Archive for the 'Real Estate Trends' category

Beautiful Home for Sale in Arlington!!

We are Pleased to feature one of our Sales Listings on our website! It is a beautiful property in Arlington on Spy Pond!  Wake up to a waterfront view of Spy Pond in this one of a kind residence.  This Kelwyn Manor property has a bay window overlooking the yard and water, a living with fireplace, three bedrooms, and the privacy and comfort to make you feel at home.

To schedule an appointment or to inquire further please call Arthur Horiatis at 617-901-9518

Happy House Hunting!

If you're planning on moving to the great city of Boston, you may not be familiar with all the surrounding neighborhoods! --There are 21 official neighborhoods in the city and there is also the "Boston Metropolitan Area". Cambridge is the second largest city (behind Boston) in the metropolitan area.  Now, you're probably thinking, I have no idea where any of these places are! Well, I found a great website that gives you all the information you would want to know about the place your about to call home!

Click this link and you will find maps, restaurants, reviews, statistics and much more! Whether you are planning on moving to the Back Bay or to Cambridge, this site has it all

CAMBRIDGE

Just across the river from Boston, Cambridge offers an exciting and vibrant multicultural setting with tons to do and see! Tourists, locals and students from around the world are here at any given Day.  It is such a popular attraction because two of the most respected educational institutions are located here: Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Overflowing with cafes, bookstores, museums, and boutiques, Cambridge is often referred to as "Boston's Left Bank".

Check out all that Cambridge has to offer!

When trying to sell your home don't forget about how important even the smallest of details can be.  A great article from the New York Times discusses how Jamella Swift, an NYC broker, learns that ignoring details can really decrease the value of the home.

Clutter: Subtract 5-15%

Fresh towels and throw pillows: Add $25,000

Dirty rugs: Subtract $5,000

Regrouting tile: Add $100,000 (don't forget we're talking about a $3 million listing in NYC)

New Fixtures and appliances Add $250 in rent

New Lights: Add $32,500

Replacing cabinets: Add $107,000

An expensive shoe closet: Worth every penny!

Check out the full article here

Buying a home can be one of the biggest purchases you will make in your life. With that said, you want to make sure you're prepared, educated, and ready to make the commitment.  Here are some things to watch out for when starting the process.

1. Dealing with Lenders 

• When borrowing money you want to make sure you calculate your total monthly costs.  Before you house-hunt, find out the tax and insurance rates for homes in your price range. Don't forget about condo fees, loan, tax, and insurance payments.

• Another important factor is to shop around! You want to talk to at least two lenders to make sure you are getting a competitive loan.  Remember interest rates can vary not only daily, but sometimes a few times a day!  Make sure your lender is giving you the highest quality advice. 

2. Find the Right Lawyer

• Real estate law varies by state.  It also can get even more localized by the neighborhoods. You want to hire a real estate attorney in or near the town you want to buy in. 

3. Inspections

• The most important aspect of choosing your home inspector is to shop around and ask for referrals.  Home inspectors know a lot about houses, but they can't see inside the walls or dismantle the house. They can't even give you an estimate. (That's what contractors are there for) Both are very important to the purchase of your home, so you want to make sure you're getting the best for your money.

4. Our own Mistakes

• The biggest thing that you need to understand as a buyer, is how much time and how big of a commitment it is to buy a home.  A lot of work is put into making your final decision. Expect some stress, and remember to give yourself some slack! Finding the right agent to balance out your personalities is one of the best things you can do in successfully buying a home.

5. Location

• The location of your home is the one thing you cannot change.  You want to make sure you really love the location and want to live there. Don't just settle; you could be living there for a very long period of time.  Don't forget to consider different weather conditions.  Is that hill up the driveway going to be too much of a pain in the winter? Can you handle living with the sounds of the city nightlife? You decide. 

6. Price

• Make sure you do out all your calculations.  When dealing with such large numbers such as $500,000, another 2 or 3 thousand doesn't seem like much.  However, at 6.125% interest, its about $30/month, but becomes $10,800 over the term of the loan. It pays to do out all the calculations! 

Do you have any stories to share that would help our fellow buyers? What were your experiences?

Happy Hunting! Remember Tory Row Real Estate is always here to help in any way we can!

Want to put your home on the market? Are you hesitating because of the current housing market? Don't be afraid! We may be in a slump but, there is still hope! Here are a few tips on how to sell your home fast and efficiently!

Price

Setting a price is very important to the sale of your home.  Since we're in a down market, you need to be aware of the comparable houses on the market in your area.  It is a strategy that is tricky but easily attainable! You want to try and find that perfect balance between attracting solid offers and ultimately receiving top dollar. You should be flexible on price in our market and try not to get stuck on a certain number in your head.

If you can't compete with your competitors on price, especially the foreclosure properties, you can nail the curb appeal! Make your house look presentable and welcoming.  Putting the money, time, and effort into repainting, power washing, gardening, and if your driveway needs improvements, this is the time to fix them! The first step in getting a buyer interested is getting them through the front door!

Clear out all Clutter

When you’re selling a home you want the potential buyers to picture themselves living in the home, not living in your life!  Put away all the old magazines that have been piling up for ages, the loose papers on the kitchen table, and the million remote controls around the living room! You also want to make sure to take down all your personal photos of your family and replace them with nice pieces of art.  

Find the Right Real Estate Agent

There are many factors that go into finding the right agent. First you want to make sure the person has good values, education and a lot of experience! It is important to that you trust your agent and share the same values. You also want to make sure you get an agent that is familiar with your neighborhood. It's easy to look up comps, but the agent is the one who can tell you about the schools, demographics, and even crime rates! Once you have found the agent who understands your location and housing needs, you will feel a lot more comfortable with the search in general. Remember, agents are there to help you through the process and make sure things go as planned! 

What was your experience?? Do you have your own tips for things that can make a home sell faster?  What were some things you did when selling your house that made it more attractive to buyers?  Let us know about it in the comments!