Spring Real Estate Market

By many accounts,we have already entered whats known as the spring market for real estate sales. While there is no official start or end of this market,this period is when most homes are marketed for sale and the lions share of home sales occur.In Metro Boston,we have noticed an increased number of buyers at our open homes and offers being made on them.In fact,for the last few months, we have seen numerous offers on homes being made on the properties. While this is normal for this time of year,there are a number of differences between this year and the same time period in 2012. The National Association of Realtors and Banker and Tradesman are reporting that prices have been rising in Metro Boston. This is largely due to the limited number of homes for sale including a reduced number of foreclosed upon homes or short sales. This has lead to a shift from a buyers market to a sellers market. Low interest rates with the expectation that rates will rise in the not to distant future has added to this trend. In order to take advantage of the fact that hopes are relatively affordable, should be prepared to act quickly in order to secure their property. Peole should have a check list of home features that mirror their needs when looking at aproprty.Home buyers should be preapproved for a mortgage and be willing to act quickly when then locate a home that suits their needs. While there are some Realtors that correctly sugguest that offers should be uncomplicated, these offers still should have a mortgage contingency(unless you are lucky enough to be able to pat cash) and have a home inspection. There are many other points to consider when buying a home and its best to have a Realtor knowledgeable in the area to assist you in your home search and purchase.

Native Plants

Now that spring time finally seems to arrived and plants are slowly pushing their leaves out of the ground many of us are planning what to do in our gardens this year. Everybodys goals from new gardners to experienced ones with established gardens have different plans. These plans will vary from vegatible gardens to flower gardens to those of us that have both vegatables and flowers in our yards,we plans and interests. Over the last few years,my interests have included the use of native plants in my yard,both flower and vegatables. Native plants can vary from region to region,but all of them have some common points. They tend to survive best in their own region due to their establishment in each region,they tend to use less pesticides than other plants and many of them will attract various birds,insects and other animals with their flowers,fruit and or as sources of pollen and nectar for local wildlife. They also can be easier to tend thab non native plans due to their compatability with local soil conditions and weather patterns. There are numerous trees,shrubs,grasses and trees to pick from and most gardeners can easily select a wide range of plants to accomidate any size of garden or one that is wet in nature,dry or various degrees of sunlight or shade.Some of these plants will due best in the spring time,summer or fall. There are a number of good plant groups beyound local plant stores. They include: The New England Wildflower Plants Society (www.newfps,org) Tower Hill Botanical Gardens(www.towerhillbg.org) The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society(www.riwps.org) or Project Native (www.projectnative.org) Feel free to visit their site as well,ask for advise or visit their plant sales and garden tours. Happy Gardening