4478 Reasons to List Your House For Sale Over the Holidays

Holiday Season is a Great Time to Sell!

The holiday season is such a hectic time for people. Getting together with family and friends, traveling, shopping, decorating, company parties, charity events... 

So why would a home-seller keep their house on the market and even more, why would anyone list their house for sale during this busy time? A lot of real estate agents (who don't work over the holidays) will tell you that no one buys houses over the holidays anyway and you'll get more money if you wait until Spring like everyone else does, right?

Well actually, there are 4478 reasons why! That is the number of single-family and condominium home sellers in Middlesex County who accepted offers on their houses last year between Thanksgiving and January 2. That includes 6 in Sudbury, 14 in Wayland, 17 in Concord, and 8 in Maynard. In Weston, there were 14, 10 in Hudson, and in Acton there were 14.

Sale prices for the properties that accepted offers during the holidays ranged from $160,000 for a condominium in Acton to $5,345,000 for a luxury estate in Weston; and all prices ranges in between. 

So why do houses sell over the holidays? Because:

• Buyers have time to look; unused vacation days; companies give their employees extra time for shopping.
• Holiday/year-end bonuses.
• Pay-raises.
• Motivated buyers who missed out or were out-bid in the Spring, Summer and Fall markets.
• New jobs - companies hire for the new year. Relocating buyers need to make decisions soon.
• People get engaged, married, combine households and need more space.
• Visiting family brings out the nesting instinct.
• Down-payment holiday gifts - click here to out how your family can give money tax-free.
• Good deals; buyers are seeing price reductions from sellers who are ready to move.
• People are in the mood to shop and there's nothing better than buying a house!

As for selling for more money in the Spring, if you are selling your house you are most likely going to buy another place to live. If prices are higher in the Spring, then you will also pay more for your next house. You may sell for less at this time of year but you will also pay less. If your end-goal is to buy another house, then understand that selling is just a step n the process toward buying. You will be ready to act as soon as houses come on the market while other buyers are waiting to sell.

So if your house is currently on the market, hang in there; the inconvenience can be worth it. If you are planning to sell, do it now. You'll be ahead of the competition and be ready to move forward.

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If you are ready to buy or sell in Concord, Wayland, Sudbury, or any of the towns west of Boston - call Marilyn at 508-596-3501 or visit www.marilynmessenger.com to see homes for sale in Massachusetts.

Concord MA - Median Home Prices Up for 2017

Concord MA - Single-family Median Prices - 5 years

As in most towns and cities in Massachusetts and throughout the U.S, the residential real estate market in Concord is setting new records for median home prices!

Here is the latest market data for Concord:

Homes for Sale 7/7/2017: There are 88 single-family properties for sale in Concord; last year at the same time there were 97. List prices on in Concord range from $483,880 to $8,950,000; the median list price is $1,477,450. The median list price last year in Concord was $1,398,000. Luxury home buyers have a variety of options in Concord and with the time on the market in excess of 6 months in many cases, some of these home sellers may be ready to negotiate.  See all of the properties for sale in Concord.



Condominiums for Sale: Concord offers a variety of condo styles including garden-apartment, townhouses, new construction, duplexes, and detached single-family homes; some are age restricted for seniors over 55. There are currently 9 condominiums units for sale in Concord; last year at this time there were 16. Prices ranges for condominiums in Concord range from $318,000 to $$1,099,000; the median list price is $465,000, last year it was $874,500.

Pending Sales: There are currently 52 single-family homes with sales pending and three that have accepted offers and are being shown until contingencies are met.

June Closed Sales: There were 20 closed sales in June 2017, down from 33 in June 2016. Not surprising, the median sale price of $1,399,475 was higher than in June 2016 when it was $1,249,900.



Check out the latest reports as of 6-30-2017 from MLSPIN: including data year-over-year, and five year comparisons for single-family homes. Please contact me for additional information about condominiums. Remember, every home and every client is different so it is important to understand the similarities and differences when you are planning to sell, buy or both.|
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Click here for the latest market reports for Sudbury, Wayland, Maynard, and Stow.

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About the author: Marilyn Messenger is Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer Representative, a Certified Luxury Homes Marketing Specialist and Million Dollar Guild member associated with Andrew Mitchell and Company in Concord MA. She has been representing buyers and sellers in the towns west of Boston since 1993. Click here to see what her clients say.

