This is not your ordinary Shrewsbury home! Located at 176 Tennis Court Drive, this stunning contemporary-styled home in idyllic setting that is both private and peaceful but close to all major commuting routes. Exceptional layout on the main level provides an open flow from the sunken fire placed living room with hardwoods to the oversized kitchen and dining room. The sunroom off the kitchen allows for quick access to the private 24 ft deck for summer evening cook outs. The great room (24 by 23) overlooks the front with cathedral ceilings and fireplace giving plenty space for everyone. The oversized palladian windows provide maximum natural light. The dramatic upper level includes a full Master En Suite with walk in closet, jacuzzi tub and private balcony. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths in... 07/18/2016

By: G. M. FiliskoBe sure you’re walking away with all the money you’re entitled to from the sale of your home.When you’re ready to close on the sale of your home and move to your new home, you may be so close to the finish line that you coast, thinking there’s nothing left for you to do. Not so fast. It’s easy to waste a few dollars here and for mistakes to creep into your closing documents there, all adding up to a bundle of lost profit. Spot money-losing problems with these seven tips.1.  Take services out of your name!Avoid a dispute with the buyers after closing over things like fees for the cable service you forgot to discontinue. Contact every utility and service provider to end or transfer service to your new address as of the closing date.If you’re on an automatic-fill schedule ... 07/16/2016

By knowing how much mortgage you can handle, you can ensure that homeownership will fit in your budget. Homeownership should make you feel safe and secure, and that includes financially. Be sure you can afford your home by calculating how much of a mortgage you can safely fit into your budget. Why not just take out the biggest mortgage a lender says you can have? Because your lender bases that number on a formula that doesn’t consider your current and future financial and personal goals. Think ahead to major life events and consider how those might influence your budget. Do you want to return to school for an advanced degree? Will a new child add daycare to your monthly expenses? Does a relative plan to eventually live with you and contribute to the mortgage? Consider those lifestyle is... 07/14/2016

This is not your ordinary Shrewsbury home! Located at 176 Tennis Court Drive, this stunning contemporary-styled home in idyllic setting that is both private and peaceful but close to all major commuting routes. Exceptional layout on the main level provides an open flow from the sunken fire placed living room with hardwoods to the oversized kitchen and dining room. The sunroom off the kitchen allows for quick access to the private 24 ft deck for summer evening cook outs. The great room (24 by 23) overlooks the front with cathedral ceilings and fireplace giving plenty space for everyone. The oversized palladian windows provide maximum natural light. The dramatic upper level includes a full Master En Suite with walk in closet, jacuzzi tub and private balcony. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths in... 07/11/2016

By: G. M. FiliskoWhile you'd like to get the best price for your home, consider our six reasons to reduce your home price. Home not selling? That could happen for a number of reasons you can't control, like a unique home layout or having one of the few homes in the neighborhood without a garage. There is one factor you can control: your home price. These six signs may be telling you it’s time to lower your price.1. You’re drawing few lookers!You get the most interest in your home right after you put it on the market because buyers want to catch a great new home before anybody else takes it. If your real estate agent reports there have been fewer buyers calling about and asking to tour your home than there have been for other homes in your area, that may be a sign buyers think it’s overp... 07/08/2016

Pricing your home based on data, not emotion, can mean a swift sale.You don’t need to be Bob Barker to know when the price just isn’t right. Just ask Candace Talmadge. She originally listed her Lancaster, Texas, home for $129,000, but “eventually had to accept the market reality” and chop $4,000 off the price.The home’s location proved challenging: Buyers were either turned off by the area — a lower-income neighborhood south of Dallas — or unable to afford the home.“Sellers have to keep in mind the location,” says Talmadge. “Who are going to be the likely buyers?”Home pricing is more of a science than an art, but many homeowners price with their heartstrings instead of cold, hard data. Here’s why crunching the numbers is always the better route to an accurate home price — as well as wha... 07/07/2016

This is not your ordinary Shrewsbury home! Located at 176 Tennis Court Drive, this stunning contemporary-styled home in idyllic setting that is both private and peaceful but close to all major commuting routes. Exceptional layout on the main level provides an open flow from the sunken fire placed living room with hardwoods to the oversized kitchen and dining room. The sunroom off the kitchen allows for quick access to the private 24 ft deck for summer evening cook outs. The great room (24 by 23) overlooks the front with cathedral ceilings and fireplace giving plenty space for everyone. The oversized palladian windows provide maximum natural light. The dramatic upper level includes a full Master En Suite with walk in closet, jacuzzi tub and private balcony. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths in... 07/04/2016

