Why Apartment Rental Prices in Boston are High   I always seem to hear the same thing from clients looking for rentals, “wow, Boston apartment’s rental prices are so high”, even more so with out of state clients relocating to the Boston area. Boston is one of five cities that have the most expensive apartment rentals in the country, followed by New York, Miami, LA, and San Francisco, according to Trulia. Over the past few years, the country has seen a drastic increase in rental prices and about 3.9% increase just this year alone. Now, as you my already know, this nationwide increase is mainly due to the recession we just went through. Mainly because when people are losing their homes or when large amounts of people can’t be approved for mortgages because of banks tightening of loan req... 09/14/2013

This multi-floor townhouse is complete with a spacious, open floor plan and a gourmet kitchen that opens to the dining area. The luxurious property features a deck with steps that lead down to a large blue stone patio. The townhome contains four bedrooms, including a master suite with an en suite bath. For more information on this property, click here. 09/14/2013

Located right across from the Boston Commons, this estate enjoys all the amenities of being in the heart of Boston. Restaurants, shops and parks are all located within a short walk from your doorstep. The property itself contains 18 new windows, high ceilings, and oak floors. The custom-designed kitchen contains red birch cabinetry, granite counters, and state of the art kitchen appliances. For more information on this property, please click here. 09/14/2013

Veterans have use of VA loan programs offered by individual lenders but guaranteed by the federal government. The guarantee buffers lenders against loss up to a specific value if a borrower defaults on the loan. With this guarantee, lenders are able to extend veterans features not easily found in other alternatives. Below is an overview of the features of VA loan programs in Boston. Features Of VA Loan Programs In Boston The best advantages of VA loan programs are the options for no money down and no mortgage insurance. Veterans can finance the entire purchase price, assuming the appraisal is sufficient and the particular lender does not have a special mandate for down payment. VA mortgages also allow veterans to purchase a home by reducing the additional expense of mortgage insurance,... 09/11/2013

93 North through Boston Chinatown Financial District Taking an Overpriced listing is a fact of life in real estate, for a number of reasons. Calling it a listing means that it is listed with the MLS services-in this area the service is called MLSPin, or Pinergy.  It has all the professional listings in the Greater Boston Area.  It also contains all the statistics on sales, the market, the laws and any other information you may want or need. This is a valuable resource for all questions real estate.   I am a member of GBAR (Greater Boston Association of Realtors) that represents the Realtor®’s in this area.  I am also a member of the MAR and NAR, the Massachusetts and National Associations of Realtors.  These are the professionals who are shaping the housing story to our Legislative and... 09/09/2013

Boston Back Bay Brownstone on Beacon St Boston Back Bay Condo market statistics Aug 2013 had 159 properties in the market as Active, Under Agreement, Sold, Expired and Canceled.  These statistics are from the Regional MLS Pin, Pinergy.  These are the accurate dates and amounts as reported to the Registry of Deeds within Suffolk County where Back Bay is part.  Back Bay is one of the most picturesque parts of all Boston, but not the most historic. Certainly not like near by Beacon Hill crowned with a golden domed State Capital but sharing edges of the Public Gardens and Boston Common is very special way to connect the neighborhoods.  As it was intended. Condominium Active Listings: 61    Avg. Liv.Area SqFt: 1,958.13     Avg. List$:$2,626,908    Avg. List$/SqFt: $1,193     Avg. DOM: 87.36... 09/09/2013

"That's not the way we work, We'll take a flier on that," is what the text said, but I knew what it meant.  What it meant is that here is another businessman who thinks he can do a better job at all the jobs to run his business  than you can do at your own real estate focus.  Being an Entrepreneur is not easy, it often feels like the whole weight of the world is on your shoulders.  As the boss you are supposed to know how to do everything, fix everything, understand everything, right?  Well, not so fast Skippy.  The successful entrepreneurs know what they don't know and they get support and help to complete tasks that our outside of their specific Renaissance talents.   For instance real estate.  Why wouldn't a savvy entrepreneur say building restaurants in multiple cities not know wher... 09/03/2013

