5 Organization Tips for Your Boston Home in 2014

The New Year is the perfect time to reset the clock and get a fresh start. Whether you’re gearing up to get in shape, save money to buy a home in Boston, reduce your carbon footprint, or jumpstart a healthy eating plan, the start of a new year allows us to reinvent ourselves in any way we choose. While setting goals for making improvements in your personal and professional lives is important, January 1^st is also a great time to get your home organized for the New Year. As you begin packing up your holiday decorations, reference this room-by-room guide for getting your home in top shape.

1. Foyer

The first room your guests will see when they enter your home is often the most chaotic. Invest in a bench with built-in storage bins for hiding miscellaneous items like umbrellas, backpacks, dog leashes, and more.

2. Living Room

Take advantage of vertical space by adding tall shelves to your living room. You’ll have plenty of room to store books, photos, and decorative pieces without infringing on your living area.

3. Kitchen

Glass-front cabinets are going to be a major trend in kitchen design in 2014. By default, transparent cabinetry will force you and your family to be more organized with how you display dinnerware, drinking glasses, and dry goods.

4. Bathroom

Generally speaking, bathroom drawers have a high potential for messiness. By investing in some wooden boxes and trays, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in half the time. Go ahead and sleep in an extra five minutes!

5. Bedroom

If you have the available space, add a bench to the foot of your bed. You’ll increase the surface space in your bedroom while giving yourself a place to store extra blankets and pillows.

As we wrap up the holiday season and look forward to 2014, I hope these tips help you organize your home. Not only will each room look neat and tidy, you’ll feel more energized, clear headed, and prepared to tackle your personal and professional goals in the New Year. If buying a home in Boston happens to be one of your resolutions for 2014, please get in touch with me. As a Boston real estate agent, I’ve helped numerous homebuyers achieve their goals of homeownership, and I would be thrilled to offer you the same outstanding service. 

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Boston's Best: Outdoor Ice Skating

Though the weather outside is frightful, don’t let winter and its chilly temperatures put a dent in your plans for outdoor fun in Boston. Sure, the days of basking in the summer sun are a distant memory, but the arrival of a new season brings its own offering of recreational opportunities. In particular, ice skating is a wonderful way to enjoy the brisk winter weather and get in the holiday spirit. Luckily, there are quite a few spots in Boston that allow you to lace up a pair of skates and hit the ice. Here are your best bets for ice skating in Boston this holiday season.

Frog Pond

For many Bostonians, no holiday season is complete without a trip to Frog Pond. This ice skating rink is centrally located on Boston Common, and is surrounded by trees with twinkling lights.

Prudential Center Rink

As you finish up your holiday shopping at the Prudential Center, take a break to skate a few laps around the Prudential Center Rink. This location is the newest addition to the downtown skating venues.

Faneuil Hall Skating Rink

Whoever said bigger is better clearly hasn’t gone ice skating at the rink at Faneuil Hall. Albeit a bit small, this newer fixture in the winter recreation scene offers restrooms, food vendors, discounted parking, and is easily accessible by public transportation.

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

There are a number of ice skating rinks run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Kelly Skating Rink offers an outdoor ice skating experience with free admission and dirt-cheap skate rental.

Those who embrace the cold weather can lace up a pair of skates at one of the many ice rinks around the city. Whether you recently decided to buy a home in Boston or are a lifelong resident, it’s never too late to establish this holiday tradition that will carry on for years to come. If you’re visiting for the holidays and are planning to buy a home in the area, please let me know if I can be of any assistance! I’d be honored to guide you through the Boston real estate market in 2014 and beyond.

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Boston Real Estate Market Review | 2013

Can you believe there are less than three weeks remaining until we ring in 2014? As we wrap up 2013 and start making predictions for the upcoming year, I’d like to go over a few housing trends that stood out over the past 12 months. Whether you decided to buy a home or sell your home in Boston this year, you likely took notice of a few prominent themes in the Boston real estate market. Here’s a look at the most significant trends in real estate from 2013.

