by janet | Jan 12, 2023 | Housing Market Updates, Luxury Market, Seller
During the pandemic, second homes became popular because of the rise in work-from-home flexibility. That’s because owning a second home, especially in the luxury market, allowed those homeowners to spend more time in their favorite places or with different home features. Keep in mind, a luxury home isn’t only defined by price. In a recent article, Investopedia shares additional factors that push a home into this category: location, such as a home on the water or in a desirable city, and features, the things that make the home itself feel luxurious.
A recent report from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (ILHM) explains just how much remote work impacted the demand for second and luxury homes:
“The unprecedented ten-fold increase towards remote work since the pandemic is an historic development that will continue to fuel second home demand for many years to come.”
But what if you bought a second home that you no longer use? If you’re now shifting back into the office or are seeing your priorities and needs change, you may find you’re not utilizing your second home as much. If so, it may be time to sell it.
And if you own what’s considered a luxury home, buyer demand for it may be even greater. In another report, the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing explains:
“. . . the last few years have left their legacy for the luxury market. While it might only represent a small percentage of the overall real estate market, luxury homeownership’s influence is growing. Not only has the purchase of homes valued over $1 million (a figure considered by the National Association of Realtors to be a benchmark for luxury) tripled from 2.6% to 6.5% since 2018, but demand for multiple luxury properties has soared over the last two years.
This phenomenal increase has been driven by a growing affluent demographic who consider owning a luxury property a necessity in their asset portfolio. All indications are that this trend is here to stay, albeit that demand is set to return to a more sustainable level.”
If you own a luxury second home that isn’t being used as much anymore, now’s the time to sell. There are still buyers in the market who are looking for a home like yours today.
Bottom Line
Connect with your real estate advisor to explore the benefits of selling your second home this year.
by janet | Jun 9, 2022 | Luxury Market, Seller
As people realize their needs are changing, some are turning to luxury housing to find their dream home. Investopedia helps define what pushes a home into this category. In a recent article, they point out that a luxury home isn’t only defined by its price. Location is also an important factor. It could be a condo at a desirable city address, a spacious home on the water, or one with access to luxury activities like arts and entertainment, high-end shopping and dining, and more. The home itself will also boast some of the finest features available.
According to the Luxury Market Report from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, there’s been a substantial increase in how many buyers are purchasing luxury homes over the past two years. It says:
“. . . North America recorded the fastest growth of demand during the first year of the pandemic. Also, demand has . . . consistently increased, and even in April 2022, we saw a higher volume of sales compared to 2021.”
If you own a luxury home, it could be a great time to list your house today while demand is so high. But first, let’s understand where the demand is coming from.
What’s Driving the Heightened Buyer Demand for High-End Homes?
The same report says more people have reached a certain net-worth threshold, and that’s contributing to the increased interest in luxury housing:
“In 2020, we saw a 2.2% growth in the number of individuals with wealth of over $5 million in net value, but in 2021 that number grew by an outstanding 19.8%.
This total increase has resulted in the introduction of over 660,000 new individuals into the high net-worth bracket, which, combined with the existing affluent looking to both diversify and add new properties to their portfolio, provides a true insight into why the demand for luxury properties skyrocketed during 2021 and into 2022.”
So, if you’re looking to make changes to your real estate portfolio or are looking to sell your current house, it may be a great time to list and benefit from the high demand for luxury homes today.
Bottom Line
If you own a luxury home and want to know how strong demand is in your area, reach out to your trusted real estate advisor today. They can help you capitalize on current market conditions while buyer demand for upscale homes is so high.
by janet | May 26, 2022 | Buyers, Luxury Market
You may be someone who looks forward to summer each year because it gives you an opportunity to rest, unwind, and enjoy more quality time with your loved ones. Now that summer is just around the corner, it’s worthwhile to start thinking about your plans and where you want to spend your vacations this year. Here are a few reasons a vacation home could be right for you.
Why You May Want To Consider a Vacation Home Today
Over the past two years, a lot has changed. You may be one of many people who now work from home and have added flexibility in where you live. You may also be someone who delayed trips for personal or health reasons. If either is true for you, there could be a unique opportunity to use the flexibility that comes with remote work or the money saved while not traveling to invest in your future by buying a vacation home.
Bankrate explains why a second home, or a vacation home, may be something worth considering:
“For those who are able, buying a second home is suddenly more appealing, as remote working became the norm for many professionals during the pandemic. Why not work from the place where you like to vacation — the place where you want to live?
If you don’t work remotely, a vacation home could still be at the top of your wish list if you have a favorite getaway spot that you visit often. It beats staying in a tiny hotel room or worrying about rental rates each time you want to take a trip.”
How a Professional Can Help You Find the Right One
So, if you’re looking for an oasis, you may be able to make it a second home rather than just the destination for a trip. If you could see yourself soaking up the sun in a vacation home, you may want to start your search. Summer is a popular time to buy vacation homes. By beginning the process now, you could get ahead of the competition.
