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MAY 30, 2012
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This week, along with our pending sales report, we have timely Buyer and Seller tips to share with you as well. Hope you find the info useful!
Buyers tip:
Your credit rating can affect your ability to obtain a mortgage. Learn the tricks and tips for maximizing your credit score before you apply...Think you know your credit score? read more
Sellers tip:
Choosing a real estate agent to market and sell your home is a huge decision. Learn about the differences between the small and large companies available to you...
Selling a home with a big Real Estate Company or a Small one? read more
and here are the pending sales for the Greater Boston communities we track ...
Pending Sales - May 20 - May 27
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Source: MLSPIN
The real estate market is all about sold properties. Know the sale price of real estate in any market area in MA by registering on our site:
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Open Houses, new listings and price reductions...that's what!
While it may be a Holiday Weekend and many of us are heading to family gatherings, the beach or just looking forward to chilling out, there is real estate activity going on as well. There are in fact many Open Houses to visit in the Great Boston Area this Sunday as well as many new listings.
The current update for Cambridge MA Real Estate : the Multiple Listing Service is showing 222 active properties. 31 singles, $1,431,571 average listing price / 177 condos, $568,425 average listing price / 14 multi- family homes, $1,190,286 average listing price with 12 Open Houses this weekend. You can find that info here: Open Houses in Cambridge MA
Here's the update for Arlington MA Real Estate: the Multiple Listing Service shows 107 active properties. 60 singles, $589,853 average listing price / 42 condos, $382,694 average listing price / 5 multi- family homes, $613,960 average listing price with 12 Open Houses this weekend and you can find that info right here: Open Houses in Arlington MA
And for Belmont MA Real Estate the Multiple Listing Service shows 86 active properties. 47 singles, $1,298,326 average listing price / 36 condos, $594,701 average listing price / 3 multi- family homes, $772,633 average listing price with 5 Open Houses this weekend and you can find that info right here: Open Houses Belmont MA
Tempted to take a look at some properties but these aren't your towns of interest? You can search for all Open Houses In MA here: Open Houses in Massachusetts
And while you're at it, search all currently available Massachusetts properties here: Avenue 3 Property Search
Please contact us for any additional info you may need or any real estate questions you may have, we are happy to assist you in the home buying or home selling process.
And lastly Everyone at Avenue 3 Real Estate wishes you and your family a happy and safe holiday weekend.
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MAY 23, 2012
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We're featuring Buyer & Seller tips along with our pending sales report this week.
Hope you find the info useful!
Buyer & Seller MA Real Estate Contracts
A real estate transaction comes with a full array of disclosures, disclaimers and
contracts. You can prepare for buying or selling a property by
reading these forms before you
you begin your process. With an email address, you can download
our Forms Kit for Buyers and Forms Kit for Sellers.
( Should you have any questions, please contact us and we will happily review any form with you.)
BUYERS
- Massachusetts Mandatory Licensee Consumer Relationship Disclosure
- Buyer Representation Agreement
- Offer to Purchase
- Addendum to Offer to Purchase
- Massachusetts Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification
- Sewage Disposal Contingency Addendum
- Massachusetts Home Inspector Facts for Consumers
- Download the Real Estate Forms for Buyers kit to see them all!
SELLERS
- Massachusetts Mandatory Licensee Consumer Relationship Disclosure
- Agreement for Exclusive Right to Sell
- Massachusetts Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification
- Sewage Disposal System Contingency Addendum
- Sellers Statement of Property Condition
- Condominium Checklist
- Offer to Purchase
- Addendum to Offer to Purchase
- Download the Real Estate Forms Kit for Sellers to see them all!
And here are the pending sales for the Greater Boston communities we track ...
Pending Sales - May 13 - May 20
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Source: MLSPIN
Visit us at avenue3re.com to search for properties or to create your open house schedule for this weekend!
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So you are looking at home after home. If you are like the most of us, you are captivated by the updated kitchen, the oversized shower or the gorgeous perennial garden. Good, you should be. But, (and you know there is a but), don't forget that there is business to attend to. Here are six things you should pay close attention to in any home that interests you:
1.Roof: Check it out! Does it look new? Are the shingles dried out and lifting? If it is a flat roof, does it have proper drainage? Ask the age of the roof to help you determine its relative health.
2.Windows: Old or new is not the most important question. The most important question is do they work. Pull a couple up and down to see if they operate well. Look for storms or screens stuck midway between open and closed, they may not function.
3.Gutters and downspouts: Be sure they have them and take a look to see if they are snugly attached to the house - beware of hanging downspouts and "gutter gardens" - gutters clogged so long they are actually sprouting vegetation!
