For those of you who've been following the progress of the plan to re-establish passenger train service between the Berkshires and NYC here's a progress update.
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/local/ci_21279298/new-york-city-pittsfield-train-line-step-closer
It's good to know that this project is on track (yes, I did that on purpose!)
Friday, August 10, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
ANOTHER POSITIVE SIGN
Bloomberg.com reports this morning that home equity levels made their biggest gain in 60 years with a gain of 7.3% in the first quarter. It was also reported that home equity levels have recovered to their 2008 values. Little by little home values are recovering.
That news made me think about the market conditions here in the Berkshires. In this office we have been seeing a choppy but steady increase in activity from sellers choosing to list their property as well as buyers who are showing a real commitment to buying.
I'm developing a better sense of what a recovery looks like and it's never really a straight trajectory. It's about people putting their toes back in the water, finding that it's tolerable and carving a path for others.
And, at the end of the day, isn't that really how things get better? Little by little, 2 steps forward/one step back?
Bloomberg.com reports this morning that home equity levels made their biggest gain in 60 years with a gain of 7.3% in the first quarter. It was also reported that home equity levels have recovered to their 2008 values. Little by little home values are recovering.
That news made me think about the market conditions here in the Berkshires. In this office we have been seeing a choppy but steady increase in activity from sellers choosing to list their property as well as buyers who are showing a real commitment to buying.
I'm developing a better sense of what a recovery looks like and it's never really a straight trajectory. It's about people putting their toes back in the water, finding that it's tolerable and carving a path for others.
And, at the end of the day, isn't that really how things get better? Little by little, 2 steps forward/one step back?
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Thanks, everyone.
Latest data from the National Association of Realtors ( using info from a recent Gallup poll) show that real estate professionals have an improved public rating. I find that really gratifying since we, at Stone House Properties, LLC, work so hard to be sure that all of our clients needs are met in the most responsible fashion.
So, from all of us here at Stone House, thanks for recognizing the hard work your Realtor does on your behalf.
Real Estate Agents
Inch Up in Public Opinion
DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2012
Real estate
professionals rank higher than lawyers, business executives, and advertising
practitioners when it comes to the public’s perceptions of honesty and ethics,
according to a recent Gallup poll.
In fact,
real estate professionals received their highest rating yet in the poll, since
Gallup began measuring Americans’ perceptions of honesty and ethics of 21
professions since 1976.
In the
survey, 20 percent of respondents gave real estate professionals a “very high
to high” rating on honesty and ethics. Fifty-seven percent of the Americans
surveyed rated them as “average” when it comes to honesty and ethics.
Meanwhile,
the profession that scored the lowest of the 21 professions ranked were members
of Congress, in which only 7 percent of respondents rated them “very high to
high” when it comes to ethics and honesty -- the lowest on record.
The
professions that scored the highest in honesty and ethics belonged to the
medical profession, with nurses, pharmacists, and doctors -- who were all at
the top of the list.
Source: “Housing Prices Show Signs of Stability,” The
Wall Street Journal (May 29, 2012) and “Record 64% Rate Honesty, Ethics of Members of Congress
Low,” Gallup (Dec. 12, 2011)
Read More
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
IT'S EVEN BETTER THAN I THOUGHT
Take a look at this posting from the National Association of Realtors showing what national economists are saying about where the real estate market is heading.
Take a look at this posting from the National Association of Realtors showing what national economists are saying about where the real estate market is heading.
Home Prices to Rise 4% Per Year?
Have home prices finally hit bottom? Many analysts think so. According to the latest forecast by Fiserv, the market watcher sees a big boost to home prices on the horizon, projecting that home prices will rise nearly 4 percent per year for the next five years.
The real estate markets expected to see the biggest increases in home prices will likely be those hardest hit the last few years by foreclosures, such as in Phoenix and Las Vegas, and areas where prices have fallen the most, according to Fiserv’s forecast.
Housings rising affordability mixed with falling inventories of for-sale homes are the main factors driving the expected price increases, according to Fiserv.
Initially, investors are expected to help drive most of this price increase, and then followed by first-time and trade-up buyers as they re-emerge in bigger numbers to the market.
Source: “U.S. Home Prices Could Rise 4% a Year, Forecast Says,” USA Today (May 8. 2012)
Monday, May 7, 2012
THE BEGINNING OF THE BEGINNING
As far as I'm concerned, Berkshire real estate has seen the end of its recent downturn. While the national media said the real estate market had hit bottom sometime in the late Fall of 2011 my thought for the Berkshire market was that late August 2011 was the turn-around point.
