Services for Real Estate Pros
Barbara Todaro
If you are buying or selling property in Franklin MA, or a surrounding town, The Todaro Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty is the team to call.
Cell: (508) 918-9148
Office: 508-520-9881
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Real Estate Agent
Praful Thakkar
Real Estate Consultant of New Millennium serving Andover, North Andover, North Reading, Reading, Wilmington, Burlington, Woburn, Tewksbury and Eastern Massachusetts.
Cell: 508-314-1640
Office: 978-475-4855
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All About Massachusetts Real Estate

By Doug Dawes, Your Personal Realtor®
(Keller Williams Realty Evolution - Topsfield, MA)
This is an interesting article from KCM regarding interest rates. It is my opinion there's always some demand for Real Estate and people will buy no matter what the rates may be. The proof can be found, (let's all hop into Mr. Peabody's Way Back Machine) in the middle 1980's Real Estate market when rates went as high as 18%. I know we bought our home when rates were 13%. The rising rates DID give us the motivation to get with it...lolWith Mortgage Rates Climbing, Now’s the Time To Act   Last week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac jumped from 3.22% to 3.45%. That’s the highest point it’s been in almost two years. If you’re thinking about buying a home, this news may have come as a bit of a shock. But the truth is, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Experts have been c...
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By Zachary Parker, Real Estate Journalist
(ProSource Media)
For anyone looking to purchase an investment property for the first time, NOI (net operating income) is one of the fundamental equations you need to know to estimate its potential profitability. Net operating income in real estate is a financial breakdown of the total revenue that the property will generate in a year minus the normal operating expenses. In short, it’s an annual profit projection for investment properties.In a competitive real estate market like Boston, it’s important to analyze a property based on NOI before you decide to purchase. Some properties may be priced too high to actualize any meaningful profit and can end up being a money pit for years to come. While it’s hard to generalize an entire neighborhood in terms of NOI, we can use median sales prices and average ren...
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By Zachary Parker, Real Estate Journalist
(ProSource Media)
It’s no secret that prices for homes in Boston have skyrocketed over the past decade. Since 2012, prices have nearly doubled in terms of median sales prices, and now it’s hard to find a decent home listed in a good neighborhood under $500K. In fact, the median sales price for single family homes for sale in Boston is $772,925 over the past 12 months, placing Boston among the most expensive real estate markets in the country.Still, there are many ways to analyze housing markets and median sales prices. If you dig into the data a little deeper, there may be areas of opportunities that others miss. In Boston in particular, a short supply of single family homes and lack of developable land has led to a massive surge in condo development around the city. In modern times, it’s much easier to ...
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By Westchester Modular Homes Construction Corp, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange
(Westchester Modular Homes Construction Corp)
YOU ARE INVITED! Register for the LIVE VIRTUAL FACTORY TOUR on Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 @ 5:30 PM EST at www.vt-sign-up.com Experience a live virtual tour of our actual design center and factory plus models located at the factory, as well as custom homes that our clients have allowed us to shoot in 3D and share with you.Find out how the entire modular building process works - from initial site work and permits to completed, fully landscaped custom designed home. We can build your next home in any style, size and layout. If you are interested sign up at www.vt-sign-up.com What will you learn by attending the Live Virtual Factory Tour? The benefits & advantages of modular construction The design software & how you can take a 3D walkthrough of your home before its built How the entir...
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By Robert J. Russell, IRES, ICREA, REBS, GMA, LAS, LUTCF
(Robert J Russell Companies)
The Best of the Best in Massachusetts -come be a part of our website featuring the Best of the Best!!Best of the Best in Massachusetts
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By Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-939-2727, Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers
(Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside)
December Challenge -Paul Harsch CRS - in MA - First Time Conversation     Who to meet for the first time? Decided to go to the most recently enrolled new members and choose Paul Harsch, CRS. Paul’s welcoming smile cinched the decision!As a child, Paul traveled with his family as his father’s job changed, living in different states and even living in England. He came back to the US to complete high school in Connecticut and then went to college at Goddard, then the Sorbonne, finally winding up at Williams College. He loved living in Williamstown and decided to put his roots down there. He and his wife, Joyce, call Williamstown HOME!Four years into his real estate career, in 1979, Paul Harsch established his own real estate company, known as Harsch Associates, nestled in the Berkshire Mou...
