5 Things to Remember When Looking To Buy Real Estate

Finding the perfect place to call home should be fun. It isn't always easy, it isn't always quick, but it should always be fun. Keeping it fun requires an open mind, a positive attitude, patience, and a little imagination. That's right, imagination. Often times, homes are passed up simply due to a seller's poor design taste, messy lifestyle, or simple excess of stuff. As a buyer, it's important to be able to walk into any house and be able to visualize its full potential. In order to really see past a home's visible flaws, you have to use your imagination a little, or a lot in some cases. Keep in mind the following five things whenever you go see a property that you are considering:

1. Picture each room without the furniture in it, because when you move in, all the stuff will be gone and you can furnish it however you want.

2. Measure each room to get an idea of its real size. Rooms full of stuff always seem smaller than they really are.

3. Paint color is easy to change and wallpaper comes down very easily.

4. Rooms are interchangeable – their "guest room" can be your "office" so if the layout doesn't make sense, you can change it.

5. A clean house is a happy house! Cleaning makes a big difference and can be done before you even move in.

A lot of buyers walk out of nice houses in utter disgust, unable to get past the current condition. Don't let that happen. Open your mind, use your imagination, and it will help you see every house for what it really is. It will make it easier to compare one to the next, and ultimately to picture any house as your future home.

Labels: home buying tips, real estate tips

posted by Lisa @ 3:12 AM 1 comments

NHAR Reports On New Hampshire Housing Market

Although home prices have remained steady over the first six months of 2007, home (and condo) sales volume have dropped, according to a report prepared by the New Hampshire Association of Realtors (NHAR).

In addition, homes and condos are staying on the market 15% and 28%, respectively, longer than they did in 2006.















Nevertheless, the Granite State fares well compared to the rest of the country. "During this serious housing downturn in other parts of the nation, values in New Hampshire are holding up quite well," stated NHAR demographer Peter Francese.

Though, this might change for the second half of 2007 as banks keep tightening their lending policies. This has the potential to place more downward pressure on both home sales and prices.

For buyers and investors, the lagging NH real estate market is looking delicious -- the slow down in home sales and growing inventory provides lots of opportunities on the buy side.

Labels: housing market, new hampshire real estate

posted by B. Samii @ 2:10 AM 0 comments

Hiking and Biking in Metrowest Massachusetts

Here is a quick and simple guide to some great trail riding and hiking locations in the Metrowest area. All of the trails in these 3 parks are open to hikers, mountain bikers, pets and even horse back riding. In addition, there are also lakes and ponds for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and boating. There are numerous other parks in the area, but the following 3 are the most well known.

Callahan State Park
Callahan State Park is hidden away in a suburban section of Framingham and Southborough.

• » There are a few main entrances and miles of trails for the avid hiker, biker and horse back rider. See below for the two main parking lots/entrances for the parks. Please note that the trail system is much larger than what is shown on the Google map and you can easily walk/ride into Marlborough. One ride I got completely lost and ended up in the Raytheon complex. It was worth the long haul back, since the downhill section on the way was incredible.



• » Parking is free



• » If you want to work on your riding skills, the north section of Callahan is full of steep ascents and descents and will challenge most riders.



• » The park is pet friendly and has a small pond for your dog to cool off and play. If your dog behaves well, it's a great place to let it off the lease, play fetch and let it go for a swim.



• »In the winter, many people come here snowshoe and cross country ski.

Ashland State Park
Ashland State Park is easy to find and the main entrance is off of Route 135. Route 135 can be accessed by Route 495. Mountain bike riding here is good with a decent selection of trails.

• » There are two main entrances with 4 parking lots in all. The northern side of the park has the most spaces and is easiest to access from main routes.



• » The park offers a wide variety of activities due to the large reservoir such as; hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, boating, swimming and cross country skiing



• » Parking is not free and costs a few dollars



• » The main trail goes around the border of the lake



• » The park is pet friendly, but they do post that your dog should be on a leash.



• » About 1/3 of the park is made up of the Ashland Reservoir, which has a beach and is a great swimming spot.



