Boston Real Estate Blog http://www.homesinboston.com/blog A blog about real estate and living in Boston. Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:45:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 en And The Ball Keeps Rolling… http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=104 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=104#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:45:26 +0000 Charissa Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=104 Anyone that has ever asked me to predict the future of real estate has probably heard the “ball rolling up a hill” metaphor.  Simply put, real estate markets are cyclical and historically resemble a ball rolling up a hill.  Each high point in a market has been higher than the one previous, and (this is the part people need to remember in our current market) each low point in the cycle is higher than the last - and is also higher than even the higher point in the cycle prior to one that has just “crashed”.  It’s the nature of the industry.

For those who have a little difficulty picturing this, here is an image that shows the past two cycles from 1985 to now, with a prediction of where the next couple years will bring us.

Real Estate Cycles since 1985

Real Estate Cycles since 1985

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=104 Temporary Wallpaper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=98 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=98#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:41:20 +0000 Charissa Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=98 Temporary WallpaperI ran across the most fascinating site. Imagine wallpaper, like a giant Post-It. If you like to change your rooms like you change your fashion, then this might be for you. The folks at Tempaper have developed a wallpaper that they claim can be put up, taken down and put up in another room. [...]]]> Temporary Wallpaper

I ran across the most fascinating site. Imagine wallpaper, like a giant Post-It. If you like to change your rooms like you change your fashion, then this might be for you.

The folks at Tempaper have developed a wallpaper that they claim can be put up, taken down and put up in another room. No steaming, no chemicals, just peel it off and stick it back up.

The concept is great. No more mess involved in changing wallpaper. Change it to suit your mood! Great for renters!  Right now they don’t have a very extensive selection of patterns and they are a little expensive, but hopefully this idea will take off and we’ll see their patters increase, and the prices drop.

Certainly something to keep your eye on!

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=98 Need Something Sweet? http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=93 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=93#comments Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:07:18 +0000 Norman Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=93 Need Something Sweet?Valentine’s Day is upon us and if you are looking for something unique and beautiful, you need to check out Cedar Grove Gardens in Dorchester. This beautiful shop is full of curios from around the globe. You can find the perfect gift here for your sweetie! We were lucky enough to find this place [...]]]> Need Something Sweet?

Valentine’s Day is upon us and if you are looking for something unique and beautiful, you need to check out Cedar Grove Gardens in Dorchester. This beautiful shop is full of curios from around the globe. You can find the perfect gift here for your sweetie!

We were lucky enough to find this place when our daughter’s school had a fundraiser there. And I was absolutely thrilled! From hand-made soaps and candles, to decorations, unique tea sets, Chinese calligraphy brushes, old-fashioned toys, and, lest I forget their speciality, fresh flowers!

When you are looking for something different and want to make it special, stop by. You won’t believe how beautiful their store is. The staff is amazing and their flower arrangements are uncomparable. Check out their website!

Norman Pemper

Norman Pemper

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=93 Happy Truck Day! http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=83 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=83#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:24:35 +0000 Norman Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=83 Happy Truck Day!For those Boston Red Sox fans, today is a special one!  The truck that brings all of the Sox gear down from Fenway Park to Fort Myers, Florida for Spring training, is parked outside Fenway. What does that mean?  Despite Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction, Spring, really is right around the corner. Article about Truck Day at Boston.com Norman [...]]]> Happy Truck Day!

For those Boston Red Sox fans, today is a special one!  The truck that brings all of the Sox gear down from Fenway Park to Fort Myers, Florida for Spring training, is parked outside Fenway.

What does that mean?  Despite Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction, Spring, really is right around the corner.

Norman Pemper

Norman Pemper
Marketing & Development
Norm@HomesInBoston.com

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=83 Tips to stay Warm & Safe http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=71 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=71#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:29:27 +0000 Charissa Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=71 Another article on Boston.com that is pretty useful. This one has tips about decreasing your heating bill. Since winter time is heating bill time for homes in Boston, many people try to decrease their bills by adding heat from other sources. Unfortunately many of these sources can be fire hazards in the home. In fact the primary heating source in most homes can cause a fire if not properly maintained.

