Why Worcester?

Established as a town in 1722 and later founded as a city in 1848, Worcester Massachusetts is home to creations such as the Valentines Day card, the type-writer, and the first pressurized space suit. At the turn of the nineteenth century, Worcester was a hub for manufacturing and transportation. These industries attracted large numbers of primarily European, Syrian, and Armenian immigrants to the city. As an affordable solution to the quickly growing population, the three-decker home was invented. The local economy prospered well into the 20th century before tanking in the 1960s as industrial firms began to relocate to southern states due to competition. Flash forward to today, and the local economy, property values, and commerce are all rapidly improving as the heart of the commonwealth beats faster than ever.

According to Assumption College professor, Thomas White, who compiles data for the Worcester Economic Index using, “Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); employment; and unemployment data for the greater Worcester area (NECTA),” Worcester’s annualized growth rate was 3.1% during the third quarter of 2018. Professor White credits job growth and low unemployment for these results.  In fact, Worcester’s 2018 total annualized index growth was 3.2%, or the greatest increase since the 1990s. While we are seeing slower gains in 2019, White attributes this to volatile stock market conditions and does not predict a recession. To put this into perspective, Worcester’s unemployment rate in April 2019 was 2.9%, while just ten years earlier in 2009 it was 9.9%. The average unemployment rate for 2019 in all of the United States is 3.6%.

Strong economic maturation over the past several years has created a residential housing market ripe with buyers looking to plant roots in a promising city and to invest in its growth. In fact, there are so many buyers that the demand has vastly outpaced the supply.  The number of single-family homes listed on the market from September 2018 to September 2019 decreased 48% year-over-year. With only one hundred and six single-family homes listed in September 2019 (a 1.05 month supply), sellers are continuing to make financial gain on the sale of their property. On average, sellers are accepting an offer within thirty-one days of listing their property for sale and are receiving 100.79% of the list price. See chart below.

The number of multi-family homes listed on the market decreased by 55% from September 2018 to September 2019 year-over-year, and only fifty-three multi-family homes were listed in September 2019 (a 1.39 month supply). On average, sellers are accepting an offer within 22 days of listing their property for sale and are receiving 100% of the list price. See chart above. The multi-family market is seeing an influx of investors as the price-point in Worcester remains more affordable than the surrounding Boston market.  With a 60% rental base already in place, the Worcester multi-family market is poised for growth.

Commercial real estate is also thriving as local government has dedicated funding and resources to a variety of special projects. The Urban Revitalization Plan is focused on ‘revitalizing underinvested properties in Worcester’s downtown’, while other projects/initiatives aim to fund new real estate developments, and promote cultural events. One such project is Polar Park. This 10,000 seat stadium is, “envisioned as the anchor of an 18-acre, $240-million redevelopment initiative” that will relocate the minor league Pawtucket Red Sox (Class AAA; International League) to Worcester. Construction for this project is underway, and should be open for the 2021 season. This site will include an office building with a roof-deck overlooking the park, two hotels across Madison Street, a 225 unit apartment complex, as well as retail stores and restaurants. MasDot is also working to redesign the Kelley Square intersection and create a roundabout that will hopefully solve current and future traffic congestion problems in the area.

Worcester has been home to successful companies like Polar Beverages, cultural institutions such as the Worcester Art Museum and numerous colleges and universities for over a century.  These organizations have long attracted residents and visitors alike, but urban expansion has paved the way for a surge in new businesses and local attractions. 

One sector that is currently booming is the restaurant industry. Sean Woods, along with co-owner and executive chef, Jared Forman, opened restaurant ‘Dead Horse Hill’ in 2018. Both were big names in the industry coming from the former Strip-T’s and Gramercy Tavern of Boston. Woods and Forman chose to open a farm-to-table style restaurant that offers fine dining while also creating an atmosphere that honored Worcester’s local history. Dead Horse Hill features original ceilings, hammered tin designs, and the name itself “harkens back to the hill on which the restaurant sits, that wore out the horses that traveled through early Worcester,”. Since then, other farm-to-table restaurants and unique eateries have opened including City Bar & Grill, Hangover Pub, Doughnuts and Draughts, and Simjang. When folks are finished chowing down, there are now many options for beer drinkers to quench their thirst at breweries including Greater Good Imperial Brew Co, Wormtown Brewery, Flying Dreams Brewing Co, Redemption Rock Brewing Co, and many more in Worcester’s surrounding towns. 

Not only is Worcester emerging as a culinary trendsetter, but it is also undergoing a renaissance of it’s art community. Worcester Art Museum has been showcasing its works (38,000 pieces today) since 1898, and the Hanover Theatre has been entertaining guests under various names since 1904. Today, there is Pow! Wow! Worcester, a 10 day art festival that brings artists from around the globe to create urban art pieces. Since 2016, “POW! WOW! Worcester has curated over 115 pieces of public art... and now maintains the largest collection of murals in New England.” In 2018, Worcester PopUp, the birth child of city government and the Worcester Cultural Coalition (among other groups), opened a 3,500 square foot community space for “creative-based events”.  The events at Worcester PopUp range from art galleries to musical & theatrical performances, workshops, and even yoga classes. It’s mission is to engage locals and foster a sense of community through its diverse offerings. The Black Box Theatre, a future theatre space for 295 guests, is set to open in Pow!Wow!’s adjoining building at 20 Franklin Street. The project broke ground in June 2019 and is scheduled to open to the public in 2020. The space will be the only experimental theatre in the city.

Worcester is gaining recognition nationally as the list of special projects and city developments continues to grow longer seemingly by the day.  The city, “is seeing its stock rise so fast that it is outpacing just about every other small city in America and could find itself a case study for urban growth,” writes Aaron Schachter of WGBH. It will be interesting to see what Worcester looks like in a few years from now as so much change is already underway.  In the meantime, be sure to check out our blog at https://www.thejarboegroup.com/blog-1 for all Worcester and Real Estate related news and updates.

