Natick Realtor

Housing News - 2010 vs. 2011

2012-01-30T14:38:00.000-05:00

The National Association of Realtors® surveys homebuyers and sellers each year to uncover housing trends and monitor changes taking place in the industry. This year's report highlights a number of trends that haven't been seen in years. Here are just 11 highlights from the 2011 report.

1. In 2011, 37% of homebuyers were first-time buyers – which was down from 50% in 2010.

2. Last year, 88% of homebuyers used the Internet to search for a home. That number was down slightly from a high of 90% in 2009.

3. The typical homebuyer searched for 12 weeks and viewed 12 homes.

4. The number of buyers who purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker climbed to 89% – a share that has steadily increased from 69% in 2001.

5. Nearly 1 out of 4 buyers said the application and approval process was "somewhat more difficult" than expected...and 16% reported it was "much more difficult" than expected.

6. About half of home sellers traded up to a larger and more expensive home...and 60% traded up to a new home.

7. The top 3 factors influencing neighborhood choice were: the quality of the neighborhood, the convenience to job, and the overall affordability of homes.

8. The typical seller lived in their home for 9 years. That number has increased from 6 years in 2007.

9. Although 61% of sellers said they reduced their asking price at least once, the average home sold for 95% of the listing price.

10. Only 10% of sellers sold their homes without the assistance of a real estate agent. Of those people, 40% knew the buyer prior to the sale.

11. The typical "for sale by owner" home sold for $150,000 compared to $215,000 for the average agent-assisted home sale.

If I can answer any questions for you about the housing market in our area, call or email me anytime.

2 best ways to boost home's energy efficiency....

2012-01-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

........Why replacing windows is not one of them By Arrol Gellner Inman News® January 26, 2012 Even in these days of belt tightening, installing replacement windows remains a virtual mania among homeowners. Take a walk through any suburb built before 1980, and you may find that half the houses no longer have their original windows. Alas, the usual replacements -- extruded PVC or "vinyl" windows -- are dismayingly easy to spot, what with their wavy, cellophane-like glass and glaring white plastic frames. Considering the impact window replacement can have on your home's appearance, it shouldn't be taken lightly. To wit: The last big window-replacement fad happened during the 1960s, when that era's perceived "modern" upgrade -- sliding aluminum windows -- were retrofitted to countless traditional homes, from Victorians to bungalows. The aesthetic fallout from this campaign is still painfully obvious in many old neighborhoods. In retrospect, of course, aluminum sliders installed in a traditional home are rightly seen as a glaring anachronism, and frequently bring a penalty in resale value over homes with their original windows. Today, thanks to the same kind of offhand, insensitive and often just plain unnecessary ways in which vinyl windows are installed in older homes of all eras, they've essentially become the modern-day version of the aluminum slider. And with a little historic distance, the aesthetic results will be just as regrettable. Window replacement is often cannily advertised as a great energy-saving investment, which is probably why so many well-intentioned homeowners choose this route. And it's true enough that switching from single-glazed windows to double-glazed ones will save roughly half the energy lost through the glass. But here's the catch: In the average house, windows typically make up a relatively small fraction of the total heat loss. Hence, dollar for dollar, there are far more cost-effective ways to improve your home's energy efficiency. Upgrading attic insulation ranks first among them, since ceilings are typically the single greatest source of heat loss. The current standard for attic insulation is R-30; so if your house has appreciably less than this, adding insulation will be far more cost effective than replacing your windows. The same holds true if your furnace and ductwork predate 1980 or so. Modern furnaces now have thermal efficiencies in the neighborhood of 95 percent, versus typically dismal efficiencies in the 70s and even down into the 50s for some older gravity furnaces). Because a furnace upgrade addresses the root of inefficiency rather than just nipping at the leaves, the resulting energy savings can be truly dramatic. One more thing to consider: Aside from offering double glazing, there's very little that's green about vinyl windows. Vinyl is, of course, the plastics industry's more euphonious name for polyvinyl chloride, which a number of environmental authorities consider to be the most toxic plastic in the environment. Bury it in a landfill, and it just sits there. Burn it, and it produces dioxin, a toxic chemical compound that's a known teratogen, mutagen and carcinogen. The bottom line? Think twice about replacing your current windows with vinyl ones for energy-efficiency reasons alone. Chances are you'll get more bang for your energy buck with simpler upgrades that don't even show on the outside.

