If the 3.5% down payment is eliminated, it will really hurt first time home buyers.  This is a fight we need to win.   Read on:   Mortgage industry fights to keep 3.5% down payments

There is a lot of conversations these days about our real estate market and whether it is good or bad, have we hit the bottom of the market or are we recovering.  Here is a good video that puts our real estate market in perspective.  The big picture is sometimes hard to see but it paints a good look into our future of home buying and [...]

Median house price is up compared to last year, but number of sales are down.  Keep in mind that last year we had the first time home buyer tax credit which fueled the house sales.  These statistics are expected.  Although the real estate market continues to be fragile, I am optimistic about the future and it will eventually turn around. [...]

Yankee Magazine's 2011 Best in Massachusetts  is now available on line for you to see.  Some of the names will look familiar to you.   This list is a great start to checking out some of the area's attractions.

Congratulations to Mike and Tony for making the list!  Love their pizza.
 
http://bit.ly/lZumXS

In Franklin County, sales fell 9.1 percent, from 77 to 70 houses, and the median price fell from $165,000 to $155,500. 

There was some good news on the foreclosure front, with the number of completed mortgage foreclosures falling all over the Pioneer Valley. 



Read more about the market:
http://bit.ly/hN8aD3

I was reading the Shelburne Falls and West County Independent and was pleased to see the Hicks Family is going to have a corn maze at their farm on Route 2.  This is a great idea and I'm sure people will love it.  This July the family will cut the pattern of the maze in the field with the hopes of opening up to the public in September. [...]

On Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st local pottery studios will open their doors for the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  A total of 10 studios will be open.   What a great event and an opportunity to preview some fabulous artwork.  For a complete list of the participating artist's and map to where everyone [...]