23 First-Time Home Buying Tips That Matter!

Buying a home as a first-time homebuyer is a big deal.  There is so much you need to know as a first-time homebuyer to have a successful home purchase. Like anything in life, the more you put into buying your first home the more you will get out of it. Today we will discuss some first-time home buying tips and advice that will set you on the path to successfully buy your first home. The first-time home buying tips will be broken down into: Preparing to Buy Financial Viewing Homes Making an … Continue reading...

7 Common Questions About HOA’s

  A residential community may have an HOA or Home Owners Association.  The HOA organization is meant to provide a cohesive, unified community.  Here in New England, we associate condominium complexes with a Home Owners Association.  But HOA's aren't only reserved for condominium complexes.  In recent years, we have seen neighborhood communities pop up that has a Home Owners Association like Persimmon Woods in Haverhill MA or Seacoast Village in Ipswich. What Is an … Continue reading...

Why “Neutral Colors” When Selling A Home?

Tankless water heater

Preparing your home is a critical component when it comes time to sell and you want to achieve top dollar.  From improving curb appeal to doing smaller repairs and refreshing a home, you want to create a lasting, positive impression for your home buyers.  One part of preparing your home is freshening up paint or a new paint job.  And you often hear real estate agents talk about neutral colors and neutral decor. Why are neutral colors important when staging a home? Let's delve into … Continue reading...

6 Things A Buyer’s Agent Can Do For A Home Buyer That a listing Agent Can’t

  When it comes time to buy a home, there is a multitude of ways an agent can interact with you.  And it is important you know your agent's relationship with you.  It can actually be more confusing than you think.... Facilitator, buyer's agent, listing agent, dual agent.... and it doesn't end there. Often a buyer shows up at an open house and purchases a home directly thru the listing agent.  Of course, they are nice and helpful, they want to sell you their client's … Continue reading...

Waiting to Buy Could Be COSTLY!!

There is no question that the greater Boston area has been experiencing a white-hot real estate market. And you will find the hot real estate market will carry through to other parts of the country. As a want to be Massachusetts first-time home buyer who has been saving your hard-earned money for a down payment, you have heard the experts who are bearish on the real estate market and experts who are bullish. Who is right? The bears or the bulls? Most economists remain bullish on the 2022 real … Continue reading...

TIPS TO SELL YOUR HOME DURING THE WINTER

In the past, springtime has always been thought of as the optimal season to sell your home.  Over the past 15 years, the idea that the spring is the perfect season to sell your home has slowly been changing.  Listing your home during other seasons is becoming just as popular as the spring.  Winter can certainly provide some benefits to sell your home. One reason the selling season has extended to most of the year, is the internet.  Buyers can sit in the warmth of their home … Continue reading...

Pre-Offer Home Inspection- Competitive Home Buying 2022

pre-offer home inspection

  The real estate market for 2022 shows it is going to be much of the same.  What does that mean to a home buyer that hasn't bought in many years, or a home buyer entering the market for the first time?  Chaos!! I met with a buyer looking to buy a condo who hadn't bout a home in almost 20 years.  When I described the market and what buyers are willing to do to compete for good homes, they were taken aback.  The buyer was completely against giving up their home … Continue reading...

10 Tips To Prevent Ice Damming

10 Tips to Prevent Ice dams on the edge of your roof

Now that winter is upon us in New England, many homeowners have to worry about destructive ice dams forming at the edge of their roof. Ice dams can be a minor nuisance to being a fll blown issue that can injure your family and damage your home. Ice damming often comes with icicles.  Icicles and even chunks of ice can fall from your home and can cause injury.  It can also cause water to penetrate slowly into your home.  The slow penetration of water can create the perfect … Continue reading...

Down Payment Assistance

First time home buyer down payment assistance programs in Massachusetts

Buying a home can be a daunting task.  Never mind finding just the right home that fits your budget. But on top of that you have a down payment and closing costs to worry about.  Buying a house may be a top priority for you and a goal you are determined to accomplish. Exploring your down payment assistance and grant options may help make buying your first home a reality. Now you can stop paying your landlords mortgage and pay your own!! By tapping into the available grants … Continue reading...

How to Plan a Budget for Your Home Renovation

budget for a home renovation

Getting a home renovation can be a tiring and costly process. Whether you want to renovate a home that you recently bought before you move in, or you’re looking to improve your property to develop it into prime real estate and sell it for greater value, or you’re just simply looking to improve your living space, home renovation, no matter how minor, will demand your time, effort, and money. Renovating a home isn’t as seamless as TV shows play it out to be, and it’s not uncommon for homeowners … Continue reading...