Hiring the Right Contractor V1 E37 Masters Touch Design-Build.  In this PODCAST Chris Previte of Masters Touch  Design-Build shares with us today the right and wrong way to find, secure and redo your home the right way. Choosing your contractor is the simple matter of knowing what to ask and being focused on finding the right person for your needs. Communications, vision, follow through are big parts. Caring about your needs and having a willingness to focus on those needs is critical. Listen to how one company does it right.Over the many years I have been in the real estate industry I have been in thousands of houses and hundreds of housing sites being built.  Nothing is the same, all have their unique aspects.  Builders use different materials, different crews, different timing and mo... 04/03/2020

Boston Globe Real Estate Writer spills the beans on Real Estate. Our Podcast today talks about high rents, need for affordable homes, transfer taxes, rent control the middle class families have difficulty in the Boston area finding homes that are a good fit for them.  Tim Logan, real estate writer, from The Boston Globe shares what he has covered in the past months on all these issues.  Transfer tax is in front of the legislature this week. The idea is to charge a 1% transfer tax to both Buyers and Sellers.  There are some towns in the Commonwealth looking at this for homes beginning at $400,000. This is a slippery slope. Once towns are reaping income from people who own homes and live in these towns they will, of course,  jump from taxing some sales to taxing all sales.To me this is un... 01/17/2020

Last week a friend asked if I wanted to go in Boston to take on a free country music movie given by WGBH TV which included a tour of Fenway Park.  Of course I said yes.  We go in to Boston Monday night and notice such a crowd and were surprised so many people were taking in this country music movie but maybe it was the tour that brought them out and the fact that it was 'free'.We drive around and around and around looking for parking, refusing to pay $50 to park.  We settle for $35 blocks away and walk (and walk).  As we are getting closer, the crowds are all walking in the same direction towards Fenway.  My friend says, "you know we really need to come back and take in a Sox game sometime" and I was all for it!  They are a blast!Starting about a block or so away there were people on th... 09/12/2019

Pricing a home right can be tricky, especially in volatile markets with prices that often fluctuate. It’s especially hard to tell if the other current list prices are accurate to the actual sale prices, which usually aren’t public until the sale closes- three or four months later. Analysis of similar homes and market changes are critical but sometimes difficult. It’s important to keep in mind the raw numbers such as square footage, monthly rental income, condition and location, as well as any special features. These are the most concrete factors on which to base your price. The history of the home is also valuable but uncertain, as you don’t always know how that particular market segment has shifted since the last sale. One of the best ways to get recent and accurate info regarding simi... 07/15/2019

Because of HGTV, we get asked almost daily, "wow, you're house flippers? How do I get into that business?" I mean, HGTV definitely makes it cool (thankfully, because I completely lack coolness otherwise :). And, it is an incredibly fun business.  So, here are my quick tips on getting into the flipping biz:  1. Start with humility and a desire to learn.  I laugh now to think about how many years I've wasted with a chip on my shoulder, thinking I had the answers.  It wasn't until I realized that I didn't know diddly that I started to learn. If you have this mindset, you can crush it in the "we buy houses" game.   2. Now that you have the right mindset, learn, learn, learn.  We are so blessed to live in a day where education is often free and bountiful.  Youtube has thousands of great vide... 06/18/2019

Are you thinking about selling your Boston home?Even if you already know exactly where you want to move and why – as in the case of retirement – it’s still a big decision. With a life-changing move on the horizon, you understand how to sell your Boston house for the best possible price.3 Tips to Maximum the Price of Your Boston HomeAs housing prices in Bosting steadily increase, now would be a great time to start planning for a sale if you’re thinking about downsizing or moving elsewhere.Just make sure that part of that planning process involves these essential tips.1. Decide When You Want to Move Out ByWhether you already have a new hometown in mind, or you’ve only just begun thinking about where you’ll move next, it’s essential that you set a target date for the sale of your home. Obv... 06/16/2019

Wordless Wednesday: The Hood Milk Bottle in Boston  I was in Boston back in November for the CRS/NAR meetings...and a wonderful ActiveRain Meetup. I took a walk to the convention center from my hotel on the water and walked by the iconic Hood Milk Bottle - an ice cream stand and snack bar - by the Boston Children's Museum where it had stood for 30 years.  Our kids also loved seeing this when we went to the museum (which is well worth a visit, by the way) and it was fun to see an old friend again, even on a dreary rainy day. 12/05/2018

