sounds from a South African guitarist, Egyptian percussionist and Kenyan vocalist. It’s a hybrid tune like nothing you’ve heard before! Admission to the museum is free every Thursday night, with different musical performers. 
  3. The birth of modern France occurred on July 14, 1789, after the storming of the Bastille prison. To celebrate, Boston’s French Cultural Center is hosting Bastille Day on Friday, July 12, from 6 to 11 p.m. A portion of Marlborough Street will be blocked off for a street party, with high-energy music for dancing! Tickets cost $25 in advance and $30 on the day of. Several French restaurants in Boston will also offer French food and drink specials. 
  4. On July 13, head to the WGBH Studios for FunFest 2013! This fest features lots of ice cream from multiple vendors, Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese Food Truck and live musical performers that are family friendly. For kids, there will be interactive games, face painting, inflatable rides and more. Numerous PBS characters will be present for your kids to meet and get photos with. Tickets cost $10 or $35 for a family four-pack, and the fest runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
  5. On July 14, bring the whole family down to the Museum of Fine Arts. They are participating in the Open Streets on the Avenue of the Arts and the Outside the Box festivals to bring you live musical performances and drop-in art! This will take place right outside of the Huntington Avenue Entrance from 2 to 4 p.m. and is free to participants. 

Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
Greater Boston Area Homes
Search Greater Boston Area Homes
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Perks of City Living in Boston, MA!




As a Boston real estate agent that works in the city and outlying neighborhoods of Boston, MA, I often get to hear why clients decide to move into the city or out into the suburbs. Which is better? 

There is no right or wrong answer to this, it’s a matter of opinion.While city living has its perks, as a recent Market Watch article suggests, life in the suburbs has its own set of perks as well. So, which do you prefer?

After the snowstorm we experienced here in Boston, here is what this columnist with Market Watch had to say were the perks of living in the city, especially during the winter:
  • No whiteout. While homeowners in the suburbs were trapped in their homes after “Blinding Nemo” blew through, city dwellers were out walking their dogs and going on with regular business.
  • No shoveling. If you live in a condo or apartment complex in the city, you don’t have a driveway to shovel, which might have saved you up to six hours of labor after this last snowstorm.
  • No roof trouble. City homes are built with brick, while many of the older New England homes are built with wood. If your building does have roof damage, it is most likely not your responsibility to fix it, unless you own a single-family home or townhome.
  • No floods. If you live in a high-rise or upper-floor building, you don’t have to deal with this once the snow melts or the spring rains arrive.
  • No mowing. As with the no shoveling, if you don’t have a yard, you don’t have to mow the lawn.
  • No car. This isn’t true for everyone, but if you want to live in the city without a car to pay for and deal with, you could. Public transportation and bike-friendly streets are widespread.
  • No outages. Well, that’s not entirely true. City dwellers experience power outages after a storm too sometimes, but not as often. And they tend to get resolved faster than in small suburbs.
  • No commute. You don’t have to get up hours before you actually start work to weave through traffic or to sit through a long train ride. A quick walk, bicycle ride or bus trip will get you to work in no time.
So, those are the perks to living in the city of Boston, MA, from the opinion of a Market Watch columnist. So, what are the perks of living in the suburbs of Boston?

Well, as long as you live in one of the Boston's surrounding neighborhoods, many of these factors still remain true. Public transportation is prevalent, homes are built with brick and power outages don’t last long. 

What else is a perk of living in the suburbs? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave me a comment.

As your Boston real estate agent, it’s my job to find you a home that suits your needs and wants. If that’s in the city, so be it! If it’s in a surrounding suburb, I can do that too. Check out current listings in the Boston real estate market and let me know what strikes your fancy!

Patti Fine 
Phone: 617-642-7585
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Setting an Asking Price for Your Boston Home!


