Homes For Sale in Hudson Market Report

Hudson sets a town record for the HSI, with a sharp increase to 156, up from the 144. Let's see how they got there.

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

Well, increasing sales and fewer than expected sellers will do that. Not surprisingly, with demand this strong, prices are rising. Although last month $/sq foot number was low -$156, a decline from the $160's, we've bounced back to $171. That $156 was an aberration, Hudson must have had some data anomaly there, but we seem to be back on track.

Interestingly, bank impacted inventory has gone up sharply, with 3 lender-owned foreclosures popping up. We have seen this from time to time, but we haven't seen enough to say it's a trend. But it's worth keeping an eye on. I figure the banks have finally passed the statutory limits for these homes, which likely started two years ago. Might be the last bubble of foreclosures. Regardless, it's not enough to put pressure on prices with demand this strong.

Hudson Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Hudson “Home Seller Index” (HSI):156 Last Report: 144
• There are 36 homes listed as For Sale in Hudson.
• There have been 113 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 60 homes sold in the last 3 months.
• The Average number of Days on Market was 65 days for just SOLD homes.

  Not too many leaves left- just the Oaks.  But it's been a nice fall for Hudson Home Sellers.

• There is an Average Market Time of 121 days of the homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $171 (vs. $156)
• There was an Average Sold Price of $304,198 for sold homes.
• Hudson, MA, has 3 properties (vs. 1 in the last report) advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Hudson has 1 properties advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by lender .

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Matt’s HSI is proprietary.

More Great Reads!

• Which is better, 2x4 or 2x6 home construction?
• What are the types of foundations we find in housing, and what should I know about them?
• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What is pre-paid PMI, and is it a good deal?
• How do I get rid of PMI on my mortgage payment?
• How do I prepare for getting ready to buy a house?
• When Should I do a Lead Paint Test on my Home

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Sox Celebrate Third Championship in 10 years in Home Sweet Home

Well, that was some baseball team. Nice to know we'll be talking about them for more than one off season. By grinding it out, they have established themselves as a very interesting model for other teams to follow.

With the season in the books, I reviewed my past Sox posts (not too many this year!) to see where my head was at as we went through the season. Since I'm writing the blog, I try to go out on as many limbs as possible. Not much point in being a fence sitter if you're going to do it for posterity. I'm going to close this section with some closing thoughts on the playoffs, and then reflect back on the season that was - and see if I can convince myself to keep typing in 2014.

In my last Sox post, I expressed real concern that if the Sox didn't start hitting the series was going to go the other way. Well they certainly smacked around Wacha in game six. They didn't need the bats in game 5, as Lester folded them up like an origami swan. The turning point - for the Cardinals - was around the 5th or 6th inning of Lester's game. They realized they couldn't hit him, and his pitch count was so low they weren't going to get him out of the game either. They were right on both counts, and once the Fenway Faithful shook Wacha's confidence - even if it was only a little - they were toast.

These teams were still very, very close. At the end though, the Sox got the big hit when it mattered, and the Cardinals didn't. A couple of stats that encapsulate that are that St. Louis actually had more hits than Boston in this series, but scoring was a Boston advantage, by almost 2-1. When the ducks were on the pond, the

Sox took advantage, plain and simple. This was how they beat Detroit too, and what's more interesting, is that they did it up and down the lineup. Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Napoli, Gomes, Victorino, Ross (Ross!!), and Boegarts all had key at bats in the playoffs that won games. Basically, everyone but Drew. As surprising as that is, what's more stunning is that it shouldn't have been surprising at all: That was how they won all season. Even Drew contributed during the season, with a hot month in there. As did Middlebrooks, Mike Carp (who carried the team for a month). Anyone could - and did - win a game, but most of these guys won more than their track records would have suggested. It was like the other teams were so focused on whoever might hurt them, that they didn't focus on the one guy who ended up hurting them. Who can blame them? I still can't believe Shane V. hit a grand slam after going 2 for 22. And an UGLY 2-22. But he did, and that was the Sox in a nutshell.

