Bill Gassett's MA Real Estate Blog

Via Massachusetts Real Estate Voice

Hopkinton Mass Real Estate - Just listed 32 Apple Tree Hill Hopkinton Massachusetts. Listed at $244,900. Listed by Bill Gassett RE/MAX Executive Realty. *** Update - this townhome was sold by Bill Gassett for $235,000.

This townhome condominium at Apple Tree Hill in Hopkinton has been wonderfully remodeled and upgraded by the current owner. The kitchen shows outstanding with NEW Maple cabinetry, Silestone counters and new appliances.

The 1st floor has a very open floor plan with the family room and dining room adjoining each other. The family room has a wood burning corner fireplace and sliders to a decent size deck with great views out to a large backyard and woods. Both the family room and dining room are complemented by hardwood flooring which the owner has added.

One really terrific feature of this condo is the brand NEW finished walk-out lower level. Most of the units at Apple Tree Hill do not have basements and were built on slabs. This awesome space adds an additional 550 square feet that could be used for a 2nd family room, exercise room, or large office space.

The 2nd floor has two very good size bedrooms and a full bath. In total there are six rooms, 1.5 baths, and just under 1800 total square feet. The condo fee at the present time is $260 per month. The condo is maintained by a professional off site condo association. Apple Tree Hill has a very convenient location within close proximity to 495 and the Mass Pike Exits. You can learn more about Apple Tree Hill Hopkinton Massachusetts by clinking the link.

Watch the video slide show presentation of this Hopkinton townhome here.

Thinking of selling your home in Apple Tree Hill or other Metrowest/Hopkinton neighborhood? Call or email me...I would welcome the opportunity to show you how my online marketing can get your home SOLD!

One of the things I do with all the properties I market is create an online presence. Over 85% of all buyers find their home online. These posts and my blog are highly indexed by Google...in fact this may be how you arrived here? You can see a sampling of my Apple Tree Hill Condo marketing here.

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About the author: The above Real Estate information on Apple Tree Hill was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Hopkinton MA and other Metrowest towns for the last 23+ Years. 

Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise! 

For Massachusetts and Hopkinton MA Real Estate and condos see Hopkinton Mass Condos. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

Subscribe in a reader

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.  

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.

Hopkinton Ridge is a decent size Hopkinton Massachusetts  neighborhood consisting of 31   homes situated on the West side of Hopkinton off of Lumber Street. The Streets in Hopkinton Ridge include Glen Road and Whirty Circle.

The homes built in this Hopkinton subdivision were built by well known national home builder, Pulte Corporation. Pulte builds homes all over the US and has a fairly solid reputation for delivering a quality product.

Their home designs are well laid out for today's life style. Most of the home plans have dramatic two story entry ways and spacious adjoining kitchen and family rooms. The typical design will usually include a 1st floor study in addition to the standard formal living and dining rooms.

This neighborhood was built between 1998 and 1999. The homes range in size from 2600 square feet up to 3900 square feet, exclusive of finished basement space. The bulk of the homes, however, are in the 3500 square foot range.                                                                                                                                 

Most of the homes have four bedroom, 2.5-3.5 baths and two car garages. There are a few homes that have three garage bays. Some of the home owners have also created additional living space by finishing their lower levels.

The majority of the lots are an acre in size although there are a few that are slightly larger.

The one defining characteristic of most of the Pulte neighborhoods in Massachusetts is the lack of variety in the housing styles.

While driving through Hopkinton Ridge you will notice that there are only about a half dozen different home plans. Many of the homes also have the same floor plan with just a slightly different exterior elevation.

If your looking for a highly customized home with a distinctly different look than your neighbors property, this is not the place.

One confusing aspect of the Hopkinton Ridge neighborhood is that it adjoins with the Hopkinton subdivision known as Wildwood Glen Estates. The neighborhoods are tied together via Glen Road and many people mistakenly believe they are one subdivision. There are no landmarks telling you otherwise.

If you look closely you will see that the Wildwood Glen neighborhood has a much greater variety in housing styles as there were multiple builders who developed the property.

At Hopkinton Ridge you can expect to purchase a home that will have good re-sale value as the floor plans will not go out of style. I have enjoyed marketing homes in this neighborhood as they have a broad appeal to a lot of folks.

