Dog-friendly Boston, MA

Not only do Boston, MA home owners have a seemingly infinite number of social and entertainment opportunities available to them, their canines have many as well! It's true, Boston, MA is cool place to be if you have a dog. Check out these dog-friendly opportunities in Boston, MA:

Let Spike run free at a dog park

Dogs are allowed on-leash in most local parks, but an off-leash dog park is where it's at. This allows dogs to run free and get their energy out. It is also a good opportunity for them to play fetch, roll around with other dogs, and become better socialized. Peters Park Dog Run in South End is a popular dog run. Nunziato Field Dog Park is the first off-leash dog park in Somerville. Cambridge is home to the Danehy Dog Park, Fresh Pond Reservation Dog Park, Pacific Street Dog Park, and the Fort Washington Dog Park. Brookline is also home to several parks with off-leash dog areas.

Go to Happy Hour and bring Fido along

If you're wanting to enjoy Happy Hour or stop and grab something to drink, don't worry about needing to leave Fido at home. Boston has many dog-friendly bars and beverage stores. V. Cirace in the North End welcomes pooches as their owners shop for wine and gift baskets. The Globe Bar & Cafe has a large, dog-friendly patio area. Best Cellars is another wine shop and liquor store that allows dogs. For more dog-friendly restaurants and shops, view this interactive map on Boston.com.

Join a dog group

Somdog is the Somerville Dog Owners Group. They meet on a monthly basis and take part in regular events. On September 16th is the Somerville Dog Festival where there will be raffles, a demonstration with a police K9 dog, a dog and dog owner look-alike contest, and more. The Walk the Dog Worcester group doubles as a research study on dog walking as a way for people to become more active. View this Meetup.com page for more information on Boston Area dog groups.

If you have any other dog-friendly suggestions for other Boston, MA home owners, please leave them in the comments! And, as always, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about buying or selling real estate locally.

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Tips for closing on your Greater Boston Area home

Once you've found that ideal Greater Boston Area home, your work still isn't over! Closing can be a difficult and frustrating experience if not approached correctly. Congratulations on finding the home you want! Now follow these tips for a smooth closing experience on your Greater Boston Area home:

Enlist a pro

A professional has years of negotiating experience. Experience is very helpful here. Having a qualified professional with a good track record on your side is well worth it.

Don't low ball

If your initial offer is too low, the sellers might be offended. Worst case scenario? They refuse to negotiate with you further. Even if negotiations continue, the seller might remain suspicious or guarded, which is not how you want things to go. Of course you want your initial offer to be for an amount lower than you hope to pay, but be sure to consult a professional and get a feel for the current market so you don't go too low.

Get to know the seller

Ask questions and do research. Why are they selling the house? Have they already moved out? How long as the house been on the market? Have any other offers been made? Why didn't they go through? These questions will help you get a feel for how eager the sellers are to close. They will be ore likely to negotiate lower if they are motivated to sell quickly.

Let the seller get to know you

Write a letter to the sellers and include basic information about everyone moving into the house. Let them know a bit about your history, if you've owned before, and why you think this place would be a perfect fit. Sellers often allow their emotions into the sale. They want to know the place they've taken care of and loved for years and years will be in good hands. Making a good impression matters and can improve your chances of getting a lower price.

Get it in writing

All of your negotiating might have gone to waste if you do not get everything in writing. Are they going to leave the washer, dryer, refrigerator, and oven behind for you? Put it down on paper. Are they going to make some minor repairs? Get it written down. If it is not in your paperwork, they don't have to do it. There are many things that factor into negotiations. If the price is lowered (or not lowered) because of something they say they will do, be sure to make it official.

Hopefully these tips help as you close on your Greater Boston Area home. If you have any questions about buying or selling real estate, or would like to hire me as your professional, do not hesitate to contact me!

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Back-to-School in Boston, MA

Although Boston Public Schools do not start for another month, many people in Boston, MA are preparing to go back to school now. For those with children in public schools, the Boston Public Schools website is good to check out for updates and registration information. Here are two back-to-school events Boston, MA residents might be interested in:

Tax-free Weekend

Next weekend, on August 11th and 12th only, state tax will not be charged on purchases in order to help with back-to-school shopping. The rules are that this only applies to purchases totaling less than $2,500 and only items purchased for personal use (versus business use) apply. There are exceptions--alcohol, tobacco, motor vehicles, meals, boats, and gas will all still be taxed. Everything else is fair game, however, so you may buy much more than school supplies without paying tax. Have a child going off to college? You could buy bedding, a television, new clothes, and more without paying taxes those two days.