Vinoteca di Monica: a fantastic North End Restaurant in Boston, MAAs we all are now  starting to get Turkey overload, I had to reminisce, about three weeks ago Diane and I were having dinner with old friends at this fantastic Restaurant. Our friends know our food palate and suggested, that we meet at this  Restaurant. Keep in mind if you are not familiar with “Little Italy” in Boston, there are probably 30 or more fantastic Restaurants that you can go to and enjoy a fantastic meal.Having moved away now for over 22+ years, we always defer to our friends to pick the Restaurants, after all, they are the locals and we are just the visitors. They suggested Vinoteca di Monica, so who were we to disagree?When we arrived, the place was packed, well what did we expect on a Saturday evening? Good... 11/25/2018

I am so grateful that Caffé  Vittoria in the North End of Boston aka in Little Italy is still around. It has been one of my favorite Cafes when I lived in Boston. It was the first Italian Café that opened in 1929. Nothing has changed, if you want to have the best Cappuccino in Boston outside of Italy, then this is a must visit destination.On our recent trip to Boston,  even though we were only there for less than six full days, we managed to stop in twice with friends.  I had conversations with friends about various places that sadly have closed. They were Boston Institutions. Hence, Therefore, I was very thankful that I was able to stop in and share a Cappuccino with friends.This Café has been around even before as well as during prohibition times, in the daytime it is a great place to... 11/18/2018

I am truly thankful for all of the friends I know through Active Rain.  When Lisa Von Domek created a meetup in Boston last Friday night. I was happy to make the trip to see so many AR members from all over. I have followed this wonderful AR members for years and I recognized them instantly.  Peter den Boer , Grant Schneider and Phyllis, Lisa Von Domek , Conrad Allen, Endre Barath, Jr. , Lisa Friedman , Sheila Anderson , George Souto , Debe Maxwell, CRS , Debbie Reynolds and Ray.  Also Nina Hollander, Jeff Dowler and Endre's wife Diane.I am grateful for my Active Rain Friends.   11/06/2018

Should you Buy your second home first? Some renters are learning how to build wealth by owning while keeping their rental. If you have a great home already in the city, and can own a property, too, then this brief introduction to buying your second home first will inspire you with information.Join us at a free event to learn how you can rent AND own: Currently renting? Explore options to invest in real estate now to build wealth and be in a better place tomorrow. A Step By Step Guide To Building Wealth Owning a home is one of the best and fastest ways to build wealth and grow your net worth. But I work & rent in Greater Boston...how can I rent and own? Join us at 6pm on Wednesday, October 24th for an informal & informative conversation run by experts which will provide you with the tool... 10/19/2018

Things to do in Boston this Week  D Street Market at The Lawn on D - Boston Come enjoy a European-style market at The Lawn On D featuring a farmers market, a cut flower stand, a mini car show, and roving street performers: jugglers, face painters, magicians, and aerialists! Plus, delicious food, drinks, lawn games, and live music throughout the day. Saturday, August 11, 2018   Truck & Tractor Day on the Greenway - BostonClimb aboard our trucks and tractors, check out a police cruiser and vintage fire truck, and listen in on our very special truck read-aloud Friday, Aug 10   Ignite Global Street Food and Fire Festival - SomervilleCelebrate Union Square's sizzling food landscape as we bring you an evening of international eats, fire throwers, roving entertainment, and a... Saturday, Aug 1... 08/08/2018

Here Are Some Fun Things in and Around BostonMagic 106.7 Family Film Festival July 7, 2018 - August 25, 2018 South Garden With free, family-friendly movies shown under the stars, the Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival is a great summer night out. Entertainment, children's activities and giveaways will start at 6pm. All movies will start every Saturday at sundown. Rain dates will be held the following Tuesday. 2018 Movie Schedule July 7: The Lion King July 14: SING! July 21: Coco July 28: Wonder August 4: The Incredibles August 11: Mulan August 18: Tarzan August 25: A Wrinkle in Time See more about this event here Download Our Home Search App Now Find homes for sale in your immediate vicinity using the GPS-driven real estate search tool Search homes based on commute times, address, MLS num... 07/23/2018