• » Restrooms on site

Hopkinton State Park
Hopkinton State Park is the largest park out of these three and is probably the most popular due to all of the access points, location and activities that are allowed. It is located on the border of Hopkinton and Ashland with the northern section close to Southborough. Route 85 cuts through the middle of the park and makes for a great weekend drive.

• » Please view this detailed map to see all of the parking locations on the northern main entrance



• » Here is an overview map of the entire park and the trail system



• » The park offers a wide variety of activities similar to Ashland State Park. There are more trails than in Ashland, so it does allow for more biking terrain.



• » Hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, boating, swimming and cross country skiing



• » The park is pet friendly, but you will want to have your pet on a leash



• » Parking will cost a few dollars



• » Non motorized boats are available for rent



• » Snowmobiling is allowed in the winter with at least 4” of snow cover



• » 300 first come first serve picnic sites



• » Two beaches are supervised during particular hours



• » Restrooms on site



• » A one acre picnic site is available for reservations. Please note, summer reservations book up at least 6 months in advance!

Labels: biking, hiking, massachusetts, metrowest

posted by ronnierealestate @ 1:24 PM 1 comments

New Donation Program Supports Children's Hospital Boston

In an effort to increase awareness and support local charities, we have recently launched the new "FARS Gives Back" donation program. This initiative aims to donate funds, on the behalf of our clients, from a fixed portion of brokerage commissions from every completed real estate transaction. We thought this would be a great opportunity and easy way for our clients to join us and directly contribute to the local community.

We are happy to announce that Children's Hospital Boston is currently our featured charity organization and look forward to supporting their goal of becoming the worldwide leader in improving children's health. Check out the press release for more information.

Labels: boston, charity, massachusetts real estate, new hampshire real estate

posted by B. Samii @ 11:08 AM 0 comments

Luxury Home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

Perhaps the most amazing home currently for sale in New Hampshire, is this lake front property in Wolfeboro, NH. Situated on 1100 feet of frontage on Lake Winnipesaukee, this property is the perfect luxury play pen for someone with an extensive collection of cars and boats. The gated home includes a 9000 square foot heated and air conditioned barn as well as a large boat house with enough room for 7 boat slips.

The price tag is set at $12,800,000 (MLS# 191191).












































The property is listed by Wolfeboro Bay Real Estate, LLC.

Labels: luxury home, new hampshire real estate, wolfeboro new hampshire

posted by B. Samii @ 3:38 AM 2 comments

Natick, MA - The Center of Metrowest Massachusetts

So, what is there to do in Natick? One major attraction, the Natick Mall, is easily accessed by Route 9 and the Mass Pike, and is always growing. By mid September, the already extensive selection of stores will grow with the addition of new premium retail stores Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton and many more. Plus, if you can not find what you are looking for at the mall, the Route 9 “strip” that runs through Natick and Framingham has a large selection of popular retail stores and chain restaurants.

If you really like to shop and desire luxury living, how about some brand new high-end condos located just above the mall? Two hundred fifteen residences, known as Nouvelle at Natick, are currently being constructed and will provide countless services. Live in your own small city with world-class stores at your door shopaholics take note! Please contact FARS Realty Group if you have any questions about the properties or check out http://www.nouvelleatnatick.com/.

In the downtown area, there is a nice park in the center that is surrounded by many great establishments. The park is a wonderful area to relax, read a book or enjoy a coffee or ice cream.

One establishment located at the center is the Bakery On The Common. This bakery is a great place to grab a cup of joe and try out a delicious pastry.

Just down the street is The Dolphin Restaurant. The Dolphin is well known for its seafood, fair pricing and cocktail bar.

Are you into tasting wine? Maxwells 148 located just over one half of a mile from the center of town is popular for their wine selection and monthly wine dinners. During the past three years, Maxwells has been awarded with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Click on http://maxwells148.com/ to find out more and to make a reservation!

The Center of Arts/Dowtown Natick

Want to kick back or stay cool on a hot summer day? Take a short drive to Cochituate State Park. The park is near the Framingham/Natick line on Route 30 (Cochituate Road). Here you can swim, have a picnic or enjoy numerous water activities.

