Brian P. Sears

Talk to your attorney. If you don't have one, than get one. ALSO - make sure that your attorney is a real estate attorney and not your cousin who is part time and helping you out. Get a local real estate attorney!!! - Mon Jul 21 2008, 06:14

Talk to your attorney. If you don't have one, than get one. ALSO - make sure that your attorney is a real estate attorney and not your cousin who is part time and helping you out. Get a local real estate attorney!!! - Mon Jul 21 2008, 06:13

First of all, which Springfield? I think there are like 40 Springfield's in the US. It looks like you are thinking of Springfield, MAssachusetts. If so, try researchinghttp:// www.ChooseSpringfieldMass.com to see some of the various neighborhoods Springfield has to offer.

Real Estate Agents can not say whether a neighborhood is "good" or "bad" - it's called Steering and is against the law. What is good to some is unacceptable to others.

That said, I am allowed to say that I choose to live in Springfield and I currently live in the Forest Park section of town. Specifically I live in the Forest Park Heights Historic District. I am a city guy and couldn't imagine living on a cul-de-sac in the burbs. I also choose Forest Park because I love the old homes with a lot of character.

As for the rest of Springfield, we have a little bit of everything - so we really do have a neighborhood for everyone's taste. So check outhttp:// www.ChooseSpringfieldMass.com and then as Barbara said, you really just need to drive around and decide what feels comfortable for you. Drop me a line before you come out and I can get you a list of homes available in different neighrborhoods.

Regards,
Brian P. Sears - Mon Jun 30 2008, 06:54

I love when sellers and agents want to list a house for 349,900 or 199,900 an so on... A lot of have drop down menus for prices and I have yet to see one that doesn't use round numbers. You can do the 900 on anything expect around these search parameters. If you list a house at 350,000 or 200,000 it may not have the sales attraction of the 900 list price - but it will get you on the search results page of more searches. - Fri May 9 2008, 07:38

First - I am a Realtor that lives and works in Springfield, Mass.

Second - with regards to the market for single family homes in East Springfield. Buyers are generally "lazy" with regards to the fact that they would prefer to buy a house in move in condition that will remind them of the homes on HGTV. If you leave things like the kitchen, carpets, paint colors, etc for them to pick - they will just move on to the next house. So if you rehab, keep that in mind that you should rehab as close to 100% as possible of the visual items.

Specifically on the stats - in the past six months in East Springfield...
23 houses sold between $100,000 and $149,999 (87 days on market)
8 houses sold between $150,000 and $199,999 (141 days on market)
3 houses sold between $200,000 and $249,999 (50 days on market)
1 house sold between $250,000 and $299,999 (5 days on market)

Just so you know - there are currently 24 houses on the market in East Springfield between $150,000 and $199,999 ~ or roughly 18 months worth of inventory based on the past six months worth of sales. So if this is the range you are looking at than you better make sure you have location and condition in your favor so you are one of the ones that sells in the next six months. Also, do not get greedy. Price the house to sell, not to make a killing.

Brian - Wed Mar 26 2008, 10:47