Matt's Year in Review

I had some good calls this year. Some, not so good. Let's see!

Lineups:

I did pretty well with the lineups predictions, which I made in Spring Training. Victorino ended up hitting himself into the 2 spot, instead of the 9 spot, with a fantastic year, although he was injured for half of it. Nava came out of nowhere to steal most of Gomes playing time (I actually noted that was possible), so that messed me up a bit, and Middlebrooks was sent down, and we had a some fellow named Iglesias fill in for a while. But I got the basic shape right. I'll give myself a B, on what is a tough exercise.

What was really interesting in reading that post though was that I had the "injury" lineup. It never happened - Napoli and Ortiz were healthy throughout the season. Pedroia was hurt but could still play at a high level. Want to know why the Sox scored so many runs in the regular season and won the whole thing? Lack of injuries to their key players in the lineup was a huge part of it. Ellsbury was hurt a little, and Shane as noted was out, but the thump in the middle stayed intact, and without it I'm not sure where they would have been.

The pitchers, of course, were not as lucky, as we lost two closers before the all-star break. But that lead to "finding" 38 year-old Uehara, your MVP of the ALCS. So maybe they were lucky afterall.

I really hit the nail on the head with my column in June.

Some notable quotes:

I wrote last year that the Sox had their work cut out for them to fix the pitching. I thought it highly improbable that they would be able to reduce their ERA enough from a woeful 4.7 to something that would help them win. So far? A 3.49, a full run plus reduction in ERA. Cherrington adopted (smartly) the Baltimore model - load up with power arms in the bullpen, and then you don't have to worry about getting 7 from your starters. Will they continue to pitch this well? I have my doubts -some regression to the mean should be expected - but the depth at AAA is encouraging in case their are the inevitable injuries

What happened: The Sox lost Buckholz, but filled in until they signed Peavy, and everyone else stayed healthy. They did regress to the mean, but still were very good.  The one thing I did miss was Lackey was the most important starter all year. His rebound year was completely unforeseen, and was a big part of how they won the division (and even at some level, the World Series). Happy to eat all the bad things I wrote about him. Turnarounds like his are why you watch sports, too bad you have to hit bottom to climb up the mountain peak!

I've enjoyed watching the Sox this season not just because they are winning, but how they are winning. Offensively, that has been because everyone has been capable of a big hit (even Drew). Napoli, Ortiz, Pedroia, of course, but also Victarino, Nava, Gomes, Middlebrooks. In a close game, they are sneaky hard to pitch to.

What happened: The same thing happened all year. I NAILED that one. In June!

I'm starting to call Middlebrooks' at bats "must see AB's". He's heating up, and the ball just comes off his bat different.

What happened: Well, he stunk up the joint, probably because he refused to hit singles when being pitched away. But he went down to AAA and came back a better player. He'll be back, and I think 2014 looks very bright for Will. (I refuse to get off his bandwagon! I refuse!).

While key injuries could make the lineup suspect, the team has a chance to get into - and compete in - the playoffs.

- June

What happened: Well they won the World Series, so I guess I get an A for that too.

Can the Sox Win the Pennant? Yes, if Buckholz comes back healthy. Extra Bonus if Will Middlebrooks commits to fixing the hole in his swing.

- August.

What happened: Both things happened, and the Sox won the pennant easily. Very few people were as optimistic as me at that point!

My biggest miss was probably the impact that Victorino had on the lineup. They were scary good when he was healthy, and I'm very excited to see him play next year. Who doesn't like a player who wants to get on base so bad they lean over the plate like the tower of Pisa? Who? Don't say you don't - not if you're a Derek Jeter fan - and I know you are.

OK, OK - I'll be back in December and February for 2014. One last prediction though: Goodbye Ellsbury! It was fun watching you. Have fun hitting where ever you end up - but it won't be here.