Six of the eight heating tips listed deal with additional heat sources. The main point is that using alternative heating sources in Boston is a common way to lower the cost of heating bills. The safest way to add a fire burning option to your home is to have a professional install the system per building codes. If you are adding a space heater be sure to turn them off before going to sleep or leaving the house, ensure that young children and pets can’t get near the heating elements, and do not plug it in to an extension cord.

The other two heating tips are for all real estate owners. These are sensible tips such as performing annual inspections on furnaces and fireplaces, including chimneys. Also it reminds home owners to test their smoke detectors. Finally if home owners in Boston want to save on their energy bill, a simple step is to turn down the thermostat when leaving for the day, or get a thermostat that you can program to set the temperature lower when you won’t be around.

Potential home buyers, click here to read a full article from Boston.com with more tips:

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=71 Buying in Boston in 2009? http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=65 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=65#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:54:23 +0000 Charissa Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=65 Boston.com had a great article about buying a home in 2009. In case you have been out of the country in 2008, it was one of the worst years in real estate in recent memory. The government had to step in to take control over some lenders and financially bail out others. As housing values dropped, the new housing market screeched to a halt. Thus began the cycle of people losing their jobs which in turn led to a record number of foreclosures in the country. Boston was not spared in this economic spiral that hit virtually every city and town in America by the end of 2008.

If you happen to be one of the lucky people who still has a job, then 2009 may be the year you get a new home. With new stricter loaning requirements, you need to start working on your credit score now if you want to purchase a home this year. This process begins with taking advantage of the federal law requiring the “big three” credit reporting companies to give everyone a free copy of their credit report.

Once you know what is being reported on your credit report, you can work on cleaning up any inconsistencies between the reports. In the meantime, you should work on decreasing your credit card debt. Most lending companies have stopped the practice of giving loans to people who are already maxed out, even if they have been making their payments on time.

People who are serious about wanting to take advantage of the low house prices should get pre-approved for a loan. The pre-approval not only shows a home seller that you are serious, but it also lets you know just how much you can afford for housing payments. With this knowledge, you can look at homes that are realistic for your budget and not run the risk of falling in love with a house that you can’t afford.

Potential home buyers, click here to read a full article from Boston.com with more tips:

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=65 Coyotes in Milton! http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=63 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=63#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:33:50 +0000 Charissa Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=63 Am I going to need to start a new blog category just for local wildlife sightings? I’ve been seeing groups of wild turkeys around the area, but this was a new one for me…

I was driving along Centre Street in Milton near Fontbonne Academy, when I noticed an animal start to cross the street, then jump back as the car approached. As I slowly drove past and got a closer look (it was only about 10 feet from the car at this point), I realized it was a coyote! Come to find out there were 2 of them, one gray and the other brownish.

I waited until they had gone back up behind a house and were out of sight. When I started to turn around in the next driveway, what should I find myself face to face with? You guessed it. One of the coyotes had come back down next door apparently thinking it would avoid the meddling humans and head across the street.

A neighbor told me that both of these coyotes have been hanging around the neighborhood for about a week now. Every morning around the same time they come down from the same area, cross the street, head back through the fields behind one of the houses, and eventually loop their way back around the neighborhood and back across the street again. Amazing!

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=63 It’s a great time to buy in Boston! http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=53 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=53#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:29:41 +0000 Charissa Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=53 Buying in the Fall/Winter can really have some advantages. Many properties that were over priced in the Spring market have been sitting for months with no action, and their prices are dropping. In addition the Fed just dropped interest rates AGAIN to entice people to buy, which means that there are more affordable options in Boston than there have been in many years.

What to look for when buying a home in Boston during the “off” season:

Days on Market - Obviously the longer a property has been on the market, the greater the chance that the owners are more eager to sell. I can also research and determine if the initial listing price has been dropped in that time period.

