In my three decades working in Boston real estate, I've helped hundreds of clients sell homes and investment properties. I help my clients meet and exceed their real estate goals while minimizing the stress that can come with the process.

For my seller clients, selling your Boston condo or home is my number one business priority. This is what I do and what I love. My strength is in maximizing demand for your property, as well as in negotiation and transaction management. I can also give you good advice on pricing. Here's how I approach pricing a Boston home or condo for sale. My goal is to help you maximize your chances of a best-price, best-terms, best-timeline real estate sale.

Here are some of my recent listings and sales.

For my buyer clients, I honor my duty to advocate for you and you alone, to help you find the correct home or condo for you, and not advocate for any other entity. Here are some of the ways a buyer agent is legally obligated to you, the buyer.

I'd love to help you achieve your real estate dreams. The first thing I do is have a preliminary consultation with you in order to form an action plan according to your needs. Please get in touch so we can begin!

Here are some endorsements of my real estate services.

You can call me at 617-584-9790, or email joe.wolvek@gibsonsir.com.

One of the joys of summer in the city neighborhoods is enjoying dinner and drinks on our condo decks, balconies, or patios. This time of year I like to share the City of Bostons fire safety rules for these outdoor spaces. These rules exist for the sake of everyones safety. In addition, knowing and following them helps safeguard your legal and financial liability. So lets all stay safe and stay legal!

Boston has fire safety rules to be aware of if youre planning to cook in your outdoor space.

What follow below is a simplified list of the rules.

Plumbed gas grills:  These are permitted on the exterior of any building level. The gas line must be installed by a licensed plumber who has procured the required permits.

Electric grills are permitted on the exterior of any building level. As with the gas grills, the line you are using has to be installed by a licensed electrician, and has to have a permit and be up to code.

Charcoal grills are NOT permitted at all on or within a building structure, or on roof or rear decks. Regulations do not specify whether they are permissible on an outside patio, but the regulations highly discourage them, and you may be legally and financially liable for any damage or injury you cause from flying sparks, fumes, etc.. *Read the regulations in full for charcoal grill safety recommendations.

Liquid propane (LP) grills: Permitted by the City of Boston except:

       are not permitted inside the building.

       are not permitted on balconies above the first floor of any building or structure used for habitation.

       are not permitted on balconies or decks on any level that are covered or enclosed. This includes a first floor deck with a deck above it.

I highly recommend that homeowners read the regulations in full.

Remember Im here to help if you have any questions about Boston real estate matters. You can call me at  617-584-9790, or email me by clicking the blue button below. If youd like to find a beautiful new home in Boston with a deck upon which to grill (legally, of course), you should definitely get in touch!

If youre a medical student who is graduating medical school in May and beginning your residency in June/July, youll want probably to get settled in somewhere around June 1st.

While your new job may have a substantial salary, your debt-to-income ratio may be a bit high and you may think you downt have a sufficient down-payment. Plus, you may not be starting your job for 60 days or so. You probably want to get into your new home with low or no money down, and also to keep your payments low. There are mortgage programs especially for doctors, medical students, and residents prior to starting a new job.

I have the lenders for you to speak with for these special doctor's or physician's mortgages; they have successfully helped many of my medical clients. There are several different programs. Each one will have specific features and benefits.

I am a 29+ year Realtor serving the Medical areas of Boston. As a certified DRS-Agent, Im a vetted agent who will provide you with the very highest level of experienced service. Using a certified DRS-Agent, approved by the AMA, AOA, AMSA, and SOMA, is the quickest, easiest way to find a trusted professional real estate agent for the purchase or sale of your home. Ill help get you oriented to the city, neighborhoods, and Bostons real estate buying process.

I am also an Accredited Buyer Agent a trained professional REALTOR who has earned the Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) designation from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). I know the neighborhoods around and accessible to the medical facilities and can help you manage the intricacies of searching for and visiting appropriate properties. I will help you manage your transaction to a successful conclusion with as little stress as possible and as little drain upon your time as possible.

Heres a bit about real estate transaction basics. But remember, Im here to help through each step!

Heres more about special mortgage programs for residents, doctors, and medical students.

Please reach out to me with any questions you may have at 617-584-9790 or joe.wolvek@gibson.sir.com. The sooner we can started and get you situated, the more time youll have to focus on your new life and work here in Boston!

And congratulations! I love Boston, and I know you will, too.

BOSTON MEDICAL COMMUNITY: Match Day 2021 (Friday, March 19) is nearly here! Welcome to our fair city, Boston Massachusetts!