Another Unlikely Hero Saves The Day for Sox Fans

When watching the Sox in their five game series against the Rays, you realized the Sox were a very good, very dangerous team. The Rays could pitch, but the Sox bats wore them down. Timely baserunning and steals put pressure on the opponents. The defense looked crisp and clean. The Sox took a good team behind the woodshed and left them there without looking back.

When the hitting dried up against Detroit, it was easy to point at the fantastic starting pitching of the Tigers. The Sox still looked dangerous against the weak bullpen, and Detroit couldn't run the bases- or field very

well - and on balance, just weren't as complete a team.  Disposing of the Tigers in six seemed like the hard part, and there would be no stopping them in the final round.

But after watching four games against the Cardinals, it's time to come to grips with how the teams match up. And this pretty biased writer has come to just one conclusion.

St. Louis is better.

Their pitching? Better. Cardinals' hitting? Better. Their defense? With Molina back behind the dish, shutting off the Sox run game (1 steal in four games), they get the nod, despite the early jitters they showed in game one. The Sox have been uncharacteristically coughing up the ball at key times, and not playing the fundamental baseball we've come to expect from this group. The cardinals bullpen, with few exceptions, has been outstanding, while the Sox bullpen, while still effective is looking decidedly vulnerable.

As much as I'd like to, I can't get around it, the Cards should win the series.

And yet? We're here at 2-2. With two at home and three to go. What to make of this?

Can the Sox Close it Out?

Part of me is the optimist. Ellsbury has been the victim of some hard luck outs. Pedroia doesn't look terrible at the plate. Ortiz is hot as a pistol, and we'll get Napoli back at fenway. Gomes remains dangerous. Boegarts is contributing. And though I miss Shane's defense, Nava needs to be in there since there's no run game. And the pitching has been workmanlike and effective - if not pretty. Dubront is looking like your game 7 starter, instead of Peavy, which is a positive. With so few games to go, we won't need to save anyone, and can probably pitch our way around trouble. Those are all good things.

But the larger part of me knows that if the Sox don't get more dangerous at the plate, and get back to the "Bearded Beantown Bashers" as I affectionately call them, it will be for nought. You need skills and luck to win a World Series, and the Sox are desperately close to having cashed in all their leprechauns for this round. (Getting Wong picked off last night was divine providence. Not because Uehara and Napoli can't execute a pickoff, but because he was such an idiot even thinking about stealing two runs down. POINTLESS. We've seen some ghastly baserunning gaffes, but that one took the cake. That should never happen in a regular season game, let alone a World Series game). Ross, Salty, Victorino, Drew, and Middlebrooks look lost at the plate (they are averaging around  a .210 OPS, not counting Middlebrooks, who doesn't have enough ABs to be judged).

I'm pretty sure we've seen Buckholz's last pitch of the year. Not sure I want Peavy pitching or "deer in the headlights" Breslow in a tough spot; he's either lost his confidence or his fastball. Morales would scare anyone at this point. Not sure what we can get from Tazawa. And none of that is very good, because the Sox starters aren't going deep into games against a club that has really grinded at bat BETTER than the 'grind to shine' Sox. Add it all up and we have a club that isn't hitting well, fielding well, and a bullpen that is suddenly suspect.

Here's hoping Ortiz's timely encouragement and Gomes' even more timely home run have snapped the Sox out of the funk they've been in for three games. They need improvement across the board to hang the next banner.

Homes For Sale in Hopkinton Market Report

High Prices begin to cool the Hopkinton Market. Hopkinton Prices, up 11% in just 18 months, may have finally reached a equilibrium with the market. However - they may have not. The number of homes that remain on the market is very low, and it will not take much buying pressure to keep prices on their Northward trajectory. Home buyers in Hopkinton, however, will be relieved that the pace of price increases is not as great here as it has been in other parts of Metrowest, as reported here on the blog.

