PPS Benefit Street Stroll this Saturday!

For the Benefit of All

November 30, 2010

Bill Applegate

This Saturday, the Providence Preservation Society will hold its much beloved Benefit Street Stroll and Home Tour, celebrating the history of this seasonally-decorated neighborhood. From 11:00am to 5:00pm, historic homes will be open for a self-guided tour, for which the public can register at the Old State House (150 Benefit Street). Ticket-holders can also enjoy a lecture by PPS Executive Director, James Brayton Hall, on the history of Benefit Street, and docent-led walking tours. Guided tours include an Architectural and Cultural History of North Benefit Street at 11:30am, and a guided tour of South Benefit Street at 12:30pm. There will also be holiday refreshments, family-friendly festivities, hay rides, carolers signing along the street and a door-decorating contest. At 5:45pm a parade, led by the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment, will head to City Hall for the annual Tree Lighting with Mayor Cicilline.

For a special price, ticket-holders can take a holiday decorating seminar taught by Martha Beckman, former Holiday Director for Martha Stewart Living. They also have the option to enjoy a Patrons’ Reception, featuring Nancy Austin, a Rhode Island-based art historian. She will present a lecture entitled “Signs of the Times,” that discusses the significance of building signs in 19th Century Providence.

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.

Providence voted "Top Arts Destination" by AmericanStyle Magazine

Yet another reason to move to Providence!
AmericanStyle Magazine’s annual readers’ poll has named Providence a “Top Arts Destination” for the fifth year.  See GoLocalProv's story here.

Incredible opportunity for expansion on beautiful Jenny's Lane in Barrington- steps from the harbor!

www.44jennyslane.com

$720,000

Wonderful 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath colonial on beautiful  31,958 square foot lot just steps from the harbor on desirable Jenny’s Lane.  Fabulous new kitchen, office on 2nd (could serve as 4th br), incredible woodwork, partially finished basement.  Great attic space with stairs down into office.  Walk to schools, shops & bike path.  Tremendous opportunity for expansion in fabulous location!

PENDING!

115B Pratt Street - incredible luxury 3br 2 1/2 bath townhouse with the works & spectacular views of downtown.  Please visit www.115pratt.com for details, floor plans and photos.  $945,000

PENDING!

Last week's stats for single family houses and Condos July 2010

•          Active Single Family Listings: 6157

•          Average List Price: $ 490,000

•          Average DOM: 126

•          Single Family Sold: 93

•          Average Sale Price: $  288,000    95% sp/lp

•          Median Sale Price: $ 230,000

•          Average DOM: 69

•          1-2 Bed: 66

•          3 Bed: 67

•          4+ Bed: 70

•          Active Condo Listings: 1504

•          Average List Price: $ 334,000

•          Average DOM: 157

•          Sold Condos: 23

•          Average Sale Price: $ 414,000   94  % sp/lp

•          Median Sale Price: $ 371,000

•          Average DOM: 77

•          1-2 Bed: 83

•          3 Bed: 4

•          4+ Bed: n/a

Throw away or recycle? How to dispose of hundreds of household items in RI

Ever wondered if you should throw away or recycle all of those vinyl coated hangers, CDs, old Teflon coated pots and pans or window blinds?  This A-to-Z list created by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is an amazing guide to help you dispose of them properly. 
http://www.rirrc.org/resident/what-goes-where-/recyclopedia-the-a-to-z-list/

Single family home sales up 11%!

http://www.riliving.com/PressReleases/Archives/2010/July/2010-07-27.asp