It took a few months of steady (yes, and slow) progress to be sure that was the case and it does appear so. Homes coming on the market for the first time are at a price that makes sense to buyers, who are still looking for extraordinary values. Property coming back on the market is also priced well.
In terms of actual buying patterns there are two price ranges that feel strong - homes priced under $350,000 and high end homes. We are actually seeing competing bids for houses in those price ranges. In fact, county wide compared to this time last year we are up nearly 20% in the number of sales and our inventory is down nearly 13%.
In short, this is a good time for buyers to buy - prices are still good and bank rates are still excellent. It's a great time for sellers to put a house on the market (as long as it's priced right) because there's not as much out there as there used to be.
This great village home in West Stockbridge is newly listed at an amazing $239,900.
As far as I'm concerned, Berkshire real estate has seen the end of its recent downturn. While the national media said the real estate market had hit bottom sometime in the late Fall of 2011 my thought for the Berkshire market was that late August 2011 was the turn-around point.It took a few months of steady (yes, and slow) progress to be sure that was the case and it does appear so. Homes coming on the market for the first time are at a price that makes sense to buyers, who are still looking for extraordinary values. Property coming back on the market is also priced well.
In terms of actual buying patterns there are two price ranges that feel strong - homes priced under $350,000 and high end homes. We are actually seeing competing bids for houses in those price ranges. In fact, county wide compared to this time last year we are up nearly 20% in the number of sales and our inventory is down nearly 13%.
In short, this is a good time for buyers to buy - prices are still good and bank rates are still excellent. It's a great time for sellers to put a house on the market (as long as it's priced right) because there's not as much out there as there used to be.
This great village home in West Stockbridge is newly listed at an amazing $239,900.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Well We Knew, Now Everyone Does
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-20-Best-Small-Towns-in-America.html?c=y&page=2
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
DOESN'T THIS WEATHER MAKE YOU WANT TO SPRING CLEAN?
Well, it's far more likely that it makes you want to go out and play but if you have a house for sale this is a great time to do a deep spring cleaning. I can't over emphasize how important it is for your house to look, feel and smell really fresh. These easy tips from Jane Hoback (reprinted from Realtor.com/House Logic) are things you might not think of but are surely things a buyer viewing your home will see.
De-bug the light fixtures
Vacuum heat vents and registers
Polish hardware
Replace grungy switch plates
Neaten weather stripping
Replace stove drip pans
Well, it's far more likely that it makes you want to go out and play but if you have a house for sale this is a great time to do a deep spring cleaning. I can't over emphasize how important it is for your house to look, feel and smell really fresh. These easy tips from Jane Hoback (reprinted from Realtor.com/House Logic) are things you might not think of but are surely things a buyer viewing your home will see.
De-bug the light fixtures
See that bug burial ground within your overhead fixtures? Turn off the lights and carefully remove fixture covers, dump out flies and wash with hot soapy water. While you’re up there, dust bulbs. Dry everything thoroughly before replacing the cover.
Vacuum heat vents and registers
Dirt and dust build up in heat vents and along register blades. Vents also are great
receptacles for coins and missing buttons. Unscrew vent covers from walls or pluck them from floors, remove foreign objects, and vacuum inside the vent. Clean grates with a damp cloth and screw back tightly.
Polish hardware
To deep clean brass door hinges, handles, and cabinet knobs, thoroughly wipe with a damp micro -fiber cloth, then polish with Wright’s or Weiman brass cleaner ($4). Dish soap shines up glass or stainless steel knobs. Use a Q-tip to detail the ornamental filigree on knobs and handles.
Replace grungy switch plates
Any amateur can wipe a few fingerprints off cover plates that hide light switches, electric outlets, phone jacks, and cable outlets. But only deep cleaners happily remove plates to vacuum and swipe the gunk behind. (OK, we’re a little OCD when it comes to dirt!) Make sure cover plates are straight when you replace them. And pitch plates that are beyond the help of even deep cleaning. New ones cost less than $2 each.
Neaten weather stripping
Peeling, drooping weather stripping on doors and windows makes rooms look old. If the strip still has some life, nail or glue it back. If it’s hopeless, cut out and replace sections, or just pull the whole thing off and start new. A 10-ft. roll of foam weather stripping costs $8; 16-ft. vinyl costs about $15.
Replace stove drip pans
Some drip pans are beyond the scrub brush. Replacing them costs about $3 each and instantly freshens your stove.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)