Serving the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts

 

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A Realtor's View from Hubbert's Peak: The End of Cheap Oil and Cheap Money (June 5, 2006)

 

The market has finally shifted in favor of buyers! See Update: A Buyers' Market.(October 23, 2005)

 

War and Property Inflation (April 7, 2005)

 

Why Home Prices Are Going through the Roof: A Brief Guide to the "New Economy" (January 13, 2003)

 

More Articles on the Housing Market:

A Word of Advice in a Real Estate Slump: Rent by David Leonhardt (New York Times, April 11, 2007)

Crisis Looms in Mortgage Markets by Gretchen Morgenson, March 11, 2007.

Un-Real Estate by James Grant, April 2005

Housing bubble in New England  (Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Studies, Jan. 5, 2003)

"These are perilous times for asset markets ...." (Ian Campbell, UPI, Jan. 30, 2004)

 

     

"House of Cards: US, UK Home Prices to Decline Dramatically in Next Few Years."
See The Economist's survey of May 29, 2003

 

"Mortgage Markets Are Out of Control," New York Times, August 17, 2003

 

Co-buying: One solution to the high cost of housing in the Valley?

 

Considering an adjustable rate mortgage? It may be a risky proposition. See Homeowners Urged Caution on Hybrid Loans

 

For the effects of skyrocketing home prices on communities, see an article by Rebecca Solnit, Hollow City (as computer money flows into San Francisco, the quirkiness and creativity drain out). A cautionary tale for Northampton and other Valley towns.

 

 

MLS Abbreviations Used in Single-Family Listings

 

Please click on the appropriate category:

 
Appliances Energy Features Insulation Sewer and Water
Area Amenities Exterior Features Interior Features Siding
Basement Features Flooring Lot Description Square Footage
Construction Foundation Parking House Style
Cooling Garage Road Type Terms
Documents/Disclosures Heat Roofing Utility Connections
Electrical System Hot Water Rooms/Areas Waterfront/Beach

SIZE AND LOCATION                

Square Footage:

  • GLA – Approximate Gross Living Area

  • FSz – Foundation Size

  • YrB – Year Built

Lot Description:

  • ADDL – Additional Land Available

  • CRNR – Corner Lot

  • EASE – Easement

  • FLPL – Flood Plain

  • GOLF – Golf Course Frontage

  • OTHR – Other

  • PVDR – Paved Drive

  • STRM – Stream

  • USTK – Underground Storage Tank

  • WOOD – Wooded 

  • ZLNE – Zero Lot Line

WtrFrt / Beach – Waterfront / Beach:

  • BAY – Bay

  • CREK – Creek

  • DOCK – Dock / Mooring

  • FRTG – Frontage

  • LAKE – Lake

  • POND – Pond

  • RVR – River

  • WALK – Within Walking Distance

Road Type:

  • CULD – Cul De Sac

  • DEAD – Dead End

  • PARD – Paper Road

  • PAVD – Paved

  • PBLC – Public

  • PRVT – Private

  • PUMN – Publicly Maintained

  • PVMN – Privately Maintained

  • SDWK – Sidewalk

  • UPVD – Unpaved

Garage Description:

  • ATTD – Attached

  • CRPT – Carport

  • DETD – Detached

  • GDOP – Garage Door Opener

  • HEAT – Heated

  • STRG – Storage

  • UNDR – Under

  • WKAR – Work Area

Parking Description:

  • ASGN – Assigned

  • OFFS – Off Street

  • OSTP – On Street Permit

  • RNTD – Rented

  • TNDM – Tandem

Area Amenities:

  • GOLF – Golf Course

  • LDMT – Laundromat

  • MDVL – Medical Facility

  • OTHR – Other

  • PARK – State / Town Park

  • POOL – Swimming Pool

  • SHOP – Shopping

  • STBL – Stables

  • TENN – Tennis Court

  • TRAN – Public Transportation

  • TRLS – Walking Trails

Sewer and Water

  • CMWL – Community Well

  • CSEW – City/Town Sewer

  • CWTR – City/Town Water

  • INSP – Inspection Required for Sale (septic system)

  • OTHR – Other

  • PSEW – Private Sewer

  • PWTR – Private Water

  • SHWL – Shared Well

 

