What Buyers & Sellers need to know.

Earlier this year Rhode Island's Congress amended the Rhode Island Cesspool Act of 2007 to help clean up Narragansett Bay and protect our drinking water. The new changes go into effect January 1st 2016.

Amended? What was the Cesspool Act originally?

For the past few years only homes within 200 feet of the water or watershed areas were required to meet Phase Out inspection criteria including acceptable water flow and a passing grade on mandatory annual inspections.  If a property was sold in these areas, the new buyer was given a timeline to replace the system.

The original act was intended to make the process and expense more manageable for homeowners, while improving Rhode Island's water quality.

So…

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With the blizzard of 2015 coming to New England, many homeowners are in full panic mode.  First word of advice: STAY CALM. Now that we’ve made it past that one, here’s some tips to weather through the storm (Sorry for the bad pun everybody… Couldn’t help myself) 

Be Prepared: The Boy Scout motto: “Always be prepared”. During a situation like a blizzard, home owners should be practicing this motto as well.

  • Stock up on Flashlights, candles, batteries: the biggest hurdle in a pending storm isn’t just the snow; it’s the potential for a power outage.
  • Have food you can eat without cooking if you don’t have a gas stove. 
  • Bottled is water is always a good idea.
  • If you have pets make sure they have a few days worth of food
  • Board games, especially if…

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2014 was another great year in real estate, not only in the US but here in Newport Rhode Island too.  A booming economy, stock market appreciation and a surprise in the mortgage industry with interest rates returning to low levels instead of rising, were just a few highlights of 2014. Here’s a quick recap of 2014’s Real Estate Market;

US Real Estate Market Conditions

The Case/Shiller Housing Index increased 4.5% Year over Year from October 2013 through October 2014. That’s a drastic slow down compared to the 13.6% increase a year earlier. As anticipated (see last year's recap) the price appreciation slowed down. The slowdown in price appreciation had more to do with the market equalizing, than with rising rates as previously predicted.  2014 was the…

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Commercial Condos for Sale or Lease in a 21st Century Town Square

Since it’s inception in 2005 Clock Tower Square has grown into a modern day Main Street USA. This mixed-use development with wonderful visibility and high curb appeal currently consists of 5 popular retail shops, 5 medical / professional offices and a stylish neighborhood restaurant and bar.

“It’s shaping up as we had hoped, says developer, Tom Graul. A thriving, Main Street shopping destination is the goal. Cooperative marketing drives traffic to everyone, and 40 small businesses will benefit from their proximity to each other. It's very satisfying.”

CLOCK TOWER'S PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY:

  •  Unit 102 LEASED
  • Unit 103 Deborah Winthrop Lingerie…

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Looking for a great house here in Newport?

8 Burdick Ave just might be the one. You couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.  Here are a few reasons why;

 

It’s done: A house in Newport with everything, completely finished, just what you’ve been looking for.  New; Kitchen, bathroom, flooring, carpeting, paint, boiler, hot water heater, roof, windows & yard. All less than 5 years old. You’ll be able to move in with next to no upkeep for years to come.

Fenced in yard: It’s nice to know you can just let your dog or children out the door without worry. When you have a crazy pup like mine, a fenced in yard is a must. 

Garage with electricity: A detached garage is already a great added bonus.  Electricity not only allows use at…

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Investing in Real Estate? Lets ask Warren Buffett, the infamous investor worth billions who is commonly known as “The Oracle of Omaha”.  His insight in investing I’ve always found to be a very simple, easy and straight forward. This article delves into two real estate investments he’s made. Here’s a few points I walked away with;

-Ignore the outside noise and chatter

When we were in the depths of the Great Recession Mr. Buffett was buying up companies left and right, while the rest of the market went running for the hills. His Berkshire Hathaway holding company bought Prudential Real Estate as his method of jumping into the real estate market. But years ago, he made a few real estate plays himself, ignoring the noise around him, he focused on the…

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139 West Shore Dr is Hogan Associates’ latest listing, a sweet home that embodies the best things about Exeter.  Here are just a few things to love about 139 West Shore Dr;

- Water views at a VERY reasonable price

Welcome your friends to your beautiful and affordable new home with water views from your two separate decks! That’s right. Two.

 -Move in tomorrow with no worries

This property has new flooring, a refinished kitchen, updated bathrooms and utilities - all installed under the watchful eye of a conscientious owner.

-Fireplace & Wood burning stove to enjoy the winter months 

You might enjoy winter a little more with a newly installed cast iron wood burning stove and a wood burning fireplace. Stay toasty warm with extra low…

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Easton’s Point in Middletown has some of the hottest real estate in Newport County.  This townhouse right in the center of Easton’s Point puts you a stone’s throw from 1st and 2nd Beach.  The Stone Towers condo association is located atop a knoll right off of Tuckerman Ave. It gives a home owner the great opportunity of owning their own slice of heaven in this highly sought after neighborhood.

 

Refinished only a handful of years ago, it’s ready for you to move in just in time to enjoy your first summer here in Middletown. 

 

The Middletown Condominium is minutes to restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, nightlife, breakfast diners and shopping.  The neighborhood has the small town beach community feel for everything families need and…

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Real Estate in Newport RI, much like the rest of the country, had a great year.  But how did Newport fare alongside the rest of the nation?  Here’s where we stand on 2013.  

Nationally and in Rhode Island:

The Case/Shiller National Index, an index of national home prices, experienced a 10.06% increase year over year through September 2013.  That’s the largest 12-month gain since March of 2006!  Rhode Island median home prices appreciated 10.48% with an 18.9% increase in volume! The increase in volume is a strong sign of a strengthening market.   

 Single Families – Newport, RI

 Newport’s median price appreciation lagged behind the national and state average with a price increase of only 2.1%.  That said, Newport dwarfed the rest of the state…

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Thinking about a Rhode Island Condo purchase? Condos are convenient and cost effective but they come with certain fees you need to understand. Condo fees serve a purpose for property owners, even if no one likes paying them. When allocated properly, condo fees are a cost effective way to maintain and add value to your property.Newport Condominium

Here’s what they cover:

-Capital Reserves:  Some associations have minimum reserve requirements.  Your capital reserve is essentially a forced rainy day fund. It covers things like insurance deductible payments, unexpected repairs and capital improvements. It’s there to keep things running smoothly and to avoid the need for a special assessment.  The higher the association’s capital reserves, the easier the units are to sell,…

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