RE/MAX Destiny
Liz Bolton Joins RE/MAX Destiny
Welcome Liz Bolton!
We are very happy to announce that Elisabeth Bolton has joined RE/MAX Destiny. Liz was first licensed in 2000 and quickly became a highly valued member of the Cambridge Real Estate Community. She has a B.A. from Wellesley College and received her M.S. from Simmons College.
She has obtained a number of designations and specialized certifications including Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certification by the National Trust for Historic Preservation on Historic Property, Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) – a designation held by fewer than 1 in 20 real estate agents. Liz is also a Certified Negotiation Specialist, Certified E-Marketing Specialist and has obtained the Loss Mitigation Certification.
As a lifelong New Englander Liz combines local expertise and knowledge with the experience gained from several home renovations which means she has contacts and advice to share with clients contemplating improvements, renovations or additions. Liz quickly connects and establishes meaningful long lasting relationships with her clients. Her considerable success is no doubt due to her energetic and enthusiastic commitment to outstanding service.
We are very excited to have her become a member of our team.
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Cost Of Renting A Home On The Rise
Tim Schmidt, our rental manager was interviewed by WBZ-TV about the cost of rentals in the Boston area.
By Joe Shortsleeve, WBZ-TV Chief Correspondent
August 15, 2012 12:01 AM
BOSTON (CBS) – It’s a question that frustrates tenants across the state: why are rents so high?
In fact, rents in the Greater Boston area are among the highest in the country.
By one estimate, it takes $1,700 to get a unit in the suburbs and $3,000 in downtown Boston.
“This season has been extraordinary. Rents are super high. I think the vacancy rate is 3-percent right now,” said Tim Schmidt of REMAX Destiny in Cambridge.
That vacancy rate is second only to San Francisco.
Schmidt believes one reason for the high rents is good news. The region’s job market is stronger than most other cities.
“You see a lot of start- ups, a lot of bio-tech,” said Schmidt. “There are people starting jobs in the $70,000-$100,000 range and moving to Boston.”
Although there have been new units added in unconventional areas like adjacent to Fenway Park, inventory cannot meet demand.
Somerville Condo Trends – May 2012
Somerville Summary: May condo inventory remains quite low down by -40%. ~ Listing $ volume was down 27 million from $68.5 million to $40.7million. ~ The median list price went up $10,000 with the active days on market shortening by 11 days to 2 months. ~ Condos going under agreement increased by 39%. Condos sold for May soared by 53%% with year to date sales up 30%.
Somerville condo sold $ volume YTD is up $19 million or 32%.~ Sold average days on market increased a modest 8 days. The original price to sale price ratio increased to 98% of the original list price. ~ The average square foot price decreased modestly by $4 to $340 per square foot with the average condo size at 1,221 square feet.
Welcome Lisa Doherty-Santana
There is nothing I enjoy more than working with people that are passionate about the business and always looking to improve. Lisa is such a person, so I am very excited about working with her on building her business.
Lisa started her career with the enviable task of being a real estate agent on the Caribbean island of St. John for two years, where she lived directly after college.
She moved to Cambridge in 2006 and has been representing buyers and sellers through through an independent and smaller company in the Cambridge Area for over six years. Lisa quickly became a top producer. Last year alone she was involved in the sale of 26 homes. Lisa is a natural who quickly connects and establishes meaningful long lasting relationships with her clients. Lisa’s success is in no doubt due to her energetic and enthusiastic commitment to outstanding service.
After living in the Caribbean, the love of traveling compelled her to explore new grounds and she moved to Latin America for one year where she studied the language and culture of Guatemala and Argentina. She currently lives with her husband Hudson just outside of Boston.
Celebrating Success 2012
What a successful event. We have indeed come a long way in the last couple of years. After lunch at Bertucci’s, we got started by introducing our new members: Eithne Johnson who was returning after being away since 2008, Ann Sabbey, Tamela Roche, Tom Von Zabern, Lisa Santana, Anna Calderone, Simonida, Juan Murry and our first rental division manager, Tim Schmidt. Wow! We have never added on so many new and talented people in such a short period of time. That is very exciting. What a great way to start the year.
Following the introductions, we reviewed our overall success last year and set our goals for 2012 in residential sales, rentals, luxury sales, and property management. We discussed how measuring what you do is the first step in improving it and the upcoming launch of our shared assistant program, which will be starting mid March.
Dave Shorey took the #1 spot as our top producer for 2011, Tom Sheehan, rookie of the year, with Joe Kobialka once again taking our community service award.
I am so proud of every one. Our staff continues to excel in providing the very best in service to our entire team. Service for which I am very grateful.
After the program about a dozen of us went bowling where I continued to maintain my ranking as the company’s worst bowler.
First Class In Series for Continuing Education Credits
Attorney Michael Krone from Kriss Law and Mortgage Master’s Jesse Stein presented the first class in a series four continuing education credit courses to be held at our office.
A typically dry topic – “Contract Law”, was presented in entertaining fashion by Attorney Krone. There were 15 Agents from our office and four visitors from the real estate community in attendance who received two credits toward the currently required 12 credits to maintain an active real estate license in Massachusetts.
There will be three other classes at our office this year. The next one is on “Title” and is scheduled for June 6th. All in all agents can earn eight out of the required twelve through this convenient class arrangement and better still at no cost!
Tom Von Zabern Joins The Team
Tom Von Zabern has joined RE/MAX Destiny as the newest member of our team. Tom brings to the office over 31 years of experience in real estate and specializes in Historic Home Preservation. Tom is also a licensed builder with considerable experience working with local wood frame developers.
Tom is a native of Germany with a long interest and involvement in social activities, including years of volunteer AIDS work. He is the Founder and President of The African Great Youth Education Initiative, Inc. (AGYEI, Inc.). A charity dedicated to assisting young African males of promise who are too old to qualify for local assistance yet determined to overcome the grip of poverty once and for all.
A 21 year resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Tom divides his time equally between the charitable work of AGYEI Inc, and his real estate practice of sales, design and home renovations.
Welcome Tamela Roche!
We are very excited to have Tamela join our team. She has been, and is an outstanding leader in the Cambridge Real Estate Community. She has high standards and it shined through as one of the best Presidents to lead The Community of Real Estate Professionals and in her top “Pie in The Sky” fundraising team. Tamela is a dedicated and committed professional as well as a wonderful and positive person.
Welcome Tamela!
Tamela was first licensed in 2001 and quickly became a valued member of the Cambridge Real Estate Community. She has a B.S.B.A. from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania and designations that include CNS, Certified Negotiation Specialist and ABR, Accredited Buyer’s Representative.
Tamela is an active member of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, REBAC, The Real Estate Buyer Agency Council, The Greater Boston and Massachusetts Association of Realtors as well as the National Association of Realtors. Tamela is very active in the community. Her volunteer work includes: Our Place Center for Homeless Children, Community Servings “Pie in the Sky”, Everybody Wins! Boston, and Breakthrough Cambridge.
“What a gift it is for me every day to help Clients realize their dream of “finding home”; joining the RE/MAX Destiny team I finally feel “at home” too!”