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First settled in 1694 and incorporated in 1722, Easton, Massachusetts is home to quite a lot of history. The second oldest existing house in Easton, for instance, and one of the oldest pieces of Easton property in general, the Benjamin Williams Tavern on Bay Road, was once host to a visit from general George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The Union Pacific Railroad was actually built with shovels manufactured by Easton’s Ames Shovel Company established in 1803. Much of the foundation of America lies in the streets and roads of Easton, Massachusetts.

Other landmark pieces of Easton property here include the Ames Free Library, the Old Colony Railroad Station, and the Ames Gate Lodge. If you want to raise your children in a place that is rich with history, culture and American lore and legend, you couldn’t ask for better than a prime piece of Easton property to move your family.

Dartmouth property in the still-growing Massachusetts community, first established in 1664, has a lot ot offer the new parent. Surrounded by pleasant little villages like Bliss Corner, Smith Mills and Hixville, Dartmouth went from around 30,000 residents in 2000 to 34,000 in 2010 thanks in part to the Dartmouth Mall, and the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

Dartmouth is rich with American history. In 1780, seven black Revolutionary War veterans petitioned for the right to vote. The town also plays home to many pieces of Dartmouth property that have been used as Quaker meeting houses, including the Smith Neck Meeting House and Apponegansett Meeting House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From the friendly people to the history to the rich culture of the town, you can’t beat Dartmouth property for a great place to raise a child.

More money for your property value.The only way to get a higher price when you’re selling your house is to make improvements that will add value to the property. Not all renovations will result in more dollars at the closing table, but some definitely will.

Generally speaking, if you add any square footage to your living area, it will up the value of your home. An additional bath, an extra bedroom, or new family room are pretty obvious $$ enhancers, but sometimes less expensive renovations reap future rewards as well.

One of the highest money-makers is to remodel your kitchen and baths without going too “upscale or gourmet” in the renovations. These improvements almost always pay for themselves when you put your house on the market. Painting the outside of your home and interior rooms that need it, installing a new front door, refinishing wood floors, adding a deck or three-season porch and energy-saving windows and doors are all improvements that should reap rewards when the time comes to sell.

You should beware of certain renovations that may bring you a higher price when you sell your house, but the cost of the work itself is so prohibitive that you may not even break even. Examples of these kind of improvements are adding a garage, which comes with an extremely hefty price tag, and installing an inground pool, which may actually turn some buyers off on your property.

Replacing a roof or upgrading your electrical or plumbing systems are also less likely to pay off at the closing table. However, it is important to make these kind of improvements if they are needed, because buyers and home inspectors expect these features to be in good working order.

Abington foreclosure homes.Buying one of the many foreclosed homes in Plymouth, MA is a great way to get a new-to-you house at an excellent price. Many times you can get one of these houses for a fraction of the price that it last sold for, however there are a few things you must keep in mind as you look through the inventory of homes in Plymouth, MA:

Inspect the home thoroughly. Many foreclosures haven’t been lived in several months, or even years, so there may be some problems with the homes that weren’t present when they were last occupied. They may have been vandalized or suffered water damage, so look through the home carefully.

Keep on looking. As with any kind of house, you have to be prepared to look at a dozen or more before you find the one that’s right for you. Don’t settle for one that’s just “okay” to you or one that will take a lot of work to fix up, especially if you’re not into doing renovations or hiring the work out. Keep your eyes open, and eventually you’ll find the one that’s right for you.

Be prepared to wait. Once you do choose one of the homes in Plymouth, MA, you need to be ready to wait for the paperwork to be completed in order to finalize the sale. Foreclosed homes take longer to process, and it’s not uncommon for it to take six months.

To find out more about the foreclosure market in Plymouth, MA, contact us today and we’ll tell you where you can find some hidden gems.

Abington real estate

A historical settlement dating back to the mid 17th century, Abington offers residents a beautiful location in Plymouth County with affordable homes.Abington real estate ranges with all types of single family homes from capes and townhouses to Nantucket styled homes.

Abington real estate typically ranges from $250,000 to $600,000 for most single family homes. Many properties offer large yards, big kitchens, finished basements and two car garages. Other features include large decks and patios, updated kitchens with breakfast bars, fireplaces and air conditioning.

One of the smaller towns in Plymouth County, Abington real estate offers residents a peaceful escape from Boston’s busy streets with a beautiful inland area that boasts the Shumatuscacant River, Beaver Brook and Island Grove Pond. Abington is also home to Ames Nowell State Park, which covers over 700 acres and sports Cleveland Pond. Residents looking to hike, boat, fish, ride horses or just enjoy the outdoors have plenty to see and do in Abington.

Abington also provides easy transportation to the city and beyond. Part of the MBTA rail service runs through Abington. Residents can also drive up just 20 miles to get to Boston. Residents also have only a short distance to Logan International Airport.

Families can take note of the Abington school system that extends from pre-school to high school. The Abington High School is well known for its success in sports from baseball and football to softball as well as for their art and drama departments. Abington residents can also attend South Shore Vocational-Technical High School or Saint Bridgets School.

For more information on available Abington real estate, please contact us today and speak with an Abington realtor.

List of Massachusetts Foreclosures.If you’re thinking about taking advantage of the low housing prices that generally come with bank-owned properties, now may be the time to buy a foreclosed home for future profit. First, you need to work with a Realtor who is well-versed in the field of short sales or foreclosures. These types of transactions can be complicated and you need an educated real estate professional at your side throughout the process.

First, as with any home purchase, you need to find out how much of a mortgage you can qualify for. A mortgage consultant can explain the various financing options that will help you buy distressed properties. The program you select may be based on the amount of repairs that are needed in the home. If major work is necessary, you may want to look into an FHA 203(k) Renovation Loan, which gives you the purchase price of the property plus the money to make improvements by financing the “future value” of the home after the renovations have been made.

