Happy New Year to all!

We have quite a line-up of (free) workshops scheduled for January/February. You can read more about them and pre-register here or email rachael with any questions.

January 5th (Wed) — The Savvy Home Buyer
January 11st (Tues) — Somerville Condo Conversion Seminar (in Somerville)
January 12th (Wed) — Cambridge Condo Conversion Seminar
January 19th — Real Estate Investing
February 16th — Preparing Your Home for Sale

This Wednesday eve, CCR (the Cambridge Community of Real Estate Professionals) will be having its annual holiday party/toy and supply collection for the homeless kids at Our Place Daycare Center in Central Square. We’ve collected a bunch of items already and you’re welcome to drop things off at our office through the end of the week. Here’s the wish list. Our Principal Bill Scott is the new President of CCR.

On the real estate front, our own Susan Murie has been marketing (and blogging about) a historic barn for sale on Pleasant Street in Arlington. This is an interesting one — a historic barn that’s currently getting a new foundation, with permits in hand to turn it into a 1700+ sf 3 bed, 2.5 bath home.

ePlace leads the market for rentals in Cambridge for Fall 2010. We has a very strong rental department that works extremely hard for landlords and tenants and our market share bears this out.

This season, many landlords have had to make seasonal adjustments, but overall the market has remained strong. We’ve recently rented two units in a 200-unit urban community in East Cambridge; 2 units in a loft-style building in Cambridgeport with high beamed ceilings, loads of windows and private outdoors space. We’ve also rented several units in a brand new complex near Kendall Square that offers a business center for renters who work from home.

In this issue Market Stats Mardi Gras Benefit Upcoming Workshops

Market Stats
Our resident market analyst, Rachael Burger, recently updated long-term local area market stats (covering Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, and Massachusetts overall). With one exception, all four geographic areas show a decline in median prices across all property types since 2005 and an increase since 2000. Sales volume (as measured by units sold) is down across the board since 2005 and also down relative to the year 2000, with the exception of condominium units, whose sales volume increased in all geographies relative to 2010. Last year (2008 – 2009), median prices were mostly stable or showed moderate declines, while sales volume was mixed (up in some housing types/locations, down in others).

Mardi Gras Benefit for Our Place, Day Care Center for Homeless Children
Bill Scott, our Principal, and a number of other ePlace team members are hard at work organizing a Mardi Gras Soiree to benefit the children of Our Place, the Salvation Army’s daycare center for homeless children. This event raised almost $60,000 last year (a substantial part of the operating budget of Our Place) and we hope to do as well this year. Please join us on March 5th at the Charles Hotel from 6:30 – 10:30 for dinner, dancing, live music, and live and silent auction for a worthy cause. Alternately, please consider becoming a sponsor or donating an auction item.

Upcoming Workshops
February 17th 6:00 – 8:00: The Savvy Home Buyer (offered again on April 7th)
February 24th 6:00 – 7:30 — Nuts and Bolts of Real Estate Investing (offered again on April 21st)
March 31st 6:00 – 8:00 — Preparing Your Home For Sale

Workshops, as always, are free and open to the public, and pre-registration is required. Register, email with question, or read our rave reviews.

As always, feel free to contact us about any of your real estate needs, by calling 617.864.4600 or emailing us at info@eplacehomes.com.

Wishing you a happy, early and peaceful Spring.

The ePlace Team

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