Saint Patrick's Day in Boston!

Each year on St. Patrick’s Day, most Bostonians fall into one of two categories: Those who are loud and proud of their Irish heritage, and those who are determined to be as Irish as possible just for the day. Whether you’re Irish or not, Boston has countless ways to celebrate and get in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. If you have just relocated or are in the planning stages of buying a home in Boston, you might not be not aware of all of the activities going on this weekend. As a local expert with a flair for seeking out the most exciting events in the city, I’ve taken it upon myself to create a quick guide you can reference to get the most out of St. Patrick’s Day in Boston.

Dropkick Murphys Concert

There’s a reason why “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” is the Dropkick Murphys number one hit. This Celtic folk band formed in South Boston in the mid-1990s and is a true musical representation of Irish pride. A hometown favorite, the Dropkick Murphys St. Patrick’s Day concerts usually sell out quickly. Those lucky enough to snag tickets will see the Dropkick Murphys perform at TD Garden this Friday, March 15^th or at House of Blues on Sunday, March 17^th. If you’re a music lover, you’ll want to buy tickets to one of these high-energy shows soon before it’s too late.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston

The parade is one event you won’t want to skip, even if you just catch part of it. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been a Boston tradition since 1901. The annual event draws upwards of 1 million spectators who come to see the elaborate floats, musicians, and performers. Typically, the parade is held on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick’s Day. Die-hard St. Patty’s Day enthusiasts are in luck, as St. Patrick’s Day actually falls on a Sunday this year. Checking out this Boston tradition is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday!

Irish Music and Dancing at Faneuil Hall

This St. Patrick’s Day, come for the shopping and dining, and stay for the Irish music and dancing at Faneuil Hall’s Quincy Market. Bay Street Pipers, Wood School of Irish Step Dancing, the Carlynton High School band, and other talented acts will dazzle passersby with free performances running throughout the afternoon from 11am-4pm.

Patronize an Irish Pub in Boston

If you’d rather keep your St. Patrick’s Day celebration low-key, there are hundreds of Irish pubs scattered throughout Boston you can check out. Bar goers can expect to sample some Irish whiskeys and brews while enjoying authentic Irish music. Many of Boston’s Irish pubs also offer full menus with traditional favorites, such as Shepherd’s Pie and Corned Beef and Cabbage, to keep you satiated throughout the day.

Now that you have a solid list of activities to choose from this St. Patrick’s Day, what are you waiting for? Pick out your most festive outfit (you don’t want to get pinched for not wearing green), develop a game plan, and hit the streets of Boston this weekend for an unforgettable celebration of Irish culture. Alternatively, if you’re in town looking for a new home this weekend, please give me a call! I’d be happy to show you some of the fantastic homes for sale in the Boston real estate market.

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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144 W Concord Street #2 South End - My Newest Listing!

I'm excited to announce my newest South End listing at 144 W. Concord St #2 in Boston. This two bedroom gorgeous designer home has everything! 

Rich walnut floors, soaring 10 foot ceilings, marble fireplace and a wall of windows grace the living and dining areas. The open custom kitchen provides a generous amount of granite counters, oversized warm wood cabinets, and Sub-Zero and Thermador appliances to please any chef!

The luxurious newly renovated bath includes a double sized walk-in glass shower, custom stone vanity, and beautiful stone tile work.

Both bedrooms have hardwood floors ceiling fans, and there are closets and bonus storage throughout the condo.  At the rear is an oversized sunny deck, perfect for summer living!

New HVAC and hot water heater, 100% owner occupied building, easy walk to Toro, Flour, mass transit, and more!  There's even your own tandem parking space!

See photos and video tour at www.kensnyderhomes.com

Boston Area Keep a Look Out for Your Buyer's Agent!

If you’re planning to buy your first home, congratulations! At this point you’re most likely figuring out your finances, and you’re beginning to do some preliminary browsing to see what the Boston real estate market has to offer. If you’re relocating from out of state and aren’t too familiar with Boston’s distinct neighborhoods, it can be extremely helpful to enlist the help of a local expert to assist you through the home buying process. As a Boston real estate agent, I find that many homebuyers don’t realize my services as a buyer’s agent are completely free. 

Usually there are two types of agency in a real estate transaction: Buyer agency and seller agency.  As a buyer, here’s what you can expect out of your buyer’s agent. 

