Written by Joan
Insights and Stories on Real Estate
Here for a particular real estate topic? Perhaps I’ve answered - search my blog.
Video: The House That Almost Got This Investor Flipped!
Buying a house AS IS is a risk that regular homebuyers wouldn’t undertake; but as for real estate investors, it’s often leverage used to have their offer on an off-market home successfully accepted. Find out what surprises this real estate investor discovered since his purchase of 312 Prospect St in Cambridge!
Real Estate Market Pulse: On Capital Flow, Housing Discounts and Buyer Profile
An update on the Boston real estate market 1.5 months after MA has issued the stay-at-home advisory. Tightened credit for Buyers, home sale prices that may dip but are unlikely to crash, and home purchases driven by Millennials for years to come.
Harvard Trail: Delaney Flood Control Site
Delaney Flood Control Site is a whooping 577 acres that span the towns of Harvard, Stow and Bolton. It’s got a beautiful pond, easy hike, open space for kite flying, an interesting wooded landscape… geese and swans. What’s there not to like?
Real Estate Market Pulse: The Beginning of a Buyers’ Market?
COVID-19 would be the start of a turning point in what was one of the best years for MA real estate. These are some ground-up insights on the real estate market, and practices Sellers and Buyers should adopt post Massachusetts’ declared state of emergency on March 10, 2020.
MA Buyers to assume smoke and carbon monoxide inspections
An Order permitting a temporary conditional deferral of smoke and carbon monoxide inspections has been signed. Read the Order, and understand what it means for Buyers and Sellers.
Adapting to a new normal
In the midst of this global pandemic that is Covid-19, will I now experience my third recession in full responsibility, unsheltered by youth? Is this truly the coming of a recession “long overdue”? It has always been said that real estate is more than houses- it’s about lives. That was my moment for me; my assimilation that I am not merely a conduit for home sales. My actions affect lives.
Want a unique space? Get into this Tudor Revival converted schoolhouse for $425,000.
Want city proximity? Tired of cookie-cutter grey boxes and looking for a unique space? Meet 220 Spencer Ave- this is 1900s Tudor meets hip!
2020 New year resolution: Make the bed
I’d abandoned making new year resolutions for the past 10 years. Little did I know that I would have a silly, but powerful one this year: make the bed.
10 Public high schools near Boxborough that I watch
No surprises there, real estate prices are closely correlated to the performance of public schools. Surrounded by a high concentration of top schools, here are the 10 public high schools that I watch (stalk).
10 Unique homes available this fall in Massachusetts
From the north in Salisbury to south in Mattapoisett and west in Amherst, here’s a list of my 10 favorite, most unique homes in Massachusetts. Forget about those 10 most expensive homes in Boston that are defined by location and square footage, some horribly ostentatious. Massachusetts has so much more to offer, and this list is all about character and a story.
Thank you, Mount Kearsarge
An unplanned trip, a perfect day, my husband with me, our stomachs a little hungry but our hearts so full. On this day on Mount Kearsarge, I was grateful to be alive.
From the Rich Dad Radio Show: Find out what the top performing real estate investment is.
This is not an endorsement of Robert Kiyosaki, but this episode has some interesting perspectives on 7 types of real estate assets, including the one that made top of list: Senior housing! Get tips on running a successful senior housing business by guest speaker Victor Menasce.
Do you know your real estate? Differences between a single-family, condo and a multi-family property.
Single-family? Multi-family? Multi-family condo? Condo Townhouse? Wait.. or is it single-family townhouse. What about Rowhouse? This is for my clients and buyers, so you guys can stop googling. Complete with venn diagram.
220 Old Littleton Rd in Harvard is the home of my dreams. [Update: Sold $26,000 over asking]
I have spent hours thinking about my dream home. It’s anything but a colonial with white picket fence. It’s got to have high ceilings. Natural light- lots of it. Modern living. Then came along this house in Harvard - a town dwarfed by the college namesake - that checks so many of my boxes. Here’s why I love it!
Difference between an Agent, Broker, Realtor and Facilitator
Prior to our arrival in the US, my husband and I knew of only one term that would describe the business facilitating real estate transactions: Real Estate Agent. We were beyond confused when we got here and were bombarded by other terms like Broker, REALTOR® and Facilitator. To those experiencing the same, this one’s for you.
11 Smart Rd is hands down the best valued listing in Acton as of today. [Update: Sold $39,000 over asking]
11 Smart Rd in Acton is the best listing to date. Here’s my take on it.
Is it just me, or are historical deeds super charming?
A look back in time. Before typewriters, stamps and barcodes, there was such elegant writing. Here’s my appreciation of a historical deed from 1878.
Price it right, at the right time.
In pricing a home, I’ve learnt to rely on two other metrics beyond comparable sales: the absorption rate and hot market factor. Look beyond general market sentiment and peer into more precise data. These help set expectations on the speed in which homes of a certain price range sell.
4 Hours; 4 lessons learnt from reality TV
I spent 4 hours watching a reality TV show on a successful team of real estate agents from LA. Here are 4 lessons gained.
It's in the numbers: Buy and hold properties in MA (Part 3)
The buy and hold CAP rate formula is probably the most straightforward in real estate investment calculations because there are concrete numbers to back your evaluation. But what CAP rate should you expect? The golden phrase is that CAP rate is a function of risk, and what you want to do with your money.