Happy 4th of July!

In the Market for a VACATION HOME?

A summer home away from home can be a relaxing way to escape from the daily grind and enjoy quality time with friends and family. A vacation home is a large investment and some individuals may be on the fence about buying a home strictly for summer or winter seasons. However, there can be several pros to making a purchase, and taking several financial and personal factors into consideration may help consumers make the right decision for them. . . . . Read more.

Check out these Lake Properties 

6 Lake Drive
Goshen, Massachusetts

116 Taylor Brook Road
Heath, Massachusetts

178 Buckland Road
Ashfield, Massachusetts

23 Pelham Drive
Rowe, Massachusetts

Happy Mother's Day

Houselogic presents "Which TV Mom Are You?"   Evaluate your Mothering skills against TV Mom's like June Cleaver to Bree on Desperate Housewives.  Do you see yourself in those TV moms? Which one are you most like?  Enjoy your Mother's Day!

Vacation Home Real Estate Market on the Rise!

Budge Huskey, president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Real estate, appeared last night on Fox Business News. Budge explained how the increase in interest of second homes is a good sign of a rebounding housing market.


Call a Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Agent today, we host a great 2nd home market right here in the Berkshire foothills.

Housing Market Recovering? Good Question!

Coldwell Banker sees signs of housing recovery.  Fox Business News interviewed Budge Huskey and discussed the outlook of the housing market and the signs of recovery. 

Keeping up with the news on the housing market you have to ask yourself, what are we looking for that will tell us the market is recovering?  In the confusion of all the numbers presently shared by professionals, which one will tell us if the housing market is turning around? 

". . . higher prices won't be the sign that tells us there's a real recovery under way. Rather, the recent pick-up in sales is what we should pay attention to."  Read more  . . . 

Coming Soon! 2012 Income Tax Deadline

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 is the IRS deadline for filing your 2011 Income Taxes. As a homeowner you will find some advantages.  HouseLogic has some great articles for homeowners, reminding us of things to look for and remember.  
                          
Here is a sampling of what you can find:

How to Deduct Your Mortgage Interest & Equity Loan Costs Read more: 

6 Home Deduction Traps and How to Avoid Them Read more:
Did You Sell Your Home After Making Improvements? Read more:
2 Tax Deductions You Won't Get Next Year Read more:

From Sap to Sugar!

YES! It is the time of year when we see the maple tree taps and head to our local sugarhouses and this year will be no exception.  Your whole family will enjoy this outing from the rural settings to the pancakes and syrup.  Here is a list of some local sugarhouses with websites providing directions and menu's, check them out.

South Face Farm Sugarhouse
Ashfield, MA  website


Williams Sugarhouse
Deerfield, MA  website


High Hopes Sugarhouse
Worthington, MA  website

Local Market Watch-Looking Good!

MAR (Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®) and the NAR (National Association of REALTORS®) released reports this week expressing confidence in the real estate market.  I pulled some data from our local Multiple Listing Service and my small snap-shot does make me confident our spring market is looking good.

In January 2012 Franklin County (single family/condos) closed properties were down slightly (14.6%) over January 2011, while there was an increase in properties that went under agreement (25.7%).  Hampshire County is showing the same type of movement with closed (single family/condos) properties down in January 2012 (19.8%) with an increase in properties that went under agreement (31.7%).

I took a look at the average sale price for this January over last January and found Franklin County’s average sale price decreased by 14.6% and Hampshire County was down by 19.8%. It may have taken the year to get there but prices are down.

Although recovery is down the road, the increase in properties under agreement in our real estate market shows promise for a good spring.  The better than expected weather this winter have buyers looking.  Yes, this may be your best time to find your new home; great prices, low interest rates and plenty of homes to choose from.

Everyone at Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont REALTORS® looks forward to assisting you with your real estate needs.  Stop by, give us a call or go to our website to see why we are the leading agency in Western Massachusetts.

Related Articles:

JanuaryREALTOR® Market Index Continues Positive Trend to Start Year

Massachusetts Pending Home Sales Up Again in January

Existing-Home Sales Rise Again in January, Inventory Down

Western Massachusetts Real Estate Market Looking Good!

No doom and gloom here! 

Let the sun shine!

Great article today on MassLive.com about our real estate market, Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont REALTORS share the optimism.

The median price of single-family homes sold in the Pioneer Valley fell by 10.6 percent in January.

In Hampshire County, sales fell 18.1 percent from 72 to 59 and the median price fell 6.8 percent from $236,000 to $220,000.

In Franklin County, sales fell 25.7 percent from 35 to 26 homes and the median price fell 11.9 percent from $162,000 to $142,750.

HERE IS THE SUNSHINE!
The Realtor Association said,  "Single-family sales under agreement ROSE 28.4 percent last month from 264 at the end of January 2011 to 339 at the end of last month".

The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS stated, "Confidence in the real estate market has gone up compared to the same time last year according to the January 2012 REALTOR® Market Index".