Barry Boccasile, Director of Growth and Development, is excited to have Julianne as part of the growing Westfield Office team.  Julianne will be specializing in residential listings and sales and he can be reached at the Westfield office at 568-9226 or call or text at 297-6718. 

 Julianne is licensed in both Massachusetts and Connecticut which allows her for help Buyers and Sellers in both states.  In her real estate career, Julianne has received advanced training in several areas including short sales and foreclosures, Senior Real Estate Specialist designation and she is an accredited Buyer Representative.  Julianne was also recognized as the Rookie of the Year during her first full year in real estate.  Julianne offers her clients great communication via Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

Julianne is available for your real estate needs and can be reached at 568-9226 or 297-6718.

 Park Square Realty is a locally owned residential real estate company with offices in Westfield and Feeding Hills and can be seen online at parksquarerealty.com

 At Park Square Realty, we feel there is a problem with this type of recruiting/retention technique in that it has a very detrimental effect on the quality and public perception of a real estate company. If just a few agents perform unprofessionally or are lacking in the area of customer service, it can have a very negative effect on the whole company. While out in the field, every agent represents every agent and the company.

 Park Square Realty is a locally owned company and we’re extremely different in our business approach. Our goal has never been to be the biggest company, but it is our goal to be the best company. We maintain higher standards with the hope that the general public and consumers will notice the difference. With only 2 offices and 55 sales agents, we want our agents and support staff to feel confident and proud of what they do and where they do it.

 Our basic strategy is about quality, not quantity. It’s the long term approach.

 Thank you to all of the Park Square agents and support staff for your hard work  at maintaining our higher standard and thank you again for your allegiance to Park Square. Together, we will continue to raise the local real estate bar moving into the future.

 Barry Boccasile

Director of Growth & Development

Park Square Realty

 Ted Cassell, President of Park Square Realty, is pleased to announce that Paula Waldroup has joined Park Square Realty's Westfield  office as a Sales Associate. 

 Paula is a new home specialist and has also received special training in relocation and buyer agency.  Paula has also served at the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley as a director for the Board of Directors and as chairperson of the Community Service Committee.

 Barry Boccasile, Director of Growth and Development, is excited to have Paula as part of the growing Westfield Office team.  She will be specializing in residential listings and sales and she can be reached at 568-9226 or 846-0909 

 Park Square Realty is a locally owned residential real estate company with offices in Westfield and Feeding Hills and can be seen online at parksquarerealty.com

 I’ve been personally involved in the Westfield, Southwick, Agawam/FH and West Springfield (Quadrant) real estate market for the past 24 years. During my career, I’ve been a Buyer, Seller, Salesperson, Manager, Broker and sometimes even a Counselor/Advisor.

I experienced the market peak in the later 80’s, the downward “slow” slide in the 90’s, the recent 2005 market peak and also the latest downward “quick” slide.  In other words, the market has been up and down twice in the 24 years that I’ve been paying attention.

Over the past several months, I have received more calls and questions regarding the local market than I’ve ever experienced in my career. Basically, the public wants to know exactly what is going on. The questions vary depending on the person calling. The BUYER asks “When will the bottom come?” or “Will the interest rates go any lower?” (Because they want to buy at exactly the right moment). The SELLER asks “When will the prices start climbing again?”(Because they would like to realize more profit on their home). The REALTORS wonder, “How do I answer all of these questions?” (Because they do not have a crystal ball)

 Many of these questions do not have the perfect answer, but I will stick my neck out and give you some of my predictions based on observations, statistics and my own personal experience. My intention is to give you some food for thought and then perhaps you can formulate some your own answers. Of course, by extending my neck, I’m certain that I will hear from some of our local real estate enthusiasts and experts, but at the moment I’m the person doing the writing here and I feel confident enough to share some of my thoughts and opinions.

 The local and national real estate markets are directly affected by many variables, but I believe the #1 variable is CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. When people are worried about jobs and money, they’re not thinking about buying or selling a home, unless they absolutely have to. But, believe it or not, there is some good news! Consumers are a little more confident than they were just a few months ago. National statistics say that the purchases of consumer goods are up (which basically means, people are starting to buy things). Statistics also say that the jobless rate is slowing. (It has certainly not stopped, but at least it’s slowing down). Also, millions of people nationwide who were sitting on the sidelines have been motivated into buying due to the tax credit benefits, lower home prices and the record low lending rates. So, it seems that the ball is now rolling and CONSUMER CONFIDENCE is making a move in the right direction.

Regarding REAL ESTATE SALES. Places like California and Florida, which were two of the areas hardest hit by the real estate crash are now reporting better sales news. In our local area, condo sales and upper end properties have been one of the slowest market segments and just recently, condo sales are picking up and the upper end homes are starting to get more buyer attention. Note: When the slower parts of any market start to pick up, it’s a very positive indicator. I’m observing that sales agents in our offices are getting noticeably busier and I’m also hearing “things are busy” from other agents in our local market area.

 Another factor that has a major affect on home sales and home prices in our area is SUPPLY & DEMAND (Basic Inventory). At the time of this writing (end of June) there is not a huge inventory of competitively priced homes on the market in our Westfield, Southwick, Agawam / FH & West Springfield Quadrant. Because of the lower inventory, when a well priced listing pops on the market, it sells quickly.

One more point regarding the “REAL ESTATE CRASH”.  Our area was not hit nearly as hard as other parts of the state and country. The good news for us is – As things rebound everywhere else, we will also experience a very positive benefit.

 This is just my opinion, but I must mention the MEDIA. A few short years ago, when the real estate market (and economy) started to decline a bit, the national and local media got hold of the news and with their perpetual “gloom and doom” broadcasting they helped to push the consumer confidence snowball down the big steep hill very quickly. The public believes much of what it hears and it was hearing constant bad news for an extended period of time. The good news is that hopefully, the same MEDIA, which helped to make this situation worse, will now help to make it better. Once the national and local media collects some positive news and starts announcing “the bottom has passed” and “the market is picking up”, the public will react and things will change dramatically. At this point, I would think that even the media might be sick of bad news. Bad news is getting old, so hopefully they will now be looking for any morsel of good news to announce and of course, every network will want to be the first.

Once the good news starts, another huge factor affecting the real estate market will kick in. HUMAN NATURE.  All of the many buyers who are waiting for the “very bottom” in order to get the best bargain will be dealing with a very strong emotion.. FEAR of LOSS. These buyers will now have to move quickly in order to purchase their home before prices and interest rates go up. They will not want to miss the opportunity.

 As the many buyers purchase homes, the SUPPLY & DEMAND factor will show itself even more. The inventory will go down and the demand will go up along with the home prices.

 So my answers are – We need to pay attention because the market is already subtly changing.

 If you’re thinking about BUYING, now is a good time because home prices are at or very close to the bottom and interest rates are at all-time record lows today.

 If you’re thinking about STAYING in your home and refinancing - Now is a great time to refinance (only if your planning to stay for a while) because again, interest rates are at record lows and you could dramatically lower your monthly payment.

 If you’re thinking about UPGRADING to a bigger or better home, there has never been a better time. You might feel that you are losing a bit on the sale of your home, but you will greatly make up for it on the purchase of your upgrade and you’ll also have the advantage of great interest rates on your new purchase. It’s a total WIN-WIN.

So, there you have it. Our local market goes down, up and down and up and on and on.  

But, it’s not all gloom and doom.     It’s what you make of it!

 By Barry Boccasile, Director of Growth & Development, Park Square Realty