Cochituate Lake/State Park

Since Natick is a central location, the city allows quick access to all major routes including; Route 9, the Mass Pike (Interstate 90), and Interstate 95. Prefer to leave the driving to someone else? The commuter rail is a great option and Natick has you covered with two commuter rail locations (see map below). Hop on the train and be at Fenway in 30 minutes or into South Station shortly after. The West Natick stop is located right on Route 135. The parking lot can handle up to 178 cars and is $2.00 to park. This station has the most frequent stops out of the two Natick stations and is walking distance to the Natick Village condominium complex and the Kendall Crossing Apartment complex. CLICK HERE to view the schedule for both stops.

West Natick and Natick Commuter Rail Locations


West Natick Commuter Station


Natick Village Condominiums


Kendall Crossing Apartments

Labels: metrowest, natick massachusetts

posted by ronnierealestate @ 3:00 AM 0 comments

Rates Stay The Same - Jim Cramer Goes Nuts

The U.S. Fed unanimously decided to keep the federal funds rate (the rate that impacts short-term rates including credit cards and business loans) at 5.25% yesterday focusing on inflation as the primary issue at hand.

This comes at a time where conditions are worsening across the markets: the recent blows to the stock market, downturn in the housing market, and increasingly tightening credit markets. "Nevertheless, the economy seems likely to continue to expand at a moderate pace over coming quarters, supported by solid growth in employment and incomes and a robust global economy'' as stated by the central bank.

The unchanged rate announcement at least offers some reassurance that the Fed does not see signs of a major crisis that requires direct intervention.

Nevertheless, as more and more mortgage lenders close their doors and credit policies become tighter, homebuyers are feeling the crunch. The loosey-goosey days of getting a mortgage are long gone. Nowadays, don't expect a mortgage broker to take you seriously if you're asking for a no income verification loan or want 100% financing (unless you have flawless credit history and great credit score). And who knows what's in store as the mortgage industry keeps sliding?

But don't panic! Some speculators are shrugging off the downturn of the mortgage and home builder industries as though they are not really "big industries". Here's a clip of Jim Cramer's argument that I came across on housingdoom.com:

More recently Cramer had a meltdown on CNBC claiming that Bernake is "an Academic" and they should have cut the rates. Take a look:

Labels: federal reserve, housing market, interest rates

posted by B. Samii @ 4:14 AM 0 comments

Boston Luxury Condo Developments

Here's a list of all the hot condo developments in the metro Boston area. Although, this is not a comprehensive list, here we have some of the biggest (at least 50+ units) and most recently constructed (few are still under construction).


15 North Beacon
15 North Beacon
Boston, MA 02134
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 - 2
Price Range: $223,000 - $475,000





360 Newbury
360 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 - 3 and lofts
Price Range: $635,000 - $2M



44 Prince Street
44 Prince Street
Boston, MA 02113
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 - 2
Price Range: $500,000 - $2.65M



Battery Wharf
377-395 Commercial Street
Boston, MA 02109
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 - 3
Price Range: $1.1M - $3.2M




HarborView at the Navy Yard
250 First Ave
Charlestown, MA 02129
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 - 2 and lofts
Price Range: $350,000 - $2.5M




The Residences at the InterContinental Hotel
500 Atlantic Ave
Boston , MA 02110
map it
Bedroom Layouts: 1 - 4
Price Range: $725K -$6.85M




Regatta Residences Riverview
12 Museum Way
Cambridge, MA 02141
map it
Bedroom Layouts: 1 - 2
Price Range: $390K -$1.1M



Folio
80 Broad Street
Boston, MA 02110
map it
Bedroom Layouts: 1 - 3
Price Range: $375,000 - $1.3M







Mandarin Oriental
750 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
map it
Price Range: $2M - $12M





NorthPoint Cambridge
24 East Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 - 3 and loft
Price Range: $350K -$1.5M



Strada 234
234 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02114
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 - 3
Price Range: $450,000 - $1.2M




The Belvedere
100 Belvidere Street
Boston, MA 02113
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 -3
Price Range: $800,000 - $3.0M







The Bryant on Columbus
303 Columbus Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
map it
Bedroom Layout: 1 - 3
Price Range: $1.2M - $2.95M







If you would like more detailed information or photos for one of these developments, be sure to contact us at anytime.

Labels: boston condos, boston luxury condos, condo developments, condos for sale

posted by B. Samii @ 8:33 PM 0 comments