Real Estate Blog 
New Oil Heat Safety Law Extended
Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 5:45pm. 29 Views, 0 Comments.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is delaying its implementation of the new law it passed earlier this year to protect homeowners and the environment from hazardous oil leaks from oil heating systems. The Homeowners Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law was originally set to take effect on July 1, 2010, but is now extended until September 11, 2011.
The new law requires homeowners of 1-4 unit residences to install an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with a protective sleeve, on oil heating systems that don't currently feature such a device, in order to protect leaks from any tank or pipe that connects to the furnace.
Who could be exempt?
- • Heating oil systems installed on or after January 1, 1990 most likely are already in…
Modern Day Real Estate
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 11:14am. 50 Views, 0 Comments.
Today's modern Real Estate market is online. Three out of every four Americans rely on the Internet as a primary source of communication, research and entertainment. The National Association of Realtors said that 90% of buyers use the Internet to search for homes.
Real Estate marketing has left the newspapers and is focused on networking and online advertising. Social media and networking are changing the behavior of how we are doing business. The social media statistics are "mind-boggling". Facebook is the number one social networking site and presently gets more traffic than Google. Within the past two weeks I have received five articles on, "How to Increase My Business Using Facebook". What is interesting is that the fastest age group on Facebook are…
read moreMarket Snapshot
Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 4:26pm. 57 Views, 0 Comments.
Market Activity June 1 - July 12, 2010
| Brookline | Brookline | Newton | Newton | Boston | |
| Single Family | Condominium | Single Family | Condominium | Condominium | |
| Active | 83 | 197 | 218 | 154 | 785 |
| Lowest Price | $539,000 | $159,900 | $239,000 | $228,995 | $72,500 |
| Highest Price | $15,750,000 | $4,500,000 | $6,995,000 | $1,980,000 | $16,990 |
| Pending | 13 | 49 | 69 | 19 | 120 |
| Lowest Price | $599,000 | $239,000 | $229,000 | $169,000 | $219,000 |
| Highest Price | $4,4399,000 | $2,450,000 | $3,100,000 | $829,000 | $4,500,000 |
| Sold | 35 | 101 | 90 | 41 | 201 |
| Lowest Price | $425,000 | $155,800 | $380,000 | $116,000 | $160,000 |
| Highest Price | $4,200,000 | $1,605,000 | $6,500,000 | $1,050,000 | $3,150,000 |
In May there were 14 homes sold in Brookline compared to 35 sold in June. The number of condominiums sold in Brookline jumped…
read moreNewton, MA Ranks #3
Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 2:22pm. 49 Views, 0 Comments.
Best Places to Live
Money's list of America's best small cities
Newton, MA ranks #3
Brookline, MA ranks #39
Hooray for Newton!. CNN Money Magazine ranked Newton the third best city for families to live in America. It talked about our close proximity to Boston. The article went on to explain how Newton was divided into 13 villages "loaded with classic New England charm" and how most had shopping areas, parks and playgrounds. The economic stability remained stronger than other towns due to the colleges and hospital in the city. The Newton Public Schools continue to rank high and the beautiful new $197 million high school is going to bring Newton North High School to a new level. I disagree when they say a three-bedroom house runs nearly $600,00. I find…read more
House OKs Extension of June 30th Deadline
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 at 5:19pm. 39 Views, 0 Comments.
In a 409-5 vote, House lawmakers have passed a standalone bill that would extend for three months Wednesday's deadline for closing on a home purchase in order to claim the federal homebuyer tax credit.
The Senate could vote on the bill, HR 5623, tomorrow, although the death of Sen. Robert Byrd, has slowed the pace of work in that chamber.
Without an extension, the National Association of Realtors estimates as many as 180,000 homebuyers who were under contract by April 30 may miss the June 30 closing deadline, including 17,700 in California, 15,340 in Texas, 14,830 in Florida and 9,130 in New York.
While some observers think HR 5623, "The Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act," could sail through without further delay, there's no guarantee it will come to…
read moreAmerican Brewery Loft Auction
Friday, June 4th, 2010 at 10:23am. 106 Views, 0 Comments.
251 Heath Street
Jamaica Plain, Ma 02130
Preview | Auction |
Originially built in 1891, The Procaccianti Group preserved and enhanced the historic elements in their 2007 renovation ranging from over-sized industrial windows, vaulted brick ceilings, ornamental metal, terra cotta cherubs and original 19th century signage. Arched granite entried lead to a 5,000 square foot courtyard with original cobblestones. Quenn Ann style architecture is seen throughout the 79 units
The Brewery Lofts features 14'-23' ceilings, European inspired kitchen and…
read moreQuebec Fires Fill Our Air
Monday, May 31st, 2010 at 9:01pm. 79 Views, 0 Comments.
I find it pretty frightening that the haze I see outside my window is really a cloud of smoke coming down from Quebec Canada, 397 miles away. Walking outdoors today there was a distinct smell of smoke in the air. Yesterday the smoke covered Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The northeast winds sent the smoke as far as the Cape and the Islands today, causing visibility to be reduced to about three miles in places.
Fire…
read moreMortgage rates at at 60-year low
Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at 2:59pm. 94 Views, 0 Comments.
The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 11 basis points this week to 4.96 percent, according to bankrate.com national survey of large lenders. One year ago, the same loan was 5.24 percent, and four weeks ago it was 5.22 percent.
The benchmark 15-year fixed rate mortgage rate also fell 11 basis points, to 4.34 percent. The 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage fell to 4.14%.
The National Bureau of Economic Research identified rates this low in October 1956.
Due to the financial instability in Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Spain, the European Central Bank along with the International Monetary Fund unveiled a $955 Billion loan package. Like the Tarp plan, the European…read moreThe Impact of Fannie Maes Condo Guidelines
Monday, April 5th, 2010 at 7:35pm. 115 Views, 0 Comments.
I had not realized the impact of Fannie Maes new condo guidelines until last week. I had been taking out a couple who were both doctors and their 10 month old baby. They were looking for a townhouse in the Newton/ Brookline area. The couple had a letter of preapproval. They found a townhouse that was in a cluster of six. I added a contingency to the Offer to Purchase stating that if an entity owned more than one unit, than the buyers could void the Offer to Purchase if they found it caused a problem obtaining a mortgage.
I am so happy I put in that contingency clause. Countless mortgage companies refused to give them a mortgage for that reason. Anyone who sold their mortgage to Fannie Mae refused them a mortgage. The mortgage broker I always deal with…
read moreGuide for New Smoke Detector Requirements
Monday, April 5th, 2010 at 3:42pm. 171 Views, 0 Comments.
Effective 4/5/2010 | ||||
| On April 5, 2010 a new law comes into affect which applies to all residences with 5 or less residential units built prior to the building code January 1975. | ||||
| If the building has undergone renovation, addition or modification after 1/1/1975, the date of the building permit determines the smoke detector requirements. | ||||
| Year Permitted/ Built/ Modified | ||||
| Before 1975 | 1975- 8/27/1997 | 8/7/1997 -2007 | January 1, 2008 | |
| Smoke detector powered by: | ||||
| Battery | Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
Hardwired interconnected | Allowed | Required | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
Hardwired interconnected with battery backup | Recommended | Recommended | Required | Required |
| Type of Smoke Detector: | ||||
| Outside of 20 ft.of kitchen or full bathroom | ||||
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