Boston, MA – Do You Need a Realtor?

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

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, MA real estate agent can guide you through these piles of paperwork to help you make your dream a reality. 
 
What happens next? So you found your dream home, what happens next? Let an expert guide you through each step as they have been there before, many times. 
 
Negotiation. 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. I’ve discussed before how an appraisal can derail your Boston, MA home sale. Let me navigate those tricky waters for you. 
 
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 Boston, MA dream 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. 
 
As a Boston, MA real estate agent I am well versed in what it takes to get the job done. Please contact a Boston, MA real estate agent when you are ready to start the buying or selling process. I look forward to hearing from you!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – Prepare for Spring

February is here and before we know it spring will be here too. Along with the spring weather also comes the spring market – easily the busiest time of year in Boston, MA real estate. If you are looking to sell your Boston, MA home this spring, now is the time to start preparation. There is of course plenty to do to stage your home on the inside, but, don’t forget about the outside. Here is a list of several projects you can get started on soon.

Deck maintenance. Give your deck a face-lift by cleaning and re-staining it. An oxygen-bleach wood cleaner does the job well and won’t harm your plants around the deck. After a good rinse and dry it’s ready to stain. We all know curb appeal is important and that goes for the back of the house too so don’t neglect your deck. 
 
Paint patio furniture. Soon it will be warm enough for outdoor living and we want to remind your possible Boston, MA homebuyers of the possibilities of outdoor living for your home. Clean and arrange your furniture and re-paint any metal lawn furniture that needs it. 
 
Shampoo the rugs and curtains. Every home deserves a good spring cleaning, especially if you have your home on the real estate market. Now is a great time to either have the pro’s tackle the job or rent a DIY carpet cleaner to do the job yourself.

If you are looking to Boston, MA real estate market this spring, please be sure to contact a Boston, MA real estate agent. I am happy to help you find the perfect home for you!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA - Tax Deductions

It’s that time of year again – tax season is here. If you sold your Boston, MA home in 2015 then you have some tax deductions owed to you from the IRS. It does involve you itemizing your taxes, but, it is worth your while to get the benefits. Here are a few tax deductions to speak to your tax expert about.

Selling Costs. There is an exclusion on any taxes on your Boston, MA home sale profit if the profit is less than $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 if filling a joint return with your spouse. If you happen to not qualify for that exclusion you will need to pay taxes on any profit so make sure you deduct all your selling costs from your gain such as commission, legal fees, escrow fees, and more. 
 
Moving Deduction. If you sold your Boston, MA home because you are relocating for work you may be able to deduct some of your moving expenses such as transportation, storage, and lodging.

Home Improvements. If you made any improvements to your home that helped you sell your home, such as fixing a leaking roof, you may be able to deduct these costs. The improvements need to be made within 90 days of the closing to be considered selling costs. 
 
There are other home sale deductions possible and it would be best to check with your tax expert to confirm as deductions can vary from state to state. If you haven’t sold your Boston, MA home but are preparing to do so in 2016, contact a Boston, MA real estate agent. I am happy to help you sell your Boston, MA home!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Your Boston Home – Appraisal Concerns

Congratulations, your Boston home has an offer on it and you’ve made it all the way through pricing negotiation and on to the appraisal. You and your Boston real estate agent have compared similar homes in your neighborhood and assume the appraisal will go through without a hitch. Unfortunately, what you thought was a done deal has been held up with an unmatched appraisal and it looks like your deal might fall through. This scenario seems pretty far fetched but it has been happening more often due to subjective decisions made by home appraisers. 
 
According to research provided by the National Association of Realtors, more than 1 out of 5 home real estate contracts are delayed because of disagreement over the appraisal. As reported by The Washington Post, a massive first-of-its-kind study followed 1.3 million individual appraisal reports from 2012 through 2015. They suggest when challenging an appraiser’s number to look at adjustments involving relatively subjective estimations – such as the appraiser’s opinion on the overall quality level of your house, its condition and location, and more. These subjective adjustments may lead to a much different appraisal on your Boston home than you were expecting. 
 
According to the study, adjustments were made in 99.8 percent of all appraisals. Adjustments on objective features, such as living area, rooms, or car storage tended to not amount to much difference in pricing. However, adjustments involving more subjective matters triggered much bigger dollar changes, with an average adjustment of $15,000. That $15,000 could make or break your Boston home sale so it is definitely something to be aware of. 
 
