ANTIQUES: Salt dishes were often highly decorative, F7 IN THE GARDEN: Tips for pruning hydrangeas, F3
Pro designers pick 9 great colors for kids’ bedrooms
By K athryn O ’ Shea- E vans
The Washington Post
WHEN I WAS IN THIRD GRADE, I volun-forced my stepdad to paint my bedroom ceiling with a blue sky and puffy white clouds (he happily complied). Childhood bedrooms are made for creating your own little dreamland as you begin to dip your toes into the wider world. Now that I have kids, I realize that the full-nest period passes in the blink of an eye. That’s why designers encourage parents to go ahead and indulge them while you can.
“Going all out for kids’ spaces is really important,” said Maggie Griffin, a designer in Gainesville, Georgia. “I think it shows that they matter, that their spaces really matter. I want them to love where they are and be excited when they have people over or they walk into their room and it’s first set up.”
It’s a great opportunity to give your kid some agency. Even if it’s not a color you would choose, paint is a short-term relationship. “I don’t think it has to be a lifetime commitment — you will have to repaint in five years no matter what,” said Jess Knauf, a designer in Denver. “So might as well make it specific to wherever they are in their aesthetic choices at this phase of life.”
That said, you have to spend plenty of time in that room, too, so it’s okay to push back a bit on their whims; Ninja Turtle puce green isn’t for everyone.
Here, designers share 10 paint colors that achieve the rare trifecta of designer, parent and child stamps of approval.
Benjamin Moore Sapphire Ice
“I try to let rooms reflect the kids’ personalities,” said Gideon Mendelson, a designer based in New York City. “I’m all for color, and I’m all for something a little more neutral if a kid needs that. Every kid’s a little different.”
In this bedroom, Benjamin Moore’s Sapphire Ice feels like a cloudless July sky. “This was a kid who loves planes, trains and automobiles, so to speak. So we went a little bit more playful there, a little more thematic,” he said. “The track on the ceiling was actually a plastic decal that you can remove. And we found these hubcap clocks that represent different time zones.”
Farrow & Ball Dead Salmon
Even for Farrow & Ball, a British paint brand famous for its unexpected color names, the idea of “Dead Salmon” shocks — and doesn’t exactly conjure sugar and spice and everything nice. Yet the earthy, deep pink color really spoke to designer Michael Hilal’s young client.
“For this dreamy girl’s room, we wanted to create a space that she could grow into,” Hilal, who is based in San Francisco, said in an email. Instead of going for a typical pink, they paired this shade with a bed in the same color and some lively art by Elise Ferguson for a decidedly grownup look.
Benjamin Moore Silver Cloud
Ice creates a gentle backdrop for the transportation theme here.
Knauf selected Benjamin Moore’s Silver Cloud for a young boy who loves Americana. “It just reminded me of the sky,” she said. “I think kids’ rooms should be light and airy and not too serious. And I thought it was complementary to the red, white and blue without being too serious at all.”
Pratt and Lambert Pink Puff
When designer Christine Markatos Lowe was searching for just the right shade of pink for a bedroom with lots of natural light, she settled on Pratt and Lambert’s Pink Puff. (Pratt and Lambert’s paint colors are now sold under Valspar’s label. Lowe says Valspar’s Shell Pink is the best match.) “This soft shade of pink bounces off the white ceiling color and gives the whole room a rosy glow,” the designer, based in Santa Monica, California, said in an email. “Rather than selecting a saturated color, this hint of pink does the trick and allows for more saturated tones in the fabrics and furnishings to pop against the wall.”
Benjamin Moore Antique Pewter
One of Griffin’s sons loves green, “but I really didn’t feel inclined to paint his room emerald green or Kelly green or grass green,” she said. “I found this cool shade of green-gray-blue that I felt like would really grow with him.”
That color: Benjamin Moore’s Antique Pewter, which has long been one of her favorites. “I have used it in almost every client project in some way. … It’s the most beautiful shade of eucalyptus green that has green in there and blue depending on the light,” she said. “And I just loved that it gave the space so much more depth in the room.”
Sapphire
(ERIC PIASECKI/OTTO)
Cover photo: Even though it’s called Brester Gray, its shade gives off nice blue tones. (BRIAN BIEDER PHOTO)
Adriatic Sea is rich and enveloping. (RIKKI SNYDER)
is among the easiest of all hydrangeas to prune; mostly, don’t
How do you prune your hydrangea? It depends.
WHEN SOMEONE asks me how they should prune their hydrangea, I give them the answer that most people don’t like to any question “It depends.” What else can I say? It DOES depend. One or more of a few species of hydrangeas commonly make their home in our yards, and you have to approach each, pruning shears or loppers in hand, differently.
