Whether you are buying your first house, or you are a seasoned property investor, contractors are one group of professionals you will contact at some point. Property owners call these experts for many things from new projects to expansions and upgrades. We talk about eight times when you know you can leave the job to a specialist to save you time, hassle, and maybe money in this post. 

Custom jobs from built-in shelves to new home builds

Adding a stunning feature can help a property investor sell a house quickly after buying to make it easy to flip. Custom shelves or an organizer for walk-in closets are small yet significant features in many buyer's opinions. When you have a busy schedule, hiring a specialty contractor is an affordable way to get quality work in your time frame. Contract firms can do small jobs like these, or they can oversee the construction of a new home or business. A project manager is the person who oversees the various specialists and organizes the team to complete the assignment efficiently. 

Maintenance when you observe safety concerns

Any problem you find around your house like bare wires need fixing right away. If you do not know how or do not want...

Why You Should Buy a Fixer-Upper

While it might sound strange to those people who are trying to find a new place to live, not everyone wants a home that is ready to move into. Evidence of this has been shown by taking a look at one of the latest trends in real estate, which is the purchase of fixer-upper houses. These seemingly ugly flats, mobile homes, cottages, and even mansions are being snatched up so fast that the average Realtor barely has a chance to gather the paperwork together for them before the calls from potential buyers start pouring in. And, after reading all the following reasons why, you might just want to go buy a fixer-upper house too.

Next-Level Creativity

A fixer-upper house that is in a desperate state of repair can easily be remodeled in whatever creative way that a person wants. All new color schemes, flooring, and wood tones can be chosen. The fixtures and lighting are adaptable. And even the lawn and landscaping are fair game for a fun makeover.

High Return on Investment

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Alternative Properties in Real Estate

Alternative properties are not something a lot of people even realize are an official part of the real estate market. The words themselves sound like a marginal or miscellaneous aspect of the commodities market. Upon searching for alternative properties on the web you will find many similar blogs and articles that tackle the subject, but not in-depth. Many give broad and similar strokes that offer little information. This is due to the fact that alternative properties vary greatly in cost and ROI.

Billboards

Amongst the more surprising to see listed on several of these blogs, billboards are a legitimate piece of the real estate market. Certainly, of no interest to someone who needs a roof over their head, or office space, they can be a lucrative investment.

The Numbers

• Average Buy-In: Varies greatly, between several hundred dollars and millions of dollars, depending heavily on location, size, and condition of the billboard.

• Average ROI: $1800.00/mo. (For one billboard)

Data Center

A hot ticket in the current alternative properties market is data centers...

4 Not-So-Obvious Things To Check When House Hunting

One of the most important purchases in life is buying a house. But even though picking a new home is exciting, it can be a daunting and anxious process. Often you will get over excited and end up thinking with the heart instead of the head.

Well, the exhilaration is a natural feeling that can plunge you into a serious time and money sink if you’re not taking everything into consideration.. With a real estate agent on your side, the process of picking the right house which suits your needs is simplified.

Of course, you contemplate several factors in making the decision. The features most people narrow down first are the size of the house, the location, the neighborhood, and the condition of the house itself.

As there are many aspects to cover, it’s easy to overlook checking into some not-so-obvious features that could adversely impact your stay in the house. These house hunting tips will help you gain a clear eye when scrutinizing homes for sale.

The Home’s Age

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What Can A Listing Agent Do For You

For many of us buying a home was the biggest financial decision we’ve ever made. Now that it’s time to sell your home you want to make sure that you get the best price possible, as quickly as possible.

There are a lot of moving parts to selling a house and the first thing a savvy home seller should do is hire a reputable real estate agent. The best way to ensure that the sale of your most valuable asset goes smoothly and to the highest bidder is to put it in professional hands.

The Skills A Listing Agent Can Offer

In particular, those selling their home for the first time may not fully understand exactly what a good listing agent can do for them. So let’s go over some of their skillsets: First and foremost a real estate agent will have knowledge about the housing market in the neighborhoods and surrounding area, and have access to sales data that will enable you to know exactly what your home is worth in the current market.

