This little fella is the cutest guard dog I ever did see.   My parents and I walked around Cambridgeport today reading the homeowvner-created signs for If This House Could Talk telling stories about their houses.  My dad grew up in the neighborhood so it was a chance to hear some fun stories of his too.   This adorable pup tickled our funny bone.  No matter how much we waved at him he wasn't about to bark - wag his tail maybe but not bark.    He loved to pose - this crossed-paws shot was my favorite. 10/09/2010

In business there is real value in statistics and systems.  They allow you to assess how you are doing along that set of criteria you establish.  But if you think following a single system and looking at statistics in one particular way will always show you the right way, you are wrong.  Real Estate is a fluid business that is constantly altered by the people who are transacting business together.  While you can make a case for statistics in determining what the outcome will be, you can’t bank on that.  I have heard all kinds of statistics and tales that are supposed to determine an outcome.  The first person to speak after a money question is asked, looses is one such tale.  When showing houses to people in your own car, the person who sits in the front seat with you will make the deci... 09/28/2010

Comparing is a big part of real estate. We compare and contrast all the time. One house has more yard; another a new kitchen, one lender allows an explanation for an issue; another will not…and so goes the day. Yesterday I had the joy of sitting and talking to two highly successful women and picking their brains. The overarching conversations were about Brand Identity and Market in real estate. We talked “old school” and new techniques to accomplish the same results for less time, or money. Studying land values and real estate in Texas which has a rich history of land and home transactions that can go back one hundred years is interesting. In Massachusetts the titles for land and home go back 350 years and is far more complicated because of the age and the ways in which land and home ti... 09/27/2010

One of my favorite things about Cambridge, and Harvard Square in particular, is how many decades, centuries actually, are commemorated here.  From Colonial times to the recent past - there are buildings, monuments, plaques and more memorializing people, places and events from Cambridge's past. Walk down any block and you're likely to come across the juxtaposition of Cambridge then and Cambridge now. Here are a couple I spotted recently: The first school house in Cambridge in 1646 was here on what is now Holyoke Street in Harvard Square. The street was called Crooked Lane in the 1600s. Today, where the school house once stood is Looks, a women's boutique - one of several you'll find in Harvard Square. On the other side of the square, in the Cambridge Common, this plaque marks the site of... 09/03/2010

I have always loved September. It is a month of beginnings. All those years we started out all bright and shiny, through all those schools moving through the beginning days of that academic year  with hope and trepidation. As a professional, September is a time when actively marketing and promoting your personal brand is a must. This is a month when people are open and fresh. Remember they are just off vacations and lazier, more relaxed days. The freshness helps the openness to new ideas. It is a time when your message has more of a chance. When it is not seen here, it is harder to be seen at the other critical times in the year. Minimum touches into your farm area in a year needs to be six. Postcards lead to calls, leads to email and a building of the subscription base that then become... 09/03/2010

581 Mount Auburn St in Cambridge is a single family townhouse not far from Harvard Square. In move-in condition, it's on the market for $529,000.     Set back from the street, the townhouse has views of historic Mount Auburn Cemetery on one side, and the Larchwood neighborhood on the other.  Inside, the 1980 sq.ft. townhouse has a lofty, open and modern feel with: Renovated kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and a pantry closet Dining room with sliders to a private deck and enclosed garden 2.5 baths Spacious office Living room with wood burning fireplace Spacious master bedroom with bath and three closets Second bedroom Washer and dryer in the basement Direct access from the one-car garage Attic storage Central air conditioning     Upgrades includ... 08/13/2010

Cambridge MA Condo Market Report - July 2010 The Cambridge MA Condo Market activity for condos sold in Cambridge, MA shows that there were 76 Cambridge MA condos sold in July 2010 with an average sales price of $533,088 and an average days on the market (DOM) of 62.   Cambridge MA Condo Prices Cambridge MA Condo Market Stats   MA Real Estate - Community, relocation and school information with town demographics. MA Foreclosures - Obtain a list of foreclosed and bank owned real estate and short sales MA MLS - View all listings in the statewide MLS. MA Homes for Sale - Map Search - Search by location, neighborhood and commuting. Cambridge MA Condos for Sale - Map based search Virtual Homes Real Estate provides search tools to assist you in learning about the community, listing and market ... 08/12/2010