Let me tease apart the answer by, first, taking a look at what hydrangea or hydrangeas we may be growing, and then how they grow and flower, which, in turn, speaks to when and where to start snipping away.
If the hydrangea plant in question is a shrub bearing blue or pink flowers, it’s a so-called Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla).
Mopheads types, also called hortensias, bear softball to volleyball size clusters of florets. Lacecap types bear flat-topped cluster of small, hardly conspicuous florets surrounded by rims of showy, larger, 4-petalled florets.
GARDEN NOTES
STOCKBRIDGE Upcoming program at Berkshire Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming programs: “Painting the Colors of Spring.” Saturday, April 19 to Saturday, June 14.
Capture spring unfolding in the garden with a heightened awareness of color during this three-session watercolor series focusing on color exploration, experimentation and practice on Saturdays, April 19, May 17 and June 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Led by artist and educator Jean Mackay, participants will paint flowering trees, perennials and bulbs concentrating on a specific color in each session so you can get to know your
palette and gain confidence with mixing clean, vibrant colors. Each class will include an overview of pigments, color play and mixing, and a focal piece that showcases the dominant color. Sketch outside for part of the time, if weather permits, and bring nature inside if it doesn’t, so please dress accordingly. Instruction will be tailored to various skill levels. Materials list provided upon registration.
Whether mophead or lacecap, Bigleaf Hydrangeas flowers open from buds they set up the previous year. Those buds are big and fat, in contrast to the skinny buds that grow out to become shoots.
Prune Bigleaf Hydrangea stems as far as the fat buds while the plants are leafless (now, for instance). Right after bloom, cut the stems further back to near ground level.
Problem is that while the plants can stand up to bitter cold, the flower buds can’t, expiring at temperatures below about minus 5° Fahrenheit. Some varieties set their flower buds lower on the stem than do others. Their buds might more reliably stand up to winter cold if plants are mulched in late fall with some loose organic material like straw or arborists’ wood chips.
Pushing Bigleaf Hydrangea growing further north are some recently developed varieties that bloom on new, growing shoots.
Lee Reich | In the Garden
Tree-like Panicled Hydrangea
prune it. (LEE REICH PHOTO)
Signs of a more buyer-friendly housing market emerge for the spring homebuying season
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
This spring homebuying season is shaping up to be more favorable for home shoppers than it’s been in recent years — as long as they can afford to buy.
Home prices are rising more slowly. Mortgage rates remain elevated, but have been mostly easing and could be headed lower if the U.S. economic outlook continues to darken over the Trump administration’s widespread tariffs, which have rattled financial markets and stoked fears of a recession.
Most importantly, the number of homes on the market is up sharply from a year ago.
While the inventory of homes for sale nationally is still low by historical standards, active listings — a tally that encompasses all homes on the market except those pending a finalized sale — surged 28.5% last month from a year earlier, according to data from Realtor.com.
Listings jumped between 44% and 68% in many large metro areas, including San Diego, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Washington D.C.
As homes take longer to sell, prices have started dropping in many markets. The median listing price was down last month from a year earlier in most of the nation’s biggest 50 metro areas, including a more than 6% drop in Austin, Miami and Kansas City.
These trends should give prospective homebuyers more leverage as they negotiate with sellers this spring, though they are unlikely to be a game-changer for many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market after years of soaring prices.
“It’s a little hard to say that it’s a buyer’s market, but I’d call it a much more balanced market than it’s been in the last couple of years, where it’s
really been a predominantly seller’s market,” said Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com.
Ryan Vasko and his wife, Whitney, recently navigated both sides of the housing market equation in their move from Oregon to Colorado.
In December, the couple sold their three-bedroom, one-bath house in Portland for $505,000. That was $10,000 below their list price, but still above the $500,000 minimum they hoped to get.
At the same time, the couple searched for a home in the Denver metro area, which is among the markets that’s had the biggest increase in homes for sale this year. Active listings soared 67.3% in March from a year earlier. As listings jumped, the median listing price fell 5.6% to $585,000.
Last month, the Vaskos closed the deal on a four-bedroom, three-bathroom house in Littleton, Colorado, about 10 miles south of Denver, that had been on the market at least three weeks.
“We got under contract week one, we found out we were pregnant week two and we put an offer on this house week three,” said Vasko, 41, a creative director at an advertising agency.
The price: $680,000, or $5,000 above the list price. Still, the seller agreed to cover the cost of lowering the couple’s 6.9% mortgage rate for the first two years of the loan to 4.9% and 5.9%, respectively.
“It gives us a little wiggle room, if we need it,” said Vasko, noting that he’s hoping to eventually refinance to a lower fixed rate.