OPEN HOUSE Sunday 11-2

2012-01-21T20:29:00.001-05:00

First Time Home Buyer Advice

2012-01-19T10:03:00.001-05:00

Read Me http://www.bankrate.com/finance/video/mortgage/first-time-homebuying-regrets.aspx?ec_id=cmctre_01_comm_RE_image_headline

The Return on Exterior Home Improvements

2012-01-18T11:18:00.002-05:00

Click here http://media.rismedia.com/video/news/1800/7265/59729/3841418/

Are the suburbs poised for a price takeoff?

2012-01-16T09:38:00.001-05:00

Trulia chief economist Jed Kolko is predicting big things this year for "smart cities."
They are hot, hot, hot, according to Kolko, with thriving high-tech and knowledge sectors priming the economic pump and ready to chase away the housing market blues in these lucky markets.

And our western suburbs, defined generously as the broad sweep from Cambridge to Framingham, are high on his list. As "honorable mentions," he throws in the northern suburbs, and, less clearly, Worcester.

Here's what Kolko has to say about the western suburbs.

Suburbs of Boston, MA. This Cambridge-Newton-Framingham market just west of Boston has a strong jobs engine and, like most of New England, missed the worst of the housing bubble. Honorable mention goes to Worcester, one step further west, and Boston's northern suburbs around Peabody. These areas all benefit from offering more bang for the buck than crowded, expensive Boston: this is because most people looking to move are searching in more suburban or smaller areas than where they live now.

Others smart cities that should see home price gains in 2012 include San Jose, Austin/Houston, and Rochester in Upstate New York. Go figure on the last one, though Kolko owns up to the fact the Rochester is his hometown.

I think he's definitely onto something - certainly prices in places like Cambridge and Newton have skated through the worst of the downturn, even if sales are down.

Right now, the 128 beltway is kicking into high gear - with the amount of vacant office space having dropped to 13 percent in Waltham, the highway's bellwether market, according to Richards Barry Joyce & Partners.

Biotech and high-tech firms are hiring again, with Cambridge turning into a hub of construction activity as new research palaces take shape.

If the jobless rate has anything to do with it, then yes, 2012 could be very interesting when it comes to home prices, especially in the western suburbs.

Of course, whether that's a good thing depends on whether you are buying or selling.

Selling yes, buying, less so.

Getting Ready to Sell Your Home?

2012-01-10T10:56:00.000-05:00

PODS can be a big help when getting your home ready to sell. They are also a Re/Max approved supplier so you will Save up to 15%

ABOUT PODS MOVING STORAGE LOCATIONS

If clients have no budget for staging, the best approach is to remove everything. Have a yard sale for unwanted items, move other belongings into a PODS container and leave the open space clean. Less stuff= more space to prospective buyers. Pack away seasonal items in a container to make your closets and cabinets look bigger.

PODS can help:

- Declutter homes to help them sell faster and for more money

- Utilize temporary storage between moves

- Move across town our across country

PODS can make home selling and moving less stressful by offering flexibility and convenience. Clients can have a container delivered to their home. They fill it up and keep the container at one of our secure storage centers. After the property sells, PODS can deliver the container to their new home.

For RE/MAX customers who book a long-distance move with PODS before

January 31,2012, they will receive 15% off-triple the regular discount!

Use promo code: RMAX15 Call today! 866-556-9595

Jobs data points the way to stronger housing:

2012-01-09T12:32:00.001-05:00

Real Estate used to be about location, location, location. Now it is most certainly about jobs, jobs, jobs.

