The Boston2.com Real Estate Blog

Pros & Cons Quincy

So you are thinking about making a move to Quincy and you want to know everything that there is to know about living in Quincy. Like where it is, what makes it special, where are the good shops and restaurants… But you also want to hear of some possible downsides so you know the full story of Quincy and whether it's worth your consideration. And you may just be curious about all the Quincy Homes For Sale

Well that is what we are going to tackle today in the video on the Pros and Cons of Quincy.
But first, real quick, my name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering Investment banker, turned real estate agent that has sold more than a 1,000 homes. We get calls, texts and emails from folks just like you who are looking to make a move or sell their home in the Boston Metro area and I absolutely love it! So whether you are looking to make a move in the next 9 or 90 days and are looking for homes for sale in Quincy MA … It doesn’t matter. Give us a call, shoot us an email or stop by YouTubeRealEstateAgent.com and fill in your information and we will reach out to you!

Quincy is located 11 miles South of Boston. It actually shares a small border with Dorchester which is a neighborhood in Boston. How long it can take to drive to Boston really depends on where you live in Quincy. If you are close to 93, then you would be in the 15 to 20 minute range. But if you live further out say by the Fore River Bridge then you would be looking at more like 20 to 30 minutes. Add in a little 93 or Neponset traffic and that 30 minutes could quickly turn into 50 minutes!...

So you are thinking about making a move to Cohasset which is a suburb South of Boston and you want to know everything that there is to know about living in Cohasset. Like where it is, what makes it special, where are the good shops and restaurants… But you also want to hear of some possible downsides so you know the full story of Cohasset and whether it's worth your consideration. 

Well you are in luck because that is what we are going to talk about today!

Cohasset is located about 20 miles Southeast of Boston. It is surrounded by the towns of Hull to the North, Hingham to the West, Scituate to the South and the Atlantic Ocean to the East. 

Ultimately what makes Cohasset special with its location and proximity to the ocean is also what can be its downfall to others… But I feel like I am getting a little ahead of myself there. The town is serviced by the Commuter Rail, however many residents will drive to the Hingham Shipyard and take the Ferry into Boston. Driving into the city could take anywhere from 45 minutes on days without traffic to and hour and 15 minutes or more depending on the misery that we call 93. 

Residents don’t really consider parts of the town neighborhoods… They are more areas if you will. You have the Village and or the Harbor area  which is the area close to the downtown and the Harbor. You have the area that is South of town that goes down South Main and subsequently the area North of town which goes down North Main. The area by Black Rock Beach and then the area by Beachwood. And I guess the area by Sandy Beach. Don’t get me wrong. There are neighborhoods like Linden Drive or Fairoaks, but the town is...

The Foreclosure Process & Foreclosure Help

So you or someone you know have fallen on hard times and are facing foreclosure. It happens to the best of us with the majority of the times from situations that are out of our control. Divorce, illness, death and job loss are some of the reasons that come to mind. 

I know how it feels. I too have fallen on hard times. I can also remember being a kid and losing our family home. I’ve been there and remember the helping hand that my parents received. 

My name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering Investment banker, turned real estate agent that has sold more than a 1,000 homes. I have extensive experience in working with folks who are facing some hard times and even harder decisions… It doesn’t matter where you live. It doesn’t matter where you are in the foreclosure process,. give me a call, shoot me an email or stop by YouTubeRealEstateAgent.com and fill in your information and we will reach out to you!  I am hoping to be your helping hand through this situation. 

It’s important to know that your Foreclosure Options change depending on how much time you have and where you are in the Foreclosure Process. You will have a lot more and frankly better Foreclosure options available If you have just missed your second Mortgage Payment compared to having a Foreclosure Sale Date on your house tomorrow. We are going to talk about all the Foreclosure Options available to you shortly, but first let’s make sure we understand the Foreclosure Process first. 

Remember that not all situations are alike. As an example, you are reserved special rights if you are in the military service and away in active duty or even if your loan is a Foreclosure FHA loan or Foreclosure VA Loan. If that is the...

Why Sell a House for Below Market Value?