Sources:

1. http://www.worcesterhistory.org/worcesters-history/

2. https://www.telegram.com/news/20190205/report-worcester-area-economy-shows-highest-growth-since-1990s

3. https://www.assumption.edu/sites/default/files/Worcester%20Economic%20Indicators%20Q1%202019.pdf

4. https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet

5. https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/04/10/office-building-now-planned-for-worcester-ballpark-development/

6. http://www.worcesterma.gov/development/special-projects

7. https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2019/07/12/worcester-red-sox-city-officials-break-ground-on.html

8. https://www.wgbh.org/dining-out/2018/01/16/best-restaurants-in-worcester

9. http://www.powwowworcester.com

10. https://www.worcesterpopup.org/who-we-are

11. https://www.wbjournal.com/article/wbdc-breaks-ground-on-black-box-theatre

12. https://www.npr.org/2018/10/23/658263218/forget-oakland-or-hoboken-worcester-mass-is-the-new-it-town

40 Under Forty 2019: Justin Jarboe

Visionary & CEO

The Jarboe Group Real Estate Team & The Jarboe Foundation, Inc., Worcester

Residence: Worcester

Birthplace: New Britain, Conn.

Education: Left institutional college to pursue private education

Jarboe was a firefighter for eight years, retiring as a lieutenant before moving into a career in real estate. Jarboe started the Jarboe Group in 2015, increasing business from 2017 to 2018 to surpass $15 million in volume last year, with clients ranging from Sturbridge to Leominster to Ashland. The firm is part of Keller Williams, a national franchising group, giving it the resources of a larger company while staying a small local firm, a mix helping the Jarboe Group become one of only six to be named a top producer this year by the Realtors Association of Central Massachusetts. The nonprofit arm, the Jarboe Foundation, has fundraisers like a mini-golf tournament, group painting nights and a Thanksgiving donation drive to help families enjoy a holiday meal, going into its seventh year. Last year’s Thanksgiving event helped more than 250 people, and charitable work has earned Jarboe a plaque of appreciation from the Worcester Police Department Police Athletic League and commemoration from the Boys & Girls Club. Charity extends to the office, as the Jarboe Group participates in Keller Williams’ Red Day, when offices close to allow employees to work on local charitable projects. – Profile written by Grant Welker

Who is most responsible for your success? My wife Alicia has been with me when times were difficult and has celebrated when in times of growth and prosperity, although Dave Ramsey's teachings would be a close second, as they helped us dig our way out of $150,000 in debt when we lost our house to foreclosure six years ago and were sued by the bank for the deficiency.

https://www.wbjournal.com/article/40-under-forty-2019-justin-jarboe

Whats going on in Real Estate these days?

Worcester unveils 3 new renderings of Polar Park — and more clues of what the ballpark has in store

Worcester unveils 3 new renderings of Polar Park — and more clues of what the ballpark has in store

The $90 million minor league park is planned to open in April 2021.

Spectators watch near an artist's rendering during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the new minor league baseball stadium in Worcester. –Elise Amendola / AP

By

Nik DeCosta-Klipa

July 12, 2019

The City of Worcester released three new renderings of Polar Park, as officials broke ground Thursday on the future home of the Boston Red Sox’ Triple-A affiliate.

The planned 10,000-seat ballpark is slated to open in April 2021 — when the Pawtucket Red Sox begin playing in Worcester — and city leaders are billing it as the centerpiece of a larger redevelopment project by Worcester’s Canal District.

“This is a very special moment in Worcester’s history—a line of demarcation separating Worcester before Polar Park and Worcester after Polar Park,” City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said Thursday.

PawSox officials say the $90 million ballpark will combine the intimacy of Fenway Park with elements that evoke Worcester’s history and culture; Polar Park, of course, is named after the well-known Worcester-based seltzer company. And while the city has previously released a number of ballpark design renderings, the new illustrations unveiled Thursday color in some more details

The redevelopment plans have called for a hotel overlooking the ballpark from left field, very similar to the set up of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire. However, the new Polar Park renderings envision a roof deck on top of the hotel, from which spectators could get a unique vantage point of a game.

There’s also a giant video board in left field alongside what appears to be a giant Polar Seltzer can — not unlike the old Coke bottles that used to be perched over the Green Monster at Fenway Park.

As much as Polar Park looks to draw from the historic Boston ballpark, the renderings show a lower, more traditional left field fence with bleachers and a grassy berm, like at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, for fans to sit. In right field, the situation looks a bit different.

Polar Park is being built into a hill with a 40- to 50-foot grade change from one end to another. How are they dealing with it? Janet Marie Smith, the PawSox’ ballpark design advisor, says seating will be “literally carved into the unusual topography of the site.” While fans entering the stadium from the home-plate side will enter the ballpark from street level, visitors will walk down into the center- and right-field seats.

The new renderings also show a tall right field wall reminiscent of the Green Monster (though, at least in the illustrations, the walls are a blue-green color). Behind the right field fence appears to be standing room and pavilion areas — somewhat similarto Baltimore’s Camden Yards, on which PawSox chairman Larry Lucchino and Smith also partnered to design.

PawSox officials have stressed that they want the modern stadium to offer more “flexible seating” and open social areas where fans can congregate and move around. The renderings show several levels of such spaces along the first and third baselines.

According to Smith, the team plans to utilize the streets immediately surrounding the park as “ideal urban appendages.” In other words, they’re hoping to create a vibrant street scene, with vendors and activities, outside the stadium. To use another Fenway Park comparison: Think Jersey Street (formerly known as Yawkey Way) with a Worcester twist. The team is even planning a small museum inside Polar Park featuring bits and pieces of Worcester’s surprisingly rich baseball history.

“Worcester has so many points of pride—from a baseball standpoint, a cultural standpoint, and a multi-cultural standpoint,” Smith said. “We relish the opportunity to weave these elements into a vibrant city. We are jumping aboard a moving train, and we love that opportunity.”

