Curious about how the Boston real estate market performed in 2011? Then you’ll want to check out my new 2011 Boston Real Estate Market Review. It’s a detailed look at how we did over the past year as well as the trends of the past 7 years. Check it out!

Is the Market Really as Bad as We Hear?

We’ve all heard the grim national news.  What seemed like the beginning of the housing recovery is now looking like a possible double dip.  There’s a housing glut. Prices are in free fall.  Foreclosures on every block. And everyone is wondering when things will truly bottom out.As your local real estate expert, I thought this would be a good time to share how things are going here in Boston.  Since I have a degree in Economics from Brandeis, I can’t help but put my opinion out there with all the other economists.  The raw data comes from our local Multiple Listing Service, but the charts, graphs, and interpretation are mine.     Click the following link to visit my website and read my 2011 Spring Real Estate Market Update.

For my neighbors in the Ashmont, Melville Park, Jones Hill, and Savin Hill neighborhoods, here are the snow emergency parking guidelines in case the Mayor should declare a snow emergency, as per the Boston Police Dept.:

With the forecast of another 12 inches of snow for Wednesday night, one might guess  the Mayor may declare another Snow Emergency. Listed below are the streets that are designated Snow Emergency arteries on District C-11 and are the streets that the BPD will tow cars from if a Snow Emergency is declared. We would rather have cars moved voluntarily than have to tow them. Could you forward this e-mail out to your respective associations and advise to watch the news, listen to the radio, and check the City of Boston website to find out if in fact a Snow Emergency has been declared and if so remove their vehicles from these streets. If a Snow Emergency is delclared we will be towing from the streets listed below. After every Snow Emergency people come in to pick up the tow slip for their car and claim to not know that there was a Snow Emergency in effect. Here are the snow arteries for C-11:

Primary

Adams St.

Columbia Rd.

Dorchester Ave.

Granite Ave.

Neponset Ave.

Washington St.

Secondary

Ashmont St.

Freeport St.

Geneva Ave.

Gibson St.

Hancock St.  

Pleasant St.

Pond St.

Savin Hill Ave.

Stoughton St.

Talbot Ave.

The following Municipal Parking Lots are available for parking during a Snow Emergency:

Lot      #015      254 Bowdoin St.

Lot      #016      8 Belden St.

Lot      #017      575 Washington St.

Lot      #019      16 Hamlet St.

Lot      #020      191 Adams St.

Lot      #031      629 Washington St.      

To be clear this is information only at this time(and for the  future)  and any Snow Emergency declarations will be made by Mayor Menino at the appropriate time if necessary.

Thank you,

Captain Sexton

District C-11

When Is An Open House Not For Sale?

When it™s on the South End Historic House Tour, that™s when!  If you™ve ever been curious what living in an entire townhouse is like, here™s your chance to find out.  On Sat. Oct. 16th the South End Historical Society is hosting the 40th Annual House Tour featuring six single family homes. The homes will be open for self guided tours from 10 – 5.

For open house junkies, old house lovers, or the just plain curious, this is an event not to be missed! Tickets can be purchased on Saturday at the Keller Williams South End office at 476-A Columbus (just off West Newton St.) and at the Boston Center for the Arts at 539 Tremont St. Tickets include a booklet detailing which houses are on this year’s tour.  Proceeds benefit the South End Historical Society.

Whether you live in the South End or are just curious about the neighborhood, this is a great way to see it. Of course, if you or your friends decide you want in, you know I™d be thrilled to help.   And of course you can search for homes in Boston’s South End by on my website too.

http://nyti.ms/aisiUm

Carl Kase is a well known and respected Boston area economist, housing expert and creator of the Case Shiller home price index.  Here's his clear and consice take on buying in the current market, as published by the  New York Times.

I thought this Wall Street Journal inteview was an interesting “contrarian” take on the current housing market and wanted to share. Click the following to watch the video interview

If you are interested in finding well priced homes in Boston be sure to visit www.KenSnyderHomes.com to search for Boston area homes for sale.

http://bit.ly/b8pKCb

Enjoy wonderful Back Bay views from this 5th floor corner loft in trendy SOWA.  With central A/C, top of the line appliances, and GARAGE parking, this  886 sq. ft. home is a great value at $479K.  Rocca, Gaslight, Oishi Sushi, and Boston's best off-leash dog park are just outside your door.  Check out www.KenSnyderHomes.com to see my other South End condo listings 

http://bit.ly/b4LJtT

Here is a clear and concise explanation of what it means to price your home "in the market" and what that concept really means.  I regularly have this exact discussion with potential sellers and so thought I'd share this KW video that explains the concept so well.  Love to hear what you all think of it.

http://bit.ly/cfd74V

There's no denying the negative housing news of late.  But it's important to keep in mind that real estate is local, often extremely so.  Here's a report by the Boston Globe telling how different communities are seeing very different markets.  And that is true within Boston's neighborhoods as well.  If you are curious how your specific neighborhood is doing, just ask me!  Happy to share the numbers and my opinion with you.