Massachusetts Property Blog

A new island to be built off Monte Carlo is already attracting the attention of property investors, despite the fact that it will be another ten years before it is complete.

Comprising an area of 275,000 square metres, the island will include new apartments, hotels and retail units, with an estimated build cost of between 5 and 10 billion Euros.

Of the sixteen developers who submitted proposals for the island last year, five have been chosen to submit further details, with the winning bid anticipated to be announced in the autumn.

The second smallest country in the world, Monaco has France and Italy as neighbours, and realistically can only extend her land mass by reclamation from the Mediterranean, as it did some years ago with the area known as Fontvieille, and by building islands.

The arrival of new property for sale in Monaco will be particularly welcome. Monaco recently overtook London as the most expensive property destination in London.

Although new properties are currently being built in Monaco, these are for local residents, and not those seeking residency in the principality.

Residents in Monaco enjoy benefits including no income tax, and is a major attraction for business men and women.

Current properties for sale in Monaco include a small 30m2 studio at 720,000 Euros, a one bedroom 75m2 apartment at 1,500,000 Euros and a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment at just over 3,000,000 Euros.

Rising Prices

The classic rules of supply and demand in the real estate market are likely to see Monaco property prices rise further in the short and medium term, according to one Monaco property company.

With one bedroom apartments in the Principality already at the million Euro level, the lack of properties coming to the market and the absence of new builds could make today’s prices seem like a bargain in five years time.

‘Three years ago there were six hundred properties on the market’, they claim, ‘Now there are two hundred. Coupled with increased demand, especially from the UK, prices have been rising and could go quite a bit further if current trends continue.’

Visitors to Monaco and Monte Carlo are often surprised at the lack of apartments for sale as they can see new buildings under construction.

‘The apartment buildings under construction are for local Monaco people’, they explain, ‘Rather than for the open market where anyone can buy a property. The situation is unlikely to improve in the short and medium term but the number of buyers is rising - and consequently so are the prices. Monaco now has the highest priced property in Europe.’

Other reasons for the shortage of property in Monaco include that residents are holding on to their apartments longer, enjoying the tax free status Monaco affords, and as the owners see their property rising in value holding on to it as an investment.

To maintain residency in Monaco, residents need to live in the Principality for six months a year. Winter time often sees a lot of apartments mothballed with the owners wintering in the Caribbean.

Roger Munns
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/monaco-island-moves-closer-121198.html

I have a condo that is now a second home. I lost my tenant and my job and can not pay the mortgage. It was my primary residence for at least two years within the last five years. I am trying to negotiate a short sale or deed in leiu of foreclosure. Here are my questions:

#1 I lived there for more than two of last five years, would this still be considered primary residence for not having to pay tax consequences on short sale/foreclosure?
#2 Should I pay the HOA fees still while not paying mortgage? What is the benefit? Will they not accept a short sale or deed in leiu if I default on HOA fees?
#3 Should I pay property taxes? I can either pay HOA fees or property taxes? But not both. Which is more important to keep paying to get the short sale or deed in leui of foreclosure? Or does it not matter if I don’t pay either?
#4 If they pursue a deficiency judgement and get it awarded, if I don’t have any assets, how do I get out of paying it without filing bankruptcy? Or will they not award a deficiency judgement if I have no assets?

Thank you. I live in Massachusetts.
Thanks, but I am not paying the mortgage. That was not part of my question. I was wondering about the HOA fees and the property taxes.

These are very complicate questions. I also have a waterfront condo and this is what I know. The state I am living I have to live in my condo for 2 years to the 5 years total to get primary residence status. You can easily obtain the fact in MA by calling your local taxation department. If you don’t pay HOA fee, the HOA will put a lien on your condo. You can’t sell your condo unless the lien is being paid. If it is going to be foreclosed by the bank that the bank will have to pay the HOA fee if they want to sell/auction off your property. The bank knows about HOA fees and believes me; they are not in a hurry to take over title of your condo. The same thing will go to property tax & insurance the bank will have to pay for them too! That I hope will answer your question #2 & 3. On question #4, if the bank can successfully sell it as a “short sale”, the rest of the balance you owe will be forgiven. However, if it goes to foreclosure auction, the difference of the amounts you owe minus the auction amount the bank gets - that the bank will has the next following 4 years to collect from you. They might even slam you with a 1099 - means you have to pay tax on the amount of difference at year end. But the reality is if you have no money or no assets, they cannot do anything to you except it will put a dent on your credit You have a complicated situation, I strongly suggest you should see a foreclosure lawyer to protect yourself from the bank since the wording in the document are very important. You don’t want to tie up your financial future for the next 4 yrs. Lots of luck and I hope it can help.

