Have you seen Netflix's new show yet? "Marriage or Mortgage"? Being in the biz, we love the concept! No surprise that millennials lean towards putting off buying a home, which is especially understandable in the current market. The really interesting component of the show is for the guests who choose mortgage, the negotiating powers of an experienced real estate professional are on full display. The entire industry is cheering because for every seasoned full-time pro, there's someone out there with a newly acquired real estate license who just came on the scene. These are the moments that put us to the test! We thrive in these familiar waters! Going to bat for our clients is what we've been doing for years. It takes experience to work your way around 33 offers in bidding war, whether you are representing the buyer or the seller! It's a skill set that ends up being priceless... for both buyers and sellers. In my 30+ years, this is the riskiest market for a FSBO (for-sale-by-owner) and for unrepresented buyers. Thank you NAR for pointing out Marriage or Mortgage and the critical role of real estate professionals!  And I quote, "Find yourself a good agent that you trust - a good negotiator, find an agent who has lots of experience." We agree! 

Thank you for the 'pandemic poetry' Elena Cox, in your well-written article for realtor.com! Our local real estate market has definitely been rocked by Covid-19, as you say, and your story rings true here on the northshore of Boston, MA. 

My favorite line: "Frenzied, take-no prisoners bidding wars might even quiet down into mere skirmishes." Our team of well-seasoned REALTOR professionals wholeheartedly hopes that will come to fruition, soon, really soon!

Despite the hardships these conditions have manifested, real estate, or what we call "HOME", has always been the centerpiece of our lives. We are proud to have been considered essential since the beginning of the pandemic; we are. 

Read Elena's full article here: How the U.S. Housing Market Was Rocked by COVID-19—and Where We Go From Here.

Must be within 45 minute drive of Ipswich!  Own a farmhouse on the North Shore of Boston that needs some major renovations? High Noon Entertainment wants you to get in touch.

The production company behind Fixer Upper is now casting New England farmhouse owners for a national show on a major cable network. The ideal candidate must live within a 45-minute drive of Ipswich and have an existing renovation budget of $150,000.

The team is looking for homes built before 1940, and in need of a large-scale renovation—ideally a renovation of four to five rooms. The family also must be willing to vacate the house for the duration of the build. And they’ll have to let the show’s design team take the reins!

Renovations will start this spring and summer, to be finished by early fall at the latest.

If you think you and your home are a good fit, head to newenglandcastingcall.castingcrane.com to apply. For more information, visit highnoontv.com.

Median vs. Average

The median of a set of numbers is that number where half the numbers are lower and half the numbers are higher. In the case of real estate, that means that the median is the price where half the homes sold in any given area that month were cheaper, and half were more expensive than the [...]