Why would anyone sell their house at a price that was below market value? This is a question that I get quite often and one that I am going to answer in this video. 

Real quick, my name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering Investment banker, turned real estate agent that has sold more than a 1,000 homes. We get calls, texts and emails from folks just like you who are looking to make a move or sell their home in the Boston Metro area and I absolutely love it! So whether you are looking to make a move in the next 9 or 90 days… It doesn’t matter. Give us a call, shoot us an email or stop by YouTubeRealEstateAgent.com and fill in your information and we will reach out to you! 

One of our businesses is buying a house at favorable terms and selling it for a profit. But here is the thing, we always make sure that the people that we are buying the house from are aware that we are buying it for below market value and are going to sell it for a profit. 

So why would anyone ever sell their house to me for less than it’s worth even with the retail market value numbers in front of them?

There are a multitude of reasons. Maybe they have already tried to sell their house the traditional way and that process was too slow. 

But I would say that 95% of the time, we buy houses from people that are in one of the five following situations: Preforeclosure, Divorce, Health or Safety, Inheritance or tired landlords. 

All of these people have a big problem and don’t want to list their house the traditional way. Maybe they just don’t want their neighbors knowing a situation of preforeclosure...

Home Prices are Going Down

Home prices are going down and they are about to go down by a lot… but it’s probably not what you think. 

In this video, we are going to talk about how in the next 6 months you will hear a lot about how home prices are down by X percent from their peak. We will also talk about the pitfalls to watch out for. 

Real quick, my name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering Investment banker, turned real estate agent that has sold more than a 1,000 homes. We get calls, texts and emails from folks just like you who are looking to make a move in the Boston Metro area and I absolutely love it! So whether you are looking to make a move in the next 9 or 90 days… It doesn’t matter. Give us a call, shoot us an email or stop by YouTubeRealEstateAgent.com and fill in your information and we will reach out to you! 

Home prices are currently down 1.37% from their peak in June.. With a lot further to fall. Let’s talk about this junk statistic. 

Yes, as you can see here. Home prices are down in the month of July from the peak in June. It’s true! But take a look at what happened last year. How about the year before that as well? As you can see, home prices climb in the first half of the year while peaking in June and then retreat in the second half of the year while finding a bottom in October and November. 

Last year in 2022, the statement you were getting from the expert class was that “Home prices are down by whatever percent they wanted to champion FROM THEIR PEAK”. The from their peak was the very important part of that statement. Here in Massachusetts, that number was 15% off their peak in 2022. 

But I ask you this. Why was it that we didn’t hear any of this home...

Jeff: How high will interest rates go?
Sammy: And how will those higher rates impact us? And stick around to the end to hear our projections on how high rates will go…
Jeff: Those are the questions that we are going to tackle in today's video. But first, Hi, I am Jeff Chubb and I am a retired investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than a 1,000 houses.
Sammy: And I am Sammy Iliopoulos with Guaranteed Rate and am one of the top loan officers in the country.
Jeff: So rates are rising Sammy… What is happening and how is it impacting all of us?
Sammy: Oh man! Lots to discuss and a very complex question.
...

How to Buy Your First Rental Property

Jeff: What are the steps on buying your first rental property?
Sammy: And what are the pitfalls that you should be looking out for?
Jeff: These are the questions that we are going to tackle in today's video. But first, Hi, I am Jeff Chubb and I am a retired investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than a 1,000 houses.
Sammy: And I am Sammy Iliopoulos with Guaranteed Rate and am one of the top loan officers in the country. Alright, Jeff. So, what is the first step when it comes to buying a rental property?
Jeff: Step One is defining your investment goals. You need to know what success looks like, so that way when we find it… Then you can act!
Sammy: So what are some of the things that a potential investor should be thinking about when defining their investment goals.
Jeff: Great question. Defining these goals could be clarity on what type of investment is this going to be. Is this one that you are looking to be more of a passive investment or are you looking to roll up your sleeves and get dirty? Another major part of defining your goals is determining what would be an acceptable return on this investment.
Sammy: That makes sense. So what...

