LOW INVENTORY OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE

According the the MLSPIN (Pioneer Valley chapter of MLS), there were 61 single family homes listed for sale between March 1st and May 1st of 2016 alone. Here we are in mid April of 2017, and there are only 45 single family homes on the market in Northampton. Some of these are new construction opportunities, and some are already under agreement. 

Pictured Above, 32 Liberty Street in Northampton, MA

Agents within our office have anecdotes of packed open houses, with multiple offers being submitted and buyers being outbid on the few houses that have come on the market this spring. This article from realestate.boston.com confirms that housing inventory in Massachusetts is at an all-time low.

Whatever the factors are behind the dearth of new single-family listings - the fact is that now is a great time to sell! Buyers are eager to buy, interest rates are still low. So, if you are a seller thinking about possibly selling your home - the first step is to reach out to your agent to find out what our opinion of market value would be. There is no question that the demand is high, and many houses are selling for above asking price in this climate. Contact us today to set up your comparative market analysis!

This time of year, better known as the "spring market" to Northampton Area realtors, we find ourselves showing a lot of houses to potential buyers. With all of the rain we've been having, the dryness (or dampness) of a basement is at the forefront of the minds of home buyers. There are many factors that can add to or take away from the [...]

Spring is upon us, and, as per usual for the *spring market*, we are starting to see more houses on the market in Northampton and the surrounding areas. There are a handful of grand, high-end houses available right now for buyers who are looking in the $1,000,000 and above price range. We have two listings in the Smith College neighborhood which fit the bill! Spacious, elegant, glorious homes within walking distance to Northampton [...]

Recently we've been drooling over recipes and home decor ideas from the Food52.com website. If you are a homeowner who enjoys unique decor and kitchen items, or someone who loves to cook, it's a great website to peruse! 

As we have written in previous posts, it's not always necessary to completely overhaul or renovate a home in need of some [...]

Super Bowl Sunday is nearly upon us, and, once again, The New England Patriots are in the game! We moved to Northampton from New York just over 10 years ago. To the extent that I care about football, I'm still loyal to the Giants, but I get that my fellow Western MA compatriots are super excited about the upcoming event.

I was happy to find this post from food52.com - with innovative recipes for cheese dips to hold my interest during the game, since I won't likely be paying attention otherwise. If you are someone who enjoys cooking and entertaining, as well as football - perhaps you'll find a new recipe below to help spice up your Super Bowl Sunday. Enjoy!

If What's on TV Bores You, At Least You'll Have These Cheese Dips

 by Sarah Jampel • February  3, 2017 • 4 Comments

Yes, you could serve squeaky, toothpick-able cheese cubes at your football or Oscars party. And no one would object.But you could also take that same cheese and make a more metamorphic change: Add spices, herbs, and vegetables, then blend or melt or beer-spike into a dip that's creamy, scoopable, and at home on a variety of "dippers," from tortilla chips to carrot sticks. Suddenly, you've taken that singular, lonely cheese and transformed it into an eligible snack from which hundreds of thousands (or at least a few) spin-off combinations are possible:

 

• Saltine plus pimento cheese? Yes please.
• Carrot stick heavy with pimento cheese? Don't mind if I do.
• Tortilla chip with pimento cheese? Crazier things have been done before.
• For a full run-down of the best dippers to pair with which cheese dips (like, what one does a strawberry go with?!), see our not very comprehensive nor scientific guide below.

 

Choose your cheese, cheesy, or cheesiest dip below, then prepare or purchase any accompaniments as you see fit:

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Crudités with Feta Pistachio Dip by Sara Jenkins

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Baked Ricotta with Mushroom Confit and Balsamic Brown Butter by Ali Slagle

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Truly Amazing Cashew Queso Sauce by Gena Hamshaw

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Queso Fundido con Hongos by aargersi

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Aged Cheddar and Pilsner Fondue by darksideofthespoon

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Parker & Otis' Pimento Cheese (+ Grilled Sandwiches with Bacon & Tomato) by Genius Recipes

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Nacho Cheese Sauce by Lara

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Baked Olive, Tomato, and Feta Dip by Kendra Vaculin

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Soft Pretzels with Beer Cheese by Nothing in the House // Emily Hilliard

What's your favorite way to consume cheese in a party setting? "In large quantities" is a totally acceptable answer. Drop others in the comments below!

This time of year, many of us find ourselves homebound on our days off (some of us choose to be homebound on our days off :)). Winter is a great time to attack our indoor homeowner to do list - since we certainly can't do any landscaping in the cold, wet, windy winter months of the Pioneer Valley. This recent article by Jolie Kerr makes great suggestions for indoor cleaning/organizing projects, best done when you don't feel like being [...]