We look forward to apple picking season every year - it's a great way to get the whole family outdoors enjoying the crisp autumn sunshine and delicious local produce. We are spoiled for choice in our local area with so many orchards to choose from, so to help you decide where to go we asked [...]

Summer is typically a quieter time in real estate, with people making the most of the good weather and enjoying the slower pace of life. We certainly saw a drop in activity during August compared to prior months, with fewer listings hitting the market and fewer buyers out searching - as is expected at this time of year. No surprises so [...]

Labor Day signals the end of the summer season - and with some schools back in session already, you might be feeling that summer is long gone. But if you (like us!) are not ready to say goodbye to fun in the sun [...]

Finding your dream home always starts with a simple search and a great agent. The housing market in the Boston area can be tricky to navigate, but with the right tools, you’ll be able to score the house you have always [...]

Like us you might be in denial that summer will end - we are not quite ready to pack away our beach chairs just yet! But soon enough September will be here bringing with it cooler weather, a return to more normal routines, and a renewed focus on the housing market. There are definitely advantages to listing your home in the fall rather than [...]

Summer is in full swing, and typically we would see a slow down in the housing market as people take a break from their regular routine to enjoy the slower pace of life. However, as we've said before, there is nothing typical about this year. July saw an increase in market volume compared to July 2020, which itself was a busier than usual [...]

We are already into August but there are still plenty of warm summer days ahead of us! Here in New England we are conditioned to make the most of the summer months to get us through those long cold winters. Luckily living in the towns and communities north of Boston we have plenty of opportunities to get outside and make the most of the [...]

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR) just released the latest stats for the end of Q2 and it makes very interesting reading for sellers. Across all of our offices we are seeing prices continuing to rise and days on market to fall as a result of the increased demand and limited inventory.  In Acton so far this year, single-family homes are selling for an average of 109.5% of the list price, and in Carlisle, Lincoln and Lexington that number is around 104%. In all towns homes are selling on average over the asking price, compared to last year when single family homes sold for a little under the list price. Days on market have also dropped compared to the first six months of 2020 - Westford has an average of 19 days to sale, Bedford is 37 days and Winchester is 42 days. In Concord the average days on market has halved since June 2020. Available inventory continues to be an issue - as of the end of June there was less than one month’s supply of homes in Acton, Bedford and Westford. For more details on these towns and many others around us, read the full report here.

So for sellers the market still has many positive indicators, but things may be set to change this fall. With the foreclosure moratorium coming to an end in July, and both the mortgage forbearance program and pandemic unemployment assistance ending in September, many are predicting a change in the housing market in the coming months. If you are thinking about selling your home, don’t wait to see what will happen - talk to one of our experienced realtors to get a detailed analysis of the market in your area.

Already decided to sell? Check back for our tips on how to prep your home this summer to be ready for the busy fall market!

If you want to get a mortgage from the bank, a good credit score is essential. You should shoot for a 640 if you want to buy a house in Boston, and the higher the score the more options you'll have regarding lenders and interest rates. It is possible to get a loan with a lower score, but it will be more difficult. Several factors go into [...]

One of the most special things about summer is enjoying an outdoor movie. There are several drive-in movie theaters in our area that show current releases and old classics throughout the summer months. Topsfield Drive In, Mendon Twin Drive In and even Milford Drive In Theater in NH are all within an hour’s drive, and offer a program of family favorites such as Back to the Future and The Goonies alongside other summer classics like Jaws. They also show current movies such as the latest in the Fast and Furious franchise. It's a fun night out for all ages.

However if you prefer to pick your own movie and enjoy your own snacks it's pretty easy to set up your own outdoor movie theater. You can pick up a projector from most of the big box stores which you can connect to your own laptop or device, and then you can broadcast movies from any of the streaming services such as Netflix or Disney Plus. You can also purchase a screen, but a white sheet suspended from a deck or a tree will do just as well. Grab some beach chairs or a beanbag and you are free to create your own special summer memories whenever you like!

Take a look at some of these homes from Sotheby’s International Realty to inspire your backyard movie theater set-up. Don’t have the perfect spot yet?  Browse our listings for homes with yards just right for movies under the stars.