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Thrive Real Estate Q & A: How Covid Has Affected Real Estate in Central MA

Thrive Realtors Maribeth Lynch and Kay Sears Discuss How Covid Has Affected the Real Estate Market in Central MA

Thrive owner/broker Maribeth Lynch and Realtor Kay Sears discuss how Covid-19 has affected the real estate market in Central Massachusetts for the month of April 2020. They answer questions that frequently arise right now, specifically;

1. Cybersecurity as it relates to real estate transactions
2. How home showings are taking place during the Covid pandemic.

Contact us if you have any questions about buying or selling real estate!

 
Stay tuned for more Thrive Q & A Videos…

Posted in: Blog, Homes for sale in Shrewsbury MA, Real Estate Agents Grafton MA, Real Estate Northborough MA, Real Estate West Boylston MA, Realtors Grafton MA, Realtors Shrewsbury MA, selling real estate in Shrewsbury MA

Buying and Selling Real Estate During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Thrive Owner/Broker Maribeth Lynch and Gary Kelley of RE/MAX Executive Realty discuss personal best practices for showing and listing real estate in Massachusetts during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Such uncertain times for so many of us. Real estate professionals have been trying to ascertain whether we are/are not essential workers. The answer is just as unclear. We at Thrive Real Estate believe it is our duty to serve our buyer and seller clients by providing them with updated information as well as offer our time and assistance. We have quite a few sellers who want to sell during this time. We support their decisions and have established a set of criteria under which we work. Here are a few of those guidelines:

1) Most showings are conducted by a Buyers Agent who will be escorting the potential buyer through the house. Our first best practice is to have a conversation with the agents to establish that the buyer is MOTIVATED and PRE APPROVED. During these unprecedented times, the last thing we want our seller to have to endure are “tire kickers”. So all of our showings are taking place with the understanding that the buyer can act to buy the house, can afford the house and has a pre approval letter in hand.

2) We are providing all the tools needed for the safety of anyone who enters the house. This means we have rubber gloves and sanitary wipes available to be used throughout the showing.

3) We are leaving lots of doors ajar so there is no need to manually open the door. It’s really all about using common sense. The “look don’t touch” mentality.

Despite the COVID19 outbreak, our office is BUSY. We are spending time answering questions about the real estate market and helping people plan ahead for their purchases or sales of their homes.

We have conducted virtual walk throughs of homes to help with staging and organizing. Most homes will need a bit of organizing/staging, we find most homes need about 2-4 weeks to be prepared to enter the market. We also need time to get our photographer in and also get any contractors in to complete the finishing touches.

We have quite a few homes under agreement and are working with our attorneys and support staff to ensure these homes have all they need to successfully close. The rules are changing daily with regard to home inspections, mortgage underwriting procedures, smoke detector inspections, appraisals and many other things. We are staying on top of the ever changing market and are happy to share what we know with anyone with questions.

Now is a GREAT time to consider selling or buying. But, you want to hire an experienced firm with local resources to help you be successful. We at Thrive Real Estate Specialists have the time and experience to make your home buying/selling experience pleasant!

Stay safe, stay distant and stay immersed in day-to-day activities that bring your joy and keep you occupied with positive thoughts!

Posted in: Featured Blog Posts, Home Buyers, real estate agents, Realtors Shrewsbury MA, selling real estate in Shrewsbury MA Tagged: buying or selling real estate during Covid-19, Real Estate Agents in Worcester County MA

THRIVE Real Estate Specialists in Shrewsbury Welcomes Shrewsbury Realtor Kay Sears

photo of Shrewsbury MA Real Estate Agent Kay Sears

THRIVE Real Estate Specialists is pleased to announce Shrewsbury resident Kay Sears has joined the Thrive Team of Realtors

Kay Sears comes to Thrive Real Estate Specialists with years of experience helping families buy and sell real estate and many five star reviews from happy clients. Kay started her career as a family and child trauma therapist and teacher. Her experience is instrumental in her role as a Realtor® as her innate ability to read people and contribute a calming presence is indispensable to a professional level of client care.  Kay is passionate about the fast-paced environment and endless education opportunities that the world of real estate offers. Whatever your real estate needs may be, Kay’s organization and calm demeanor will deliver legendary service and results!

“I am thrilled to join Maribeth and her team of real estate agents. Thrive’s approach of providing dedicated, personalized service to their clients aligns perfectly with my passion for providing thoughtful, caring representation to my buyers and sellers, states Ms. Sears. “I feel like Thrive is one big family that supports each other so when our clients hire one of us they get the whole family behind them.”

