Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1224189
NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 120 APRIL 2020 PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG LEVY C O M M U N I T Y Q & A GETTING TO KNOW THE NORTH SHORE APR 2020 CONTACT jbarrettrealty.com JON GRAY President, CEO, and Realtor at J Barrett & Company LLC INTERVIEW BY ALEX ANDRA PECCI What do you love about the North Shore? I have lived here for almost thirty-five years, but about seven years ago my executive vice president, Kathy Schweitzer, who's from Michigan, came on board. She and her husband had never been to the North Shore, so we planned a three- day tour from Newburyport to Nahant. We went out to Plum Island, drove all the little dirt roads through the marshes in Newbury and Rowley, toured horse country in Hamilton and Wenham, explored Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the- Sea, and explored Beverly, Salem, Marblehead and Great Neck, Nahant, and as many towns as we could find along the way. Doing this in three days gave me an entirely new perspective for what an amazing area the North Shore is and all it has to offer. It's unique, so diverse, and stunning. How has the real estate market changed since you started J Barrett, and what's in the forecast for 2020? We opened the doors in 2007 at pretty much the bottom of the "crash," so the consistency we have seen in the market has been refreshing. Buyers and sellers have many more tools at their fingertips to educate themselves on the market, so realtors really need to assist clients in the nuances of unique sections of each community. As for 2020, well, I have a crystal ball here on my desk. The feds are saying no interest rate increases for 2020. If this holds true, the market should remain similar to 2019! Correct pricing of property is crucial in all markets, so we are very straightforward when working with both buyers and sellers. What are people looking for in a home today? The demand for a first-floor bedroom with a private bath and/or a first-floor master has grown year over year. Folks always enjoy walkability and outdoor activities, and many are looking for a more urban experience. They want to live in town and walk to dinner and shopping in many North Shore communities. This is driving up sale prices in these communities. Aging in place is also a very strong driver for many of the new construction projects that we have coming to the market in 2020. What are you excited about for the future of the North Shore real estate market? We are excited about the number of new construction projects we are involved with for 2020 and 2021. I think more buyers are finding that the North Shore is a great place to live, as well as a great location for a second home purchase. It's much easier to get to than the Cape and Islands, and fully rounded out with scores of activities, state and national parks, and amazing eateries.