As of January 2009 the homes have a market value in the range of high 500's up to the 700's depending on the size of the home, the lot and amenities.

Hopkinton Ridge has an excellent commuting location as the 495 exits are only about 1.5 miles down the road off of West Main Street. The 1st exit North on 495 is the Mass Pike. Boston is only about 35 minutes away!

If you have a family one of the considerations when selecting a community is usually the quality of education the town provides. You can be confident knowing the Hopkinton Mass Schools are highly rated and among the best in the area!

Thinking of selling your home in Hopkinton Ridge or other Metrowest/Hopkinton neighborhood? Call or email me...I would welcome the opportunity to show you how my online marketing can get your home SOLD!

One of the things I do with all the properties I market is create an online presence. Over 85% of all buyers find their home online. These posts and my blog are highly indexed by Google...in fact this may be how you arrived here? You can see a sampling of my Hopkinton home marketing here.

For other Metrowest Massachusetts neighborhood reviews see Massachusetts Real Estate Voice.
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About the author: The above Real Estate information on Hopkinton Ridge was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Hopkinton MA and other Metrowest towns for the last 23+ Years. 

Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise! 

For Massachusetts and Hopkinton MA Real Estate and homes see Hopkinton Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

Subscribe in a reader

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.  

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.

Hopkinton Real Estate - Just listed 14 Weybridge Lane Hopkinton Massachusetts in the Indianbrook neighborhood. Listed at $279,900. Listed by Bill Gassett, RE/MAX Executive Realty.



Looking for a townhome that sparkles? This Indianbrook condo sure does fit the bill! The home is a middle unit townhome and is in MINT condition! The sellers efforts in fixing this place up are noticeable the minute you walk through the door. The entire home has been re-done including a beautiful sleek kitchen with painted black cabinetry with Stainless appliances/hardware and SILESTONE counters. Both baths have been updated with NEW Granite and tile floors.

One of the things that will really catch your eye is the stunning hardwood floors throughout the 1st floor. The hardwood flooring is all new and really adds a touch of warmth to the home.

 The entire condo has received a fresh coat of paint in pleasing earth tones. Additional improvements include New lighting & plumbing fixtures. Both bedrooms are spacious and have vaulted ceilings. The  finished lower level with family room&office area add additional "flex" space for whatever you need. In total there is about 1800 square feet of living space. There are two bedrooms and 1.5 baths. The condo fee for this unit is $348. Indianbrook has great access to 495 & MA Pike for those commuting into Boston!

Here is a link to see the video tour of 14 Weybridge Lane Hopkinton Mass.

Want to learn more about why Indianbrook may be a great place to call home? Click on the link below to learn more about this Hopkinton condominium neighborhood.

Indianbrook Condos Hopkinton Massachusetts

Thinking of selling your home in Indianbrook or other Metrowest/Hopkinton neighborhood? Call or email me...I would welcome the opportunity to show you how my online marketing can get your home SOLD!

One of the things I do with all the properties I market is create an online presence. Over 85% of all buyers find their home online. These posts and my blog are highly indexed by Google...in fact this may be how you arrived here? You can see a sampling of my Hopkinton home marketing here.

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About the author: The above Hopkinton Real Estate information about 14 Weybridge Lane in the Indianbrook neighborhood was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.comor by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Hopkinton MA and other Metrowest towns for the last 23+ Years.

Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise! 

For Massachusetts and Hopkinton MA Real Estate and homes see Hopkinton Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest MA: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

Subscribe in a reader

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.  

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.

Via Massachusetts Real Estate Voice

Assessed Home Values Rarely Equal Fair Market Value

Over the last few years in Massachusetts as well as many other parts of the country we have seen a rapid decline in Real Estate values. In many towns around Metrowest Massachusetts it would not be unusual to see a home that sold in 2007 for $500,000 to be re-sold today around $450,000. It is an unfortunate fact of life. All good things tend to come to an end at some point.

One of the common lines of thinking that occurs when Real Estate values are heading downward is that the home owners tax bill must also be coming down too. Part of this misconception occurs because people assume that the fair market value and assessed value are the same.

In theory this should be the case but assessed values are nothing more than a yard stick for a municipality to collect an appropriate amount of taxes to sufficiently cover the state and local appropriations chargeable to the city and town.

