General Index 

Worcester Recent Home Sales Data

• Worcester has 485  homes (vs. 497 in last Worcester Home Sales Report) listed as Active
• Worcester  had 357 houses (vs. 388)  sold in the last 6 months, and 175  homes sold in the last 3 months
• Worcester has an Average Market Time of 126 days (vs. 114)  for SOLD  homes
• Worcester has an Average Market Time of 178 days (vs. 170) for ACTIVE homes
• Worcester  has an Average Sold Price of $ 179,606  (vs. 185) for  sold homes
• Worcester has 44 properties advertised as lender owned (typically foreclosure) 
• Worcester has 120 properties advertised as short-sales 

Analysis of Housing Market Statistics

Worcester, Massachusetts hasn't moved much since the last report. A little softer for sellers, but considering the weather we've had, not bad. And here's another drag on inventory - Short-sales and foreclosures. With fully 33% of the Worcester active market either short-sales (25% of the market) or foreclosures (8%), expect to see market time climb, and valuations continue to fall. The inventory overhang - almost 30% - basically dictates that anyway, but when looking at all the "lender involved" inventory, you can see Worcester is a troubled market for sellers. On the plus side, with so much "difficult to purchase" inventory, sellers who do NOT need a short-sale are probably in a position to draw traffic. Buyers in a hurry will be drawn to homes that can sell quickly. Sellers should take advantage of that fact.

Top Articles

• Ice Dam Prevention Tips and Tricks!
• Does the basement get water? Don't wait to find out!
• How serious is that moss on the roof?
• How do interest rates on mortgages affect housing prices?
• How can I save money on my home? 10 Quick tips anyone can do.
• WHAT DOES 'PASSED TITLE V', or 'TITLE V IN HAND' MEAN?
• Should I get an adjustable or a fixed rate mortgage?

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of Heisler & Mattson Properties. He has been selling residential real-estate for over 20 years. He has given several talks on real estate, including presentations on first-time buyer tips & tricks, and profiting in real estate investing in Massachusetts. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community. *All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Top Articles

• Ice Dam Prevention Tips and Tricks!
• Does the basement get water? Don't wait to find out!
• How serious is that moss on the roof?
• How do interest rates on mortgages affect housing prices?
• How can I save money on my home? 10 Quick tips anyone can do.
• WHAT DOES 'PASSED TITLE V', or 'TITLE V IN HAND' MEAN?
• How can I shop for an interest rate for a refi or purchase?

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of Heisler & Mattson Properties. He has been selling residential real-estate for over 10 years. He has given several talks on real estate, including presentations on first-time buyer tips & tricks, and profiting in real estate investing in Massachusetts. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community. *All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

With so much bad news constantly being thrown at us, here's some inspiring news.

Robbie Tusino, a police officer from Milford, saved a 14 month old from choking to death using a form of the Heimlich manuver.  As the father of a 14 month old, I can't imagine what it felt like - before, when he was blue, to after, when he recovered.  You can read the full story on Boston.com here. Oh, yeah, and for the parents of small children, please cut your hot dogs lengthwise to eliminate the round shape.  Hot Dogs remain at the top of the list of foods small children choke on.

Do Good Things Today!

 Matt Heisler

Bold Optimism this year.  Bold.

Personally, I think the Sox have a better than average shot at 100 wins.  So let's just say it.  I predict 100 wins.  Let's face it: The Yanks are worse.  Much worse.  The Rays are worse, and probably much worse (they have too many young guys to really know, but we'll see).  The Sox are better, and much better.  (Baltimore, the dormat for the last decade, is better though).  With all the divisional games, the key for 100 games is in the division.  Usually, the Sox split against NY and Tampa (or close to it).  If they can pick up six games here by going 12-7 against each, we're in the mix for 100.

But things happen.  Here are 10 things that could happen to prevent it.

