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Are you planning on purchasing a home in the Wellesley Ma real estate market this spring? The Wellesley MA real estate market is back with a vengeance!  Well priced properties in good condition are receiving multiple offers. This is stressful for Buyers (and for realtors!)

Here are some tips on how to make your offer very attractive from Realtor.com on how to win the bidding wars in the Wellesley MA real estate market.

Are you planning on buying a home in the Wellesley MA area soon? Call Jane Neilson today at 781-223-7338 to find out some of my successful strategies for securing a home in a competitive situation. Visit www.JaneNeilson.com for more info.

New construction…..the sky’s the limit!  There are a lot of new construction homes being built in Wellesley, MA and Weston, MA and more and more often they are being scooped up while still a hole in the ground.  This leaves plenty of time for the buyer to take an active part in choosing finishes and upgrades.  But what we want and what the builder gives us as an ‘allowance’ don’t always match.  And our ‘wish list’ and our budget don’t always match either!  Take a look at this Houselogic article for some helpful hints on how to choose wisely.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Wellesley, Weston, Needham or Natick, MA, please contact Maureen McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@prphomes.com or 508-494-0811 or maureenmccaffrey.com.   And click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Natick and surrounding communities

Housework can improve your health and prolong your life?  Reduce your stress levels, the risk of breast cancer and take inches off your waistline?  Wow, that is big news.  You just have to do one little thing -  start cleaning…..regularly and often!    Take a look at this Houselogic article that shine’s some light on ‘clean’ living for Wellesley and Weston, MA homeowners.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Wellesley, Weston, Needham or Natick, MA, please contact Maureen McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@prphomes.com or 508-494-0811 or maureenmccaffrey.com.   And click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Natick and surrounding communities

There is a trend in home construction of building “tiny” homes.  There is a development of tiny studios being built in Boston and other major cities.

Will this catch on in the Wellesley MA suburbs?  I think not.  In the town of Wellesley, MA, the average new construction home is 3600 square feet. Most buyers at Pinnacle Residential Properties are seeking a home that features a kitchen/family room, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and space for an active family. Hmmnn, maybe when the kids are grown and gone I could downsize….

Just for fun,  check out this tiny house which is just 130 square feet at Hampshire College.

Whatever size home you are seeking, call Jane Neilson, Pinnacle Residential Properties  at 781-223-7338 or visit her website at www.JaneNeilson.com. She can help you find your dream home, large or small.

It’s that time of year again and the tax deadline is drawing near.  Don’t we all wish we could write off a portion of our home and call it the ‘office’?  But not so fast.  There’s no faster way to rouse the IRS!  However, no one wants to miss a perfectly legal opportunity to cut their tax bill, right?  So what is legal and what will cost us in the long run?  As you calculate your tax returns in Wellesley and Weston, MA, consider each  home tax deduction and credit you are — and are not — entitled to. Running afoul  of any of these 9 home-related tax mistakes can cost you in more ways than one.    This Houselogic article details the deductions and credits and gives some helpful pointers to ensure you stay on the good side of the IRS.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Wellesley, Weston, Needham or Natick, MA, please contact Maureen McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@prphomes.com or 508-494-0811 or maureenmccaffrey.com.   And click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Natick and surrounding communities

Each of us has lost a loved one to a cardiac emergency.  Did you know that statistics show that 88% of cardiac arrests occur in the home?  It’s terrifying enough to respond to this emergency when you’re trained in CPR!  Can you imagine how it feels to be without this training?

There’s always something to learn when you enter the Weston, MA Rec Center; however, this class is particularly important.  A CPR/AED training session will be held on Wednesday, March 6 at 7-10pm.  Youth, sports coaches and the community are all welcome! You can earn a 2-year certification. Registration is required and there is a $10 donation at the door.

The American Heart Association refers to CPR as a “chain of survival”.  Each member of the chain plays a role in the revival and recovery of a victim. The first link in the chain is the bystander or loved one that responds to the victim and dials 911 for emergency services. The next link in the chain is the administration of CPR – YOU!. The next link is a defibrillator, if available. Once the emergency response team arrives the victim is placed on life support which is the next link in the chain.

CPR is a critical link in the chain when responding to emergency situations, and without it, the chain can be cut short and the victim’s chances of survival are drastically reduced.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Wellesley, Weston, Needham or Natick, MA, please contact Maureen McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@prphomes.com or 508-494-0811 or maureenmccaffrey.com.   And click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Natick and surrounding communities

How can we forget last week’s crazy snow storm that dumped several feet of snow in the Boston area?   Especially when it’s still wreaking havoc in the form of leaking roofs from ice dams.  If you have an old house you may know what I’m talking about.  We all know that the most effective and safe way to remove an ice dam is to hire a professional ice removal company.  However, this list of hack methods in the StarTribune by Reuben Saltzman is entertaining.  Maybe you’ve tried some yourself at one time or another?

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Wellesley, Weston, Needham or Natick, MA, please contact Maureen McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@prphomes.com or 508-494-0811 or maureenmccaffrey.com.   And click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Natick and surrounding communities

Housing analysts and mortgage bankers are in agreement that the “cost” of buying a home will increase this year.  The near record interest rates that we saw as we rang in the New Year are not going to be around for long.   According to the Mortgage Bankers Association  30 year mortgage rates are expected to creep up slowly in 2013 to 4.4%.   The other factor adding to the cost of  buying your first home or trading up to your dream home is the price of a house.  Housing analysts project that home values will increase by 3.1% this year.   Act now before the cost rises!  This  delightful 4 bedroom Cape in Dover is completely renovated and ready for you to move in!  Please call for a showing.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Wellesley, Weston, Needham, Natick, or Dover,  please contact Susan Lyman, Realtor at Pinnacle Residential Properties , Wellesley, MA. Email slyman@pinnaclehouses.com or call 781.799.3449.

Now that we have two feet of snow on the ground let’s make the best of it!  You don’t have to put up a lot of cash or time to take advantage of this winter wonderland.  You might be surprised to learn that skiing west of Boston doesn’t require a four-hour car trip and the expense of overnight lodging. There are several snowshoeing, downhill, and cross-country skiing spots within a 30-minute drive of Boston. Check out this BU Today article for a quick list of spots north, west, and south of the city.  You’ll be surprised what’s available right in your backyard.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Wellesley, Weston, Needham or Natick, MA, please contact Maureen McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@prphomes.com or 508-494-0811 or maureenmccaffrey.com.   And click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Natick and surrounding communities

One more thing to worry about!  Do you know how your child is faring in their social circle?  Are they being bullied or are they the bully?  Middle school can be a rough road to travel for some tweens.  The Weston Education Enrichment Fund of Weston, MA (WEEFC) and the PTO Creative Arts Committee are pleased to welcome back Urban Improv to the Middle School. Urban Improv will present an anti-bullying program to the Seventh Graders on January 15 at 8:45am.  Urban Improv is an interactive program for young people that uses improvisational theater workshops to teach violence prevention, conflict resolution, and decision-making.  Today: this means cyber bullying.  To learn more about Urban Improv go to their website.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Wellesley, Weston, Needham or Natick, MA, please contact Maureen McCaffrey at mmccaffrey@prphomes.com or 508-494-0811 or maureenmccaffrey.com.   And click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Natick and surrounding communities