We received some welcome news on the jobs front last week:

The private sector added a seasonally adjusted 325,000 jobs during the month, up from 204,000 in November, payroll-processing firm ADP said:
It marked the biggest monthly gain since December 2010, and was stronger than expected. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com were forecasting a gain of 180,000 jobs for the month. And the great news is that half of the gains were made by small business (companies with fewer than 50 employees)
Headline National Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.5%:
The U.S. Unemployment Rate unexpectedly fell to 8.5 percent last month as job creation was more robust than expected, providing continued signs that the nation's labor market is improving gradually.

Growth in manufacturing jobs helped offset a loss in government positions, while wages edged higher and the length of the work week also lengthened a bit. Job gains came from a variety of quarters: Transportation and warehousing surged by 50,000, the couriers and message industry rose 42,000, and retail added 28,000. Manufacturing grew by 23,000 and the hospitality industry continued its brisk pace, adding 24,000 jobs in December and 230,000 over the past year at food and drinking establishments.

OPEN HOUSE Sunday 11:00-2:00

2012-01-07T11:18:00.001-05:00

OPEN HOUSE Sunday 1:00 - 4:00 New Ashland Listing

2012-01-07T10:19:00.001-05:00

Pending Home Sales Hit 19 Month High:

2012-01-04T16:22:00.000-05:00

The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes in November rose to the highest level in a year and a half. The best reading on pending homes sales since a federal home-buying tax credit expired appeared to encourage traders on Wall Street.
The Realtors group said Thursday that its index of sales agreements jumped 7.3 percent last month to a reading of 100.1. A reading of 100 is considered healthy. The last time the index was that high was in April 2010, one month before the tax credit expired.

Contract signings usually indicate where the housing market is headed. There's a one- to two-month lag between a signed contract and a completed deal.

Homes are the most affordable they've been in decades. Long-term mortgage rates are at historic lows and prices in most metro areas have tumbled since late 2006.

South Natick - Full Moon Owl Prowl

2012-01-02T10:32:00.001-05:00

Date:       Friday, January 6, 2012
Time:      7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue:    Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: 280 Eliot St (Rt 16) Natick Natick, MA 01760

Sound is one of the best ways to locate and identify owls. Learn about their calls, behavior and habitat. Join us on the prowl as we walk through moonlit fields and forests listening for screech and great horned owls.

Pre-registration required.

cost:Adults $12.00m / $15.00nm

Happy and Healthy 2012

2012-01-01T08:27:00.000-05:00

My all-time favorite chocolate chip cookies

2011-12-22T09:42:00.000-05:00

Every year about this time, I start to bake like a mad woman. I need to find the perfect cookie in every category: simple sugar cookies that roll out like a dream, but aren't too sweet. Crisp chippers that have a little chew and are dense with chocolate morsels. Something in a bar, perhaps with nuts. I get a little crazy.

This is the chocolate chip cookie I come back to again and again. It simply puts all others to shame. It's from "Alice Medrich's Cookies and Brownies," which came out some years ago. Medrich has a new volume, "Chewy Gooey Crispy Crumbly Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich," which I have not baked out of yet. The chippers are made with melted butter and must sit overnight, so you can't make them on the spur of the moment. You stir the batter together in a saucepan, much like old-fashioned brownies.

They're everything a great cookie should be.

Chocolate chip cookies

Makes 3 dozen

2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips plus 1 cup chopped walnuts or 3 cups chocolate chips

1. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt to blend them.

2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Set it aside to cool.

3. Add the granulated and brown sugars to the butter. Stir in the eggs, one by one, followed by the vanilla.

4. Stir in the flour mixture. Stir in the chips and nuts, if using.

5. Transfer the batter to a plastic container, cover, and refrigerate for 1 day.

6. Let the dough sit out for 30 minutes to soften. Set the oven at 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

7. Scoop the dough onto the baking sheets in walnut-sized balls. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes, rotating the sheets, or until they are firm to the touch. Slide the parchment paper onto wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container. Adapted from "Alice Medrich's Cookies and Brownies"

Posted by Sheryl Julian December 6, 2010 04:43 PM , Boston Globe 12/22/2011

Healthy Snacks for Staying Slim

2011-12-19T08:14:00.000-05:00

By RealAge

Search You can count calories and run marathons to stave off middle-age spread. Or you can simply change what you snack on.

