Search Results for “feed” – The Boulderwood Group

The bad news keeps on coming…

Carole Murko — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:23:00 +0000

Here’s a sobering bullet that I read on the “Seeking Alpha” news feed:

•Home prices spiral. U.S. home prices fell the most in at least 17 years and are under continued downward pressure from the highest foreclosure rate on record. According to Federal Housing Finance Agency data released yesterday, home prices are down 5.9% from the previous year while Q3 foreclosures rose 71% from the previous year. Every quarter another 250,000 houses enter foreclosure, with each foreclosure pulling down the value of nearby homes by a total of $220K.

And sadly foreclosures are even up in the Berkshires. As a seller, you must be cognizant of this information. As a buyer with good credit and cash – what an opportunity!! Stay tuned as this marketplace continues to unfold. I am now calling it a rolling crash as it’s been coming for months and may continue for months.

Pricing Strategy to Sell Your Property

Carole Murko — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:03:00 +0000

Last week I cut out a piece from the Wall Street Journal titled “Get Real With Your House Price” and of course because it caught my eye, I wanted to share it. For a long time I have felt like a salmon swimming up stream when discussing pricing with sellers in this market. My advice is: “How you price your property is how the marketplace perceives your desire to sell it.”

For instance, I just closed a sale last week. My seller had listed her property with another agency and had no success. When she called me, I had to give her the bad news that despite the fact that she bought her house in February of 2006, she stood no chance of selling at a profit. The market had gone down since then and if she really wanted out, I said list it at the price at which you purchased it and you will broadcast that you really are a seller!! And voila – we had many showings and a purchase price just $1500 below the asking price.

So, back to the Wall Street Journal article – it asks a simple question – “How can sellers tell if their homes are overpriced? Look for the following signs:
1. Not Enough Showings.
2. Some showings, but no contract.
3. Similar homes are now selling for less.
4. Repeated negative feedback
5. You’ve cut the price but not enough.”

I didn’t write the article but it resonated with me like I had. If you are a real seller or are thinking of selling, pay attention to the pricing!!

Why I love the Berkshires – Part II – I can raise chickens!!

Carole Murko — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:42:00 +0000

And Happy Chickens produce Amazing Eggs!!!
One of my favorite chickens is named the “Growler” for her distinct growly voice. She has found her own nightly perch in the rafters of our horse shelter. She lays blue eggs. Upon rising, she jumps down and greets me at the back door for her special treats – stale bread, strawberry hulls etc before I open the chicken house and feed her sisters (all named, of course).

The Growler and her sisters roam freely (at their peril) all day – scratching the underbrush, eating bugs in my flower garden, and in particular, love the horse pasture – especially the worms in the manure. They run up and down the hills, take long luxurious dust baths and drink from a natural spring.

Why do I tell you all of this? Because real free-range chicken eggs (better stated as “pasture-raised” chicken eggs) are AMAZING!! Their flavor is robust; their yolks the color of the setting sun; and their shapes, sizes and color are all unique.

Try one of my favorite recipes handed down from my mother: Cheese Soufflé
Ingredients:
1lb grated cheese (preferably cheddar)
4 oz. flour
12 oz. milk
6 egg yolks
6 egg whites
4 oz. butter
salt and pepper
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make a white sauce with the flour and milk. Add grated cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Beat egg whites in a separate bowl. Then add the yolks 2 at a time to the cheese mixture. Fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites. Place in a buttered soufflé pan. Place pan in another pan of hot water and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately. Excellent with a salad.

Hunkering Down during a Snow Storm

Carole Murko — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:37:00 +0000

There’s something romantic and comforting about a snow storm when you don’t need to travel and you can sit inside and watch the snow blanket the landscape, see the birds hovering around the feeders and “hear” the wonderful silence of a snow storm.

With meetings cancelled and phone service down (thankfully my cable is still working), I began contemplating 2007. I’ve had some success in real estate with some sales and some new listings. The nice thing about real estate is that there is a market during good times and bad times. I’d suggest that the real estate market in the Berkshires is sluggish, trending a bit lower but not dire. Afterall, we are fortunately not overbuilt like south Florida and Las Vegas. I tip my hat to towns like Stockbridge that do not openly welcome change or encourage development. Seems like a blessing in this market.

I’ve also have been working on several interior design projects. One is a ground up construction where I am working with the client and their architect on space planning, kitchen and bath design and material selection and finishes – with 7 bathrooms and a large kitchen, we’ve been having some fun. And we’ve been exploring all different finishes for the cabinets and options for tile for the bathrooms. My favorite material thus far is Lava Stone – it’s real lava stone, it can be custom colored in an enamel finish and fabricated for your specific use – it is dynamite!!! And my NOW project which needs to be done by the end of December is the new Napa Wine Bar and Restaurant that will be opening on Main Street in Great Barrington soon!! We worked with a modest budget to warm up a space that was cold and dominated with stainless steel walls and bar. Come see the transformation yourself!!!

Although there’s much more to report….and snow storms are a welcome break and an opportunity to think, write and prepare, it’s now time to strap on the skis… See you at the slopes!!!