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By Kevin Vitali, Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers
(EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates)
As you think about entering the real estate marketplace, especially as a first time homebuyer, you are confronted with saving money for a down payment and closing costs for a home.There are many programs that require as little as 3% as a down payment.  For example, a $400,000 home would require a minimum of a $12,000 down payment.On top of your down payment you will also need to bring closing costs to the table.  Closing costs are the hard costs of securing a mortgage and include, appraisals, title searches, title insurance, etc....Your closing costs can run anywhere from 2-4% of the amount borrowed.In this case, you would have to come up with $20,000 to $28,000 to purchase a home. Traditional Down Payment SourceTraditionally, the money for your down payment and closing costs come from ...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
When a House Becomes a Home It’s clear that owning a home makes financial sense. But lately, the emotional side of what drives homeownership is becoming increasingly important. No matter the living space, the feeling of a home means different things to different people. Whether it’s a familiar scent or a favorite chair, the feel-good connections to our own homes can be more important to us than the financial ones. Here are some of the reasons why. 1. Owning your home is an accomplishment worth celebrating You’ve put in a lot of work to achieve the dream of homeownership, and whether it’s your first home or your fifth, congratulations are in order for this milestone. You’ve earned it. 2. There’s no place like home Owning your own home offers not only safety and security but also a comfor...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
The Perks of Putting 20% Down on a Home If you’re thinking of buying a home, you’re probably wondering what you need to save for your down payment. Is it 20% of the purchase price, or could you put down less? While there are lower down payment programs available that allow qualified buyers to put down as little as 3.5%, it’s important to understand the many perks that come with a 20% down payment. Here are four reasons why putting 20% down may be a great option if it works within your budget. 1. Your Interest Rate May Be Lower A 20% down payment vs. a 3-5% down payment shows your lender you’re more financially stable and not a large credit risk. The more confident your lender is in your credit score and your ability to pay your loan, the lower the mortgage interest rate they’ll likely b...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
The Average Homeowner Gained $56,700 in Equity over the Past Year When you think of homeownership, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are you might focus on the non-financial benefits, like the security or stability a home provides. But what about equity? While it can be overlooked, a homeowner’s equity helps build long-term wealth over time. Here’s a look at what equity is and why it matters. For a homeowner, your equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan. So, as home values climb, your equity does too. That’s exactly what’s happening today. There aren’t enough homes on the market to meet buyer demand, so bidding wars and multiple offers are driving prices up. That’s because people are willing to pay more to buy a home. Right now, this low ...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
Homebuyers: Be Ready To Act This Winter To succeed as a buyer in today’s market, it’s important to understand which market trends will have the greatest impact on your home search. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, says there are two factors every buyer should keep their eyes on: “Going forward, the conditions buyers face are primarily dependent on two things: mortgage rates and housing supply.” Here’s a look at each one. Mortgage Rates Projected To Rise in 2022 As a buyer, your interest rate directly impacts how much you’ll pay on your monthly mortgage when you purchase a home. Rates are beginning to rise, and experts forecast they’ll continue going up in 2022 (see graph below):As the graph shows, mortgage rates are expected to climb next year. But they’re still low when y...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
2022 Housing Market Forecast  Some Highlights What does the coming year hold for the housing market? Here’s what experts project for 2022. Mortgage rates are projected to rise and so are home prices. Experts are forecasting buyer demand will remain strong as people try to capitalize on rates and prices before they climb, creating another strong year for home sales. Let’s connect so you can make your best move in the new year.
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
Homebuyers Are Going on a Shopping Spree This Winter Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, which means some shoppers have wrapped up their holiday buying. But there’s still a group of buyers that are very active this holiday season – homebuyers. Experts anticipate the real estate market will see a flurry of activity this winter, and that’s great news for today’s sellers. If you’re planning on listing your home, there’s no need to wait until the spring for better conditions – today’s real estate market is already heating up. Buyers Have Warmed Up to the Idea of Purchasing This Winter The past 18 months brought about significant lifestyle changes for many of us, including the rise in remote work, job changes, and even early retirementfor some. For many people, it’s prompting a search fo...
