Real Estate Search Blog

For buyers interested in real estate in Harvard Square, finding available Harvard Square properties can be difficult. The area owes is popularity to its unique restaurants, bars, and shops, frequent cultural events, movie theaters, and accessibility to the Charles River. Countless businesses call Harvard Square home, including the real estate office of Hammond Residential.

Cambridge real estate agent Charles Cherney of Hammond Real Estate has created a website for those looking for Harvard Square real estate at HarvardSquareProperties.com. Rather than digging through MLS listings, potential buyers can visit the Harvard Square Properties website to find a full list of frequently updated Harvard Square real estate listings.

As a Harvard graduate, resident of Cambridge, and real estate agent based in the heart of Harvard Square, Charles Cherney is the best resource for potential buyers seeking Harvard Square properties. No one knows Harvard Square and its properties better than Charles Cherney.

One of the many reasons people fall in love with Newton real estate are the endless opportunities to experience arts and culture right in Newton or in its neighboring suburbs. If you’re looking for Newton real estate, consider working with Christine Norcross & Partners, who provide assistance for those relocating to Newton, Wellesley, Brookline, Natick, Needham, and Weston, Massachusetts.

One of the most relaxing things to do on a frigid winter day in Massachusetts is to take the family on a trip to the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens. Admission is free, the rooms are warm and balmy, flowery perfume lingers in the air, and kids can marvel at plants that are native to places all over the country. Afterwards, take the family on a walk through town to do some shopping, book-browsing, or a leisurely lunch at a local cafe.

Click this picture to be taken to the Youtube video from last year

And pictures from the plants of 2010:

A lemon

The current housing market presents an excellent opportunity to collect secondary income from a dirt-cheap investment property, especially within Fall River real estate. Our recent article titled “Investment Properties of Fall River Real Estate” spotlights several multi-family homes in Fall River that are under $200,000. Ezine articles are a great resource for first-time real estate investors. On the Ezine articles website, we found some helpful tips on managing property in Fall River MA, written by someone who has managed property for over 20 years. We’ve paraphrased Carol Gibson’s words below:

• Know (and Keep Updated on) Local Ordinances and State Laws
• Be Ethical and Honest
• Have Good Communication Skills
• Have Good Computer Skills
• Be Patient and Have a Sense of Humor
• Be an Excellent Follow-Up Person

There are hundreds of resources for property management on the web. Another option is to hire someone to manage your property for you.

According to a January 2010 Market Watch survey, home buyers look for these 10 features when shopping for their dream home.

• Large kitchens with an island.
• Energy-efficient features. Energy-efficient appliances, high-efficiency insulation, and energy-saving windows.
• Home office or study. The trend is away from dining rooms and toward spare concept rooms.
• Main-floor master suite.
• Outdoor spaces. Visit HGTV.com for ideas on how to transform your back yard to an “outdoor living room.”
• Ceiling fans
• Master suite soaker tubs and oversized showers.
• Stone and brick exteriors.
• Community parks with walkways and playgrounds. Use Google Maps to note the public recreation areas in your neighborhood, then use this to your advantage when selling your home with an experienced real estate agent.
• Two-car garages.

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If you are in need of an experienced real estate agent, RealEstateSearchBlog.net would like to personally recommend the following real estate agents in Massachusetts:

Charles Cherney of Hammond Real Estate:  Cambridge Real Estate

Michael D. Lyons of Prudential Lyons Group Real Estate: Boston Real Estate

Marguerite Cashman of Arrow Realty Group: Fall River Real Estate

Christine Norcross & Partners of William Raveis Real Estate: Newton Real Estate

Rosemary Quarato of RE/MAX: Cape Ann Real Estate

And for the home hunters seeking real estate in Connecticut:

Jerry and Maureen Sherman of William Raveis Real Estate: CT Shoreline Real Estate / CT Waterfront Real Estate

There is an extremely helpful Boston Globe article offering loan-securing tips for new and seasoned home buyers. Buying Boston real estate and Massachusetts real estate in general is not as hard as many think it is.

• First-time buyers have plenty of options when it comes to securing a loan. The homebuyer tax credit is a good example that even extends to repeat buyers. Conventional loans for relatively smaller mortgages, which can be secured for as low as 3% down, are another example.
• Veterans, surviving spouses, and active duty members can secure a loan for 0% down.
• Massresources.org offers 30 and 40 year mortgages for 3% down. There are income requirements but they are not nearly as strict as Section 8 housing restrictions.
• Bostonhomecenter.com is a great resource for people looking for similar programs catered to Boston real estate.
• Contact your town or city offices to find out if there are additional programs available for your use.

