No Holiday Clearance Aisle for Boston Condos
December 22, 2012December is a month for holiday cheer, shopping, wrapping presents, sending greeting cards, party hopping and having fun. Most people don’t think about buying and selling Boston real estate, so historically it hasn’t been a busy month for transactions. However, given the holiday season, both buyers and sellers are more relaxed and jovial when negotiating for property. Read More
The Next Booming Boston Neighborhood: Downtown
December 15, 2012Who would have thought 5 years ago that downtown would be considered the hot new Boston neighborhood “du jour”? The city is expanding and new neighborhoods are being revived into vibrant and exciting places to live. More established areas, like Beacon Hill and the Back Bay, are being saturated with buyers and people are now looking for the newest desirable area to call home. Read More
Temperature of the Current Boston Real Estate Market
December 8, 2012The market is on fire right now. Unfortunately for buyers, the inventory is very low, and as Boston homes arrive on the market, they sell quickly. It is particularly difficult for buyers who are just entering the market to find a home. They haven’t seen enough properties or been in the marketplace long enough to make an educated decision and feel confident they’re buying the right property. Read More
The Challenges of Parking in Boston
December 1, 2012Many of my Boston real estate clients move from the suburbs to enjoy all the energy and conveniences of urban living. Moving to the city means you also have to be prepared to deal with the parking issue. Most buyers have parking on their “must have” wish list when they begin their Boston condo search, and quickly realize that parking is not generally included. Read More
Empty Nesters’ Dilemma: Stimulating Boston Condo vs. Suburban Dream Home
November 17, 2012I had an interesting conversation with a client last weekend. They are empty nesters in their late 40’s/early 50’s, live in a great suburb and have been contemplating buying a Boston condo for years. They have explored the idea periodically and looked at properties without any urgency in some of the best Boston neighborhoods, like Back Bay/South End/Beacon Hill. Read More
Pricing in Different Boston Neighborhoods
November 10, 2012When it comes down to pricing, a unit in the best Boston neighborhoods, including the Back Bay/Beacon Hill/South End/Waterfront, is priced depending on a variety of variables. Pricing is largely a function of supply and demand, not to mention the level of renovation, if any, outdoor space, parking, number of baths and layout. We also look at recent comparable sales, as buyers would want to know before they purchase a Boston condo. Read More
Buying Individual Boston Condo Units for Investment
November 3, 2012We are seeing two categories of investors buying individual Boston condo units for investment. Some are buying to sell a few years down the road and make money. Others prefer to invest in properties rather than the stock market and are more interested in positive cash flow short-term. Read More
Mass. Higher Education: Not the Rowdiest, but Exemplary Education
October 28, 2012The annual school rankings from Princeton Review’s were recently released with information about higher education and lists of the best ranked schools academically and socially. It’s no surprise that Mass. schools didn’t make the list of top 20 party schools. Thank God, we don’t have the reputation for most rowdy and highest drunkard rate. Read More
Elaborate Decor in Victorian Homes and Condos for Sale in Boston
October 20, 2012As I mentioned in a previous blog about young real estate buyers in Boston [link to blog from last week], the lighter and more neutral the décor of your home, the more buyers can relate to the space and imagine themselves living in it. Most homes and condos for sale in Boston’s Back Bay, Beacon Hill or South End neighborhoods are historic homes and many were built in the Victorian era. Read More
Young Buyers Invest in Boston Luxury Real Estate
October 13, 2012There are more young buyers in the luxury market compared to a few years ago. Their price range generally varies from $400K to $20M – a very wide range depending on the couple. That said, it’s important to make sure that Boston condo sellers are in tune with the younger buying power and their increased presence in the market. Read More