Metrowest Town’s Recycling Programs
July 13th, 2010 Categories: Ashland, Bellingham, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Local Communities, Medway, Milford, Natick, Real Estate, Town Hall Info
Thank you to the person on www.HollistonFreeCycle.com (which is a Yahoo Group) for the links to all the local Metrowest recycling information.
I feel that Massachusetts does a pretty good job, either thru grassroots organizations or towns saving money, in providing recycling opportunities to the local residents.
Ashland Recycling Program Info
Framingham Recycling Program Info
Holliston Recycling Program Info
Hopkinton Recycling Program Info
Milford Recycling Program Info
Sherborn Recycling Program Info
Check out the previous posts regarding related sites:
Asbestos Removal Article from 2008
I hope you find these links as a useful source of information whenever you are searching out information on your town’s recycling program.
Ed Daniels of the MAHome Team can be reached at Ed@MAhome.com or 508-341-7880. He calls Holliston his hometown and works with Re/Max Executive Realty selling homes all around the Metrowest area.| Discussion: No Comments »
Metrowest Foreclosure Updates
July 7th, 2010 Categories: Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Local Communities, Market Conditions, Natick, Real Estate, Southborough
Today I received a news release from RealtyTrac, which is the leading online source for foreclosure properties. The report made me question how the specific Metrowest Massachusetts marketplace is doing in regards to foreclosures. This post will report on the following questions you may have:
- Are there a bunch of foreclosures driving down home values in our area?
- How much of a discount can I get if I buy one of these foreclosure properties?
- Is the market getting worse or better out there?
Foreclosures in Massachusetts
RealtyTrac reports that Massachusetts is one of the top 5 states in % of foreclosure sales for the 1st quarter of 2010. (June 30th – Not really sure why it took so long to issue these stats??) As alarming as this sounds, let’s look a bit closer…
Number of foreclosure sales were 2,111 in quarter 1, which is 42% of all sales! Sounds bad, right?
How does this compare to other states they reported on? It works out to .9% of Total foreclosures in the United States.
Still digging a bit deeper, I checked MLS data for number of sales in MA for the 1st quarter. MLS reports 6628 total single family home sales, which works out to 32% of all single family home sales are foreclosure sales. Since they report 2,111 were ALL sales, let’s add condos and multifamilies to that number… now it is over 11,000 sales, or about 19% of all sales.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
Framingham MA Rental Home
May 12th, 2010 Categories: Framingham, Real Estate
The single family home at 11 Debra Lane in Framingham is a rental property that I represented last week. It took all of 5 days to get a stack of applicants for this rental!
Framingham MA
The home is very nicely updated. The owners, David and Maria Shapiro, worked very hard to update all areas of the multi level home.
The hardwood flooring is gleaming, the kitchen has all new appliances to go along with tile and new cabinetry. Bathrooms renovated, heating system is updated, and everything has a fresh coat of paint.
The asking rent for this home is $2000 per month, and the tenant cares for all utilities.
This is the best type of showing I could ask for as a local Metrowest Realtor!
Renovated Kitchen
So, the report is IN… the Framingham rental market is alive and well! Plenty of strong candidates applied for the home, and it looks to have a great match in only a few days!
Ed Daniels of Re/Max Executive Realty can be reached at 508-341-7880 if his MAhome Team can be of service on finding a rental or helping a Landlord locate a great tenant.| Discussion: No Comments »
My Cutler School Goes Affordable
May 10th, 2010 Categories: Holliston, Local Communities, Real Estate
I spent my 1st grade year at the Cutler School, high on the hill behind Town Hall. Years later it was transformed into apartments, and now the community will see work beginning on Cutler Heights.
This project brings much needed affordable housing to Holliston.
This 3 1/2 story building will house 30 units and parking for over 50 cars, half underneath the building. Every single unit will be affordable.
This means that if your income level falls under 60% of the prevailing median income, these units are available to you.
Three of the units are for households that fall under 30% of the median income guidelines. Holliston residents receive preference in these types of developments.
Based solely on 2009 median income figures from MA state websites, the 60% qualifying income levels look to be:
- 1 person household $27,876
- 2 person household $36,454
- 3 person household $45,031
- 4 person household $53,608
I will follow the building of this development, which they expect will take about 12 months to complete.
Metrowest Daily News article on Cutler Heights.
Funding for the project comes from a variety of sources. Townspeople pay into a Community Preservation Act fund in their taxes, and this is one source.
Additional sources include $2.2 million in state funds, and most importantly, $3.9 million in federal stimulus money.
Yes, that’s right, Holliston is getting it’s little piece of the stimulus funds. Frankly, without the state and federal funds, this project would have been dead in the water.
Clearing Cutler Heights
Affordable housing seems to get a reaction of “not in my backyard”, but this location and the great need this community has outweighs any negative points on this project.
Cutler holds a special spot in my childhood, and I am glad to see this project moving forward!
Ed Daniels is a graduate of Cutler School 1st grade and currently is a Realtor with Re/Max Executive Realty. His classmates can catch up with him by calling 508-341-7880 to plan our next reunion.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Oil Heat Homeowners Face New Laws
April 25th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate
Attention all Massachusetts homeowners with oil heating systems, a new law must be followed by July 1, 2010.