In a recent large study, researchers examined people's eating habits over a long period of time. And certain foods were associated with less weight gain over time. Two of the winners? Yogurt and nuts. Which happen to make a perfect afternoon snack.

Quality, Not Quantity

Other top treats for maintaining a girlish figure? Fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. No surprise there. But what was surprising during the 20-year study is that it seemed to matter less how much people ate and more what they ate. Researchers think that by loading up on the more nutritious high-fiber foods that were tops for weight management in the study, the healthy eaters felt full and satisfied -- leaving less room in their stomachs (think cravings) for fattening, fried, sugary, or refined foods. (Related: Sip this drink to help shed excess pounds faster.)

A Matter of Taste

Teaching your taste buds to love healthier fare is a foundational hole-in-one approach to keeping the pounds off as you age. And the fact that a healthier diet is more likely to keep you free from disease is just one more great part of the bargain. But best of all? These foods that were associated with less weight gain can be a tasty and super satisfying way to satiate your hunger. Just try one or two of these savory summertime recipes from EatingWell to see what we mean:

Put more vegetables on the table with this mouth-watering Oven-Roasted Squash with Garlic and Parsley.

Trade out the high-fat cream for some low-fat yogurt in this Creamy Garlic Pasta with Shrimp and Vegetables recipe.

Satisfy your afternoon munchies with these spicy Curried Cashews.

Check out these satisfying, high-protein snacks that can take a bite out of your appetite.

Massachusetts Single-Family Pending Home Sales up Again in November

2011-12-15T08:57:00.002-05:00

Seventh straight month of increases

WALTHAM, Mass. – December 6, 2011 – The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that the number of single-family homes put under agreement in November went up again for the seventh straight month compared to the same time in 2010. Condominium pending sales were also up from the same time last year.

“We are taking another step toward an eventual housing market recovery with pending sales going up in November,” said 2011 MAR President Laurie Cadigan, broker-owner of Barrett & Company in Concord. “I don’t think it is a coincidence that as the unemployment rate here in Massachusetts ticks down, buyer confidence starts to increase.”

The number of single-family homes put under agreement in November was up 5.2 percent compared to the same time last year (3,404 homes in 2010 to 3,580 homes in 2011). This is the seventh straight month of year-over-year increases. On a month-to-month basis, single-family homes put under agreement were down 7.2 percent from 3,857 homes in October.

The number of condos put under agreement in November was up 7.0 percent compared to November 2010 (1,251 units in 2010 to 1,333 units in 2011). On a month-to-month basis, condos put under agreement were up less than a half of one percent (0.3%) from 1,329
units in October.
About Pending Sales:

The tracking of signed purchase and sales agreements (also called “pending sales”) provide reliable information about where the real estate market is heading in coming months.
A pending sale or a sale “under agreement” is when the buyer and seller agree on the terms of the sale of a home and have a signed purchase and sale agreement, but have yet to close and be recorded as such. MAR is the only organization which compiles this statewide information from Multiple Listing Services each month.
About the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®:

Organized in 1924, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® is a professional trade organization with more than 18,000 members. The term REALTOR® is registered as the exclusive designation of members of the National Association of REALTORS® who subscribe to a strict code of ethics and enjoy continuing education programs.

Seal Exposed Ductwork

2011-12-12T10:25:00.000-05:00

Tiny openings in furnace and air conditioning ductwork add up to big energy losses. Permanently plug those leaks.

Know before you go:
•Check to see how much of your ductwork is accessible from the basement, crawlspace, or attic.
•Check whether ducts are made from sheet metal, fiberglass, flexible tubing, or a combination of these. Tape works especially well on fiberglass and flexible ducts as well as flat metal ducts; liquid duct sealant provides a tight seal around odd-shaped metal joints.
•Wear eye protection. You’re working beneath dusty ductwork and, in the case of sealant, brushing liquids overhead.