A mixed market
The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandem-
ic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. Easing mortgage rates and more homes on the market nationally helped drive sales higher in February from the previous month, though they were down yearover-year.
Last year, higher mortgage rates dampened the start of the spring homebuying season. This year, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage is down to 6.6% from just over 7% in mid-January, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac, although that’s still elevated relative to the 2-year low of about 6% it fell to in September.
Another plus for buyers: Lower prices. The median listing price fell in March from a year earlier in 32 of the 50 largest metro areas, including Kansas City, San Francisco, Miami and San Diego. Nationally, it was $424,900 last month, unchanged from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com.
The market shift may give home shoppers more leverage when sellers ask that buyers waive home inspections. Sellers may also be more willing to pay for closing costs, contribute cash to make repairs or make other concessions, real estate agents say.
“Pretty much every buyer is asking for concessions, unless they know that they are in a multiple offer situation,” said Afton Hartmann, a Redfin agent in Denver.
Such situations, although less common than a few years ago, still exist.
Gilad Hoffman, executive director at a synagogue, knew his home search was over when he spotted a four-bedroom, 2.5-bath house for sale in Escondido, 30 miles northeast of San Diego. He felt the home, listed by the
estate of its late owner for $1.079 million, was “severely underpriced.”
Hoffman, 41, paid $13,000 above the asking price for the home in February as he fended off bids from three other prospective buyers — including one offering to pay all cash.
Elevated mortgage rates didn’t dissuade Hoffman. He accepted a 7% rate in exchange for a credit from his lender to put toward closing costs.
“My philosophy going into the whole thing was: get into something now that you can afford with these high interest rates,” Hoffman said. “Hopefully in two years, they’ll come down and then you can refinance. And that’s still my intention.”
Affordability and uncertainty are still hurdles
Despite some buyer-friendly trends, the housing market remains largely out of reach for many Americans, especially first-time buyers who don’t
have home equity gains to put toward a new home. While home price growth has been slowing, the decline is negligible against the 47% gain in prices over the last five years. And while home listings are up, many more are needed to return the market to more of a balance between buyers and sellers. Consider, there were 1.24 million unsold homes on the market at the end of February. While up 17% from a year earlier, that’s still about 44% below the 2.21 million monthly average going back to 1999, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.
As of January, a household earning the median U.S. annual income of $79,223 would have to spend 47% of that to cover payments on a home at the median price of $390,333. That share of income matches the highest it has ever been on records going back to 2005, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
LOS ANGELES
Ryan and Whitney Vasko are shown on April 3 outside the Littleton, Colo. home they just bought after moving from Oregon.
(DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Is refinishing my only option for damaged wood floors?
By Jeanne Huber
The Washington Post
Q.Our very old wood floors are in good shape and were refinished right before we bought our house 10 years ago. But now there is very noticeable wear in a few spots, chiefly in the entryway. How should we address this?
A. It depends on whether the finish is just worn, meaning it looks dull, or it has worn through, meaning dirt from shoes is getting ground into the wood itself. And, of course, it depends on your budget and what degree of perfection you want.
When the finish is worn through, the best option is to refinish, a process that involves sanding off the old finish and enough wood to erase scratches and dents, repairing any other damage, then applying stain (if desired) and multiple layers of clear finish. The steps take time, so the process is expensive.
But if the finish is just dull, refinishing probably isn’t the best option. Most old wood
floors are made from solid boards with interlocking tongue-and-groove edges. The boards are held down by nails driven at an angle through the tongues so no metal shows on the top of the floor. However, the nailheads are only about a quarter-inch below the surface when the floor is first installed (and even less if the flooring is an engineered type, with a thinner wear layer). Each time the floor is refinished, a little of the wood, maybe 1 /32 inch, gets turned into sawdust. After the floor has been refinished several times, maybe four or five, the nailheads are too close to the surface to sand any further. At that point, the floor needs to be painted, covered with carpet or other flooring, or replaced. So refinishing isn’t just expensive; it also shortens the life of the floors, meaning it really ought to be done only when needed. Paying attention to the finish and noticing when it just begins to become dull gives you a better, less costly option. Instead of sanding off the finish and starting over, you can simply restore the finish by adding another layer. To get new finish to grip better, a recoating com-
Benjamin Moore Shell Pink Knauf went with Benjamin Moore’s Shell Pink in this bedroom for two “pink-obsessed” sisters, to coordinate with the paper doll dresses they made with their grandmother that hang on the wall. “It’s still subtle and glowy and charming without being Pepto Bismol,” she said. “It checked all the boxes for everybody.” Another sweet touch: Heirloom furniture from their great-grandparents’ home. “Those were the beds [her father] slept on as a child, and we recovered them to be more appropriate for these two very fun and active little girls,” Knauf said.