A listing agent will have complete access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a database of homes for sale. Their first task will be to ...

For the Shopaholic - Hudson vs. Concord

For installment two of the Boston Magazine comparison, we jump to the towns that they have identified that are perfect for the ‘Shopaholic’. Boston Magazine highlighted Hudson, MA and Concord, MA as two perfect towns for homebuyers that ‘enjoys lovely boutique-lined streets’. Lets dive into the numbers and see what the current market conditions and real estate trends are for Hudson and Concord, MA.

Overall Heath Of Boston's Market

To calculate the overall health of Boston's real estate market place we look to the months of inventory on the market. In Hudson we have had 83 homes sell in the last 6 months making for an average of 13.83 per month. This is compared to the same time period last year when we saw 65 homes close for an average of 10.83 per month.

This means that today we currently have 1.08 month’s worth of inventory this year compared to 1.10 months of inventory this time last year. In other words, the Hudson Market is still a hot seller’s market that has seen statistically no change in the market conditions...

Boston Area Boomtowns – Chelsea, Lowell, Everett, Newton, Watertown

We look at the “Boomtowns” in the third installment of comparing the towns that Boston Magazine lists as the Top Places to Live Around Boston Right now in its March 2019 issue.

I think some additional gray hairs came in with this 5-way grudge match. But none the less, let's take dive into the numbers and see what town is performing better in the current real estate climate. To keep as apples to apples as we can, we will examine the market type that has the most sales.

As an example, in Chelsea there were 133 condos that sold in 2018 vs. the 28 Single Family Homes. In this case, we will be examining the condo market in Chelsea as the larger data set will give us a better idea of the current market conditions.

As we dive into 5 different towns throughout Massachusetts, it is important to remember that year over year the amount of Single Family Homes currently on the market in Massachusetts has grown by 15.96%.

Meanwhile year over year in the Massachusetts Condo Market we have seen an increase in the available inventory of 32.84%. These numbers will help us in creating a better baseline for the performance of these 5 individual towns.  

Chelsea...

For the Beach Bum

Hull vs. Manchester by the Sea

In the March 2019 issue of the Boston Magazine, they looked at different towns for the home buyer looking for city alternatives.

For the ‘Beach Bum’ buyer, Boston Magazine put up Hull, MA and Manchester by the Sea as two towns for a buyer to put on their list. Comparing the two towns is like comparing an apple to an orange, but none the less Boston Magazine put them up as two choices for the beach bum category… So let’s dig into the numbers!

Hull MA Real Estate Statistics 

The Hull Real Estate Market is shifting quicker than the Manchester market. Year over year we have seen an increase of inventory throughout the state of Massachusetts by 15.96%. This represents an increase of 1,330 Single Family homes. On April 10th, 2018 there were 8,334 homes on the market compared to 9,664 on the same day in 2019.

The Single-Family market in Hull has increased far above the rate we have seen for Massachusetts as a whole. Today we have 42 Hull Single Family Homes on the market vs. the 20 homes in 2018. This represents a 110% increase year over in the amount...

Home Sales Rebound In February, 2019

A report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows existing-home sales rebounded strongly in February 2019 with the largest month-over-month gain experienced since December 2015. The report showed that the completed transactions for single-family homes, town-houses, and condominiums, increased by 11.8 percent over January.

This was an adjustment in the seasonal annual rate of 5.51 million in February. Completed home loan transactions continue to remain 1.8 percent below sales figures from a year ago when the adjusted annual rate was 5.61 million for February 2018.  

NAR's chief economist, Lawrence Yun, believes that there are several aspects that contributed to the increase in home sales February, 2019. "A powerful combination of lower mortgage rates, more inventory, rising income, and higher consumer confidence is driving the sales rebound."

Lawrence Yun believes the market could greatly benefit in 2019 with additional new housing.

An Increase In Existing Home Prices

In February the median existing-home price across all housing types was $249,500, which is a 3.6...