Back-to-School Celebration

On Tuesday, August 21st there will be a large Back-to-School celebration at the TD Garden. This event is co-sponsored by the Salvation Army, the Garden Neighborhood Charities, and the City of Boston. Up to 3,500 students may receive a backpack and school supplies. People are encouraged to register ahead of time. Additionally, there will be many activities on hand for kids to play including basketball on the floor of the Garden and slap shot. Educational booths will cover a wide range of topics such as anti-bullying, nutrition, exercise, emergencies, dental health, and drug prevention.

If you have any questions about the local area, or want professional help with buying or selling real estate, do not hesitate to ask. I wish a very good Boston, MA school year to you and your family!

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Are you ready to buy a home in Boston, MA?

Maybe you've been renting for years now and you feel it's time to own a house in Boston, MA. How do you know for sure? Purchasing a home (in Boston, MA or anywhere) is major both financially and in terms of your personal future. Here are questions to ask yourself in order to determine whether or not you are ready to buy a home.

Do you have a lot of debt?
Having a lot of debt or bad credit (or both) isn't always a reason not to buy a home. There are many things you can do to fix up your credit and still get a decent loan. That said, if paying down debt takes up a good chunk of your monthly income, you might not be ready to purchase a home yet. Your high debt-to-credit ratio could preclude your getting good interest rates. Your high monthly bills make might things too tight with a mortgage piled on top. Make sure you sit down and really work out a budget before moving forward with home shopping if you have a lot of debt.

Do you have savings? Job security?
Most people looking to buy a home have some savings set aside for the down payment. But what about beyond that? If there is an emergency a few months into living in your new place, will you be able to manage? Is your job secure? You only want to buy a home if you can continue to pay the mortgage (and property taxes and repairs) into the foreseeable future. You should have enough saved that if you have an emergency or are without income for a month or two you can still pay your mortgage during that time. Just barely being able to buy a house is risky, and you could end up in foreclosure if something goes wrong.

Are you ready to stay in the same place for the foreseeable future?
Buying a house is a long-term commitment. Are you certain that you want to stay in this area for the next five or so years? Ask yourself that same question with different scenarios. If you lost your job, would you still want to live here? If your girlfriend broke it off, would you want to move away? If you don't see yourself staying in this area for quite a while, you might want to reconsider buying. A house is semi-permanent. You cannot always move out quickly, and you don't want to end up selling it too early and losing money instead of profiting.

Does owning make sense for your lifestyle?
Sometimes people want to buy a home because they feel they should own by a certain age, or all of their friends are buying homes. Those aren't good reasons! If owning a home doesn't mesh with your lifestyle, then don't do it. If you travel a lot, or really like having a landlord responsible for all of the maintenance and repairs, buying a home just might not be right for you at this time.

If you have any other questions about buying a home in Boston, MA, please contact me! I am here to help and would be more than happy to provide information or professional assistance with buying or selling your home.

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Upcoming family-friendly events in Boston, MA

Boston, MA is a really fun place to live--especially for families! If you have kids and are looking for appropriate events and activities to take part in as a family this summer, this article is for you. Here are fun things that both adults and children in Boston, MA will enjoy:

MFA Playdates
The Museum of Fine Arts has a recurring event called "MFA Playdates" on the first and third Mondays of the month. The event is geared toward children four and under and their parents. Each month there is a specific theme--August's theme is "Away We Go: Movement in Art." The next event takes place on August 6th. MFA admission must be paid, but there is no additional cost beyond that. The MFA has a variety of snacks and food available for purchase. People attending the Playdates are encouraged to stick around and enjoy the Museum. For more information, click here.

Free Friday Flicks
Free Friday Flicks takes place in the Esplanade and has become a summer tradition in Boston. Sponsored by WBZ 1030 and the Department of Conservation, the free event is open to the public and geared toward families with children. Bring a blanket and chairs and relax while watching a kid-friendly movie at sun down. Upcoming flicks include Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, The Zookeeper, and Puss in Boots. For more information, click here.