Hot Housing News in Sudbury!

Hot Housing Market!

When we hear the media reports about cold weather and low inventory being the reasons for slow home sales in March, they are clearly not talking about the Sudbury real estate market where record-breaking snow and cold did not deter buyers and sellers!

Here are the facts about Sudbury housing market:

• 43 single-family homes came on the market in March compared with just twenty-five during March 2014. Although, overall inventory levels continued to be similar to last year.
• The number of houses with pending sales was almost double - 33 sales pending up from 17 during the previous March.
• There 12 closed sales - twice the number in March 2014; reflecting the buying decisions that were made during the previous couple of months.
• Current inventory for single-family house for sale in Sudbury on 4/6/2014 is exactly the same as on 4/6/2014.
• The price-range with the most opportunities is one-million to $1,499,999; there are 19, last year there were 18. 
• Time on the market for houses current for sale is 122 days compared with 183 days last year at this time. Days on market vary by price range and some sellers may be ready to make a deal to get moving.
• Median prices for sold, pending, and current listing are all higher than last year.
• Current list prices in Sudbury range from $360,000 to $2,499,999; the median list price is $962,000.
• The median sold price in March 2015 was $769,000; up from $699,000 in March 2014.

With it's country charm, top-rated schools, a variety of classic and updated housing styles, open space, shopping, places for casual and fine dining, rich history, and recreation for all ages, Sudbury continues to attract buyers who are looking for a quality town in a convenient location.

See all of the houses for sale at www.marilynmessenger.com or call 508-596-3501 for additional information about buying and selling houses in Sudbury and the towns west of Boston.

May Median Home Sale Prices - Wayland, Sudbury, Maynard, Concord & Stow MA

 

Contrary to national and Massachusetts housing reports of surging prices in May 2013, median prices for closed sales of single-family homes in Sudbury, and Stow MA were actually lower than they were in May 2012. However, the number of homes sold was higher in Wayland and Stow; in Sudbury there was only one less closed sale.

Concord and Maynard reported substantially higher median prices than in May 2012. The median sale price in Concord was $816,500 up from $649,900 in May 2012. The median sale price in Maynard for May 2013 was $292,500, up from $212,250 which was the lowest in several years.

As in most places, the number of single-family homes for sale in Wayland, Sudbury, Maynard, Stow, and Concord is lower than it was last year and houses that are price correctly are selling very quickly, sometimes within a day or 2 with multiple offers for higher than asking price; while others are selling for asking price, and there are still some that are selling for less than asking.

Buyers need to be prepared to step up and move quickly and having the right* buyer agent/broker on your side can make a big difference for you. (*not all agents who call themselves a buyer agent are trained to represent your interests in the current market. Encouraging buyers to pay over asking and waiving contingencies may not be the best advice in every situation. Work with a broker who knows the ins and outs of the market you are in.)

Even with the hot market, price is still important and we are still seeing price adjustments and homes with expired listing contracts.

See the full market reports for Wayland, Sudbury, Concord, Maynard, and Stow at www.marilynmessenger.com or contact Marilyn 508-596-3501 for answers to your home buying and selling questions.

Connect with Marilyn Messenger on Google+

Luxury Homes Market Update

The Keeping Current Matters blog recently published a post titled “Luxury Market Surges” that includes an InfoGraphic (based on data from the National Association of Realtors and the Wall Street Journal) showing that the number of homes sold for $1 million-plus year-to-date has increased substantially over 2011. Varying by region, the overall increase for million dollar-plus homes nationally was 44.1 percent. For homes sold with a mortgage, the increase for $1 million+ homes was 28%; compared with 8.5% for homes sold for under $1M.

Luxury home sales in the Northeast increased 27.6 percent. Sales in the towns west of Boston certainly helped fuel the increase in the Northeast. Year-to-date, sales of luxury homes in Weston increased by 50 percent -- 87 up from 58; in Wayland there have been 23 sales this year up from 13 in 2011 – a 77 percent increase! Sales in Concord were up from 38 in 2011 to 55 in 2012, an increase of 45 percent. The number of estate home sales in Sudbury remained steady with 23 sold, one more than for the same period in 2011.