Lets go over a few facts about your homes assessed value and the role of the towns assessor:

1.) In Massachusetts assessed values are based on 100% of full market value.

2.) Town Assessors are required to submit assessed values to the state Department of Revenue for certification every three years.

3.) The assessors review sales data and the Real Estate market every year and thereby reassess values each year.

4.) Assessors do not raise of lower taxes.

5.) Assessors do not make the tax laws which affect property owners.

6.) The Assessor's Office has nothing to do with the total amount of taxes collected.

7.) The assessor's primary responsibility is to find the full and fair market value of the property so that the taxpayer pays only their fair share of taxes.

As we head toward January, there is no doubt that you will see the assessed value of many homes coming down across Massachusetts. What you are also very likely to see is an increase in the fiscal tax rate to cover the difference in the lower assessed values.

As previously mentioned above, the numbers used are all just part of the game of collecting the proper amount of revenue to run the town.

So what are you supposed do if you think you are not being taxed properly in relation to other similar homes that have sold?

You should go to your local tax assessors office and file for an abatement. All the information necessary regarding the application process and the deadlines for filing should be available.

Applications for abatement's are due on or before the due date for payment of the first actual bill. The assessor has up to three months in Massachusetts to act upon your abatement request.

What happens if you do not feel that the assessor made the proper ruling on your abatement request? If this occurs, you have the right to appeal to the State Appellate Tax Board.

In Massachusetts there are some who are exempt from all or part of their property tax obligations. Exemptions are available to those individuals that meet the various requirements in the following categories: 

• Elderly
• Disabled Veteran
• Blind
• Widows and/or Widowers
• Minor Children with a Deceased Parent
• Minor Children of Deceased Police or Firefighters killed in the line of duty

Applications for tax exemptions can also be obtained from your local tax assessor's office.

In Massachusetts senior citizens have also been able to claim a refundable credit on their income taxes for property taxes paid on residential property owned or rented. This law is known as the Senior "Circuit Breaker" Tax Credit, it is equal to the amount by which their property tax payments in the current tax year (excluding any exemptions and/or abatement's), including water and debt sewer charges, exceed 10% of their total income for the same year.

To claim the credit, eligible taxpayers must submit a completed state Schedule CB, Circuit Breaker Credit, with their state income return.  The form is available on the web at Circuit Breaker Credit.

As a Realtor who has covered local Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate for the past twenty three years I often come across some really silly marketing by other Real Estate agents in regards to a homes assessed value. Things written in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) like "What a bargain this home is priced X dollars below assessment." Most of the time the Realtor is making a very poor correlation between the assessed and market value.

When I see something like this my immediate thought is that the home owner has been paying too much taxes on their home or the assessment has not been adjusted yet.

The take home message is that if you are considering buying a home, you should not rely on assessed value as a good measuring stick of market value. There are plenty of homes that are over and under assessed in Metrowest Mass. Hiring a good buyer's agent that can point point a homes true market value is always a wise move!

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About the Author: The above information on assessed home values rarely equal fair market value was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. 

Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise! 

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Metrowest Mass Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Douglas, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile

Subscribe in a reader

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.

Via Metrowest Homes Blog

It is no secret that energy prices have been high all year but thankfully have dropped quite a bit as we head into the Winter months. There are of course plenty of things you can do to save additional $$$ and conserve energy this Winter. Some are fairly obvious and easy.                                                                                      

Here are some of the easiest energy saving tips for your home:                                                                                                                                                                                           

Turn back the thermostat - Kind of a no brainer but here is my suggestion...Upgrade to a programmable    thermostat and set the temperature down during the time when you are not home. For me it is easy because I am at work selling Real Estate all day.

The temperature in my home automatically goes down to 60 degrees at 11 p.m at night and stays that way until 5 p.m the next day when I get home. So between 5 p.m and 11 p.m when I am usually around the temperature moves up to a comfortable 70 degrees.

As an additional thought if you have a multi zone system I would also suggest that you may want to keep the area of your home where you sleep a little bit warmer than the rest of the home. For example if you have forced hot air and your bedrooms are on the 2nd floor there is no sense in keeping the downstairs the same temperature as the bedroom area. Have your thermostat set to go down at night on the 1st floor.

Close the fireplace damper - This is one that I often forget about. There is quite a bit of heat that can get lost going up and out the chimney.