“Kay was a natural addition to our Thrive team because of her positive attitude, ability to manage the details but not sweat the small stuff and in particular, her commitment to be of service to her clients with honesty and integrity. Kay and I met while doing a few transactions together and we very quickly realized we had mutual admiration and respect for one another. We enjoy and cherish her wonderful ability to laugh while getting her job done! Welcome Kay, we know you are ready to Thrive,” states owner/broker Maribeth Lynch.

To learn more about Kay, visit: https://www.thriverealtors.com/real-estate-agents-shrewsbury-ma/kay-sears/

Posted in: Blog, real estate agents, Realtors Shrewsbury MA Tagged: Shrewsbury Real Estate Agents, Shrewsbury Realtors

Thrive Real Estate Specialists Welcomes Grafton Realtor Ava Fantasia to their Team

Photo of Grafton Ma Real Estate Agent Ava Fantasia. Thrive Real Estate Specialists | 26 Maple Avenue Shrewsbury MA 01545 | https://www.thriverealtors.com/Thrive Real Estate Specialists of Shrewsbury MA is pleased to announce Grafton resident Ava Fantasia will join their team of Realtors.

Ms. Fantasia brings more than 30 years of combined experience in banking, marketing, and real estate to the Thrive team along with her dedication to quality customer service and many connections in Worcester County. Ava’s passion for customer satisfaction is evident in every facet of her clients’ real estate transactions and drives her to produce positive outcomes for all.

“The decision to join Thrive Real Estate was an easy one. Owner Broker Maribeth Lynch’s real estate knowledge, commitment to her clients and integrity shines through.  I knew this was the place I wanted to resume my real estate career,” states Ms. Fantasia.

“Ava approaches her work with the belief that owning real estate is a significant element in a person’s financial success and potential long-term happiness. Her history of facilitating the purchase and sale of single family, multi-family homes and land in Central Massachusetts has resulted in many long-standing client connections,” states Maribeth Lynch.

Ava and her husband Sal purchased their first home in Shrewsbury in 1983. They now live on a small farm in Grafton in a multi-generational household that includes her parents, three thoroughbred horses, and a Jack Russell terrier named Lulu.

To learn more about Ava, or to contact her, visit her Realtor Bio Page.

Posted in: Blog, real estate agents, Real Estate Agents Grafton MA, Realtors Grafton MA, Realtors Shrewsbury MA

Shrewsbury MA Real Estate Market Update December 2018

Real Estate Market Update for Shrewsbury Massachusetts | December 2018

Hi again! I’m Maribeth Lynch from Thrive Real Estate Specialists, with your Shrewsbury market report through the end of December 2018.

We are experiencing a market shift that is undeniable. We have moved from a strong sellers market to a more balanced market favoring buyers. The combination of rising interest rates and higher home prices have worked towards a softening in the market. However, Shrewsbury continues to outperform most other comparable towns both in total units sold and pricing.

Shrewsbury’s market volume in 2018 was slightly behind that of 2017, although prices were up by 5% in 2018

Unit sales were up slightly in December but off 30% from last December.

We also saw a sharp fall off in the list price/sale price ratio which dropped to 94%. It was previously holding steady at 98 to 100%.
These two factors confirm the weakening market that we have been feeling.

Despite these downward trends, our days on market are still low, with an average of 50 days on market in December.

Our inventory of homes tells a similar story-with 82 units on market at the end of 2018—this is up 40% more than the previous two years. If you are a Buyer, this data present a clear message that 2019 will be a great year for you to buy.

Looking at the high and low of the Shrewsbury market in December, a condo sold for $133,000, and a beautiful home sold for $2,750,000!

If you are a buyer—NOW is the time to get serious about your search. If you are a seller, the condition, location and price point of your home will be the factors most impacting the bottom line.

We love working with buyers as well as representing sellers in Shrewsbury—if 2019 is YOUR year to buy or sell, give us a call!

That’s your Thrive Real Estate Market Report for Shrewsbury through December, 2018. Here’s to a great 2019 for all!

