RE/MAX Advantage's Tim Curtin, a Realtor in our Beverly, MA real estate office, spoke to the Salem News recently about the limited number of homes for sale having a cooling effect on the local real estate market in November. Curtin also noted that 2013 was an excellent year for real estate in both Massachusetts and Essex County.

Here is an excerpt from the Salem News article:

" 'It’s been a very good real estate market this year, both in the state and Essex County,' said Tim Curtin, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Advantage of Beverly. The Essex County real estate housing market had a median sale price in November of $355,000, better than the $316,500 price statewide, Curtin said.

Homes sales in Essex County were up 10 percent year-over-year, said Curtin, citing Multiple Listing Service data. Home prices in the county are up $25,000 over the same month last year.

'It’s tough for buyers right now,' said Curtin, who said the pendulum has swung toward sellers, as buyers face fewer choices and more competition for the scarce homes that are available.

Waiting to buy could be costly.

He gave the example of buyers who are looking for a home in the price range of $500,000 in Marblehead. With a mortgage rate of 4.3 percent, they would pay a mortgage of $2,400 a month. If they wait a year, and rates increase to 5.3 percent, the payment will increase to $2,700."

Here is the full article:

http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1221286769/Lack-of-homes-slows-sales/print

This year, BIGMAX delivered Santa to the Boys and Girls Club of Salem's Annual Christmas Party.   

For the 5th consecutive year, the Black Swan Country Club of Georgetown hosted this magical night and provided everyone with a delicous dinner, fun entertainment and personalized gifts for every child.  It was a fabulous way to start the Christmas holidays.

Here is a link the many full size photos we took. Enjoy: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjPgBkpZ 

The possibility of having the RE/MAX Balloon at the Black Swan Country Club in Georgetown for the annual Christmas party we host for the Salem Boys & Girls Club.  This is our fifth year of hosting this special charity event for 75-100 children from the Salem area.  We are thrilled to be able to provide them with a night of dinner, activities, and gifts from Santa. This will be a magical event! Thursday, 12/19/13;     at 430pm.

The historic roof decoration was taken down at the end of May to be restored. It was reinstalled earlier this month. The inside of the structure has been fortified with steel, while the original architecture was maintained.

http://goo.gl/FDE530

Paul DiBiase of Lynnfield-Based DiBiase Homes said he will be building 16 homes under the city’s Open Space Residential Design ordinance and to keep at least half of the 20-acre site as open space. The residential subdivision, to be called Essex Crossing, would be built at 232 Essex St.

http://goo.gl/2wGEfm

A conduit roof collapsed this week near Saint Paul Street, when contractors were excavating a section of the 8 foot deep conduit, when the granite slab roof caved in. No one was injured & the workers were able to get the excavator out.

http://goo.gl/wYoal6

Peabody Square's O'Shea Building will be the place for the new upscale restaurant & boutique hotel.
That building represents the cornerstone of the downtown. Construction is expected to begin by the summer or fall.
 

http://goo.gl/oRMhZL

The centenarian trend is expected to increase dramatically as baby boomers come of age, leading some people to wonder whether 100 will be the new 50.

http://goo.gl/Fj9vHR

“While Haunted Happenings is not intended to be a revenue-raising program for the city, we’re still pleased that we were on track with our historic average,” Mayor Kim Driscoll said in a statement.  http://goo.gl/YW8UCl

Rachel Hunt founded an independent public school that celebrates its 10th anniversary this year after a decade of growth.

http://goo.gl/8pMjr3