New Year's Day Brunch in Boston

A time honored tradition for many is to start off the New Year with a delicious brunch to rehash last night's goings on and to help ease recovery from the New Year's Eve festivities. Boston is a great city for this tradition with so many great restaurants to choose from. There are plenty of options from the sweet to the savory, along with the perfect drinks to help you recuperate. Here are a few standouts from the brunch bunch.

Meritage. Located right on the Waterfront in Boston, Meritage is a perfect brunch spot. A true brunch with several options to choose from, from the Nantucket scallops to the French toast and omelet station. New Year's Day dining is $55 for adults and $25 for children.

Cafe Fleuri. Located in The Langham, Cafe Fleuri's New Year's Eve Recovery Brunch is just what the doctor ordered. An extensive menu featuring traditional breakfast items, carving and pasta stations. $73 for adults and $36 for children.

Mooo.... Located in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood, Mooo.... has a memorable meal planned for New Year's Day including options such as the Kobe steak and eggs or French toast with caramelized banana and gingered maple. Serving from 10am – 2pm. The regular bar menu is available after 2pm.

Looking for more options? CBS Boston has a few more on their Best Boston Brunch list.

I hope that your New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are memorable and that you enjoy celebrating with your friends and family. Please know I am only a click a way if you have any Boston, MA real estate needs. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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New Years in Boston, MA

It is soon going to be time to ring in the New Year here in Boston, MA. There is no shortage of things to do in and around Boston at this time, here are a few of the most celebrated New Years events. Enjoy!

First Night Boston. First Night Boston festivities are almost here. Boston, MA will be filled with art, music, and dance events, as well as fireworks displays. All outdoor First Night activities are free, indoor events require a First Night Button. There are several convenient ways to buy a button for the event as well as a very busy schedule. 1 PM – midnight, December 31^st.

Fill Your Belly with Food and Bubbly. There are far too many restaurants in Boston, MA to list but boston.com has done a good job wrangling up several prime choices. Make sure to call to check on availability, prices, and reservations.

PubCrawl 2014. Featuring some of the best bars Boston, MA has to offer, spread over three nights from 12/28-12/31. Why stick to one venue when you can sample several? Meet new friends, enjoy great drink specials, and ring in the New Year! With purchase of a pass you gain free entry to all participating venues.

The 6^th Annual Timeless Gala. Voted into the Top 10 Black Tie Event in New England in the past 5 years! This year's theme is Old Hollywood, James Bond, with red carpet, décor, signature cocktails, professional photographers, and live entertainment. Buy Tickets before they sell out!

Please enjoy the holiday with your friends and family and be sure to celebrate safely. If you're visiting us in hopes of buying a home in Boston, please give me a call during your stay. Without the guidance of a local expert, it can be tricky to cover all of the city's vibrant neighborhoods! As a Boston real estate agent, my services extend beyond helping buyers and sellers through their transactions. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with their surroundings and exposing them to the best of everything Boston has to offer. I hope to speak with you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Is a 15 year mortgage right for your Boston Home?

The housing market is in now in the process of recovery and foreclosures are lessening. With the financial climate more stable many of today's borrowers are attracted to 15-year mortgages' shorter terms and lower interests rates. But, is this option right for your Boston home?

Can you afford to pay off the mortgage in 15 years?

If you can afford the higher payments associated with the shorter term mortgage why not take one? The rate is lower compared to a 30-year which means less interest AND paying that interest for half as long. But, that 15-year mortgage comes with a higher total monthly payment and this can cramp your ability to set aside money for retirement, investments, or other necessities. You don't want to max out on house payments and not be able to have emergency or fun money either. If this is the case than a 15-year mortgage is not for you.

Are you looking to refinance?

Depending on how high your current 30-year rate is on your Boston home you may be able to refinance into a 15-year mortgage and keep your payments the same PLUS shorten your mortgage term. It may mean a significantly lower interest rate, possibly as much as a full point.

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

A 30-year rate may be a better choice for you because it comes with lower monthly payments. If you are first time buyer trying to buy the most house you can this lower payment will be an attractive option.

There are several choices out there in regards to mortgage terms, I'd be happy to help and point you to a qualified professional who can discuss your personal circumstances and which options would be best for you.

And if you are still searching for that perfect Boston Home, let a local expert help you out. Buying a home is an exciting and complex adventure. It can also be a very time-consuming and costly one if you're not familiar with all aspects of the process. So taking the time to learn about the process and your options is critical to making the best informed choices in order to achieve your own particular goals.

Please feel free to contact me, I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Mortgage Application Info for Boston Homebuyers

Applying for a mortgage can be a daunting experience. It's lengthy, time consuming, and over all can be quite confusing. Below are some tips to help you before you start your mortgage process for your Boston home.

Check your credit. Know your score in advance before applying. You never know what you might find on your report and it's best to know before hand then when you are in the midst of your Boston home buying experience. Check your credit well in advance so that you have time to improve your score or remove any faulty information.

Get a preapproval. The bank will look at your credit and combined with your income and assets they will determine how much you can borrow. This number is key to having before you start your Boston home search so you know your price cap. And once you find that perfect Boston home many sellers will want a preapproval with any offer.

Don't make any major changes. Now is not the time to be switching jobs or opening up any new lines of credit. Both of these changes are red flags while trying to obtain a new home loan. It is also not a good idea to have a big deposit within several months before your finances are looked into. This could also set off a red flag and make you appear financially unstable.

Over the last 14 years I have grown a highly successful Boston real estate practice devoted to understanding and satisfying the needs and goals of all my clients. As a result, 90% of my business is referred from those satisfied clients.

Without the guidance of a local expert, it can be tricky to cover all of the city's vibrant neighborhoods! As a Boston real estate agent, my services extend beyond helping buyers and sellers through their transactions. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with their surroundings and exposing them to the best of everything Boston has to offer.

Please contact me when you decide to start your home search.

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA Holiday Events

'Tis the season for holiday lights, tree-lighting ceremonies, and all around holiday fun. Looking for something fun to do with friends and family in the upcoming weeks around Boston, MA? There is way too many to list them all, but, here is a sampling of some local favorites to help keep your days merry and bright.

Boston Common Tree Lighting Ceremony. Enjoy the 72^nd annual lighting of Boston's official tree. Singers Joey McIntyre and Erica Van Pelt will perform from 6-8pm among others, including Santa Claus. The highlight of the evening, the tree lighting, will happen around 8pm. Boston Common, Boston, December 5^th.

Bright Nights at Forest Park. Come out to New England's largest holiday lighting display. Enjoy from the comfort of your own car displays such as Seuss Land, Toy Land, and North Pole Village. Tune your radio to 98.5 FM to enjoy holiday music. Sumner Avenue, Springfield, now through January.

The Polar Express at Edaville. Take a magical ride to the North Pole where Santa will board the train and give each child a first gift of Christmas. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served amongst live readings and carols. 7 Eda Avenue, Edaville, Daily through December 28^th.

I hope you enjoy this Boston, MA holiday season with your friends and family. Please know I am only a click a way if you have any Boston, MA real estate needs. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garafalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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