Go Green and Save Money this December

If you haven't yet, it's time to look into energy efficient products and renewable energy systems for your home. Not only will you save money in the long run, you also may be entitled to a tax break.Want to learn more? Engery Star has a ton of helpful information on their website about how to apply, when to apply and much more. The deadline is December 31, so act fast!

Looking for more tips to go green this year? Here are a few of our favorite sites:

Best Green Home Tips
The Green Guide
HGTV Green Home

Have a tip for going green and saving money? Let us know in the comments.

Boston real estate market: Sales in luxury market grow

Massachusetts’s luxury home market, which saw a slow down during the recent economic challenges, has been coming back in dramatic fashion. From January 1 to June 1, 625 homes valued at $1,000,000 or more were sold, with May coming out on top with 173 sales. The first week in June has seen a tremendous amount of activity!

The most expensive sale was of 51 Commonwealth Avenue, which broke the $10 million mark and was listed by Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty. The firm also recently reduced 40 Beacon Street, a historic home on Beacon Hill, to $19.9 million. That 21,000sf home offers stunning views of the Common and luxurious finishes, as well as a spacious patio and 9 parking spaces.

For more information on Boston real estate sales, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Boston real estate market: High on the high end

Boston’s luxury condominium market, hard hit by the economic downturn over the last two years, is making a dramatic comeback that some say signals renewed faith in high-end real estate. Sales and median prices in the city’s full-service luxury buildings jumped by more than 50 percent in the first quarter of this year, according to data expected to be released today by Listing Information Network, a private Boston company that tracks the downtown condo market. Buyers closed deals for 94 units in luxury buildings in the first quarter, a 59.3 percent increase from the anemic 59 deluxe condos sold in the first quarter of 2009, according to the data. The median selling price of $874,150 was 56.1 percent higher than the same time period in 2009.


To read the full story, go to www.boston.com.


For more information on Boston real estate sales, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts

Boston real estate smoke detector regulations

The Boston real estate smoke detector regulations will change April 5, 2010. The Greater Boston Real Estate Board has released a guide to the changes and frequently asked questions.

To see more details, go to Boston smoke regulations.

For more information on Boston real estate sales, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

New Boston property tax assessments

The new Boston property taxes have been released. The rates and assessments have changed. This is important to know as a homeowner – especially if you have decided to sell your current home or buy a new home in Boston.

Click here to see more details on your Boston property taxes.

For more information on Boston homes for sale , go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Boston home sales on the rise for the 4th straight month

With the tax credit, low interest rates and improved consumer confidence helping to move buyers into the market, Massachusetts has seen an increase in the number of homes sold for the fourth month in a row. October saw its highest number of sales since 2005 – showing a 17.2% increase over the same month last year.

Click here to see more details on boston.com.

For more information on Boston homes for sale , go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Boston homes and homeowners now have a new tool

It was announced at the National Association of Realtors convention this week that a new tool for homebuyers has just been launched. HouseLogic.com is a free source of information and tools from NAR that can help you make smart and timely decisions about your home. How will this affect Boston’s homes? Well, the site will offer content covering home improvement, maintenance, taxes, finance, insurance, and even ways you can get involved in and enrich your community. The goal of HouseLogic is to help you increase and protect the value of your home by helping you make confident decisions.

To read more about this new site or to see the beta version, go to HouseLogic.com.

For more information on Boston homes for sale, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

New Magazine Features Boston Homes and Architecture

For those of you who haven’t already seen an issue of Esplanade, this beautiful new local magazine offers editorial on architecture, renovation, interior design, architectural history, food and everything else that gives Boston it’s rich cultural flavor. Produced by John O’Connor (of Interview Magazine and Harvard Business Review) and Hilary Lewis (winner of the American Institute of Architects’ Monograph of the Year Award).

This upcoming issue continues Esplanade’s look at 10 Buildings You Need to Know in Boston – with this issue’s spotlight on the ICA.

For more information on Boston condos, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Documentary on Green Building in Boston

A recent documentary captures the building of the Macallen building in South Boston. Read the whole story on GreeningOfSouthie.com. The same entertaining and informative filmmakers who brought us "King Corn", have documented the building of a this groundbreaking structure. This 2008 film is now making its way around the festival circuit.

For more information on homes for sale in Boston, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Tax Credit is Extended: Boston Real Estate Market to Get a Boost

Congress passed the Extended Tax Credit for real estate purchases today. Now included are purchases for existing homeowners. Read the whole story on Boston.com. Condos and homes for sale in Boston are sure to see a boost from this much anticipated move.