From: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2019/07/12/worcester-polar-park-new-renderings

What are the PawSox planning for the design of Polar Park? ‘Fenway charm’ meets the 21st century.

By Nik DeCosta-Klipa June 14, 2019

Dan Rea III wants Polar Park to taste like Worcester — both figuratively and literally.

“We want a ballpark that really looks like Worcester, tastes like Worcester, smells like Worcester — a ballpark that is really representative of its home town,” Rea, the executive vice president of real estate development and business affairs for the Pawtucket Red Sox, recently told Boston.com in an interview.

Over the last month, PawSox officials have begun to reveal what that exactly could mean.

Rea says they’re currently “knee deep” in the planning efforts for the future home of the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate, who will begin playing in Worcester in 2021. The team announced the move last August, along with plans to build a 10,000-seat stadium in Worcester’s Canal District as part of a development project that includes restaurants, apartments, and a hotel overlooking the ballpark.

PawSox officials plan to break ground on the ballpark this summer and have hosted several preview nights at McCoy Stadium to discuss design ideas with fans. PawSox President Charles Steinberg reportedly carries around a notebook with more than 760 suggestions and counting.

“One consistent theme has been the Worcester-ization of the ballpark,” Rea said.

The team — unofficially nicknamed the WooSox — has partnered with Worcester-based craft brewer Wormtown Brewery and beverage distributor Atlas to curate a locally inspired beer menu.

“We want people to be able to have Coors and Miller and Bud, but also have the local flare that I think the Worcester and Central Mass. area is becoming known for,” Rea said.

But the featuring of local businesses is also expected to extend beyond alcohol. Given the park’s naming rights, fans can expect the Worcester-based beverage company’s cult favorite seltzer drinks to be in no short supply. Worcester’s other iconic culinary brands, like Table Talk Pies and Coney Island Hot Dogs, are “all in the ballpark in some way, shape or form,” team chairman Larry Lucchino told CBS Boston last month.

In addition to nods to the team’s half-century history in Pawtucket, Rea says they’re also planning to integrate Worcester’s rich baseball past inside the park.

The city briefly had a National League team named the Worcesters from 1880 to 1882 (as well as a number of minor league teams over the course of the next century). In fact, Worcester pitcher Lee Richmond threw the first perfect game in major league history in 1880 at a park at the city’s agricultural fairgrounds. Ted Williams even hit his first home run as a member of the Red Sox in Worcester during an exhibition game against Holy Cross.

“People have emphasized, again and again, make it Worcester-specific and make it feel like Worcester when you walk through this ballpark,” Rea said.

According to the park’s master plan, there’s even designs for an old-fashioned dining car in the center-field pavilion, though the features at that level of detail are still being worked out.

“Suffice it to say we want many features in and around the ballpark that are evocative of Worcester culture and cuisine,” Rea said.

A rendering of a dining car on the outfield promenade at Polar Park. —Polar Park master plan

If there’s a second guiding principle to their plans, it’s the Fenway-ization of Polar Park.

D’Agostino Izzo Quirk Architects, the Somerville firm tasked with designing the ballpark, is the same company that has been leading the ongoing renovations to modernize Fenway Park dating back nearly two decades.

Similar to the major league ballpark in Boston, the Polar Park property is somewhat constrained by its allotted six-acre urban parcel surrounded by planned development. Rea says that choice was made intentionally in the hope that it results in the sort of cozy ballpark experience fans enjoy at Fenway.

“I don’t think there’s anything more disconcerting as a fan when you go to a ballpark and you’re sitting in a cavernous place with no sense of intimacy,” he said. “Fenway has been so successful because, among other reasons, there’s an intimate cozy experience there.”

“We want a ballpark that has Fenway charm, but with the modern amenities that you expect from a 21st century ballpark.”

Similar to Fenway, team officials are planning to have entrances all around Polar Park, so that fans can enter from different angles and the “full circumference of the venue is busy and activated,” Rea said. The park will also be built into a hill. So while fans entering the home-plate side on Madison Street would come in on street level, those coming from the direction of Worcester’s lively Green Street restaurant and bar scene would actually walk down into the stadium from center and right field (think Baltimore’s Camden Yards with a Jersey Street-type scene above the outfield seats).

“We’ll essentially be building a bit of a bowl-like structure that’s tucked into the slope,” Rea said.

The sloped nature of the site — a roughly 40 to 50 foot grade change from one end to another — also lends itself to another potential Fenway-like quirk, though Rea remained coy about what exactly could be in store.

“I think there will be some unique outfield geometry and architecture,” he said. “We’re still putting those final pieces in place. But I think there will be some unique Fenway-esque architecture, if not identical dimensions and identical height walls. But some things will certainly have that sort of feel to it — not just some generic, perfectly symmetrical outfield.”

Polar Park won’t just be a Fenway replica with a touch of Worcester. The team also enters the building process at a time when even minor league ballparks are constantly trying to one-up each other with more modern features and technology. According to the Worcester Business Journal, it will be the fourth-most expensive minor league park ever built when adjusted for inflation.

“We want a ballpark that has Fenway charm, but with the modern amenities that you expect from a 21st century ballpark,” Rea said.

The team is partnering with Worcester Polytechnic Institute — beginning next school year and continuing through 2023 — to develop and incorporate the latest technology into the park. Rea says they’re considering building out an app to help fans manage parking, find a particular concession, or alert them to a promotion.

“We’re talking about some really cool aspects of the ballpark that will be technologically savvy and 21st century in nature, and working with the local academic community to realize those opportunities,” Rea said.

Around 7,200 to 7,500 of the park’s 10,000-person capacity will be traditional, fixed ballpark seats, Steinberg said at a fan preview night in Pawtucket last month. The rest will be flexible seating and social areas catering toward younger fans and families. Rea thinks such gathering spaces will be key for attracting students from the 13 colleges in the Worcester area, who have reportedly complained about not having anywhere to mingle with each other.

