Fall is in the air, which means back-to-school time for many Boston families. This time of the year always gets me thinking about the many wonderful educational opportunities available in the Boston area. Besides all of the wonderful colleges and universities in the city, our primary and secondary schools are at the top of the list too. Check out Boston Magazine's ranking of public and private Boston-area high schools.

The U.S. News and World Report's "Best High Schools: State-by-State Statistics" posted on December 4, 2008, ranks Massachusetts schools #1! 13% of the 338 high schools were awarded a bronze, silver or gold metal by the prestigious reporting agency. That's great news for parents and future parents who live in the state!

While Massachusetts' schools in general get high ranks, there are certainly exceptions. I always like to point parents to a useful website called www.GreatSchools.net when it comes to researching and comparing school districts and individual schools. It is such a great tool for families looking to relocate to new Boston real estate. You can read personal reviews from parents, similar to Yelp.com, as well as official school scores and data. Additionally, you can see rankings of different school districts in the Boston area, which can help you narrow your housing search in the beginning stages.

Some of the highest-ranking school districts in the Boston-metro area, based on test scores, are Newton, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, and Milton. Districts Cambridge and Medford rank above average, and finally Boston's public school district ranked in the average range.

Of course, experienced real estate agents also know which Boston neighborhoods are districted to the best schools. If you are thinking of moving soon and know that school districts are a top priority for your family, contact me today for a free consultation.

The Veterans Administration provides military members and their families with one of the most flexible and low-cost home loans on the market. VA home loans have helped thousands of veterans achieve the dream of homeownership.

But the VA also offers veterans significant refinancing opportunities, including for those who have conventional mortgages.

The VA's <a href="http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/faqs_refinance.htm">Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan</a> is for veterans with an existing VA loan. Qualified borrowers can utilize the refinancing program (also called a VA Streamline) without paying a dollar out of pocket. There are no appraisals, underwriting packages of eligibility certificates necessary.

That flexibility allows veterans to explore a money-saving refinance without gathering years of financial paperwork, which can easily get misplaced over time.

Borrowers can roll closing costs and other expenses into their new loan, or interest rates can shift to help make sure additional costs are covered. The program also allows a borrower to include up to $6,000 for energy efficiency improvements in the Streamline loan.

To be eligible for a <a href="http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/refinance.htm">VA Streamline</a>, veterans must first be current on their mortgage. They also cannot have made more than one 30-day late payment on their mortgage in the previous 12 months. Veterans with less than perfect credit can still qualify for a VA Streamline.

Borrowers can't get cash from a Streamline. They are on the hook for a VA funding fee, which is typically one-half of 1 percent.

Any lender can provide a VA Streamline. The Veterans Administration encourages veterans to talk with multiple lenders, as rates and loan terms can vary by lending institution.

The VA can also help veterans who used a conventional loan to purchase their home. Qualified borrowers can refinance up to 100 percent of its appraised value.

As construction finished last year on the FP3 development, luxury lofts constructed from three neighboring Seaport District warehouses, units were expected to fly off the market. With famous restaurateur Barbara Lynch opening her most recent concepts: Sportello and Drink, on the ground floor of FP3, the lofts received a lot of media attention. However, with the difficult market throughout the Fort Point Channel neighborhood and the rest of the nation, the new development has been slow to fill.

However, this summer the development has seen an increase in sales. This may be attributed in part to more affordable sale prices. The average sale price of units sold this summer is $455,547, at an average of $472 per square foot.

With more affordable prices, now is the time to think about investing in this glamorous Seaport District development. FP3 condos feature

· 92 residential loft-style condos (studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms)

· Sleek, modern design

· Green features

· Great location-close to the Financial District, the red line and fabulous restaurants

· Guaranteed rights to lease parking at the Stillings Street Garage

· Private outdoor space in some condo units

· A large variety of floor plans

· Hardwood flooring

· Kitchens by Arclinea, all featuring a package of stainless steel appliances

· Stunning lobby and private function space

· Laundry hookups in unit

· Shared roof terrace

· Concierge service

· Pet-friendly environment

• A full list of features can be seen at www.fp3boston.com

As the Seaport District and Fort Point Channel have undergone their revitalization, I know that many of you have had an eye on the luxury Boston condos located in this area. With FP3 being one of the high-end options, now is the time to buy. I can help you with special financing and down payment options. If you've been thinking about looking at a space at the FP3, let me know!

