Barrington, Rhode Island. A suburban , residential town in Bristol County a mere 7 miles southeast of Providence with easy access to Boston and the Cape. These pictures taken this morning reflect the coastal vibe existing within Barrington where median sales prices are at $432,500. With 12 new listings at all different price points, there is opportunity within Barrington real estate! Let me know if you’d like to explore my hometown of Barrington , RI!

Season’s Greetings to all! As we prepare to wrap up 2017 I cannot help but take in the beauty that surrounds us in RI. Not a day goes by when I do not stop to take in our natural glory. Working in my hometown of Barrington and throughout Providence allows me to savor all the unique elements that make RI such an eclectic and beautiful spot to live in. Recently I’ve become more involved in City Year, a non profit group under AmeriCorps which places teams of students in RI’s neediest of schools. My immersion back into City Year has me engaging with and helping folks in real estate throughout an expansive area of Providence including Smith Hill, Elmhurst and Elmwood; all areas near and dear to my heart.  A few weeks ago I was able to orchestrate a service project at the Carl G. Lauro school and led a team of Realtors in the painting of inspriational quotes throughout the hallways. My family was there to help me and it truly was such a gratifying experience.  Giving back and helping others is truly why I love being a Realtor and this project brought me right back to the year I spent as a corps member after graduating from Brown. While it was the hardest year, it truly was my most memorable year to date. I was recently asked to talk about my real estate career with a group in Providence and I referred frequently to the grit, determination, passion, drive and desire to achieve inherent in my nature and honed during my City Year experience.

Those skills are the same skills I use now as a Realtor with Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty. They are the same skills I developed early on as a competitive tennis player and then as an athlete at Brown. “Seeing no limits and only possibilities” has always been an essential part of my core and was tested after my freshman year at Brown when I decided that after ten years of competitive tennis I was going to end my time on the Brown tennis team and pick up squash. I had one summer to learn the game of squash and I was determined. It became my daily goal that freshman summer to not only learn the rules of the game but to be skilled enough to make the varsity team at Brown. Knowing that all the other women on the team had not only been playing squash for years but playing at elite prep schools was daunting yet not insurmountable. I had my goal, I laid out my objectives and each day I attacked it like I do now in real estate,  with a confidence, a passion and a true love for what I do and for whom I do it! (I did make the team and spent my final three years of Brown competing on the varsity women’s squash team and loving every minute of it!)

Along with that innate, relentless drive is also a love of learning all that I can about what I am doing and where I am doing it and helping out those that I can along the way. Being a native Rhode Islander I feel very proud of our small state and get great satisfaction in not only keeping abreast of all that is happening citywide and statewide but in promoting and celebrating our accomplishments. Whether it’s a local business emerging with lofty, community based goals, or an example of a group or individual giving back to a community or RI at large, I love to applaud those efforts and to share them on social media and /or within my inner circles.

Being as immersed in the RI economy as I am as a Realtor, I make it my goal to be as informed about the local market and national market as possible. Luckily, as a native Rhode Islander, like many, I was raised by parents who read The Providence Journal  daily. It was a habit I picked up early on and have yet to give up. I love waking up and reading my “Pro Jo” and sharing with my clients, with my spheres of influence and with those I connect with on social media all the good that is happening around us on a local and national level. It truly is the former teacher in me the “always wanting to learn more and to share that with others; to help others” shining through. This morning, like many others recently, I was thrilled to read another article reinforcing the notion of our ever strengthening economy and I wanted to share some of it with you . The resounding message of economic fortitude within the article reinforces my “glass half full” lifelong lens in which I view the state of RI!

Some key pieces from my accumulation of RI market info as of late:

~ Interest rates are rising with three more hikes likely in 2018 which is a clear “vote of confidence” by the Fed that the US economy remains on solid footing.

~The Central bank expects the job market and the economy to strengthen even further so will most likely keep raising rates.

~ The Fed boosted its forecast for growth to 2.5% next year up from the previous forecast of 2.1%.

All the above leaves us in 2017 feeling optimistic; full of hope here in RI. It’s a great time to buy and sell in RI or MA and the bottom line is that the market will continue to be a fruitful and strong one for the foreseeable future! The spring of 2018 for this Realtor is going to be one very busy one and I’d love to discuss real estate options with any of you should you be contemplating diving in to this robust Rhody market in 2018!

Enjoy this wonderful holiday season and be sure to take time to find the beauty so abundant all around us here in this great little ocean state!