“If we want to bring in kids from Holy Cross and Assumption and WPI and Clark and the other schools in the area, we need to have these areas that are appealing to millennials, to people who want to go as much for a social experience these days quite frankly as for a ball game,” Rea said.

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2019/06/14/polar-park-worcester-red-sox

A running list of the most affordable and most expensive cities for renters in Eastern Mass.

From Boston.com & Globe.com

A running list of the most affordable and most expensive cities for renters in Eastern Mass. by Realestate.boston.com

April 4, 2019 11:57 am

Cambridge continues its reign as the most expensive Eastern Massachusetts city for renters, according to a new report, with Boston, Brookline, and Somerville not far behind.

The least expensive rents can be found in Fall River, Lawrence, and Brockton, in that order, but Fall River saw the largest year-over-year increase — up 15.1 percent, according to the Zumper real estate site. Framingham was the second-fastest growing, and Worcester was third.

Here’s how 16 cities stacked up for the cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment and the percentage change year over year:

April 2019

1  Cambridge $2,490    0.8%2  Boston $2,420    5.2%3  Brookline $2,400    3.4%4  Somerville $2,150    3.4%5  Waltham $2,120    5%6  Medford $2,060    3%7  Newton   $2,000    4.2%8 Quincy $1,860   -1.6%9 Framingham   $1,710    8.2%10  Malden $1,660    0.6%11 Haverhill $1,410   -13.%12  Lowell  $1,410   -5.4%13  Worcester $1,330    5.6%14  Brockton $1,310   -3.7%15 Lawrence $1,210 -13.6%16  Fall River $1,070   15.1%

March 2019

1  Cambridge $2,500    0.8%2  Boston $2,400    4.3%3  Brookline $2,350    0.9%4  Waltham $2,120    10.4%5  Somerville $2,100    5%6  Medford $1,960    0%7  Newton   $1,940    3.7%8 Quincy $1,930    7.2%9  Framingham   $1,670    3.7%10  Malden $1,650    0%11  Lowell  $1,420    -2.1%12  Haverhill $1,400    -9.7%13  Worcester $1,330    7.3%14 Lawrence $1,270    -11.8%15  Brockton $1,250    -3.8%16  Fall River $1,090    16%

February 2019

1  Cambridge $2,470    -0.4%2  Boston $2,390   3.93  Brookline $2,350    0.4%4  Waltham $2,120   15.8%5  Somerville $2,100    5%6  Medford $2,060    6.2%7Quincy $1,930    12.9%8 Newton $1,900    -3.6%9 Framingham   $1,650    3.1%10  Malden $1,630    -3%11Haverhill $1,470    -0.7%12  Lowell $1,410    2.2%13 Lawrence $1,340   -3.6%14Worcester $1,330    -12.7%15  Brockton $1,190    -10.5%16  Fall River $1,040    15.6%

January 2019

1  Cambridge$2,500  0.4%2  Boston$2,420  5.2%3  Brookline$2,370  1.3%4  Medford$2,170  11.3%5  Waltham$2,120  15.8%6 Somerville$2,090  6.1%7 Quincy$2,030 14.7%8  Newton$1,900  1.1%9  Framingham  $1,720  11%10  Malden$1,610  -5.3%11  Haverhill$1,550  6.9%12  Lowell$1,390  3%13  Worcester$1,330  15.7%14   Lawrence $1,280  -7.2%15  Brockton$1,250  -3.8%16  Fall River$990  12.5%

December 2018

1  Cambridge$2,500  4.2%2  Boston$2,450  7.9%3  Brookline$2,380  3.9%4  Waltham$2,180  16%5  Medford$2,170  10.7%6 Somerville$2,100  8.8%7 Quincy$1,990 10.6%8  Newton$1,900  3.8%9  Framingham  $1,700  8.3%10  Malden$1,600  -5.9%11  Haverhill$1,590  4.6%12  Lowell$1,390  4.5%13  Worcester$1,330  15.7%14  Brockton $1,240  -6.8%15 Lawrence$1,220  -8.3%16  Fall River$940  8%

November 2018

1  Cambridge$2,510  4.6%2  Boston$2,480  10.2%3  Brookline$2,400  4.8%4  Waltham$2,290  15.7%5  Somerville$2,100  5%6  Medford$2,070  8.9%7  Quincy$1,940  9%8  Newton$1,900  0.5%9  Framingham  $1,660  7.1%10  Malden$1,650  -2.9%11  Haverhill$1,510  4.1%12  Lowell$1,460  7.4%13  Worcester$1,330  15.7%14  Brockton$1,180  -8.5%15  Lawrence$1,160  -9.4%16  Fall River$990  11.2%

1st Time Home Buyer Webinar

Alicia and Kayla will be hosting another 1st time home buyer webinar soon. Mark your calendars.

Below is the eventbrite link. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/home-buyer-webinar-tickets-62324110091  

What not to do when selling your home

By Kathy Orton April 29 at 6:30 AM

Selling a home can be complicated. The process is like no other financial transaction most people will make. Too often, sellers sabotage the sale of their home by making easily avoidable mistakes.

With the help of real estate agents and title insurers, we have collected a list of typical blunders sellers make. Avoid them, and you’ll be well on your way to a smooth sale.

Don’t let your feelings about your house influence your perception of the buyer’s offer. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Letting ego or emotion affect the sale

“I explain to sellers that as emotional as selling can be, when the decision is made to sell their home, it is now a product for sale just as any other product, and they have to do their best to emotionally separate themselves and not get their feelings hurt if an offer comes in less than their desired amount,” said Dee Dee Miller, an agent with Long and Foster and secretary of the Maryland Realtors Association. “Sellers need to remember to focus on the end result. They sometimes get too hung up on the little details and miss the big picture. Carrying costs for additional time on market with regular home maintenance and mortgage, taxes and insurance sometimes is more than accepting the lower offer.”

Overlooking extra fees at closing

The increase in affiliated business arrangements and marketing service agreements has had a negative impact on seller fees, says Joe Gentile, president of Federal Title & Escrow.

