real estate

May 31 2013

Single Family Home Sales for Southwick, MA 01077 May 2013

The Town of Southwick, MA 01077 had 6 properties sold in

May 2013 as of May 30, 2013.

The lowest price of a home sold in Southwick was $55,000.
The highest price of a home sold in Southwick was $450,000

The average days on market for these homes sold in Southwick was 253 days.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Southwick, MA 01077 I would love to work with you!

You can search for Southwick homes for sale or feel free to call me, Lesley Lambert, Realtor at Park Square Realty.
[spatialmatch_map id=3 width=600]

Jan 12 2013

Getting the best remodeling “Bang for the Buck” when renovating your Kitchen and Bath

kitchen and bath remodeling in Western MA — Photo credit: sideshowmom from morguefile.com

Everyone knows that kitchens and baths are two of the places that home buyers look for quality finishes and having these rooms in tip top shape can help improve your home’s value. With this in mind I asked by Frank Nataloni of Kitchens and Baths by Curio to give some tips on how you can improve these spaces without breaking the bank. Here are his thoughts:

More than ever, homeowners are looking at focused budgets for their kitchen or bath renovations. The best way to ensure that you get the most out of your budget is to plan first. How you select and install your critical items matter just as much, if not more, than the extra features or brand names you install. A good plan can focus your spending, make your project look great, and keep you from learning “the hard way” that the bitterness of low quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.

Step # 1
Consult a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) or Certified Bath Designer (CBD) to create a personalized plan.
The process of analysis should be your first step. Start thinking about the who, what, where, when, why and how of your project, so that you have an idea of what you want. Knowing what you want out of your project will help to create the framework for an individualized plan. Your CKD should be able to design a new and better look while suggesting where to invest and where to save. Once you have created a working plan, use it to make cost effective changes before you start building.
OK , so now you have a plan.

Step #2
A CKD will help you create a balanced budget for each product used.
A CKD can help you decide what a reasonable allowance is for cabinets, counter tops, back-splashes, appliances, lighting and flooring. As you work through your budget keep in mind that every dollar you save in one area is a dollar that can be used somewhere it will have even more impact.

Step #3
A Specification sheet should be part of your contract.
Specification sheets list detailed information about all aspects of your project such as the makers, quantities, styles and colors of cabinets and appliances. Don’t forget to write who’s responsibility it is to supply and perform the labor. The clearer it is on the specification sheet the fewer gray areas and unexpected expenses you will have later.

Step #4
Installation and production.
In today’s market, quality is expected. If you are going to pay for it, the installation should be correct. During construction, it is important to maintain communication with all involved about what to expect. In almost any job, from time to time “things” will come up. It is how these “things” are dealt with that counts. Finding someone who you can work with when things aren’t going as planned is very important. Anyone can talk a good game when things are going right, it is when the cart is upside down that you really need someone you can trust and feel comfortable with to discuss the solutions while keeping your best interest in mind.

There is nobody who knows more about getting the most “bang for your buck” than a CKD or CBD. If you would like information on any aspect of this, contact Frank Nataloni CKD/ CBD at 413-783-0913. Mention this article and receive a free gift during your showroom visit.

Kitchens and Baths by Curio
1045 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01119

Frank’s insights are a great place to get started on your home improvement plans. If you are making improvements in preparation of selling your home, give me a call to discuss what improvements will help you to get the most in the sale of your home. Lesley Lambert, Park Square Realty 413-575-3611

Jan 04 2013

Guest Bloggers Wanted!

Are you in a real estate affiliated field and would love an opportunity to reach a new audience without spending a ton of money? Then you might be who I am looking for!

I have been blogging along here all by my little self for about five years now and I got to thinking that it is time to grow and share. Some new content on topics related to home ownership, home maintenance, home enjoyment, Western Massachusetts, etc. would be a great addition to my current offerings.

Are you an: inspector, decorator, stager, property maintenance person, contractor, organizer, attorney, lender, accountant, insurance provider, remodel-er or other real estate and home related professional? Then I want to hear from you!

Home owners welcome, too! I would love personal accounts of your home buying, home selling and home ownership processes. We can all learn together!

It is easy!

Simply write a short account on any topic that you feel passionate and educated on. Supply it to me in any format, even cut and pasted into the body of an email is fine. If you have an original photo to attach, even better, but not necessary. Be sure to send along your professional contact information. I will proof read, edit if necessary and take care of posting it with links back to your website so that your new readers can find you.

If you have a blog that you would like new content on, I am happy to return the favor with a guest post on any real estate topic that you might find informative to your profession.

Get writing and email your submissions to: realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

Don’t be intimidated, have you seen some of the silly things I post? 🙂

Lesley Lambert, REALTOR, Park Square Realty

Jan 02 2013

Fiscal Cliff Bill Passes, Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Tax Treatment Extended. Good News for Short Sales in Western MA

Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Treatment Gets One More Year.

The advancing fiscal cliff debates were getting everyone’s concerns up, but for those of us who work in the real estate industry, we had specific issues that were of high notice. The mortgage forgiveness tax treatment has been instrumental in assisting people who are in underwater mortgages to recover by using a short sale and has been beneficial to the housing recovery.

This from the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley’s Ben Scranton:

“The law – which was set to expire at the end of 2012 – is crucial to foreclosure mitigation efforts such as principal forgiveness and short sales. Normally, U.S. law decrees that when a lender forgives all or a portion of a borrower’s debt, the forgiven amount is considered taxable income for the borrower. This is known as Cancellation of Debt (COD) Income and must be included in a taxpayer’s gross income. This Act, however, created an exception to this rule under the U.S. Tax Code. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act allows homeowners who received principal reductions or other forms of debt forgiveness to not pay taxes on the amount forgiven. The amount extends up to $2 million of debt forgiven on the homeowner’s principal residence. For homeowner’s to qualify, their debt must have been used to “buy, build, or substantially improve” their principal residence and be secured by that residence. The law, which was passed in 2007 with a 5 year sunset provision, will now be in effect until January 1, 2014.”

Good News for Short Sales in Western MA

For more information on this and other real estate related impacts from the fiscal cliff bill, see this brief from the National Association of Realtors:

If you are a homeowner in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts who thinks that a short sale might be the answer to your real estate troubles, please give me a call to schedule a consultation. Lesley Lambert, short sale specialist at Park Square Realty 413-575-3611.

You can visit www.shortsaleyourho.me for more information to see if you might be able to avoid foreclosure on your Western MA home with a short sale.

Dec 28 2012

Westfield, MA Real Estate Market Trends Report for 2012

Are you wondering about how the real estate market in Westfield, MA did in 2012?

This market report will give you all the information you need to know about single family home sales, multi-family home sales, condominium home sales and more in Westfield, MA 01085.

If you have a real estate question or need help in buying or selling a home in Westfield, MA then I would love to interview for the job. Call me, Lesley Lambert of Park Square Realty at 413-575-3611.