Beverly, Salem and Swampscott Housing Market Reports
In the world of small numbers it is necessary to be cautious about drawing too many conclusions. That is why, for example, I am not including percentage changes for the tables below. The message I take from these numbers is that, in general, the market continues to progress in an orderly manner. (more…)
Marblehead First Quarter Housing Market
It’s over. We survived. Hallelujah!
So how was the housing market in Marblehead? First Single family Homes (SFHs):
Source: MLS, Oliver Reports
Wait a minute. The median price dropped almost $50,000? What’s going on? (more…)
Essex County Housing Inventory still low
The good news is that the decline in inventory slowed at the beginning of April compared with March. The bad news is that inventory throughout Essex County is still down almost 20% from a year ago. As always there are variations from town to town. (more…)
How to fix winter damage to your house
Two great articles this week in the Boston Globe’s Address section deal with a range of issues: sagging ceilings, flaking plaster, ice dam leaks, stains, mold and more.
Source: Boston Globe
How to fix wet walls, mold and other damage caused by winter
Which matters more – home sales numbers or price?
No, no, it’s not a trick question.
I am also intrigued when I hear or read of a report on commentary about the real estate market which leads with sales numbers. I suspect – usually correctly – that such a report comes from a Realtors’ association. I mean, how many houses does the average home buyer buy or sell in a month, or a quarter, or a year. Quite. (more…)
Mortgages: another last chance to lock in low rates?
A funny thing happened on the inevitable path to higher mortgage rates: they went down again, back close to the lows for the year. Bear in mind that a year ago the 30 year rate was 4.40%. (more…)
Why we don’t all move to San Francisco
After this winter we’re all planning to move to a warmer climate right? Like San Francisco.
But no, we will stay here, at least most of us will. Buy why? (more…)
Seasonal ideas for saving energy
Here are some Seasonal energy tips from Mass Save.
Note that whatever the calendar may say this article starts with winter. (more…)
Which broker should sell my house?
You’ve decided to sell your house. The big question is: which broker should you hire to sell it? And how do you make that decision? (more…)
$30 million to repair potholes
Both my Republican and Democrat friends think Charlie Baker is off to a good start as Governor. And it’s not just because there are no stories about the money spent on new curtains for his office.
Today the Baker Administration announced a $30 million WRAP (Winter Recovery Assistance Program) to patch up potholes and other repairs. (more…)
Will snow removal costs increase my property taxes?
What happens when snow removal costs exceed budget? Who pays? When?
Source: National Weather Service
In simple terms, any snow removal costs beyond those budgeted for the current year have to be approved locally, and then the excess costs, net of any reimbursements, are added to the expenses in the following year’s budget. (more…)
Where do the ultra rich live?
This Sotheby’s International Realty Top cities for the ultra rich report looked at the property (ies) owned by ultra high net worth individuals, defined as those with a net worth of at least $30 million. (more…)
Still time to buy that $37.5 million Boston condo
70% of the condos in the 60-storey Millennium Tower building at Downtown Crossing have been sold, according to this Millennium condos mostly sold to local buyers Boston Globe article, with 3/4 of sales going to local buyers.
In case you fear you have missed out, worry not: the $37.5 million, 12,000 sf penthouse is still available. Call me for a showing and if you buy through me I will donate half my commission to Lifebridge, the homeless organization based in Salem. (more…)
Housing inventory: how low can it go?
A recent Boston Globe article Snow delays spring market highlighted the lack of inventory in the, you know, “important” markets such as Cambridge and Somerville.
We know inventory is down from last year, when if you remember we had the polar vortex, but where do we stand, here in Essex County and indeed throughout Massachusetts, compared with the last several years? (more…)
Last appeal of new Salem Power Plant withdrawn
Opponents of the new natural gas power plant have withdrawn their last appeal “putting an end to three years of legal objections to the project”, according to this Salem News article.
The new plant is scheduled to come online by June 2017, while the second phase of demolition at the old coal plant will take place this spring together with further site remediation. (more…)
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