MBTA Fares Go Up Today. Here's How Much It Will Cost You.Take a look at how much you'll be shelling out come July 1.The MBTA's new fare changes will take effect this Friday, and though you won't have to break the bank, prices are on the uptick.Commuters will see hikes almost across the board, save for a 10-cent drop in bus cash fares. Here's a look at how much you'll be shelling out come July 1:Single-Fare RidesFare TypeLocal BusCharlieCard: $1.70CharlieTicket: $2Cash on board: $2Senior and TAP: 85 centsStudent: 85 centsBus + BusCharlieCard: $1.70CharlieTicket: $2.00Cash on board: $4.00Senior and TAP: $0.85 centsStudent: 85 centsRapid TransitCharlieCard: $2.25CharlieTicket: $2.75Cash on board: $2.75Senior and TAP: $1.10Student: $1.10Bus + Rapid TransitCharlieCard: $2.25 (Users may trans... 07/01/2016

By: Ari Taylor Casey C. from Revere asks, “How do you coordinate buying and selling at the same time?” Just one real estate transaction can be stressful enough! How do you juggle two real estate transactions at the same time? Build a good team! Having an agent, a broker and an attorney on your team is crucial. When buying and selling, you need to make certain that your team is rock solid! Talk to your mortgage broker first. There are two ways to approach this situation: Is your purchase contingent on selling your home, or can you purchase first? If you are able to make a second purchase without selling first, this could make things a lot easier, but there are a few things to be aware of… How long can you afford two mortgages? What is your home worth? What can you afford without selling ... 06/30/2016

If you are looking for a great starter home or condo alternative in a wonderful community, then we are here for you! 20 Bay View Road is situated back from the road offering a huge front yard for both privacy and fun! The updated main level has a full bedroom, bathroom, galley kitchen and large living room overlooking the side yard with bay windows. This is a flexible floor plan that can be a combined living / dining or open concept and optional first floor master bedroom! Completely renovated lower level includes heated floors, fireplace and half bath for the current master suite. Sought after location with neighborhood park and desirable commuter location with easy access to shopping and Mass Pike, Routes 20, 9, 122 and 146. Large back yard with lofted garage provides additional stora... 06/27/2016

This is not your ordinary Shrewsbury home! Located at 176 Tennis Court Drive, this stunning contemporary-styled home in idyllic setting that is both private and peaceful but close to all major commuting routes. Exceptional layout on the main level provides an open flow from the sunken fire placed living room with hardwoods to the oversized kitchen and dining room. The sunroom off the kitchen allows for quick access to the private 24 ft deck for summer evening cook outs. The great room (24 by 23) overlooks the front with cathedral ceilings and fireplace giving plenty space for everyone. The oversized palladian windows provide maximum natural light. The dramatic upper level includes a full Master En Suite with walk in closet, jacuzzi tub and private balcony. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths in... 06/27/2016

(DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016)First-time home buyers are facing some stiff competition this summer, and while they may feel compelled to make a hasty real estate decision, doing so could lead to financial remorse or home buyer regret, according to Curbed.com. In their article, real estate professionals share some of the most common mistakes by first-time home buyers, including:Choosing the most expensive home -- Just because you can qualify for a loan to buy that high, doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Some buyers max out how much they spend but then have nothing left over for savings. They get over their head quickly then when they move into home ownership.Not shopping around enough -- This applies to seeing enough homes and shopping for the right mortgage. “We a... 06/25/2016

One of the biggest misconceptions of home buying? The 20% down payment. Here’s how to buy with a lot less down.Buying your first home conjures up all kinds of warm and fuzzy emotions: pride, joy, contentment. But before you get to the good stuff, you’ve got to cobble together a down payment, a daunting sum if you follow the textbook advice to squirrel away 20% of a home’s cost. Here are five creative ways to build your down-payment nest egg faster than you may have ever imagined.1.  Crowdsource Your Dream Home:You may have heard of people using sites like Kickstarter to fund creative projects like short films and concert tours. Well, who says you can’t crowdsource your first home? Forget the traditional registry, the fine china, and the 16-speed blender. Use sites likeFeather the Nest a... 06/22/2016