“Because these arrangements call for a kickback or sharing of proceeds from the title company to their affiliated real estate broker, title companies that engage in this activity need to charge higher fees to be able to afford the kickback,” Gentile said. “Since sellers don’t typically inquire about fees, the easiest place to charge more is on the seller side.”

ADVERTISING

Ask whether the buyer is using a title company affiliated with the buyer’s agent brokerage. If so, the seller should insist on a nonaffiliated title company to protect their interests. Before signing the contract, ask for a written quote for seller’s fees from the title company.

Well-placed furniture and soothing colors helps buyers imagine themselves in the home. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Not staging a home

All homes can benefit from staging, whether they are studio condos or lavish mansions.

“Sellers often underestimate the power of furnishings and staging,” said Steve Centrella, an agent with Redfin. “Even spacious rooms can be hard to appreciate when cluttered with the owner’s knickknacks and personal effects. You want the buyer to be able to walk in and easily envision their life in the home.”

Some sellers go to the extreme and take all their furnishings out of a house.

“An empty home presents a different challenge in that it’s difficult to gauge the space and how it lives,” Centrella said. “Ironically, empty homes often seem smaller than properties staged with appropriately sized furnishings. Properties that have a unique layout or open-concept spaces benefit the most from staging because they give buyers a plan for how the space can be used. We recently had a property that was listed vacant and sat on the market for several weeks. We relisted with staging and immediately received multiple offers.”

Putting bad photos

of your house online

“Professional photos are the expectation of today’s buyer,” says Sharron Jones, an agent with Weichert Realtors. “Their time is valuable, and they want to see a lot of photos to help them narrow their choices. Properties with either no photos or poor photos often do not even get seen by buyers.”

Photos are one of the best marketing tools for a house.

“Professional photos create more interest in a property for sale,” Jones said. “More interest leads to more prospective buyers and more excitement. Most importantly, more excitement creates the best offer for a seller.”

Poorly shot photos are worse than no photos.

“It is discouraging to see dark photos, fuzzy photos, or photos that show a cluttered house with clothes on the bed or toiletries all over the bathroom vanities,” Jones said.

Selling your home yourself can have costly consequences. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Trying to sell the house yourself

“While sellers choose to go the [For Sale By Owner] route to avoid paying commissions, many don’t realize they are losing the guidance and advocacy an agent will provide,” says Tim Kelly Kiernan, an agent with Re/Max Excellence. “It is a Realtor’s job to represent the best interest of the buyer and negotiate on their behalf before, during and after the sale. While selling may seem easier, it’s important to have a knowledgeable guide who understands the process forwards and backwards.”

Sellers tend to over-estimate the price of their homes. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Pricing your home too high

“Buyers are extraordinarily well educated in today’s market,” said David Orso, an agent with Compass. “There’s no fooling a buyer. They have all the historical data. They have access to tax records. They know what you paid for the property. A seller needs to fundamentally understand they are dealing with a very educated party in the negotiation.”

Buyers read into a seller’s list price. If it is too high, the inference is that the sellers are unreasonable, or they owe too much on their house.

“You are signaling to the market negatively when you overprice,” Orso said. “The seller might think: ‘It’s okay. They can just make me an offer.’ Buyers just don’t do that.”

If a seller misprices a house, the number of days on market can work against him. Buyers will wonder why the house hasn’t sold.

“They don’t want to be the idiot that bought a house that nobody else wanted,” Orso said.

Make the most of your home improvements. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Failing to make necessary repairs

“Whatever [improvements] you do, you want it to be emotionally pleasing,” said Dan Rochon, an agent with Keller Williams. “The goal here is to make sure that when we list your property, we attract to the emotions of buyers. Pay particular attention to things like the landscaping, the front door and the driveway to create that dynamic first impression.”

But before you spend a lot of money renovating your house, consult with a real estate agent to make sure you are spending your money wisely.

“I once met with a seller that just finished investing $35,000 into their home to prepare it for sale before meeting with me,” Rochon said. “Unfortunately, they spent it on all of the areas that did not get them a high return, such as replacing all mechanicals and roofing while they neglected the outdated 1950s kitchen and bathrooms. As the items that they did improve were in functional repair, they could have better benefited from enhancing the areas that would best attract a buyer, such as improving the landscape and updating the kitchen and bathrooms.”

Failing to disclose a defect

Although it varies by state — the District and Maryland require more disclosures than Virginia — sellers are generally required to disclose to buyers the condition of the house and any material defects, which could include structural components such as the roof, operating conditions of the HVAC and drainage problems on the property.

“It’s always smarter to disclose,” said Sherri Anne Green, an agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “Be very upfront, very forthcoming. Most of the time, buyers are savvy.”

A seller doesn’t have to disclose if a crime was committed in the home, such as a murder, or if there’s a ghost haunting the house. But it’s best not to hide what you know.

“Anything that can be shared that helps the buyer feel comfortable with the purchase is really positive,” she said.

Failure to disclose a defect can have harsh ramifications.

“You can be held liable,” Green said. “Two worst-case scenarios — the buyer could cancel the contract potentially, and then depending on the situation, the buyer may seek legal counsel.”

Content taken from Kathy Orton - https://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/8-mistakes-to-avoid-when-selling-your-home/2019/04/24/f0b5f022-5b00-11e9-9625-01d48d50ef75_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.73f1917213ae

Short Sales - How Do They Affect Credit

Short Sales - Common Misconceptions and Time Frames

Short Sales - Costs and JJ Story

Short Sales - Intro and What Are They

Welcome to our short sale video series. We will be discussing common questions we get regarding short sales.

Report: Apartment rents are climbing and poised to go higher

From Real Estate by Boston.com & Globe.com
Report: Apartment rents are climbing and poised to go higher
http://realestate.boston.com/renting/2019/04/13/apartment-rents-are-climbing/

Associated Press

April 13, 2019 7:00 am

It’s a great time to be a landlord in America, not so much if you’re a renter.

