Real Estate Information Archive

Here at Greater Boston Realty, we work with a lot of first-time home buyers. If you’ve never purchased a home before, it’s an understandably scary process. After all, your home will likely be your biggest investment! Thankfully, many parts of the home-buying process that seem scary at first aren’t quite so bad. Here are a few of the biggest concerns that home buyers have, along with what you can do to lessen your fear:

Having a large mortgage payment: A mortgage payment may seem like a looming and ever-present obligation, but let’s face it – so is paying rent. The good news is that with a mortgage payment, you will eventually own your home and no longer owe!

Buying a home with structural issues: It’s nerve-wracking to think that you may buy something that’s less than perfect and not even know it. But that’s why you will hire a Massachusetts home inspection professional before you sign anything. A qualified inspector will alert you to any issues with the home so that you can make an informed decision.

Maintaining a home: When you rent, you can simply call someone if something breaks. When you own a home, repairs are up to you. This may seem like a big task at first, but often homeowners enjoy learning how to do simple DIY repairs. For bigger tasks, there are many reliable and knowledgeable handymen and tradesmen here in Boston that can help you.  Before you buy, make sure that you get a copy of any Homeowner’s Association requirements so that you can familiarize yourself with the upkeep required in your neighborhood, if applicable.

Still have concerns about whether now is the right time to buy a home in the Boston area?  Call 617-469-4040 to speak to a Greater Boston Realty professional. Our real estate agents can help you understand why owning a home may be the right path for you and your family.

When you’re selling a Boston home, you know that there are a few tasks you should complete before your real estate agent brings in a potential buyer for a showing. You should always make sure that your home is tidy, that there is no trash visible, that evidence of pets are hidden, that the place smells nice, and you may choose to leave out water bottles or a small candy dish for your visitors.

The last thing you do before you head out the door should be to bring as much light into your home as possible. Turn on all the overhead lights and light fixtures, and open the curtains and blinds. This is done to increase the natural and artificial light and to make the house feel light and airy, as well as spacious.

If you turn on all the lights in your home (yes, end tables and floor lamps too!) and it still needs a little more light, consider increasing the wattage of a few of the bulbs in your fixtures. This will improve the lighting quality without the need to buy a new lamp. Another way to make a room feel brighter is to change the paint color. You don’t want walls to be stark white, but a light neutral color can make a room feel more open to a potential buyer.

For more tips on how to get your home ready for a showing, call Greater Boston Realty. One quick call to 617-347-5589 and we will schedule a consultation to show you how to get the highest price for your home.

When you’re selling your home, keeping it showing-ready can be a challenge. After all, it’s impossible to keep a home picked-up and neat looking 24/7 (especially if there are children in the house). If you get called for a last-minute showing, don’t turn it down just because your home is a little disheveled. In-stead, use the time that you have before the potential buyers show up to do some quick decluttering. Here are a few tips:
If your time is severely limited, start out wherever your efforts will make the most impact. That could be in the kitchen, or maybe in the living room or a child’s room. Wherever your place is, that’s where you should go first.
Have a little more time? Use the “Front Door Forward” method. Start with your entryway, and declutter clockwise around your home. This technique will make sure that you don’t waste any time running back and forth across your home while you get ready for a showing.
Also, before your potential buyers show up, remember that the smell of your home is very important. Not everyone has time to bake a fresh batch of cookies. Instead, take out the trash, hide any pet food or litter boxes, and spray a light and pleasant air freshener – these small steps can make a huge difference when you’re looking to make a good impression on guests.
For more tips on home selling from the Boston real estate experts, just call Greater Boston Realty at 617-347-5589.   We’ve sold homes all over the area, including Roslindale, West Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain, and we would love to help you find the right buyers for your property.

The Greater Boston area is a wonderful place to live, so it comes as no surprise that the area is experiencing population growth year after year. Current residents are sticking around, and new Boston residents need places to live, so it’s logical that this increase in demand for homes is causing real estate prices to rise.

In fact, house prices in Greater Boston have been rising steadily over the last five years, with prices currently over 10% higher than they were at this point in 2016. And the trend is predicted to continue into 2018 – prices are still trending upward, with an expected climb of an additional 4-6% in the upcoming year. With listing prices currently high and getting higher in the Boston area, now is the perfect time to talk to a real estate professional about buying or selling a home. Here in West Roxbury, home prices are averaging right around $550k, and is expected to rise at a similar pace to the rest of the Boston Metro area.

And if you’re looking to buy or sell a home in the Boston area, make sure that you contact Greater Boston Realty at 617-469-4040. If you’re buying, one of our experienced real estate agents will listen to your needs and can show you homes in the area that will be perfect for your lifestyle. For sellers, we will put our marketing skills to work making sure to get top dollar for your home in this seller’s market. Don’t wait any longer to take advantage of the rising home prices – contact us today to schedule an appointment.