The city has several assistance programs that come in the form of no-interest, conditional loans that are forgiven after 10 years (15 years for some Cash-to-Fix recipients). The Cash-to-Close and Cash-to-Close LIMITED programs can help you accumulate the money you need for closing costs and for a down payment. Cash-to-Close is for first-time homebuyers and the LIMITED program is for buyers of foreclosed properties in designated areas. The Cash-to-Fix program is designed to help buyers of foreclosed homes with essential repairs.

Cash-to-Close
This program is designed to give first-time homebuyers who meet certain criteria money toward a down payment and closing costs. Homebuyers can receive between $1,000 and 3% of the total purchase price.

Overview of Criteria for Cash-to-Close:

· Income cannot exceed 120% of Area Median Income as determined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

· Must graduate from Homebuyer 101 (a FREE, 8-hour class).

· Contribute at least 1.5% of funds toward purchase price.

· Must use home as primary residence for 10 years to receive full loan forgiveness.

• Eligible homes include Boston condos, single-family, two-family, and three-family homes.

Cash-to-Close LIMITED
This program is designed help with the purchase price of foreclosed Boston real estate in certain designated areas. Eligible participants will receive either $15,000 or $25,000 (depending on designation of area). Visit this page for more details and to see a map of eligible areas.

Overview of Criteria for Cash-to-Close LIMITED:

· Cannot own any other property.

· Income cannot exceed 120% of Area Median Income as determined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

· Must graduate from Homebuyer 101 (a FREE, 8-hour class).

· Contribute at least 1.5% of funds toward purchase price.

· Must use home as primary residence for 10 years to receive full loan forgiveness.

• Eligible homes include foreclosed condos, single-family, two-family, and three-family homes in the city's NSP area and three FIT areas (parts of East Boston, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, and Hyde Park.)

Cash-to-Fix
This program provides funds, up to $50,000, to homebuyers that purchase foreclosed homes in need of rehab (repairs for safety and health).

Overview of Criteria for Cash-to-Close LIMITED:

· Cannot own any other property.

· Income cannot exceed 120% of Area Median Income as determined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

· Must graduate from Homebuyer 101 (a FREE, 8-hour class).

· Must complete the Homebuyer 102 course within one year.

· Contribute at least 3% of funds toward purchase price.

· Must use home as primary residence for 10 years to receive full loan forgiveness.

· Eligible homes include foreclosed single-family, two-family, and three-family homes  as well as 1-6 family condos in the city's NSP area and three FIT areas (parts of East Boston, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, and Hyde Park.)

• Properties must require between $10,000 and $60,000 in repairs.

The city of Boston has many wonderful programs available to help homebuyers. That is why it is so important to work with an experienced Boston real estate agent that can evaluate your situation and suggest appropriate programs that can save you money. If you are thinking about purchasing Boston real estate, I'd love the opportunity to discuss your options and different programs you may be able to take advantage of.

Selling Boston real estate, or real estate anywhere in the U.S., right now can be a daunting task. But properly staging your home can increase your chance at a swift sale. You may be thinking that your home is already nicely decorated, but "decorating" your home focuses on your personal choices and personality. Whereas staging your home focuses on buyers and how you can help potential buyers envision themselves living in the home or condo for sale.

Steps to Staging Your Home

· Pack away any mementos, photos of family and friends, children's artwork, to-do lists, and basically anything that would remind the potential buyer that someone else lives in the home.

· Eliminate odors. Smell is a huge factor for buyers. And the tough part is that homeowners may be accustomed to certain smells-like pet odor or smoke. If in doubt, have a friend do a smell test for you. Don't cover odors with air fresheners or by baking cookies, instead do a thorough cleaning, steam clean carpets if necessary, and have air vents cleaned. Also, remember to not cook pungent dishes right before a scheduled showing.

