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Is it Possible to Negotiate a Better Rent Price on a Boston Rental? Some people may see that question and immediately answer no, but it is possible to have a conversation about a better monthly rental fee with your landlord or property manager.  It may feel like going up against a giant or trying to "slay a dragon" but with the right research and strategy, it can be possible to talk about the possibility of a lower rent with the property owner or manager.  Here are Some Rental Price Negotiation Tips to Try Take Timing Into Consideration Asking for a lower rent in the middle of the mo ..read more

The real estate market in Boston and all across the country has had its challenges for potential homebuyers. One of the largest challenges for first-time Boston homebuyers is coming up with a down payment for a home purchase. A down payment on a Boston home can be a large sum of cash that not every Boston buyer has readily available in their bank account. An increase in home values has made coming up with a down payment even more difficult. Some Boston buyers may be unaware that there are ways to get assistance for making a down payment on a home purchase. Types of down payment assistance wort ..read more

Moving can be a stressful time for the entire household, including furry family members. With all the noise, changes in routine, and general hustle and bustle of a move, it’s easy for a pet to become overwhelmed. To make this big adjustment less of an ordeal for your pet, there are certain steps you can take before, during and after the transfer. Below are a few tips and tricks to help pets feel less anxious during a move. Be sure to comfort your pet with extra attention and get back into the old routine quickly to help the pet feel more at home. For additional tips for moving with pets in tow ..read more

With mortgage rates on the rise home buyers are looking for alternative ways to help finance a home purchase. One method that is becoming more popular is to look for a rent-to-own home or lease option. How a rent-to-own home works The tenant and the landlord set up a contract where the tenant will pay the owner an agreed-upon monthly rent price and the property owner will set aside a portion of each monthly payment to use for the down payment on the purchase of the home. The amount set aside for the down payment can vary depending upon the specific contract that both the landlord and tenant ag ..read more

Boston Massachusetts is so fun during the Halloween season and now everybody's beloved four-legged family members are getting in on the fun as well. Purchasing a costume for your pet has been popular for the last several years but what is new and popular is placing those adorable four-legged friends into a Halloween pet parade to show off those costumes. Here are some places around Boston where you can enjoy a Halloween pet parade Dog Park Costume Parade This parade takes place on October 22 at 10 AM at Dedham Dog Park. This is the first-ever dog costume parade at the dog park. There will be f ..read more

The Escrow Process Explained from Start to Finish for Boston Home Buyers There are 6 steps that Boston homebuyers will go through that make up the escrow portion of their home purchase.  Escrow is Opened when the Buyer Makes an Earnest Money or Good Faith Deposit Once a contract has been agreed upon and accepted by the home seller the home buyer will write a check for the contracted earnest money or good faith deposit amount to be placed in an escrow account under the watchful protection of an escrow agent.  The Home Seller Completes the Required Sellers Disclosure The seller's discl ..read more

The large online real estate entity realtor.com is always conducting research about real estate operations on various different aspects. The research they conducted about a year ago showed that according to data analysis over the last three years, the week of October 3-9, or the first full week of October, is the best time to purchase real estate. What was it in the research that showed this was the best time to buy real estate? According to those processing the data the market conditions for the week of October 3-9, showed historically over the last several years to have the best balance of m ..read more

Over the course of the pandemic homebuying competition was extremely high and with a recent drop in mortgage interest rates this competition is beginning to emerge again. During this increased competition many home buyers felt the pressure to waive the inspection contingency in order to have their offer considered in a competitive market. In December 2022 Massachusetts legislators filed a bill that may help to remove the pressure to waive an inspection contingency when making an offer on a home purchase. About the SD1504 Act This bill is labeled SD1504 it is an act protecting consumer rights i ..read more

There is no home in the world, including here in Boston, that is completely immune to taking on damage from a natural disaster or freak accident. There is no way to know when your Boston home may get hit by an unfortunate mishap. This is why it is required by mortgage companies for homeowners borrowing money from them to carry some form of homeowners insurance.  When a disaster, accident, or even a burglary occurs a Boston homeowner can rely on help from their insurance coverage. When it is time to make an insurance claim having a structured, organized, and a detailed home inventory will ..read more