Pioneer Valley towns receive money for public housing improvements Reply

Eighteen Pioneer Valley communities will be receiving funds for their respective housing authorities thanks to capital awards being distributed by the commonwealth’s Department of Housing and Community Development.

Few Fannie Mae properties in Pioneer Valley qualify for “First Look” incentive program Reply

The icon that appears on certain REO properties listed by Fannie Mae that qualify for the incentive.

Massachusetts in one of 27 states where home buyers who purchase certain properties can receive up to 3.5% of the final sales price in closing cost assistance from Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as Fannie Mae.   

The best place to compare Pioneer Valley school districts Reply

Pioneer Valley School Districts. (Pictured: the elementary school in Sunderland.)

Pioneer Valley home shoppers who are interested in the school systems of the communities in which they are looking now have a single resource for their research.

Why Realtor.com is a better website for shopping for a home than third-party syndication sites like Trulia & Zillow Reply

Realtor.com is the best place to search for a home online. Third party websites like Trulia and Zillow often contain inaccurate listing data.

When shopping for a house online there are many websites to choose from.  One could go to websites like Yahoo.com or Aol.com, one could search for a home from their news website of choice, or one could go to their real estate agency’s website or their agent’s website.  Among the most popular websites to shop for a home are Realtor.com, Trulia.com, and Zillow.com.   While I personally prefer that Pioneer Valley home shoppers utilize the search tool on my website or ask to send them the homes that meet their specific criteria, many prefer those three sites. 

Renovated circa 1795 home for sale on 37 acres near Berkshire East: 59 East Hawley Road (Slide show & Video Tour) Reply

The view from the porch of this renovated home in Hawley, MA. It sits on 37 acres of land.

Located along the Mohawk Trail at the western end of Franklin County, is the quaint country town of Charlemont (pop. 1358). Turn onto the bridge from Charlemont over the Deerfield River onto Route 8A, and you will come to Berkshire East, which offers skiing, snow-tubing, and zip-lining.   There are also plans for a fun downhill alpine coaster.

Belchertown home for sale: 222 Franklin Street (Slideshow & Video Tour). Reply

222 Franklin Street, Belchertown, MA 01007. Call Michael Seward at 413-531-7129.

Located at 222 Franklin Street in Belchertown, Massachusetts, is a 1,920 square foot colonial with four bedrooms and two bathrooms that sits on just under 1 acre of land with a spacious fenced-in back yard.

Deadline to file for real estate tax abatement is February 1 for Massachusetts homowners Reply

If you wish to dispute the valuation of your home, the deadline to file for an abatement is February 1. If you are eligible for a tax exemption, you should apply for it within 3 months of receipt of your tax bill.

If you think that your real estate taxes are too high based on an error in how your home is assessed, you can file for a request to have your taxes reduced.    The deadline to file for a real estate tax abatement is  February 1, 2014, which is this coming Saturday.  Therefore, one should get their application in by Friday.  However, one might also want to check with their town assessor’s office to see if they will accept abatement applications on the following Monday.

Leverett, MA Home for Sale: 158 Rattlesnake Gutter Road Reply

158 Rattlesnake Gutter Road, Leverett, MA. Call Michael Seward at 413-531-7129.

This home at 158 Rattlesnake Gutter Road in Leverett, Massachusetts is a 1,705 square foot ranch with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and with additional square footage in the basement situated on 2.75 acres on an idyllic country street.

Pioneer Valley 2013 condo sales up 14.7%, prices down slightly; single-family home sales up 2%, prices up Reply

Call Michael Seward at 413-531-7129 if you are planning on buying or selling a home in the Pioneer Valley.

The Pioneer Valley real estate market in 2013 improved when compared to 2012.  Condo sales were up 14.7% and single-family home sales were up 2% in the Pioneer Valley in 2013, according to data released from the REALTOR® Association of Pioneer Valley (RAPV).   Median condo prices were down .3%, while median single-family home prices were up 5.3%. 

Pioneer Valley communities raise real estate tax rates Reply

Wilbraham selectmen raised the real estate tax rate, but the average assessed valuation dipped slightly.

The new year doesn’t only bring new resolutions, it also brings a new tax rate for the cities and towns of the Pioneer Valley.   Holyoke, Easthampton, and Wilbraham were in the news recently as they set their respective real estate tax rates, also known as the mil rate.  Real estate tax rates are per $1,000 of assessed value, which should not be confused with market value.