Buyer’s Agent

• A buyer’s agent puts the buyer’s interests first. This includes evaluating the buyer’s needs and finding properties that fit their specifications, negotiating on the buyer’s behalf, attending the home inspection, and more.
• A buyer’s agent is hired by the buyer and paid by the seller in nearly all cases. A huge perk of hiring a buyer’s agent is that the buyer gets to benefit from the advice, loyalty, and guidance of a real estate professional without having to foot the bill.
• A buyer’s agent assists a buyer with opinion, strategy, and insight. A buyer’s agent really comes in handy when it comes down to determining the fair market value of the chosen property, crafting an offer strategy, and negotiating with the seller’s agent.

A seller’s agent, or listing agent, has responsibilities to uphold on the other end of the transaction.

Seller’s Agent

• A seller’s agent puts the seller’s interests first. When a seller lists his or her home for sale, they hire a listing agent to perform a competitive analysis, market the property, and negotiate on their behalf. 
• A seller’s agent is hired and paid by the seller. A seller will pay his or her agent a commission, which is documented in the listing agreement. The seller’s agent typically splits his or her commission with the buyer’s agent for bringing an interested buyer to the transaction.
• A seller’s agent can assist a buyer within constraints. The seller’s agent is required to give the buyer all material facts about a property (the good and the undesirable) so the buyer can make an informed decision.

Though a buyer’s agent and a seller’s agent represent opposite sides of a real estate transaction, they both have a legal and ethical responsibility to treat all parties fairly.

Now that we’ve established that you do not have to pay for a buyer’s agent to help you find a property, negotiate on your behalf, and assist you in securing financing for your new home, what are you waiting for? Contact me, a seasoned Boston real estate agent and I promise to keep your best interests in mind throughout the home buying process and beyond.

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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The Buyer Agent's Job When You Choose a Home in Boston!

You’ve seen dozens of Boston homes, even flirted with the idea of making an offer on one or two. Now that your search is over and you’re fully committed to the home of your dreams, it’s tempting to get ahead of yourself before crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s. What lies ahead in the upcoming weeks are reviewing loads of paperwork and inking your John Hancock on many important documents. Sound overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be! When you hire an experienced buyer’s agent to assist you through the home buying process, you can rest assured your transaction is in capable hands.

Once your offer is accepted, there is a series of milestones you will reach before the keys to your new home are dropped into your hands. This blog post is the first of a two part series that will explain what you can expect in the last leg of your journey through the Boston real estate market.

The Home Inspection

I will refer you to reputable home inspectors to conduct the inspection on your new home. In Massachusetts all home inspectors are required to be licensed, but it’s a good idea to verify each inspector’s license at the Board of Registration of Home Inspectors website. If an issue arises as a result of the inspection, you have three options: ask that the seller fix the problem, accept a credit to make the repairs yourself, or accept the problem as is. Sometimes a buyer and seller struggle to reach an agreement that satisfies both parties. In this case, you can revoke your offer and request a return of your deposit.

The Purchase & Sale Agreement

The inspection is complete and you and the seller have settled any issues that came up during the inspection process, details of which may be reflected in the Purchase & Sale Agreement. The Purchase & Sale agreement is drafted by the seller’s attorney,  Your attorney will often go back and forth with the seller’s attorney to negotiate the wording of the agreement before you sign it and hand over your check, which will be held in escrow.  I understand there’s a lot to remember, so rest easy that I’ll be there to guide you through everything as well as keep a copy of the Purchase & Sale Agreement on file.

Mortgage Commitment

You will need to apply for a loan a couple of days before signing the Purchase & Sale Agreement.  The bank will work through the paperwork, have the house appraised, and no doubt ask you for quite a bit of documentation. In this stage it’s very important to be compliant with your lender and be upfront about anything that could jeopardize your credit. If all goes as planned, your bank will issue a letter to you that documenting the final conditions they’ll need to fund your loan to complete the purchase of the home. It’s critical that we have a “clean” commitment (one that only contains conditions that are within your control to meet), before your Mortgage Commitment deadline.  Both your attorney and I will track that critical milestone.

Be sure to check my blog next week for a detailed explanation of the final steps you’ll need to take before settling in your new home. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, your Boston real estate agent, if you have any questions about the home buying process or the Boston area in general. I look forward to working with you!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Hire a Buyer Consultant to help your search in the Boston Area Market!