· Pack away the clutter! This a hard step but one of the most important. Part of the difficulty, besides the time investment, is the fact that many people have trouble being objective when evaluating their own homes. Even if your decorating style includes many decorative pieces on mantles, side tables and bookshelves, go through and minimize-it will make your home look larger.

· Now that the clutter is packed, make sure it has a place to go. If you have an attic or basement, place neatly packed boxes in these areas-if not, investing in a storage space for a few months is a great way to go. (Placing boxes in the top of your closet will make your closet look smaller.)

· Think about your lighting situation. Dark rooms appear smaller. But rooms that are too bright or use florescent lights can be off-putting as well. Consider using "daylight' bulbs to create an open, airy feeling. Right before a showing, open windows and/or turn on lights.

• Treat your walls to a fresh coat of neutral paint. Color walls are popular right now, but neutrals may be a safer way to go. And a fresh coat will make any room look newer and cleaner.

The main thing to strive for is creating a clean, open, inviting space that a potential buyer can imagine moving into. Your real estate agent should be able to give you specific advice as it pertains to your particular home for sale. If you are looking for a Boston real estate agent with staging know-how, give me a call!

Those in the Boston real estate market who are looking for true luxury living simply must take a look at the available units in Residences at Mandarin Oriental. You may recognize the Mandarin Oriental name because of the high-end hotel chain. But did you know that in the heart of Boston's Back Bay, right above the five-star hotel, are 50 stunning condos? The unique thing about these luxury Boston condos is the fact that residents can be pampered just like hotel patrons are-as if everyday were a holiday!

The hotel has an in-house chef and room service, spa services, a concierge, and dry cleaning services delivered to your door-that means that Mandarin Oriental residents have all the same amenities! Here are the highlights of the amenities list:

· 16,000 square foot spa/gym

· A state-of-the-art vitality pool

· At least 1 garage (valet optional) parking space

· In-building fine dining restaurants and high end retail

• In-condo spa treatments, concierge services, room service, and dry cleaning

Of course the units themselves are breathtaking. Featuring floor to ceiling windows, private roof gardens, balconies that overlook the city, marble entry foyers, sleek kitchens, and 10+ foot ceilings, you've got to see them in person!

As I mentioned in my May 1st blog, high-end luxury homes held their value for a long time in the down-turn, but now is the time to take advantage of prices that have finally come down. For a long time, these types of units would end up in bidding wars, driving prices skyward, but recently a 2-bedroom/2.5 bath unit at the Mandarin Oriental went for over $700,000 under the $2.5 million asking price. If you'd like to learn more about the available units at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental, contact me directly!

If you are thinking about relocating and purchasing Boston area real estate, summer is one of the best times of the year to visit and explore the city. At Fitkova Realty Group, we've created a list of our favorite summer activities-great for visitors and natives alike!

Whale Watching: Just one of the many advantages to living next to the ocean is being able to hop on a boat and go whale watching. Take a guided tour with Boston Harbor Cruises, and you'll hear narration from professional researchers from the Whale Center of New England. It's a fun day of sun, ocean breezes and stunning marine life!

Free Movies and Music at the Hatch Shell: Beginning June 19th, Fridays equal free flicks at the Hatch Shell-an outdoor venue along the Charles River. You can catch an array of family-friendly shows this year like Kung-Fu Panda, Get Smart, Mamma Mia and many more. View the schedule here.

At the same venue, Oldies 103 sponsors three big outdoor concerts that feature Three Dog Night, The Temptations, and The Beach Boys. Learn more about this concert series here. And every Wednesday night there is a classical concert by Landmarks Orchestra that starts at 7 p.m. Take a picnic dinner and enjoy!

Boston Harbor Hotel Weekly Events: One of Boston's most beautiful harbor-side hotels hosts an array of free events throughout the summer: Summer Soul every Tuesday, Timeless Tunes every Wednesday, Blues Barge every Thursday, and Movies by Moonlight every Friday. Learn more and download their brochure here.

Behind the Scenes of Fenway Park: Enjoy the summer weather during a guided tour of the historical baseball park that is home to the Red Sox! Learn more here.