This is a textbook rental. Renting from Chegg.com is easy; just rent, receive and return using a free UPS shipping label. Semester rental is 125 days. Includes a 30-Day “”Any Reason”" Guarantee for full refunds, shipping costs and more.

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Think about the opportunities out there for you- with the right property search! For condos, townhouses and houses in Cambridge, MA our agents have the real estate experience you need. Your next property search is very important! Our agents know the Cambridge area. Visit us online to learn about our experienced agents- see why we are the agency for your property search in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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Theres a house out there for you, and were here to help you find it. The Arlington area has so much to offer- whats important to you in choosing a home? If you want a home in the Arlington, MA area, call the real estate leaders for condo, townhome and house listings! Visit us online to learn about our experienced agents, and see why we are the agency for your home in Arlington, Massachusetts.

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http://www.SobranGroup.com - Waterviews galore w/ one floor living & Crow Point charm. This arts & crafts style home offers great comfort & lots of light. Views from nearly every room, large lot & room to expand if desired. Cathedral ceilings in spacious living room, writer's/artist nook with peaceful views of Walton Cove & the harbor beyond. Close to beach, town & commuter boat. Deck, rock outcroppings, perfect for weekend getaway or as a condo alternative. COME BE IMPRESSED!

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We have the knowledge to get the job done in todays market. Our agents average more sales than the typical agent- and can help you find the perfect house for sale in your price range. Whether youre looking for property, new construction or a charming historic house, nobody sells more real estate. Call us today or visit online- we are the agency for a house for sale in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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That's the thing about fashion. One minute you're all the rage and the next, you're history.

Investing is no different. And as we all know; what goes up, must come down.

Duration : 3 min 45 sec

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By the year 2025, the U.S. population is expected to increase by 25%, according to projections. This puts the nation on a growth path similar to the one experienced just after World War II, when the GIs came home and helped create the Baby Boom in the 1950s and 60s. This, and the fact that Americans are living longer, means that nearly every U.S. market segment will expand in numbers over the next 25 years.

“This [population] growth will combine with increasing diversity to create an ever-growing list of market segments,” says Josh Calder, chief editor of the Global Lifestyles project, a research venture of an Arlington, Virginia-based consultancy, Social Technologies. “I saw a professionally made bumper sticker the other day that said, ‘Proud to be Sikh and American.’ Such niches driven by ethnicity, attitudes, and interest will proliferate,” he adds.

As the population increases, traditional niche markets may become difficult for businesses to target with a single marketing strategy. The niche market of today will become a mass market in its own right tomorrow.

These new markets will naturally become segmented not only by nationality or age, but also by spending behavior and other psychographic characteristics. It’s already happening today — as traditional social groups are breaking down, people are meeting their needs for connection through communities of interest, or “beehives,” that express personal identity.

“Beehiving is the growth of tight-knit, alternative communities sharing common values and passions. Marketers must tap into beehive rituals, customs, and language to build trust and patronage,” according to Vickie Abrahamson, co-founder and executive vice president of Minneapolis-based Iconoculture, a trends consulting firm.

The growing tendency to form new, small groups that share common interests, values, activities, and passions ranges from extreme snowboarders to the Happy Camper RV Club. Beehives offer the equivalent of a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for consumers, and represent the development of new marketing groups. Their common interests give marketers new and different hot buttons that can be used to attract customers more reliably than age, gender, or ethnicity alone.

How to communicate to beehives

For marketers, beehives are “good news and bad news.” The good news: Beehives help us identify new ways to connect with people, new hot buttons that people are reacting to, and a different way to slice the pie. So many tired and rehashed marketing methods fall on deaf ears that it’s exciting to think there might be something our audiences will listen to and react to in new ways. We just need to speak their language.