Tape ductwork
Step 1. Vacuum ductwork where possible and wipe it clean with soapy water. Check for any loose fittings that can be tightened.

Step 2. Cut a piece of HVAC foil tape long enough to wrap around the duct at each joint.

GOOD TO KNOW “Duct tape” isn’t for ducts

Cloth adhesive tape sold as duct tape lacks the long-lasting, temperature-resistant adhesive needed for a good seal. Instead, use a foil-backed tape with adhesive that resists heat damage and aging.

Step 3. Peel off the paper backing and apply tape centered on the exposed seams in the ductwork. Press the tape in place using a plastic putty knife.

Make joints airtight with duct sealant
Step 1. Vacuum ductwork where possible and wipe it clean with soapy water. If you find any gaps greater than 1/4", fasten the pieces together again before applying sealant, or cover the gap with flexible mesh tape.

Step 2. Beginning from the top or upper sides, brush sealant onto the ductwork over the joints. Coat the ductwork with bands about 2" wide and centered on the seams. Using the brush, work the sealant into the seam. Allow at least one day for the sealant to dry.

GOOD TO KNOW Look for a low-odor sealant

You can find solvent-based duct sealants, but a water-based product will give your nose and your house a break. As with anything containing even small amounts of solvent, though, provide plenty of ventilation where you work.

Step 3. Spot-seal any screws or openings in the ducts, especially around floor registers and elbows.

Bottom-shelf bargains at the supermarket - Who Knew?

2011-12-11T11:53:00.000-05:00

Lots of supermarket chains claim to bend over backward to serve their customers.

But experts say consumers can serve themselves by leaning a bit forward -- to find overlooked bargains on the bottom shelves of grocery aisles.

It isn't where you're likely to find imported olive tapenade or balsamic vinegar older than a Spanish monastery. But on your next supermarket safari, hunting through the bottom shelf may be the ticket to bagging big savings.

"The better-value items, you will find on the lower shelves," said Rajiv Vaidyanathan, executive director of the Association for Consumer Research and a professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

The size of grocery bills is incentive enough to explore the bottom-shelf alternative. An article in Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine noted last year that the average family of four spends $10,692 per year on groceries. Just a 5 percent savings comes to $534 annually.

Catching your eye

Vaidyanathan and other analysts say a couple of factors conspire to make the lower shelves a veritable bargain basement. For one thing, consumer product giants around the world covet eye-level shelf space. Sometimes they pay for the privilege, a practice known as slotting, according to the Food Marketing Institute. As a result, undiscovered smaller players don't always get a chance to rent your attention.

Furthermore, it's only natural that retailers turn over the best location to top names with big advertising budgets. They're more likely to fly off the shelves, benefiting the producers and the stores. Yet despite 2010 sales exceeding $562 billion, the supermarket industry's profit margin is just under 1 percent, according to the FMI.

But frugal consumers can also benefit by taking the shelf less traveled. According to a 2009 study by Consumer Reports, you can lower your grocery bill by looking down. The report adds that higher shelves offer similar deals. "Check high and low,'' the report notes. "Supermarkets are in the real estate business, and prime selling space includes the middle or eye-level shelving. Check whether similar products on top or bottom shelves are less expensive."

A southern direction

What will you likely find? It might include items being discontinued by the store, so they -- and their prices -- are sent south. They're joined by the brands less likely to draw a crowd. And some products are in packages whose size -- particularly super-sized -- limits their popularity. Bulk grains and larger boxes of cereal are examples.

The net savings from bottom-fishing varies by product, store and personal preferences. But Vaidyanathan says some bottom-shelf equivalents have prices up to 50 percent less than their upstairs neighbors.

