Fourth of July in Boston

Summer is in full swing and June is dwindling down, now the next big summer event is the Fourth of July! Boston, MA is the perfect place for celebrating our nation and partaking in some Fourth of July festivities. If you don't have plans yet I have compiled a list of some Boston favorites for you to explore this weekend.

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. If anyone knows how to do fireworks right, it's Boston, MA! The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is a two day celebration on July 3^rd and 4^th featuring musical performance on both days plus the spectacular fireworks show on July 4^th. This year's headliner along with the Orchestra is Little Big Town. It really can't be beat, come celebrate with Boston on the Esplanade!

Celebrate at the Museum of Science. The Museum of Science has a fantastic view of the Charles River making it the place to celebrate Fourth of July. A full evening of fun science activities, family entertainment, a live broadcast from the Esplanade, and much more! The festivities start at 5:30 and conclude at 11:30pm. Adults are $28, children (3-11), $17.

Boston Harborfest. A favorite yearly destination by locals and tourists, the 33^rd Anniversary celebrations start July 1^st and continues through July 4^th. The festival showcases the colonial and maritime heritage of the cradle of the American Revolution: the historic city of Boston! Several activities and tours are planned daily at Boston Harborfest, including a parade on the fourth.

In addition to the festivities I have listed above, there are numerous other festivals throughout the summer. Once you buy a home in Boston and get acquainted with your neighborhood, you’ll find all of the hidden gems that the locals rave about and return to year after year. Summer is a fantastic time to buy a home in Boston. All of your new neighbors come out of hibernation and are outdoors, making it easy to develop new friendships. If you’d like a personal guide to help show you around the city, please contact a Boston real estate agent, it’s my pleasure to show newcomers what a great place Boston is to settle down.

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Buying a Boston Home -Should You Use a Real Estate Agent?

Buying or selling a home can be quite an adventure. Whether you are in the market to sell your Boston home or you are wanting to buy a Boston home you will benefit from the help of a real estate professional. Think you can go this adventure alone? Think again.

Paperwork. What to do with all of this paperwork? Buying and selling a home requires stacks and stacks of paperwork and the rules and regulations seem to be constantly changing. A Boston real estate agent can guide you through these piles of paperwork to help you make your dream a reality. 
 
Have a lot of time on your hands? So you found your dream home, what happens next? According to the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, there are over 230 possible actions that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. If you are like most of us, you probably don’t have time for that on top of your regular job and home life. 
 
Can you negotiate? Let a proven expert negotiate on your behalf. Not only do you have the buyer, who wants the best deal possible, you also have to consider the appraiser. There are at least eleven parties that you will need to be knowledgeable with and answer to. Let us speak on your behalf, in your best interest. 
 
How is the market? Even if you pride yourself on keeping up with the real estate market trends there is no substitute for an expert. An expert in the area will know exactly how to price your home to sell for top dollar and quickly. A real estate agent will also know where to start with putting in an offer on your dream Boston home. Hiring a real estate agent with their finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying or selling experience an educated one. 
 

Buying or selling a home can be quite an adventure. Whether you are in the market to sell your Boston home or you are wanting to buy a Boston home you will benefit from the help of a real estate professional. When you are ready, contact a Boston real estate agent real estate agent.

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Can You Get a Deal on a Boston Home?

Just as we expected, 2016 is shaping up to be a great year for real estate in Boston. If you have been casually browsing the online listings and aren’t quite sure if you should jump in, NOW is a great time! After the real estate market crash, housing prices have finally recovered, according to the Case-Shiller Housing Index. Although that’s good for the economy overall, it can make it difficult to get a great deal when buying a home. So, how can you get the best deal on a Boston home?

