Happy July!
We are still facing a Covid shortfall of listings and sales activity.
* For example, in Framingham last year in June we had 84 single family sales with an average sales price of $483k in Framingham. This year we had a total of 44 sales with an average sales price of $539k.
* In Sudbury there were 35 sales in June 2019 with an average sales price of $774k, and this year we had 24 sales with an average sales price of $864k.
* In Natick, lack of sales were not not as dramatic. In 2019 there were 46 sales and this year there were 44 sales.
* In Ashland, 16 sales in 2019 and 15 in 2020. However there were 13 sales for townhouses in 2019 and only 8 townhouse sales this year.
Most towns saw declines in available inventory and sales. Contact me to find out specifics about your towns market as the conditions vary from town to town and also by price point.
What does this mean for you? Now is a fantastic time to sell and/or allow me to show you the things you should consider updating to help you for a sale down the road.
Support Local Farmers Markets
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Now that it’s summer, many Farmers Markets are open and welcome your business. Following the safety protocols, you can still take advantage of enjoying local farm grown fruit, vegetables, and specialty products that your neighbors have taken pride in preparing for you.
Enjoy the outdoors and the Farmers Market experience (with some adjustments this year of course) while supporting local farmers!
What Will Homes Look Like In A Post-pandemic World?
A lot has changed in just a few months, and for many that includes the idea of what a 'dream home' looks like. Not long ago, buyers were showing preference toward smaller homes and open concept spaces conducive to gathering. After a few months cooped up inside, those features don't seem so appealing - and developers have taken note.
"While the coronavirus still rages on, it's hard to predict what post-pandemic abodes might look like," according to Barrons. "Yet, developers around the U.S. are already rethinking projects, anticipating residents' needs and preferences that Covid-19 would spur. In doing so, they are re-evaluating current in-unit aesthetics and in-demand amenities."
Here are just a few areas of home design where trends may shift in the coming years:
Home size
Homes had been trending smaller, but that may be over. With so many families spending (way) more time around the home lately, there's never been more need for personal space. Expect homes to grow in size accordingly.
Prioritizing the home office
As more and more businesses relax work-from-home policies, or shift to full-time remote work entirely, the home office will become a near-essential for many buyers. A space that was once an after-thought now will need to offer privacy, good lighting and be pre-wired for telecommuting.
Return to the closed-floor plan
For some buyers, the appeal of the open-floor plan was already trending down prior to 2020, and the past few months have only made the reasons why more evident. Sharing more time and space at home demands privacy for school work, hobbies, and entertainment. With more meals being cooked at home, an open concept kitchen becomes noisy epicenter practically all day long. Builders expect a rise in demand for closed floor plans, where rooms are partitioned for purpose.
Smart technology
This is already one of the fastest growing trends in home design, but smart home technology will soon move from a 'plus' to a 'must'. Temperature and lighting control can now be voice or motion-activated. Touchless faucets, once thought superfluous, are now an inexpensive and health-conscious upgrade. Systems that filter air and monitor air quality will become more common and affordable.