Benjamin Moore Brewster Gray Griffin’s 8-year-old son “loves his dinosaurs,” she said. To create the perfect backdrop for displaying them, she went with Benjamin Moore’s Brewster Gray, a soothing shade of blue that felt a little more unexpected. “We see
pany needs to clean the floor thoroughly and create miniature scratches on the old finish using chemicals or a machine with an abrasive screen (rather than sandpaper).
Many companies that refinish wood floors also offer recoating. Companies with terms such as “one-day” or “sandless” in their names emphasize this service, although they may also offer the full treatment. But the advertising pitch is correct: If a floor just needs to be recoated, the whole process might take only a day, and it won’t fill the house with sawdust. Greg Johnson, one of the owners of Sandless in Seattle, said his company needs to assess a floor in person before committing to a process, but if a floor is in good enough condition for recoating, it might cost around $2 a square foot. Full refinishing runs $10 to $12 a square foot.
There is a big caveat, though: If you have used dusting sprays that contain silicone, the residue could keep new finish from sticking and curing correctly. To remove silicone overspray, General Finishes, a manufacturer of floor finishes,
a lot of icy blues, pale blues, and then of course a navy,” she said. “This one just felt that much more exciting.”
Benjamin Moore Adriatic Sea
If you want to go bold, as in this room done in Benjamin Moore’s Adriatic Sea, consider using it in smaller doses. “I love a saturated blue, but in this little boy’s room I wanted a light, crisp quality to balance all the primary colors,” designer Caroline Kopp said in an email. “Painting the wall blue part way up the wall (stopping around eye level) and doing a clear white across the top of the space gives a brightness to the room and pops out the windows, which are also in blue.”
The white — Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace — on the upper wall, crown molding and ceiling makes the ceiling feel higher, said Kopp, who is based in Westport, Connecticut. “You could use this approach to cut the intensity of any color you are looking at using,” she added. “I’ve also seen it done with two contrasting colors and it looks super cool that way too.”
says to scrub with Spic and Span Multi-Purpose Cleaner ($3.59 for a 32-ounce spray bottle at Ace Hardware) and warm water using a gray (ultrafine) scrub pad. Then wipe off residue with denatured alcohol and, after the floor dries, apply three coats of dewaxed shellac (Zinsser Bulls Eye SealCoat is $22.99 a quart at Ace), allowing drying time between each coat. After all that, apply floor finish to a test area, let the finish dry, then see if it scrapes off when you rub it with the edge of a blunt butter knife or a nickel. (A nickel, or a penny, works well because it has a smooth edge. A dime or a quarter has ridges.) If the finish peels up, or if it dries with little “fish-eye” bare spots, there is still silicone and new finish isn’t an option. Resanding the floor would probably remove it, but even then, there are no guarantees that new finish will stick. You say you’ve noticed wear mostly in an entry. If you’ve used dusting sprays with silicone there, perhaps all you need is an area rug big enough to hide the worn spots, at least until more sections of the floor start to show wear.
Even though professional floor-finishers caution that it’s nearly impossible to recoat a section of a floor so it blends in perfectly, there’s no rule against doing it if you are willing to see some unevenness, especially at first. Just be sure to scuff up the old finish until it’s dull, using fine sandpaper or a scrub pad, and wipe off all the residue.
Recoat entire boards. To keep from smearing finish onto adjoining boards, mask them off with painter’s tape.
Whether you are recoating the whole floor or just tackling a section, it probably makes sense to use a water-based rather than oil-based floor finish, even if the old finish was oil-based. Oil-based floor finishes make wood look more amber, while water-based finishes dry clear. But if there is an oil finish underneath, a clear coat on top won’t affect the color. And, in general, it’s okay to apply a water-based floor finish over an oil-based finish, but not the other way around because of differences in how stiff they are. Plus, water-based finishes dry faster and smell less.
Benjamin Moore Bright and Early Knauf used Benjamin Moore’s Bright and Early to achieve a classic Americana look in this room shared by two brothers. “What’s more fun
than red, white and blue, and some denim?” she said. “I would use it in an adult room as well.” The trim, in Benjamin Moore’s Denim Wash, adds contrast.
Bright and Early is another Americana-style option. (AARON COLUSSI PHOTO)
SALT HAS PLAYED an important a role in human history as it does at the dinner table. It provides necessary nutrients and it made food preservation possible long before refrigeration. The difficulty of obtaining it and the amount of processing required made it extremely valuable.
Many known prehistoric towns were salt production sites; human migration, trade and even wars have been driven by access to salt. For centuries salt was served at the table in open dishes, which collectors may call salt cellars, salt dishes open salts, or simply “salts.”
