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Spring has officially sprung and mud season is upon the Berkshires.  Williamstown, Stockbridge, Lenox, Great Barrington,  and the Berkshires in general are thawing and the smell of fresh green is in the air.  Shopping for a new nest is what spring is all about.  Sunshine and warm weather causes buyers to feel that  same longing for a new [...]

A comparative Market Value Analysis or "CMA" in Realtor speak is a Broker price opinion based on the current real estate Market in Williamstown or the  Berkshires or your real estate location.  "Your location" is the key word here.  The same home in Palm Springs Florida may sell for far more than a similar home in Hancock MA.   Location  [...]

Churning a listing.  Resetting the clock.  NEW listing.  Really?   Churning the listing occurs when a seller takes their home off the market for a few days or weeks and then re-introduces the home as new to the market.  Churning a listing is as old as the real estate sales profession.  At one time I suppose it was easier to convince a buyer [...]

Writing about Williamstown Real Estate and Berkshire county in general we do not foresee auctions on the rise but we do see real estate activity on the upswing. The increase in real estate sales activity will be welcome news for Berkshire County sellers who have endured some pretty lean years since the bubble burst in [...]

Delicate Balance 

The Berkshires are a spectacular geographical location that blends culture, proximity to urban amenities yet sufficient distance from urban sprawl along with unmatched natural scenic splendor.  Apparently, the experts agree since the Berkshires are cited in National Geographic's Traveler magazine as one of the top 10 [...]

Berkshire home for sale.  Checklist to begin preparing for the move.

You have listed your home with a great Berkshire Real Estate agency, you are confident your home will sell within a reasonable amount of time and now you need to know where to start the [...]

When is the best time to put my Berkshire home on the market?

The best time to place your Berkshire home on the market is when you have committed to the decision to sell your home and are firmly committed to moving forward. 

Myths still exist in the real estate business about waiting until spring to place your home on the market.  Why?  [...]

Dwelling, habitat, lodging, or home?  How did home become what it is today?  And furthermore why?  Bill Bryson who wrote one of the most read books of the past decade A Short History of  Nearly Everything has tackled these questions and more.  His newest tome is At Home:  A short history of Home Life which reveals the history of [...]

Living in the Berkshires and Southern Vermont can be a very chilling experience.  Especially for Northern New England  property owners whose property is exposed to below zero temperatures all winter.  Did you know the most important home investment you can make in the winter season is preventing damage from frozen and burst [...]

In September of 2010 I completed my 35th year in Williamstown real estate. There was a time when counting the years in my early career meant simply lasting from one year to the next in business. I recall how I began my career right around Labor Day of 1975 with high hopes and many trepidations, [...]

Fair Market Real Estate Value Defined- Berkshire Real Estate

Berkshire home sellers can teeter between hope and worry in the housing market in the Berkshires. Berkshire buyers are confused and hesitant.  Real estate agents often fall somewhere in between the emotions of hope and despair depending on the particular day and month.  Our [...]

We all believe we truly "see" what we are looking at (at least most of the time).  It is no secret (especially among police detectives and attorneys ) that seeing things with our own eyes does not mean we actually "see" or remember the details.  Read the few lines below and you will understand how your mind can help and hinder you by [...]

       Fall season is the time for yard clean ups and readying your home for the cold winter ahead.  Living in Berkshire County which is famous for the fabulous fall colors displayed by maples, oak and birch we are very aware of falling leaves.  Take a minute and review our safety tips to make the coming winter months a safe and happy [...]

Berkshires Real Estate Market Value Opinions can often reflect serious Conflicts of Interest

Sellers of real estate tend to seek the advice of one or more Realtors ® to provide a market value opinion upon which to base a listing price.  Home valuation advice from Realtors® can be fraught with conflict of interest. The Realtor® is strongly [...]

Sizing up vacation destinations

courtesy of   http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/sizing-up-vacation-destinations--2

A roundup of how some of the biggest second-home markets around the region are faring

May 01, 2010 07:00AM

By Sarah Ryley

From left: Fire Island, Martha's VineyardFrom the splashy beaches of the Hamptons to the rolling [...]

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No matter your interests or the time of year, it's just better here in the eclectic Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. From Boston or New York, Newark or Norfolk, those with a taste for the arts, for antiques, for the country life without isolation head here ...... and then tend to stay... three nights instead of two, a month instead of a [...]