Swap Day at the Medford Family Network The Medford Family Network is locally famous for many reasons, and one of them happens Saturday morning. It’s their seasonal swap of baby, children, and maternity gear and clothes. Just come on by the Network at 489 Winthrop Street in Medford (at Medford High School). All items are free for the taking. Really. Free. Come and see what all the excitement is about.

Skate Medford offers a free skate lesson on January 21, at 9 am at LoConte Rink near Route 16 in Medford. It’s open to the first 70 registrants, and it kicks off their Learn to Skate Program. Go to www.medfordrechockey.com for more information.

If we get enough snow to sled (not a problem last winter!) local sledding hot spots are “The Res” or Fellsmere Pond on the Medford/Malden line, and Professor’s Row at Tufts University. Find other options here.

Kristy

While the wine was a hit with the grown-ups, the kids really seemed to enjoy the Candy Bar and take-home bags. That gave the adults time to talk and enjoy the company. The drizzly night really showcased the RE/Max office as a friendly place to drop in and chat. I love the location and it ‘s a great place to work!

So I’m sorry if you missed our soiree last night, but I still want to catch up. Send an email or call; YOU are the reason we had a great year.

More pictures to follow!

Welcome to Home of the Week. Every week I’ll feature a different home for sale. Each Home of the Week is carefully selected based on its value, not its appeal (although some of them could be very cute).  These properties truly are a “best buy”.

Don’t necessarily fall for the cosmetics.  Buying smart is buying good location, flow, light, amenities, and space for the price.  If you can see past clutter and outdated decorating, you stand a good chance to buy into property with more equity once you’ve done some cosmetic overhauls.   The quintessential “Little Old Lady House” may have shag carpet, eagle wallpaper, and older kitchens and baths.  But it may also have a new roof and heating system and many valuable amenities like a fireplace, garage and nice yard, which would be expensive or impossible to install. Painting of the rooms and floor refinishing won’t cost you much but will increase the value of the house tremendously. (My All-Stars can make short work of that “to-do” list. Just ask me!)

Get the Real Estate Skinny on the House of the Week, every week!

On December 2nd, join us for popcorn and a family holiday movie. The movie will begin at 7:30, there will be popcorn for everyone and coffee for the adults.  On December 3rd, the office will host cookie decorating from 10 am to 1 pm. It promises to be a great time!

Join me for a toast to a great year at my Holiday Party on December 15th! We’ll be celebrating from 5:30-8 pm. Mix, mingle, and enjoy! RSVP at 781.479.4066 or at kristybonaventura@remax.net

Medford is the birthplace of “Jingle Bells” and won’t let you forget it! Every year the Medford Jingle Bell Festival holds a party to celebrate the season at City Hall. Come join Medford on Wednesday, November 30 at 4:30. The Christmas Tree and Menorah will be lit, there will be raffles, and visits from local celebrities and even the Big Jolly Guy himself! It’s a family-friendly event, and all proceeds will benefit charity.

Melrose boasts a Victorian Christmas celebration with lovely choral music. It also kicks off the Eighth Annual Parade of Holiday Traditions on November 26, noon to 2 p.m. The parade will feature music and local celebrities, and there will be a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, so bring those letters! The Malden Library will have storytelling and cookie decorating too!

Don’t forget Boston on your holiday outings! The Orange Line is convenient from Melrose, Malden, and Medford, and it can have you in the city in less time than it takes to find a parking place.  Visit the Rose Kennedy Greenway for lights and art, skate at the Frog Pond, and shop, shop, shop!

Outside Boston city limits, there are homes available like this vintage three-bedroom Cape in Medford, MA for $349,000.

Check out my listing on CNN Money!

Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston College and other top-tier universities and colleges in the area attract elite scholars from all over the world. Many stay after graduation, either filling high-paying management and tech jobs or starting their own successful companies — and buying homes with their newly-earned cash.

That’s helped Boston’s economy weather the recession better than most metro areas with unemployment at only 6.5% in April, down from 7.2% a year earlier. Median household income tops $85,000, more than 20% above the national median.

The area also boasts many stable, blue-collar communities in which homes stay with families for years and are sold by word of mouth to people who grew up in the neighborhoods. Both of these factors have helped keep prices high.

Helping too, is the charm of many of the area’s towns and neighborhoods. There are many old homes and well-kept historic districts that are in strong demand among area buyers.
Read Full CNN Money Article Here

Your Neighborhood Realtor
Kristy B.

First and foremost, get a satisfactory pre-approval letter from a reputable and reliable lender. It should be subject only to a satisfactory appraisal and a purchase and sale agreement. I have a list of trusted lenders that I would be happy to share with you. I have seen a lot of bait and switch on rates and closing costs, and many lenders who simply do not live up to the promises they make when they start doing business with the buyer. I can not overemphasize how important it is to do business with any of the people I know, because when a problem arises (they always do!) these people will be responsive to us and the team of attorneys, surveyors, title examiners and appraisers that work with that lender. If you can learn from other people’s mistakes, please learn from the many people I have worked with over the years who report that they wish they had not worked with someone unknown to me. Remember, if your bank is not prepared to close on closing day, you will be in default, and your deposit of five percent will be forfeited. Again, I’d be glad to provide a list of people who wish they had taken this advice and incurred a lot of undue stress. This is likely to be the piece of advice you are most likely to ignore, but at least I’ll sleep at night knowing I tried to help you avoid the problems you may encounter with a stray lender.

If you already own a house, your pre-approval letter should say that you are qualified to bridge if your home is not sold. If you choose not to bridge, or don’t qualify for a bridge, you may want to consider making an offer with a 48-hour kick-out clause, which would mean the sellers could come to terms with you but would continue to market their property. Should the seller receive a bonafide offer, you would have 48 hours to either drop your contingency to sell your home, or to waive it and go forward under the terms of your offer.

Your Neighborhood Realtor
Kristy B.

Spring buyers… Get your game on!

When: Sunday mornings 10-11:30 a.m.

Where: RE/MAX Heritage 536 Main Street, Melrose

What: Every Sunday, from 10-11:30 a.m., stop by our new cutting edge office in downtown Melrose to get a winning game plan. Pick up an open house list, area maps, community information and more to help you get the most out of your tours of local open houses.
If you are a current client or someone looking for buyer representation,
contact me ahead of time for a more detailed list of properties to visit and suggested routes that will help you cover the most ground in the least amount of time.
First time home buyers are encouraged to stop by for a free buyer’s
consultation and to meet with a mortgage broker to get pre-approval – a step critical to almost any home search. Current home owners are also welcome to stop by and test the waters, or speak to a mortgage broker about refinancing.
Whatever you’re looking for in your next home, stop by before heading
out on the open house trail. Fill your coffee mug on us and pick up a
complimentary open house survival kit – bottled water to keep you
hydrated, granola bars for energy, maps to keep you on track, and much more.

Your Neighborhood Realtor
Kristy B.