The bad news: It’s all new territory, and it’s all over the place. The audience you want to attract is probably fragmented into many different beehives, and you’ll have to learn how to navigate the new waters. For instance, if you’re an organizational communicator, your audience is probably not members of “Your Company Beehive” who are eagerly awaiting your next communication — instead, they could be rollerbladers, poets, NASCAR enthusiasts, etc., and you’ll have to figure out how to grab their common interests to create your own community. If you’re marketing a product, you might want to find out how different beehive segments can use it, and communicate to them individually — at least in some part of your marketing. Interesting, huh?

It does give us all food for thought. And another thing to think about: not all beehives come into being naturally — beehives can be directed, and they can be encouraged. The following is a list of some examples of beehive behavior — some of which were brought about deliberately by experience marketing.

Beehive behavior

Wristband fever

Lance Armstrong and the Wear Yellow campaign made wristbands popular, and groups everywhere started asking you to wear your passion on your wrist. Approximately 55 million people across the globe wear a LIVESTRONG™ wristband in support of people living with cancer.

Online communities

You can find a web group for almost every interest. There are online communities for owners of miniature dachshunds, Star Trek lovers, and migraine sufferers. And more than 85 groups of fans gather online just to discuss the Italian comedian, Beppe Grillo.

Belief-based products

In the Middle East, cola drinkers link taste to faith when they buy the anti-Western “Mecca Cola.” Part of its corporate philosophy is its pledge to donate 10% of its profits to fund humanitarian projects in the Palestinian territories, and another 10% to charities in the countries in which the drink is sold. This activist stance is reflected in the company slogan, which appears on all its products: “No more drinking stupid, drink with commitment!”

Just like Me

Parents of young daughters are aware of the American Girl doll phenomenon, where customers willspend hours in American Girl Place, shopping for branded dolls, clothing, books, accessories, and memorabilia. American Girl even has its own restaurant, the American Girl Café (with a four-month waiting list). Dressed in matching outfits, girls come from all over to dine with their little plastic friends.

Investing and real estate clubs

Scores of people who wouldn’t otherwise leave their homes are getting together once or twice a month to learn and talk about finance and investing. They invite speakers, have group projects, exchange tips, and go on trips together.

The bottom line buzz

All of these groups are bound together by their chosen interests and passions; that’s what makes them strong. It wasn’t necessarily that the people in them were born at a certain time, or as a certain gender, or into a certain ethnicity, or had anything else happen to them that was beyond their control — they chose these groups, they made an effort to belong. As the population continues to increase, people will continue to form new beehives, and new markets will appear that will segment by spending behavior and other psychographic characteristics. Marketers can take advantage of this trend by recognizing these beehives, taking note of how they affect spending and behavior, and tapping into what makes them tick — and then communicating to them on their own terms.

Sources:

American Demographics

Fast Company

CityGuide.aol.com

Wikipedia.org

Marcia Hoeck
http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/beehives-how-to-attract-these-new-market-segments-97434.html

http://www.northboromarealestate.com Tour Northborough, MA neighborhoods, condominium developments, subdivisions, schools, landmarks, recreational areas, and town offices.

Northborough, Massachusetts was originally part of the Town of Marlborough, then Westborough. It became a separate town with the right of representation at the Great and General Court of Boston in 1775.

Early civic activity in Northborough revolved around its churches, then known as “meeting houses”. Northborough’s first meeting house was built on land given by Captain James Eager in 1776; the First Congregational Unitarian Church stands in its place today. The legally elected officers of the town were the church “tithing men” and town ministers were the arbiters of both town and family life. Though Northborough has grown and changed considerably in the nearly 250 years since its founding, a significant historical district at the town center provides a living reminder of the community’s colonial past.

Today, Northborough operates under its own home rule charter. The town is governed by a five-member select board and the town meeting membership of registered voters. Though primarily residential in nature today, Northborough also hosts a burgeoning research and development-oriented industrial park. For other town tours visit http://www.virtualhomes.com . For towns in MA visit http://www.ma-virtualhomes.com . For MA relocation information go to http://www.relocationma.com . For a MA MLS map search visit http://www.virtualhomesmls.com .

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