Shared spaces (condos with swimming pools, gyms etc), work spaces are no longer in high demand.
Mortgage rates fell to record lows, fueling moves, refinancing, equity projects, etc. (at least for now).
People are buying larger homes to accommodate remote work and school, and many families are taking relatives in or re-introducing college students back into the home. Some are moving back in with their parents to save money, take advantage of built-in child care, or to care for their senior family members.
Hygiene is high on buyers’ radars. Homes with half bath additions for hand washing and more toilets are in huge demand, as everyone is home all day.
The kitchen is king! People want a large pantry space for all the kitchen gadgets, toilet paper, flour, yeast, and Clorox purchased this year. We’ve also noticed more touchless faucets. Even Liz has one!
People are seriously living in their living room. They want strong, fast internet for video calls and schooling. They’re looking for huge TVs for entertainment purposes: games, movies, and streaming services have replaced pub trivia night, theaters, and binge-watching parties.
Whether it’s a balcony or a backyard, homeowners are taking advantage of their outside areas. They’re adding patios, planting gardens, buying fire pits, and socializing outdoors. A yard isn’t just a pretty place anymore; it allows us to visit safely with friends and family. And it’s taught us that we’re tougher than we think! How many of you got together with others outside on a chilly February night, just so you could stop having conversations with random household objects? Yep, us too.
As housing affordability continues to challenge our local communities, we find it encouraging to see legislative steps that prioritize affordability, flexibility, and access, like Massachusetts’s Affordable Homes Act, signed into law last year by Governor Maura Healey. One of the changes we find most intriguing is the expanded ability to build Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs. These are small residential living spaces located on the same lot as another home, either within an existing primary residence, like converting a basement into an apartment, attached to a primary residence as a new construction addition, or completely detached, like a cottage or converted detached garage in a backyard.”
Here at Liz & Ellie Local, we are always looking for ways to make life a little greener. And if you’ve been in the Boston area for any length of time, you’ll know that there are areas where paving your yard was all the rage…and the remnants of that craze are still all over town. But things are changing. In Somerville, in particular, residents are tearing up their pavement in favor of something green.
We’re a few days from “official” summer, but there are already plenty of things happening outdoors in the Boston area. And while we love a good Red Sox game or concert at the Pavilion, there are tons of ways to take advantage of summer without spending a dime. From free music, to lectures, to movies and more, Boston has a plethora of free events worth checking out. As local residents of Cambridge and Somerville, who adore the communities we live and work in, we'd like to share a few of our favorite events.
With their complementary communication styles, responsiveness, competence, and ability to truly listen, Ellie and Liz enable their clients to feel at ease throughout any real estate transaction. They would welcome the opportunity to be your next real estate advisors.
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1100 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138