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

On the chart, we see a bit of what I'm talking about. We see the first rise in the raw number of houses available since the seasonal peak in 2012. Prices were rising and buyers were grabbing whatever was available. But in the last few months, sellers have noticed, and many are asking quite a bit above market value, to see how far the demand will go. Home buyers, not liking the choices, are taking a pass, and so prices are up, but so is inventory.

Ultimately, the spring inventory cycle will probably have a fair number of "winners" and "losers" as far as home sellers go. The winners will likely be those who are above last year's prices - but below the most hopeful home sellers. The home sellers who reach to far, will probably sit around, as buyers may have hit their limit in Hopkinton.

Hopkinton Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Hopkinton “Home Seller Index” (HSI):131  Last Report:158
• There are 60 homes listed as For Sale in Hopkinton.
• There have been 154 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 81 homes sold in the last 3 months.

  A seasonal break appears in the Hopkinton home market.

• The Average number of Days on Market was 80 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 174 days of the homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $203 (vs. $195 )
• There was an Average Sold Price of $579,533 for sold homes.
• Hopkinton, MA, has 0 properties advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Hopkinton has 2 properties (vs. 1 in the last report) advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by lender .

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Note, there will be a some what artificial jump in the rankings as the active status flag is being phased out. (this is a good thing, but will screw up my data sets).

More Great Reads!

• Which is better, 2x4 or 2x6 home construction?
• What are the types of foundations we find in housing, and what should I know about them?
• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What is pre-paid PMI, and is it a good deal?
• How do I get rid of PMI on my mortgage payment?
• How do I prepare for getting ready to buy a house?
• When Should I do a Lead Paint Test on my Home

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Homes For Sale in Holliston Market Report

Holliston was hot, hot, hot this spring, as the booming prices in Framingham, Natick, and Hopkinton pushed buyers down in Holliston. It's not as accessible to the major roads in the area, so buyers often find it after those other towns, but when they get there, they like what they see. The June chart was pretty strong, but it looks like an melted ice cream next to today's report.

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

Yes, that's right, another town with a 189 HSI. That's scorching hot. Do we see rising prices too? You bet. $/ sq foot jumped $14 since June, and I don't mind patting myself on the back for saying that is exactly what we would see in the June report. Things have cooled down - a bit - in Holliston, so we'll see some pull back, but if you are a potential home seller in Holliston, now is a great time to think about a 2014 sale.

The buyers will be back, now that they have found Holliston, and next year should be strong. Especially if the sellers don't show up - with only 36 homes on the market, some price ranges are almost completely sold out. Home buyers will find the current pickings pretty slim - but should keep an eye on any property that hangs around - it could be the last chance at a good price in Holliston for a while.

Holliston Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Holliston “Home Seller Index” (HSI):189 Last Report: 145
• There are 36 homes listed as For Sale in Holliston.
• There have been 153 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 97 homes sold in the last 3 months.

  Fall Foliage is peaking, just like Holliston Home Sale Prices in this report.

• The Average number of Days on Market was 72 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 92 days of the homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $198 (vs. $184 )
• There was an Average Sold Price of $454,584 for sold homes.
• Holliston, MA, has 0 properties (vs. 1 in the last report) advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Holliston has 1 properties (vs. 4) advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by lender .

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Note, there will be a some what artificial jump in the rankings as the active status flag is being phased out. (this is a good thing, but will screw up my data sets).

More Great Reads!

