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 ensure a smooth process.  Today's Tuesday tip comes from Bankrate.com, and offers 10 real estate tips that are both fundamental and inclusive of modern principles.

From comprehensive neighborhood analyses (plus tips on what to look for) and the use of "big data" to compare homes, to the retainment of mineral rights, this list is a good starting point for both buyers and sellers.

The complete checklist for buyers and sellers is extensive, so it's always best to let an agent you trust guide you through the process.  To speak with one of our experts in the Boston housing market, contact us at 617-236-0353 or through our website at www.thecharlesrealty.com.

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 cheaply) be changed, or if it's something that would require extensive renovation with the help of a general contractor.

Today's Tuesday Tip comes to us from our friends at the Trulia Pro Blog, and lists 9 Things that Buyers Should Ignore when Home Buying. From paint color and wallpaper, to popcorn ceilings and funky smells, there are many ways to go about fixing issues that make a house seem less appealing.  For more information on quick and easy ways to turn someone else's decorating disaster into your dream home, reach out to our experts at 617-236-0353 or www.thecharlesrealty.com.

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 in.

1) Start on the outside.  There's no sense scrubbing your whole house only to track in dirt from your welcome mat, so give your outdoor entryway a good once-over.  Sweep your porch or stairs if you have them, clean or get a new welcome mat (here are some fun ideas from Pinterest for those who want their mat to express something more than just "welcome") and if you have a green thumb, hanging or potted plants can do a lot to freshen up your exterior.

2) Power wash your siding.  Power washing is one of the chores that makes the biggest difference in the appearance of a home, plus it's relatively cheap and easy to do!

3) Once you're inside, work your way down from the top.  It might seem obvious, but when you clean fans and light fixtures, the dirt will fall down to lower surfaces, so you'll end up having to re-clean those areas if you tackle them first.

4) When you do get to the bottom, don't forget your baseboards!  Other than your floor, the baseboards spend the most time near shoes and paws and often take a hit when things are spilled or dropped.  A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will do the job nicely, but if you're feeling really ambitious, throwing a fresh coat of paint on them will add a level of freshness you likely haven't seen in years!

5) While you're down there, clean the grout.  The best solution for cleaning grout is a combination of two ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen!  Sprinkle some backing soda all along your grout, and then using a spray bottle, apply vinegar to the top of the baking soda.  Let it react and bubble for a few minutes, and then wipe it up!

6) Curtains (both window and shower) collect a huge amount of dirt and dust that usually go unnoticed, and every time you go to open a window on a nice sunny day, that dust will come loose and float through the house.  So to prepare for open-window season, remove all of your curtains and give them a good clean.  If you have mini blinds and want to get them really clean, take them down and soak them in the tub, then give them a once over with a toothbrush and some soapy water.

7) Wash your windows and let that sunshine in!  Use a squeegee and/or newspaper to avoid streaks!  And don't forget about the window sills.  Use Q-tips to get into all of the hard to reach corners.

8 ) Get rid of lint and pet hair.  If you don't have a lint roller on hand, no need to fret.  The best way to remove hair from furniture and pillows is to put on a dish glove, get it slightly wet and just sweep your hand over the surfaces.  The hair will clump together and will be easily removable.

9) Don't forget your plants!  Plants collect just as much dust as furniture or curtains, and just like people, plants have a hard time breathing when they're covered in dust, so it's important to give them a good rinse.  If you have a removable shower hose, try putting them in the tub and giving them a quick shower.

10) Clean your carpets.  If you have your own steam cleaner and get a sense of fulfillment when you see the lines it makes as it cleans your carpet, then by all means take on this task, but for many, this is where it might make sense to bring in a professional. Your carpets collect more dirt and dust than anything else in your home - especially if you have pets - so they deserve a very thorough, deep clean.

11) Toss out the toxins.  The home cleaning aisle of your local supermarket is filled with products that are toxic to dirt, grime and grease.  But guess what, most are toxic to you also.  Almost all house cleaning can be done with 4 simple things - vinegar, baking soda, dish soap and water.

It's been a tough winter for us in Boston, but a good spring cleaning might be just what we all need to wash away the mess it left behind.  For more tips on spring cleaning, interior design and real estate, reach out to our experts at The Charles Realty through our website at www.thecharlesrealty.com.

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 place in Boston, there's good news: you have options, and bad news: you've got competition.  The bad news you likely already knew if you've ever tried to rent a U-Haul the last week of August.

Avoiding the pain and difficulty of finding a good rental property takes a certain amount of preparation and education.  Realtor.com has put together a 9-Step Guide to Finding a Dream Rental, which is very helpful to new renters or those that are tired of having to look for a new rental year after year. To make the process even easier, enlist the help of a rental agent, preferably one with specific knowledge of the neighborhoods you're most interested in living in. Renting doesn't mean that you have to pack up all your belongings, submit rental applications and put first, last and security down every.single.year.  If you take the right steps and have a good advisor in place to guide you through the process and advocate for your rights as a renter, you'll be able to find a place that feels not like someone else's home, but like your own.

For more information about renting in Boston, reach out to our expert rental team, 617-236-0353 or through our website, www.thecharlesrealty.com.

(i.e. those that have moved every year since they graduated college and .  If you're sick of the September 1st rental rush, the stress and overheating that comes along with moving every summer, and