In the 1950's, popcorn ceiling texture was all the rage.  Builders liked it because it could hide imperfections, it was easier than painting the ceiling as it was simply sprayed on, and it often reduced noise due to the increased surface area.  In the 1980's when [...]

Awhile back, we wrote this blog post about questions you should ask when interviewing potential listing agents, but we think it's important to have a list of questions for potential buyer's agents as well, especially in this competitive market where it's sometimes necessary for buyers and their agents to get creative with their negotiation [...]

Buying your first home can be overwhelming, you just don't know what you don't know, and mistakes can be costly.  Hopefully, you have a good agent to guide you through the process, explain your options, and serve as an advocate for your best interests.  But to get you started with your own due diligence, here's a list of [...]

Between strong economic growth, sky high demand for housing (and rock bottom supply), and predictions that mortgage rates will rise about 2% over the next 2 years, the Boston real estate market is buzzing with activity right now. But amidst their excitement, it's easy for overzealous buyers and sellers to overlook critical steps that will [...]

Unless you're only interested in looking at new construction, you're bound to see some funky (and downright confusing) decorating when shopping for a new home.  If there's something that turns you off about a home that you otherwise like, it's important to take note of whether it's a superficial problem that can easily (and relatively [...]

With temperatures creeping up into the 60's toward the end of this week, it's time to start thinking about spring cleaning.  Here are 12 tips that will make your home feel as fresh and clean as the day you moved [...]

According to a recent article in the Boston Herald, between renter spending, new construction and apartment operations, the rental industry contributed $17.7 billion to the Boston economy and supported 147,000 jobs in 2013 (the last year that statistics were available).  So if you're one of the tens of thousands of renters looking for a [...]

Tis the season to sell your home, but sellers in Miami might have more luck selling their home in March then those in Boston.  According to our friends at Zillow, there's a magic window - from mid-March to the end of April - that gives sellers across the country the best chance of getting the highest price (in the shortest amount of time), [...]

What do the words "captivating," "stainless," "basketball," and "gentle" have in common?  According to a recent analysis of 24,000 home sales in "Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate" when certain words are included in listing descriptions, the homes sell for more than expected, sometimes by as much as 8%!  Take a look at Zillow's recent blog post, [...]

Whether you're a first time buyer or you've been through the home buying process several times, there's one critical question that always comes up when you finally walk into a home that immediately has you planning your first dinner party and future holiday get togethers - how much do I offer?  Of course, market conditions and financing are [...]