Supply & Demand vs. Older Homes

  According to a study by NAHB, National Association of Home Builders, the nation's residential housing inventory is getting older and new-home construction is falling behind the current demand rate.

The NAHB says this could add up to a severe housing shortage and there is a growing concern that older homes do not meet current safety and energy standards. In NAHBs, Eye on Housing blog, Laurie Goodman of the Urban Institute estimated that the supply of new homes in 2017 fell about 350,000 short of the number needed to meet demand allowing older homes to stay on the market longer.

Only 6 of every 1,000 homes built prior to 1970 are removed from the housing stock each year, according to the NAHB report. “In the long run, loss rates as small as this are not sustainable, of course, as that would imply half of new homes built in some regions last 1,000 years,” NAHB notes in the post. “But in the medium term, it may be possible to keep removal and production rates as low as they are right now.”

Older Homes May Not Pass New Standards

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Getting started with The Home Buying Process With Chubb Realty

When it comes to selling a home in the Boston area, you need to find a home that will meet your needs.

While buying a home is stressful it is important to work with a REALTOR that makes the process as smooth as possible for you and your family.

Ask Yourself A Few Questions

• Where Do You Want to Live?
• What Kind of Home Do You Need?
• How Much Space Do You Need, or Which features?
• What is Your Determined Price Range?

Why Buy With Chubb Realty Group?

With Chubb Realty Group in Quincy, you'll find a realty dream team that has years of experience selling homes and serving both home buyers and sellers with the services they...

LUXURY DREAM HOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOSTON

Whether homebuyers are moving to Boston because of a job transfer, or they are a second generation inhabitant, luxury home shopping begins with knowing where to look.

There are 23 established neighborhoods across the city. These areas break down into over 80 communities around Boston. We give you an overview of six of the grandest places to find your Boston dream home below.

Back Bay

This community is a historic destination. The entire area is full of vintage homes and shops where residents can spend the afternoon window shopping or sipping a glass of tea with a friend. From high-end hotels to the Public Garden and the waterfront Esplanade, this portion of the city has unique experiences and innovative events.

Visitors will recognize the area immediately upon seeing the Prudential Center, the Boston Public Library, and the John Hancock Tower. Rows of Victorian homes line the city streets of Copley Square, Newbury Street, and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall area of Back Bay.

Beacon Hill

This neighborhood is another historic area in Boston. The two primary areas are the Massachusetts State House grounds and Louisburg Square. The old Colonial space is west of the city center. Most businesses and events are on Charles Street.

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Today’s Real Estate Market Trends

  The real estate market is known for its rapid changes, and this can present a challenge to anyone who is involved in real estate transactions. Understanding the various forces that shape the market is helpful when performing initial research.

The fluid nature of the market often causes buyers and sellers to juggle multiple issues at the same time. Adaptation is more likely when you have access to useful information about the trends that shape the market as a whole. Examples of adaptations are helpful for anyone who is learning how to navigate this challenging environment.  

Staying curious about the latest market trends is key to maintaining a good perspective within a rapidly changing landscape. New information is critical when you are dealing with a situation that can shift quickly within a short period of time.

Planning is affected by perception, so learning new things is a great way to react during the inevitable times when you might be feeling overwhelmed.  

Trend Analysis Techniques

  Some of the most effective techniques are also obvious ones. For example, people who are looking to ...

Best First Time Buyer Mortgage Loans

Financing is always a big question mark when buying a home, especially for first-time home buyers who may not realize that all loans are not created equal; and all lenders do not offer every type of loan that is available.

Getting Started With A Mortgage

Getting the right loan could make a lot of difference in a lot of ways including the down, the number of years on the loan, closing costs and mortgage insurance. Getting pre-approved for the right type of loan could save a home buyer thousands of dollars and free up money that can then be invested in home improvements or new furniture.

Types of Mortgages

Rural Development Loans (RD)

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Staging Your House For Sale In The Winter

When you invest in real estate, you want the house to be in working shape, make a good showing, and sell for a comparable price for the market. Forbes says property owners who invest in staging sell houses at a faster rate. Nearly 95 percent of homes with staging sell in less than two weeks.

