Real Estate Search Blog

On Saturday, August 7th, the town of Wellesley held its annual farmer’s market and artisan product fair.  Over 60 vendors showcased good such as homemade tomato sauce, natural skin care products, Italian ice, and of course, fruits and vegetables grown by local farms!

The festival was held in the middle of 36 lush acres of the Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley. The reservation is also home to the Festival’s host, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

The Massachusetts Marketplace Festival is a great example of sustainability in MetroWest Boston. In addition, Wellesley is also home to one of the best botanical gardens in Massachusetts — the Wellesley College Botanical Gardens. Go green in Wellesley!

Christine Norcross & Partners are the area experts on Wellesley real estate including homes for sale in Wellesley, Newton, Weston, Natick, Brookline, Needham and more. The home buying process shouldn’t be a headache. Put your trust in the hands of  Christine Norcross & Partners — visit their Wellesley real estate website today.

Aside from providing the latest details on Taylor Swift’s new album, Twitter and other forms of social media can be extremely useful when it comes to keeping tabs on the latest real estate news. Whether you’re hungry for foreclosures and short sales, information on recent tax credits, or tips on how to stage your home for a sale, these are the 10 best social media sources for real estate search.

Growth spurt... or Goliath?

1. Economix.Blogs.NYTimes.com

With contributors that include esteemed economics professors from MIT, Harvard University, and Princeton, the New York Times Economix blog helps readers understand the real impact of laws and market fluctuations that are relevant to the housing market. Recent blog posts discuss the impact (or lack thereof) of last year’s home buyer tax credit and the lasting effects of kindergarten education on a student’s life.

2. Twitter.com/Agentopolis

The best source for real estate lifestyle articles that aren’t focused on a specific region. Agentopolis combs through a variety of sources, posting about articles such as 10 Best Cities for Working Women with Kids and Hidden Costs of a First Home.

Porter Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts

3. The Cambridge Real Estate Blog

Harvard graduate and Cambridge real estate agent Charles Cherney tells readers what they can expect from the home buying process, how to find their dream home on Day 1, and when they can expect their home to sell in the Cambridge real estate market. Charles also regularly posts in-depth spotlights on Cambridge neighborhoods and properties.

4. Trulia.com/Voices

These message boards are great to browse through for real estate discussions. Post your own question, general or specific, for free advice from experienced real estate agents located in almost every region in the country.

5. YouTube.com

Another great source for real estate video tours. Check out this Cambridge real estate channel for video tours through the latest Cambridge MA listings.

A screenshot of WellcomeMat.com

6. WellcomeMat.com

A real estate video tour website featuring properties listed by 18,000 real estate agents across the US. Particularly useful for luxury properties in metropolitan areas. A good way to establish a connection with an experienced real estate agent.

7. Zillow.com/Advice

Similar concept to the Trulia message boards; another great source for free expert real estate advice.

8. LinkedIn.com

Any real estate agent that’s not on LinkedIn isn’t worth doing business with. Connect with a real estate agent you are interested in working with, read recommendations from clients or colleagues, find out if your agent has any certifications or designations that are important to you.

9. ConsumerBoomer.com

Even though it’s a blog that’s written for Baby Boomers, there’s a wealth of helpful financial information here that’s helpful for any generation. And though it’s not completely dedicated to real estate, articles include Affordable Vacation Homes and How to Get the Best Deal on Mortgages.

10. Twitter.com/EnergizedSeller

For home selling and staging tips, ask Dan Eason. Visit his website for more tips and tricks at EnergizedSeller.com

Did we miss something? Tell us your favorite social media source for real estate!

On his Cambridge real estate blog, real estate agent Charles Cherney noted the importance of the outer and inner appearance of a home that’s on the market.

“I was struck on my visits today by by how much appearance matters. One condo I looked at is very nice – but you almost wouldn’t know it. The place needs a good cleaning and would really benefit from having someone give some thought to its presentation…”

An example of a staged bathroom

An experienced Realtor or a professional home stager can bring  a valuable, new perspective to the home selling process. A furniture arrangement that has suited a family’s needs for years may not fully compliment a space in the way that it should; for instance, cluttered furniture may make a space feel smaller than it actually is. In addition to finding an experienced Realtor with a talent for staging, here are some tips that any homeowner can follow to create a blank canvas from his or her property.