• Which is better, 2x4 or 2x6 home construction?
• What are the types of foundations we find in housing, and what should I know about them?
• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What is pre-paid PMI, and is it a good deal?
• How do I get rid of PMI on my mortgage payment?
• How do I prepare for getting ready to buy a house?
• When Should I do a Lead Paint Test on my Home

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Sox Close out Series for the Ages with Detroit Tigers

What a series. I have never seen a series where:

1) There were so many good hitters - who didn't hit

David Ortiz - a postseason monster, with a .900 OPS in the postseason - went 2 for 22, .090, in this series. Miggy Cabrera- the best hitter in baseball - ended up in the .250s, with 4 RBIs, but stranded about 10 runners. And Prince Fielder was a simply a mess this series. A talented player who normally strikes fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers, he was a non-factor. Pedroia did very little. Salty did nothing. I mean, for the Sox, Xander Boegarts, who apparently doesn't know how to swing at a bad pitch, was an offensive highlight reel for the Sox, with a couple of doubles and some enormous timely walks. Ridiculous at bats where he simply wore down the opposing pitcher. And he only played in half the games.

2) There were so many good pitchers- who lived up to their billing

Two games were decided 1-0. But more incredible was the number of strikes. Every pitcher was determined to get ahead in the count, from the starters to the relievers on both sides. I've never seen so many 0-2 counts in a series like this. It must have been what watching baseball was like in the 40's and 50's, before the concept of OBP and the modern bullpen. Guys on the hill saying, "here's my stuff, now go hit it". Not a single Detroit starter had a bad night. Only Peavy really had a bad start for the Sox in game four. That's one bad start out of 12. Really, that's not something I've ever seen, nor do I expect to see it again.

3) Mental Mistakes, Grace under Pressure, defined the winners and losers.

How many runs did the Tigers leave on the field last night? 3? 4? 5? A LOT. How many runs scored through bad defense on the Tigers side? 2? 3? I know for sure defensive miscues ran up Scherzer's pitch count. I know for sure Prince Fielder should have been the Tigers third run. What a screw up! The Tigers made some great plays, for sure, but the base running blunders in this series were staggering. The errors in the field that they made were at the worst time. And the few mistakes they made pitching the Red Sox made them pay, in monstrous ways. 2 Grand Slams in one series? After the 7 inning? Where one put away the game and the other changed the outcome? Unbelievable.

These teams were not evenly matched on paper. On paper, the Tigers had the edge. The margin in these games was so thin, that things like pressure plays and fundamentals ultimately decided the victor. It was fun, fun, fun to watch, and my only regret is that I didn't get to watch every single inning. I'm sure I won't see another series like that for a long time.

Bring on St. Louis! Grit meets Grit

Who is happier this morning than St. Louis fans? They've been itching to take the sting out of 2004, where the Sox swept them out the door like so much dust on a rug, every since. They had a very good team that year, but the Sox were a slugging freight train that would not be stopped. I still remember Manager LaRussa at the end of the series staring blankly into the TV cameras, wondering what happened to his team. Stunned that it had all ended so quickly, so decisively. Really, I felt bad for them that year. There was no way they had a chance.

But 2004 was a long time ago. (How long? Back before I was married and had three kids! Sheesh!). These teams have little in common with those teams. David Ortiz, for the Sox, and Yadier Molina, catcher for the Cardinals, I believe are the lone carryovers on both teams, and both are still cornerstones of offense for their franchises.

Everyone else, though, is different.

This series will also promises to be a lower scoring affair. St. Louis pitchers sported a 3.42 ERA, good for fifth in the NL, while Boston had similar success at 6th in the AL. Both bullpens have great stuff, so these games will likely be decided early, with plenty of drama in the late innings - but I would think few lead changes.

I would also think the nod would have to go to the Sox offense, which has, it seems to me, more of a track record of hitting and power.

I see signs the Sox are starting to hit again. Certainly, as good as the pitchers are in St. Louis, they do not have the standing that Verlander, Scherzer, and even Fister have. Nor are we talking about Price, Matt Moore and Alex Cobb. They are good pitchers, but probably not the same level as many of the guys the Sox have already faced.

It will be fun learning about these Cardinals, who lack star recognition, but in many ways so did the Sox at the start of the year. Grit and fundamentals got them where they are, and I'll be St. Louis is a very similar team. Should be a good show!