For more information on homes for sale in Boston, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Home of Historic Civil Rights Activist For Sale in Boston

Lee Robinson of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty has listed the historic home of William Monroe Trotter in the Jones Hill neighborhood of Dorchester. This modest five bedroom, two bath Victorian home has a picket fence, and a farmhouse feeling with a vintage kitchen, a tree-top master suite and many charming architectural details. It also features extensive decorative painting by John Derian. This unusual property offers a restful urban oasis with a terrace, a professionally landscaped yard, two pergolas, a tree swing, parking and a wonderful location – high upon Jones Hill, capturing lovely natural light and ocean breezes.

Mr. Trotter graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1895, and was the first man of color to be awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key. But upon graduation with an M.A., he quickly hit the glass ceiling in his professional life. A co-founder of The Guardian, an African American activist newspaper, he also was a charter member of the Niagara Movement, a forerunner to the NAACP. As a political activist and publisher he railed against segregation in government and agitated for radical reform and equal rights. In 1899 he married, Geraldine Pindell who co-partnered with him providing substantial help and support enabling Mr. Trotter to achieve significant success. The couple lived in their Jones Hill home until her death in 1916 and his in 1934. The home was named a National Historic Site in 1976.

With a unique combination of charming details, abundant natural light and generous living space, this storied home captures all the romance of the Victorian era. For more information, go to gibsonsothebysrealty.com.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Spotlight on Boston real estate: Google Maps now displays homes for sale

Google announced that users may now use Google Maps to search for homes. This makes for another good source for buyers – allowing for ease of use, as well as the convenience of using street views.

For more information, go to google maps blog.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Spotlight on Boston real estate: Learning about your neighborhood

Have you ever wondered who your City Councilor is? Or, have you ever gotten confused about where you are supposed to cast your vote? There is a handy site on the cityofboston.gov website to help you identify that and more.

To find more details about your neighborhood, go to cityofboston.gov.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Spotlight on Boston real estate: How “walkable” is your neighborhood

Boston.com explored an increasingly popular buzzword in real estate: “walkability”. Whether you are on foot or in a wheelchair, nearby amenities and public transportation are attractive features in this day and age. Many people who are being more “green” conscious are looking to avoid car travel and prefer to keep their social activities to their local neighborhoods.

Boston is well-known for its network of social neighborhoods. From the North End to the South End; from Cambridge to South Boston; Boston is a great area for those seeking “walkability”.

Read the complete story on boston.com.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Real Estate Update: Boston ranked in the top ten markets

A recent article on Forbes.com dug into the details of the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index. The result is a list of the ten best and worst real estate markets in the country.

The good news is that Boston is named in the ten strongest markets, along with Washington D.C., New York and Seattle. The worst list saw many familiar names—cities that have struggled for the last year, such as Las Vegas, Phoenix and Miami.

Read the full article on Forbes.com.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Boston Real Estate Update: Local banks move into the mortgage biz

A recent article on Boston.com detailed an interesting change in the mortgage market. Many nationwide companies who offer mortgages have been hard hit by defaults and tightening restrictions. In some cases, the local banks were not hit nearly as hard and are now able to offer more beneficial loans. So, if you are in the market for a new home, try stopping by your local bank to see what they can do for you.

Read the full article on boston.com.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Spotlight on Boston’s South End

Joe DeAngelo of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty has listed a gorgeous single family home in Boston’s South End. This historic building is in a great location! Once home to a sea captain and his son, this three bedroom and two-and-a-half bath home has wonderful possibilities. It features oversized windows, crown moldings, and six marble mantels. An exterior makeover was completed in 2008, including new roof and roof deck, with amazing Back Bay skyline and South End views.

View the complete property description on SothebysRealty.com.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Spotlight on metro west

Karen Gray of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty has listed a stunning estate in Framingham. Proudly resting atop Nobscot Mountain with cascading views over the 820 acres of Richard Callahan State Park to the panoramic skyline of Historic Boston and beyond, this brand new custom designed home offers the utmost in privacy. This commanding estate offers both the charm and convenience of a comfortable family home while maintaining a stately presence.

View the complete property description on SothebysRealty.com.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

2009 May see rate relief for Boston’s jumbo mortgages

A recent article on Bloomberg.com indicates that we may see rate drops for jumbo mortgages in 2009. This is due to Ben Bernanke’s plan for the Fed to buy $500 million in securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It would affect Boston, New York and San Francisco; areas that see many homes in the higher price ranges.

View the complete article on Bloomberg.com.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.

Get Boston snow alerts sent right to your cell phone

Our first big storm of the year is on its way! Did you know that you can keep up with what is happening via your cell phone? The city of Boston allows constituents to sign up for email, cell phone text or voice updates regarding snow emergencies, parking bans and school closings. To sign up for this helpful system, go to CityOfBoston.gov.

For more information on the Boston real estate market, go to Gibson Sotheby's International Realty, Boston's real estate experts.