Bostonians are Ranked 4th Among Healthiest of Americans
May 27, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Lifestyle | Leave a Comment
Bostonians are among the healthiest of Americans — at least not according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s American Fitness Index.
In fact, Boston ranked fourth out of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas in terms of fitness, according to the report, which was produced in partnership with the WellPoint Foundation.
The snapshot of the state of health and fitness is a composite of preventive health behaviors, levels of chronic disease conditions, access to health care, as well as community resources and policies that support physical activity, according to a news release.
The Boston metropolitan statistical area scored 71. By comparison, the top scorer was Washington, D.C., scored 74.4.
In addition to a data report, the fitness index is a program designed to help communities identify opportunities to improve the health of their residents and expand community assets to better support active, healthy lifestyles, the release said.
Among the Boston-area’s strengths:
- Higher percent in excellent or very good health
- Lower percent obese
- Lower percent currently smoking
The area’s challenges included:
- Higher percent with asthma
- Fewer acres of parkland per capita
- Fewer dog parks per capita
Volvo Ocean Race leaves Boston Fan Pier
May 23, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Lifestyle, Boston Luxury Developments | 1 Comment
It is hard to believe that the Volvo ocean race at the Fan Pier ended a week ago. The boats have left and are on the 7th leg of the world tour heading to Ireland. Even now as the Puma Bar is being disassembled and stacked in a parking lot a quarter mile away. They first arrived on April 25th and A lot has happened in the last month, from Salma Hayek christening Puma’s new racing boat “Il Mostro”, the mini sale boat race, and the many race sponsor’s displays. Allot of people are sad to see them go, however on the upside of everything i think that more and more people will take notice of the great value the waterfront has to offer.
The Fan Pier Volvo Ocean Race was a smash hit and i think it will be the first success with many more to come in the near future. With new projects like the FP3 and the Fan Pier getting more press and the waterfront becoming more popular i cant wait until all the projects on the shelves start to come alive in the next 5 to 10 years. The city is proactive and knows that parks, green space combined with waterfront realestate will start to really attract more people to the Seaport District. There are some great Yacht clubs on the waterfront that allow you to take out sail boats for day trips, good restruants, and great bars really make the Seaport lots of fun.. If you were as excited and entertained by the Volvo race as i was let me know.
Fan Pier hosts the Volvo Ocean Race
May 8, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Lifestyle, Boston Luxury Developments | Leave a Comment
The Volvo race has been called the “Everest of Sailing” races. One of the most grulling and dangerous boat races in the world, and now it is here in South Boston at the new Fan Pier. Eight teams compete in a trans-oceanic race traveling around the world to 11 ports starting in Alicante, Spain then ending in St.Petersberg, Russia. Everyone needs to see the Volvo Ocean Race at the Fan Pier; it is an experience that proves once again, Boston is a world class metropolis. Hopefully this will give more cultural value to Boston’s Seaport District, something it does not get the credit it deserves. It is quite the spectacle seeing all the boats up close. You can also check out company demos and make sure to enjoy some cocktails at the Puma Bar.
Saturday Schedule:
09:00 – 00:00 Scouts Day: it’s the Scouts Day at the Race Village with a day full of activities
09:00 – 17:00 In-Port Race of the Volvo Ocean Race. Where the power and performance of the Volvo Open 70 can be seen up close and personal
11:00 – 22:00 Race Village Street Entertainment: with roving musicians and street performers at the Fan Pier, water’s edge
19:00 – 00:00 Live Musical Entertainment: on the Fan Pier Stage
15:30 – 17:30 In-Port Race prize giving: on the Main Stage
09:00 – 15:00 Laser Regatta: watch the laser dinghy racing at Inner Harbour
Check out this link for more information www.volvooceanrace.org/ports/boston
1st Quarter Boston Real Estate Report
May 6, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Condos, Boston Lifestyle, Boston Lofts, Boston Luxury Developments, Boston Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate News, Real Estate Trends and Statistics | Leave a Comment
Boston Real Estate 2009 1st Quarter Report
The 2009 city wide report of Boston Real Estate, created by Link Boston, is showing some key trends that indicate it’s still a strong buyers market:
1. Sales in the first quarter of 2009 have fallen 33.4% since 2008, with 339 transactions compared to 509 in the 1st quarter of 2008 and 660 in 2007.
2. The average selling price dropped by 14.63% and the average price per square foot (PSF) fell by 9.74%, creating a great market for buyers to cash-in on some basement bargains.
Here’s how to find the best deals:
1. LOCATION:
The biggest discounts in the city are in areas like, Midtown with sale prices falling by 60.94%, the Seaport District by 42.03% and the North End by 26.59%.
2. BEDROOMS:
Studios took a dive, to 23.21% below 2008’s average selling price and two bedrooms dropping by 22.08%.
3. SIZE:
The average selling price for unit within 1501-1800 sq. ft fell by 26.61% and units much smaller, within the 701-1000 sq. ft. range dipping 16.02%.
**Key indicators show that this is a buyers market and by keeping up to date with neighborhood trends you can find some excellent deals.
MA Multi-Family Sales Boom Despite Recession
May 4, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Lifestyle, Boston Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate News, Real Estate Trends and Statistics | Leave a Comment
There are always trends within markets. Even in this recession, we are seeing a significant upward swing in multi-family home sales, which can produce instant cash flow for owner/occupants or investors. While single-family homes and condos linger on the market, multi-family properties are practically flying off the shelves in the Boston area. Lower prices and interest rates are making cap rates much more attractive. Buyers who previously would have considered a single-family or even a condo are now temped by an immediate 8 percent ROI/year…not something easily ignored. In fact, first quarter sales volume for two-and three-family homes has increased by 46 percent in 2009 over 2008, while the median sale price fell 30 percent in the same period, according to The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.