What do you have to do?
Upgrade your heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to your furnace. The upgrade is:
Install an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that don’t currently have this system.
Benefits for the Homeowner
The new law requires insurance companies that write homeowners policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil.
A leak may result in exposure to petroleum vapors in your home.
If the leak reaches groundwater or soil beneath your home, then a cleanup must be performed to restore your property to the tune of up to $250,000. Even a “simple” leak can be as much as $15,000. Several hundred Massachusetts homeowners experience some kind of leak each year.
Read all the specifics at this Massachusetts Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law webpage.
What does it Cost?
Typical cost is from $150-$350, which includes parts, labor, and permits.
Ed Daniels of Re/Max Executive Realty can be reached at Ed@MAhome.com to answer any additional questions you may have about this law or to find a reputable serviceman in the Metrowest area.| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Holliston Market Report 1st Qtr 2010
April 15th, 2010 Categories: Holliston, Market Conditions, Real Estate
The Holliston real estate market is in trouble.
There’s nothing to sell!!
Compared to 2009, the number of available listings fell 15%. In 2009 there were 67 listings, today there are only 56.
The Big Picture:
The Warren Group reported on the February real estate market for all of Massachusetts:
- Single Family Median Prices jumped 8.4% vs. Feb 2009
- Single Family# of sales climbed 13.5% vs. Feb 2009
- Year to Date Median Prices are up 9.8%
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
WANTED: Your Furniture Donations
April 13th, 2010 Categories: Marlborough, Preferred Business, Real Estate
Selling homes in Metrowest Boston could bury me in really great household furniture that sellers can no longer use.
I have learned to just say NO (thank you).
Furnishing Options of Marlborough may be the resource that says YES.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Metrowest Homes Open House Weekend
April 9th, 2010 Categories: Events in Community, Market Conditions, Real Estate
There is a big push this weekend to show off houses and condos in the area. Open Houses will be Everywhere!
This Sunday, April 11th, it is forecasted to rain, so go check them out. As part of a national push by Realtor associations, 35 states have agreed to increase open house availablity on this weekend.
As of Friday, there are 27 open houses planned in Ashland, 27 in Holliston, 64 in Framingham, 77 in Natick, 28 in Hopkinton, and 66 in Franklin, to name a few.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Real Estate Internet Traffic
April 3rd, 2010 Categories: Market Conditions, Real Estate
National real estate web sites are constantly attempting to get new visitors. All of them seem to tout themselves as #1.
Click here for report on National Website Traffic.
Realtor.com has been on the scene for a long time and has consistantly reported more traffic than all other sites. Here is a report out that lists the top websites dealing with real estate. Are you listed there?
Being a home seller in today’s marketplace requires you to be found on most of these.
Because the MLS data is shared with almost all of these sites, just by getting your home listed on MLS will cause it to be found on most of them.
Do you get added exposure on these sites when you list with your agent? This includes additional pictures, attaching a virtual tour, links to your listing agent, floor plans, etc.
Ed Daniels of Remax Executive can be found at www.MAhome.com, which just misses the number 1 spot of 7 M unique visitors per month!
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Your Home Will NOT Be in the Paper
April 3rd, 2010 Categories: Market Conditions, Real Estate
You just put your home on the market for sale. Excitement builds, the sign is in the yard. Everyone is asking about the price and wishing you the best of luck!
You are still frantic getting ready for the first open house. Looking over the Massachusetts homes for sale on MLS has been a pasttime of yours for at least a month.
Boy, you are practically famous… your home is there in the real estate section of the local paper. Thousands of readers are going to be viewing your beautiful home!
Sorry, Reality here!
The majority of Serious buyers are NOT looking in the real estate section of the newspaper.
Want to hear the top 3 people looking at the real estate section:
-
Home sellers
-
Real Estate Agents
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Moms of home sellers
If you are serious about hearing where the Home Buyers are coming from, there is one main source to turn to. The National Association of Realtors conducts a survey each year and compiles the results in a Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Over 9,000 buyers and sellers of the past year responded to the survey.
The results of this survey:
3% of home buyers used newspapers and buying guides as their first step taken in the buying process.
47% of buyers researched on-line for homes or home buying information.
In response to additional questions about what information sources were used in their home buying search:
90% Internet
87% Real Estate Agent
59% Yard Sign
46% Open House
40% Print Newspaper advertisement
So, as a smart businessman, when I am given the job of marketing your home for sale, where do you think I invest all my time and energy? Getting a home in the best possible position on the internet and with the local Realtor community is my main focus!
Great pictures, virtual tours, staging of a property, Featured internet exposure, and broker tours are the ticket to selling a home!
Of course it is nice to see your home in the newspapers, but unfortunately, it is not even close to being as important as presented well on the internet!
Ed Daniels of Remax Executive Realty can be reached at 508-341-7880 or Ed@MAhome.com. The MAhome Team works with buyers and sellers of real estate in the Metrowest region of Boston, Masschusetts.
| Discussion: No Comments »
