One of our home buyer clients recently stopped by our office to thank us for helping them accomplish what they thought was the impossible, becoming homeowners. They had just gotten of the wild roller coaster of the mortgage and home buying process. As we spoke smiles came across their faces as they talked about having their first cup of morning coffee in a home of their own.
They talked about decorating and painting and how much they are going to enjoy having a yard. They talked about having friends over for dinner and family over for the holidays. The more they talked, the more excited they became.
I asked them if many of their friends were also buying. They said they had talked to their friends about buying but that they weren’t. Why not? Their friends believed that home ownership was financially unobtainable right now. Many wanted to own but didn’t think they could afford the monthly mortgage payment. They decided to rent instead.
I said that with interest rates and prices where they are today, owning a home might not be any more expensive than renting one. The couple agreed but said their friends were afraid; afraid they might not qualify for a loan, afraid to handle negotiations with a seller, afraid of the home buying process itself.
Wow!
People should not make decisions out of fear! I’m not saying that every young person should own a home. I am saying that anyone that is qualified and wants to buy should not be afraid of the process. I realize the process may seem daunting but realize over 14,000 homes sell every day in this country. Sit down and discuss your goals with professionals from both the real estate and mortgage industries. Get the facts. Make an informed decision. Don’t let the fear of the unknown prevent you from owning a home of your own, building equity for you and your family and living the life of your dreams.We are here to help you navigate the real estate transaction!Christopher Terry is a licensed real estate broker in Ma and RI, has completed the Accredited Buyer Representative Certification, is a graduate of the Certified Distressed Property Institute, holds the prestigious CDPE designation, is a 4-Time winner of the Master Sales Society's 5/50 Award and is the founder of EZ Home Search Real Estate Inc.
Well, if you are looking to buy a property, new mortgages are capped at $750,000 for purposes of home mortgage interest deduction, down from the $1 million cap that we had through 2017. The cap on mortgage interest reverts back to $1 million in 2026 regardless of when the home was purchased.
Unless you have three-quarters of million dollars to put down on a house, that new tax law doesn’t exactly affect you. But, there is a new tax law that will affect almost all homeowners, and that is that tax deductions are capped at $10,000 for state and local sales, income and property taxes.
In states like New York, California and Massachusetts where home prices and property taxes are high, this change means some homeowners could face bigger tax bills beginning this year. The only way to take advantage of deductions related to homeownership is to itemize your tax returns.
And because the GOP tax bill roughly doubles the standard deduction for all taxpayers — i.e., it goes to $24,000 from $12,700 for married couples — the combined value of all your available deductions would need to exceed that new amount for itemizing to make sense.
There will be a lot of changes this upcoming year, and only time will tell how exactly they will affect the housing market.
Massachusetts is a beautiful state, with so many wonderful places to explore. OnlyInYourState.com is an entire site dedicated to all of the amazing places to see in Massachusetts, and this week Westport made the list. Horseneck Beach State Reservation was named as the “Most Beautiful Campground in All of Massachusetts.”
This stunning campground is a gem on the Southcoast. With over 100 spots to pitch your tent, this campground is on of the most popular Oceanside campgrounds in the state. The reservation is a massive 600 acres, with both beach and wilderness to explore. Walk over 2 miles of beach with nothing but water and sand as far as the eye can see. Fall asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore, and the birds chirping in the early morning.
This quiet spot in the middle of the quant country town is the perfect place to unplug from the world. Roast marshmallows over the fire at night, while the moonlight reflects off the water and illuminates your campsite. Come morning, enjoy a sunrise walk on the sand, or sleep in and spend your day laying on the beach. Your kids will have plenty to do, with plenty of space for sandcastle building and waves to splash in. The campground also has basketball and volleyball courts, ad well as a playground, so there is always something to do.
The campground includes a full comfort station, with flush toilets and hot showers. Each individual campsite is also equipped with a picnic table and grill, so you can have a home cooked meal right on the beach.
The campsites are located in the dunes just behind Gooseberry Neck, so you have the option of exploring that beach or heading down toward the sandier Horseneck beach just a bike ride away.
To reserve your summer getaway, click here!
The South Coast is a great place to buy a home. We are just an hour away from the trendy buzz of Boston, but with the quiet slow pace of small-town living. We are just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Atlantic Ocean and there is never a dull moment on a beautiful summers day.
Here at EZ Home Search Real Estate our agents live and work on the South Coast. We’ve composed a list of all of their favorite places to go and things to do on the South Coast.
