Four Columns Realty News

Announcement

As one blog ends, two new ones arise.

 

These blogs have taken the place of the Four Columns Realty Blog:

Athol Real Estate

Orange Real Estate

Please visit them for updated posts.

Good News for Athol High

Athol High School is back in good standing with the New England Association of School and Colleges. The Athol Daily News reported on June 27, 2008 that the association has relieved the school from probation and restored its unconditional accreditation.

While the up-to-date media center/library, new computers, expanded nurse's rooms and renovated guidance area are all important, the vital change is what Deborrah Porter of the Daily News described as an "increased level of participation, cooperation, and communication... among the various town/school governing bodies."

Things are looking up at Athol High School. Daily New subscribers can read the full story here.

See also: Athol High School ranks #1 in Massachusetts for percentage improvement in 10th grade math scores.

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What the News Is Missing

The news is full of reports saying that February and March were ugly for real estate. They were. But the news reports are missing something.

Over the past few weeks, Four Columns Realty has seen a sharp increase in the number of potential buyers contacting us in person and through our web site. From what we are hearing, we're not alone. March is in the news, but March is so last month.

As news reporters dwell on recent ills, they overlook the pent-up housing demand that's starting to surface. Life goes on, even in a housing slump. Buyers with expanding families need bigger houses. Buyers with grown-up children want smaller houses. You can only make do for so long.

Fewer Houses For Sale

While the new wave of buyers is finding plenty of houses to choose from, the number of single-family homes on the market here has begun to turn downward after several rising years.

6 months ago, there were 360 single-family homes for sale in the North Quabbin Region, which includes Orange, Athol, Erving, New Salem, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Wendell and Warwick. Today, there are 315 single-family homes for sale in the North Quabbin Region, a drop of 12.5%, according to information supplied to and compiled by the MLS Property Information Network, Inc.

In all of Massachusetts, there were 33,173 single-family homes for sale 6 months ago. Today there are 28,184, a drop of 15%, again according to information supplied to and compiled by the MLS Property Information Network, Inc.

You might figure that this is happening all over the country. But it isn't. A recent Wall Street Journal survey found that the number of houses for sale is still going up in 23 of 28 major metro areas. In 4 of the other 5, the number fell by less than 5%.

In Boston - alone among all 28 metro areas studied - the number of houses for sale fell more than 10% from a year ago. Although this year-over-year statistic is not as dramatic as the drop over the past 6 months, it's still significant.

More Buyers, Less Sellers

This spring we're seeing more potential buyers and less sellers. That's the reality of today's housing market in the North Quabbin Region and throughout Massachusetts. It's a story the news media has not yet caught up with.

The rule of supply and demand suggests that housing prices could start rising again. Will they? Probably not for a while. There are too many negatives out there.

Although the steepest part of the slide in North Quabbin Region real estate prices appears over, the most likely scenario has prices flattening out this spring and staying flat this summer.

If you're thinking about buying, you should start looking at some of the bargains out there now. If you're thinking about selling, you can find a buyer now if you prepare properly and avoid overpricing your house.

Both buyers and sellers need to be smart about their next moves. But now could be the right time to jump in the game.

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Successful Forum

Over two dozen people attended the recent Real Estate Forum on today's changing real estate market sponsored by Four Columns Realty and the Workers' Credit Union.

Sellers learned how to price property right and how to prepare a home to stand out from the rest. Buyers learned how to buy smart and borrow smart.

Missed the forum? You can still ask us your questions. Just contact us by email or phone.

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The Real Estate Market Has Changed

Are You Up to Date?

Four Columns Realty and the Workers' Credit Union are co-sponsoring a free forum on today's changing real estate market. The forum will take place at 2 PM on Sunday, April 6, 2008 in the Orange American Legion Hall at 40 Daniel Shays Highway in Orange.

Read more to find out what you will learn at the forum and to download the registration form.

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Athol #8 in Massachusetts

Athol ranks #8 in the state in its support for technology development and growth, according the Massachusetts High Technology Council's latest municipal rankings.

The High Tech Council ranks all 351 towns in Massachusetts "to measure the support of state and local officials for the priorities of the technology economy."

Athol's top ten showing includes high marks for fair commercial property taxes and expedited permitting plus a #1 ranking in the state for percentage improvement in 10th grade math MCAS scores.

To learn more about locating your business in tech-friendly Athol, contact Les Black at Four Columns Realty or Steve Raymond at the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce.

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