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2017 

With the release of the October real estate market report we receive verification of market trends prevalent in RI for much of the fall. For as sure as the cold weather that’s destined to hit our area, so too are some hallmark attributes of our local real estate market for the past several weeks.  One key element which continues to riddle the local and national market is that of low inventory. Whether it is multi-family, single family, town houses, condos or rentals we simply do not have enough supply to meet with the ever increasing demand. How does that translate for the seller? Increased sales prices- by as much as $20 k in some markets such as Barrington, RI where last week the median home price was $500k.  Another signature note of the fall market is decreased days on market. Homes on average in RI are remaining on market for roughly 90 days. The take away from these observances is that IF homes are priced at market value the likelihood that they will sell efficiently and lucratively is great. The big question then for those thinking of selling is whether to sell now and take advantage of the low inventory OR to wait until the spring and maximize the potential behind a bevy of willing and able buyers looking to purchase in our area.

Whatever your real estate needs and/or desires please reach out to me. I’d love to be of help. I simply love what I do and who I do it for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Please click on the link below and enjoy the latest October Rhode Island Real Estate Market Report released by Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty!

(photo above taken at sunset November 20th at Nayatt Point in Barrington, RI by John Huard)

https://indd.adobe.com/view/e5ae543e-765d-4ff5-bce7-8be026bebe33?utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email

If travel plans or hosting out-of-towners place Providence on your holiday radar this season be sure to check out this great listing of events from Go Providence.com http://www.goprovidence.com/things-to-do/providence-for-the-holidays/.Whether is taking in the tree lightings at City Hall plaza, heading to Roger Williams Park for their annual Carousel Village or venturing out of the city to Bristol’s lovely and lavish and festively decorated Blithwold Mansion at www.blithewold.org, you will surely be filled with holiday spirit and the bounty of Ocean State beauty we are so fortunate to experience during all four seasons of the year. While you are exploring be sure to head out to Attleboro, MA; a mere 10 minute drive from Providence to view the pretty light spectacular at La Salette Shrine. www.lasaletteattleboroshrine.org The Festival of Lights happens daily from November 23rd – January 1 with daily illuminations from 5-9 pm.You’ll be amazed by the beauty as 300,000 lights are on display at this unique shrine.

Whatever your travel and holiday plans entail be sure to take time to savor and enjoy this unique and delightful time of year with family and friends and please do let me know if your holiday or 2018 plans include real estate notions! I’d be happy to meet with you to discuss current and or future real esate goals and needs and would be happy to show you around this great state of ours AND our neighboring state of MA! Working with my clients on listing their prized home and or seeking that next special spot is truly what I love most to do!

Here’s to a wonderful holiday season to all!

Interested in learning more about where we live, work and recreate? Checkout this statewide mobile app that offers eclectic, personal and historic stories of and by Rhode Islanders. An inside view of some of very places were we live, work and recreate! Over 200 stories told and 17 tours found within this app. What a personal , multisensory way to explore Rhode Island! Take a look at the website and download the free mobile app. Let me know what and where you explore! http://rihumanities.org/program/rhode-tour/ 

If you are thinking of selling in the near future , this might convince you of selling in the near future. Yet another article supporting the finding that sales prices are up…way up…In Barrington, RI the median sales price has had a 12 month change of 72.9% .  Significant increases in sales prices across all types of property are being seen all across RI and MA…Single Family, Multi family, Condos and apartments. With consumer confidence up and more and more loan options becoming available the pool of buyers continues to be strong AND able. Reach out to me if you’d like to talk about listing your RI or MA home….

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2017/11/13/realtorcom-housing-boom-officially-back?tp=i-H43-Bb-15J-1FHYJ-1p-ELJu-1c-1FHUq-1qWcbX&om_rid=18418731&Om_ntype=RMOdaily&om_mid=4173

Need some convincing as to why listing your home in the Winter is a great idea??? Check out the following article from Time Magazine highlighting why it makes market sense to list now, if you are looking to sell!

Why It Pays to List Your Home in Winter

Art & Motion

By Daniel Bortz October 30, 2015

Spring may still be peak home-shopping season, since most families want to move when the kids are out of school. Yet it actually pays to list in the winter, when buyers tend to have more urgency: A study by online brokerage Redfin found that average sellers net more above asking price during the months of December, January, February, and March than they do from June through November, even in cold-weather cities like Boston and Chicago. And homes listed in winter sold faster than those posted in spring.

Should you put your home on the market now? Unless you need to sell (say, you’ve purchased your next home or are relocating for a job), “timing always depends on supply and demand,” says Indianapolis real estate agent Christine Dossman.

To understand your local climate, check the number of days on the market for current and recently sold listings. If most are sitting for more than 60 days, it’s safer to wait until spring, when more buyers will emerge. Yet “if properties are selling quickly, take that as a green light to list,” says real estate broker Peggy Yee of Vienna, Va.

If you do move forward, these strategies will help make your home a hot seller this winter.

