Record-high sales help revive R.I.’s luxury real estate market

01:00 AM EST on Saturday, November 20, 2010

By Christine Dunn

Journal Staff Writer

NARRAGANSETT –– When an estate at 580 Ocean Rd. sold Monday for $6.4 million, a record for Narragansett, it was another late-season shot in the arm for Rhode Island’s high-end real estate market.
Five of the top 10 house sales in the state so far this year have occurred in October and November, according to the Rhode Island Association of Realtors.

Smart decorating for the holidays - how much is too much?

I've had many sellers ask if putting their house on the market during the Holidays would help or hinder the sale of their house.  There is no question that there are guidelines we should live by in terms of Holiday decor when you are opening up your house to possible buyers. Melissa Dittmann Tracey from Realtor Magazine gives us 6 Principles to Holiday Staging which will help you and your agent prepare your house in the most welcoming way over the Holidays! 

6 Principles to Holiday Staging

Excerpts from: A Dream House After All

The following are well made points in Karl E. Case's NY Times article about why it's a good time to buy. Full article available through link below.

September 1, 2010

By KARL E. CASE

Boston

Think of it as an investment. The return or yield on that investment comes in two forms. First, it provides what is called “net imputed rent from owner-occupied housing.” You live in the house and so it provides you with a real flow of valuable services. This part of the yield is counted as part of national income by the Commerce Department. It is the equivalent of about a 6 percent return on your investment after maintenance and repair, and it is constant over time in real terms.

10 more reasons to buy now!

Wall Street Journal give us yet another 10 reasons why this is a good time to buy Real Estate.

Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership. Brett Arends explains why owning a home is a good thing.

The ultimate weekend project - get on it folks!

FALL MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

 

Many areas have already had a taste of fall weather, and it’s not far behind for most others. Now is the time to make sure your house and heating system are ready for winter. Here is a brief checklist to guide you through some basic tasks before real cold weather settles in and it is too late: Click here to view list.