Florida to Massachusetts

I have to say that I was a little shocked by this one. The fifth most popular state which had people relocate to Massachusetts was Florida. Don’t get me wrong, the net migration is in Florida’s favor, but there are still a considerable amount of people that are coming to the great white north. 

Let’s talk about a comparison of these two states and give you a little bit of what to expect if you are considering making the move from Florida to Massachusetts.

But first… My name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than 1,000 houses. We get calls, texts and emails from folks just like you who are looking to make a move in the Boston Metro area and I absolutely love it! So whether you are looking to make a move in the next 9 or 90 days… It doesn’t matter. Give us a call, shoot us an email or stop by YouTubeRealEstateAgent.com and fill in your information and we will reach out to you! 

Okay let’s talk about the Cost as the first category.

Generally speaking, Massachusetts is more expensive than Florida. Okay, so what do I mean by generally… If you are moving from Miami to Worcester, then you are most likely going to be pretty excited about the bump in value that Worcester is going to offer you… 

Pre-Covid, this was almost a not fair fight. But Covid has helped level the playing field a bit. A bit. 

Nerdwallet.com has a cost of living Calculator and they do the calculator for Miami to Boston. They state that the cost of living is 27% higher in Boston than it is in Miami. In other words, if you live in Miami and make $100,000 of pretax money, then you would need to earn a salary of $127,070 in Boston. 

July treated the Single Family, Condo and Multi-Family Market… WELL! With one market that was WAYYY up!

Is this the good time before the storm? 

If you are looking to hear about the Massachusetts Real Estate Market data for the month of July for Single Family Homes, Condos and Multi-Family properties… Then you are in the right place.

It’s important to know this information if you are in the market to buy or sell a home, going to be in the real estate market in the future or just want to know what is going on in regards to what is most likely your largest investment.  

Let’s get down to business, but first… 

Hi I am Jeff Chubb – A recovering Investment Banker turned Real Estate Agent that has sold more then a 1,000 homes and is one of the state’s top agents. If you have any questions about real estate, then I am here to help!  

Let’s start with Single Families. Check out all the Quincy Homes For Sale!

In July of 2023, we saw 3,603 Single Family homes sell for an average sales price of $808 thousand dollars. 

Let’s start with the sales comparison. In regards to sales, it’s pretty much more of the same. The July number of sales decreased by an amount of 21% from last year's 4,561 units sold in July of 2022. For the last 6 months, the average decrease in sales has been a decrease in sales of 22.7%. 

I have said...

Moving to the Boston Suburbs and getting to know the town of Weymouth. Weymouth is a suburb located just South of Boston. In this video, we will talk about the different areas that make up Weymouth and what this great town has to offer from restaurants to schools to greenspace and neighborhoods that Weymouth has to offer. I have included it all… Or at least tried to. If I missed anything or if you have any questions, then always feel free to reach out or throw a comment in the comment section below.

Weymouth is a town located in Norfolk County and is located about 12 miles South of Boston and was incorporated in 1635. When people talk about the South Shore, then Weymouth would be a community that would be in the conversation. Today the town is a thriving community with a population of about 55,000 people. It is a popular community among folks looking to live in a suburb, but still wanting to be close to Boston.

Hey, it’s Jeff Chubb. I am a recovering investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more then a 1,000 homes and am one of the states top agents. To learn more about real estate then don’t forget to click the subscribe and like button below. And if you want to talk about your own personal real estate needs, then I invite you to reach out as I love talking Real Estate!

What makes Weymouth Homes For Sale so great is that despite it’s close proximity to Boston, it has a small-town feel with a strong sense of community. There are many local events and festivals throughout the year that make residents proud to call Weymouth their home and add to their high quality of life. 

Weymouth has a number of notable landmarks and points of interests. The town is home to the Wessagussett Beach which is a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing. It offers...

Why Everyone is Leaving Boston, Massachusetts

People are moving to Boston every single day… But there are some people that are moving out! According to census data, they estimate that there were 675,000 people that lived in Boston on April 1, 2020. This is compared to the 650,000 that lived there on July 1st 2022. 