Lenders are at it again!  Changes, changes, changes...  One of the latest is a lovely new application disclosure titled "Undisclosed Liabilities".    Lenders must determine that the liabilities up to and concurrent with the closing are used in evaluating the qualifications of the borrowers.  What does this mean you ask?  Well for one thing it would be virtually impossible for lenders to pull an updated credit report of liabilities and re-underwrite the loan if necessary, while buyers and sellers are sitting at the closing table.   So the fun begins 5-10 days prior to closing, as lenders begin to do a trade line comparison for each active liability on the consumer's credit report.  Special notice is taken of any newly acquired debt or increase in balances previously reported.  Lenders mu... 08/04/2010

Homes for Heroes would like to introduce our new affiliate, Melissa McHugh! Click here to read more! 07/21/2010

I seem to be a magnet for unusual animal sightings in the city. Last week I added another to my list when I was driving towards my office one morning and spotted this poor opussum.   He was perched atop a high chain link fence that runs along the railroad tracks in Porter Square on the Somerville-Cambridge line.  On the street side the sharp tops of the chain link wires stuck up next to the railing. On the other side was a very long drop to the tracks that run well below the street.  This was a possum in a pickle. He was stuck. I stayed with him for quite some time. It was heartbreaking - and very stressful for him. He had trains next to him on one side and traffic and trucks running along the other side. People too - you kind to had to chuckle watching pedestrians walk by - either obli... 05/09/2010

Those are spring flowers in the window box at right but it was summertime in Cambridge today. 91 degrees! In the first week of April!!  There's something not quite right about a springtime scorcher before the leaves have come out on the trees.  It was a new high temperature record of course. Mind you, the low temperature record is 16 degrees.  Temps under 20 wouldn't have surprised me as much as today's heat did. What a day for a tour!  We had 28 new listings to see.  So many beautiful properties - it was a superb tour.  From a glorious single family, to two different dramatic lofts, a co-op on the Charles, a two-level condo in Porter Square - we saw beautiful homes - one after another after another.  Too many to remember by the end of the day. 28 properties is a mighty trek.  Typically... 04/07/2010

138-140 Huron Avenue in Huron Village, Cambridge, was renovated and converted to twelve condos in 2003.  138-140 Huron Avenue Features: The renovated condos are compact studios, one-bedrooms, and small two-bedrooms.  The condominiums have oak floors, new kitchens with granite counters and maple cabinets, common laundry, and additional storage. The condos are across the street from the Coldwell Banker real estate office where I work. As someone who is often hunting for a parking space in the neighborhood, I can attest to the value of the two car-deep parking spaces that come with condominiums in the building. 138-140 Huron Avenue - Neighborhood Amenities The condos, and my office, are located at the edge of Huron Village, down the road from Harvard Square, near Avon Hill, and not far fro... 04/06/2010

Cambridgeport Commons is a 100-unit condo development built in 1988 at the tip of Cambridgeport close to the Charles River and Boston. Cambridgeport is a popular Cambridge neighborhood. Its streets are lined with Victorians and mature trees.  It's one of the few Cambridge locations that offers easy access to both the Red Line and the Green Line subways.  Central Square, with a Red Line T stop is at one end of the neighborhood and the Charles River at the other.  Cross over the BU Bridge - enjoying the beautiful view while you do - and you can hop on the Green Line or walk down Commonwealth Ave. Now that the Red Sox are back in town it's an easy walk to Fenway Park and Kenmore Square. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are in the neighborhood as well as  a number of small corner stores. In Cen... 04/06/2010

The Aberdeen Lofts in Cambridge MA at 1 Aberdeen Way were created in 2005 when a former factory building was converted to loft condominiums. Today there are 55 loft condos in the building ranging in size from 684 to 1507 sq.ft.  There are large windows, high ceilings, and lots of exposed ductwork, pipes and rafters. Aberdeen Lofts Features Include: In-unit laundry Central air conditioning Bamboo floors Granite and stainless steel kitchens Outdoor parking Aberdeen Lofts - The Neighborhood Loft buyers who prefer a residential neighborhood, rather than the more industrial locations where lofts in reclaimed buildings are often located, will appreciate the surroundings at 1 Aberdeen Way. Located just off Aberdeen Ave these lofts are in the Stawberry Hill neighborhood of Cambridge. This compa... 04/05/2010

