Climate change is shifting our relationships to the seasons: more time spent inside on day after day of extreme heat, plus swimming in November (ask my daughter: she did it last week!) are just two ways we’re seeing the impact. However, we’re still pretty certain that you can’t grow lettuce outside in December, at least not yet. Gardeners usually spend the winter collecting seed catalogs and planning for the following spring. But we’d like to challenge you toilers of the soil to continue gardening this winter. If you have a sunny spot and the need for green, let’s see if you can keep your gar ..read more

Last year at this time, we chose to express our gratitude for the relationships that sustained us—and in many cases grew—during Covid. This year we are thankful that things have improved to the point that we are able to travel, an activity that for so many was put on hold for too long. In honor of Thanksgiving, we are sharing some highlights from our travel experiences, and we would love to hear from you about any trips that brightened your world this past year! Liz Travel has always been an integral part of my life, starting with my first cross-country trip to Alaska at the age of 2. My pare ..read more

The news likes to report the negative: The buzz is that the housing market is crashing, but is it really? We say it’s experiencing a redirection. The country is technically in a recession, and inflation and interest rates have risen. Hence, buyers can’t afford the same mortgage prices as last year. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the market itself has crashed! Pandemic-fueled moving made last year…um…busier than normal; now, "normal" feels "slow." We just had an in-office meeting and looked at the local stats from all sales in our Cambridge office (there are over 125 agents in our office, c ..read more

Beautiful weather we’ve been having, huh? We’ve finally left behind the oppressive humidity (why was there so much moisture in the air, and yet here we are in a drought?), our days are drier and cooler, and the leaves are starting to change. You might feel a need to pick apples, go to an outdoor concert, or attend a fair. If so, we’ve got you covered at Liz & Ellie Local. Here are a few of our favorite outdoor happenings for this weekend. Here are nine events happening in and around the Somerville/Cambridge area this weekend, September 16-18. The weather forecast looks promising, so find ..read more

Whether you’ve purchased a fixer-upper or you’re ready to update that kitchen after a few decades, it takes planning and lots of tools to get the job done (If you're still in the planning stages, read our first "Renovate the Right Way" blog to get you started). We're not just talking about table saws and levels here, either; you need the tools that good neighbors use to maintain your relationship with your neighbors throughout this process. Everyone here at Liz & Ellie Local has worked on our homes, and we’d love to share our best practices for successfully navigating a construction proje ..read more

Buying real estate is one of the most significant expenses you’ll make in your lifetime. Paying for the property itself, the attorneys’ and agents’ fees—plus all the little things that come up—can add up. When your attorney asks if you’re planning to shell out another $2,000-$5,000 for title insurance and $1,300 for homeowners insurance, you may think enough is enough, no more spending! However, no matter what that voice tells you, we always advise our clients to protect themselves and their property by purchasing title and homeowner’s insurance. A note to begin: If you have a mortgage, you m ..read more

If you’re a first-time homebuyer or it’s been a while since you’ve purchased a home, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns about mortgages. We at Liz and Ellie Local strive to educate our clients about the entire home buying process, and the mortgage is no exception. We work with some amazing colleagues, and today, we're lucky to have Shant Benosian of Guaranteed Rate blogging about the mortgage process for us. Before you even start looking at homes for sale, it's important to determine your needs and budget. The best way to determine what your budget is by getting a pre-approval ..read more

Buying fresh produce, meat, and handmade goods doesn’t have to be difficult. Since farmers markets have exploded in popularity in recent years, nearly every city and town in the Cambridge area hosts at least one farmers market a week during the growing season—and many hold markets year-round. Buying locally is easier on the environment, connects residents with the land, and brings communities together. Plus, each market has its own character, so it’s fun to branch out and visit markets outside your immediate neighborhood. We at Liz & Ellie Local are all about connecting people with their ..read more

I used to teach social studies to middle school kids (you're welcome to anyone who's ever raised a teenager). Whenever I assigned a research project, we’d talk about how Wikipedia may be helpful and fun when you're getting started, but it’s not a reliable resource. It can tell you the names of ancient Chinese dynasties, for example, but there are much better places to get reputable facts about artistic styles of the Han era. Our team at Liz & Ellie Local feels the same way about Zillow and their Zestimates: the tool is fast, fun, and dare I say it—exciting!— to use. However, buyers and se ..read more

Energy costs are rising tremendously, particularly natural gas prices. As a result, many homeowners are switching from gas to electric appliances, including hot water, heating, and our topic for today: kitchen ranges. Electric induction cooktops are trending up in recent years; now that prices are becoming more competitive, you may be wondering if it’s time to make the switch to induction cooking. We’ve done all the research, so read on and make the decision that’s right for you. First of all, induction cooktops use an entirely different method to cook your food. - Traditional ranges heat up ..read more