These houses often go for over 15 percent of the comparisons for non-staged homes. When you are putting up homes for sale in the cold, winter months, then you may come across a scant few visitors on open house day. How can you entice people to come out of nice and cozy houses to see your place? Use a professional stager to design a stunning space that beckons for potential buyers to take a closer look.

Staging Benefits

  Besides selling faster and for more money, what other benefits are there for staging a home? With the right home staging company, your house can become a place that potential buyers envision the family living in for many years. Staging can create an environment that potentially sparks a bidding war...

Cooling Housing Market Offers Opportunity For Buyers

The economy is soaring, and unemployment is at its lowest level in decades. These two indicators would suggest that new home sales are rising.  

That’s not the case this year because new home sales are sagging. In addition to growing new home inventories, mortgage rates remain low. This combination is favorable to anyone looking to buy a home.  

What’s currently occurring in the housing market is what Real Estate experts call “rebalancing.” The housing market is moving towards a better equilibrium after several years of escalating prices and high demand.  

Ultimately, despite a strong economy, the housing market simply couldn’t continue to grow. This paradox is not what people expect during a strong economy, but the reality is that most housing indexes show a downturn in new home sales.

The Reasons for Declining New Home Sales

One of the primary reasons that new homes sales slowed is: less demand. Reports have shown that housing demand is down 10 percent compared to the same time last year. Particularly affected...

Best Trending Paint Colors For 2019

Do you have homes you plan to sell in 2019? Are you an investor who likes to add a hip and trendy accent wall to your houses? Looking for the important real estate trends? When stark white is driving you crazy, 2019's colors can help your house stand out from others on the market with neutrals that are no longer bland and boring.

Some of the hottest real estate tips have to do with color you choose. Glidden says to use muted yellows and tans to brighten up dull spaces without turning off potential buyers. Light gray shades are back, pairing beautifully with slate blues and charcoal grays for stunning color combinations. 

Greige Is The Hottest Tone

Whether you put “Greige” on the outside or inside your...

Five Important Trends In Real Estate

You may not think that popular ideas like joining a co-op or using a real estate CRM program are important, or even what they mean. Take note, these advances might be just the thing your house needs to set it apart and get the listing in front of a better audience.

Even though the inventory is lower in comparison to previous years, it does not mean an automatic sell. While some homes enjoy a nice bidding war before going for full price or higher, some houses sit on the market and see very little interest. How can you make sure that the work you do is not in vain? Here are five of the leading tips that real estate agents offer up to help sellers get the best return when they get ready to sell.

Advanced Technologies In The Real Estate Market

Looking at properties from a different perspective like the view you might get from a drone is one way that ...

5 Things First Time Home Buyers Need To Consider

Buying a home for the first time can seem like a daunting task. After all, there is probably no other time in your life when you'll spend this much money. Real estate is seen as one of the safest investments there are but without taking proper time to think about the decision, your investment could be taking on water fast. So what are some helpful tips for first time home buyers in South Boston to consider?

• How Much House Can You Afford?
• What Should Your Down Payment Be?
• What Are Some Of The Biggest Red Flags To Consider?
• 15 or 30 Year Mortgage?
• Knowing When It's Time To Call In An Expert
• How Much House Can You Afford?

The answer to this question is highly dependent on your personal situation. For example, the old rule of thumb is 28 percent of your monthly gross income is what can be put towards a mortgage. This means that if you make $5,000 per month, or $60,000 per year, you can reasonably afford a mortgage of $1,400 per month.

This rule of thumb fails to include any debt however. If you are still working on paying off things like credit car debt or student loans, this percentage of monthly income may be far less. They key is to create a budget and pick the value that best fits your specific situation.

What Should Your Down Payment Be?

Having a large down payment is nice because it lowers monthly payments and saves the home buyer from paying as much interest over the lifetime of the mortgage. An old rule of thumb says to have, at a minimum,...