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All Blog Entries by Nick Warren

Found 77 blog entries published by Nick Warren.

What Experts Are Saying About the 2023 Housing Market | MyKCM

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market this year. In 2022, the market underwent a major shift as economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates reduced buyer demand, slowed the pace of home sales, and moderated home prices. But what about 2023?

An article from HousingWire offers this perspective:

“The red-hot housing market of the past 2 ½ years was characterized by sub-three percent mortgage rates, fast-paced bidding wars and record-low inventory. But more recently, market conditions have done an about-face. . . . now is the opportunity for everyone to become re-educated about what a ‘typical’ housing market looks like.”

This year, experts agree

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Wondering How Much You Need To Save for a Down Payment? | MyKCM

If you’re getting ready to buy your first home in the Boston area, you’re likely focused on saving up for everything that purchase involves. One cost that’s likely top of mind is your down payment. But don't let a common misconception about how much you need to save make the process harder than it could be.

Understand 20% Isn’t Always the Typical Down Payment

Freddie Mac explains:

“. . . nearly a third of prospective homebuyers think they need a down payment of 20% or more to buy a home. This myth remains one of the largest perceived barriers to achieving homeownership.

Unless specified by your loan type or lender, it’s typically not required to put 20% down. This means you could be closer to your homebuying dream than you

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Exploring Boston's Neighborhoods

Exploring Boston's Charm: A Guide to Some of Our Most Popular Neighborhoods

Welcome to Exploring Boston's Charm: A Guide to the Different Neighborhoods. Are you looking for a place to call home in Boston? Well, look no further! This guide will help you explore the city and get familiar with its many neighborhoods. From the historic North End and chic Beacon Hill to vibrant Downtown and progressive Jamaica Plain, there is something for everyone -- each neighborhood offering unique characteristics, amenities, and housing options. Let's get exploring!

A guide to the different neighborhoods in Boston, highlighting their unique characteristics, amenities, and housing options.

Welcome to Exploring Boston's Charm – A Guide to the Different

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As a real estate investor, it's important to understand the concept of a capitalization rate, also known as a "cap rate." This metric is frequently used when evaluating potential investment properties and helps determine the potential return on investment.

To calculate the cap rate, you divide the property's expected income by its purchase price.

For example:

Property Details  
Purchase Price $200,000
Expected Income $12,000
Cap Rate 6%

 

In the Boston, MA real estate market, the average cap rate for investment properties is typically between 3-6%. However, it's important to note that cap rates can vary depending on the property's location, condition, and other factors.

A higher cap rate

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think smarter

We can’t believe that 2022 is coming to a close but are so thrilled about welcoming a new year! This month, Nick talks about some of his favorite things to do in Boston in the winter months and also how sellers can best prepare their homes for sale if they want to hit the spring market!

What are some of your favorite winter activities around Boston?

There are so many fun and interesting activities around Boston in the winter months. These are some of my favorites to enjoy with my family:

  • Ice Skating at the Frog Pond:  Located in Boston Common, the Frog Pond is a popular spot for ice skating during the winter months. Imagine hosting a holiday party and inviting guests to enjoy the magic of ice skating in the heart of the city.
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What To Expect from the Housing Market in 2023 | MyKCM

The 2022 housing market has been defined by two key things: inflation and rapidly rising mortgage rates. And in many ways, it's put the market into a reset position.

As the Federal Reserve (the Fed) made moves this year to try to lower inflation, mortgage rates more than doubled – something that’s never happened before in a calendar year. This had a cascading impact on buyer activity, the balance between supply and demand, and ultimately home prices. And as all those things changed, some buyers and sellers put their plans on hold and decided to wait until the market felt a bit more predictable.

But what does that mean for next year? What everyone really wants is more stability in the market in 2023. For that to happen we’ll need to see the

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Boston Loan Limits Increasing

Earlier this month, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said that the maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will increase by 12% nationally in 2023. This is excellent news for homebuyers in Greater Boston, as the loan limit for one-unit properties in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties will increase by more than $100,000 to a limit of $828,000.

This increase is in line with the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA), which requires the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to adjust the conforming loan limit annually to reflect the change in the average U.S. home price. According to the FHFA's seasonally adjusted data, house prices increased 12.21% between the third quarters of

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If you’re trying to decide whether or not to sell your house in the Boston area, recent headlines about home prices may be top of mind. And if those stories have you wondering what that means for your home’s value, here’s what you really need to know.

What’s Really Happening with Home Prices?

It’s possible you’ve seen news stories mentioning a drop in home values or home price depreciation, but it’s important to remember those headlines are designed to make a big impression in just a few words. But what headlines aren’t always great at is painting the full picture.

While home prices are down slightly month-over-month in some markets, it’s also true that home values are up nationally on a year-over-year basis. The graph below uses the

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As a real estate broker in Boston, I have the privilege of helping people find their dream homes in one of the country's most exciting and vibrant cities. In addition to the city's many cultural attractions and events, there are also some great holiday shopping and entertainment opportunities to enjoy.

Here are some of the top things to do in Boston during the holiday season and how they can enhance your experience of living in a luxury home in the city:

  1. Ice Skating at the Frog Pond:  Located in Boston Common, the Frog Pond is a popular spot for ice skating during the winter months. Imagine hosting a holiday party and inviting guests to enjoy the magic of ice skating in the heart of the city.

  2. Shop at Faneuil Hall Marketplace:  

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What’s Going on with Home Prices? Ask a Professional. | MyKCM

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home around Boston this year, you may have questions about what’s happening with home prices today as the market cools. In the simplest sense, nationally, experts don’t expect prices to come crashing down, but the level of home price moderation will depend on factors like supply and demand in each local market.

That means, moving forward, home price appreciation will continue to vary by location, with more significant changes happening in overheated areas. Here’s a quick snapshot of what the experts are saying:

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, says:

“The major question on the minds of homeowners and aspiring buyers alike is what will happen to home prices. . . Soaring prices

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