The half bath was converted to the master bedroom shower, and some dead space was also used to make the rest of the master bath.  It was a big house, so two sinks was the way to go.

Homes For Sale in Grafton Market Report

OK, Grafton continues to chug along. There is actually very little that has changed since the last report. Here's the chart:

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

We see that sales vs. actives remains unbalanced. Worthy of note is that the prices are up sharply in this report - after falling slightly in the last report ($165) they have jumped up to $178. That would be worth of more discussion, but these $10 jumps are seen in many of my recent reports, so this is just more confirmation that a rising tide lifts all boats. Here's another way of looking at it.  It took 18 months, from January 2011 to July 2012, for prices to move $8/sq foot.  But it 3 months to move it $13 this year.  That is a major move.

No real news on the bank impacted front. Still some short-sales, but this market has much improved for sellers this year.

Grafton Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Grafton “Home Seller Index” (HSI): 109 Last Report:110 
• There are 95 homes listed as For Sale in Grafton.

  Skies are Blue in Grafton for Home Sellers, as prices have started to move.

• There have been 164 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 98 homes sold in the last 3 months.
• The Average number of Days on Market was 80 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 220 days of the homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $178 (vs. $165)
• There was an Average Sold Price of $408,809 for sold homes.
• Grafton, MA, has 0 properties (vs. zero in the last report) advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Grafton has 3 properties advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by lender .

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Note, there will be a some what artificial jump in the rankings as the active status flag is being phased out. (this is a good thing, but will screw up my data sets).

More Great Reads!

• Which is better, 2x4 or 2x6 home construction?
• What are the types of foundations we find in housing, and what should I know about them?
• How do I get the seller to pay my closing costs, and is it free money?
• What is pre-paid PMI, and is it a good deal?
• How do I get rid of PMI on my mortgage payment?
• How do I prepare for getting ready to buy a house?
• When Should I do a Lead Paint Test on my Home

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Red Sox Take Lead in Series by beating Verlander at his own game

Any fan of baseball, at some level begins to appreciate the fact that there's no such thing as a sure thing. Justin Verlander is about as good a pitcher as there has been since Pedro. You might be able to put King Felix in that mix too. Verlander has pitched 200 innings for 8 years, had 200 K's for 5 years.  That is simply dominance, and extended dominance. You have to like your chances when he is on the mound.

Yet against all reason, the Tigers have lost 4 of the last 5 games he has pitched. Verlander has given up ONE RUN in FIVE GAMES, Three in the postseason, and has one W to show for it. I'd be foaming at the mouth, if I was him. He was in complete control yesterday, and let one pitch beat him - a good pitch, just not good enough. And now they are down 2-1, and have given home field advantage back to the Red Sox.

The Red Sox/Tigers Series Nutshell

The first game was hard to watch. Sanchez - the former Red Sox minor leaguer - was as good as I've ever seen him. He made the Sox lineup look like minor leaguers, that's for sure. Wonder if he still had a chip on his shoulder for being traded? But there was a glimmer of hope. The Sox, as they've done all season, wore him out. His pitch count was so high Leyland took him out of the game in the seventh - despite the fact he hadn't given up a hit. And that meant they were in to the Bullpen of the Tigers, which, in my humble opinion, stinks.

Tip your cap, the Detroit bullpen got their nine outs that night, and won the game 1-0. Many Sox fans were thinking - my Dad included - that down 0-1 with Scherzer and Verlander next - things were pretty grim. But I optimistically pointed out to my Dad that if the Sox could continue to get the Detroit bullpen, their leads won't hold up. And, I further postulated, the Red Sox would continue to get better at bats as the series wore

on. The more familiar they get with a pitcher, the more dangerous this group of grinders get. And they are simply playing the best baseball of the year, with aggressive pitching (no nibblers on this team), terrific base running, and managerial calls that almost always seem to work out.

