May 1, 2008

Extended Spring Lull — Open Houses

dsc 0010 Extended Spring Lull    Open Houses

Economics and the soft market aside, the weather can have a huge effect on traffic through open houses and brokerages. Winter is the best time to buy, and the worst time to sell. Everyone lists in the Spring, because potential buyers wake up one sunny morning, shake the dust out of their heads and the sleep out of their eyes, and begin lusting after houses. Redfin makes that easier, anyway.

Friendly agents tell me that, typically, people start calling as soon as the days get warmer. And in this market, they hope to make up for the slow winter grind with some fast commission checks. I can tell you right now, almost no one is going to show at open houses this weekend; the weather is going all cloudy and chance-of-rainy, and it’s still a little early, despite a couple of days of summer thrown in to make us all pant.

That doesn’t mean you have to run with the herd. Seller’s agents advise their clients, and your low offer has a way better chance of being accepted before things get busy. Low offers make sense in a slow market — you don’t want to get stuck with a depreciated property, after all. And soft market or not, good houses at good prices do sell.

Check these out:

There are a pair of entry-level condos open at 81 Cabot Street open on 5/4 from 1-3. Great deals for train commuters!

12 Cox Ct. #PHB is open from 12-1:30 on 5/4 — penthouse living in a great location. Okay, so this sounds like a bad joke, but I swear it’s on the level. Giggle. Anyway, great water views, and a great location.

But if you’re hovering around $300k and aren’t a condo type, you have to go see 6 Cliff Street in Goat Hill. It’s still there, but I don’t think it will last. 12-2 PM on 5/4. If I have it right, the white house behind the white house at center is #6. But this should give you an idea about Goat Hill.


  • Oh, and there really is Yacht Storage over near the bridge into Salem on 1A. That's also near The Anchor, home of the $3 Guinness draft and the best chicken Parm in town! Seriously -- it's a combination diner and bar. How great is that?

    The river to the left of the frame is the Porter River; the one to the left isn't named as far as I know. It connects to the the Shoe Pond up at the Cummings center, but was a continuous river before they built 62 -- or something like that.
  • I don't know -- the local folk just call it "The Rivah."

    It's actually the confluence of 2 rivers where they meet the Briney North Atlantic.

    It is brackish water, with dramatic tides. The other day we saw a seal.

    Actually, Shorty, there are moorings all over the place out there. Most of my neighbors have a water craft of one sort or another -- this is a waterfront town.
  • mercator
    Mike, what's that pretty body of water called?

    Is there a place nearby where I can store my yacht?

    Mercator
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