Fresh Pond Greenway in Cambridge is a 25-unit condo building at 773 Concord Avenue in Cambridge Mass.  Built in 2006, the building incorporates many green features and was built to Energy Star Standards.  Living here you're sure to save money on utility costs as the insulation in the building exceeds building code requirements by some 30%.  There are bamboo floors in many of the units and low-emission paints were used throughout the building. Energy Star appliances were installed in the condos. Another unusual conservation-minded feature are the dual-flush toilets in condo bathrooms.  You're able to choose the amount of water for each flush. These were new to me but make a lot of sense. As we become more conscious of our water usage I bet dual-flush toilets will become more common. Feat... 04/05/2010

9 Ellery Street - Cambridge Condos    Want a walk-to-everything location? A condo near the Red Line? Near Harvard Square? Near Central Square? You'll find it at 9 Ellery Street, a 24-unit Cambridge condo building just off Mass Ave between Central and Harvard Square. Built in 1929 as the Thurston Apartments, 9 Ellery Street was converted to condominiums some years ago. Will you be working at Harvard or MIT or attending grad school? 9 Ellery Street is midway between Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This is a fun stretch of Massachusetts Avenue - lined with restaurants, pubs, shops and bookstores. The newly renovated Cambridge Public Library is close by and so is the Charles River. No need for a car here - you can catch the Red Line at Harvard or Central an... 04/01/2010

15 Upland Road Condos - Porter Square Cambridge  Years ago, until the mid-90s, Cambridge had rent control.  During that time my friend Emily rented for a bit at 15 Upland Road.  The apartments were called "railroad flats" - each rundown room opened off the one before - a chain of rooms.  But the rent was cheap and the location couldn't be beat. In 1999 the six-unit building was sold. After a gut renovation transformed the building it was sold as condos in 2000.  Railroad flats no more, the condominiums are thoroughly modern and beautifully finished. There are six two-bedroom condos on three floors at 15 Upland Road.  The condominiums have an open layout, granite and stainless kitchens, central air conditioning, and marble baths. 15 Upland Road is in the heart of Porter Square. The Red L... 04/01/2010

Top Condos for Sale near the Porter Square MBTA - Cambridge MA Real Estate For Sale Below are my current favorite Cambridge condos for sale that are near (walking distance) the Porter Square T station on the MBTA's Red Line.  All of these condos have something that makes them stand out from the crowd of current listings.    A lot of these properties caught my attention because of how frequently buyers in my property finder mark these listings for their saved folders - usually a good indicator of the buyer's interest in the property.   Porter Square is a vibrant area with great shopping, dining, and a interesting mix of both students and professionals.   The proximity to the Red Line gives commuters and students an easy ride to their destination, whether it be downtown Boston, Kendall Sq... 04/01/2010

170 Gore Street Cambridge - Condos at The Pavilion   Looking for a condo close to the Green Line? Do you want easy access to Boston and Logan Airport? An elevator building? Nearby stores and shopping? The Pavilion at 170 Gore Street in East Cambridge has all of this and more. The Pavilion was built in 1988 and has 114 luxury condos. The six-story building is one of the tallest in the neighborhood and some upper level units have beautiful Boston views. Cambridge real estate buyers will appreciate the easy access to stores and transportation.  A shopping center with a large, recently renovated supermarket is across the street and the Cambridgeside Galleria Mall is only a few blocks away. The Lechmere T Green Line station is just down the street. Residents can easily hop on major routes in... 03/25/2010

HOW TO KNOW IF A GOOD AGENT IS A GOOD FIT "I happily referred a couple of agents who came highly recommended and whom I thought would be a good fit for clients moving out-of-state who didn't want a previously bad home-buying experience repeat itself.  In a follow up email they asked me how to know if he or she would be a good fit.  Thus the following excerpt from an email:  "Some traits of a good buyer agent (some I'm sure will dictate a better fit than others): Honesty Respect Listening skills Organized More interested in helping you find the right home than racking up a sale Specific knowledge of the neighborhood (and sale history - e.g., median price over last year) of the area(s) you target Negotiating skills Experience Detail-oriented Follow-up Conscientious Takes your questions se... 01/08/2010