 

Recent Market Updates

 

November 2018 Real Estate Market Update for Shrewsbury MA

October 2018 Real Estate Market Update for Shrewsbury MA

September 2018 Real Estate Market Update for Shrewsbury MA

August 2018 Real Estate Market Update for Shrewsbury MA

July 2018 Real Estate Market Update for Shrewsbury MA

Posted in: Blog, Market Updates, Realtors Shrewsbury MA, selling real estate in Shrewsbury MA, Shrewsbury MA, Shrewsbury MA Real Estate, Shrewsbury Real Estate, Shrewsbury Real Estate Agency, Shrewsbury Real Estate Market Updates Tagged: Real Estate Agents Shrewsbury MA, Real Estate Market Shrewsbury MA, Realtors Shrewsbury MA

Shrewsbury MA Real Estate Market Update July 2018

Thrive Real Estate Specialists Owner/Broker Maribeth Lynch
gives Updates on the August 2018 Real Estate Market in Shrewsbury MA

The Shrewsbury real estate market is strong.
Compared to the prior year, we’ve seen housing sales increase by nearly 8%. And, average selling price is up by nearly 5% to $432k.
The number for days on market for those sales was very low – 60 days for the prior year, and a very similar 58 days for the past 12 months.

Inventory

What about inventory? It seems that after a long period of tight inventory, that we are starting to see a change, and the stats back that up: One year ago, there were 132 listings in the Shrewsbury market and today there are 1444 listing – about a 9% increase.
If we look more closely at inventory, we see that most of the increase in inventory really happened in the last 30 days because just one month ago, there were only 133 listings.
This modest increase in inventory might be a trend to pay close attention to.

Days on Market

One other interesting thing to keep an eye on is days on market. For houses that have sold over the past 30 days, the average days on market was only 36. So, desirable houses are moving. But if we look at inventory today (units not yet sold), the average days on market for those units is 80 days. So, you can see the importance of making your home desirable.
For fun, let’s take a look at the TOP and the BOTTOM of the market:
Bottom: 34 Oakland Avenue was a 2 bedroom / 1 bath home that sold in only 18 days for $175k.
Top: 437 Main Street is a 4 bedroom, 5 bath home that sold in 71 days for $1,850,000.

In summary, Shrewsbury is a strong market.Prices are increasing.
And although we may be seeing inventory start to tick up which is good for buyer selection, desirable homes are still moving fast.
That’s your Thrive Real Estate Market Report for Shrewsbury as of August 2018.
Happy end of summer and start of school year!!

Posted in: Blog, Home Buyers, Homes for Sale and Just Sold, Homes for sale in Shrewsbury MA, Market Updates, real estate agents, Realtors Shrewsbury MA Tagged: Real Estate Shrewsbury, Realtors Shrewsbury MA, Shrewsbury MA Real Estate Market Updates

Brighten Your Home with a Little Hygge

example of a Hygge setting in your home

Brighten Your Winter with a Little Hygge


Recently, I was introduced to a “new” concept that you may or may not have experienced: Hygge. Pronounced “hue-ga,” this Danish lifestyle concept is not actually a new concept at all; it simply hasn’t become a trend in the U.S. until rather recently.  When my client Victoria explained Hygge to me, I immediately connected with the idea and began embracing it in my daily life.

Hygge is a lifestyle concept that is practiced in Denmark. It is best described as a mindset that recognizes and appreciates special, cozy moments – whether these moments occur while alone or with family and friends, indoors or outdoors, unusual or ordinary. Hygge is a central part of Danish cultural identity and is rooted in a culture that experiences long, dark Northern winters; hygge evolved as an effort to counteract the cold, darkness, and boredom of those seemingly endless winter months. With winter on the way, I find that the mindfulness of hygge applies particularly well to hearth and home.

Here are a few suggestions to make your home reflect hygge in the coming months:

    • Coziness. Hygge is sometimes described as “the art of creating intimacy.” At home, consider the places you most enjoy spending your time. A window seat, hearthside armchair, or other cozy reading nook serves as a refuge from everyday problems. Curl up with a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of wine and immerse yourself in a book.
    • Community. Involve family and friends in Hygge by creating welcoming spaces where you can spend time with the people you care about. This might be your kitchen (often the hub of the household) or a dining or family room. Use low lighting, candles, and appealing scents to set the stage for special times with your loved ones.
    • Simplicity. Find your joy in baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, playing board games, or working on a puzzle. Simple indulgences can bring us great satisfaction. A simple Sunday dinner of roast chicken or a hearty stew can give your mind and body a boost.
    • Peacefulness. In order to truly appreciate hygge, it’s important to make an effort to unwind. Take time to unplug this winter. Read, knit, paint, cook, or keep a journal of the things in life for which you are thankful. Take a walk in the quiet moonlight. Slow down and take the time to indulge in the activities that warm your heart and free your mind from the near-constant onslaught of electronic data that we are faced with daily.
    • Nature. Danes are famous for incorporating outdoor elements inside. Materials like natural stone and wood are key features in their living spaces that reflect a connection to nature. Something as simple as a rustic log pile next to the fireplace can evoke a feeling of natural beauty in your home.
    • Ritual. Stop and buy yourself flowers every week. Or make a habit of brewing your favorite tea each morning and drinking it from your best china cup. Cultivate a windowsill herb garden. Wear fluffy socks every day. Bake your own bread each week. Use your best linens every evening at dinner. Creating new rituals that release us from a feeling of drudgery when we’re at home can bring a sense of comfort to each day.