For more great resources on Boston real estate, visit Prudential Prime Properties on the web.

At Bigelow Middle School in Newton, several classes are experimenting with the use of netbooks, wireless, and SMART boards during class. The equipment was paid for by federal stimulus money, and came to a total of $60,000.

The netbooks were given to 45 sixth-graders as part of a pilot program in the Newton public school system. Teachers facilitate computer-assisted learning by asking questions which the students can respond to, and immediately see their classmates’ responses. The teachers use Google Docs to design assignments, and SMART boards to teach. The data is being reviewed by researchers at Boston College, with results expected at the end of the school year.

The Newton public school system is recognized in Massachusetts to be one of the state’s most forward-thinking schools systems. Many families search for Newton real estate because of the city’s great schools, strong foundation in arts and culture, safe streets, and pleasant neighborhoods. There are many homes for sale in Newton that are offer superb value for their listing price. Take a look at the Newton MLS listings today.

In 2009, 54% of people that bought real estate in Massachusetts said that they believed their new home was a better financial investment than stocks. The statistic comes from a study published on February 9th, 2010 by the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®. An additional 29% of buyers said that their new home was as good as an investment as stocks. For sellers of property, the feelings were positive as well. Sellers in Massachusetts typically sold their properties at 94% of their asking price.

Why buy property in Boston? Massachusetts property, particularly in-demand Boston real estate, is an excellent opportunity to invest. Right now there are hundreds of condos in Boston, single-family homes in Boston, and multi-family homes in Boston that are on the market — and offered at a great value. Rental property in Boston will always be in demand due to the large number of students and working professionals entering the market at any given time. Buying real estate in Boston is a great opportunity to earn extra income, and hold onto a valuable asset for your future or for the future of your children and loved ones.

Now might be a good time to check out the foreclosures and short sales of investment properties in Fall River. All of the multi-family homes below can be purchased for under $200,000. An investment property offers the opportunity to supplement your income by renting out a portion of the house to another family. For more information regarding these properties, please contact Fall River real estate agent Marguerite Cashman via her Arrow Realty Group website. To see dozens of other properties like these, browse the Fall River MLS listings on Marguerite’s website.

FORECLOSURE: 251 Pine Street, Fall River MA. 9 bed 5 bath.

SHORT SALE: 20 Wiley Street, Fall River MA. 6 bed 3 bath.

SHORT SALE: 729 Second Street, Fall River MA. 8 bed 5 bath.

FORECLOSURE: 22 Flint Street, Fall River MA. 6 bed 3 bath.

These are only a few listings of many more up on Marguerite Cashman’s Greater Fall River Real Estate website. In addition to real estate in Fall River, Marguerite also covers Swansea real estate, Somerset real estate, and Tiverton RI real estate. See her MLS listings for a full list of all properties on the market in these areas.

The town of Newburyport MA (part of Cape Ann real estate) is becoming one of the trendiest places to live in Massachusetts. Here are a few “in” things:

• Organic food and live food restaurants. Two just opened in Downtown Newburyport.
• Open spaces. This summer,  the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority announced its plan to turn a 3-acre site into a waterfront park with a playground, sculpture park, and performance space.
• Historical sites. Butler’s Toothpick, a 19^th-century navigational marker, got a new look this summer.
• Citizens gearing up to help nonprofits. Pennies for Poverty, 2 Cents 4 Change, the Salvation Army, the Masons and the Rotary Club, the Anna Jaques Hospital Aid Association and the Roof Over Head Collaborative are just a few organizations which Newburyport residents actively participate in.

If you’d like more information about Newburyport real estate or Cape Ann real estate as a whole, visit http://capeannrealestate.com/ where you can find expert advice from Rosemary Quarato, an experienced Cape Ann real estate agent.

On December 31st, 2009, the Boston Herald honored Fall River real estate agent Marguerite Cashman of Arrow Realty Group as its Agent of the Week.

A realtor since 2002, Ms. Cashman attributes her success in real estate in Fall River to the personalized service that she gives all of her clients, rather than the “big box” strategy that other real estate agents often pursue. Clients often find Ms. Cashman through referrals. To reach Ms. Cashman and find out more about the homes for sale in Fall River, call (508) 676-7600 or visit Greaterfallriverrealestatema.com.

To read the full article, click here.