So people are moving from Boston. So I wanted to figure out why are they leaving? And that is what we are going to explore in this video. But stick with us to the end and we will talk about where these people are moving to… And the answer may just surprise you! 

Hey, it’s Jeff Chubb. I am a recovering investment banker, turned real estate agent that has sold more than a 1,000 homes. We get calls, texts and emails from folks just like you who are looking to make a move in the Boston Metro area and I absolutely love it! So whether you are looking to make a move in the next 9 or 90 days… It doesn’t matter. Give us a call, shoot us an email or stop by YouTubeRealEstateAgent.com and fill in your information and we will reach out to you! 

So why are people moving from Boston? 

Weather
As one of the most mosaic of reasons behind why people leave Boston… One recurring theme that constantly stands out is the weather. I have said that I personally don’t think it’s that bad, but for some… They just can’t handle the cold! 

I think what can drive me the most crazy is the unpredictable extremes. It’s not unheard of to walk out the door in a short sleeve shirt in the morning and be regretting that decision by the afternoon. But we have all the seasons, which I personally like. My biggest peeve is the winters where we get no snow. You heard that right, no snow winters! I feel like it’s either a winter where we are getting whooped with snow or it’s a winter where the snow blower never comes...

California to Massachusetts

Using the most recent stats, the fourth state that people relocated to Massachusetts from was California. Let’s talk about a comparison of these two states and give you a little bit of what to expect if you are considering making the move from California to Massachusetts. It’s like moving from Goliath to David… And if memory serves me correctly… David won! 

Before we get into this all… My name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than 1,000 houses. If you are new to the channel then I appreciate you considering subscribing and if you are thinking about buying or selling a home… Then you should definitely reach out! 

I am going to do my best to stay away from the LA city to Boston comparison, but be on the lookout for some future videos as I actually think that could be a great idea!

Okay let’s talk about the Cost as the first category.

Neither state here is a bargain. But California makes Massachuseetts look gooooood. California has a couple major and expensive metro areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles. But California is so much more as there is a lot in between those major cities. 

We will talk about the difference in taxes shortly as there are some major differences here. 

Nerdwallet.com has a cost of living Calculator and they do the calculator for city to city comparisons. For the Boston to San Francisco calculation, it would take $100,000 in San Francisco to have the same cost of living in Boston with a salary of $81,389. This means that the cost of living in Boston is 19% lower. Los Angeles and Boston are actually similar...

New York to Massachusetts

Using the most recent stats, the #1 state that people relocated to Massachusetts from was New York. I am going to try to keep it as much as a state versus state comparison as I can… And I think I may definitely have to do a Manhattan vs. Boston comparison as well.. Especially since I moved to Boston from New York! 

Let’s talk about a comparison of these two states and give you a little bit of what to expect if you are considering making the move from New York to Massachusetts.

But first… My name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than 1,000 houses. If you are new to the channel then I appreciate you considering subscribing and if you are thinking about buying or selling a home… Then you should definitely reach out! 

And second… Let’s set the record state.. New York is not part of New England. 

Okay let’s talk about the Cost as the first category.

 As two northern states, neither are exactly a bargain to live in. Generally speaking, the more North in New York that you go, the better the value… or the less expensive it is I should say. SImilarly and generally speaking, the more west you go in the state of Massachusetts, then the less expensive it becomes. The Boston area and really the Eastern coast of Massachusetts is the epicenter of expense. Just like New York City is for the state of New York. 

We will talk about the difference in taxes shortly as this was a major difference that I personally noticed and enjoyed when I made the move. 

Nerdwallet.com has a cost of living Calculator and they do the calculator for Boston to New York City. They state that the cost of living is 60% higher in New York...

Top 10 Boston Suburbs for First Time Home Buyers

Let’s take a look at the top 10 suburbs for First Time home buyers in the Boston Metro market. 