HOUSE STYLE AND CONSTRUCTION

Style:

  • ANTQ – Antique

  • BUNG – Bungalow

  • CAPE – Cape

  • COLN – Colonial

  • CONT – Contemporary

  • COTT – Cottage

  • FARM – Farmhouse

  • GAMB – Gambrel/Dutch Colonial

  • GARR – Garrison

  • LOG – Log

  • MULTI – Multi-Level

  • OTHR – Other

  • RANC – Ranch

  • RRAN – Raised Ranch

  • SALT – Saltbox

  • SPLT – Split Entry

  • TUDR – Tudor

  • VICT – Victorian

Construction:

  • BLOK – Block

  • BRCK – Brick

  • FRAM – Frame

  • LOG – Log

  • MODL – Modular

  • P&BM – Post & Beam

  • STON – Stone

Roofing Material:

  • ASFH – Asphalt/Fiberglass shingles

  • SHAK – Shake

  • SLAT – Slate

  • T&GV – Tar & Gravel

  • TILE – Tile

  • WOOD – Wood Shingles

Siding:

  • ALUM – Aluminum

  • ASBT – Asbestos

  • BRCK – Brick

  • CLAP – Clapboard

  • LOG – Log

  • MASN – Masonite

  • OTHR – Other

  • SHAK – Shake

  • SHNG – Shingles

  • STON – Stone

  • STUC – Stucco

  • VNYL – Vinyl

  • WOOD – Wood

Foundation Description:

  • BRCK – Brick

  • CNCB – Concrete Block

  • FSTN – Fieldstone

  • GRAN – Granite

  • OTHR – Other

  • PCNC – Poured Concrete

  • SLAB – Slab

Exterior Features:

  • APOL – Above Ground Pool

  • BALC – Balcony

  • BNST – Barn/Stable

  • CABA – Cabana

  • CPAT – Covered Patio/Deck

  • DECK – Deck

  • DECL – Decorative Lighting

  • EPAT – Enclosed Patio

  • EPCH – Enclosed Porch

  • FENC – Fenced Yard

  • GRNH – Greenhouse

  • GUTT – Gutters

  • HDCP – Handicap Access

  • HTSP – Hot Tub/Spa

  • IPOL – In-Ground Pool

  • LNDS – Professional Landscaping

  • PADD – Paddock

  • PATO – Patio

  • PRCH – Porch

  • SATD – Satelite Dish

  • SCRN – Screens

  • SPRK – Sprinkler System

  • STRG – Storage Shed

  • TENN – Tennis Court

 

BASEMENT AND SYSTEMS

Basement Features:

  • BULK – Bulkhead

  • CONC – Concrete Floor

  • CRSP – Crawlspace

  • DIRT – Dirt floor

  • FIND – Finished

  • FULL – Full

  • GACC – Garage Access

  • IACC – Interior Access

  • PART – Partial

  • PFIN – Partially Finished

  • PUMP – Sump Pump

  • RSYS – Radon Remediation System

  • SLAB – Slab

  • WALK – Walk Out

Heat Type/ Heat Features:

  • CNHT – Central Heat

  • ELBB – Electric Baseboard

  • ELEC – Electric

  • FLFN – Floor Furnace

  • FLUE – Extra Flue

  • FRAR – Forced Air

  • GAS – Gas

  • GRAV – Gravity

  • HPMP – Heat Pump

  • HUMD – Humidifier

  • HWBB – Hot Water Baseboard

  • HWRD – Hot Water Radiators

  • NONE – None

  • OIL – Oil

  • OTHR – Other

  • PROP – Propane

  • RADT – Radiant

  • SPHT – Space Heater

  • STEM – Stream

  • WOOD – Wood

Hot Water:

  • BSTR – Separate Booster

  • ELEC – Electric

  • LSHT – Leased Water Heater

  • NGAS – Natural Gas

  • OIL – Oil

  • OTHR – Other

  • PGAS – Propane Gas

  • SOLR – Solar

  • TANK – Tank

  • TKLS – Tankless

Cooling:

  • CAIR – Central Air Conditioning

  • HPMP – Heat Pump

  • WAIR – Window Air Conditioner

  • WLAR – Wall Air Conditioner

Electrical System:

  • CIRC – Circuit Breakers

  • FUSE – Fuses

  • 60 LS – 60 Amps or Less

  • 100 A – 100 Amp Service

  • 150 A – 150 Amp Service

  • 200 + – 200 Amp Service

  • OTHR - Other

Insulation:

  • BLWN – Blown

  • FIBR – Fiberglass

  • FULL – Fully Insulated

  • LOOS – Loose

  • MIXD – Mixed

  • NONE – None

  • OTHR – Other

  • PART – Partially Insulated

  • STYR – Styrofoam

  • UNKN – Unknown

Energy Features:

  • AVNT – Attic Vent (Electric)

  • INDR – Insulated Doors

  • INWD – Insulated Windows

  • SOLR – Solar

 

INTERIOR

Rooms / Areas:

  • APT – Accessory Apartment

  • BED – Bedroom

  • Br – Bedroom

  • Bsm – Basement

  • Bt – Bathroom

  • BTH – Bathroom

  • DEN – Den

  • Din – Dining Room

  • DNAR – Dining Area

  • EXC – Exercise Room

  • FAM – Family Room

  • FBa – Full Bath

  • FBTH – Full Bath

  • FOY – Foyer

  • Gar - Garage

  • GRM – Game room

  • HBa – Half Bath

  • HBTH – Half Bath

  • KIT – Kitchen

  • LAW – In-law Apartment

  • LDY – Laundry

  • LIB – Library

  • LIV – Living Room

  • LOF – Loft

  • Mbr – Master Bedroom

  • MED – Media Room

  • OFC – Office

  • PLY – Playroom

  • SUN – Sunroom

  • WKAT – Walk-up Attic

  • WRK – Workshop

Interior Features:

  • BYBW – Bay / Bow Window

  • BYCK – Balcony / Deck

  • CATH – Cathedral Ceilings

  • CATV – Cable Television Available

  • CDCL – Cedar Closet

  • CTIL – Ceramic Tile Floor

  • CVAC – Central Vacuum

  • FANS – Ceiling Fans

  • FRPL – Fireplace

  • HDCP – Handicap Equipped

  • HDWD – Hardwood Floor

  • HTUB – Hot Tub / Spa

  • IBLC – Interior Balcony

  • INTR – Intercom

  • LNCL – Linen Closet

  • PTRY – Pantry

  • SAUN – Sauna / Steam / Hot Tub

  • SECS – Security System

  • SKYL – Skylight

  • WBAR – Wet Bar

  • WCST – Wood / Coal Stove

Flooring:

  • CONC – Concrete

  • CTIL – Ceramic Tile

  • OTHR – Other

  • PYCB – Plywood / Composite Board

  • TILE – Tile

  • VNYL – Vinyl

  • WOOD – Wood

  • W/W – Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

Appliances:

  • COMP – Compactor

  • CTRG – Countertop Range

  • DISP – Garbage Disposal

  • DRYR – Dryer

  • DWSH – Dishwasher

  • FRZR – Freezer

  • GRIL – Indoor Grill

  • MCWV- Microwave Oven

  • NONE – None

  • OTHR – Other

  • RNGE – Range

  • REFG – Refrigerator

  • WASH – Washer

  • WOVN – Wall Oven

  • WTTR – Water Treatment

Utility Connections:

  • EDRY – for Electric Dryer

  • EOVN – for Electric Oven

  • ERAN – for Electric Range

  • GDRY – for Gas Dryer

  • GOVN – for Gas Oven

  • GRAN – for Gas Range

  • ICE – Icemaker Connection

  • WASH – Washer Hook-Up

 

TERMS / DOCUMENTS / DISCLOSURES

Terms:

  • ASSM – Assumable Mortgage

  • CFDD – Contract for Deed

  • DLOC – Delayed Occupancy

  • LSBK – Lease Back

  • LSOP – Lease Option

  • SPAR – Seller Will Participate

Documents / Disclosures:

  • CRTR – Certified Treated (lead paint)

  • Disc Decl – Seller Disclosure Declaration Available

  • Ld Pt – Lead Paint

  • Lead Paint present – Yes / No / UNKN (unknown) / CRTR (certified treated)

  • SDF – Seller Disclosure Form

  • UFFI – Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation

  • Warranty – Warranty Available