• Clear off countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms; remove smaller kitchen appliances such as toaster ovens and blenders from the countertops
• Clear the fridge door
• Re-organize closets. The Container Store and Ikea sell inexpensive storage boxes and hanging bags
• Hang curtains 4-6 inches higher and wider than the window to make the room look bigger
• Rent a storage unit for extra clutter that can’t be stored in your home
• Hire a professional to clean your home. It costs under $100 to have a four-bedroom, 2500 square foot home cleaned.
• Before each showing, boil cinnamon sticks or bake cookies
• Have a professional pressure-clean the exterior of your home — it’s amazing how sparkling the outside of a home can look when it’s freed from years of crud! You can also rent the equipment from a hardware store for $50-$75 for the day.
• Mow the lawn, lay down mulch if necessary
• Replace the mailbox and house numbers if they’ve taken a beating over the years

Real estate agent Charles Cherney’s passion for Cambridge MA real estate, for architecture, and most importantly, for other people, make him an ideal residential real estate agent for Cambridge, MA properties. Visit his Cambridge real estate website and Cambridge Real Estate Blog for helpful real estate tips, detailed blogs about neighborhoods and listings in Cambridge, video tours of Cambridge real estate listings, and more.

Even Mary Poppins needs a night on the town to let loose every once in awhile.

A top network of public schools and frequent family-oriented events and festivals have long established the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts as a great place to raise a family. And if you’re looking for real estate in Cambridge, you already know this. Something you may not know is that Cambridge is also a playground for adults as well. Here are a few local favorites which you should check out after a busy day of house-hunting.

Middlesex Lounge

Middlesex Lounge
315 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA
Weekend nights here have been compared “rush hour on the T with a DJ in the corner.” But don’t let that deter you; the place is crowded because of its awesome music, unique cocktails and interesting mix of people who just want to get down on the dance floor.

Summer Shack
149 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge MA
If you’re looking for a casual atmosphere to get serious with seafood, Summer Shack is the best place to go. There’s also a sports bar where you can choose from a wide selection of beers on tap.

The Middle East Restaurant

The Middle East
472 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
If a band has made it big on the underground music scene, The Middle East is where you can find them playing in Boston. Within the club are two large music venues and two restaurants, and of course, multiple bars. It’s highly recommended that you try the amazing shish kebabs and falafel at the Middle East Restaurant prior to cutting loose at an equally amazing rock show.

Atwood’s Tavern
877 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA
The best of all worlds — good beer, good food, and good live music. Most people go to Atwood’s for its extensive beer selection including local and regional brews, and they tend to stick around for the live music and laid-back atmosphere.

For expert advice and help navigating the neighborhoods of Cambridge real estate, call on Charles Cherney, a top real estate agent and Cambridge resident who will help you find the right home for you and your family.

Looking for an easy way to find real estate tips, tools, and resources all in one place? You can find a collection of blog posts on various real estate topics for ANY real estate market on The Cambridge Real Estate Blog, which is written by Cambridge real estate agent Charles Cherney.

Topics include:

• Five Keys to a Residential Real Estate Search
• A Fresh and Clean Appearance Makes a World of Difference
• 4 Home Inspection Myths
• The Mortgage Appraisal

and more. You can read these blog posts on The Cambridge Real Estate Blog.

For insight into the entire real estate process and for detailed information about the Cambridge area, visit CharlesCherney.com. Charles Cherney is a top Cambridge real estate agent who has years of experience assisting buyers and sellers of homes in Cambridge. If you are a student or working professional who is thinking of relocating to Cambridge, take the first step by visiting CharlesCherney.com.

Flickr is the best place on the web to visually explore towns, cities, and neighborhoods — for example, you can now find photos of Cambridge real estate and its notable places on Flickr.com. Click the photo below to be taken directly to the Cambridge real estate Flickr Photostream.

Harvard Square

Notable Cambridge real estate agent Charles Cherney is the photographer behind the Cambridge real estate Photostream on Flickr, where you can find photos of places in Cambridge such as Harvard Square (seen above), the Charles River, lush gardens, and interior shots of homes for sale in Cambridge.

Visit Cambridge MA real estate on Flickr today — and don’t forget to add real estate agent Charles Cherney as a contact to find out when he posts photos of new homes for sale!