Apartment rents are continuing to rise this year, fueled by higher demand from millennials looking for a place of their own, strong job growth, and rising wages. The US median rent climbed 3.4 percent in March from a year earlier to $1,535, according to data from online rental housing portal HotPads.

While apartment construction surged in the years after the housing bust, it hasn’t kept up with demand, giving landlords the upper hand. Years of rising home prices, meanwhile, have made it more difficult for many would-be home buyers to save up for a down payment.

‘‘Even though mortgage rates are sliding a little bit and are lower than the historical average, you still have a huge amount of people who are not able to afford homes right now,’’ said Joshua Clark, an economist at HotPads. ‘‘That’s keeping people renting, and that’s going to keep people competing against each other for the same units.’’

The national median rent has risen annually since at least December 2012, the earliest data available from HotPads.

That trend has developed against the backdrop of a steady increase in rental households and a sharp decline in the homeownership rate for much of the past two decades.

The number of renter-occupied US housing units climbed from a low of around 32.9 million in 2004 to a high of about 44.08 million in 2016. It’s been mostly flat ever since, reaching around 43.11 million at the end of last year, according to census data.

At the same time, the nation’s homeownership rate has tumbled from a high of 69 percent in 2004. It bottomed out at 63.4 percent in 2016 and has since crept higher, reaching 64.4 percent last year.

HotPads’ March report shows rents are rising in all of the nation’s top 50 most populous metropolitan areas.

Phoenix notched the biggest gain, with its median rent vaulting 6.7 percent from a year earlier to $1,520. On the opposite end of the scale, the median rent in Houston rose just 1.3 percent in March to $1,585. New York’s median rent also rose slightly, increasing 1.5 percent to $2,380.

‘‘A year ago, the country was experiencing slowing rental markets and tighter for-sale markets,’’ Clark said. ‘‘Today, most of the country is experiencing the opposite.’’

Steady job growth and demographic trends, namely more of the younger millennials coming of age and seeking to move out on their own, are expected to continue to drive more demand for rental housing, pushing rents higher.

‘‘What I’m confident about right now is that over the next few months we’re going to see rents continue to rise,’’ Clark said. ‘‘The fact that we have been accelerating in these winter months a little bit, that’s a really strong signal that we’re going to have higher rent appreciation this year than last year.’’

7 Ways to invest in Yourself

7 Ways to
Invest in Yourself

According to personal development legend Jim Rohn, “to have
more than you’ve got, become more than you are.” That’s
where personal growth comes in. Personal development
includes activities that help you improve your hard and soft
skills, cultivate your talents and tap into your potential so you
can improve your overall quality of life. These aren’t one-time
activities; they involve a commitment you make to continue to
learn and grow in every stage of your life. Here’s how:
1. Take a class or seminar. Learning doesn’t need to stop
once you’ve graduated. Signing up for a class or seminar, either
online or in-person, gives you the opportunity to learn and grow
outside of the traditional confines of school. Enroll for a
workshop or webinar provided by a professional organization you
belong to or a personal interest or hobby group you enjoy.
Websites such as Coursera, Udemy and Skillshare allow you
to learn new skills and improve the ones you have.
2. Read. The most successful people carve time out of their days
to read. Not only does reading increase your knowledge, it also
improves your memory, vocabulary and focus, while sharpening
your analytical skills and reducing stress. Get recommendations
from friends or co-workers or check out the best-seller lists from
The New York Times or your local bookstore.
3. Watch a video. Many of us spend our evenings
relaxing in front of the television. Optimize your time and
watch a video from a leading personal development
expert, or expert in your field, and you’ll not only learn,
you’ll also become motivated to make lasting positive
changes in your life and at work. Also, watch inspirational
films that will leave you feeling uplifted and encouraged.
4. Listen to a podcast. Podcasts are a popular way to
listen and learn anywhere, whether you’re getting ready
for work, driving to the office or jogging on the treadmill
at the gym. There’s a podcast to fit all of your needs and
interests, whether you want to keep up on current
events, take charge of your finances, take your career to
the next level or enhance your spirituality.

5. Join a group or organization that allows you to
connect with other like-minded people who are committed to
growing personally or professionally. In addition to
networking, these organizations also provide opportunities to
take work-shops and classes, find a mentor and look for new
professional opportunities in your field.
6. Get a mentor. If you want to get ahead in your career, a
mentor can help you improve your self-confidence, tap into your
potential and find balance in your life. Since they don’t have a
personal stake in your success, they’ll provide unbiased
feedback as they share their experiences and offer tips and
encouragement to help you thrive. Find a mentor through your
professional organization or ask someone in your company or
industry who models the traits you’d like to hone and/or has
achieved the level of success you’d like to reach.
7. Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your
community while refining skills and traits, such as team-work,
empathy and communication. In addition to improving existing
talents, you may also learn new skills to apply in your line of
work. If you’re starting a new career or have moved to a new

area, volunteering allows you to get experience and expand your
network. Serving others not only nurtures positive feelings, it also
lowers the risk of depression and reduces stress.
© 2017 Buffini & Company. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. RMMK MAY S

Why Commit
to Personal
Growth?

Discover your purpose. Your purpose helps give your life and
goals meaning. When you commit to learning, you’ll discover your
strengths, improve your skills and find what makes you happy. For
example, you may discover you feel invigorated teaching others. With
this in mind, you can find or create opportunities to express your
purpose, whether it’s teaching a lunchtime workshop at your office or
coordinating a new youth program within your community.

Gain clarity and focus. It’s easy to feel adrift, especially if you’re
unhappy or frustrated with certain areas of your life. For example, if
you’re burdened by debt, you may lose sight of your goal to get out of
debt. Commitment to learning helps you focus on the things you need
to do to achieve your goals. If your goal is to get your financial house
in order, focus your growth on resources that help you get out of debt
and improve your financial security.
Become more resilient. Life can change in an instant, and the
most resilient people are able to recover from challenges or setbacks
they face. When life throws you a curve ball, a commitment to learning
will help you deal with it effectively, and even grow from it, because
you’ll have developed confidence in your skills and expertise. You’ll feel
empowered and in control over your actions and decisions.
Improve your attitude. Studies show the more optimistic
you are, the more successful you’ll be.* Why? Optimistic people
feel their actions and habits will impact their success. Their
sunny disposition makes them feel more in control of their lives.
Since they tend to be happier than their more negative peers,
people like them and want to see them succeed.