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By Zachary Parker, Real Estate Journalist
(ProSource Media)
The real estate market in Cambridge has seen explosive growth over the past decade.  Thanks to steady flow of VC funding pouring into the area and increasing enrollment at local Universities, demand for housing in Cambridge has been insatiable.  As a result, median sales prices for residential properties in Cambridge are soaring across all categories.  The median sales price for condos in Cambridge is $891,910, while the median price of homes for sale in Cambridge MA stands at a whopping $1.93M.  With prices like that, it would be easy for a potential buyer to throw in the towel and assume that renting an apartment is their best bet.  And going strictly off those two aforementioned median prices, they would be right.  When you break them down in terms of monthly mortgage payment, taxes,...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
What Everyone Wants To Know: Will Home Prices Decline in 2022? If you’re thinking of buying a home in today’s housing market, you may be wondering how strong your investment will be. You might be asking yourself: if I buy a home now, will it lose value? Or will it continue to appreciate going forward? The good news is, according to the experts, home prices are not projected to decline. Here’s why. With buyers still outweighing sellers, home prices are forecast to continue climbing in 2022, just at a slower or more moderate pace. Why the continued increase? It’s the simple law of supply and demand. When there are fewer items on the market than there are buyers, the competition for that item makes prices naturally rise. And while the number of homes for sale today is expected to improve w...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
If You Think the Housing Market Will Slow This Winter, Think Again. From the opportunity to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates to changing homeowner needs, Americans have more motivation than ever to buy a home. According to the experts, buyers are making moves right now, creating an unseasonably strong housing market for this time of year. As we wrap up the fall season and move into the winter months, here’s a look at what several industry leaders have to say about the continued momentum in the current market, and what it means as we head into the early part of next year. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, National Association of Realtors (NAR) “This solid buying is a testament to demand still being relatively high, as it is occurring during a time when inventory is still markedl...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
A Happy Tail: Pets and the Homebuying Process [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights It’s no secret that we love our furry friends - about 70% of U.S. households have pets. What may come as a surprise is how large a role they play in the homebuying process. Americans spend $1,163 a year on their pets, and nearly half of pet owners say they would move for better accommodations and amenities for their pets. If you’re thinking of adding a furry friend, or if you already have, let’s connect to discuss how you can find a home that meets all your pet’s needs.
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
Two Reasons Why Waiting To Buy a Home Will Cost You If you’re a homeowner who’s decided your current house no longer fits your needs, or a renter with a strong desire to become a homeowner, you may be hoping that waiting until next year could mean better market conditions to purchase a home. To determine whether you should buy now or wait another year, you can ask yourself two simple questions: Where will home prices be a year from now? Where will mortgage rates be a year from now? Let’s shed some light on the answers to both of these questions. Where Will Home Prices Be a Year from Now? Three major housing industry entities are projecting ongoing home price appreciation in 2022. Here are their forecasts: Fannie Mae: 7.4% Freddie Mac: 7% Mortgage Bankers Association: 5.2% According to t...
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By Westchester Modular Homes Construction Corp, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange
(Westchester Modular Homes Construction Corp)
YOU ARE INVITED! Register for the LIVE VIRTUAL FACTORY TOUR on Wednesday, December 15th, 2021 @ 5:00 PM EST www.vt-sign-up.com Experience a live virtual tour of our actual design center and factory plus models located at the factory, as well as custom homes that our clients have allowed us to shoot in 3D and share with you.Find out how the entire modular building process works - from initial site work and permits to completed, fully landscaped custom designed home. We can build your next home in any style, size and layout. If you are interested sign up at www.vt-sign-up.com What will you learn by attending the Live Virtual Factory Tour? The benefits & advantages of modular construction The design software & how you can take a 3D walkthrough of your home before its built How the entire ...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
Win When You Sell (And When You Move) If you’re trying to decide when to sell your house, there may not be a better time than this winter. Selling this season means you can take advantage of today’s strong sellers’ market when you make a move. Win When You Sell Right now, conditions are very favorable for current homeowners looking for a change. If you sell now, here’s what you can expect: Your House Will Stand Out – While recent data shows there are more sellers getting ready to list their homes this winter, there are still more buyers in the market than there are homes for sale. If you sell your house now before more houses are listed, it will get more attention from serious buyers who are eager to find a home. Your House Will Likely Get Multiple Offers – When supply is low and demand...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
Tips for Single Homebuyers: How To Make Your Dream a Reality If you’re living on your own and looking to buy a home, know that you can make your dream a reality with thoughtful planning and the right team of experts. Research from Freddie Mac shows 28% of all households (36.1 million) are sole-person, and that number is growing. Over the past 40 years, the number of sole-person households has nearly doubled, and that’s a trend that’s expected to continue. According to Freddie Mac: “Our calculation suggests that there will be an additional 5 million sole-person households in the United States by the next decade. This means 42% of the household growth will be contributed by sole-person households, . . .” If you fall into this category, here are three tips to help you achieve your homeowne...
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By Joseph D. Federico, Eastern Massachusetts Real Estate
(Donahue Real Estate Co.)
How To Think Strategically as a Buyer in Today’s Market The game of chess can provide incredible lessons to apply to all aspects of life, including the homebuying process. Chess requires you to plan and think about your strategy from the very beginning of the game. The homebuying process, like chess, requires strategy and planning. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your plan is as strong as possible when you begin your home search. Pre-Approval: the Best Opening Play To Make as a Homebuyer It’s important to have a great opening play when you’re buying a home. And the best move you can make when you begin your home search is getting pre-approved by a lender. You’ve probably already heard this is an important step, but what exactly is pre-approval and what benefits does it p...
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