According to a recent study, text messages (SMS) have over a 99% open rate. What's even more shocking is that over 90% of text messages are read within the first 3 minutes of being received. When I read this data, I was floored! Now compare this with email. Based on the best estimates, email marketing has an open rate of 47% and a read rate of only 25% (and I'm being generous). With the home buying demographic getting younger and younger (according to NAR generation x and y make up nearly 59%) and smart phone usage on the rise, it only makes sense to expect a shift in the marketing approch of agents going forward. One way that I have leveraged the power of texting is by advising callers to text me to "reach me faster" on my voive mail. Do any of you have any tips or tricks for text mess... 08/15/2013

Definition of Posh according to the Urban Dictionary is defined as rich, well to do, or aristocratic. My definition is more like affluent, luxurious and a life style. Better yet I would give the: The Back Bay of Boston MA as an example of the definition of Posh.   If you want to visit a part of Boston that is elegant and tidy one of the first places that come to my mind is the Back Bay. It is a pleasure to walk and wherever you take your leisurely walk on Newbury Street you can enjoy the boutiques as well as the simple stores that you need to have in everyday life or restaurants or just observe the magnificent townhomes that are in between the shops and restaurants.   There are so many contrasts in architecture from different eras such as Copley square, The Prudential Center, The Hancoc... 08/11/2013

Boston, MA the best city where "old" & "young" coexist, building that is! As I walk down Boylston St. I see the I-Phone Store that looks like a modern building squeezed in between the old Back Bay three and four story townhomes. Words are difficult to describe how a 1700-1800 built Townhome can Coexist with a High-rises built in the 1960's and ultra updated in the 2000's and it is about a  fifty acre complex I am referring to the Prudential Center. Paralleling, Boylston St is Newbury St "old", " Established" businesses just created buildings & businesses... and we all  are wondering how is this possible?   The answer is clear: That is the Charm of Boston, MA. The old and the young coexist and prosper together. Check out the pictures and tell me if you agree or better yet tell me if you ... 08/11/2013

The Wired Puppy Specialty Coffee & Tea  on Newbury St in Boston, MA 02116. You might ask how did I discover this great Coffee Shop? Well it is what I call coincidence.      The night we arrived in Boston (3hrs late) thanks to a huge storm, we immediately went to the Hotel, where we have stayed the last couple of times: The Back Bay Sheraton. The waiter, whom I have known for over 20 years greeted us as old friends....anyway we scarfed some food down before the kitchen closed...Diane wanted to walk of the food. So we took a stroll on Newbury St. Then we noticed the WIRED PUPPY a Specialty Coffee and Tea establishment. As most of you know I am a coffee snob and love the small independent or local gourmet coffee places. My interest was perked immediately and I was looking forward to the op... 08/11/2013

A 1031 exchange is a method for deferring taxes when selling a property and purchasing another. Properties used for business or investment may qualify. When used properly, it can result in dramatic savings. This article details the advantages of 1031 tax deferred exchanges in Boston. Qualified Property You must possess a qualified property before considering a tax deferred 1031 exchange. Qualified properties are those used in a business/trade or for investment. It may include rental, land, residential, industrial, and commercial real estate. You must also expect to buy new similar property that is also qualified. Advantages Of 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges In Boston Normally, when you sell investment real estate, you must pay capital gains taxes on the earnings from the sale. This applies... 07/30/2013

Medford Single Family Home Value Report for June 2013.  In Medford, 23 homes were sold with an average days on market of 26.  The average list price was 365,204, with and average sale price of $367,126.  The market continues to move very fast with prices continuing to remain high.  What is your home worth? 07/23/2013

Do you live at or would like to live at Heritage On The Garden in Boston's Back Bay? Then you will enjoy this update that we put together for you!  Current Sales and Rentals at Heritage On The Garden Listings - click unit # to view listing details  AddressPriceBeds/BathsSize (SF)Price/Foot 300 Boylston Street, # 1003Boston, MA 02116, Back Bay $5,750,000 3 / 3 2,492 $2,307 300 Boylston Street, # 803-809Boston, MA 02116, Back Bay $6,250,000 3 / 6 3,689 $1,694 Pending Sales and Rentals at Heritage On The Garden Listings - click unit # to view listing details  AddressPriceBeds/BathsSize (SF)Price/Foot 300 Boylston St, # 512Boston, MA 02116, Back Bay $1,900,000 2 / 3 1,778 $1,068 300 Boylston St, # 911Boston, MA 02116, Back Bay $2,090,000 2 / 3 1,942 $1,076 Recent Sales and Rentals at Herita... 06/20/2013