1. A-Rod.  Since he signed his mammoth 10 year deal and got caught doing PEDs, he has been a good player.  But he hasn't been A-Rod.  No joke, in the new Yankee stadium this cat should be hitting 50 HR a year. He's hit 30 the last two years, with an average OPS under .900.  Basically, at that rate, he's going to go down as one of the most over paid players ever if he doesn't pick up the pace.  He could do just that, and give the Bronx Bombers a truly fearsome line-up.  Just cause he's had two off years, doesn't mean he's at a new level.  But if his old stats are, well, PEDs-related, and the "just really good, but not great" A-rod is here to stay, that won't help NY.
2. Texeria.  I don't know, you tell me: Do you think the Yanks signed this guy to hit .256 and under .500 slugging?  I think not.  But those are his stats last year, which involved a second year where he didn't hit his weight in April. Unless you think he really weighs less than 137 pounds.  If he and A-rod have a break-out year, the Yanks should coast to 92 wins, by just pummeling other teams.  If they do, they'll win their share against the Sox, and 100 wins is down the tubes.  
3. Tampa Bay rookies have break out seasons.  If you haven't noticed folks, the GM in Tampa has figured out how to stockpile young guys with talent.  His rotation is still going to be good, but will be weaker without Matt Garza, and he did lose a premier talent in Crawford, as well as several other productive scorers.  I don't really know how Tampa will score runs this year, but I think their offense could be so anemic as to stress out the starters, bullpen, and everyone else as they try to win every game 2-1.  But as noted at the start, we'll see how that works out.
4. Beckett stays, um, terrible.  I think most of us have noticed that Beckett has been good year/bad year, for his time here.  He should be on a "good year", but he's had enough bad ones to keep me nervous.  Worth watching, as they need him to dominate.
5. Injuries. Yeah, a lame one.  But it's legit.  If you'd told me last spring the Sox would have major injuries to Beckett, Dice-K, Youkillis, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Cameron, Varitek and Martinez, (that's 33% of the TEAM, all starters.) I'd have said you were nuts, that no one is that unlucky.  Well, the Sox were that unlucky.  And it could happen again, but probably not.
6. Ellsbury goes in the tank.  Who knows what we'll get from him this year?  .275 and 150 games?  .300? Or will he keep running into walls and knocking himself out of games?  'Coby, I love your defensive effort. I do. But you can't help us from the bench.  The Sox don't need him to be a successful team, but they do need him to get to 100 wins.  18 games won't cut it this year.
7. The Catching position is important.  The Sox are keeping their options open here, for sure.  But no one really knows what we're going to get here.  It could be a black hole offensively and defensively, and cost them games.  Lots of games.
8. Gonzales doesn't like crowds.  Folks, it happens.  Not everyone can play at Fenway.  Going from Petco to Fenway is like going from a farm in Indiana to Tokyo.  Can he handle the pressure to perform?  Can he use it to excel?  Or will he fold like a newspaper?  My money is he'll be AWESOME, but we don't know.  He'll be in a major spot in the batting order (I have him third), and could kill the team if he can't hit for a couple of months.
9. The Yankees find pitching.  They don't have any options to strengthen the rotation that I see.  I guess Burnett could get his head on straight and they make a major trade. I don't see it happening.  However, Cashman's not afraid to pull out the stops if he thinks it's a difference maker, so something could happen.  With pitching, the Yanks are fearsome.  Right now though, they're just a good team whose going to get clobbered from time to time.
10. Baltimore or Toronto show up. Well, nothing is impossible in baseball.  They look overmatched to me, but that's why they play the games.

Do Good Things Today!

 Matt Heisler

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I was doing some research today on Ice Dams - which so many of folks are dealing with today.  Normally, I discuss articles based on some research and my own findings, but in this case, there were so many good sites devoted to the topic, I thought I would just cross post some of the better ones I found.

1. More from Moonworks Home Improvement

The diagrams say it all, but the key takeaways for everyone are:

Ice Dams can't Always be Prevented.

 If the weather patterns fall a certain way, virtually every roof - no matter how well situated to prevent them - could have a ice damn.  But a proper roof situation can minimize the damage an ice dam might cause.  So the question is, are you having them every year, and are they affecting your interior or your walls? That's a bad situation, and needs adjustment.

Proper Ventilation is Critical

Not all homes make it easy to keep the edge of the roof cold, but ventilation in the attic is the key to minimizing ice dam damage. If you're having ice dams, check your roof to make sure you have good air flow from soffits to ridge vents, and that the soffits aren't blocked by insulation. We see these problems at many, many inspections. The colder the attic, the fewer ice dams you will have. If the air flow is good, but your still having problems, it may be time to look at roof heat wire - if the roof is young - or adding water and ice shielding to a new roof could be the next steps.

If you're going to re-do your roof, don't skimp on ice shielding to prevent ice dam damage.

