House Hunting

The Nonsense of Property Information Pages

Do you trust what it says on property information sheets? Whether it is on Zillow, MLS, or Realtor.com, the information almost always starts in a Realtor® multiple listing site. So, the information is as good as the agent who typed it in. Bedrooms: If a listing sheet says there are three bedrooms, you are going

By |2023-03-08T16:06:55-05:00March 8th, 2023|Categories: House Hunting|Tags: , , , , , , |

Real Estate Company Culture and House Hunters

When you are looking for a real estate agent, the company culture matters. Among the common questions from prospective house hunters is. “Why should I work with a little firm, like yours, when I can work with a top producer in a big firm?” People who already own a home often name the agent who

By |2023-02-22T14:39:14-05:00February 22nd, 2023|Categories: Exclusive Buyer's Agents, House Hunting|Tags: , , , |

The family compound is a real estate thing

Buying with family to create a multi-generational household works for about fifteen percent of buyers. Multi-generational is defined as more than two generations sharing a living space. [source] It has long been a truism in real estate that the number one retirement home location is “where the grandkids are” followed closely by “where the kids

By |2023-02-14T11:15:43-05:00February 15th, 2023|Categories: House Hunting|

January: the winter house hunters and the spring house hunters

If this January is any indication, the seasons are shifting in Boston area real estate. Usually between December 15 and January 15, no one is contacting us about buying a house. This year, prospective clients started calling and writing right after Christmas. Winter buyers: Some clients were looking to get on the road, heeding my

By |2023-01-15T12:39:14-05:00January 18th, 2023|Categories: Buying trends, House Hunting, Market data and conditions|Tags: , , , , , |

House Hunting for Energy Efficiency

When house hunters calculate their monthly costs, some overlook the cost of heating and electricity. However, it is difficult to get an accurate estimate of your future costs. When house hunting, feel your way As the weather changes, house hunters have an easy way to check for places for drafts. Use your hands and feet. Notice these

By |2022-10-13T10:18:59-04:00October 18th, 2022|Categories: Energy efficiency, House Hunting|Tags: , , , , |

Do You Want to Make a Lowball Offer?

With the market changing, should you prepare to lowball and get a bargain house? Putting in a low offer without the research is futile and likely to ruin your credibility as a buyer. If you are thinking about making an offer well below asking price, there are some things you need to find out first.

By |2022-10-04T12:59:28-04:00October 5th, 2022|Categories: House Hunting, Market data and conditions|Tags: , , , |

Buying Decision. How Important is a Porch?

The porch made a strong comeback in American home architecture. In 1993, 42% of new houses were designed with a porch. By 2005, more than half of all new construction had porches. In east south central America (Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi) 89% of newly constructed houses have porches. Why does America have a love

By |2022-07-20T09:08:35-04:00July 20th, 2022|Categories: Buying trends, House Hunting, Problems and repair|Tags: , , |

Buy a Condo for a College Student?

Boston is a college town. In June and July, I get calls from parents who are thinking about buying a condo here, so that their college-aged child can save on rent. This is known as a “kiddie condo.” Sometimes, it makes sense. Most of the time, it does not. Condo Pros: If the mortgage is

By |2022-06-27T10:00:29-04:00June 29th, 2022|Categories: condo issues, House Hunting|Tags: , , , , , |

What Buyers Learn from Multiple Listing Service Abbreviations

Real estate sites like Zillow use the data from local Multiple Listing Services (MLS), and then add additional properties for sale by people who are not using the MLS. If you are looking at Zillow, all the properties read, “(type of property) for sale.” That works. However, you then need to click on the property

By |2022-02-27T11:17:40-05:00March 2nd, 2022|Categories: House Hunting|

Love for the house nerd

A thing of beauty is a joy forever! In honor of Valentine's Day, here is a guide to true love between a house and its buyer. Most people think about beautiful houses as those that have outstanding architecture, or high-end, well-chosen tile or other finishes. That kind of beauty speaks to everyone, at some moment.

By |2022-02-07T14:29:12-05:00February 16th, 2022|Categories: Happy Home Ownership, House Hunting|Tags: , , , , |