Karen's Real Estate Blog

Some of Hingham's old historic gems now currently on the market.

2011-06-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

I just read a fellow bloggers post today and was inspired. I love this persons passion for life. It is so freeing to know your "purpose" for "being" in this wonderful world. My passion is in realestate. I feel so comfortable with helping folks find and search for their place on this earth to call "their home". It's not just a "job" for me. The realestate business is my nitch. It's my place of serving. I am jumping on my bike,(so to speak), and moving forward, I want to be the best realestate agent I can be! Discovering your "nitch" your purpose in this life allows you to live life fuller. Of course I have other passions in this life but as far as making a living I find the realestate business very satisfying. Why? I am all about "home" and "families" Helping folks obtain their dream of a safe haven to call theirs. Home! "

2011-06-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

86 Mellen Street, Brockton, MA 02031

2011-03-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

"Extra, extra read all about it": New Listing spacious cape style home on the North side of Brockton. Wonderful yard for the children and dog! Also four bedrooms, a den and two porches. Back yard faces the 11th hole of D.W. Field Golf Course. Make an appointment to view this wonderful family home! Karen

This wonderful Hull, MA home was recently sold by MJ&Associates- sales agent Karen Bonitto (me). My clients, the sellers were wonderful to work with. This home was under agreement within one and a half weeks from posting on our multilisting site. Do you have a home you wish to sell, are you looking to buy? Give me a call, it would be my pleasure to help you with all your real estate needs.

2011-03-19T06:42:00.000-07:00

Another home sold by MJ&"Associates!! I greatfully thank my sellers for trusting in me to help serve them in their real estate needs. Another happy transaction done!

2011-03-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

These are a few of my favorite things.

2011-03-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

An inviting kitchen!

I love a wide & inviting hall-way.

Let's sit and dine together!

I love blue and crisp white together.

Saw this sign on the web posted by another real estate agent. It would be funny except it's many Americans reality. I pray this man picks himself up by the boot straps and continue on.

2011-03-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

A True New England Beauty.

2011-02-11T06:39:00.000-08:00

Check out this Mashpee, MA listing great location, and views. During these winter storms the Cape got very little snow!

2011-01-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this new Mashpee Listing right on Shoestring Bay. Wonderful property!

2011-01-05T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hingham Harbor

2010-08-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

My husband and I went down to Hingham Harbor on this beautiful Sunday summer evening. We just sat there on the inviting bench and looked at the boats. The Harbor was beautiful.

Adorable Easton Condo very nice.

2010-07-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

New Listing Take a look at this just listed condo in North Easton.

I spent a Sunday Afternoon at this famous Homestead with great friends, it was wonderful!!

2010-07-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

Nice views of Silver Lake-Halifax/Pembroke

2010-07-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

Back from my N.C.- Vacation and ready to work for you with your real estate needs.

2010-07-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

On Vacation

2010-06-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Just letting folks know I am on vacation. Any real estate needs to be addressed? Please call the main office number 781-294-0310. I will see you soon. Karen

2010-06-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

I read something today on another sales agent's blog. The profound question that the agent threw out there was...."How do we convince our clients (a buyer) to buy a home. That "now" is the best time?" Well guess what the answer was? "We don't convince our clients to purchase a home"!! It's not our job to convince anyone to make such a huge choice. It's the clients. They need to know what is best for them and what is the right time for them to consider home-ownership. My job is to "step in" when the decision has been made... to purchase a home and we go forward together on their journey of home-ownership. Karen

Memorial Day-Weekend

2010-05-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

It is Memorial Day Weekend ...lots of us have a long weekend, some of us have a very long weekend, and then still some of us........well we work this weekend. It's a good thing no complaints here. Allow us to help you find your new home this summer! Blessings and enjoy this weekend with family and friends, with appreciation for your brave men and women who serve this great nation.

Outdoor Spaces

2010-05-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

Here we are, the "out-doors" season has arrived. We come out of our "caves" our homes and enter into the outside world. What beauty to behold in our very own back yards. Ok so your yard is not so beautiful, well, you can fix that. It can be a simple fix,.. its up to you. Do you have a vision for your back and or front yard? If not there are plenty of sites to visit on the web or buy a book ,(you remember what books are), in you Home Depot store or local book store. Start simple....that's the key. Create a small area first for sitting to enjoy the scenery. Put up bird feeders, and bird baths. Plant a small garden of flowers easy to care for. Each year add to the area. You will get more ideas and creative as you begin your "out-doors' area. A porch, a screened in porch, patio area are wonderful outside escapes for us to venture to and simply breath in the air and rest a moment.

Some pics from flikr

Spring is in the air.

2010-04-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

You can feel it for sure this week. Actually it's summer temps out there now. It will get back into the mid 50's they say by the weekend....Its 70 something right now and 80's tommorow. Wow, take this time if you can to get jump started on your yard work. I know we've had lots of rain and many are taking care of any water issues they may have expierenced. My heart goes out to those who expierenced any kind of damage due to flooding issues. This is something that only happens every 50 to 100 years the weather folks tell us. If you are able begin on getting the yard fixed up after a long winter.....by all means do so. Leaves raked up, porches swept and spruced up allows you to begin to enjoy your "out-door" living areas sooner. Prune back those plantings so they blossem beautifuly this Summer and Fall. Refresh your mulch, and put your yard decor (plant hangers, bird houses lawn furniture) out now and enjoy your yard. You may find later that your picket fence needs a fresh coat of paint or the porch. Do that later as a project when the warm weather stays.