Habits versus Techniques Day 27 of 90 in a Realtors® life.  When we sit in our continuing education classes we are learning the laws so that we remain compliant as we practice. We also learn techniques on how to prospect, how to follow up, newest trends and techniques.  Successful agents will be present in these classes and they know that techniques are nothing more than that. Techniques for prospecting and selling homes are good, vital in fact, but they are not what will make us successful.  It is our daily habits with what we have learned that make us successful.For instance cold calling.  Is anyone really still using the line "Hello, I'm agent name from agency, how are you today?"  Really?  How salesy can this be.  No doubt you are hearing lots of hang ups on this tired approach.  P... 05/03/2018

Day 17 of 90 My Best Practices Real Estate 2018 is a time for some reflection.  Setting out to share the journey of resetting my goals and focus and then sharing daily results here is an effort to pull back the curtain from the not so glamorous life of a working real estate professional.  We get asked what is the one thing you should do as a new real estate professional starting out often as a seasoned professional.  That is not a simple question because there is so much to do.  Surround yourself with positive, active, successful agents is my thought and the opposite is true as well. RUN FOREST RUN from any negative influences which include other agents, family, or friends and most importantly consistently tamp down your own internal negative thoughts with positive affirmations and dec... 04/17/2018

Michael Mahoney eXp Realty Realtor Mentor Notes March 28 Today, I was struck by this quote because as a Realtor for 17 years I am amazed how many Realtors focus on copying the marketing or the message of other Realtors. Total BS. "Sally is on a shopping cart...I want to be on a shopping car. Lenny has a billboard, you must need a billboard to be great". Today's advice is to just be you. DO YOU! People want to work with people. They want to know you are real. You are authentic. They gravitate to you because of you. I always tell people when they start out to write their life story down.  All the trials, tribulations - warts and all. Clients love victory stories.  This is what makes us human. It's what makes them human. Write your own personal narrative.  Add it to your "BIO" page.  I thi... 03/28/2018

Day 1 of 90; Becoming the best journey are words that I wrote 8 years ago when I started this real estate journey back in Dallas Texas.  For the first 90 days of my real estate career I followed a regime that included sharing what are considered best practices in real estate for successful Realtors®.  I do this now again to pursue the next level of service to myself, my community and the people who live here.  In this way the focus is on our shared and collective community and not on leads, listings and leverage as the end goal.  The goals of closing deals and earning commission are just part of the process that you employ every day. My schedule through the years has been fluid and this has kept me from being free from needs. The truly successful Realtor® has a schedule that is locked a... 03/27/2018

What if I told you that you would not see a paycheck for 90 days? That if you took a listing today or you went out with a buyer today and made an offer it could be 90 days until you saw a paycheck. Would that make you work harder everyday? The bottom line in real estate is that it's a 90 day cycle to a paycheck.7.5 weeks before you get paid. What would you do everyday, so that in 90 days, 100 days, 114 days and 121 days a pay check would show up? What can I help you do today to make it happen? You need to make this a contact sport.How many houses did you show this weekend? I showed 4 on Saturday and 5 on Sunday.9 this weekend.  Two separate clients. This is what it takes. We need to make sure you have at least 2.5 appointments per week. If you don't have a buyer to be out with this week... 03/26/2018

 House Hunting Checklist by Boston Realtor Mike MahoneyAs the Spring market starts and people are heading out to look at houses, we had our designer make a House Hunting Checklist for our buyer clients. This one pager will help our buyer clients capture all the details as we tour properties throughout the Greater Boston area. Below is a sample image of our "House Hunting Checklist" Download the Checklist Below or click here Please feel free to pass along the checklist to friends or colleagues who may need help this Spring looking to purchase or a sell a home. It would be my pleasure to have a telephone conference call or meeting with anyone to help identify opportunities in the real estate market this Spring. If you are looking for opportunities in the market this Spring, take a look at... 02/27/2018

 Welcome to this edition of The Monday Morning Memo.....I hope you had a productive and enjoyable weekend filled with some fun and laughter.  Let us stay focused this week on what we must and want to accomplish.  Let us not be fearful of the future or uncertain of the outcome from our decisions.  We must move forward and constantly work towards what we are trying to accomplish.  Take a minute today and think about this question:  What one thing can you do each day this week to bring you closer to success and happiness?  The vast majority of us are reactive to life and that in and of itself is our biggest problem.  We must not wait for life to happen to us, but rather create the life we wish to live.  This is not easy I know, but the alternative is not something we should settle for.  Th... 02/26/2018