The ideas I’ve outlined really speak to me as we approach the time of year when home becomes a sanctuary from the elements. Coziness and contentment at home ultimately make us happier in every aspect of our lives. This winter, I encourage everyone to embrace hygge. Enjoy the now, feed your soul, and find an inner freedom that will sustain you!

Posted in: Featured Blog Posts, Home Buyers, Realtors Shrewsbury MA, Shrewsbury MA Real Estate

Thrive Real Estate Welcomes Three New Realtors

Thrive Real Estate Specialists  is pleased to announce three new realtors have joined their team of agents.

Shrewsbury Ma Real Estate Agent Nachi Souza
Realtor Nachi Souza

Naat “Nachi” Souza Paiva comes to the THRIVE team with experience in property, casualty, commercial, and personal insurance as well as a successful four-year turn as the proprietor of a Worcester dessert bar. With many of her recent insurance clients approaching her for referrals and advice when buying their first homes, it was a natural step for Nachi to procure her real estate license and join The Thrive Team.

Nachi, who was born in Brazil, moved to the U.S. at the age of ten and grew up in Shrewsbury. She is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. She studied architecture at Northeastern University – a passion that has informed her involvement in real estate – before returning to Worcester and completing a degree in business management from Assumption College.


photo of Shrewsbury Real Estate Agent Charles Kosheff
Realtor Charles Kosheff

Charles Kosheff joins THRIVE with an impressive roster of accomplishments. He majored in Film and Television with a minor in Theater at Northwestern University before embarking on a 25-year career in media production, directing and editing stage events and videos for marketing, fundraising, and entertainment. His exceptional work in the field garnered him an Emmy nomination.

Mr. Kosheff’s attention to detail and dedication to perfection will dovetail with his knack for creating a warm and inviting home, bringing great value to his clients looking to move to Shrewsbury and nearby towns. Mr. Kosheff is also an excellent resource for those contemplating a move to the area, particularly those with young children.


photo of Shrewsbury Ma Real Estate Agent Stephanie Jordan
Realtor Stephanie Jordan

THRIVE’s newest team member is Stephanie Jordan, who has lived on and off in Shrewsbury since 1999. Coming from a family deeply involved in real estate investment and rentals, Stephanie is ready to turn her talents to local home sales. She is passionate about supporting community businesses and networks, and cites Owner/Broker Maribeth Lynch’s drive, motivation, and stellar work ethic as a tremendous inspiration. Stephanie hopes to work in concert with Ms. Lynch to continue THRIVE’s tradition of excellence in helping clients not only buy and sell their homes, but also build their lives.

Posted in: Blog, Featured Blog Posts, Realtors Shrewsbury MA

Downsizing Homes

photo of downsizing from a larger home to a smaller one

How Can You “Rightsize” Your Next Home?

Earlier this year, I shared exciting information about several new mid-century homes on the market in Shrewsbury, many of them within walking distance of the center of town. As you might imagine, those properties drew a lot of interest based on their location – but they also appealed to some prospective homebuyers because of their size and amount of yard space.

There has been a recent trend among certain homeowners toward downsizing to a more manageable lifestyle. While there are plenty of buyers out there who are still looking for large homes for their families, there are many families that are finding they require less space than before. The reasons vary – children growing and moving out into the world, a desire to abandon large-scale material possessions and concentrate on a more experiential lifestyle focusing on hobbies or travel, or a heightened interest in lower home maintenance and increased energy efficiency. But whatever the reason, there has been a demonstrable surge in interest in curating a smaller living space rather than sustaining a sprawling property.