How did we get to this top 10 list? First, a suburb would only be eligible if it was under the average sales price of $800,000. The further below the sales price, the more points that town received. The closer the town is to Boston, then the more points that town received. If the town had a commuter rail, then the community got some more points. If not, then they got no points. We used the Boston Magazine School Rankings to determine more points. The higher the school ranking, then the more points the town got. And then we also factored in Violent Crime. The less violent crime, then the more points the town got. Add them all up and there is our top 10 list. No feelings. No bias towards the North Shore, Metro West or South Shore. All a numerical calculation. 

Real quick, my name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than 1,000 houses. If you are new to the channel then I appreciate you considering subscribing and if you are thinking about buying or selling a home… Then you should definitely reach out! 

Number Ten is Wilmington, MA. Wilmington is situated approximately 15 miles north of Boston. 93 runs through WIlmington and it’s a stones throw from the 93/95 split. The town also has two Commuter Rail stops which in combination of 93 proximity helps make this a relative commuter's paradise! Wilmington’s population is around 23,000 residents. The town is located near major highways and public transportation which allows for an easy commute to Boston. People who call Wilmington Homes For Sale home enjoy numerous parks,...

Short term rentals were all the rage… Especially during Covid. During those Covid years it seemed like you couldn’t lose and the good times would never end… Buy the house and sit back and just let the money roll in. 

Well… It looks like that train fell off the tracks and the party may have just ended. 

Real quick, my name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than 1,000 houses. If you are new to the channel then I appreciate you considering subscribing and if you are thinking about buying or selling a home… Then you should give me a call or send me an email! 

Questions we are going to answer over the next couple minutes are: What’s going on with short term rentals on the Cape? And if you are an owner who has a property that isn’t reaching your expectations… Then what can you do? 

We all know the story. Covid hits. People are locked up for an ungodly amount of time… They finally break the chains of the lockdowns and shift their spending habits from goods to experiences… Which included Cape Cod vacations. 

And short term rental companies like Airbnb and VRBO were there for the party. Last year and the years before it, the Cape was at nearly a 100% occupancy rate. If you were an owner… It was hard to lose. This helped swell the average sales prices of properties on the Cape which thereby increased homeowners expenses to carry the property. 

https://www.boston.com/travel/new-england-travel/2023/02/22/cape-cod-summer-vacation-rental-availability/

Check out this article on Boston.com published in February. “Strong rental availability reported for Cape Cod Summer Season.” “Last year at this point, we were about 80 to...

Best Boston Suburbs Schools

Let’s take a look at the top 10 Public High Schools in the Boston Metro Market according to Boston Magazine. Why do we look at the Boston Magazine’s rankings? It’s because they offer statistical analysis… And I am a guy that is all about the stats. 

Speaking of the stats, keep in mind that Massachusetts literally has the best school system in the country. So a school ranked 30 in Massachusetts is a darn good school compared to other states. Think of this list as almost the best of the best… of the best list. 

Real quick, my name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than 1,000 houses. If you are new to the channel then I appreciate you considering subscribing and if you are thinking about buying or selling a home… Then you should definitely reach out! 

Number Ten is Littleton High School which has a total enrollment of 451 students. Littleton has an average class size of 13.9 while their student to teacher ratio is 13.1 to 1. The 10th grader proficiency percentages were 84% for English and 82% for Math. The SAT averages were 615 for Reading and 620 for math. The 615 average was the lowest score posted in this top 10 list. They also had the lowest graduation rate at a still very respectable 95.4% with 89% of students attending college. The median price for a house in Littleton in 2022 was $735,000. Click here to view all Littleton Homes For Sale.

Number Nine is Dover-Sherborn Regional High School. They have an enrollment of 657 Students while having a class size of 15.5. The Student to Teacher ratio...

Interest Rates Are Going Up?

When it comes to interest rates… We have had it pretty good recently… I know what you are thinking, is this guy crazy?

But interest rate stability is a great thing and to me means that we have had it pretty good! I mean look at that graph! We peaked out in the third week of October last year… But since then there have been some ups and downs… It’s pretty level. 

Yes… Don’t get me wrong, when you look at rates from a 5 year period… The current interest rate environment sucks… But what if I told you that the tea leaves are showing that interest rates are going up this Fall? With one of the top lenders in the country projecting an interest rate environment in the 8% range!