So, what to do if you receive bad news from the appraiser? Have your your Boston real estate agent take a look at the adjustments made on the subjective factors such as condition and quality. When you are ready to sell your Boston home, contact a Boston real estate agent. I can help you navigate the tricky waters of your home sale, including any appraisal issues. I hope to speak with you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – Are You Ready to Move?

Are you on the fence about whether or not to buy a new home in Boston, MA? Moving isn’t anyone’s favorite thing to do but a new space does come with many perks and 2016 is shaping up to be a banner year for buying real estate in Boston, MA. Check out the following signs that maybe it is time to take the plunge and start a new home search in Boston, MA. 
 
Money. Certainly the most obvious point when thinking of moving is money. Examine your expenses and ensure that you are able to take on that new house payment and make sure your credit is in order.

You have outgrown your home. Whether you have outgrown your home in storage space, living space, or bedrooms, you may need to upgrade into a new home to fit your current needs. 
 
Your home is too big. In the opposite vein, maybe your kids have just left the nest and you find yourself with too much space. Don’t pay for space you don’t need and think about downsizing to a smaller house or townhouse. 
 
Your home needs too many repairs. There comes a time when it might cost you less to move to a new Boston, MA home than to repair your current home. Don’t feel bad throwing in the towel and instead think of how nice it would be on your stress level if you could start fresh in a new home. 
 

If you are looking to enter the Boston, MA real estate market in 2016, please be sure to contact a Boston, MA real estate agent. I am happy to help you find the perfect home for you!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – Real Estate Resolutions for 2016

Is 2016 the year you will buy your first home in Boston, MA? 2016 is shaping up to be a great year to buy real estate in Boston, MA so kudos for you for deciding to take the plunge into home-ownership this year. In the spirit of the New Year, here are several resolutions, perfect for the prospective home-buyer.

1. Create and Stick to a Budget. Rework your budget to allow for the extras associated with home-ownership, including taxes and utilities. Live off of this budget for a few months and see that it is doable for you.
2. Continue Saving. If you are planning to buy a home in Boston, MA you likely have already saved your down payment. Make sure you continue to pad this savings for any unexpected costs during the home-buying process. Don’t forget to budget for moving expenses and closing costs too.
3. Save an Emergency Fund. In addition to your down payment you should also have a separate emergency fund that is equal to about 3-6 months of expenses. This emergency fund will help you in case something goes wrong in the new house.
4. Learn Some Home Care Basics. Once you own your Boston, MA home, you no longer will have a landlord to call, should something break. Learning some basics of home care will help you upkeep and fix minor issues yourself instead of calling for a handyman. Check out your local improvement store for classes and also videos online can be very informative.
   

If you are looking to enter the Boston, MA real estate market in 2016, please be sure to contact a Boston, MA real estate agent. I am happy to help you find the perfect home for you!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Boston, MA – Benefits to Owning Your Own Home

There are so many incredible benefits to owning your own home, both financially and personally. If you are considering buying a home in Boston, MA, but aren’t sure if home-ownership is for you, let me fill you in on all the financial perks to owning!
According to a recent study from the Joint Center of Housing Studies at Harvard University, there are several financial benefits to owning a home:

Pay your mortgage, not your landlords. You are either paying for your own home, or you’re paying for your landlord’s home. When you own, and you pay your mortgage each month, you know you’ll see a return on investment when you sell your Boston, MA home, and you might get back more than what you paid!

Forced savings. Not everyone is great at putting aside money each month for savings, but when you own a home, it’s like you’re being forced to save. You’re paying money out each month in the form of a mortgage, but then you get it back when you sell. 
 
Tax benefits. When filing your taxes each year, you can deduct your mortgage interest and your property taxes. 
 
Rental prices. Rents have been rising faster than home prices, so as long as you stay put in your house for awhile, home-ownership is still cheaper than renting. Boston, MA rents will keep rising but a mortgage will not. 
 
As you can see, buying a home in Boston, MA is a really smart financial decision, and a terrific investment into your future. Now is the time to buy, while mortgage rates are still low. They are predicted to rise over the course of 2016 so you shouldn’t wait. When ready to jump into home-ownership, contact a Boston, MA real estate agent! I hope to hear from you soon!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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