The first step is working with a local real estate advisor who can help you find a home in your desired location. A professional has the knowledge and resources to help you understand the market, what homes are available and at what price points, and more. They can also walk you through all the perks of owning a second home and how it can benefit you.
A recent article from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), mentions some of the top reasons buyers today are looking into purchasing a second, or a vacation, home:
“According to Google’s data, the top reasons that homeowners cited for purchasing a second home were to diversify their investments, earn money renting, and use as a vacation home.”
If any of the reasons covered here resonate with you, connect with a real estate professional to learn more. They can give you expert advice based on what you need, your goals, and what you’re hoping to get out of your second home.
Bottom Line
Owning a vacation home is an investment in your future and your lifestyle. If this is one of your goals this year, you still have time to buy and enjoy spending the summer in your vacation home. When you’re ready to get started, reach out to a trusted real estate professional.
by janetporcaro | Mar 16, 2022 | Brighton, Buyers, Condos, Luxury Market
This 55 unit luxury condominium development in Brighton is impeccably designed and features units ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms. An exciting opportunity to get in early during this pre-construction phase.
The building will have exceptional amenities including a garage, elevator, fitness center, work pods, state of the art club room with an adjacent roof terrace that has sweeping city views. The renowned development team brings a custom level of finish and a true community-based living experience to high-end condominium residences.
Pricing ranges from $700,000s to $1,400,000.
ONE NEVINS HILL WAY
BRIGHTON, MA 02135, USA
Aren’t you curious? Give me a call at 617-797-9497 for a Buyer Agent’s Consultation.
Charlesgate is the Listing Brokerage
New Boston Ventures is the Developer
Wolf in Sheep Design is the Interior Design Company
READ THE BROCHURE
by janetporcaro | Mar 15, 2022 | Buyers, Condos, Luxury Market, Newton
77 Court Street, Unit 107, Newton, MA 02458, MLS 72952331, offered at $875,000.
Rarely available two bedroom two bath unit with 1,575 square feet of living space offered at $875,000. Walk into the open kitchen, dining, and living area with large sliders looking out to the private deck. This unit has an excellent layout with lots of closets including two walk-in closets in the master bedroom. The kitchen features a large waterfall island, warm cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances. There is an in-unit laundry.
This very pretty unit comes with 1 garage space and one exterior space plus a large storage unit on the garage level.
This 36 unit in a 2017 elevator building has common areas that include a lobby with seating area and small library, bicycle racks in the basement, rear outdoor patio with charcoal grill station and picnic table, and dedicated Visitor Parking. The professionally managed Association is strong with good reserves and high owner occupancy.
Located just behind the famous Cabot’s Ice Cream Shop on Washington Street! Close to the Commuter Rail, Grocery stores, shopping, and dining destinations are a stone’s throw away!
If you or someone you know would like a Buyer Agent’s Tour, please call me at 617-797-9497!
The Listing Agent is Maxine Burtman, Coldwell Banker.
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by janet | Aug 24, 2021 | Luxury Market, Move-Up Buyers, Seller
As summer comes to a close, is it time to think about selling your vacation home? Based on recent data and expert opinions, it’s something you may want to consider. According to research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), vacation home sales are up 57.2% year-over-year for January-April 2021.
If you’ve taken your last vacation this summer, here are reasons you should consider selling your vacation home this year.
1. Remote work continues to drive demand for vacation homes.
As the report from NAR says, based on continuously evolving work needs, there could be more interest in your second home than you think:
“In 2020, across all nine divisions, the fraction of the workforce that work from home is typically higher in the vacation home counties than in the non-vacation home counties… The opportunity to work from home could further raise the demand for vacation homes in future years.
Recent data shows we’ll likely see a sustained increase in the rate of remote work over the next five years. That means your vacation home could be highly sought after by certain buyers. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, puts it best, saying:
“Vacation homes are a hot commodity at the moment . . . . With many businesses and employers still extending an option to work remotely to workers, vacation housing and second homes will remain a popular choice among buyers.”
2. Selling could allow you to upgrade your vacation spot – or even your day-to-day scenery.
When demand is high, so is buyer competition. When competition is strong, buyers will do everything they can to make their offer on your vacation home as appealing as possible. This can include things like all-cash offers and more. If you sell now, you’ll be able to benefit from high buyer competition and pick the offer with the best possible terms for you. That offer could give you the opportunity to purchase the primary residence of your dreams.
Or, if you find that you’ll continue working from home, you could consider taking up more permanent residence in your vacation home and selling your primary residence instead. While this isn’t a choice everyone can consider, it could be a great option.
No matter what the situation, you don’t have to make the decision on your own. Your trusted real estate advisor can help you determine your best option when you’re ready to sell.
Bottom Line
Buyers remain interested in vacation homes this year for a number of reasons. Now that summer is winding down, it’s time to think about taking advantage of today’s demand for vacation homes. Let’s connect today if you’re ready to give your second home its day in the sun.