Have you heard what’s going on in the U.S. real estate market right now? Nationally, home sales decreased in June, surprising the real estate industry after months of increases. However, a big part of this is because the buyer’s market we’ve been experiencing is turning toward more of a seller’s market! Inventory of homes for sale are down, meaning Boston home sellers are getting more offers and higher offers in the Boston real estate market!

That’s why home prices dramatically increased in June. As your Boston real estate agent, it’s my duty to tell you that now is a great time to sell your home in Boston! With home prices up, inventory down and Boston homebuyers eager to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates, you don’t want to let this perfect home-selling opportunity pass you by in Boston.

So, as a home seller in a recovering Boston real estate market, how do you know what your asking price should be? Should you price it low, hoping to gain a lot of eager homebuyers and bids that will increase the price? Should you price it high, since inventory is low anyway? Or should you give it an average price, hoping to sell it fast?

Inman News wrote a great article about this issue. Many home sellers are pricing their home low, hoping to attract numerous homebuyers and multiple offers, but sometimes it doesn’t work. Sometimes, the home seller ends up with one homebuyer, offering the low asking price. Then what?

The article explains what your options are when this happens. Here’s a summary:
  1. You don’t have an obligation to accept it. If you receive an offer that isn’t what you were hoping for, you don’t have to accept it, even if it matches your asking price. You could just reject it or ask for more, but beware, the homebuyer will not be happy and will most likely take off.
  2. Understand your listing agreement. When working with a Boston real estate agent, you’ll have a listing agreement. If you deny a full-price, cash offer with no contingencies from a potential homebuyer, you might have to pay a commission. However, you can negotiate the terms of the listing agreement before signing it.
  3. List your price at a smart price. When home sellers price their homes low, it’s not 40 or 50 percent below what they want to sell it for.  It’s more of a 2.5 percent discount from what it should be marketed at. In other words, don’t list your home at a price that would upset you if it was offered. If you want to price it low, price it at the low-end of an acceptable range. That way, if you do only receive an offer at that price, it wouldn’t be so bad to accept it.
You can read the Inman News article in its entirety here.
 
When choosing an asking price for your Boston home, it’s important to take many factors into consideration. What is the market value of your home right now? What are other homes like yours selling for in Boston? How much do you still owe on your home? There are a lot of questions to think about when considering your asking price.

As your Boston real estate agent, I can help you with this! I have ample experience helping Boston homeowners sell their homes for a fair price that is right for them and for the current conditions of the Boston real estate market. Contact me. We’ll discuss the current market and your selling needs, and we’ll come up with the right asking price for your Boston home!
Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
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5 July Events to Look Forward to In Boston!


 
I hope you all had a fabulous Fourth of July holiday in Boston! Once Harborfest and fireworks come and go, it seems like the rest of summer just flies by, doesn’t it? 

Before it’s over, make sure to check out the Boston Real Estate market! Home sales and home prices have increased in the past month and homeownership optimism is high. If you’ve been waiting to buy or sell, now is the time to do it while mortgage rates are still at historic lows!

Now is also the time to jumpstart your fun summer to-do list. Luckily, the fun never stops in Boston! July is a heated month in both weather and activities around our bustling Boston city! To keep you busy, here are some upcoming events that your Boston Real Estate agent here took note of for you:
  • New to Boston? Been here forever? Check out the Improv Asylum’s annual version of Lost in Boston. Tickets cost between $15 and $20 and take place on Sundays at 4 and 8 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 8 p.m., starting tonight! You’ll learn all kinds of new information about Boston all while poking fun at it and its people. Expect audience participation! 
  • Don’t pack all your summer fun into weekends. On Thursdays in July and August, starting tomorrow, you can head to ICA Boston from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for free concerts! Berklee College of Music students, alumni and faculty perform during these free shows, from jazz to Latin.
  • The French language is beautiful, isn’t it? Enjoy French accents during the Annual Boston French Film Festival from July 12 to 29 at the Museum of Fine Arts. All of the movies include English subtitles, so you have no excuse not to check out another realm of film and culture!
  • Fan of food trucks? Haven’t gotten a chance to try one? Not sure which are the good ones? Head to a Boston Food Truck Festival to try one of try them all! One will take place in Elm Park in Worcester on July 14, and one will take place in Artesani Herter Park in Brighton on July 28. Food trucks are the closest thing to enjoying a picnic outside without having to pack the food!
  • Summer Arts Weekend is coming up July 27-29 around Copley Square in Back Bay. This impressively sized festival features free concerts throughout each day, including jazz, classical, bluegrass, folk, Celtic and more! During the day, you can enjoy the sunshine and live music while strolling around street performers, local artists, food trucks and theater performances. At night, you can head into local restaurants to hear live music while enjoying food and drink specials.
For more upcoming events and activities in Boston, check out the Boston Discovery Guide for this month.