4.Retaining walls: Funny as it seems, they hide in plain site. Pay attention to retaining walls around gardens, along driveways and on the edge of property lines. Check for major cracking or leaning.
5.Foundation: Give it a close look inside and out. Look for cracks, water marks or mold. Check the basment windows for good repair as well.
6.Landscape: I don't mean the perennial garden here, but the general topography and the plantings. Is the house sitting low on a hill and likely to flood? Are there unhealthy trees on the lot that may need to come down?
Whether you are looking at buying a home or buying a condominium, take the time to carefully examine a home you are interested in before you make an offer to buy. It could pay off in the long run!
Check out our list of Service Providers for advice on any particular housing issue.
Download Free Home Buying Kit
Find tips on buying a home by downloading our very informative Better Buyer Kit.
What's Up this week in Cambridge MA?
Cambridge Open Studios in North/ West Cambridge MA that's what!
And here's the real estate news update this week: The Multiple Listing Service is currently showing 254 active properties, 38 single family homes, $ 1,346,779 average listing price / 200 condos, $544,699 average listing price / 16 multi family homes, $1,204,813 average listing price with new properties being added daily.
There are 69 scheduled open houses in Cambridge this weekend! Most of them can be seen at Open Houses over the weekend or with a scheduled appointment with an Avenue 3 Real Estate Agent!
Here are a few newly listed properties open in Cambridge MA Real Estate this Sunday that we at Avenue 3 thought you may find interesting based on asking price, location and amenities:
1. Single: 171 Raymond Street, $725,000
2. Condo: 332 Franklin Street, $482,500
3. Multi-family: 4-6 Bond Street, $2,400,000
Tempted? You can search all Cambridge MA Open Houses here: Avenue 3 Open House Search
And while you're at it, search all current Cambridge MA properties here: Avenue 3 Cambridge Property Search
How does the market drive the asking price? Sold Properties. To search recent sold Cambridge Real Estate properties:
What's up this weekend in Belmont MA? TOWN DAY!
Belmont Town Day, Leonard Street - Belmont Center, Saturday May 19th 9:00 - 3:30
And here's the real estate news for the week: The Multiple Listing Service is currently showing 93 active properties. 49 singles, $1,306,249 average listing price / 37 condos, $581,726 average listing price / 7 multi family homes, $705,829 average listing price with new properties being added daily.
Most of them can be seen at Open Houses over the weekend or with a scheduled appointment with an Avenue 3 Real Estate Agent!
Here are a few newly listed properties open in Belmont MA this Sunday that we at Avenue 3 thought you may find interesting based on asking price, location and amenities:
1. Single: 232 Trapelo Road, $639,000
2. Single: 58 Bow Road, $889,000
3. Condo: 14 Bayberry Lane, Unit 34, $1,449,000
Tempted? You can search all Belmont MA Open Houses here: Avenue 3 Open House Search
And while you're at it, search all current Belmont MA properties here: Avenue 3 Belmont MA Property Search
How does the market drive the asking price? Sold Properties. To search recent sold Belmont properties:
What's up this weekend in Arlington MA?
The Bike Tour to Pedal Around Arlington on Sunday for one very good time!
And here's the real estate update this week: The Multiple Listing Service is currently showing 114 active properties. 63 single family homes - $602,051 average listing price / 46 condos - $380,012 average listing price / 5 multi family homes- $613,960 average listing price with new properties being added daily.
Most of them can be seen at Open Houses over the weekend or with a scheduled appointment with an Avenue 3 Real Estate Agent!
Here are a few newly listed properties open in Arlington MA this Sunday that we at Avenue 3 thought you may find interesting based on asking price, location and amenities:
1. Single: 58 Beverly Road, $749,000
2. Condo: 39 Orvis Road, Unit 1, $365,000
Tempted? You can search all Arlington MA Open Houses here: Avenue 3 Open House Search
And while you're at it, search all current Arlington MA properties here: Avenue 3 Arlington MA Property Search
How does the market drive the asking price? Sold Properties. To search recent sold Arlington properties:
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MAY 17, 2012
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This week we would like to share our "Spring into Savings" Buyer Incentive with you along with the pending sales report. We hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity.
The spring market is here and with it comes Avenue 3's
and here are the pending sales for the Greater Boston communities we track ...
Pending Sales - May 6 - May 13
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Source: MLSPIN
You can also access infromation on the sold properties in the areas you track (time on the market, listing price, sold price and all the properties amenties) here by registering with Avenue 3.
