Are you getting ready to move, or maybe just spring cleaning your home and trying to get rid of unused or unwanted things? DONATE THEM instead of just throwing them into the trash!  Gently used items are needed by so many people, and Big Hearted Books and Clothing, Inc will even come to your home and pick them up for you!  Just make sure to check out the lists above to know what "is and is not" an acceptable donation.

Spring Cleaning or De-Cluttering your home doesn't get easier than that!  So start your project today...then give Big Hearted Books and Clothing a call!  HAPPY SPRING CLEANING!

For more Home Maintenance, Spring Cleaning, Home Staging & Selling Tips visit our Blog and Facebook Page often.

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/

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!

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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!

Please join us in CONGRATULATING JON LYNCH on his newest achievement....the Coldwell Banker PRESIDENTIAL ELITE AWARD. On Saturday, March 26, 2016, Jon was presented with this  award, given only to the Top 1% of all Coldwell Banker Sales Associates based on sales production. Presidents Elite winners are the "Best of the Best" real estate professionals out of 3400 Coldwell Banker offices; both nationally and internationally, and over 85,000 sales associates!

Jon joins his mother Dyanne in this distinctive class of top ranked sales associates who have reached President's Elite status.  If you deserve the best and are looking to Buy, Sell or Invest in Real Estate in Wellesley or the Metrowest suburbs of Boston, MA; then, you need to partner with the proven, successful Real Estate Team of Team Lynch Real Estate. Recognized in the top 1% of all Coldwell Banker Professionals.