Graph from the Boston Globe

As time has worn on and the recession has stuck (for now, at least), the rental market has been flooded with potential renters but not much more in rental availability says the Boston Globe. Just as new renters are starting to look for a new place to call home, many experts are concerned that the increase in rent rates will be too much for lower-income families and young adults just starting on their own.

A few commentators acknowledged that this had to do with Boston’s appeal as a place for learning and a relatively steady job market as compared to the national rate. However, this poses still more challenges for those looking for apartments. Since 2005, the average rent has soared 12.5% in the Metro Boston area. To combat the shortage, developers are breaking ground on almost 2,000 apartments, many of which have been deemed affordable.

The tip for renters is to start looking as early as possible. Many apartments are due to start appearing on the market by the end of February, with many more from the surrounding neighborhoods like Brookline and Allston in April or May.

If you’re concerned about whether you should own or rent your home, please contact us. Our expert team will help make the right decision for you and your family.

Read the rest of the Globe article here.

1) Get professional help. You can miss so many extra deductions just because you didn’t know they existed.

2) Keep your receipts. This is especially useful if you use your home for an office.

3) Keep a lookout for your mortgage interest deductions.

4)The same goes for your state property tax. Who knew you home purchase can be its own tax lottery?

5) Whatever costs you paid for a closing is now a tax deduction. Claim it!

Although 2011 is over, there’s still a whole year ahead for anyone who is interested in the 2012 tax incentives for home ownership. Contact us at Bushari Group Real Estate for more info on loft and home purchasing.

The rest of the article can be found here.

1. Have your furnance inspected, cleaned, and maintanced if needed. Try to keep away any belongings to avoid a potential fire hazard.

2. If you have a fireplace, make sure to keep it closed when not in use to avoid pests and losing heat. Have it cleaned if needed. Be sure to store any firewood away from the outside of the house and keep it in a dry area.

3. Check the gutters and roof of your home. Insulate the attic in order to avoid ice dams, and make sure the gutters are clear of debris.

4. Check exteriors, doors, and windows and fix any cracks or damaged parts that could let in cold air or snow.

5. Rake away any debris and seal any cracks you find. No need to pick up any pests this winter. Check with an exterminator if you think you find an infestation.

6. In case of pipe freeze, know where your water main is located in order to shut it off for an emergency. Insulate any exposed pipes to prevent a burst.

7. Install a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, and a fire extinguisher.

8. Move any sensitive plants indoors and trim tree banches away from your home and power lines.

9. Prepare an emergency kit of flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, and a dry food supply in case of a power outage.

10. Make sure you have a good supply of snow salt and shovels.

Keep your home (and your family) nice and warm with these helpful tips.

According to Realtor Magazine, Midwestern states are seeing the largest push forward because of rising farm prices. So what does that mean for Western Massachusetts farms? Well, if they follow the trajectory of the rest of the state, they too stand to gain significant amounts of appreciation. Metro Boston is also seeing one of the best financial recoveries in market gains from the past few years. The month of November was the latest month to report gains during the streak that began earlier this year.

When one part of the market goes up, many others will follow. More qualifying buyers buy up idling supply. The supply of available homes dwindle, so the prices come up do to scarcity. Home values shortly follow if the trend remains steady.

If you’re thinking about buying a home, now is the perfect time to start. Kick off your new year with the ultimate resolution: home ownership!

If you’re looking for realtors to help you with that and more, please contact us! We can help buy your home with ease.

Say hello to the newest member of the Bushari Group team. Erik entered into the world of real estate through his business partner and now is a leader in the market.  He received his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he studied advertising and Cranbrook Academy of Art where he studied print/media. He has worked for publications, software publishers, marketing firms and ad agencies in his career before following an interest in real estate.

Erik is certified as an Accredited Staging Professional who will work with homeowners to prepare properties for sale from curb to closest. As a resident of Boston for over 12 years and as an active member of the Beacon Hill community, Erik brings plenty of local and market knowledge to his clients.  This knowledge with the dedication to his clients combine to provide a higher standard of service, one that Bushari Group is proud to have onboard.

As a new addition to the Bushari Group, Erik looks forward to helping you find the apartment, home or commercial property of your dreams!