The next thing to consider when you invest in a foreclosure is the condition of the property you are willing to buy. Are you looking for a home that is just “cosmetically challenged” and needs some paper and paint or a good scrubbing? Or is the house “structurally challenged” and needs major renovations to make it ready for resale. How much of a fixer-upper do you want and are you prepared to do the work yourself or will you need to hire contractors?

If you don’t intend to live in the distressed property you are buying and you are planning on “flipping” it for a profit, you need to determine if your investment will pay off in the short or long term. Your Realtor can help you learn the resale values of foreclosed houses in different towns. Together with your agent, you can calculate your risks and profit when you invest in a foreclosed home. Every person involved in a foreclosure has a different profit level that they would be comfortable with. For some people it could be as little as $10,000 and others want to make $50,000. What is your comfort level? How much risk can you afford to take?

For a full list of foreclosures in your area, contact a Jack Conway agent today.

Mansfield PropertyLocated less than an hour’s drive from downtown Boston, the town of Mansfield offers a quiet respite from the big city without being too remote. Incorporated in 1775, Mansfield is well known for its pastoral beauty and its numerous natural features, including several conservation areas, ponds and lakes. The town also offers a highly ranked school system prized for its excellent scholastic performance.

Mansfield property attracts families looking for room to stretch out and grow. The town and its surrounding area offer a wide assortment of properties ranging from traditional single family homes to condominiums, townhomes and rural property. Thanks to its centralized location near Interstates 95 and 495 and nearby MBTA commuter rail line, Mansfield property offers convenient commuting options for anyone working in the Boston and Providence metro areas.

Entertainment options in the area include the Comcast Center for the Performing Arts, a 20,000-seat outdoor amphitheater that regularly hosts concerts by well-known artists throughout the year.

Contact us today for more information about Mansfield property and other real estate opportunities in the area.

Swampscott Real Estate Office Reopening.

The Conway team and friends cut the ribbon outside the newly designed office at 410 Humphrey Street in Swampscott.

On a sun-drenched spring afternoon, more than 70 guests celebrated the recent grand re-opening of Jack Conway Realtor’s Swampscott office in its new headquarters at 410 Humphrey Street. “It’s so exciting to be operating out of brand new, exquisitely decorated space that looks out on the sea and the Boston skyline,” said Conway-Swampscott Manager Nancy Hughes. “We have been doing business here since January during construction and renovation, but we wanted to show off our completed office with all of its beautiful bells and whistles.” The new Swampscott office, designed by Conway Director of Corporate Branding Kelly Waterfield, offers WiFi accessibility, an open floor plan and cutting-edge technology for its agents, co-brokers and the public. Conway President/CEO Carol Bulman welcomed guests to the ribbon cutting ceremony in the company’s first sales center north of Boston. Town officials on hand for the festivities were Selectman Glenn Kessler and Chamber of Commerce President Leslie Gould. For all of your real estate needs, contact Nancy Hughes and her Conway North Shore team at 781-584-4757.

Abington property for sale in Massachusetts.In Plymouth County, just southeast of Boston, lies Abington, a historical town with a family feel and beautiful setting. Abington property types range from New England capes to townhouses. These affordable single family houses and the plethora of schools in the area make Abington the perfect location for raising a family.

Abington property options feature affordable single bath, two bedroom homes as low as $150,000 to $250,000 as well as more spacious offerings with multiple bedrooms and baths ranging between $400,000 and $600,000. Common features include big yards, up to date kitchens, furnished basements, multi-car garages, patio spaces, fireplaces and A/C.

The Abington area highlights the elegance of Plymouth County, a quieter atmosphere filled with outdoors amenities from Ames Nowell State Park and Beaver Brook to Island Grove Pond and the Shumatuscacant River. There is plenty of water activities from fishing and swimming to kayaking and boating.

But Abington is also a perfect small town for families that still want to have easy access to Boston, just a short 20 mile drive away. This gives residents access to everything Boston has to offer as well as the Logan International Airport. Abington also features an MBTA rail service stop for quick transportation to the city.

Abington is a family town with numerous schools both public and private. The Abington High School has recently been noted for its scholastic art awards and the school’s sports teams from baseball and softball to ultimate Frisbee have all been featured in recent championship games.

For more information on an available Abington property or for details on the area, please contact us today and speak with an Abington realtor.

Top Jack Conway Massachusetts Real Estate Leaders

Members of Conway’s Diamond Club, the top salespeople in the company, are from left, Mike Foley and Tia Zaferakis of South Boston, Beth Van der Veer of Mattapoisett, Fran Curran of South Boston and Paul Durgin of Conway Commercial.

More than 50 Jack Conway sales champions were honored at a luncheon held recently at the Holiday Inn in Rockland. The agents and managers were presented with awards for top performance in 2012 and acknowledged as members of Conway’s prestigious Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Top Producer Clubs.

Winners were treated to a cocktail reception and buffet luncheon followed by a warm welcome from their President/CEO Carol Bulman and a keynote speech by national real estate coach Matthew Ferrara, who discussed the topics of “business growth, personal development and life balance.”

Bulman acknowledged her top performers for their outstanding efforts during another challenging year in the Massachusetts housing industry.

“Our company is only as successful as our people,” she said. “Last year was not an easy time to work in real estate and yet you excelled, not only for yourselves, but for your buyers and sellers. You are the superstars of Conway Country, and I am so proud of you all.”

To pursue a career in real estate with Jack Conway, Realtor, contact Marie Battles at 781-871-0080, ex. 342 or email mbattles@jackconway.com.