A recent supermarket trip gave concrete examples of the phenomenon. A 17-ounce bottle of olive oil at eye level was 46 cents per ounce. A 51-ounce bottle of the same brand was 31 cents per ounce on the bottom shelf, one-third less. A 16-ounce jar of kosher dill pickles was 17.44 cents per ounce on the prime shelf, while the 46-ounce lower shelf jar was just 6 cents per ounce, or two-thirds less. An ounce of grape jelly was 12 cents in a 12-ounce jar in a prime location, while the unit price was 6.5 cents in the 32-ounce jar down below -- a savings of nearly half.

Certainly, it makes no sense to buy a bigger size if you won't end up using it all. And smart consumers should remember there are frugal alternatives at eye level, too. Most notably, private labels, which boost grocery chains' profits, are often put next to the name brands. That way, shoppers can easily and quickly compare prices, says Timothy Richards, chair of agribusiness and resource management at Arizona State University.

And a word of caution: Some items on remote shelves actually carry premium prices. Those would be products with special appeal to limited but loyal shoppers willing to reach -- and pay extra -- for them. Health foods and ethnic delicacies are frequent examples. "They expect shoppers who really want it are going to look for it," Richards says.

Down with that

Vaidyanathan attributes bottom-shelf bargains partly to consumer psychology. Often, the offerings are literally and figuratively looked down upon; there's a mistaken notion that shelf height equates with quality. In fact, they're perfectly good goods. "A lot of people don't end up seeing what's at the lower level," he says.

Richards advises shoppers to trim grocery spending by fighting the tendency toward impulse buying. Many in-store marketing efforts are designed to induce unplanned purchases, which often translates to grabbing what's closest. Even organized shoppers can fall victim. An example: "People walk in with a list that says 'milk,' but they buy a different brand than what they normally buy."

Vaidyanathan endorses lists, but says to complement them -- by setting your sights low. "People with a list who go in knowing what they're going to buy, they're going to find bargains down on the lower shelves," he says.

South Natick Broadmore Presentation

2011-12-05T12:01:00.000-05:00

Wild Side: Bears of North America

Date:Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Time:7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Venue:Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary
Address:280 Eliot St (Rt 16) Natick Natick, MA 01760

They look so cute as cubs and we hear about them on the news, but what do we really know about bears and their behavior in the wild? Travel with John across North America to experience the life of polar bears in Canada, grizzly bears in Alaska and black bears in Minnesota and New England.
cost:$10.00m/ $12.00nm

Natick Rental - Deerfield Forest One Bedroom

2011-11-30T15:49:00.000-05:00

1 Bedroom 1 Bath Rental - Natick Village

2011-11-30T15:29:00.000-05:00

Natick Village 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Rental

2011-11-30T15:09:00.000-05:00

New Home Sales Rise - Fastest Pace in Five Months:

2011-11-28T12:40:00.000-05:00

New single-family home sales rose in October and the supply of homes on the market fell to its lowest level since April of last year, showing some healing in the housing sector.

The Commerce Department reported on Monday that sales edged up 1.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted 307,000-unit annual rate, which was the fastest pace in five months.

The supply of new homes in the market would last 6.3 months at the current pace of sales.

This report follows the trend set by last week's gain of 1.3% for Existing Home Sales. Both market segments continue to perform better than analysts' expectations and show some much needed strength in the housing market.

Keen to Conquer Your Clutter?

2011-11-28T12:29:00.000-05:00

Date:Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Time:7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Venue:Whitney Place

Address:Three Vision Drive Route 9 West Natick, MA 01760

Organizing Expert & Life Coach Sibel Babacan (aka our very own Dr.Bee) will be leading a discussion on the Top 10 Organizing Dilemmas for busy families and what to do about them. We will also talk about common organizing mistakes and simple, creative solutions to overcome them. This will be an informal meeting during which members will be invited to share their own challenges and success stories, as well.

Sponsored by the MetroWest Boston chapter of Mothers & More. With over 200 members from Framingham, Natick and surrounding areas, Mothers & More provides information, support, and fun for both working and stay-at-home moms, with children of all ages. Non-mobile infants welcome.

Red Solo Cup - Proceed to Party

2011-11-26T23:17:00.000-05:00

Pretty Funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKZqGJONH68&ob=av2e