In between your pool parties, barbecues and festivals, take a moment to check out what’s available in the Boston Real Estate market! If you’re in the market to buy a house in Boston, you may just see the home of your dreams. If you’re looking to sell your Boston home, you’ll realize that inventory is low and your chances of scoring a sale are high!

Have questions about real estate in Boston? Contact me, your Boston Real Estate agent! I will share with you my love for Boston while answering all of your questions and helping you succeed in your buying or selling goals. 

Now go out and enjoy the Boston sunshine!
 
Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
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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
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The Benefits of Homeownership in Boston!


If you’re sitting on the fence as to whether or not you should become or remain a homeowner in Boston, this blog entry is for you! As your Boston Real Estate agent, I want you to know that all the signs and recent real estate news are saying that, if you are financially capable, now is the time to buy a home.

Market Improvements

According to a recent HousingWire.com article, The National Association of Realtors (NAR) predicts that by this time next year, the market will have improved. They say existing-home sales will have increased 4 to 5 percent, and new home sales will have increased even more.

Although mortgage credits have become tight and consumer confidence is low right now, NAR explains that because of population growth, employment levels and other factors, a pent-up demand will eventually cause buyers to gain confidence and purchase homes.

Homeownership vs. Renting

Another article, directly from NAR, laid out research on whether renting or owning a home is financially better in the long run. Turns out, owning a Boston home is!

The analysis was done over a 31-year period and across 23 metropolitan areas, taking into account the expenses that go into homeownership, such as taxes, insurance and maintenance, and the revenue received from it, such as appreciation and interest deductibility.

When compared to renters who use savings to pay their rent, 84 percent of buyers came out ahead. According to data from the Federal Reserve Board, a homeowner’s net worth is 45.9 percent more than a renter. So, although not everyone is in a financial capacity to buy a home, if you can do it, it’s a better financial move for long-term living or investing.

Homeownership Benefits

Still not convinced that owning a home in Boston is the right move? This Realty Times article states the benefits of homeownership in a very basic, easy to understand way. This includes:

Equity: Although some areas are experiencing low appreciation rates, as a long-term investment, the average appreciation of homes historically has been 4 to 6 percent a year. You’re getting money back, while as a renter, you never see that money again.

Relationships: Renters come and go as they please, so you don’t get the same chance to bond with your neighbors as you do in a neighborhood. It’s much easier to get to know each other and form lasting relationships when you share a sidewalk, amenities and long-term residencies.

Ownership: When you own your place of residence, it usually means that you can decorate it and upgrade it however you’d like! You can paint it, show off holiday décor, add a pool or a playground, put up a fence or anything else you prefer. Sure, you might have certain HOA rules, but it’s still more freedom than you’ll get as a renter.

The article continues with more perks, but all in all, the benefits of homeownership far outweigh the benefits of renting. Owning a home is known as the American dream, and with interest rates lower than ever, now is the perfect time to buy! Add in the predictions of a housing recovery and you are good to go.

If you have more questions or more concerns about the buying process, your finances, the Boston Real Estate market, interest rates or anything else on your mind, contact me. I’m your Boston Real Estate agent, always here to help you with your buying or selling needs in Boston!

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

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