Real quick, my name is Jeff Chubb and I am a recovering investment banker turned real estate agent that has sold more than 1,000 houses. If you are new to the channel then I appreciate you considering subscribing and if you are thinking about buying or selling a home… Then you should definitely reach out! 

So what tea leaves are we talking about… Well we don’t have to go far to look at some recent news that puts the Federal Reserve in a real tough position. 

It all starts… and kind of ends with the economy and its strength. People thought the economy was starting to slow signs of slowing down which meant that inflation would subside and the FED could take a continued breather… or even consider cutting rates.

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/us-durable-goods-orders-unexpectedly-soar-may

Durable goods unexpectedly soaring doesn’t help with that argument. It actually kills that argument. Experts expected durable good orders to FALL by .9% in...

Today we are going to take a look at the vibrant Shipyard Community in Hingham. It’s a great and convenient place to call home in an awesome town. It is a modern and sought after neighborhood which offers a unique blend of historical charm and contemporary living. 

You may be surprised to know that the Shipyard used to be…well a Shipyard! In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Hingham shipyard was renowned with it building many notable vessels which include probably the most notable vessel, the USS Constitution which is known as “Old Ironsides” and is the oldest American Warship that is docked in Charlestown. 

Today the shipyard looks a lot different. It is a thriving mixed-use development that combines residential, commercial and recreational spaces. The neighborhood offers a variety of housing options which include luxury apartments, townhomes and condominiums where many of them have stunning views of the harbor and 500 boat marina. 

Living here offers numerous benefits which include direct access to Hingham Harbor, opportunities for boating, kayaking and paddleboarding. The neighborhood is pedestrian-friendly with walkable streets, scenic promenades and beautifully landscaped parks. It’s a great community where residents can enjoy leisurely strolls along the waterfront, visit nearby shops, boutiques and restaurants. The neighborhood also boasts convenient amenities such as a grocery store, fitness centers, yoga studios, a movie theater and a variety of retail and dining establishments. 

Some notable restaurants are Alma Nove, Whalburgers and the Trident Galley and Raw Bar. Fun fact, Whalburgers and Alma Nove are owned by the Whalberg Brothers. 

The community also hosts various events and activities throughout...

Massachusetts Real Estate Market Update. This is for data consisting the week ending 6.5.2023. Recap of Video:
✅ Single Family 🏠 & Condo data for the week of 6/5/2023!
✅ We are talking Interest rates, why Elon Musk is wrong... Plus the Luxury Home of the week!
➡️ Single Family 🏡 Market Data Week over Week ⬅️
✅ Single Family inventory of 3,799 homes available to buyers with 1,382 🏠 homes coming on the market this week.
✅ 968 Single Family homes went under agreement with 913 Single Families 💰 selling for an average price of $808k and a Median Price of $635k.
➡️ Condo Market Data Week over Week ⬅️
✅ Condo inventory in Massachusetts on 📅 6/5 was 2,322 condos available to buyers with 665 newly listed condos coming on the market last week. 
✅ 422 Condos went under agreement with 483 Condos 💰 selling for an average price of $688k and a Median Price of $567k. ➡️ Mortgage Market News & Other Headlines ⬅️
✅ Interest rates are falling! 
✅ Elon Musk is wrong about the residential market. 
➡️ Luxury Home Spotlight ⬅️
✅ 314 Quissett Avenue, Falmouth, MA : 
✅ 7 Bedrooms, 5 Full and 3 half Baths with stunning views that spans 12,390 square feet. Listed for $14.950m. 

Massachusetts Real Estate Market Update done weekly. This is for data consisting the week ending 5.22.2023.
Recap of Video:
✅ Single Family 🏠 & Condo data for the week of 5/22/2023!
✅ We are talking Interest rates, the economy, the doom loop and why higher rates may be a good thing... Plus the Luxury Home of the week!
➡️ Single Family 🏡 Market Data Week over Week ⬅️
✅ Single Family inventory...