It wasn’t until the 1900s, after the discovery of additives that allowed for a finer grind and prevented lumping, that the familiar saltshaker became commonplace. Even then, some companies continued making salt dishes. They were often highly decorative, like this three-part open salt that sold for $584 at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates. It was made in Czechoslovakia and dates to the 1920s. It features the rich colors and elaborate decorations collectors associate with the region’s glassware.
Q. Being the curator at the Ward-Thomas Museum for over 40 years, we sometimes have strange things donated to the museum and become perplexed in trying to determine what they are and what they are used for. Such is the case of the 9 x 19-inch wooden board with many wire bars that slide into attached slots. A ledge-like piece on one side holds the wire bars in place. The wooden frame that holds the metal bars looks worn, leading me to believe it was held in some person’s hands
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
Before there were saltshakers
Most of us are used to having a saltshaker available at any meal. Ornately decorated salt dishes call back to a time when it was a luxury. (JEFFREY S. EVANS & ASSOCIATES)
while using the item. If it is a part of something else, we do not know. There is no instruction pamphlet.
A. This came as a challenge to us, too, but we suspect that what you have is a pleater, or “plaiter,” as it used to be called, to make pleats in fabric for home sewing. Similar devices, wooden boards about the same size with movable metal bars, were patented as “plaiters” in the late 1800s. Unlike the fluted irons or mechanical rollers available at the time, also known as crimpers or rufflers, these pleaters allowed for different types and sizes of pleats. Some surviving examples have paper labels with the maker’s name and instructions for use, but these labels wear away easily.
Q. I have a complete set of flow blue china in the peach pattern. It includes
and the risk of breakage. You could contact a consignment store or antiques dealer in your area. Selling to a matching service is another option; you would have to pack and ship the dishes, but you may get a better price. For more information, you could also contact a collectors’ club like the Flow Blue International Collectors’ Club flowblue. org.
Q. What is my teapot worth? It has a light green glaze and a raised flower pattern. It is round with a short spout and a bamboo handle on top.
A. The pale green glaze is called celadon and has been used by ceramists in Asia for centuries. However, the style of your teapot was made for export in the 20th century. Teapots like this are usually worth under $50.
CURRENT PRICES
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions. Lamp, oil, Vaseline glass, Sheldon swirl, opalescent, clear pressed stand, round foot, hurricane shade, 16 inches, $90.
a place setting for eight with serving pieces. What is the best way to sell them? Do they have any financial value?
A. China sets can be difficult to sell, but flow blue patterns are popular among collectors. Sets in various patterns have sold well over their estimates at recent auctions. “Flow blue” refers to a cobalt blueprint on white china where the blue coloring flows slightly, giving the design a smeared appearance. The most famous flow blue was made in England from about 1830 to 1900. “Peach” is a flow blue pattern made by Johnson Brothers, an English company that made semiporcelain dishes starting in 1883. They introduced flow blue patterns around 1913. Depending on the condition of the pieces, your set may be worth about $300 to $500. It is usually best to sell china sets locally, if possible, to minimize the packing and shipping work
TIP: A small chip in a glass goblet or vase can be ground off by a glass-repair expert, but there is little that can be done for cracks.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels. com.
Toy, Kiddy Cyclist, child on tricycle, red overalls, animals on wheels, multicolor, tin lithograph, windup, Unique Art Mfg., 8 1/2 inches, $110. Textile, panel, embroidered, center peacock, birds, flower vases in corners, metallic thread, frame, 18 1/2 inches, $250. Lalique, clock, Iris, round, frosted, molded flowers, oval base, etched mark, Lalique France, 6 3/4 x 8 inches, $315. Lamp, electric, glass dome shade, Verre de Soie, etched garland and flower, Steuben, Pairpoint base, silver plate, glass column, square stepped foot, white marble, 19 1/2 inches, $320. Barber, pole, red, white and blue stripe, paper, glass tube, steel and chrome caps, aluminum bracket, turns, lights up, William Marvy, 1950s, 18 1/2 inches, $450.
Judaica, wine set, Seder, decanter and stopper, six cups, round tray, engraved, Star of David, silver, marked, decanter 9 inches, 8 pieces, $535.
Furniture, chair, fauteuil, Le Corbusier, LC7, tubular frame, chrome steel, black leather upholstery, curved back rest, round seat, swivels, 28 1/2 inches, pair, $1,040.
Royal Crown Derby, plate, dinner, Red Derby Panel, red stylized flower panels around rim, alternating white and gilt ground, bone china, marked, 10 1/2 inches, 12 pieces, $1,235.
Furniture, day bed, Regency, mahogany, upholstered seat, turned ball feet, high scrolled arms, 31 x 85 inches, $1,660.