The median price for the luxury market in Weston, Wayland, Sudbury and Concord also increased. While there are still lots of excellent opportunities for move-up buyers and people who are moving to the area, the number for sale continues to decrease, so list prices have also increased from last year. Click here to see what homes are for sale. Request additional information or ask a question. 

About the author: Marilyn Messenger is licensed real estate broker with Andrew Mitchell and Company in Concord MA. She has been selling luxury properties in the towns west of Boston since 1993. As member of the Institute for Luxury Homes Marketing; a Certified Residential Specialist, and Accredited Buyer Representative, Marilyn has the knowledge and experience to provide the efficient and cost effective services her clients expect. Visit www.marilynmessenger.com for more information. 

Wayland Real Estate Market - October Sales Up; Current Pendings Down

Welcome to the real estate market conditions report for Wayland MA for November 2010.


Overall, there are more single family homes for sale in Wayland than there were one year ago - 85 compared to 79, however, a closer look shows that in many price ranges there are actually fewer available. The price range with the largest decrease is $600,000 to $699,900 - last year at this time there were 11 homes for sale; currently there are only 7. The range with the highest increase is $250,000 to $299,000 - there are 10 compared to only 1 last year. Many of the homes that range are either short sale or banked-owned properties.

Eight of the "active" listings have offers accepted and are being shown until contingencies have been met. Additionally, there are 7 single-family homes with sales pending; there were 16 sales pending one month ago. Pending sales indicate recent activity.

List prices in Wayland range from $179,000 to $4,795,000. The median list price is $719,000; last year at this time it was $639,000. The average list price is $956,309 compared with $1,059,493 last year. Average time on the market for current listings is 199 days; a year ago it was 210 days.

The number of closed sales during the month of October was up; 15 compared with 11 sales last year. The median sale price was $500,000 up from $472,500 last year; while the average of $488,850 was lower than during October 2009 when it was $532,986. Year-to-date, the number of single family homes sold sales was up over 2009 - 119 in 2010; 105 in 2009, and there was no significant change in median and average sale prices.

While median and average prices are helpful information, the market value of any property depends on the supply and demand which can vary greatly for each price range. It is important to understand your specific market when determining the list price that will attract the highest number of buyers; or if you are a buyer trying to determine what you are willing to pay.

For anyone looking for easy living, there are excellent opportunities in Wayland. There are 28 condominiums, including duplex and townhouse styles with prices ranging from $319,500 to $985,000. There are 3 condominiums with offers accepted; and 1 sale pending. There were 2 closed sales for condominiums during October.



Visit www.marilynmessenger.com to search complete MLS listings with addresses and maps; news and information and market reports for Sudbury, Stow, Maynard, and Weston MA.

Data source: MLSPIN (Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network)

Sudbury MA - Fewer Homes in Most Price Ranges

Welcome to the Sudbury MA Market conditions report for February 2010.


The overall supply of single family homes for sale in Sudbury remains low; only 96 homes, up slightly from last year at this time when there were 88. The increase is in two price ranges: $600,000 - $699,900 and $1,000,000 - $1,499,900; all other price ranges have fewer houses available.

Current list prices in Sudbury range from $174,000 for a tear-down to $3,195,000 for a thirteen room estate on private 5+ acres. Three-bedroom homes range from $289,900 to $699,900; four-bedrooms range from $369,500 to $1,999,900. Five-bedroom homes range start at $995,000 with the exception of an Antique home needing rehab that is listed for $299,900.

The median list price is $959,000, up from $939,450; the average is $1,112,842, down from $1,175,526.

Although year-to-date closed sales are down from one year ago, activity is picking up. 11 of the homes listed have accepted offers. And there are fourteen homes with sales pending.

Whether you're a first time buyer, or a current homeowner thinking about moving up, moving down, or moving sideways to easier living, this is a great time to do it! Interest rates are still low, the $8,000 first time buyer credit has been extended; and, there is a $6,500 credit for many existing home owners. The deadline for a Purchase and Sale agreement is April 30 and the property must close June 30. Go to www.marilynmessenger.com or contact your tax accountant to find out if you qualify.

Visit http://www.marilynmessenger.com/ for the latest local market condition reports for Sudbury, Wayland, Weston, Maynard and Stow MA, complete MLS home search, news and information to help you plan your next move. To get market information for any other town e-mail marilynmessenger@realtor.com.

Data Source: MLSPIN (Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network)