Even in the summer, buyers should think about heating. Why? Because a buyer can’t feel how well the system works once it is shut off for the season. Even when we test it during home inspection, it is not the same as when it is fighting the winds howling outside. This summer, there have been
Here we are in the middle of a pandemic and in the hot a humid part of the summer. What does WBUR do? It publishes a “scare the buyers into giving up their rights” article. It is seller propaganda. It is not helpful to buyers. The advice “for buyers” mostly serves the seller’s needs. What’s
House hunters who love cats or dogs have one more thing to think about when house hunting. Some condo associations restrict all pets. Some associations restrict cats or dogs. . Some restrict dogs or cats, unleashed or uncrated, but only in the hallways. Some big associations ban dogs only. Some that don’t ban dogs will
"This house smells!" Houses collect and hold odor in the heat of the summer (and in the dead of the winter). Most summers, in the cities and college towns, rental property was shown while the tenants were still there in hopes of selling before the end of the lease. This led to lots of smelly
The landlord’s point of view: 2020 was a hard year for landlords. Vacancy was higher than normal. It was difficult to keep apartments full. Tenants had legitimate problems being unable to pay the rent. It was difficult to get repairs done, since workers were heavily booked and tenants were reluctant (legitimately) to let them in…
Where are all the sellers? The big issue in Boston area real estate is inventory. There are not enough houses for sale. We have a stalemate about inventory here. These are the factors: Empty-nesters are staying longer in their houses. This is a demographic and cultural shift. They are holding on to their houses, partly
Q: How often do people buy the first house they see? I had someone who did just that this year. It is rare. Generally, I hate it. Why? You would think that I’d love this. Quick work! But, people who buy the first house they see (because it is "magic") are often not as happy
Summertime, and you can fry an egg on the street! Last week’s heat wave led to this most-asked question: “Do you have air conditioning?” In the house, with no air conditioner I ‘fessed up to people, this year, that I did not grow up with air conditioning. I did not get one until years after
I believe in real estate karma. Many seller’s agents are acting professionally and dealing fairly with the buyers competing for the houses. Many of them have developed systems showing properties. They are sorting the offer information onto spreadsheets so that they can fairly present and discuss them with their seller-clients. Many have templates for telling
Summertime is when Massachusetts heads outdoors. Sometimes, this leads to tragedy. A fire in Arlington reminded me that smoking on the porch is not a foolproof way to keep your house safe from fire. Smoking can set a house on fire Smoking is a major cause of fire in residences in Massachusetts. It’s not so