Homeownership at Lowest Level Since 2000
May 1, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Apartments, Boston Condos, Boston Lifestyle, Boston Lofts, Boston Luxury Developments, Boston Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Trends and Statistics | Leave a Comment
According to the Census Bureau, the rate of U.S. homeownership slipped in the first quarter of 2009 to the lowest level since the start of the decade. The rate dropped from 67.5 percent from 68 percent during the same period in 2008.
You may assume by this news that if less people own homes, more rent and, therefore, the prices of rents should have increased. Not quite. Boston has experienced a huge increase in rental inventory as individual homeowners and big time developers alike put their properties on the rental market as soon as they list them for sale. We are seeing an increase in lease-to-own and lease-with-option-to-buy contracts. Two Boston loft buildings, The Brewery Lofts and The Macallen Building are currently offering competitive lease-to-own deals.
Bushari Group Attends “Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate” Conference Las Vegas
May 1, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Lifestyle, Boston Real Estate, Real Estate News | 1 Comment
Elad Bushari, the broker and owner of Bushari Group Real Estate in Boston’s Back Bay, and Mara Tamaroff, marketing and client relations specialist for the company, attended the “Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate” Spring Conference in Las Vegas, NV this week. Bushari Group Real Estate was selected in 2008 to join the Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate (LuxuryRealEstate.com) global network of more than 1,500 luxury real estate brokerages. Each member is carefully selected by owner John Brian Losh based on the company’s established reputation for performance, experience with high-end properties and quality service.
Some topics covered at this year’s conference included utilizing online social networks to maximize marketing exposure for luxury properties, the importance of blogs, website optimization and the increase in high-end short sales. Bushari Group Real Estate also increased its global reach by meeting some of the top brokers from boutique luxury firms around the globe. If you are relocating, please contact us to access our international referral network.
Federal Reserve Continues to Buy Fannie and Freddie Debt
April 17, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Condos, Boston Lifestyle, Boston Real Estate, Foreclosure, Mortgage and Finance, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate News | Leave a Comment
This week the Fed continued it’s buying binge, purchasing $5.15 billion of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Home Loan Bank’s debt this Monday. This is the eighth purchase of government securities since a buyback policy was announced last month. As part of a bid to help lower borrowing costs, the Fed purchased about $60 billion, so far, of the estimated $200 billion it stated it would buy by the end of 2009. Treasuries advanced as Monday’s news was made public. The purchase of this debt will likely help mortgage interest rates remain relatively low during the next few months.
There is always the threat that inflation may pick up due to the massive government spending bills. Higher inflation tends to mean higher interest rates…so those of you considering purchasing a home in the next 6-8 months, you may want to consider making the move sooner than later. Many Boston real estate buyers are still sitting on the fence, waiting to see if they can buy exactly when the market hits bottom. The real estate market is not the stock market. You may not be able to wait to purchase the home you love at a certain price, because it is one-of-a-kind. Unlike a stock, when someone else buys a home it’s gone. You missed your chance. In real estate we tend not to see huge price swings in short periods of time. If you feel comfortable in your job, have at least six months of living expenses in a cash savings account, and plan to live in the home for a few years….you are in a great position to purchase. Many people consider the risks involved in buying, but there are also many risks involved in waiting. Just think the difference a 6.5 percent interest rate would make in your monthly payment when the national 30-year-fixed average is now around 4.95 percent.
Nation’s Top 10 Places to Find Jobs
March 24, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Lifestyle, Boston Real Estate, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate News, Real Estate Trends and Statistics | Leave a Comment
With the economy in the tubes and job losses on the rise, Bostonians may be happy to know that our city made the Ajilon Professional Staffing list of the top U.S. cities to find a job. The Ajilon study is based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Metropolitan Area Jobs Report, as well as Ajilon information from around the country. A stable job market tends to translate into a healthier real estate market. See the complete list below:
1. Madison, Wis.
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Boston…Yeah!
4. Richmond, VA
5. Milwaukee
6. Pittburgh
7. Baltimore
8. Seattle
9. Houston
10. Dallas
Mortgage Fees On the Rise
March 11, 2009 | Filed Under Boston Condos, Boston Lifestyle, Boston Real Estate, Mortgage and Finance, Real Estate Investment, Real Estate News | Leave a Comment
According to Kiplinger’s Magazine, mortgages purchased from banks and brokers by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be getting a bit more expensive…again. Beginning next month a new series of fee increases, aimed at accounting for default risks, will begin to affect a large number of home buyers and mortgage refinancers. Borrowers with a credit score of 720 and higher and less than 15% equity in their homes will no longer qualify for a quarter-point discount. For the first time, anyone buying or refinancing a condo with less than 25% down will pay .75% of the loan amount, unless the term is for 15 years or less. Borrowers with less than 30% equity will pay more if their credit score is below 700, and borrowers with less than 15% down will pay even more, even if their credit is perfect. Also, under Fannie Mae’s new rubric, someone with a $250,000, 30-year loan with 15% equity and a credit score of 699, will pay $2,500 more for a cash-out refinance than they would have before April. In short, if you are thinking of refinancing or purchasing a Boston property, do it NOW. It will be far more expensive in April.
As Boston Real Estate professionals, our mission is to provide you with the best home-buying or home-selling experience in Boston. Search MA properties through MLS on our website, www.bushari.com. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service, and look forward to sharing that service with you.
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