Average US rate on 30-year mortgage
falls to 6.62%
Rate eases for third consecutive week
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year mortgage in the U.S. declined for the third week in a row, another positive move for prospective homebuyers during what’s traditionally the housing market’s busy season.
The rate fell to 6.62% from 6.64% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.88%.
The average rate has mostly trended lower since reaching just over 7% in mid-January. When mortgage rates decline, they boost homebuyers’ purchasing power.
Borrowing costs on 15year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, were unchanged from last week. The average rate remained at 5.82%, but is down 6.16% a year ago, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including global demand for U.S. Treasurys, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions and bond market investors’ expectations for future inflation.
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage loosely follows moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
The yield, which has mostly fallen this year after climbing to around 4.8% in mid-January, has been volatile of late as bond investors reacted to the Trump administration’s decision to escalate U.S. tariffs on goods imported from nations around the world.
After sliding to just 4.01%
at the end of last week, the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to nearly 4.5% Wednesday morning. It was at 4.36% in afternoon trading Thursday following the White House’s decision to temporarily pause the new tariffs on most nations, even while increasing import taxes on China.
The latest drop in mortgage rates partially reflects the bond market’s uncertainty over the Trump administration’s on-again, off-again tariff policy, which is likely to keep mortgage rates volatile, said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS.
“All of the uncertainty in the economy and in the mortgage market is making it difficult for prospective homebuyers to know what to do,” she said. “Should they buy now or wait until later this year and hope that rates will come down further?”
Recent forecasts by housing economists generally called for the average rate on a 30-year mortgage to remain around 6.5% this year.
The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.
Easing mortgage rates and more homes on the market nationally helped drive sales higher in February from the previous month, though they were down year-overyear.
Still, home shoppers who can afford to buy at current mortgage rates may benefit from more buyer-friendly trends this spring homebuying season, including a sharp increase in home listings and lower asking prices in some metro areas.
Deeds
AGAWAM
Dennis A. Bousquet and Kathleen A. Bousquet to John Richard Shea and Marguerite T. Shea, 11 Conifer Drive, $450,000.
Fiorigia Bortolussi to Louis R. Bortolussi Jr., 13C Mansion Woods, $100,000.
Gina Burrage, representative, and Joyce A. Carestia, estate, to Megan Cammisa, 18 Beekman Drive, Unit 18, $244,900.
Jonathan H. Hartung, conservator, Frederick Milton Hartung Jr., and Frederick M. Hartung Jr., to Vasyl Lytvynchuk and Lyudmyla Lytvynchuk, 54 Rugby Road, $465,000.
Pine Crossing Construction Inc., to Marian Roncarati-Fortin, trustee, and Marian Roncarati-Fortin Revocable Trust of 2018, trustee of, 113 Villa Drive, Unit 37, $510,000.
Timothy K. Crouss, trustee, and M Loss Realty Nominee Trust, trustee of, to Andrew S. Rossoshanskiy and Natalie J. Rossoshanskiy, 142 Franklin St., $550,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Alina Lacey-Varona to Angela Dufield, 40 Ware Road, $100.
Crystal Spring Enterprises LLC, to Paul A. Bachand, Harris Way, $100.
Crystal Spring Enterprises LLC, to Paul A. Bachand, Harris Way and Bay Road, $100. North East General Contractors Inc., to You & Me Investment LLC, Shea Avenue, $100.
Shawn M. Nycz and Lydia L. Nycz to Pritiben V. Patel, 77 Cheryl Circle, $675,000.
Frederick C. Bozoglos and Donna M. Bozoglos to Alexander Bozoglos and Tyler Bozoglos, 46 Nathaniel Way, $100.
Kristin M. Balboni to David W. Villegas, 281 Gold St., $142,459.
Brendan Michael Coughlin and Brooke Elizabeth Coughlin to Sharon A. Strange, David N. Strange and Janine B. Rose, 119 Franklin St., $740,000.
Mary Ellen Pope and William D. Pope to Stone Koury, 268 Hamilton St., $349,500.
BERNARDSTON
Kittredge Industries LLC, to Current Properties LLC, 203 South St., $900,000.
Michael P. Snow, Tracy Lee Snow, “fka” Tracy Lee Rounds and Wendy Jean Snow, trustees of the Peter A. and Ella G. Snow Irrevocable Real Estate Trust, to Briana Russell and Scott Russell, 11 Burrows Turnpike, $345,000.
BRIMFIELD
Dawn Lawler, trustee, and Perry Irrevocable Realty Trust, trustee of, to Jillian K. Perry, 17 East Hill Road, $278,275.
Heather Blais and Adam Blais to Ralph W. Nichols Jr., and Michael David Nichols, 56 Tower Hill Road, $725,000.