1. Mortgage rates remained near record lowsThose who decided to buy a home in Boston this year were met with affordable interest rates. Although they increased quite significantly in late spring, the average is still below 5% going into the New Year.

2. Low inventory resulted in bidding warsPickings were slim in the Boston real estate market in 2013. A combination of low inventory, low mortgage rates and rising home prices led to the return of bidding wars between hopeful homebuyers.

3. Cash buyers remained prevalent Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of REALTORS® reported that one third of all home purchases in 2013 were made with cash. Furthermore, Buffini and Company noted that 19 percent of winter buyers plan to pay for their new homes with cash going into 2014.

4. Home prices increased more quickly than anticipatedAccording to Trulia.com, the median sales price for all properties in the Boston real estate market is $439,000, up from $389,450 at this time last year. That’s a 12.7% increase year-over-year, which has been great news for homeowners.

5. Rising rents created an influx in first-time homebuyersIt’s no secret that rental prices are rising faster than home prices. Many renters have had enough, and are more motivated than ever to buy a home in Boston and start building equity.

2013 has been a strong year for the housing recovery. If you decided to buy a home in Boston, you were probably involved in a bidding war, but were fortunate enough to receive a very low mortgage rate. Homeowners who sold a property this year saw their home values appreciate, and likely received an offer or two above asking price. As we move into 2014, the housing market is predicted to strengthen even more. If you need any assistance as you navigate the Boston real estate market, please contact me! I’d be happy to help make your dream of homeownership come true. 

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Boston's Best: Holiday Events

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

The holiday season is officially underway, and Boston sure knows how to celebrate. As you finish up your Christmas shopping and start making plans for New Year’s Eve, make it a point to check out all of the fun festivities going on around town. Especially if you recently decided to buy a home in Boston! From the SoWa Holiday Market to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Castle, getting in the spirit of the season and immersing yourself in the community are fantastic ways to get to know your new neighborhood. To make sure you don’t miss a single moment, pencil these notable holiday events into your calendar.

10^th Annual SoWa Holiday Market

The SoWa Holiday Market is the place to shop to find a unique gift for everyone on your list. This year’s event will feature New England’s best independent designers, artists, and crafters who will have their wares on display for sale. Expect to find handbags, jewelry, pottery, letterpress stationary, baby clothes, and more!

Salvation Army Christmas Castle

Be a part of a movement that helps provide toys and coats to over 4,000 in Boston at the Salvation Army Christmas Castle. You’ll help turn Park Plaza Castle into a winter wonderland by helping to decorate, set up tables, display the toys, and hang coats.

A Christmas Toy Story

The entire family will love “A Christmas Toy Story” presented by Contrapose Dance at the Boston University College of Fine Arts. This hour-long ballet is set in Santa’s workshop and features a story about elves, broken toys, a big gust of wind, and the helpfulness of friends.

Holiday Dollar Day

Kids and adults alike will enjoy themselves at the annual Holiday Dollar Day celebration on December 14^th. Sip hot drinks, be entertained, and shop for some books to cozy up with this winter. Best of all, everything in the store will be just $1.

Eat Boutique Holiday Market

Shop, eat, drink, and be merry at the Eat Boutique Holiday Market on December 7^th. You’ll mingle amongst cookbook authors, culinary experts, wine/spirit makers, and more as you sample delicious fare and get your shopping done for your favorite foodie.

As you can see, there are tons of ways to celebrate the season in Boston. From the South End to Boston’s waterfront, you’re certain to find an event or two that fit into your busy schedule as you wrap up 2013. If you’re planning to buy a home in Boston in the New Year, please get in touch with me. There are some important changes coming up that will have an impact on all buyers who require financing for their home purchases. I’d be happy to sit down with you and discuss what this means for you, as well as stand by your side throughout your journey in the Boston real estate market. I hope to hear from you soon!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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