Heating Systems - Since we live in a moderately cold climate, when buying a house in the summer, people don’t always pay as much attention to heating systems as they should (though a good agent and home inspector will always watch out for this).

Insulation - When walking through the house, do you feel drafts? Are there newer double-hung windows? Is there insulation in the attic? Any of which could be potential negotiating points.

Right now the average rate for a 30yr fixed rate mortgage is 6.25% with no points, and 5.5% with 2 points. This means that with lower prices you really might be able to find your dream home without breaking the bank.

Ready to make your move, or just curious about the market, check out the Boston MLS Property Search that I offer.

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=53 Dedham is growing!!! http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=51 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=51#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:28:28 +0000 Charissa Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=51 Something pretty amazing is happening in Dedham. Despite the economic downturn that most retailers are facing, Dedham is going to be the home for a new 675,000 sq. ft. shopping plaza called Legacy Place.

Located on Rte. 1 where the old Dedham Showcase Cinema was located, the Legacy Place plaza will feature a contemporary blend of fashion, restaurants and entertainment. In addition, it will house the world headquarters for National Amusements and its signature theatre concept, Showcase Cinema de Lux. And with more than 90% already leased, and amazing convenience to the highway, this is sure to bring shoppers from all over.

The list of stores already signed up is impressive, to say the least:

  • 344 Three Forty Four
  • Aldo
  • Ann Taylor Loft
  • Anthropologie
  • Aquitaine
  • Au Bon Pain
  • B. Good
  • Baby Gap
  • Banana Republic
  • Bath & Body Works
  • bebe
  • Borders
  • City Sports
  • Claire’s
  • Clarks
  • Cold Stone Creamery
  • Company C
  • Fossil
  • Free People
  • Gap
  • GapBody
  • GapKids
  • Giggle
  • Glee
  • Green Tangerine Spa & Salon
  • Gymboree
  • H&M
  • Johnston & Murphy
  • Justice
  • Kings
  • L.L. Bean
  • Legal Sea Foods
  • Levi’s
  • Lucky Brand Jeans
  • Lucy
  • lululemon athletica
  • Lunette Optic
  • Magic Beans
  • Merrell Shoes & Apparel
  • National Amusements Headquarters
  • National Jean Co
  • Nike
  • P.F. Changs China Bistro
  • Paper Store
  • Papyrus
  • Qdoba Mexican Grill
  • Ruth’s Chris Steak House
  • Showcase Cinema de Lux
  • Starbucks
  • Stil Hus
  • Stride Rite
  • Sunglass USA
  • Thom Brown Shoes
  • Urban Outfitters
  • Victoria’s Secret
  • Whole Foods Market
  • Yankee Candle
  • Yard House

Opening: Summer 2009

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com

]]> http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=51 Last Minute Loan Denials http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=47 http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=47#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:24:20 +0000 Charissa Pemper http://www.homesinboston.com/blog/?p=47 I had heard about a disturbing trend and only recently experienced it. Imagine that you have loan approval and commitment in hand and the night before you are scheduled to close, the bank pulls the loan…

Yeah… WOW!

Some of the big National Banks, this one was Wells Fargo, have been pulling this lately as they face their internal problems. I don’t know if this is because they’ve been so lax in writing bad loans lately, but regardless, what a blow to the buyer.

Once the loan was denied, the bank said they’d reconsider with additional documentation that the buyer had available, then abruptly stopped returning any phone calls from the buyers, attorneys, and me. What made this even worse was the fact that the loan originator’s office wasn’t local so we couldn’t demand answers nor a response of any kind by going to the lender’s office.

This is why I always recommend LOCAL lenders!

You get more personalized service, and more importantly, any glitches that come up are usually handled with much more consideration for the buyer. Plus, most lenders don’t want me knocking on their office door if they stop returning phone calls.

Charissa Pemper, Boston REALTOR®

Charissa Pemper
Lic. MA Real Estate Broker, REALTOR®
Charissa@HomesInBoston.com

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