Karen King Group Real Estate Blog

Single-Family – Palmer, MA 01069 now has a new price!

Karen King Group — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:57 +0000

In -Town convenience with this Antique Colonial with just a walk to the park. This 5 bedroom colonial features large rooms and high ceilings. Kitchen features a roomy pantry, living room with fireplace,family room and office nook. Full Bath recently remodeled. What a great value!! This home was once a two family and could easily be converted back again.

This is a Colonial/Antique style home and features 9 total rooms, 1 full bath, 1 half bath, 5 bedrooms, 0.29 Acres, and is currently available for $170,000.

For complete details click here.

Open house at Monson, MA 01057

Karen King Group — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:16:06 +0000

View Photos
Starts: 5/20/2012 2:00:00 PM
Ends: 5/20/2012 3:30:00 PM
For Directions: click on the map image or feel free to contact me.
For more information: click here for the full details

This home has been remodeled from top to bottom and is in impeccable condition! Year round views from miles from the 10X24 Enclosed porch. First floor laundry, Three walk-in closets. Nice sitting area off 2nd floor bedroom, lots of eve storage. Kitchen has granite counters and island. Newer roof, gutters soffets and vinyl siding. Size is very deceiving from the outside and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Newly installed solar tec system saves you on heat and electric costs.

Open house at Palmer, MA 01069

Karen King Group — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:16:02 +0000

View Photos
Starts: 5/20/2012 12:00:00 PM
Ends: 5/20/2012 1:30:00 PM
For Directions: click on the map image or feel free to contact me.
For more information: click here for the full details

Single-Family – Monson, MA 01057 is now new to the market!

Karen King Group — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:38 +0000

Why go on vacation when you can sit on this wrap around deck overlooking scenic Stagecoach Lake, or walk to the private beach? This home has been completely remodeled from top to bottom. Kitchen offers stainless steel appliances/granite counters. Open floor plan with soaring wooded cathedral ceiling, woodburning fireplace. Lower level fully finished for additional living space and walkout directly to patio. Lush lawn/landscaping, plenty of privacy with wooded area below home for buffer.

This is a Contemporary style home and features 7 total rooms, 3 full baths, 3 bedrooms, 1.19 Acres, and is currently available for $279,000.

For complete details click here.

Single-Family – Wales, MA 01081 is now new to the market!

Karen King Group — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:19 +0000

Nestled among the trees with a babbling brook on one side and a pastoral setting with meadow on the other, this home has been well cared for by its owners. Spacious rooms inside offering large master bedroom, walk up 3rd floor to a “teen suite” or additional storage. Outside you’ll enjoy the partially fenced yard for animals and then open space for pasture and fruit trees/gardens. Deck overlooking babbling brook or walk down and dip your feet in the crystal clear spring water. Why vacation?

This is a Colonial style home and features 8 total rooms, 1 full bath, 1 half bath, 4 bedrooms, 8.25 Acres, and is currently available for $215,000.

For complete details click here.

Mobile Home – Palmer, MA 01069 is now new to the market!

Karen King Group — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:00:49 +0000

Mobil home on its own land, located near the MA pike. Needs work, priced to sell. Town water, town sewage.

This property features 4 total rooms, 1 full bath, 2 bedrooms, 0.11 Acres, and is currently available for $18,000.

For complete details click here.

Buying a Second Home: What You Need to Know

Karen King Group — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:38 +0000

If you have been dreaming of owning a vacation home now may be the time to buy. Home prices and mortgage rates continue to fall and there are some great deals for buyers looking for a second home.

Here are five things you need to know before taking the leap.

1. Prices are at all-time lows
In many second-home hot spots, prices are still close to their five-year lows. When the real-estate bubble burst, some of the hardest-hit markets were vacation destinations. Many vacation home areas experienced overgrowth and may now be suffering from foreclosures.

2. Think ROI
Consider the possible return on your investment. Whether or not you decide to rent the home out, you will want to consider buying a place that has good rent potential. That’s because a home’s rent ability can affect its resale value. Before you bid on a house, make sure the homeowners association or township allows short-term rentals.

3. Don’t count on rental income
If you are planning on counting on rental income to cover the costs beware. According to HomeAway.com, a typical second home property rents out just 17 weeks a year. Make sure to account for the weeks the home won’t rent. Plus, you’ll need to pay for cleaning, maintenance, insurance, and maybe management fees. Make sure to plan on the maintenance costs of the property being at least 15% of the income.

4. Your mortgage rate depends on how you use the home
How you use the home depends on the mortgage rate you will receive. If you plan to use the property primarily as a second home and you’ll pay about the same mortgage rate as you would on a primary residence. If your plans are to use the home for rental income and need that income to qualify for the loan, you’ll need to have as much as 25% for the down payment and pay up to one percentage point more in interest.

5. Take advantage of tax benefits
Talk to your tax guy before you buy. If you rent the home out for two weeks or less you won’t have to report a cent of income to the IRS. The good news here, you can still deduct property taxes and mortgage interest. On the flipside, if you stay there for less than two weeks or 10% of rental days, you can deduct operating costs in addition to interest and property tax.

But where should you buy? According to CNBC here are the top places to buy a second home. If you are thinking about buying a second home I can help you find a professional agent in that area.

Single-Family – Palmer, MA 01069 now has a new price!

Karen King Group — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:33 +0000

This home has been lovingly cared for and very well maintained. Living room offers w/w over hardwood floors and wood burning fireplace. Open Kitchen with plenty of cabinets and breakfast bar leads to dining area. Family room is a bonus so there is plenty of room for everyone. There is even a fireplace in the unfinished basement. Nice location for downtown strolls, hospital and pike access.

This is a Ranch style home and features 5 total rooms, 1 full bath, 3 bedrooms, 0.23 Acres, and is currently available for $179,500.

For complete details click here.

Single-Family – Brimfield, MA 01010 now has a new price!

Karen King Group — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:02:16 +0000

The Cook-Russell House Circa 1870 sitting on the Brimfield Town Common. Sit on the wrap around porch and listen to the church bells chime amongst these grand Colonials. Well maintained home complete with a 28X32 2+ Story Barn with 2 car garage and workshop. Hardwood floors thruout this home, Dining Room with tin ceiling and first floor laundry. 3rd floor walk up attic. Such a great location and central to points east and west.

This is a Colonial/Antique style home and features 10 total rooms, 1 full bath, 1 half bath, 4 bedrooms, 0.39 Acres, and is currently available for $280,000.

For complete details click here.

Single-Family – Monson, MA 01057 now has a new price!

Karen King Group — Sun, 06 May 2012 02:02:12 +0000

Great value and ready for immediate occupancy. Located right near Palmer line, this property is great for access to main routes and MA Pike! Wooded lot with plenty of privacy. Walkout basement for additional living area.

This is a Ranch style home and features 6 total rooms, 2 full baths, 3 bedrooms, 1.39 Acres, and is currently available for $180,000.

For complete details click here.