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Note: A few weeks ago on our Face Book page in a weekly series we call " What do you think Thursday" we asked the question " Where is your favorite place to walk or bike in Cambridge MA?" We found that most folks liked the Fresh Pond Reservoir. So here are few ideas from us on how best to enjoy it!
Cambridge MA Real Estate is considered "premium" for many reasons. One is that Cambridge has beautiful public spaces. We all have our favorite spots in Cambridge to walk, run, ride bikes or just sit and enjoy the sun and the Fresh Pond Reservoir is one of those places! The 2.25 mile walk around the pond is invigorating and peaceful. You just have to get yourself there! If you are not a resident of Cambridge, you won't have the needed sticker to park in the small lot by the water purification building on Fresh Pond Parkway, but not to worry. Here are a few alternatives for parking and entering the area:
1. Take the Red Line to the Alewife Station, walk over the bridge and continue on by the Fresh Pond shopping area to this entrance on Concord Ave. 
There is a crosswalk at this entrance for your safety and a trash can!
2. You can also easily reach this entrance by parking for a short time at the Starbucks on Fresh Pond grabbing a beverage and walking from there. Good thing about this lot is that you are close to Whole Foods, many new eateries and Trader Joe's across the street! So when you're finished with your walk or run you're in a great spot to continue your day!
3. Or you can try parking for a short time at this lot behind the Burger King on Concord Avenue. The entrance to Fresh Pond is directly across the street from the fast food venue and it looks like this:
Helpful? We hope so. So this Spring enjoy the fabulous Fresh Pond Reservoir walk and all of the other Parks in Cambridge MA. Here is a list of all the open spaces in the city: Cambridge Parks, Reservations and Playgrounds
And here is a list of all the current properties on the market in Cambridge to view: Avenue 3 Property Search Cambridge MA
Just last week, when I declared to no one in particular that “mulch is king”, after it miraculously made our tired front yard look great, that ‘s when it hit me. I'm always thinking "curb appeal". I realized that we're on the other end of homeownership now looking at our home as a perspective buyer might look at a single home and no longer thinking about changing things around here to suit us.
We don’t have any plans to put our house on the market anytime soon, but I think we’ve run the course of what we can afford to do here to maximize it’s value. I'm pretty familiar with the things that make a home attractive to perspective buyers, as I've been a Realtor forever. I know the things we can deliver on and what we can’t. For instance, we can’t change our location (although I think living in Arlington MA is pretty nice). We can't change the street we live on, the lot size or the interior square footage of our house. It is what it is. But, there are some things we can do regularly without breaking the bank.
We can keep everything as up-to-date as possible and repair things as needed. We can replace old pipes in the basement gradually and make sure the line to the street is in good order. We can have the heating system serviced each year and repair the electrical outlets as needed. We can keep our eye on exterior wood rot and have someone come out and check for carpenter ants and termites….just in case. We can keep the interior looking freshly painted and start living with less stuff in our not so large rooms and of course, we can mulch. Every home looks great with mulch in the garden beds. I particularly love the Black Forest mulch, our plantings just pop against its darkness.
I just want to be ready, that’s all, when I finally convince my husband to move to a condo in Boston or a townhouse in Cambridge. I don’t know exactly when that's going to happen so I'm getting prepared. What about you? Are you trying to keep things in order as you go along or would you rather just do what needs to be done when you decide you're ready to put your home on the market?
Start here by downloading this useful list of low-cost fixes that will bring you the best return for the cost:
I have (for better or for worse) been kicking around the real estate market for more than twenty years. In that time, the industry has made changes in the way that business is done. One of the biggest changes in the business is the leveling of the playing field between big companies and small ones.
In years past, selling a home was a very expensive proposition. Advertising in local, and regional news papers, legions of 'for sale' ads every Sunday, and mailing pieces sent out on a regular basis were necesssary and expensive - very expensive indeed. Smaller companies could not compete with the bank rolls of large ones.
Not surprising to say, the internet changed all that. As a recent Harvard Magazine article put it " disruptive innovation..has occured in many industries, from accounting to music...It is the process by which products and services that were once so expensive, complicated, inaccessible and inconvenient that only a small fraction of people could access them, are transformed into simpler, more accessible and convenient forms that are also, ultimately lower in cost."
In short, with everyone looking at the internet (free) the cost barrier to smaller companies is lifted and small or big, companies can offer the same services to their buyers and sellers. Size is no longer the determining factor in choosing a Real Estate Company to sell your home. Look for quality of service, or just check out Avenue 3 Real Estate for home selling tips!