Give your heating system a tune up - Proper maintenance is vital to keeping your heating system running most efficiently. Make sure that you have your heating system cleaned and inspected at least once a year, especially if you are using oil as a fuel source. During the heating season make sure that the filters are changed once a month.

Fill the gaps with weather stripping and caulking - make sure all your doors and windows are tight. Just the other day I noticed a draft coming from the interior door leading to the garage. I had not noticed that the weather stripping was missing. You can pick up an item like this at Home Depot or Lowe's for under ten dollars. If you have a home with older windows make sure you caulk and gaps. Using the locks also provides for a tighter and less draft resistant fix.

Window air conditioners - If you home is not cooled by central air and you are using a window air conditioner make sure that all the gaps between the window and exterior have been filled. This is a notorious problem for air penetration.

Add additional insulation to the home - Add additional insulation to your attic, basement and outside walls. This can be done either with insulation batts or with blown in cellulose.

Keep furniture away from vents - If you have furniture blocking your vents you will drastically cut the efficiency of the heating system. In one of the rooms in my home I happen to have long draperies. This can be a problem as well if they are not tied back. Keeping your drapes away from blocking the vents is an important consideration.

Keep the vents clean - Make sure you keep your baseboard, radiators and registers dust and dirt free. This will not only have a drag on efficiency but who wants to breath crummy air. If you have a forced hot air system over the years it is easy to accumulate dust and debris. If you live in the Metrowest Massachusetts area and need a duct cleaning I would recommend Duct Z. They are a national outfit and may be located near you as well.

Seal your duct work - If you have FHA (forced hot air) make sure the ducts are properly sealed. Over time the tape used to seal openings and joints can start to open or even fall off.

Unplug appliances not in use - Guys I know this one is difficult but if money is real tight I would suggest unplugging the beer fridge in the basement or garage. Having an extra refrigerator is a big drain on energy consumption. Things like extra televisions and other household appliances that do not get use often should also get unplugged. These appliances although are not being used still drain energy and cost you money. The term often used to describe this is "leaking energy". Look at the electrical meter on your house before and after doing this and see what I mean.

Clean the refrigerator coils - Once a year you should vacuum or clean the fridge coils especially if you have a pet. Dirt, dust and pet hair on the coils will impede air flow and make the heat transfer less efficient forcing the appliance to work harder. It is estimated that dirty coils can cut the energy use by 6%. This would save around 15$ per year on an older fridge.

Turn off bath fans - After taking a shower make sure the bath fan does not stay on longer than necessary. This is an opportunity for heat to get sucked out of a home.

Turn down water heater temperature - In most homes the water temperature set on a water heater is between 130-145 degrees. Setting the temp back to 120 is more than enough for a hot shower. It is estimated that a 10 degree temperature reduction can reduce water heating costs by 5%. Lowering the temperature by 20 degrees could save the average family around 50$ per year.

Low flow shower heads - Install low flow shower heads to conserve heated water. Also keeping the time in the shower down also helps.

Wrap the water heater  - You can buy a water heater wrap at most hardware stores or Home Depot for around 25$. The blanket will pay for itself in a year and offer saving after that. According to the Department of Energy this will save the average household around 4-9% of their annual total water heating costs (around 12$-48$ for most homes.)

Purchase energy star products - Energy Star Products are much more efficient and designed to save energy. For example an Energy Star fridge uses about 20% less energy than a standard refrigerator. Over time the saving can add up.                                                                                                               

Open shades and curtains  - Opening shades and curtains on the South side of the home is something that will give you a little something extra on those sunny days with a solar effect. Remember to close them at night to help keep the heat inside.         

Interested in getting an Energy Star Audit on your home? Visit the Energy Star Audit website to get an evaluation done on your home. This could really help you save some $$$.

Here is a state by state Energy Star directory to find out if Home Performance with Energy Star is offered near you.

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The above information on energy saving tips for the Winter months was provided by Bill Gassett, the team leader for the #4 RE/MAX Team in Massachusetts in 2007. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 22+ Years. Bill's office is conveniently located in the center of Hopkinton MA at 77 Main Street.

I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise! 

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Metrowest Mass Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Douglas, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

Subscribe in a reader

SUBSCRIBE TO MY METROWEST HOMES BLOG via email.

Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 22 years.