Waban, One of Newton's 13 Villages

Families looking at Newton real estate are often surprised to find that Newton is not a typical suburb of Boston. True, in the 1800s the area was a commuter suburb for wealthy Boston businessmen. Today, however, most of Newton’s residents work within Newton or its surrounding towns rather than commute to Boston. This contributes to a flourishing local economy, where restaurants, banks, boutiques, and other businesses prosper — along with buyers and sellers of Newton real estate. This vibrant local economy is a pleasant environment for everyone who works and plays in Newton, Massachusetts.

A unique aspect of the Newton economy is that there are 13 villages that make up the town of Newton. Each village center is a hub for shopping, dining, public art installations, and more. NewtonVillages.org is a city-wide coalition dedicated to making Newton’s village centers “better places to walk, bike, eat, shop, work, play, gather and live.” The organization manages such projects as planning festivals and events, adding bike racks, and placing local artists’ work in vacant spaces. The Newton Chamber of Commerce includes over 700 businesses and offers discounted health insurance, direct customer referrals, educational seminars, advertising opportunities and the advantage of networking with other local, established businesses in the area.

The 13 Villages of Newton, MA

Auburndale
Chestnut Hill
Lower Falls
Newton Centre
Newton Corner
Newton Highlands
Newtonville
Nonantum
Oak Hill
Thompsonville
Upper Falls
Waban
West Newton

For more information on Newton real estate and to begin a comprehensive search through hundreds of Newton MLS listings, visit the Newton real estate website today.

If you’re planning on looking at Newton real estate this summer, make sure to check out one of Newton’s farmer’s markets! Fresh fruits and veggies, baked goods, flowers, cheese and other dairy products are just a few items you might see on your visit to one of Newton’s farmer’s markets. Farmer’s market season in Newton begins after July 4th and the market remains open through October. The market takes place every Tuesday and Friday at two different locations in Newton:

Tuesday Location

• Cold Spring Park
  1200 Beacon Street
  Newton, MA 02464
  Open 1:30 PM until 6 PM
  Begins Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Friday Location

• Post 440 Parking Lot
  295 California Street
  Newton, MA 02458
  Open 1:30 PM until 6 PM
  Begins Friday July 9, 2010

Christine Norcross & Partners are the area experts on Newton real estate as well as real estate in Greater Boston, including homes for sale in Wellesley, Weston, Newton, Natick, Brookline, Needham and more. The home buying process shouldn’t be a headache. Put your trust in the hands of Newton real estate agents Christine Norcross & Partners — visit their Newton real estate website today.

Searching for Cambridge real estate just became easier with the launch of The Cambridge Real Estate Blog, written by Cambridge real estate agent Charles Cherney. Check in daily at TheCambridgeRealEstateBlog.com to find fresh content on new listings in Cambridge real estate, Cambridge neighborhoods, tips for buying and selling Cambridge real estate, and more!

Click here to be taken to The Cambridge Real Estate Blog

The Cambridge Real Estate Blog is also the home base for several different interactive outlets for exploring Cambridge real estate. Click on the social media icons on the right side of the blog to explore Cambridge real estate on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. Another unique feature of The Cambridge Real Estate Blog is the “Search for Properties” button located directly above the social media icons. Click the button to instantly search thousands of Cambridge real estate listings.

Don’t forget to bookmark The Cambridge Real Estate Blog to keep tabs on the latest in Cambridge real estate!

Summer is almost here, and it’s an exciting time for buyers and sellers of Newton real estate. The newest Newton real estate listings are below! Please visit HomesbyNorcross.com for more information and photos of these listings.

139 Highland Ave, Newton MA

Built in 2005, 139 Highland Ave, Newton MA on West Newton Hill. 5 Beds/5 Baths. Key features include a modern kitchen, a fireplace in the family room, and a library/study.  Close to the Mass Pike. For more photos and details, visit HomesbyNorcross.com.

15 Wamesit Road, Newton MA

Grand 3-floor colonial home located at 15 Wamesit Road in Newton, MA with 6 beds, 3 full baths and 2 half baths. Unique features include a sunroom/study and an exercise room. For more photos and details, visit HomesbyNorcross.com.

450 Beacon Street, Newton MA

Contemporary Chestnut Hill home located at 450 Beacon Street in Newton, MA. Adjacent to a deer park and conservation land. Notable features include high ceilings and skylights, and an open floor plan. Close to Newton Centre. For more photos and details, visit HomesbyNorcross.com.