Download Free Home Selling Kit
Find tips on selling your home by downloading our very informative Smarter Seller Kit
What's Up this weekend in Belmont MA ?
The Belmont May Fair Sat. May 12 and 7 Open Houses, that's what!
And more real estate news for the week: The Multiple Listing Service is currently showing 95 active properties. 50 singles, $1,278,140 average listing price / 37 condos, $542,263 average listing price / 8 multi family homes, $654,488 average listing price with new properties being added daily.
Most of them can be seen at Open Houses over the weekend or with a scheduled appointment with an Avenue 3 Real Estate Agent!
Here are a few newly listed properties open in Belmont MA this Sunday that we at Avenue 3 thought you may find interesting based on asking price, location and amenities:
1. Single: 54 Randolph Street, $895,000
2. Condos: 65 Hamilton Road Unit 65, $669,000
21 Summit Road, $1,339,000
Tempted? You can search all Belmont MA Open Houses here: Avenue 3 Open House Search
And while you're at it, search all current Belmont MA properties here: Avenue 3 Belmont MA Property Search
How does the market drive the asking price? Sold Properties. To search recent sold Belmont properties:
What's up this weekend in Arlington MA?
The Mother's Day Brunch at Tryst and 14 Open Houses, that's what!
And the real estate update this week: The Multiple Listing Service is currently showing 121 active properties. 62 single family homes - $584,419 average listing price / 52 condos - $370,707 average listing price / 7 multi family homes- $590,386 average listing price with new properties being added daily.
Most of them can be seen at Open Houses over the weekend or with a scheduled appointment with an Avenue 3 Real Estate Agent!
Here are a few newly listed properties open in Arlington MA this Sunday that we at Avenue 3 thought you may find interesting based on asking price, location and amenities:
1. Single: 38 Hillcrest Street, $474,000
2. Condo: 132 Warren Street Unit B, $435,000
6 Brookdale Road, $419,000
Tempted? You can search all Arlington MA Open Houses here: Avenue 3 Open House Search
And while you're at it, search all current Arlington MA properties here: Avenue 3 Arlington MA Property Search
How does the market drive the asking price? Sold Properties. To search recent sold Arlington properties:
What's Up this week in Cambridge MA?
Cambridge Open Studios on May 12 from 12N to 6PM and 14 Open Houses...that's what!
And for the real estate update this week: The Multiple Listing Service is currently showing 252 active properties, 39 single family homes, $ 1,317,356 average listing price / 9 condos, $529,404 average listing price / 20 multi family homes, $1,011,895 average listing price with new properties being added daily.
Most of them can be seen at Open Houses over the weekend or with a scheduled appointment with an Avenue 3 Real Estate Agent!
Here are a few newly listed properties open in Cambridge MA Real Estate this Sunday that we at Avenue 3 thought you may find interesting based on asking price, location and amenities:
1. Single: 536 Huron Avenue, $725,000
2. Condo: 2 Worthington Street, $468,000
3. Multi-family: 103-109 Winter Street, $1,500,000
Tempted? You can search all Cambridge MA Open Houses here: Avenue 3 Open House Search
And while you're at it, search all current Cambridge MA properties here: Avenue 3 Cambridge Property Search
How does the market drive the asking price? Sold Properties. To search recent sold Cambridge Real Estate properties:
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MAY 7, 2012
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Planning on buying or selling real estate sometime this year? Keep in mind that your market research should include three categories of properties:
Active, Pending, and Sold!
Active: These are properties that are currently available for sale and are easy to find in the Avenue 3 property search.
Pending: These are properties that have had an offer accepted but have not yet closed. Find these in Avenue3 property search as well and find out here why pending sales are so important to buyers and sellers.
Sold: These properties have been sold and closed. You will be able to see final sale prices. Register with just your name and email address to see these at Avenue3re.com.
and here are the pending sales for the Greater Boston communities we track ...
Pending Sales April 29 - May 6
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Source: MLSPIN
Visit us at avenue3re.com to search for properties or to create your open house schedule for this weekend!
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Whether you are selling a condo in Cambridge MA, a single family home in Arlington MA or a two family home in Somerville MA, when it comes time to put your beloved abode on the market, you will begin to hear about “home staging”. Why, you ask, why do I have to ‘stage’ it when I already live in it. Well, you have sort of answered your own question right there. The space we live in, with our pet odors, our coats hung on chairs, our chipping paint, our overgrown lawns and bulging closets may not be the space the buyer wants to live in.