If you are looking for a great starter home or condo alternative in a wonderful community, then we are here for you! 20 Bay View Road is situated back from the road offering a huge front yard for both privacy and fun! The updated main level has a full bedroom, bathroom, galley kitchen and large living room overlooking the side yard with bay windows. This is a flexible floor plan that can be a combined living / dining or open concept and optional first floor master bedroom! Completely renovated lower level includes heated floors, fireplace and half bath for the current master suite. Sought after location with neighborhood park and desirable commuter location with easy access to shopping and Mass Pike, Routes 20, 9, 122 and 146. Large back yard with lofted garage provides additional stora... 06/20/2016

This is not your ordinary Shrewsbury home! Located at 176 Tennis Court Drive, this stunning contemporary-styled home in idyllic setting that is both private and peaceful but close to all major commuting routes. Exceptional layout on the main level provides an open flow from the sunken fire placed living room with hardwoods to the oversized kitchen and dining room. The sunroom off the kitchen allows for quick access to the private 24 ft deck for summer evening cook outs. The great room (24 by 23) overlooks the front with cathedral ceilings and fireplace giving plenty space for everyone. The oversized palladian windows provide maximum natural light. The dramatic upper level includes a full Master En Suite with walk in closet, jacuzzi tub and private balcony. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths in... 06/20/2016

By: Ari Taylor, Realtor at RE/MAX. Pam K. in Stoneham asks: “Does my house really need to look like something from Property Brothers in order to get a good price?” Since its launch as Home, Garden and Lawn channel in the 1990’s, HGTV has become a household name. Whether you are looking to sell, buy or renovate, you look to HGTV for answers and advice. There is a lot to the Real Estate process that HGTV does not show you -- those behind the scenes aspects that end up on the cutting room floor. The cost of renovating vs. value -- Yes, you will get more money if your house looks like a house from Property Brothers. However, can you renovate for the same costs that they do? Is it worth it to put that much into a home? Here is where we focus on location. When an agent lists your home, it is ... 06/16/2016

If you are looking for a great starter home or condo alternative in a wonderful community, then we are here for you! 20 Bay View Road is situated back from the road offering a huge front yard for both privacy and fun! The updated main level has a full bedroom, bathroom, galley kitchen and large living room overlooking the side yard with bay windows. This is a flexible floor plan that can be a combined living / dining or open concept and optional first floor master bedroom! Completely renovated lower level includes heated floors, fireplace and half bath for the current master suite. Sought after location with neighborhood park and desirable commuter location with easy access to shopping and Mass Pike, Routes 20, 9, 122 and 146. Large back yard with lofted garage provides additional stora... 06/13/2016

This is not your ordinary Shrewsbury home! Located at 176 Tennis Court Drive, this stunning contemporary-styled home in idyllic setting that is both private and peaceful but close to all major commuting routes. Exceptional layout on the main level provides an open flow from the sunken fire placed living room with hardwoods to the oversized kitchen and dining room. The sunroom off the kitchen allows for quick access to the private 24 ft deck for summer evening cook outs. The great room (24 by 23) overlooks the front with cathedral ceilings and fireplace giving plenty space for everyone. The oversized palladian windows provide maximum natural light. The dramatic upper level includes a full Master En Suite with walk in closet, jacuzzi tub and private balcony. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths in... 06/13/2016

By: Ari Taylor Frank W. from Boston asks: “Whose initials are PMI and why do I have to deal with them for a house?” What is PMI? It stands for Private Mortgage Insurance. Simply put, PMI is an insurance policy on your loan. You pay the premium, typically in monthly installments, which are added to your mortgage. With this, the lender is covered if you default on your mortgage. Why does PMI happen? We have always heard that you need 20% down to get a loan. In a perfect world, 20% down is the best way to go. BUT, it’s not always feasible. Say you live in an area with a median home sale price of $400k, 20% of that price is $80k! How do you save that much when you are paying $2k every month in rent (for tips on saving money to buy a home go here: "Add It Up!"). A more reasonable goal is to ... 06/11/2016

What Childhood Board Games Have Taught Us About Real Estate! By: Ari Taylor Remember playing candy land? How about Monopoly? Battleship? Believe it or not, those games actually prepared us for life much better than we could have ever imagined! Buying property is a game, and how you play that game makes all the difference! We were all taught to play fair, to be honest and no cheating! These basic rules hold true with real estate today. Here are some other rules that play strongly into purchasing property: CANDYLAND -- Pick a card, move 2 red spaces. Whoops! You’re stuck in the Molasses Swamp! There are always sticky situations that will arise, but working with the right real estate team can help move you right through them. (You sunk my) BATTLESHIP -- A game of strategy in which you have... 06/09/2016