*Source: Goodthink.com

Low on time?
Download a podcast.
Podcasts are becoming a popular way to learn and get inspired. Listen to one of these great
podcasts during your commute, at the gym or whenever you have some down time.
The Brian Buffini Show
Master motivator and real estate
legend, Brian Buffini, shares
timeless tips for personal growth
and success in business and life.
The Dave Ramsey Show
Financial expert, Dave Ramsey, offers
strategies to get out of debt, build
wealth and attain financial freedom.

The Ziglar Show
Hosts Tom Ziglar (son of world-
renowned motivational speaker Zig
Ziglar) and Kevin Miller offer powerful
insights to inspire listeners to make
positive changes in their lives.
TED Radio Hour
Leading experts in a variety of fields
share their fascinating ideas, tips and
stories centered on a common theme,
such as happiness and innovation.

Stuff You Should Know
Satisfy your curiosity about how
the world works, from making
ice cream to understanding
geothermal

Spotting Talent

FROM ALICIA'S TRAINING

HIRING TALENT

- Do you have someone who just gives you solutions or just brings you the problems?

- Never settle for someone who gives you pieces of your job back; get someone who shares in your goals and vision to get the job done.

- Make sure you have someone who knows what they want or is always looking for it; don't get stuck with someone who always seems lost.

- Wouldn't you love to have someone on your team who pushes you, challenges your thinking, and always wants to raise the bar?

- Require that your people associate themselves without Talented individuals so that they're always attracting more talent.

- Talent isn't afraid to fail. The quicker they fail, the quicker they grow.

RETAINING TALENT

- Be aware that the people around you follow your intensity.

- Never stop pouring into your people.

- Know when your team members need recovery time.

- Putting people in the right roles is key; even talented people can only stretch so far and will eventually snap when the pressure is high if they aren't in the right role.

- A good match to a role maximizes a person's strengths and they are in the best position to succeed.

- Constantly gauge your Talent's level of engagement and productivity.

- Find your talent the right coach to help them grow.

Thinking of Buying a Home? Don't! Not until you read this.

Conventional Mortgage Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

1, 2, 3, and 4 unit properties and condo

3% down payment (dp)

3% seller concession DP <10%

3% seller concession DP >10%

9% seller concession DP 25% or greater

Investment property purchase is 2% seller concession

MassHousing

1, 2, 3, and 4 unit properties and condo

Up to 100% Financing (SFR Only)

3% Seller concession DP <10%

6% Seller concession DP >10%

Income limits, other restrictions apply

MassHousing Down Payment Assistance Program - for qualified first-time home buyers

DPA loan up to 3% of the purchase price, up to $12,000

1% interest rate on the down payment assistance loan for 15 years

Can be used to purchase a single-family home, condo, or unit in a planned unit development (PUD)

DPA second mortgage is due upon sale or refinance. Subordinations are not allowed.

MassHousing is making down payment assistance loans available to first-time homebuyers with annual household incomes at or below the area median income, using MassHousing financing to purchase a single-family home or condo unit. The area median income varies by country. Eligible households will earn $103,400 or less in eastern Massachusetts, $85,700 in Worcester County, and $67,200 in Berkshire County.

Homebuyers accessing down payment assistance must still meet MassHousing’s underwriting criteria, including minimum credit score and debt-to-income qualifications, and attend a homeownership education class.

 *The information provided is subject to change at anytime. For more information on this program please consult one of our mortgage partners or go to www.masshousing.com.

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

Single family only up to 100% financing

Up to 6% Seller concession

Cannot own any other properties

Income and Geographic limits apply

FHA

1, 2, 3, and 4 unit properties

Condo must be FHA approved

3.5% down payment

Up to 6% seller concession

VA U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

1, 2, 3, and 4 unit properties and condo

Closing cost may be paid by the seller

Up to 4% seller concession

No private mortgage insurance

Co-borrower must be spouse.

Worcester Airport Update

You can now fly into 5, that’s right 5 cities direct from Worcester airport. There are a lot more city’s you can fly into with connecting flights, so be sure to check before booking Logan or TFGreen.

1. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit

Airline: Delta Air Lines

Frequency: Once a day, beginning in August

2. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Airline: JetBlue

Frequency: Once a day

3. John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, N.Y.

Airline: JetBlue

Frequency: Once a day

4. Orlando International Airport in Orlando

Airline: JetBlue

Frequency: Once a day

5. Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia

Airline: American Airlines

Frequency: Twice a day

HELP - Actively looking for a Transaction Coordinator

Do you have a passion for being prepared, supporting a team by anticipating their needs, and working on many types of duties in a fast-paced environment? Are you glue? The right hand? The person who is behind the scenes making sure the trains run on time? Do you thrive in an environment where you are supportive, positive, and making a powerful difference in a team's productivity?

Busy real estate team seeks a Transaction Coordinator/Executive Assistant who wants to learn, grow, and execute!

You must have the following abilities:

- Exceptional organizational skills, initiative, and a quick learning ability

- Strong computer skills (all Office software, database management, social media skills, familiarity with Google Apps)

- Strong written and verbal communication skills

- Ability to prioritize work in a time-sensitive environment

- Excellent attention to detail

- Positive, friendly, and supportive attitude

- Ability to work independently in a team environment

- Ability to maintain confidentiality

You must be:
- Personally accountable

- Positive, friendly, and supportive

- Adept at self-management

- Excellent at planning and organizing

- A continuous learner who is interested in growth

Some of your daily duties will include: managing client communication, managing multiple email boxes and social media sites, working towards deadlines, entering client information into our database, preparing new client folders and paperwork, as well as managing leads and listings.