Cue game two, which saw all of the above, a come back for the ages against a Bullpen that I think showed it's true colors. In game 3, the Sox matched the Tigers pitch for pitch, but came out ahead on a home run by Napoli, who was riding the pine in game #2. The bullpen completely closed out the Tigers, who had their chances, but kept finding themselves down 0-2 to a couple of guys nobody saw pitching late innings for the Sox in April.

Predictions for the rest of the series

This series will remain tight. The Tigers are clearly one of the top two teams in AL, and their pitching is fearsome. I thought the Sox would be down 2-1 at this point, and would win the series in 7 as they took advantage of that Bullpen down the stretch. Certainly, the Tigers can win, but they have a lot going against them now. Fister is no Verlander, he pitches to contact, and it's hard to see another 1-0 game this series. Can Sanchez be as effective after throwing all those pitches? He'll be on five days rest, but does he have another 120 pitch no hitter in him? I doubt it. Ditto Verlander, who, as great as he is, may struggle trying to pitch BETTER than he did yesterday. Leyland is clearly trying to hide his bullpen (who uses three pitchers in the ninth inning to get 3 outs?) and they must suspect that he doesn't trust them. That can't be good. So it'll be up to the hitters of Detroit to start putting numbers on the board, and if they do get hot, that could end the ride that Sox fans have been on since April.

But don't count on it. The Sox at bats are getting better, the bullpen has loads of confidence, and they have the lead - with two more games at friendly Fenway if they need them. They have no quit in them, and I think they will grind away with Detriot wondering what happened when the Red Sox are through with them. We will see - but I know I'm blocking out my calender to watch the rest of this series.

Here's hoping the Dodgers pull out a miracle to get to the W.S. That would be must-see TV.

Homes For Sale in Framingham Market Report

Well, those who have been following Framingham know that it has been on an absolute tear. I noted in the last post, that I didn't think I would see a 189 on the HSI again. Prices in Framingham were soaring, and it just didn't make sense that things would continue.

But real estate markets don't have to make sense.

That's why Framingham became even more buyer hungry, as lack of available houses and the ability to do sound comparisons is making home just fly off the shelves. But don't take my word for it, let's look at the chart:

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

So, yes, that is a new record for the HSI, 218. That's driven primarily by the sales vs. actives ratio, which is almost 5 to 1. To put the 475 sales that Framingham has seen in the last month in some sort of context, that's more than the entire of city of Worcester recorded here on the blog 2011. And it's not far off Worcester's current sales pace. Framingham is a big town, has a lot of houses, but it's not Worcester. Not even close.

What does this mean for prospective house hunters? It means that you should be aware that Framingham is beyond Frothy at this point. Prices have jumped 13% since February - of this year!! There are certainly other towns in the area that start to look pretty compelling at those prices, so I would definitely suggest looking around some of the other towns. Where is hard to suggest, because I don't know your criteria, but trust me - look around! If you are a potential home seller - I'll repeat what I said last time - get your house ready for the market!! I don't think there has ever been a better time (well, technically, you may have missed it already, but it's still very, very hot).

Framingham Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Framingham “Home Seller Index” (HSI):218 Last Report: 189
• There are 96 homes listed as For Sale in Framingham.
• There have been 475 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 291 homes sold in the last 3 months.

  Fall is here!  Get your leaf blowers ready!

• The Average number of Days on Market was 54 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 101 days of the homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $198 (vs. $185 )
• There was an Average Sold Price of $372,379 for sold homes.
• Framingham ,MA, has 1 properties (vs 3) advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Framingham has 4 properties (vs. 4) advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by lender .

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Note, there will be a some what artificial jump in the rankings as the active status flag is being phased out. (this is a good thing, but will screw up my data sets).

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• How do I prepare for getting ready to buy a house?
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About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

Do Good Things Today! Matt Heisler

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.