Happy Thanksgiving from 4 Buyers Real Estate
Happy Thanksgiving from 4 Buyers Real Estate Dave Twombly Pearl Emmons Alex Lacroix Michaela Driscoll Rona Fischman
Real Estate Ballot Question
Over the past few years, there have been some big changes proposed in the way that housing is taxed in Massachusetts. One change is on the ballot, as a ballot initiative, in the City of Somerville. 4 Buyers Real Estate supports “yes” on Ballot Question 6 in Somerville. The Community Preservation Act Surcharge is a
This July 4th, what does Independence mean? For whom?
https://youtu.be/4uE-tqe0xsQ It’s the 4th of July! In less than 10 minutes, you can reflect on what the holiday really means. The statement “all men are created equal…” – although bold at its time -- merely rejected hereditary nobility. For many – not just former slaves – it did not mean equality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBe5qbnkqoM
The bigger wood boring insect: carpenter ants
In the world of wood-boring insects, bigger is better. Carpenter ants are easier to find than termites. Carpenter ant damage can be detected by looking for “frass” (looks like sawdust). Carpenter ants nest in wood, so they hollow out a piece of wood and leave the frass outside. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood. They chew
Homeowner diaries: cellulose insulation of exterior walls
It is not clear to me whether sellers are getting more money for their old houses with wall insulation. I doubt that they are. Buyers who value sustainability lean towards new construction, which will be much better than even the best retrofit of an old house. But, insulation is not that expensive because of MassSave programs that
Landlords, Tenants, and Rent Stabilization
This summer, there were two community listening sessions in Somerville. The goal was to gather opinions about the city’s potential rent stabilization legislation. How could it be done? How could it be done fairly? How would it affect landlords, tenants, and business interests? There will be another session on September 12. How much rent? Let’s
How to read the MLS and other real estate listing sites
It’s spring in real estate, so it is time for a quick primer on how to read the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and alternate real estate listing sites. What does UAG mean? What does RAC mean? Most of our clients “web around” to sites like Zillow and Realtor.com to look at images of properties for
Is 2023 a good time to buy a home?
Is 2023 a good time to buy? Here’s some advice from exclusive buyer’s agents! Whether the risks of the current market outweigh the benefits depends on your situation. An exclusive buyer’s agent is in the best position to give you buyer-centered advice, as opposed to what will help sellers. Like our company, exclusive buyer’s agents
Home is where the winter holidays become personal
December is full of holidays. People from cultures throughout the northern hemisphere developed customs to celebrate the point where days are the shortest and then begin to lengthen. That’s when the coldest part of the winter months still lies ahead, but the light is returning. Some cultures call solstice “midwinter” since light is returning. This
What are those things on the roof?
What are those things on that roof and why are they there? Those little spikes on the roof are there to break up sheets of ice and snow that will be falling off the roof this season. If the ice comes down in one solid sheet, it is heavy and can damage property and hurt