One of the biggest decision Western MA second-home buyers must decide is whether or not to rent their property when they are not using it. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-half of all second-home owners leave their home unoccupied for more than 330 days a year. The question becomes, will your vacation home be a financial burden or a financial cow with the rental income is can generate,..(read more)
Western MA Second-home Sellers Pay For Tax Credits
You have probably heard, last week President signed into law the Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act. This is the most comprehensive housing bill to be enacted in over a decade. The bill is designed to help more buyers of Western MA real estate realize their dreams, as well as, boast the struggling housing and mortgage markets...(read more)
Existing-home sales rose from the first quarter in 13 states, largely from buyers responding to discounted home prices, according to the latest quarterly survey by the National Association of Realtors®. Nearly one-quarter of metropolitan areas showed rising home prices in the second quarter from a year ago, with greatly mixed conditions continuing around the country.
NAR President Richard Gaylord,..(read more)
Not so long ago helping the environment meant recycling plastic and newspapers, but today it has evolved into “green” thinking and extends to our homes and our living environments.
According to a recent NAR survey, nine out of 10 Realtors® said their clients are interested in energy efficient features of green homes and the potential cost savings of such features. An overwhelming..(read more)
President Bush signed into law this week The Housing and Economic Recovery Act. This is the most sweeping change to housing reform since the New Deal of 1934. It is designed to assist more Americans invest in home ownership and shore up the faltering housing and mortgage markets. Like any legislation, it comes with the good and the bad. I encourage you to write your Congressmen to see if we can..(read more)
In the current Western MA real estate market, there has been a lot of buzz around “short sales.” What is a short sale, exactly? A short sale is when a lender agrees to accept a mortgage payoff amount less than what is owed in order to facilitate a sale of a property by a financially distressed owner – in essence, the lender forgives the outstanding balance of the loan.
There..(read more)
Modest near-term movement is expected in Western MA real estate sales, with a recovery in sales seen during the second half of the year, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said some pullback after a sharp increase in the previous month was expected. “The overall decline in contract signings suggests..(read more)
“Location, Location, Location.” We hear it all the time in the real estate world and many assume that location is the most important criteria to buyers when purchasing a new home. But what is it really that determines why one property sells more quickly than another?
Price. Having the right price was the most important factor in deciding on one home over..(read more)
In the past, owning a home has always been considered a major component of the “American Dream.” Unfortunately, because of the recent downturn in the economy, home-ownership is often seen now as more of a nightmare than a dream. But that doesn’t have to be the case! Even in a slower economy, purchasing Western MA real estate can still be a step toward achieving..(read more)
Although this weekend is a time for fireworks and enjoying time with friends and family, it is also a time to remember what makes our country so great – our freedom. So as you gather with friends and family on Friday, take a moment to thank our military—living and dead, at home and abroad—for the sacrifices they have made for us. Because, as we all know, freedom isn’t..(read more)