Below is a list of some of our favorite places to grab food to go. Try them out for yourself and see if you agree with us!
Riccardi’s Restaurant:
Riccardi’s is one of the favorites here at EZ Home Search. Whether it is a party where we feed 30 people, or just a night in with the family, Riccardi’s has food for you! At both Riccardi’s locations you can either enjoy a sit down italian meal, or you can head to the counter and pick up a meal to go. We suggest trying their lasagna, it’s easily the best in the area. Here’s their website so that you can try it for yourself! http://www.riccardis.com/
Marcucci’s:
Forget Subway, if you want a fantastic sandwich stop in at Marcucci’s in Fall River. Marcucci’s is a family owned sub shop that has been serving Fall River for the past 30 years. The bread is baked in shop everyday and the grinders are some of the best in the city. Don’t believe us? Well then check out their website where they announce that they are finalists in Herald News’ “Reader’s Choice Awards” for Best Deli and Best Subs. For hours and locations go to their website. http://www.marcuccisbakeryandgrinders.com/
Ma Raffa’s
Another Italian place is added to the list but that is simply because they serve up some of the best take out. Ma Raffa’s has a home in both Somerset and New Bedford, with some of their bestsellers being garlic bread, salad, lasagna and chicken parmigiana. Their homemade pizza is also fantastic! Directions to their two locations are online right here! http://maraffas.com/
Family Ties
The best food that your mama didn’t make. That should be the slogan for Family Ties. It is the perfect place to grab a homecooked meal when you’re simply not in the mood to cook. You can order all kinds of different comfort food at Family Ties, I suggest their baked mac & cheese because it is simply delicious. Warning though, don’t go to Family Ties if you are on a diet! With their diverse home-cooked menu and their hefty portion sizes, you will not want to be worrying about calories as you are eating up your yummy meal. For a full menu and a list of their daily specials go to http://eatatfamilyties.com/
Ten Cousins
Looking for a great brick oven pizza? Well how about ordering one from Ten Cousins in Westport?! Ten Cousins is family owned by the Lafrance’s and serves up delicious gourmet pizza made by the locals. The Lafrance’s own quite a few restaurants throughout Westport, but Ten Cousins is especially special because it is named after CEO Richard Lafrance’s 10 grandchildren. It is a family owned restaurant with great food. Stop in at 977 Main Rd, Westport. For their phone number and menu at http://www.tencousinsbrickoven.com/.
Kozy Nook
Kozy Nook is the go to take out place in Westport. The food is alway delicious and the prices are great when compared to other places around town. Check it out if you want a tasty homestyle meal or an all american burger. For more information check out their website at http://www.kozynook.com/
Patti’s Pierogis
Like Pierogis? Well then Patti’s Pierogis is the place for you! Choose from over 25 different Pierogis and mix and match to get a taste of all of your favorites. If you are in the mood for sweet treat instead you can try one of their 20 dessert flavors. See the full list of pierogis flavors at http://www.pattispierogis.com/home.html
Author Profile:
Mariah Terry is passionate writer and blogger studying Journalism at Emerson College with a minor in Marketing. See her work at mariahterry.jimdo.com.
Becky Pulley, sales associate with EZ Home Search Real Estate, has earned the National Association of Realtors® Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation. The SRES® Designation is NAR's only 50-plus education based designation. What is an SRES®?A Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) is a Realtor® who is uniquely qualified to assist seniors in housing sales and purchases. The SRES® designation is awarded only to Realtors® who have successfully completed a series of educational courses on how to help seniors and their families with later-in-life real estate transactions. They also draw upon the expertise of a network of senior specialists, such as estate planners, CPA's, and elder cares lawyers, and are families with local community resources and services. Their mission is to help seniors and their families navigate the maze of financial, legal and emotional issues that accompany the sale of the home.What qualities make an SRES® different?
To speak with your local Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Becky Pulley, about your real estate needs call her direct call 774-488-6158.
When Old Man Winter settles in for a long chilly season, follow these simple guidelines to winterize your home and save money on utilities.Inside Your Home
Outside Your Home
In addition, if you live in Massachusetts visit http://www.masssave.com , they can provide you a free energy audit to help you find additional savings.
Christopher Terry is a licensed real estate broker in Ma and RI, has completed the Accredited Buyer Representative Certification, is a graduate of the Certified Distressed Property Institute, holds the prestigious CDPE designation, is a 4-Time winner of the Master Sales Society's 5/50 Award and is the founder of EZ Home Search Real Estate Inc.