Jennifer Athas, Boston Herald HomeSmart Contributor, on Condo Sales

And. All right we're back we're joined by Jennifer app that's from the Boston Herald. Jennifer I've read your article in today's Carol nice job by the way I don't think there's a very great -- you know. Help me out here with you we're seeing pretty pronounced increases. In Boston Condo -- how much. We're seeing -- year to date and that in January about the little Q and about 15%. Increase in the last year and -- last year. -- is so in and what we're what do we seen in terms of how long does it stick to sell place now compared to say. Maybe a year two years ago. We're seeing the average time on market goes down it was is that about 13% compared to last year on the average time is about three months and that's for every single point. That's actually see that seems long is that the longer than it is and healthy market. You know in terms of the -- of an average. Is -- the standard. Time last year at the same time with a 112 days. What is. Who would what do you seeing. It in terms of about pricing there are eager are people getting a higher price -- is -- our prices flat. In your inbox and in the Condo market prices are up. -- I am in Massachusetts. In the Condo market prices are up. In this single family. And Massachusetts has pretty much flat compared to last year. I would about the -- like I read a report I think was yesterday and we had a guy on from. Banker traits there was a guy's name we head on from -- at -- hopping -- Hopkins. -- not he resigned yesterday. He told us I think there's -- 32%. Increase in foreclosure activity in masters so those two stats don't jive right how can prices the app sales be up sales volume -- up. Yep foreclosure activity at 30%. Yeah that's a great question and everything is on. -- is that they can have that as a 25 billion dollar settlement between the largest banks. In the country in Massachusetts attorney general about the -- -- it was reaching a settlement time. It was -- those banks and that -- pretty much older. What -- they interviewed the processes for documenting their -- in Massachusetts. Time so you know that's why these petitions -- These foreclosure petition their partners herself as a petition to a close. Are up. I'm just because plastered -- hold up just because. So last year they were artificially low and perhaps this year there artificially high. They are they are and get everybody's -- that a reference point you know the month of may I think. To petition went out from I think it was 57571. And 2011. This 755. In 2012. In May. You know again if the trend -- paying an and it is basically because they were put on hold that we're not need a huge huge. Foreclosure numbers is a petition. So Jennifer are these foreclosures -- legal and auction are they being sold to realtors. You know it depends most of the it's bank owned property. They usually -- option and if they don't sell it -- -- so -- -- broker. In terms. You know the different programs for people that are going to the fourth quarter -- that they're facing foreclosure. It's a loan modification program is really really stepped up Soviet and that these people may be telling him you know. -- Jennifer you know in a down slide like a downside economy. One of the first things to go down as -- always heard our Condo sales right so you know Condo sales going up as you say. Is this a positive indication may be for real estate. I think it's a positive indication and I think it's also an indication. That your metro market. That have more condos are speculating well and it's it's really because the jobs that match the market is getting better. -- I think what people forget is the you know the we eat when it comes to financial news you tend to focus on all the national data right -- focus on the national numbers. It with the national unemployment rate is eight point 2% the Massachusetts unemployment rate is 6%. You know and and coming down because we're seeing a lot of construction jobs come back so I think there's a divergence between what you see going on even between Massachusetts and Rhode Island or Connecticut. I mean those economies are still -- really tough shape. And he talked about really bad economies go to Colorado -- Arizona got the floor and talk about exceedingly high rates of unemployment. Where would he get for less than six -- grant me if if I wanna buy a place you know 55600000. Bucks warming and yet. It depends in Boston you have a great collection you can get a one bedroom a large one bedroom. You know in that W condominiums. For about you know 550 -- something like that. -- of the maintenance fees on something like that because that's. They -- in there don't they. It's probably didn't at least 800 dollars a month. Let's nice though it that's a nice place they have W that's the -- nice. -- -- nice amenities and some of those amenities include the heat you know the heat not water analysts -- you know electricity sometimes. Yes that absolutely restore everything. The much maintenance. All right seeing get into the W one betterment of the W for less than 600. -- what if you want a real discount what if -- -- -- you're you're just get out of college in your looking for something and you know a 300000. Maybe 300000 where you -- on that. You know I think in a matter -- in Jamaica Plain -- off then. -- -- say did you rate of a sudden rush that you wrote about like a 100000 dollar Condo in in Rosalind. And 97000. Dollar Condo median Condo and -- -- Yeah than rent will be in a rent for that price yeah. -- Dallas that -- -- big building your present and like three family house that thing. Don't have them -- on the medium -- don't know forty units. And it was a it was a studio on the lower level and -- the -- spotted for their child is going to school and it was. Less expensive than paying for housing at the scroll around now. And for years ladies selling your prime make a few bucks. Absolutely hopefully. And interest. Well we appreciate your time Jennifer thanks for joining us great. They gonna check out that article it was written by Jennifer after us from the Boston Herald you can follow on Twitter you can follow around -- -- she's everywhere she is everywhere.