Staging is intended to create a space that feels new – clean, bright, uncluttered – a space that a buyer feels they could fit into – neutral and welcoming - and a space that is ready for them to move in – clean, and in good repair.
You do not always have to redo a kitchen, in fact, nothing gives you more return on your investment than the ‘magic of mulch’ and the ‘power of paint’ to create an impression of clean, new, interiors and exteriors. Check out this article at HGTV.com for great home staging tips! Or, view other properties in your area to check out their home staging at www.avenue3re.com.
I am not a fan of the Dining room table being set, scented candles and the smell of cookies baking in the oven, but a bit of effort on your part can bring you tremendous rewards with a quicker, more lucrative sale of your home!
Selling a home in Massachusetts? Start here by downloading our very informative Kit:
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What's Up this week in Cambridge MA Real Estate?
The Multiple Listing Service is currently showing 245 active properties, 39 single family homes, average listing price $1,229,792 / 190 condos, average listing price $518,803 / 16 multi family homes, average listing price $1,161,931 with new properties being added daily.
Most of them can be seen at Open Houses over the weekend or with a scheduled appointment with an Avenue 3 Real Estate Agent!
Here are a few newly listed properties open in Cambridge MA Real Estate this Sunday that we at Avenue 3 thought you may find interesting based on asking price, location and amenities:
1. Single: 1 Nichols Place, $695,000
2. Condo: 244 Lexington Avenue, $459,000
3. Multi-family: 87 Belmont Street, $799,000
Tempted? You can search all Cambridge MA Open Houses here: Avenue 3 Open House Search
And while you're at it, search all current Cambridge MA properties here: Avenue 3 Cambridge Property Search
How does the market drive the asking price? Sold Properties. To search recent sold Cambridge Real Estate properties:
And here's some info on what's happening in entertainment in Cambridge MA this weekend: Live Music Events Enjoy!
What's up this week in Arlington MA Real Estate?
The Multiple Listing Service is currently showing 121 active properties. 68 single family homes - average listing price $577,484 / 48 condos - average listing price $371,997/ 5 multi family homes, average listing price - $659,240 with new properties being added daily.
Most of them can be seen at Open Houses over the weekend or with a scheduled appointment with an Avenue 3 Real Estate Agent!
Here are a few newly listed properties open in Arlington MA this Sunday that we at Avenue 3 thought you may find interesting based on asking price, location and amenities:
1. Single: 81 Newland Road, $520,000
2. Condo: 71 Paul Revere, $299,500
3. Condo: 151 Massachusetts Avenue, $446,000
Tempted? You can search all Arlington MA Open Houses here: Avenue 3 Open House Search
And while you're at it, search all current Arlington MA properties here: Avenue 3 Arlington MA Property Search
How does the market drive the asking price? Sold Properties. To search recent sold Arlington properties:
So, you are armed with your list, your map/gps, and you are ready to go Open House shopping. Open houses are a great way to see a good number of houses in one afternoon, but even the most dedicated Open House looker can get caught up in a crowded open house and miss the most important details.
If you are looking at multiple homes, it is easy to get them confused with one another when you sit later to review – was that the one with the purple bathroom? A photo or two (with the permission of the Open House host) might help you remember the good and the bad of each home. But an easier and less obtrusive plan is to carry an Open House Checklist, courtesy of Avenue 3. The checklist will help you remember the items that you should be paying attention to – rather than the photos of family on the piano or the cool shower curtain in the bathroom.
Take the Avenue 3 Open House Checklist with you to keep yourself on track and make your Open House shopping more worthwhile. We are always looking for ways to make your home buying experience easier and more rewarding so check out Avenue 3 Open Houses In Massachusetts for all the open house listings in MA and visit our site: Avenue 3 Real Estate for all the info you'll need to navigate the MA real estate market!
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MAY 2, 2012
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How strong is the Waltham MA real estate market?
The April sold results for Waltham: the average sale price came in at 98% of the average asking price. Total market volume for April 2012, $15,315,550 (39 units) compared to April 2011 total market volume of $14,790,500 (43 units) with an average sale price at 95% of the average asking price...
"Waltham Closed Properties"
Contact us to receive the closed properties report for your town.
And here are the pending sales for Waltham and all the Greater Boston communities we track ...
Pending Sales April 22 - April 29
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Source: MLSPIN
Visit us at avenue3re.com to search for properties or to create your open house schedule for this weekend!
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You can take a look at the current Waltham MA real estate listings /condos, singles & multi-families and all MA real estate listings right here: Avenue 3 Property Search
For weekly MA real estate info:
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