Blog Archives - Page 6 of 9 - Philip Vita

While late fall or early winter is the time most of us begin to crank our heat, if you’re using a boiler, it’s important not to wait until the last minute to service it. A lot of homeowners have good intentions when it comes to scheduling maintenance. The problem is that it’s easy to forget

Want to know where home prices will be rising? Look for a new Starbucks

October 1, 2018

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Neighborhood amenities can make a difference in how much buyers want a specific home, and there is one amenity that seems to have a larger impact on home values than any other – Starbucks locations. A recent study by the Harvard Business School found that a new Starbucks introduced into a ZIP code correlated with

5 Great Ways to Decorate an Exposed Brick Wall

September 24, 2018

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Have a room with an exposed brick wall? Lucky you! Not only is the brick itself an irresistible design element, with a few simple decor tricks, you can amp up the chic factor even further. Try these suggestions… Place an open-backed shelving unit in front of it to allow the brick to show through, instead

What are homebuyers looking for in new construction homes?

September 11, 2018

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When searching for a new home, buyers have a lot of ideas about what they are looking for, from the layout to the design elements and even materials and finishes. In order to get an idea of what homebuyers are looking for, homebuilder Ashton Woods asked future homebuyers about their preferences in builders, builder options

Boston home sales still strong in July

August 27, 2018

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July home sales throughout the Greater Boston area largely matched trends seen throughout the state last month — sales were still strong and prices remained high while the number of homes for sale fell. The Greater Boston Association of Realtors recorded 1,560 single-family home sales in July, 5.8 percent more than a year ago but

Top Tips for Cleaner Indoor Air

August 21, 2018

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Creating more airflow is an important step to improving your indoor environment, but considerations like air quality should not be overlooked. More air is a good thing, but more clean air is better yet. Everyday home life activities such as cooking, showering, lighting candles, sleeping and doing laundry can all contribute to polluted indoor air,

More millennials buying homes before marriage

August 14, 2018

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Recent trends in the housing market suggest that couples are reversing what used to be considered the norm: They are buying homes before getting married. The share of unmarried homeowners has spiked significantly in recent years, according to a report from CNBC. Today, just 57 percent of first-time buyers are married, compared with the 75

This Week in Boston Real Estate: AirBnb taxes, hip suburbs and more

August 4, 2018

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As Massachusetts legislators approached the end of their official session July 31, they faced a deadline for approving a series of bills related to budget moves and regulatory changes. Among the most contentious was a proposal to enact new, higher taxes on short-term home rental services including Airbnb. In the final version approved by the

Sluggish mortgage rate growth could help home sales

July 31, 2018

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As home prices continue to reach record-high levels, even modest increases in the inventory of homes for sale have not been enough to improve the picture for homebuyers in the second half of 2018. But winds could be shifting in their favor as mortgage interest rates remain locked in a nearly two-month holding pattern. That’s

Mortgage-free homeownership becomes a popular retirement goal

July 23, 2018

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Alongside travel and leisure, a recent study by Voya Financial identified homeownership as one of the most important goals that people wish to achieve by the time of their retirement, reported HousingWire. In fact, 80 percent said they wish to eventually own their home with no mortgage payments by the time they retire. Though this is