This, Ladies and Gentlemen, is not Premier Service…

But it is funny! Thankfully things are not like this in Arlington MA! Be glad you’re not in Oklahoma or California trying to by or list a home! (No realtors or clients were harmed during the making of this movie). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgFVppU7_Mc&feature=player_embedded

Finding a truly reputable and professional Realtor…

…is so important. Make sure you are comfortable with the level of education, commitment, and professionalism your Agent exhibits before signing a contract with them! Look for advanced certifications like ABR, CRS, etc., which shows a commitment to further education, and specialization. Many unqualified Realtors are leaving the industry at this point, but watch out for any sense of desperation from a Realtor you are considering working with. You can sense it, and it’s best not to begin a relationship under those circumstances. Look for a strong company with many resources, and an Agent who is very familiar with your target area, who is professional, and is full-time in the business. And now enjoy the movie, knowing this will NOT be you!!

Upcoming First Time Home Buyer Seminar

Take time to get educated, learn how you actually buy a home in Massachusetts, lending requirements, mortgage info, $8000 Tax Credit and more… on April 23 join me at Bowes GMAC Real Estate office from 7-8:30pm when I will be presenting an educational workshop for First Time Home Buyers. A senior lender from J.P.Morgan Chase, Mike Tanionos, will explain how financing works. This is not to be missed if you are planning your first purchase anytime soon! Email bsatterlee@bowesre.com to register or for more information.

EcoFest Saturday March 28, 9am-1pm at Town Hall Auditorium

Share eco-friendly ideas, network with groups involved in sustainable actions, meet landscapers, learn about composting, and new green ideas.  Twenty vendors will be on hand and David Epstein (Weston Nurseries) will speak on natural lawn alternatives at 10 a.m. Discounted compost bins will be available for $25 during this event (while supplies last). They will be $50 after this event.  For more information on EcoFest please visit arlingtonma.gov/ecofest

Spring Street Sweeping to Begin March 30

The Arlington Public Works Department will begin the Town-wide spring street sweeping operation on March 30.
Weather permitting, the spring sweep should conclude mid-late May.

It is OK to brush sand from sidewalks into streets for sweepers to collect. However, according to the Town bylaw, Prohibition Against Obstructing Public Ways, it is forbidden to deposit other debris in public ways. The town asks that you please park your cars off-street during your scheduled week.

The Town posts the street sweeping schedule online and will be updating it weekly (Mondays) until the spring sweep is completed.  You can view this schedule and find out what route your street is on at arlingtonma.gov/streetsweeping.

For fun, let’s see what a Russian street-sweeper looks like:

How they Clean the Streets in Moscow

A good local resource for clean-up is Craig’s Landscaping here in Arlington at 70 Bow Street. Owned by Craig Gallagher, they are:

“committed to providing all of our customers with timely, high-quality services and developing lasting friendly relationships.”

They can be found on the web at http://www.craigslandscapinginc.com or by calling 781-643-3841.

If you are listing your home for sale, you want to spruce things up and get that ideal ‘curb appeal’ going. Buyers really do act on their first impressions. If you’re selling your home, make a clean first impression!

Arlington Heights is going to miss one of its shining gems, now that Something Savory is closing its doors! For three years the exceptional partnership of Johnny Levins and Jody Auerbach has been delighting the palates of locals, and providing a much needed Caribbean ambiance for this area. In addition to providing unique dishes with creative flavors (cooked with passion of course), their little dining room at 1312 Mass Ave was always bright and happy, and you almost felt like you were on vacation when you were there!

Closing Their Doors but Still Serving Food!

Johnny and Jody loved the friends they’ve made through the years here. The decision to close the doors was partly to focus more on catering, but also to have quality time with their adorable son Benjamin, who is now 2.5 years old. They will continue to provide their same interesting dishes through catering events. You should think of them for luncheons, parties, weddings, corporate or educational events. They will continue to customize orders to your wishes and provide interesting and delicious food.

“The crab cakes are amazing. While they’re an appetizer, they’re really filling and could pass as an entree if you supplemented them with a salad. The fish chowder is awe-inspiring…rich and thick, perfectly spiced and hearty.” – a Yelp review

You may still be able to get in for a delicious meal if you call Something Savory soon. You can reach them at (781) 648-0333 or (617) 549-2599. Email is jodi@somethingsavory.com.  If you can’t get there in time for one last fabulous Caribbean meal, call them next time for catering!