Many roofers to save costs at install time will just install 6 or 8 inches of roof edge, which provides valuable ice dam damage protection.   Although nothing short of a full metal roof will really guarantee you won't have an issue, each inch helps protect the roof underlayment and everything else under it - including your home. If you're redoing your roof, ask for extra roof edge (the flashing under the edge of your roof, usually aluminum). Get 12 or 18 or even 24 inches, depending on your pitch, ventilation, and history of problems.

Gutters can Exacerbate Ice Dam Problems!

 It's true.  While most homeowners rate gutters as a plus to have, if you don't have them, your ice damning may be less of a problem.  Gutters are terrific at catching water, but that feature is an issue when you're trying to get the water away from your roof and it keeps freezing.

4.  The thawing of an ice dam can be more dangerous than the freeze up.

The snow at the top is likely to melt quicker than the ice at the edge of your roof; that creates water with no place to go except back under your shingles.  Yikes! If a real melt down is coming, or rain is expected in the forecast, and you have large ice dams, think about removing them.

Be cautious when doing removing ice dams yourself!

First off, if you're going to do it your self, be REALLY careful.  Heights, snow, ice, and sharp and heavy objects are a super dangerous combination, and not to be taken lightly.  Make sure to use shovels without metal edges (to avoid roof damage), and use professional ice picks to hack away at ice. Remember to use eye protection. The right tools go along way for safety. Screwdrivers, hammers, and blow torches are NOT ice removal tools.  And while we're at it, pulling on an ice dam from underneath it is a good way to get crushed.  Be smart. Don't be this guy.

Do Good Things Today!

 Matt Heisler

We're happy to have sold another home in Southborough.

Hope the buyers find it to be as warm and inviting as the sellers did for many years!

Are you looking to sell a home in Southborough or Metrowest?  I can help.  Ask me how!

Do Good Things Today!

 Matt Heisler

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Top Articles

• Are fences a good way to build equity in my home?
• Does the basement get water? Don't wait to find out!
• How serious is that moss on the roof?
• How do interest rates on mortgages affect housing prices?
• How can I save money on my home? 10 Quick tips anyone can do.
• WHAT DOES 'PASSED TITLE V', or 'TITLE V IN HAND' MEAN?
• How can I shop for an interest rate for a refi or purchase?

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of Heisler & Mattson Properties. He has been selling residential real-estate for over 10 years. He has given several talks on real estate, including presentations on first-time buyer tips & tricks, and profiting in real estate investing in Massachusetts. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community. *All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Top Articles

• Are fences a good way to build equity in my home?
• Does the basement get water? Don't wait to find out!
• How serious is that moss on the roof?
• How do interest rates on mortgages affect housing prices?
• How can I save money on my home? 10 Quick tips anyone can do.
• WHAT DOES 'PASSED TITLE V', or 'TITLE V IN HAND' MEAN?
• How can I shop for an interest rate for a refi or purchase?

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of Heisler & Mattson Properties. He has been selling residential real-estate for over 10 years. He has given several talks on real estate, including presentations on first-time buyer tips & tricks, and profiting in real estate investing in Massachusetts. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community. *All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Top Articles

• Are fences a good way to build equity in my home?
• Does the basement get water? Don't wait to find out!
• How serious is that moss on the roof?
• How do interest rates on mortgages affect housing prices?
• How can I save money on my home? 10 Quick tips anyone can do.
• WHAT DOES 'PASSED TITLE V', or 'TITLE V IN HAND' MEAN?
• How can I shop for an interest rate for a refi or purchase?

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of Heisler & Mattson Properties. He has been selling residential real-estate for over 10 years. He has given several talks on real estate, including presentations on first-time buyer tips & tricks, and profiting in real estate investing in Massachusetts. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community. *All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Top Articles

• Are fences a good way to build equity in my home?
• Does the basement get water? Don't wait to find out!
• How serious is that moss on the roof?
• How do interest rates on mortgages affect housing prices?
• How can I save money on my home? 10 Quick tips anyone can do.
• WHAT DOES 'PASSED TITLE V', or 'TITLE V IN HAND' MEAN?
• How can I shop for an interest rate for a refi or purchase?

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of Heisler & Mattson Properties. He has been selling residential real-estate for over 10 years. He has given several talks on real estate, including presentations on first-time buyer tips & tricks, and profiting in real estate investing in Massachusetts. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community. *All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.