As your realtor Ill help get you oriented to the city, neighborhoods, and our real estate buying process, and connect you with buyer resources such as mortgage programs for residents, doctors, and medical students.

I have been a Boston realtor for over 29 years, and have assisted many incoming medical residents as well as new and transferring doctors and medical students in locating and transacting a new home. I would love to help you as well.

I know the neighborhoods around and accessible to the medical facilities and can help you manage the intricacies of searching for and visiting appropriate properties.

As with most things, our real estate purchasing process is somewhat different than just about everywhere. I will help you manage your transaction to a successful conclusion with as little stress as possible and as little drain upon your time as possible.

I have your A-Team; Great, doctor loan lenders, recommended attorneys, home inspectors, contractors, etc.

Heres more about special mortgage programs for residents, doctors, and medical students.

This 3,200+ square foot east facing Chicago residence at the iconic Park Tower is listed by Natasha Motev at one of my Sotheby's affiliates, Jameson Sotheby's International Realty. It has an open floor plan with lake and city views from every room, and high end finishes throughout. A grand master suite offers gorgeous all marble spa bath, immense shower, and substantial walk-in closet. A secondary en-suite bedroom on the southeast corner has an all marble bath, ample closet space, and spectacular views of the lake and Chicago's skyline.Located atop the famous Park Hyatt Hotel offering conveniences that include a luxurious spa, health club, indoor pool, 24/7 room service and renowned Nomi restaurant with outdoor terrace. Park Tower is a full amenity building in the heart of the Magnificent Mile with 24 hour door staff/security and on-site management. A prime parking spot and storage are included.Here are more details and photos for 800 North Michigan Avenue, #2901, Chicago, IL.I can handle your real estate needs here in Boston as well as globally. As always, if you have questions about buying or selling homes in Boston or beyond, please call me at617-584-9790, or send me an email via the link below.  

Boston Real Estate Headlines:

• Experts Disagree on Whether Pandemic Will 'Soften' Home Prices
• Spring House Hunt: 10 Ways to Add Value to an Affordable Home
• Brokers Hit Pause on Boston-area Open Houses Due to Coronavirus

Featured Boston Real Estate:

• 470 E 8th Street, #2, South Boston $739,000
• 39 Jay Street, #B, Cambridge $1,490,000
• 221 Columbus Avenue, #402, Back Bay $2,295,000

In addition to the rich arts and cultural climate that the Boston lifestyle has to offer, the city is also abundant with opportunities for splendid outdoor experiences.Did you know that the City of Boston oversees 217 parks, playgrounds, and athletic fields? Or that it is responsible for two golf courses, 17 fountains, 16 historic and 3 active cemeteries, 65 squares, 75 game courts, and 2,346 acres of parkland trees? They are also responsible for more than 35,000 street trees. This is an abridgedlist from the city's Parks and Recreation page.Add to that some of the features on its many public parks, such as public art, wi-fi, stages and amphitheaters, sports facilities (basketball courts, swings, baseball fields, soccer fields), and playground play structures, and you've got quite a network of park services and amenities. There is even a park on Spectacle Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands, offering a gazebo (pictured above), a shelter, and scenic vistas. It could actually be argued that you canenjoy parklike settings with scenic vistas almost anywhere on the Boston Harbor Islands.Are you planning onrelocating to Boston?Are you looking to buya condo or home inBoston?Here's myoverview of Boston real estate byneighborhood.If youhavequestions about buying or selling Boston condos or homes, please call me at617-584-9790, orsend me an email via the linkbelow.  

Boston Real Estate Headlines:

• In Downtown Boston, High-Rise Developers Facing a Changing Office Market
• Climate Change Worries Take Backseat in Hot Real Estate Market
• FiDi Continues Multi-Family Shift in Latest Sale
• Winthrop Square Garage Tower Could Move Forward Under Shadow Proposal

Featured Boston Real Estate:

• 44 Prince Street, #314, North End $775,000
• 188 Beacon Street, #3, Back Bay $2,995,000
• 1672 Washington Street, #101, South End $799,000
• 95 AlpineStreet, #1, Cambridge $1,150,000