You’re ready to start the search.  You may have found some properties online that you’d like to look at.    Maybe even went to an Open House or two. But what next? Buying a house can seem confusing, even overwhelming.  Plus, with so much money on the line, you probably feel you need an expert to help you.  

Well, that’s where a Buyer’s Agent comes in! What can a home buying agent do for you?  A good one can educate you on the buying process (especially good for your first purchase, or first time in a particular area.) They help you refine priorities, alert you to new properties, coordinate the showing process, and can lay out the pros and cons of each property to help you make your buying decision.  

You can see buyer’s agents advertising on sites like:

Realtor.com

Trulia.com

Zillow.com

And you may run into agents at open houses that also work as buyer’s agents (although keep in mind they generally are representing the SELLER at the open house). The best way to find a buyer’s agent may well be to ask friends or coworkers who’ve bought before for recommendations.  I know that’s how most of my new clients find me - they are referred by people I’ve already worked with who think highly of me. (You can find what some of them have to say about me on my website.)

Once you have found a couple properties or had an agent send you some they found, it is time to see the property.  The agent will schedule an appointment which typically requires 24 hour notice to show you the home. Open houses are another good way to see places - just be sure to sign in with your agent’s name or better yet go with the agent to the open house. Just remember to avoid contacting ads or other agents directly - simply contact your buyer’s agent with any questions instead and they will get the answers.  While some buyers do buy the first home they see, typically buyers see an average of 8 to 10 homes before they find the right one. Don’t get discouraged!  

Now, that you have found the one home for you, what do you do?  Well, that’s when I especially come in handy.  I will not only help you determine fair market value but also craft a winning offer strategy and help with negotiations. Once the offer is accepted I help you with all the mounds of fun paperwork.  I also am your voice to the seller’s agent so you can sit back and relax.

So contact me for your buyer’s agent!  I will help you through the process, keep you on track to find your dream home and do all the busy work along the way.  And soon you will have a wonderful new home and when your friends ask you how you did it, you can tell them how your buyer’s agent made it easy!

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Start with a Lender Tip for Boston Area Real Estate!

I am so excited for you to take the first steps in purchasing your new home.  In this section, we will talk about starting your search by finding a lender.  It is the first step you need to take on your home buying journey.

There are two broad categories of lenders.  The first is a traditional bank like Bank of America, Chase, etc.  The other is a mortgage brokerage company.  This is a company that works with banks and other lenders (like credit unions).  Each has its strengths and weaknesses so I often recommend people consult with both a direct lender and a broker to see which works best for them.

In either case, lenders look at several areas when pre-qualifying you for a loan. First and foremost is your credit score since this shows the lender how well you’ve managed your past debt payments. They will also look at your savings history and how much debt you have.  And of course they will want to know about your take home pay is as it will help calculate what you can afford monthly.  

Taking all of these factors into account, a mortgage professional can match you to a loan program that best fits your circumstances and help you to determine your what price home you should be looking for.  

Typical loan programs: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (http://www.freddiemac.com/), FHA (http://www.fha.com/), Mass Housing (www.masshousing.com) and Jumbo Products (www.thesuperjumboloan.com). 

Finally a good lender may also be able to council you on how to improve your standing if there are any blemishes on your credit, high loan balances, or other factors that may negatively effect your loan chances.    

Again, select your lender first! Please contact me if you need some suggestions or have any questions on getting the right lender for you.

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
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Hot Off the Press in Boston News!

I am in the HomeSmart section of the local newspaper, Boston Herald for selling a condo in Boston's South End.  Here is a video of the property.

I helped my clients sell their home the first weekend it was on the market.  Which was a huge advantage as they couldn't purchase their new home until this property sold. I sold the condo only $2,000 less than the asking price and they walked away with extra money in their pockets from purchasing the home 3 years prior.

I pride myself in working with you to maximize your home's potential in making sure it is staged for the buyers needs.  My marketing expertise and pricing knowledge is what made this such a quick turnaround. 

Please take a moment and contact me and let me know what your needs are!  I would love to help you!  I can help you sell or help you find your dream home. 

Ken Snyder
Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro
Visit My Website
See Homes for Sale in Boston
Connect with Me: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin
Contact Me