Located at the corner of Boston's famous Newbury Street and Massachusetts Ave, 360 Newbury is one of the Back Bay's premier new construction properties. 360 offers some of the most unique and modern spaces in all of the Back Bay as well as a awesome location that is close to everything the Back Bay has to offer. That's why it is our featured Back Bay new construction property of the day!!! Click here to view current properties for sale & rent at 360 Newbury Street in Boston!  06/20/2013

Today's featured Boston Luxury property is 533 Camrbridge Street in Allston Massachusetts.  533 Cambridge is one of Allston's few "ground up" new construction properties and offers residents high cielings, modern kitchens, garage parking and easy access to dowtown Boston, BU, Harvard, Cambridge, The Green Line and the Mass Pike.  Please click here to learn more about what is for sale at 533 Cambridge!  06/20/2013

Recent Sales in Boston Suburbs  Young families are getting a bit crammed in the tiny apartments and condos in Brookline, Brighton and Jamaica Plain.  If you can't afford a large million dollar condo or multi-million dollar house, then you need to step our of the City. I've been working with several clients ready to put a few miles between them and downtown Boston.  Click on the link to learn more about the best Boston suburbs for young families, and sign up for my free report.  Here are a couple of those recent sales: 20 Parliament Lane, Woburn (10+/- Miles North) Chosen for it's pretty setting and affordability compared to the area, large yard and friendly neighbors included.  Sale price $469,000   10 Mitchell Street, Medfield (16 Miles Southwest) Picture perfect Medfield offers a smal... 06/20/2013

Halfway through the year and it looks like the Downtown Boston residential real estate market could set a number of records.  At this juncture all four key data point that we track are ahead of YTD 2012; Transactions are up 6%, the Average & Median Selling Prices are up 11% & 6% respectively and sales absorption is up 18% to $1,030,838,813.  Yes that IS ten places to the left of the decimal point.  The only two times the absorption in Downtown Boston was ove One Billion dollars was 2005 & 2007 ($1,034,627,037. and $1,038,926,166. respectively). Based upon the current velocity we are projecting total closed dollar volume at year end to be above $2.8 Billion, exceeding the previous year end record high set in 2004 of $2,560,371,087.  In addition we are expecting transaction volume of 3800... 06/19/2013

Boston Suburb for Young Families: Natick MA Natick is a picture-perfect town with unparalleled convenience. Natick has something for everyone.  Pretty downtown, homes in all sizes, great shopping nearby and an improving school system. Access either Route 9 or the Mass Pike for a direct drive East for Boston, or easily commute to anywhere further west, while staying in the Greater Boston area. Search Natick MA houses for sale. Why People Live Here? A house in Natick will cost about half of than in Newton.  Yet you can find neighborhoods offering a similar experience of pretty streets and historic homes.  Much of Natick is easily accessible to Route 9, and although traffic is no picnic, you'll find everything you need.  Many people make the trip from Boston to shop in Natick and Framingha... 06/13/2013

Boston Suburb for Young Families: Milton MA Take a look into Milton MA, which neighbors the big City, and offers a variety of both public and private education options.   Milton is home to the first Piano factory in the United States and a history of industrial investment since the 1600′s.  Milton’s neighborhoods range from large mansions to small colonials on quiet side streets.   It’s worth learning about the educational options in Milton, both public and private.    Milton has been home to George H. W. Bush, Leonard Nimoy and Jordan Knight, amongst others.   Search Milton MA houses for sale.   Why People Live Here? Milton offers a variety of homes in a wide price range.  The history of rail has left excellent public transportation access.  But some prefer to ride their bike, as cycl... 06/12/2013