Shakespeare in the Park: Each summer the Citi Performing Arts Center puts on a series of free performances of a famous Shakespearean play. This year's pick: Twelfth Night. Bring a blanket and picnic dinner to Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common for a night of entertainment and culture! Performances run from June 10 - July 12. Visit the Shakespeare in the Park website for more information.

North End Feast Days: In the historic North End, the Catholic Feast Days are still celebrated by the large Italian population along with visitors from throughout the area. Enjoy processions, music, food and other festivities. North End condo owners enjoy festive weekends all summer long-one of the many attributes of the popular neighborhood!

There are so many outdoor events in this beautiful city-many of them completely free! During your visit to Boston, we can also schedule viewings of real estate for sale in the Boston area-from North End real estate to South End real estate and everything in between!

As buyers compare their condo options, the monthly condo fee is almost always a consideration, but unfortunately, the scrutiny often stops there. It is imperative that potential condo buyers take a look at the condo association's financial stability as well.

If an association runs out of money for necessary repairs or services, they may go into debt, which becomes the responsibility of the residents. When this happens, a "special assessment" generally occurs, which means that all the residents must pay into the association, beyond their normal monthly dues, to regain financial stability. Of course a majority vote is needed to initiate a special assessment-but many times this is the only sensible course of action.

If a vote goes through to collect a special assessment, condo owners are required to come up with the sum. And if an owner refuses to pay, the association can place a lien on the unit and even foreclose on it. Many associations won't go this far, but then necessary services like snow removal (essential for real estate in Boston) or landscaping may end up being neglected for long periods of time-and property values can drop sharply.

A savvy condo buyer can avoid all of this. When one of my clients becomes very interested in a condominium unit, I help them review the financial status of the association and connect with key players on the board. If you are thinking of making a Boston area condo your new home, I can help you make smart choices.

Having your potential new home inspected by a professional is one of the smartest moves you can make as a homebuyer. This especially holds true in a city like Boston; it's not surprising to buy a home 20, 50 or even 100 years old. These days practically all contracts have a clause that makes the final sale contingent on acceptable results of an inspection, so buyers can cancel the purchase or renegotiate the offer if serious problems are found. In Massachusetts all homebuyers legally have the right to have a lead paint inspection preformed within ten days of an accepted offer.

What Will an Inspector Do?
As a general rule, inspectors do not take things apart. Instead they visually inspect aspects of a home to determine if anything needs to be replaced immediately or in the near future. Most importantly, an inspector is independent from both the buyer and the seller (and their representatives)-this means that he/she receives payment whether the home is sold or not.

Generally an inspector will review the following:

· Exterior of the Home: walls, decks/patios, roofs, chimneys, and gutters.

· Interior of the Home: floors, ceilings, walls, windows, doors, plumbing, water temperatures, appliances, and electrical systems.

· Heating and Cooling Systems.

· The Top and Bottom: attic, crawl spaces, basements, and foundations.

· Pest Infestations: ants, termites, mice, etc.

· Radon Levels.

· Condominium Common Areas: roofs, hallways, boilers, and other factors that could affect the reserve of the condo association.

Note: Each inspector is a little different. Make sure you ask for a list of what your potential inspector will review. If you have a specialty feature, like a swimming pool, your inspector may recommend that you bring in an additional specialty inspector.

When my clients are nearing the final negotiation stages on a home purchase, I have a handful of reputable inspectors that I recommend, depending on the type of property. Relative to the price of repairs, the fee an inspector charges is quite affordable. If you are thinking of buying a Boston home and want to ensure that things go smoothly, contact me directly.

Bottom Line: Always bring in a professional inspector and make sure that your contract has a clause that allows cancellation or renegotiation if a negative inspection report is presented.

Looking for a virtual real estate lead co-coordinator familiar with Boston

Will work from home, flexible schedule about 10 hours a week.  Will need to follow up with internet leads, call them and enter into database and cultivate until they are ready to purchase.  Should be familiar with Boston and real estate field. Any suggestions or inquiries would be strongly appreciated.