5 Open Houses to Catch This Weekend
The market is flooded with great properties and, for the first time in two years, the playing field is nearly even.
It’s only two days into April and the spring market is flooded with picture-perfect properties. How, pray tell, will we see all of them? Enter the open house weekend, where you can trot from home to home without trigger pressure from a pushy seller’s — or, in some cases, buyer’s — agent.
The timing of the hunt couldn’t be better: The Rhode Island Association of Realtors’ latest Market Trends report, from March 21, suggests a shift in the real estate power dynamic. Over the last couple of years, our healthy economy — one chock full of buyers — absolutely decimated the single-family housing stock, driving up prices and granting sellers the upper hand in most transactions.
But now, with 5.9 percent more single-family homes on the market than a year ago, sales price growth has slowed and sellers are expected to adjust their expectations (read: less price gauging, more negotiating). The median sales price, which climbed to $270,000 in December of 2018, has now returned to a comfortable $250,000.
The tides haven’t turned completely against sellers; buyers just have more leverage than they’ve seen in a long time. So treat your spring weekends like a reality TV dating show: Browse the offerings, have some fun and commit only when you’re sure you’ve found the one (preferably with some sort of rose symbolism involved; “The Bachelorette” did just wrap filming in Rhode Island, after all).
Here are our favorite open houses to hit this weekend, from an affordable starter home in Riverside to a turn-key abode in Coventry:
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maple-
37 Maple Ave. in North Smithfield is on the market for $409,900. It has four beds, two baths and two half-baths over 2,952 square feet. (Via the DiSpirito Team)
37 Maple Ave. in North Smithfield is on the market for $409,900. It has four beds, two baths and two half-baths over 2,952 square feet. (Via the DiSpirito Team)
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maple-2
The home is neat and tidy with lots of great details, including a sunny breakfast nook, a screened-in porch and a pool out back. (Via the DiSpirito Team)
The home is neat and tidy with lots of great details, including a sunny breakfast nook, a screened-in porch and a pool out back. (Via the DiSpirito Team)
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The open house for 37 Maple Ave., North Smithfield, is Sunday April 7 from 2 to 3 p.m. For additional information, visit
dispiritoteam.com. (Via the DiSpirito Team)
The open house for 37 Maple Ave., North Smithfield, is Sunday April 7 from 2 to 3 p.m. For additional information, visit
dispiritoteam.com. (Via the DiSpirito Team)
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Prospect
172 Prospect St. #172, Providence, a townhouse-style condo in College Hill with three beds and three baths over 1,404 square feet, is on the market for $359,000. (Via Williams and Stuart Real Estate)
172 Prospect St. #172, Providence, a townhouse-style condo in College Hill with three beds and three baths over 1,404 square feet, is on the market for $359,000. (Via Williams and Stuart Real Estate)
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The renovated condo was built in 1992 and has an open floor plan. (Via Williams and Stuart)
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The open house for 172 Prospect St. #172, Providence, is on Saturday April 6 from noon to 2 p.m. For additional information, contact Jessica Giorgi at 401-231-9497. (Via Williams and Stuart)
The open house for 172 Prospect St. #172, Providence, is on Saturday April 6 from noon to 2 p.m. For additional information, contact Jessica Giorgi at 401-231-9497. (Via Williams and Stuart)
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slocum-1
1 Slocum St. in Newport, with three beds and one-and-a-half baths over 1,227 square feet, is on the market for $665,000. (Via Keller Williams Realty)
1 Slocum St. in Newport, with three beds and one-and-a-half baths over 1,227 square feet, is on the market for $665,000. (Via Keller Williams Realty)
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slocum-2
The cheery living room transitions to a dining room and, beyond it, an updated kitchen that overlooks the backyard. (Via Keller Williams)
The cheery living room transitions to a dining room and, beyond it, an updated kitchen that overlooks the backyard. (Via Keller Williams)
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slocum-3
The master bath is upstairs, along with all three bedrooms. The open house for 1 Slocum St., Newport, is scheduled for April 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For additional information, visit
kw.com. (Via Keller Williams)
The master bath is upstairs, along with all three bedrooms. The open house for 1 Slocum St., Newport, is scheduled for April 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For additional information, visit
kw.com. (Via Keller Williams)
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regalwood-1
8 Regalwood Dr. in Coventry, which is on the market for $539,000, has four beds and two-and-a-half baths over 3,799 square feet. (Via Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices)
8 Regalwood Dr. in Coventry, which is on the market for $539,000, has four beds and two-and-a-half baths over 3,799 square feet. (Via Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices)
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The home underwent lots of recent renovations, including the updated kitchen with new appliances. (Via Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices)
The home underwent lots of recent renovations, including the updated kitchen with new appliances. (Via Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices)
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An open floor plan and two-story great room add to the appeal. The open house for 8 Regalwood Dr. in Coventry is scheduled for April 6 and 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For additional information, visit
berkshirehathawayhs.com. (Via Berkshire Hathaway Home Services)
An open floor plan and two-story great room add to the appeal. The open house for 8 Regalwood Dr. in Coventry is scheduled for April 6 and 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For additional information, visit
berkshirehathawayhs.com. (Via Berkshire Hathaway Home Services)
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Fenner-1
46 Fenner Ave. in East Providence is on the market for $209,000. It has three beds and one-and-a-half baths over 1,374 square feet. It was built in 1910 and sits firmly in the Riverside neighborhood. (Via Weichert)
46 Fenner Ave. in East Providence is on the market for $209,000. It has three beds and one-and-a-half baths over 1,374 square feet. It was built in 1910 and sits firmly in the Riverside neighborhood. (Via Weichert)
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The interior is cozy and is a great size for new families. (Via Weichert)
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The floor plan is fairly fluid too. Attend the open house for 46 Fenner Ave., East Providence, on Sunday, April 7 from noon to 2 p.m., or visit
weichert.com for more information. (Via Weichert)
The floor plan is fairly fluid too. Attend the open house for 46 Fenner Ave., East Providence, on Sunday, April 7 from noon to 2 p.m., or visit
weichert.com for more information. (Via Weichert)
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