Jacqueline Splaine, Kimberly J. Moran, Elissa Y. Splaine, Serenity L. Allen and Michael J. Splaine to Jonathan Scott Bramble, trustee, Katharine Wells Bramble, trustee, and Bramwells Family Trust, trustee of, 46 Little Alum Road, $550,000.
Tammy M. Lamy and Tammy M. Stetson to Susan J. Cupero and Louis J. Cupero, 33 Paige Hill Road, $779,900.
CHARLEMONT
Global Resources & Partners LLC, to Berkshire Fellowship LLC, 2151 Route 2, “aka” 2155 Route 2, “aka” 2155 Heath Road, $270,000.
Lynn Ann Hathaway, “aka” Lynn Hathaway, to Patricia E. Montalbano, 149 Legate Hill Road, $380,000.
Craig Tyler and Emily Urquhart, “fka” Emily Urquhart-Scott, to Barbara H. Norton and Zachary Wray, 23 Deer Run Lane, $250,000.
CHESTER
Mary M. Knappe to Sean Cahill, 0 N Chester Road, $1,000.
CHESTERFIELD
Howard P. Terry Jr., personal representative, Judith Arlene Terry, estate, and Judith A. Terry, estate, to Scotia MacGillivray, 43 Don Emerson Road, $205,000.
CHICOPEE
Claire M. Fagnant, Danielle A. Scavone, representative, Sharon I. Riley, representative, Doris Fagnant, estate, and Rene V. Fagnant, estate, to Angel Yuriel Rojas, 728 Grattan St., $220,000.
Congamond Management LLC, to Billy Joe Torres, 1360 Granby Road, $389,900.
Connie A. Simons to Fallah Razzak, 115 South St., Unit A, $65,000.
David Lacoste, Lisa Duczynski and Rosemarie Gaudrault to Anthony M. Cicero and Betty L. Cicero, 91 Poplar St., $290,000.
Debra J. Maurer, representative, and Irene J. Lacroix, estate, to Jose A. Hernandez Suares and Jessica M. Rivera, 566 McKinstry Ave., $300,000.
Gabriel M. Diaz to Michael Barry, 1066 James St., Unit A8, $205,000.
Kmak LLC, and Ryan Randall Realty LLC, to New Wave Realty LLC, 26 Olivine St., $210,000.
Marek R. Randzio to Szymon Kacper Chmielewski, 103 Lorraine St., $260,000.
Normand C. Girouard, Michael Girouard, Lisa Crowley and Nicole Boisvere to Kevin Mangano and Brianna Mangano, 90 Angela Drive, $500,000.
Olivia L. Robillard to William S. Ehlert, 87 Outer Drive, Unit K16, $229,500.
Patricia A. Fede to Peter Skerritt Jr., and Michelle Gibson, 22 Marble Ave., $355,000.
DEERFIELD
Michael E. Begay and Stephen C. Degurski to Susan A. Schriber and Greenfield Savings Bank, trustees of the Susan A. Schriber Trust, 25B Snowberry Circle, Unit 9B, Sugarloaf Condominium, $540,000.
Amy L. Stout, trustee of the Wentworth Investment Trust, and George E. Wentworth to Savannah E. Emery and Aleksander Solecki, 53 South Mill River Road, $250,000.
Roark C. Herron and Linda A. Slattery to Jerry D. Lemmon and Stacey Lemmon, 23B Snowberry Circle, Unit 8B, Sugarloaf Condominium, $510,000.
Deeds
EAST LONGMEADOW
Dorothy L. Lofgren and Linda E. Hamel to Shawn Pierce, 102 Bayne St., $360,000.
Kyle Alden Conley and Jessica R. Conley to John Omelia, 117 Vineland Ave., $330,000.
Michael M. Cuccovia and Gail D. Cuccovia to Matthias Maaloee and Rachel Boynton, 11 Burt Ave., $435,000.
Truce Real Estate LLC, to Exchange Assets LLC, 55 White Ave., $215,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Johanna M. Walker to Lori J. Shollenberger, 14 Johnson Ave., $171,000.
Sharon Pliska to Samantha Mickey Pliska and William Frank Toland, 6 Charity Court, $100.
GRANBY
Ito Sachiko, personal representative, Jonathan Wilder, estate, and Jonathan Ward Wilder, estate, to Mark S. Haley and Hollis D. Haley, 121 Cold Hill, $601,000.
Joshua S. Moynahan and Chelsea Moynahan to Ruth D. Hornsby, 6 Wood Ave., $325,000.
Joseph D.P. Lagasse and Andrea M. Lagasse to Joseph D.P. Lagasse, trustee, Andrea M. Lagasse, trustee, and Lagasse Family Trust, 20 Greenmeadow Lane, $100.