1. Find a Good Real Estate Agent. A good agent could mean the difference between a relatively painless and cost-effective home purchase and complete disaster. Don’t go it alone.
2. Find a Great Lender and the Right Mortgage for You. The best lender will have access to grant programs, including first-time homebuyer programs and those for special down payment option.
3. Find the Lowest Interest Rate. Interest rates will depend at least partially on the lender so make sure to shop around for your best option.
4. Ask the Seller to Pay Closing Costs. Instead of asking to lower the purchase price you can negotiate the seller paying fees, such as the closing costs.
   

If you are thinking of buying your first Boston home or moving up to your ultimate dream home, now is a great time to get a sensational rate on your mortgage and therefore reduce your borrowing costs and monthly mortgage payments.
There are so many incredible benefits of homeownership, both financially and personally. If you are considering buying a Boston home, but aren’t sure if homeownership is for you, let me fill you in on all the financial perks to owning! Contact a Boston real estate agent today!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Your Boston Home Mortgage – Get a Pre-Approval

Applying for a mortgage can be a daunting experience. It’s lengthy, time consuming, and over all can be quite confusing. But, potential buyers benefit in several ways by consulting with a lender and obtaining a pre-approval letter prior to shopping for a home. While a mortgage pre-qualification can be useful as an estimate of how much can you spend on your Boston home, a pre-approval is much more valuable because this means the lender has actually checked your credit and verified your documentation to approve a specific loan amount (usually for a particular time period such as 90 days). Below is a list of five things that you will need to have ready for your Boston, MA mortgage lender in order to receive your pre-approval.

1. Proof of Income: You will need two years worth of pay stubs or W2 statements to prove your income. Any additional income must be verified too.
2. Proof of Assets: You will need to present bank statements and investment account statements to prove that you have funds for the down payment and closing costs on a Boston home, as well as cash reserves.
3. Good credit: Most lenders today reserve the lowest interest rates for customers with a credit score of 740 or above. Below that, Boston home borrowers may have to pay a little more in interest or pay additional discount points to lower the rate.
4. Employment verification: Your lender will not only want to see your pay stubs, but is also likely to call your employer to verify that you are still employed and to check on your salary.
5. Documentation: Your lender will need to copy your driver’s license and will need your Social Security number and your signature allowing the lender to pull a credit report.
   

As a Boston, MA real estate agent, I can connect you with mortgage professionals, should you need a recommendation. Please contact a real estate agent about a Boston home when you decide to start your home search. I can't wait to hear from you!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – Lower Your Energy Bills

The the average Boston, MA household spends $2,200 annually on energy bills. A good portion of those utility bills is the electric bill due to the various electronic devices and computers we rely on. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reported that: “Consumer electronics and computer equipment now represent 15 percent of global residential electricity consumption.” Whether you’d like to save on your utility bills or you are hoping reduce your carbon foot print there are some steps you can take to reduce your energy consumption across the board. Luckily you don’t need to get fancy to starting saving money and energy. There are some simple hacks that could help you start saving energy right away. 
 
Energy audit. Many utility companies will offer this service for free. They perform a check up of your home to determine where you may be losing energy. 
 
New appliances. New appliances will not only upgrade the value of your Boston, MA home, it will also allow you to get Energy Star certified models which are held to higher standards of energy efficiency. 
 
Clean vents. Clean HVAC vents and ducts regularly and replace the filters to allow your HVA to run at its peak performance. Vacuum the coils at the bottom or underneath of the refrigerator too.

Turn down the water heater. The factory setting on most water heaters is 140 degrees Fahrenheit which is way too hot. Turning it down to 120 degrees helps conserve energy and also will keep you from scalding your skin. 
 
Turn off appliances. Turn off appliances that no one is using and make sure to not rely on the screen saver on your computer – it doesn’t save any energy. Put the computer to sleep or just turn it off between uses. 
 
I hope that these energy-efficient tips will help you save some money on your monthly expenses! If you are currently renting but looking to purchase your dream home contact an experienced Boston, MA real estate agent. I am committed to providing you with the highest quality buyer service. I hope to speak with you soon! 
 

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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