This role will begin as part-time and for the right candidate, can grow into a full-time position on our growing team. Growth opportunity to take on listing management and other roles. This is not the position for someone who just wants to get their foot in the door for sales (contact us anyway and we can help with you that another way).

Polar Beverages, Harpoon Brewery reportedly teaming up on new line of hard seltzer

By Aviva Luttrell | aluttrell@masslive.com

If you’ve ever dreamt of sipping on alcoholic versions of your favorite Polar Seltzer flavors, you’re in luck.

The Worcester-based company is reportedly partnering with Harpoon Brewery to release a new line of hard seltzers. Harpoon CEO and co-founder Dan Kenary told Brewbound that four flavors — Ruby Red Grapefruit, Pineapple Pomelo, Raspberry Lime and Black Cherry — will hit liquor store shelves in late April.

“We had an opportunity to work with the leading seltzer brand in our market,” he told the website. “We are using their flavors in these seltzers, and they will be more highly carbonated – something that Polar is known for.”

Brewbound reported that the flavors will be sold in six-packs and variety 12-packs across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. They come in at 5 percent alcohol by volume.

Kenary told the website that the base liquid will be made at Harpoon’s facility in Boston and shipped to Polar’s factory in Worcester for carbonation and flavoring.

Polar and Harpoon Brewery team up to create 'berry limited' UFO Blueberry Lemonade Beer

Two well-known Massachusetts beverage companies have teamed up to create the ultimate — but "berry limited" — summer drink.

This is the second time Harpoon and Polar have partnered on a beverage. Last spring, they teamed up to create a UFO Blueberry Lemonade beer.

The limited-edition beverage, described as a “Hefeweizen brewed with the essence of Polar Blueberry Lemonade,” came in at 4.8 percent ABV.

The Benefits of Great Credit (and how to boost yours)

Whether you want a loan to make a large purchase or you’re applying for a job, a high credit score may give you an advantage. It not only helps you secure a lower interest rate and save money over the life of your loans, it also demonstrates to lenders and potential employers that you’re financially responsible, and likely responsible in other areas of your life. Financial institutions and employers put their trust in this score and are more inclined to trust you if you’re a low-risk candidate.

1.) Lower interest rates on loans and credit cards.

Lenders consider people with great credit a good risk, meaning they’re confident the borrower will pay back the money. If you’re applying for a mortgage, good credit may get you a wider range of mortgage offers. One or two percentage points in interest may save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

2.) Leverage to negotiate lower credit card interest rates.

The higher your score, the more bargaining power you may have when negotiating interest rates. Why? Your credit card company does not want to lose your business and they will often lower your finance rate. You need to ask! Additionally, you may be able to cite other offers you’ve received from companies based on your score, which may help you negotiate a better deal and save money.

3.) Qualify for lines of credit.

If you need to make a large purchase, such as new appliances or furniture, good credit helps you qualify for a line of credit to buy them.

4.) Qualify for higher limits.

With a strong history of repaying your debt on time, banks may be willing to lend you more money and, if asked, will often increase your credit limit.

5.) Rental approval.

If you’re renting a home or apartment, a good credit score increases your chances of securing your ideal location. Landlords use credit scores to screen their tenants’ payment history, delinquencies and charge offs. This is also true if you’re renting a vacation home. Many agencies will run a credit check and, if your credit is good, you may be able to negotiate fees and lower rates.

6.) Better insurance rates.

A great credit score could lower your auto insurance rate. According to many insurance companies, people with bad credit are more likely to file claims. A good score may lower your premium and lock you into a better rate.

7.) Gain employment.

Many employers are checking the credit of their applicants. If you have good credit, you are seen as more responsible than applicants with lower credit scores.

8.) Avoid security deposits.

Utilities and cell phone providers often require a security deposit when you sign up for service. With good credit, you may not have to pay a deposit when you sign up for service or, in the case of utilities, transfer to another location.

How to Increase Your Credit Score: Great credit is within reach, if you follow these timeless tips.

Always pay your bills on time.
This simple act each month will build great financial habits that will pay off over the long run.

Keep your balances low.
Credit issuers often report your balance to the credit agencies on a certain date, typically the last day of your billing cycle. Consider paying all or part of your bill before the closing date (call your credit issuers to find out the specific date) so the issuer will report a lower or zero balance. Also, ask your issuer if they accept multiple payments during the month to help you maintain a lower balance and still earn rewards.

Maintain a credit utilization ratio of less than 30 percent.
Simply put, your balances make up 30 percent of the total amount of credit available to you. If you’d like to increase your credit score faster, lower your credit utilization ratio to less than 10 percent.

Tackle your debt.
Start with the highest interest rate card or loan. Once that debt is gone, pay down the balance with the next highest interest rate. Continue the process until you’ve paid off all your existing credit card and loan debt.

Avoid using your credit cards to pay for large purchases.
While credit cards make it easy and convenient to buy what you want, the compound interest can add up quickly and work against you if you don’t pay the balance off in a timely manner.

Good Financial Habits to Cultivate Now

Check your credit report. Once, every year, you’re entitled to a free credit report from all three credit agencies via annualcreditreport.com. Be sure to save all three reports and review thoroughly. If you notice any inaccurate information, report it immediately to your credit agency.

Set up automatic payments. If you have trouble remembering when bills are due, set up automatic payments. Or, if you prefer to pay all of your monthly bills at a specific time, set up payment reminders to help you remember due dates.

If you’re young or have a short credit history, avoid opening several new accounts at once.
Opening multiple accounts in a short amount of time may lower your score. Also, if you’re rate shopping, lump it into a single inquiry. Several new inquiries into your credit can count against you.

It’s never too late to repair your credit. If you have to start over due to bankruptcy, be diligent about opening new accounts and continue to make your payments on time. This will help you rebuild your good credit history.

© 2018 Buffini & Company. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.