March 14th

2010-03-12T20:16:00.000-08:00

Well this Sunday is March 14th. This is when we set AHEAD our clocks. Yes we loose an hour, but we get more of an evening to enjoy. Before we know it....it will be light out still at 7:30pm. I know it does not seem like it now but just you wait the Spring ushers in those long Summer days to come. Enjoy this Spring I intend too. So set those clocks AHEAD this Saturday night, but mentally.....jump into Spring!!

Oh another thing about March 14th, it's my Birthday!!!

Picket Fence Bench

2010-03-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

So here is my picket fence bench and one painted. Just wondering if I'll paint mine this Spring. It needs a face lift.

A few of my Pics

2010-03-06T17:57:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my pics I have taken between here in MA to ME of New England barns. I will be taking more pics of barns I just love these old Americana structures.

2010-02-24T08:54:00.000-08:00

When selling your home it's so important to hire someone who is knowledgeable in helping you to get the best possible price for your home. It is hard for the seller most of the time to be objective about their home. After all it's been "your space", "your home". Now you must look at your home as the potential buyers home. How is this done? It's a process but it does not have to be a difficult one.

1. Get information: Hire a real estate agent to help you get on your way to selling your home.

2. Allow this person to give their professional opinion about your homes current state. How to get your home ready for sale.

3. Some easy tasks to get started:
   a. de-clutter
   b. clean, clean, clean
   c. take down dated wallpaper-pic a current neutral color to paint.
   d. paint risers to stairs, paint the front door to give it a face lift.

e. Examine your bathroom, and kitchen with your agent. What improvements if any are needed to spruce up these rooms. Remember new prospective buyers eye you must now adopt.

f. Clean, simple, nuetral, clear flow of pathways.

g. Remember: you are selling, your thumbprint is being removed and a clean canvas is being created for the new prospective buyer.

There are many more ideas and suggestions in preparing a home for the market. A real estate agent is versed in this area of preparing a home for sale. Hire an agent, trust your agent!
Thanks, Karen

Does this winter weather affect selling real estate?

2010-02-08T15:42:00.000-08:00

Can our winter weather with the slush and snow and frigid temps get in the way of selling real estate? I say of course if the weather is dangereous to travel in then yes, stay where you are and we will reschdule. However..... the serious buyer will be looking at homes and what is for sale... no matter what. I will accomadate that serious buyer the best that I can and make those appointments and show the buyer properties I won't say we real estate agents are like the mailman, but close. We go out and brave the elements. So for the most part I will answer " no" real estate goes on regardless of the New England winters.

As Your Listing Agent.....

2010-02-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

I take alot of pride in saying these next few words...which are... I accompany brokers/agents when showing my listings. I feel that is part of my service to the seller, my client. I will set up appointments for the buyer's agent to come and view the listing I have and will make sure I can be there. What do I do? Here'sjust a few things I do for my seller:

1. I arrive a few minutes before the expected agent and their client and open up the home.

2. I will make sure the home is presentable, (the seller always does) but I like to just make sure.

3. I like to put lights on, (if needed), Lights create a warm feeling as well as a function.

4. I make sure doors are open, garage door openers are in hand and available, to operate for the agent to show their prospective buyers.

5. If there are any questions who knows best the answers than me the listing agent, and I am there to give the answer right on the spot.

6. I allow the agent with the buyer to show my listing property without me right beside them but my presense is there.

7. I just might be able to also "get an idea" how serious of a buyer this person is who is interested in the home I've listed. This helps because I am getting some "instant" feed-back. Which in turn I can give to my seller.

8. One thing also by me being at my sellers showings (and not just slapping a lock-box on the door and having an agent show with out me)..is I get to meet the agent face to face, and my sellers potential buyer.

9. I am able to make sure for myself and for my sellers that their property is just how they left it, for the showing. Doors that were are shut. The garage is closed securely, and the doors to the home are locked and secure.

10. My seller has entrusted me as their listing agent and this is a service that I feel I must do.

If you are thinking of selling let MJ& Associates Real Estate help you. It would be our pleasure to serve you. Karen

The #1 Question I'm asked?

2010-01-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

The number one question I am asked as a real estate agent is....yes you know what it is "Karen, how's the market"? That is a very general question, a loaded question because the "housing market" is vast. It pertains to the "seller" to the "buyer" to the "investor with deep pockets", and to the banks. When I say banks I don't just mean the lendors, I am also referring to the banks who are holding the notes to the forclosured properties. So you see the question has to be more specific. Are you buying? Are you thinking of buying an investment property? Are you thinking of selling? So with the #1 question that is directed toward me I have to return with the above questions to give an answer.

I will say this in todays housing market the public has so much information at their fingertips to educate themselves, but it is always wise to consult with a professional real estate person. You will be correctly directed in your real estate needs. So, I love that #1 question to be asked to me, it opens up lots of real estate converstation, which is my passion.

My First MJ & Assoc. RE Blog

2010-01-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

This is my very first blog on my real estate site. What will you find on my blog here at MJ & Associates Real Estate? Well to start off with you will soon find out about my passion for real estate. I don't just mean "real estate" in the sense of the word itself, but the true meaning of the business to me. This is a career choice I made whole heartedly. I love the sense of "home" and all it entails. Home is where we do our "living". Home well Dorothy said it best "there's no place like home". As an agent I get to find that home for you, or sell your current home to find another dwelling to call your new home. I love being a real estate agent, working in the South Shore area of Boston.