The Ins and Outs of Rent-to-Own

There are occasions where a "rent-to-own" opportunity may be available: that is, where the tenant can rent the property with the option to buy it before the lease expires.  It gives the tenant the chance to see what living in the home is like before committing to purchasing.  The monthly rental payments can be applied to the down payment at a price that's typically agreed upon at lease signing.  You can read more about it here.

Whether you're looking to buy, sell or rent, I can help you - contact me to get started!

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Savr Restaurant coming to The Residences at the St. Regis

Closings have begun at The Residences at the St. Regis, and the long-awaited restaurant space in the building will be opening in May: Savr, an American bistro that will be comparable to Davio's in offering both causal and business options.  It will have 2 bars, a private dining room, and a grand staircase offering the luxury aesthetic the St. Regis brand has been synonymous with.  

For St. Regis residences, there will be a private entrance, exclusive seating, and the ability to order room service directly to their homes.  You can read more about it here.

Thinking of living at the St. Regis?  Click here to see all homes on the market and contact me for more information!

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What’s the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Appraisal?

If you’re planning to buy a home, an inspection is an important step in the process. It assesses the condition of the home before you finalize the transaction. It’s also a different step in the process from an appraisal, which is a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase. Here’s the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home.

Home Inspection

Here’s the key difference between an inspection and an appraisal. Bankrate says:

“In short, while an appraisal helps you understand a home’s value, inspections help you understand a home’s condition.”

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Rarely available Parris Landing duplex with private outdoor space and parking!

42 8TH STREET #2101

2 BEDROOMS | 2 BATHROOMS | 1,127 SQ FT | 2 DEEDED PARKING SPACES

Are you ready for summer? One of the most unique homes at Parris Landing, this well -designed duplex has exposed brick & stone walls, an open kitchen with tumbled backsplash, granite counters, breakfast bar, attractive lighting, California closets & the pièce de résistance - an amazing FENCED IN PATIO that allows for outdoor entertaining & GRILLING year round! Just steps from the well manicured gardens and outdoor pool, the patio is a great extension to this very special home. Conveniently located on the 1st and 2nd floor of building 2, access is easy for walking through with groceries, packages, strollers or pets. Impeccable finishes throughout. New HVAC with…

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Lexington to become the first Massachusetts town to put new zoning laws in place

Last Wednesday night, the Town of Lexington became the first in Massachusetts to comply with the MBTA Communities act when support of it was voted on at the Town Meeting with 107 votes in favor and 63 opposed.  The MBTA Communities Act requires communities to zone for multi-family housing near public transportation.  It was put in place to help solve what the government deems a housing crisis in Massachusetts in terms of available and affordable housing.

The Town of Lexington's approved proposal will create 227 acres of overlay districts for multi-family zoning in 12 areas of Lexington, including the Town Center.  It includes more than quadruple the required 50 acres.

Read more about it at the Boston Globe.

Thinking of buying, selling or…

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Think Twice Before Waiting for Lower Home Prices

As the housing market continues to change, you may be wondering where it’ll go from here. One factor you’re probably thinking about is home prices, which have come down a bit since they peaked last June. And you’ve likely heard something in the news or on social media about a price crash on the horizon. As a result, you may be holding off on buying a home until prices drop significantly. But that’s not the best strategy.

A recent survey from Zonda shows 53% of millennials are still renting right now because they’re waiting for home prices to come down. But here’s the thing: the most recent data shows that home prices appear to have bottomed out and are now on the rise again. Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, reports:

“U.S. home prices…

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Want To Sell Your House This Spring? Price It Right.

Over the last year, the housing market’s gone through significant change. While it’s still a sellers’ market, homes that are priced right are selling, and they get the most attention from buyers right now. If you’re thinking of selling your house this spring, it’s important to lean on your expert real estate advisor when it comes to setting a list price. As Realtor.com explains:

“Move-in-ready homes with curb appeal and in desirable areas—and that are priced to sell—are especially likely to move quickly this spring.”

In today’s market, how you price your house will not only make a big difference to your bottom line, but to how quickly your house will sell.Why Pricing Your House Right Matters

Your asking price sends a message to potential…

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The best Marathon Monday party? Mile 15 in Wellesley

The Wellesley neighbors who live on the marathon route at Mile 15 have turned this spot into the best place to watch the Marathon.  Every year, they create an arch for the runners to pass through out of blue and yellow balloons to represent the official Marathon colors, and provide food and drinks for their neighbors who join them in the all-day festivities.  The party doesn't stop until the last runner makes their way through the arch.

This crew is known to pass out water and Jello shots to runners. Rain or shine, they put a lot of planning and care into making their Marathon party memorable for both neighbors and runners.  The location is ideal because it's just before Heartbreak Hill, so they're determined to make it fun. There will be lawn…

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The Big Advantage If You Sell This Spring

Thinking about selling your house? If you’ve been waiting for the right time, it could be now while the supply of homes for sale is so low. HousingWire shares:

“. . . the big question is whether we are finally starting to see the seasonal spring increase in inventory. The answer is no, because active listings fell to a new low last week for 2023 . . .”

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) confirms today’s housing inventory is low by looking at the months’ supply of homes on the market. In a balanced market, about a six-month supply is needed. Anything lower is a sellers’ market. And today, the number is much lower:

“Total housing inventory registered at the end of February was 980,000 units, identical to January and up 15.3% from one…

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Homebuyer Activity Shows Signs of Warming Up for Spring

The spring season appears to be warming up in housing as more and more buyers enter the market. And after rising mortgage rates sidelined so many buyers last year, that’s a good sign for sellers. Realtor.com has the latest:

“Spring is officially here, and like green shoots emerging from the bleak winter, new data suggests that more buyers are back in the market, although more subdued compared to a year ago.”

We know buyer activity is trending up because of mortgage purchase application data. According to Investopedia:

“A mortgage application is a document submitted to a lender when you apply for a mortgage to purchase real estate.”

That means the number of mortgage applications shows how many buyers are applying for mortgages. Put another…

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