The Savvy Home Buyer
	This workshop covers the home-buying process in detail. It includes: • deciding on the price point that is right for you • understanding mortgages, mortgage expenses, and getting pre-approved • finding a home • property due diligence and comparative market analysis • elements of the offer • home inspection, purchase and sale, mortgage contingency, walk-through and closing • special discussion of paths to affordable homeownership. Wednesday October 7th 6:00 – 8:00 register here
Real Estate Investing
	This session covers the nuts and bolts of real estate investing, and draws on interviews with local investors and lenders. Topics include: • real estate vs. other types of investments • owning and managing rental property • renovation and resale • condominium conversion • detailed real-life examples • a real estate plan for the future. Wednesday November 18th, 6:00 – 7:30 register here
Creating a Green Home
	This workshop will explore: • How to make your existing home more energy efficient • Green materials that you might consider using for a renovation • Green building techniques and considerations. We will have samples of green building materials on hand and will draw on interviews with local green builders and renovators. Wednesday October 21st, 6:00 – 7:30 register here
Where: ePlace, 830 Mass Ave in Cambridge More Info: To register or get information on other workshops go to http://eplacehomes.com/workshops or call 617.864.4600
	830 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge MA 02139 PHONE 617.864.4600 FAX 617.864.4601

All Real Estate is Local

It’s easy to get excited (or depressed) about national real estate news, and to assume that national news applies to our local market(s). But often, this simply isn’t the case, and we return once again to the theme that all real estate is local . . .

In July, there was much jubilation as the Case Schiller Home Price Index 10- and 20-City Composites posted an increase in prices for the first time since the summer of 2006. In the Boston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), single family home prices increased by 1.6% between April and May. But what does data from the Boston MSA tell us about individual Boston-area neighborhoods? Not all that much.

It’s pretty well understood at this point that, within our local market, some communities have been much harder hit by the foreclosure crisis than others. Fox 25 pulled together some good data on this at the end of last year.

If we take a look at the change in median sale prices for single family homes in selected Boston area communities between 2005 and 2008, we also get a varied picture. Here’s an excerpt from a handout that I prepared for the Savvy Home Buyer workshop.

Now single family sales (above, and in the Case-Schiller index) only tell you so much about urban markets (like ours) which tend to have a majority of condo sales. More on this in our next installment . . .

Upcoming Workshops
We’ll be offering all three of our workshops in September (see details below). The workshops are free of charge and chock full of great information. Look forward to seeing some of you there. 

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September 9th — The Savvy Home Buyer — 6:00 – 8:00. Everything you wanted to know about buying a home, mortgages, and more. Read comments, or register now.

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September 16th — Real Estate Investing 6:00 – 7:30.
Nuts and bolts of real estate investing with real-life examples and numerous additional resources. Read comments, or register now.

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September 24th — Creating a Green Home. Things you can do to make your home more green. From inexpensive tips to materials for green renovations and renewable energy technologies. Read comments, or register now.

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The first-time buyer tax credit is set to expire on November 30th. If you’re starting the active part of your home search or just have a question, feel free to ring us at 617.864.4600, email us at info@eplacehomes.com, or stop by our office at 830 Mass Ave in Central Square, Cambridge. Want to see what other people are saying about us? Check out our reviews on Yelp . . .

Wishing you a peaceful and happy September,

Rachael Burger and The ePlace Team
ePlace Real Estate
830 Mass Ave
Cambridge MA 02139
617.864.4600
http://eplacehomes.com