Price It Right

The quieter winter market brings special pricing considerations. Unlike in spring, when there are more shoppers—and it may make sense to price low to try to generate a bidding war—you’re less likely to receive multiple offers.

Winter is also a bad time to test the market and list high. If the house doesn’t sell, you may need to drop below market value to nab a buyer before new properties appear in spring and make yours look stale by comparison.

The upshot: Take a conservative approach and price at market value, Yee advises. Check closing prices of comparable properties sold in the past 30 days, then eye current list prices to make sure your home won’t look overpriced.

Schedule a Tune-Up

Winter buyers are particularly attuned to issues related to heating and maintenance. Get your furnace, HVAC, and roof inspected, and make any necessary repairs. Also on your to-do list: Clean the gutters, change air filters, and weather—strip the windows.

Many cold-weather house hunters will also be thinking about heating costs. Consider low-cost upgrades like insulating the attic or installing energy-efficient windows, which can slash utility bills, says Brendon DeSimone, author of Next Generation Real Estate

Brighten Your Home

Snow and gray skies make for a gloomy first impression. Warm up curb appeal with basic landscaping, and add inexpensive cool-weather plants like holly to invigorate outdoor space. Fix chipped paint, caulk windows, and repair cracked window seals, which can cause condensation that freezes over and creates an eyesore.

Offset the season’s poor natural light by painting your house off-white throughout—it sets a consistent color palette and makes the space feel larger, says Sacramento interior designer Kerrie Kelly.

And create a sense of warmth throughout the home, starting with the living room, where staging can have the greatest impact, according to a National Association of Realtors report. Items like a throw blanket can set the tone since “people are in winter mode,” says Annette DeCicco, a New Jersey regional sales manager at Berkshire Hathaway. Just don’t tie the space to a specific religion or belief, advises Kelly. To stay neutral, use such seasonal touches as stacked wood by the fireplace rather than holiday decorations.

As always, de-clutter and depersonalize. Put away family photographs so that buyers can see themselves living in the home; instead display pictures that show what the property looks like when the temperature is warmer, like the garden in full bloom or the backyard in the summertime. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean buyers can’t appreciate what your home has to offer year-round.

Reach out to me via the contact tab below if I can be of any help! Happy to discuss any current and or future real estate needs with you !

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http://realtytimes.com/advicefromagents/item/1006393-9-reasons-to-buy-a-home-in-the-fall

Many consumers think that the ideal time to purchase a home is in the spring. Actually that is not always the case. Fall and early winter are two ideal times for purchasing a home. The above article highlights 9 reasons why it behooves the buyer to purchase in the fall!  The tenth reason that I would add and emphasize is the lack of competition. Homes that are for sale are fewer and father between and therefore the ball is in the proverbial buyer’s court as far as negotiating goes. Align yourself with a highly invested, knowledgable Realtor with a hand on the pulse of the local market and you will be well fortified to gain a home in a most rewarding fashion! I hope you enjoy the article and please reach out to me if I can be of any help in your imminent or future real estate needs!

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150320/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150329979

Make the most of our lingering warm weather by taking in some fall activities here in the Ocean State! The Roger Williams Park Jack O Lantern display is always a huge hit and continues into the weekend!  http://www.rwpzoo.com

Take a trip to a local farm such as Dame Farm in Smithfield and go on a tractor ride through the farm or pick your own apples! It is a beautiful family owned farm just minutes away from Providence. http://www.damefarmandorchards.com

Looking for some exercise? Take a long bike ride on the East Bay bike path and enjoy the overhanging foliage along the way! Head towards Bristol and take in the beauty of Colt State Park or head towards Providence and take in the urban waterfront seen as you pass through East Providence.

Looking for some great PVD breakfast options? Stop by Providence Bagel on North Main http://www.providencebagel.com and score a pretzel bagel if you are lucky ! This phenomenal bagel shop has been in existence for just over a year now and is leaving an indelible mark in the East Side food arena???? You can also check out the ever popular Rebelle Artisan Bagels on Doyle Street. The owner, an MIT grad, started her first bagel recipe right in her own kitchen and has applied her science background into creating one delicious bagel in what’s turning out to be a very popular culinary “experiment!”  http://rebelleartisanbagels.com

So much to do in this incredible little state including taking in some great open houses!!! Take a peek at some Open House options at  http://www.mottandchace.com/open-houses

Let me know if you’d like me to assist you in the search of a home in RI or MA. I truly love what I do and for whom I do it!!! My clients!!! Dowload my personal Sotheby’s International Realty App and you can let me know what you would like to see and contact me directly via your searches on the GPS formulated app!  http://app.sir.com/SIRSARAHHUARD

Have a wonderful weekend!