Accent Insights

Accent Insights

By Avi Kaufman & Ron ScharfBusiness
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Accent Insights episodes

  • Exodus: Are the suburbs on fire while the city cools? A new market dynamic
    There continues to be strong demand for housing. In the Boston suburbs in particular we are observing an almost insatiable appetite for well-maintained single family homes, resulting in record making bidding wars and price increases. But that does not seem to be the case closer to the city. Do the numbers bear this out? We discuss our observations, some stats, and why this might be the case.
    FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS? Email us! [email protected]
    ** Accent Realty, 617-396-3206, www.accentbrookline.com **
    AVI KAUFMAN, [email protected], 617-751-1040, www.avirealestate.com
    RON SCHARF, [email protected], 617-221-3122
    17 min
  • June 2021, is the market overheating... or starting to slow down?
    June 2021: Is the market overheating, or is it starting to slow down? As usual, it's not a simple answer. We look at the data and compare to the prior 5 years.
    We share recent examples of sales which we believe are illustrative of the current trends.
    And we talk about pricing strategy and why it's so hard for so many sellers.
    24 min
  • A roller coaster of emotion: we dissect four recent deals
    Sellers act with imperfect information, and evaluate risk differently. This results in sometimes irrational behavior - and hairy deals! This week we dissect several recent transactions. Strap in - it's a roller coaster of emotion!
    FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS? Email us! [email protected]
    ** Accent Realty, 617-396-3206, www.accentbrookline.com **
    AVI KAUFMAN, [email protected], 617-751-1040, www.avirealestate.com
    RON SCHARF, [email protected], 617-221-3122
    28 min
  • Ferrets and Dogs and Cats, oh my! Considerations when buying a condo
    Most condo associations have rules around what pets you may or may not own. There is actually quite a bit of variety in how these rules are crafted, and what their implications are. We discuss some of the ins and outs of pet rules in home owner associations.
    FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS? Email us! [email protected]
    ** Accent Realty, 617-396-3206, www.accentbrookline.com **
    AVI KAUFMAN, [email protected], 617-751-1040, www.avirealestate.com
    RON SCHARF, [email protected], 617-221-3122
    13 min
  • Local Historic Districts: an extreme solution to an imaginary problem with negative consequences
    Brookline has eight Local Historic Districts (LHDs), and some neighborhoods are advocating to add more.
    What is an LHD, what problem are they intended to address, and what are the drawbacks?
    Are these extreme solutions to something that's not actually a problem, with negative side effects?
    FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS? Email us! [email protected]
    ** Accent Realty, 617-396-3206, www.accentbrookline.com **
    AVI KAUFMAN, [email protected], 617-751-1040, www.avirealestate.com
    RON SCHARF, [email protected], 617-221-3122
    25 min
  • Renovating your home? why trust trumps all and there is no perfect contract.
    Renovations! Why trust trumps all and there is no perfect contract.
    Are you thinking of renovating your home? In this episode we discuss three typical types of contracts your builder might present you with: fixed cost, cost plus, and time and material. Each has its pitfalls. Listen to find out why!
    FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS? Email us! [email protected]
    ** Accent Realty, 617-396-3206, www.accentbrookline.com **
    AVI KAUFMAN, [email protected], 617-751-1040, www.avirealestate.com
    RON SCHARF, [email protected], 617-221-3122
    22 min
  • Only 2 hours from the Berkshires, Think of the Changes it Brings...
    BERKSHIRE COUNTY is only 2 hours away on the Pike, and oh the changes it brings. It is, of course, still in Massachusetts and subject to all the same real estate laws and regulations. And yet, Berkshire County differs in custom and practice from the rest of the state. We discuss the pragmatic differences. [**Segment starts at the 6:20 mark**].
    Although we're primarily active in the metro-Boston area, we are also engaged in Berkshire and have cross-over clients. It's not just the Boston Symphony Orchestra that summers there. Many Boston area folk head west, in the Summer for cultural institutions such as Tanglewood and Jacob's Pillow, and in the winter for skiing.
    Before that, we discuss a new home for sale at a prime location in Brookline, at 88 Coolidge St. It's a large, renovated condo with some stunning features including a cathedral ceiling in the main bedroom. But the developer made some interesting layout choices: ie. no ensuite baths and a closed kitchen. Can this command $731 per square foot?
    4 beds, 2 full baths, 2 outdoor parking, 2290 square feet.
    Listed at $1.675,000
    We'd love to hear from you.
    ** Accent Realty, 617-396-3206, www.accentbrookline.com **
    - AVI KAUFMAN, [email protected], 617-751-1040, www.avirealestate.com
    - RON SCHARF, [email protected], 617-221-3122
    18 min
  • Sky high inventory, deadly Gas Stoves, and new Luxury Listings.
    1. What's going on in the market?
    Wow... there are 153% more condos for sale now than this time in prior years. We talk about how the unusually high inventory represents a rare opportunity for buyers.
    2. "Kill Your Gas Stove: It’s bad for you, and the environment. If you can afford to avoid it, you probably should."
    Almost all high end listings have gas stoves. It's time for a major consumer preference shift to induction stovetops. We discuss this article that appeared in The Atlantic on October 15, 2020,
    Link: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/10/gas-stoves-are-bad-you-and-environment/616700/
    3. Listings that caught our attention this week, why, and what we can learn from them.
    287 Tappan Street, Brookline
    $3,095,000. 3,507 square feet, 5 beds, 5 full 1 half baths.
    291 Tappan Street, Brookline
    $3,295,000. 3483 square feet, 5 beds, 5 full 1 half baths.
    26 Weybridge Road, Brookline
    $4,195,000. 5,141 square feet, 6 beds, 4 full 2 half baths.
    22 Still St Unit 28, Brookline.
    $1,150,000. 1,885 square feet, 3 beds, 2 full 1 half baths.
    1762 Beacon St Unit 2, Brookline.
    $1,749,000. 1,802 square feet, 3 beds, 2 full 1 half baths.
    4. We'd love to hear from you.
    ** Accent Realty, 617-396-3206, www.accentbrookline.com **
    - AVI KAUFMAN, [email protected], 617-751-1040, www.avirealestate.com
    - RON SCHARF, [email protected], 617-221-3122
    20 min
  • No longer just rentals...a renaissance in the Brookline streets bordering Allston
    October 1, 2020--- Today we talk about streets *just* inside Brookline adjacent to the Allston & Brighton neighborhoods of Boston. These streets used to have a very student feel with somewhat rundown multi-family rental houses. Many of those have been gut renovated over the past few years into owner occupied condos and the streets have undergone a renaissance. We discuss a few examples for sale now, and what it means.
    - 23 Winslow Road Unit 1 Brookline MA 02446. Condo with 4 beds, 3 baths, 2641 square feet, listed for $1.9M.
    - Verndale Street in general
    - 131 Westbourne Ter, Brookline, MA 02446. Single-family with 4 beds, 3 baths, 2156 square feet, listed for $1.75M.
    11 min

About Accent Insights

From the publisher's feed

In Accent Insights the Accent Realty team of Avi Kaufman and Ron Scharf share their real estate and Brookline expertise as your guide to the market, approximately 10-20 minutes at a time. Each episode…