Boston real estate borrowers have an advantage

Boston ranks in the 10 cities that Forbes ranks as the best for real estate borrowers:
1. Kansas City, Mo.
2. Houston
3. Dallas
4. Virginia Beach, Va.
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. Boston
7. Pittsburgh
8. Denver
9. Seattle
10. Portland, Ore.

To read more about Boston’s real estate ranking in this list, go to Forbes.com.

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.

Regional market surge helps Boston homes for sale

A recent RIS Media article documented the third quarter market improvements around the country – including the Northeast, where existing-home sales were up 16.7%. That is 6.9% over a year ago. One possible reason for the improvement is the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. The National Association of Realtors Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, thinks a significant portion of the success is due to the tax credit. More than fiscally motivating, the credit has had an impact on the consumer confidence.

The Boston condo market was sited as one of the higher valued markets.

To read the full story, go to rismedia.com.

For more information on Boston homes for sale, 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.

Tax Credit Update: Extension Possible Today

Today may be the day that homebuyers find out about a potential extension for the tax credit that would otherwise expire on November 30. Read the whole story on Bloomberg.com. This could help to continue to bolster demand for homes for sale in Boston. The Boston real estate market has continued to see market activity, while other areas of the country have been less consistent.

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

Boston home prices showing positive growth

Zillow.com’s charting of home sale prices is showing positive growth. The data taken over the last several years, shows downward pressure on pricing, with a positive turn during this year.

For more information, go to zillow.com.

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

Economy shows improvement

A NYTimes.com article sites the Fed’s Beige Book as showing signs of economic recovery. Alan D. Levenson, chief economist at T. Rowe Price, noted “The economy is making the transition from recession to recovery.” He expected the economy to grow at a rate of about 3 percent in the summer, then more modestly in the last months of the year.

For more information, go to nytimes.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: Fixing up old homes

Boston.com featured a list of ten ways to improve an older home. From adding transom windows to open a room, to changing exterior paint colors, this list offers several solutions if you are selling your home or buying a previously owned home.

For more information, go to 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 real estate: Jumbo Mortgages on the Rise

An article on Boston Business Journal’s website investigated a rise in what they are calling “mega-mortgages” - those over $1 million. The jumbo loan market appears to have been doing well, despite the more strict financing guidelines of late. The Journal sited the Boston-based wealth management division of the Bank of New York Mellon as a firm who is leading the charge. The firm tends to deal with the wealthiest 1%.

To read the complete article, go to BizJournals.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: Tax Credit Used for Down Payment?

A recent article on WashingtonPost.com looked at a new use of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit: a down payment. Yes – it looks like qualified buyers with FHA-insured loans will be able to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment. This may make it a little easier for interested buyers to get financing. In fact, officers at the National Association of Home Builders estimate that the number of sales stimulated by the credit may double!

To read the complete article, go to WashingtonPost.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: Pending home sales up over last year

There was some good news this week. The National Association of Realtors has indicated that March’s pending home sales were up 3.2% over February. But, even better, that number was also up 1.6% over March 2008. Year-over-year improvements are welcome news to sellers and it seems to be continuing. Open house attendance has risen in Boston.

To read more of the story, go to cnn.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: 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.

Spotlight on Boston real estate: Hancock Tower is sold

The New England Real Estate Journal has reported that the Hancock Tower was bought at auction by a partnership between Normandy Real Estate Partners and Five Mile Capital Partners, which have been buying some of the debt on the building since June. There was only one bid at the auction for the iconic building, originally designed by I. M. Pei.

Read the complete story on NEREJ.org.

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.

Real Estate Update: Will you qualify for the $8,000 tax credit?

President Barack Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan includes an $8,000 tax credit to first time home buyers for 2009 purchases. Though short of the $15,000 credit that the National Association of Realtors was suggesting, this credit, combined with low interest rates, incentivizes prospective buyers in a challenged market.

However, buyers should be aware that there are qualifying factors. US News & World Report put out a comprehensive article on the details of the package. Read the full article on USNews.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: New winners emerge in this market

WJS.com reported on a substantial rise in first time homebuyers since 2006. The statistics show that more newcomers are able to get into the market, with rates AND prices down (in much of the country) – specifically, at the end of 2008, 41% of buyers were first-timers. In 2006, the number was only 36%.

Read the full article on WSJ.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: Obama to launch plan for mortgage relief

A recent article on Reuters.com detailed a soon-to-be-unveiled plan by the president to lower mortgage costs. This would be part of a stimulus package to address burdened homeowners and those seeking new mortgages.

Read the full article on reuters.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.

Five Biggest Real Estate Myths

Barbara Corcoran, frequent real estate contributor to NBC, presented the 5 biggest real estate myths in this market.

Watch the clip on msnbc.com.

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

Massachusetts sees positive change in relocation trend

An article on BostonHerald.com explored an exciting shift in the Massachusetts real estate trend. Typically a state that people left for sunnier or less expensive states, Massachusetts saw more people moving to the state last year. That was the first time since 1987. The study, released by United Van Lines, indicates that the economic problems in states like California, have forced some to move back east.

View the complete article on BostonHerald.com.

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