A survey by Ipsos found that the American public is still somewhat confused about what is actually necessary to qualify for a home mortgage loan in today’s housing market. The study pointed out two major misconceptions that we want to address today. 

1. Down Payment

The survey revealed that consumers overestimate the down payment funds needed to qualify for a home loan. According to the report, 36% think a 20% down payment is always required. In actuality, there are many loans written with a down payment of 3% or less.

Continue reading this blog at: 20% is No Longer Needed!

Local High Schools listed in TOP 25 High Schools in Massachusetts!

One of the MANY reasons people love living in Massachusetts are the outstanding public schools offered across the state, particularly in the Greater Boston area. The List of Top Schools in Massachusetts has officially been recorded, and two schools in our local community made the list! Congrats to Needham High School ranking #11 and Wellesley High School ranking #21!! School rankings are determined by both student-teacher ratio and college readiness, both critical elements to the MassCore program of studies which readies students for the workforce.

Located in Needham MA is Needham High School, which has approximately 1,400 students. Needham HS offers excellent academics and a wide range of co-curricular activities, including and interscholastic athletic program and 50 clubs. 85% of Needham High School students are involved in at least one activity! To see available homes that feed into this top notch school please click here.

Wellesley High School, in Wellesley MA, has a student population of right around 1,500. Wellesley HS offers 60 extracurricular activities in service, academic, student government, and performing arts programs, and over 80% of students participate in at least one program! Click here to see available homes that feed into Wellesley.

And don’t forget that one of the OLDEST high school football rivalries in the county is the Needham Rockets vs the Wellesley Raiders. Come on out this Thanksgiving to cheer on your favorite team!

If you're interested in Buying, Selling or Investing in the Wellesley and Metrowest Communities, give Team Lynch a call or visit our website at: http://www.teamlynchrealestate.com/

In today’s market, where demand is outpacing supply in many regions of the country, pricing a house is one of the biggest challenges real estate professionals face. Sellers often want to price their home higher than recommended, and many agents go along with the idea to keep their clients happy. However, the best agents realize that telling the homeowner the truth is more important than getting the seller to like them.

There is no “later.”

Sellers sometimes think,...

(continue reading the rest of this blog here): Team Lynch Real Estate

It’s everyone’s favorite day of the year...TAX DAY!!!

Ehh, not so much….

For all of you stressing over this  day, Marketwatch has some great advice. File an extension!! In an article posted by the news source, there are 7 excellent reasons why many people should consider an extension. And contrary to popular belief, filling an extension doesn't automatically raise red flags at the IRS. So if you need the time, or have any one of the following situations present, do yourself a favor and file an extension and give yourself until October 15, 2016 to file.

7 Excellent Reasons to File a Tax Extension:

1.)   You have a balance due and need more time to save up money to cover it. Give yourself that extra 6 months.

2.)   Made charitable donations over $250 to one or more charities and don’t have the proper receipts (which must include the name of the charity, address, taxpayer ID number, and a statement that you did not receive any benefits or items of value for your donation) to submit with your taxes? The IRS is very strict on submitting the required documentation so an extension would give you an extra 6 months to get everything in order.

3.)   Have you recently moved homes? Or are you planning to move within the next few months? If yes, it benefits you to submit an extension because the IRS may need to follow up with you on your taxes and they send all correspondence to the address you have on file.

4.)   If you are waiting for K-1 forms from partnership entities, S-Corps, estates, or trusts you should file an extension.

5.)   Sometimes rushing through your personal or business bookkeeping can cause sloppy or incorrect taxes. Don’t rush and do it right. File an extension to give you that extra time.

6.)   Have a large balance this year? Making contributions to your 2015 retirement plan can help reduce that balance. File an extension if you would like to benefit from this. You have until October 15th to open or add to your retirement fund.

7.)   And finally…. You still have questions regarding your taxes that you have not had answered. Give yourself some time to get everything settled.

Best of luck this tax season!

Cartoon 

Being able to purchase our own home has been a dream of almost every American from the time they could conceptualize what it really meant. While some people will tell you that the "dream" of owning a home doesn't exist in the same fashion it once did, recent studies by the " Homebuyer Insights Report" may prove otherwise. To learn more about the report click here!

According to the BMO Harris Bank Home Buying Report, 52% of Americans say they are likely to buy a home in the next five years. Americans surveyed for the report said that they would be willing to pay an average of $296,000 for a home and would average a 21% down payment. The report also included these revelations:

follow this link for the rest of the BLOG: Home Buying Next 5 Years

Restoration of the “American Legion Building” in Natick’s Historic District

Natick, a historic community just outside of Boston, is a popular place to call home for many reasons-- excellent schools, great shopping, a community organic farm, rich culture, and a prime location that is only a half hour from Boston. Downtown you will find an abundance of impressive red brick buildings, retail stores, restaurants, and beautiful broad streets. This is Natick’s burgeoning Historic District, another one of the many reasons why Natick consistently remains on the list of one of the best places to live!

Last month Stonegate Group- a real estate development company, announced plans to revitalize the former American Legion Building at 13 West Central Street, a landmark in the Historic District. This is exciting news for the community of Natick, as this once beautiful building has been vacant for the last several years. Stonegate Group’s restoration will involve maintaining the character & architecture of the building, including keeping and/or restoring the original facade and reconditioning the original brickwork. Within this development, Natick’s residents and visitors will enjoy restaurants, four retails spaces, underground parking, and eleven housing units. All of these additions will continue to add to the dynamic downtown area.

This project will not mark the end of the growth downtown Natick is experiencing by any means. The Natick Center Cultural District has been awarded a series of grants for 2016 and 2017 that aim to attract new artists and cultural ventures, and to continue to encourage new business developments. In a sense, this is a only the beginning of a growth expansion for our wonderful downtown of Natick, MA.

We will continue to keep you updated on the happenings in Natick! Visit our Blog and Facebook page for updates.

If you'd like information about Buying, Selling or Investing in Real Estate in the Natick, MA community, please give Team Lynch a call at 617-894-5278. You can also visit our website at www.teamlynchrealestate.com