Back in 2013, when Lovejoy Wharf developer Related Beal LLC removed the parking garage from its 15-story condo building plan, a lot of folks thought thatwas a pretty outrageousidea.The revised garage-freeplan wouldhave Lovejoy Wharf residents relying on subway, commuter rail and bus lines, as well as on future ferry and water taxi services. Would the city actually agree to this? Many people wondered.Related Beal LLC pointed to all the transit options available right around the site and the City of Boston did eventually give it the go-ahead. These luxury condos are going on sale come spring 2017. No interior renderings have been released yet, but the building consists of studios, 1 beds, 2 beds, and 3 beds. Floor to ceiling windows will provide sweeping views.Lovejoy Wharf will have a health club, fitness studio, residential lounge, library, billiards room and rooftop terrace.Read Curbed Boston's Boston's Lovejoy Wharf Condos to Start Sales this Spring.See other Boston Waterfront condos for sale.In my 25 years in the Boston real estate market, I have helped hundreds of people buy and sell Boston condos and homes. If you need assistance, or if you have questions about buying or selling Boston real estate, please dont hesitate to call me at617-584-9790.You can alsoemail me by clicking the button below.  

Boston Real Estate Headlines:

• Greenway Could be Extended 1,000 Feet To Waters Edge
• What is it Like to Live in South Boston?
• Bostons High-Rises Under Construction, Mapped

Featured Boston Real Estate:

• 250 Commonwealth Avenue, #14, Back Bay $2,200,000
• 21 Father Francis Gilday Street, #505, South End $774,900
• 500 Atlantic Avenue, #16K, Waterfront $5,495,000

Amazon.com Inc. will be expanding into Boston, and specifically into Back Bay, according to the Boston Globe.The Seattle -based company has arrangeda lease with WeWork Cos., a provider of work spaces to not just freelancers, but also remote locations of larger companies.Amazon's Cambridge 171,000 square foot office in Kendall Square is expected to stay where it is.WeWork currently has one Cambridge location on Massachusetts Avenue. It hasthreeBoston locationsat South Station, St. James Street, and in Fort Point.The Amazon expansion would happen in the St. James Street location.Read The Boston Globe's Amazon Settles on Back Bay for Boston Expansion.Are you planning to relocate to Boston, and thinking about where to live?Are you in the market tobuya condo or home inBoston? Heres myoverview of Boston real estate byneighborhood.In my 25 years in the Boston real estate market, I have helped hundreds of people buy and sell Boston condos and homes. If you need assistance, or if you have questions about buying or selling Boston real estate, please dont hesitate to call me at617-584-9790.You can alsoemail me by clicking the button below.  

Boston Real Estate Headlines:

• Fidelitys Real Estate Arm Studying Seaport World Trade Center Redevelopment
• North End Vs. South End Prices: How the Neighborhoods Condos Compare
• Boston Ranked as Top Third Choice for2017 Foreign Investment

Featured Boston Real Estate:

• 21 Father Francis Gilday Street, #505, South End $774,900
• 80 Broad Street, #808, Waterfront $1,250,000
• 57 Marlborough Street, #2, Back Bay $1,410,000

With interest rates likely to increase soon, I thought I wouldshare aBoston Globe article about how upcoming changes may affect home buyers.Written by Paul Anastos, a frequent national mortgage speaker and an authority on residential home loans, the article explains how the Federal Reserve works in regards to keeping the nation's financial system safe.Home loan rates tend to stay in step with Treasury Bond rates. These bonds serve as a way of funding government operations by providing a way for the nation to borrow money.The Federal Reserve's Open Market Committeeregularly reviews the market to make decisions about interest rates, securities, and other conditions that may affect interest rates and how easy (or not) it is to get home loan financing.As Anastos explains, a shift in interest rates might be felt eithernegatively or positively depending on what it is you're looking to accomplish:

High interest rates make borrowing more expensive, so you end up paying more for home and car loans. On the other hand, your savings and money market accounts will earn higher interest. When interest rates are kept low, the opposite occurs. People earn lower interest on savings, but they can more easily borrow money.

If your goal is to buy a home soon, you may want to consider his advice to speak with a local lending officer to lock in a rate while they are still low.Read the Boston Globe's How Fed Rate Changes Affect Home Buyers.Are you thinking about where to livein Boston?If you have questions about buying or selling homes in the Boston real estate market, please call me at617-584-9790, orsend me an email via the linkbelow.  

Boston Real Estate Headlines:

• Bostons Luxury Housing Boom Slows Down
• Condo Hits Heights on Beacon Hill
• A Hot Summer for Home Sales Has Continued into Fall
• Marine Wharf Hotel to Check in to the Southie Waterfront

Featured Boston Real Estate:

• 31 High Street, Charlestown $2,750,000
• 32 Derne Street, #3C, Beacon Hill $2,495,000
• 130 Appleton Street #3H, South End $965,000