For me, one of the best parts of life in Arlington is the many wonderful ‘mom and pop’ restaurants and stores we have here. We need to get out and support them whenever possible, so we don’t lose more of them! What do you think?

Where is the Stampede going?

Town Sign Arlington MA

As a Realtor I commonly ask folks who visit my Open Houses “Where y’all from?”

Of course there’s a variety of answers… but there’s an obvious TREND going on… There is a high number of people migrating to Arlington from Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Charleston, Brighton… not from parts West or North. They are invading from the east, much like the British, but with less tea.

A youthful resurgence. It seems young professionals mostly in their twenties and thirties, who have decent jobs are seeking to escape the urban headache, and have set out for parts greener and less pricey. Arlington is still convenient enough to continue working in Cambridge and Boston, so the formula is rich with possibility for these escapees! It seems Arlington is the place to be!

First Time Home Buyers were 50% of the market in 2008

The trend is for a better lifestyle, and once renting gets ‘old’ and you decide that owning your own home is in your future, where do you go? Well, where your friends have gone for starters. Where you can get some green grass and a garage to go with your sleeping quarters, and where you can get a capuccino within walking distance. You will be comforted by the abundance of public transportation, frequent wifi spots, fresher air, a sense of ‘neighborhood’ and distinctly less crime and city dirt.

Once you fully engage the “let’s buy a house” stage you are possibly also thinking of the future, or a growing family and a school system. In the next issue of the Arlington MA Real Estate Blog we will hit on some key resources for living a full life here, including schools and other resources around town. For those of you who get anxious just thinking of leaving ‘the city’ just know you will be surrounded by others with the same complex! But rest assured, Arlington is everything you have been looking for if you want to keep aspects of the city you love and lose the things you don’t.

FIRST TIME  HOME BUYER SEMINAR March 19

You and your friends can learn the in’s and out’s, pitfalls and must-do’s for buying your first home by attending the wildly popular Seminar series being taught by myself and the brilliant Michael J. Tanionos of J.P.Morgan Chase Bank. We will provide some food and drinks and valuable information at the BOWES GMAC Real Estate Office, 1010 Mass Avenue, from 7:00 – 8:30pm Thursday.

Email Bija at bsatterlee@bowesre.com to RSVP ~ feel free to bring a friend!

Back By Popular Demand

Did you miss previous First Time Home Buyer Seminars, taught by myself and Michael Tanionos of J.P. Morgan Chase Bank? Well fear not, you can catch the show again when we produce it LIVE, at the Bowes GMAC Office on March 19th, complete with tasty offerings from Dag’s Deli.  The multimedia presentation runs from 7-8:30 pm. If you are thinking of buying a home in the coming months and you’ve never done it before, or not around HERE, you don’t want to miss it!

You can learn more about what’s happening in the local micro-market of Arlington, I will have the latest market data and comparisons. Of SERIOUS note is how great Arlington’s VALUES are holding up in the midst of other town’s woes. You must have seen it in this month’s Boston Magazine. Arlington was voted one of the “Teflon 10″ – and we’re grateful for that!!

We will cover the process of buying, local trends, how to get the most from MLS, Open Houses, buyer’s market vs. seller’s market, multiple offers, and more. You will have a chance to ask questions about everything, including the $8,000 Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers.

Do you know how to check your credit score? Are you aware of the impact small mistakes can make in your credit report? Are you aware that tiny mistakes can cost you big money in the long run? Mike will highlight simple steps you can take to improve your credit score, and why it’s important to begin this process as soon as you can. He explains in plain English what your choices are, and what you need to know and do in order to get the best possible  rates on a loan.

Get Smart Sooner, Not Later!

Surely you’ve smacked yourself on the head over silly mistakes you’ve made in life? Well, buying a home isn’t one you’d like to regret, so why not learn as much as you can early in the process, and save time and possibly thousands of dollars, as well as have a much smoother experience buying your very first home! Call Bija today at 781-354-4835 or email bsatterlee@bowesre.com to reserve a spot at the upcoming First Time Home Buyer Seminar.

See more details and upcoming dates here.

“We had a good time at your November seminar and learned so much. We can’t wait to get started looking at houses again after the first of the year. This will definitely be the year we buy, and it all makes more sense now!” ~ Ted and Susan P.  (Brighton)