Free Fun Fridays
From June 29th to August 31st, there are free events every Friday in Boston. Free Fun Fridays is put on by the Highland Street Foundation. On Friday, July 27th, free admission is available to the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, the Children's Museum in Easton, the Springfield Museums, the N.E. Genealogical Society, and the New Repertory Theatre. Each week there are different attractions offering free fun. For more information, click here.

I hope your family is having a fantastic summer in Boston, MA. If you have any questions about the area or need help with buying or selling real estate, do not hesitate to contact me!

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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How to keep your emotions out of your Boston, MA home sale

Selling a home is a big deal and can be an emotional process. You probably have a lot of memories attached to the Boston, MA house you want to put up for sale. Maybe you raised children there, or bought the house right after getting married. Now is the time to separate those memories from the physical location. This will help you view the sale as purely a business transaction. The more practical and less emotional you are about the sale, the more smoothly the process will run. Here are tips on keeping your emotions out of your Boston, MA home sale:

Quit calling it your "home"
Sure, you're technically still sleeping there, but this house isn't your home any more. The word "home" has many connotations that "house" does not. It conjures up feelings of comfort and family. "House" is much more neutral and is appropriate for a business transaction. Begin referring to where you are moving as your "home" and your current place as your "house." This will help you adjust to the change and accept the mentality that dealings with your current place are pure business.

Remove items that personalize the space
Framed family photos? Pack them up. The afghan Grandma made by hand that's been sitting over the back of that chair for years? Put it in storage. Your favorite books, CDs, and DVDs? Put them away. Anything that you don't use regularly, such as decorations and media, should be packed away until the move. Not only will this help you sever attachments to this house, it will help will selling, too. Potential buyers want to be able to imagine living in your house. They can do that much more easily if all of your things aren't in it!

Do not attend your open houses
Hire a professional real estate agent and let that person handle the open houses. An open house can be awkward for you and uncomfortable for potential buyers if they realize you're the owner. People openly comment on the house while walking through it. Hearing that they hate the carpeting you just put in last year and would want to tear it up might bother you. Why put yourself through that?

Do not negotiate directly
Price negotiation is another task that can be handled by a professional, saving you trouble. Settle on the lowest price you'll willing to accept, hire someone you trust, and then let that person take care of it. It is too easy for a home owner to become offended by an initial low ball offer, or to take negotiation personally. It's not worth the stress.

Hopefully these tips help as you are beginning to sell your Boston, MA house. If you have any questions about selling, the Boston area, or real estate in general, do not hesitate to contact me.

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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Enjoying Nature in Boston, MA

Are you looking for more ways to enjoy the summer time in Boston, MA? One great way is by spending more time in nature. Often times city-dwellers forget that they don't have to take a vacation out to the country in order to be surrounded by plants and wildlife. Here are some of the ways to enjoy nature this season in Boston, MA:

The Urban Wilds
Before the City of Boston existed, in its place were salt marshes, meadows, streams, and hills. Some of these wild areas have been conserved and can be visited today. The Urban Wilds Initiative seeks to protect the publicly-owned wilds in Boston. The Wilds offer quieter places away from the loud, bustling city streets. They also provide an opportunity to see native plants and animals. The Urban Wilds benefit Boston by absorbing floodwater, filtering storm water run-off, and producing oxygen.


The Emerald Necklace
The Emerald Necklace is a 1,100 acre chain or "necklace" that consists of nine parks. It was designed by visionary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted over a twenty-year period in the late 1800s. The nine parks include Boston Common, Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Back Bey Fens, The Riverway, Olmsted Park, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, and Franklin Park. A downloadable map is available at this website. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy exists to "renew, enliven, and advocate for" the system. To find information on their events and volunteer opportunities, click here.


Urban Forest Program
In 2011, the Boston Natural Areas Network formed an Urban Forest Program in order to "improve & expand the the urban forest, promote public health and and increase the quality of life of Boston's residents." They offer a number of volunteer opportunities and educational events. Upcoming events this year include instruction on the maintenance of fruit trees and an apple cider pressing event.

Hopefully you're enjoying some of the natural areas right here within Boston, MA. If you have any questions about other things to do or the local community, do not hesitate to contact me. I am also available to provide professional help with buying or selling your Boston, MA real estate. Have a good week!

Michael Feldman
Keller Williams Realty-Boston Metro

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