In his spare time, Joe has contributed to various blogs including his own and the ActiveRain Real Estate Network. Additionally his opinions have been quoted in Financial Times, The Boston Globe, Boston Homes, Cambridge Homes and on National Public Radio. Professionally, Joe has been recognized for industry excellence from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Realtors as well as the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. Additionally Joe chairs the Technology Committee for the Greater Boston Association of Realtors and serves on its Education Committee.

So, please welcome Joe to Bushari Group Real Estate, where his expertise will help you find the home of your dreams.

Clear out temporary clutter

You know the kind: bills that pile high, children’s old homework, last Sunday’s newspaper, and the sweater you wore last night you were too tired to hang up. This simple step of organizing items the moment you bring them into the house will go a long way to clear up living spaces and help keep up the appearance of clean home should you not sell your home after the first showing. Plus, this step has been known to help individuals reduce stress in their day-to-day life once they can finally find where they left their keys.

Detangle messy spots

If you can’t walk into your closet, it needs cleaning. If can’t find where the crock pot went in your kitchen, it needs organizing. These are tall-tell signs that these spots require a bit more attention than others. Be prepared to spend a lazy Sunday re-organizing your desk or shelves. It can make all the difference to a potential home buyer if they can see inside the closet or  look at how spacious the kitchen is.

Small steps go a long way

Don’t feel as if this is a race to the finish line and rush to get the job done haphazardly. Like the previous step, identifying problem areas will help deal with the monumental task of shifting through years of history and droves of sentimental attachment. Give yourself time. Which also means, don’t wait until the night before your first showing to start cleaning.

Make it a family affair

Getting other members of the household in on the action will not only help alleviate the pressure, but also keep up the look of a show-ready home in less amount of time. Phew, now if only we can get the kids to clean up their rooms.

Lastly, keep a list of what need to be done visible

Some realtors will have such a form to give you once you decide to sell your home. This visual reminder will also help you keep tract of the chores that need to be done. It’s okay if potential buyers see this list; they know a family already lives in the home here. Plus, other members of the household can pitch in and help as long as the list can be easily found in the hallway, living room, or posted on the door of the refrigerator.

Hopefully, these tips can help you on your way to selling your home. If you’re looking for realtors to help you with that and more, please contact us! We can help buy or sell your home with ease.

As she tells “Realty Times,” shoppers trudging through winter weather and the same hectic holidays are often more intent on buying than browsing. Plus, home-seeking couples will be able to take off time from work to make a decision quicker and see the property together. Potential buyers who have passed the busier spring and summer season tend to be a discerning batch and may be more likely to find their home sooner rather than later. Plus, the upside to all the home decorations is that it may appeal to home buyers to see the home dressed up for the holidays. It’s a lived-in feel that most show-ready homes may lack. But what about the stress, the hassle of showing a home during the holidays? Ling advises to trust your Realtor. Do a quick five minute clean-up in the morning and your Realtor will handle the showings while you’re out working or shopping. They’ll handle the work your can’t possibly squeeze into your schedule.

And remember, just because you sign a contract, it doesn’t mean you’ll be forced to move the next day. Many families want to settle in before the new semester or by spring break, so your time frame may differ. It may take 60 to 90 days after the closing before moving time, well away from the holiday season.

So this holiday season, keep an open mind and an open home. You never know what kind of gift you’ll get when you work with your Realtor to sell your home.

If you are interested in selling your home, let us know! We’ll be more than happy to help  you. The rest of the article can be found at “Realty Times.”

This is only applicable to FHA-secured loans. The loan limits are here to stay until the end of 2013, when they will once again undergo evaluation. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae mortgages will stay at the previous level of 115% compared to the 125% level of other FHA-secured loans. The amount differs as to the amount of families in the home. In other good news, interests rates are still holding low, which means less out expense for homeowners.

If you’re looking to buy a home, let us help you. Browse our wide selection of properties or lofts for sale now. All data was compiled by GBAR.

According to the conference, pent-up demand and population growth will encourage buyers much more than the past year. Early figures expect the demand to increase by 4-to-5%. Experts also hold out for an uptick in the nation’s GDP-a healthy sign of growth, and a decline in employment. They also estimated that the historic mortgage rates would increase once more when more loans are sought. Then, once homes are sold, both property values and prices will trend upward.

Some suggested to provide military families with incentives to foreclosed homes, a move that could help many neighborhoods and veterans.

If you’re looking to move to Boston-one of the steadiest markets in America-we can help! Contact our knowledgable staff about homes and lofts, and we’ll see you in the city.

The entire article can be read here.