Fortunately, a town like Shrewsbury has many smaller homes, and a lot of them are in excellent condition, having been lovingly maintained and updated throughout the years by diligent homeowners. There are also condominium units on the market for those who desire a simpler lifestyle. If you’re in the market for a new home, there are a few considerations to address when determining how to best “rightsize” your next home purchase.

1)Savings. What are the financial benefits of moving to a smaller home? What will you save on your monthly mortgage payments? How much will you net on the sale of your current home? If more money in your pocket is appealing to you, are you willing to give up some of the space you have now?

2) Needs. What are your “must-haves?” Maybe you don’t need as many bedrooms as you currently have, but an updated kitchen or bathroom is important to you. What about a garage? Storage space? What kind of yard do you wish to maintain? What about location?

3) Effort. Are you willing to put in the work necessary to pare down the number of belongings in your everyday space? Swapping a large home for a smaller one involves hard choices about what to keep, sell, recycle, and donate. One solution for items that you don’t currently use but may wish to access in the future is to rent a storage unit. There are several options nearby. This be an involved project, so you should think about whether you have the resources and energy to systematically sift through all of your possessions and make some hard choices. However, that effort can also be a big payoff in the long run when you enjoy the simplicity of less cleaning, yard work, and general maintenance.

4) Ambiance versus Maintenance. Many homeowners appreciate the “charm factor” that accompanies older, smaller homes. Nuances like built-in cabinetry and pocket doors outweigh the potential pitfalls of maintaining an aging house. But for those who value ease of life over architectural aesthetics, a gleaming new condo might be a better choice than a freestanding home that was built 100 years ago.

5) Self-Perception. I know that it can be hard to admit, but our homes are extensions of ourselves. We maintain them, decorate them, spend long hours in them, and ultimately, they become reflections of who we are. If your current home serves at least in part as a status symbol, you may want to rethink moving into a humbler dwelling. While a lot of people are bucking the convention that money can buy happiness, it’s fair to say that our egos can be intertwined with our living space.

6) Routines. This is an important question to ask when assessing any potential move. What impact will your new home have on your lifestyle? Whether it is a question of your children changing schools, having to shop regularly at a new supermarket, or a change in space for entertaining, a move affects many of our established routines.

If you have thought through the benefits and drawbacks of moving to a smaller home and it is something that you would be interested to explore, please contact my team and me. We will be happy to talk you through the process of finding the home that is the right size for you.

Posted in: Downsizing, Featured Blog Posts, Homes for sale in Shrewsbury MA, Realtors Shrewsbury MA, Selling your Massachusetts Home, Shrewsbury MA Real Estate, Shrewsbury Real Estate Agency Tagged: buying a home in MA, Downsizing homes in MA, selling your MA home

19-21 Sias Avenue Shrewsbury MA 01545

photo of 19-21 Sias Avenue in Shrewsbury MA  01545

Homes For Sale in Shrewsbury MA- 19-21 Sias Avenue

Just Listed by Thrive Realtors!

$305,000

Open House Sunday 9/10/17 11:00-1:00pm


 
Calling all fans of the classic American bungalow: we may have found your match. This home simply commands a presence on its incredible corner lot, with a porch and huge deck overlooking the big, flat yard. The new Lakeway Commons is just a short walk away from this tight-knit neighborhood. You’ll be able to roll out of bed and stroll over to Starbucks for your morning Joe. A Whole Foods and Burtons Grill will be pretty much in your backyard. But back to the house, which has been in the same family for the past 55+ years. Step inside to find beautiful hardwood floors, high ceilings, original moldings with some great wood grain, unusual grillwork set into the brick fireplace, a handsome staircase, and a flexible floor plan that allows you to maximize the interior space. Upstairs are three good-size bedrooms with ample closets for the era. Screened-in patio and detached two-car garage. Come usher this quintessential American home into its next chapter, which is sure to be a love story.  Showings start at Open House.

See the Full Listing

Call/Text Maribeth 508-641-9323 for more information

Posted in: Home Buyers, Homes for Sale and Just Sold, Homes for sale in Shrewsbury MA, open houses, Realtors Shrewsbury MA, Shrewsbury MA, Shrewsbury MA Real Estate, Shrewsbury Real Estate, Shrewsbury Real Estate Agency Tagged: homes for sale in Shrewsbury Ma, Open Houses Shrewsbury MA

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      Maribeth Lynch
      26 Maple Ave.
      Shrewsbury, MA 01545
      Direct: (508) 641-9323
      info@ThriveRealtors.com

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