Lynn Marie Merrill-Akin and Debra Lee Peloquin to Debra Lee Peloquin and Michael E. Peloquin, 31 Cold Hill Drive, $140,000.
Frank J. Palasz and Nancy A. Palasz to Brian Palasz, 115 Kendall St., $312,500.
GREENFIELD
Jason D. Hubert, personal representative of the Estate of Charles Edward Gerry, “aka” Charles E. Gerry, to Donald Miller, 311 Chapman St., $150,000.
Cara J. Sharpes-Smith and Heather C. Sharpes-Smith to Alicia Moyer, 43 Cleveland St., $420,000.
Joanne Muench and Jane Sender, trustees of the Brosky Irrevocable Real Estate Trust, to Meaghan Handley and Nathan Holloway, 2 Keegan Lane, $196,000.
Michelle Dicinoski and Heather F. Stewart to Joseph Hildreth, 28-30 Walnut St., $281,056.
Malia Homebuyers LLC, to Raymond C. Harris Jr., and Amy A. Huff-Harris, 34 West St.,
$405,000.
Briana Russell and Scott K. Russell to Caroline Aller and Craig Cohen, 286 Conway St., $298,750.
HADLEY
Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Methuselah Realty Trust to De Xiong Lin, 47 Bay Road, $60,000.
Daniel Allen Cavanaugh and Emily A. Gomes to Deborah K. Robes and Jennifer L. O’Brien, 136 Middle St., and 94 Middle St., $750,000.
East Street Commons LLC, to Joseph M. Assad and Margaret A. Assad, 30 East Commons Drive, $563,000.
HATFIELD
Anthony J. Thomas IV, personal representative, Rachelle Thomas, estate, and Rachelle Rutkowski, estate, to Tucker Scott, 53 King St., $215,000.
HOLYOKE
Alycar Investments LLC, Marianne F. Sullivan, Sullivan & Sullivan Auctioneers LLC, and Pleasant Street Condominium Trust to DNE Pro Properties LLC, 526 Pleasant St., Unit F, $107,000.
Chris Masato Fry and Akiko Fry to Juan Antonio Castano Perez, 9597 High St., $452,400.
Hilltop Garden Apartments LLC, to Witman Properties LLC, 26 Forestdale Ave., $6,950,000.
Holyoke Economic Development & Industrial Corp. to Agilitas Energy Inc., Bobola Road, $350,000.
Mary Jewett, estate, and Sandra L. Jenkins, representative, to Harper Jackson Revocable Trust, trustee of, Karen G. Jackson, trustee, and Amy K. Harper, trustee, 25 Richard Eger Drive, $334,000.
Nancy L. Martinez to Paulin Otilien, 219 Pine St., $305,000.
LONGMEADOW
Joan G. O’Reilly, estate, and Mary O. Yob, representative, to Donghee Kim, 130 South Ave., $374,900.
Kathleen A. Ketcham and James P. Ketcham to Elizabeth Anne Dill and Mark James Canegallo Jr., 98 Colony Road, $715,000.
LUDLOW
Alan T. Teixeira and Lisa B. Teixeira to Muhammad Ali Saleem, trustee, Mian Z. Saleem, trustee, and 20 Mineral Spring Realty Trust, trustee of, 20 Mineral Spring Ave., $850,000.
Jeffrey A. Steigmeyer to Donald A. Sorel Jr., and Lynn A. Sorel, 38 McDonald Circle, $415,000.
MONTAGUE
David S Cuthbert, Eric M. Cuthbert and Nicole J. Cuthbert to Neill L. Bovaird Jr., and Suzanne Webber, 39 Old Stage Road, $315,000. Paul M. Voiland to Bnick LLC, 485 Federal St., $390,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Susan R. Farrell and Susan J. Roy to Susan J. Roy, trustee, Helena K. Farrell, trustee, and Susan J. Roy Trust, 59 Revell Ave., $100.
Healthy Neighborhoods Group LLC, to David A. Giusti and Laura L. Tupper, 321 Bridge St., $488,000.
Jaya R. Agrawal and Simon A. Ahtaridis to Simon Alexander Ahtaridis, trustee, Jaya Rani Agrawal, trustee, and Ahtaridis Agrawal Family Trust, 43 Finn St., $100.
Sarah R. Bookbinder-Goldstein, Max S. Weider and Max S. Wedier to Rhea Sujin Seo, Grove Avenue, $20,000.
Carol Kahn, personal representative, and Sally H. Kahn, estate, to Richard H. King Jr., and Peter J. Erbland, 4 Ford Crossing, $955,000.
King Auto Body Inc., to Powder 8 LLC, 141 King St., $500,000.
PALMER
Brittany A. Cormier to Antonio R. Orciari and Michelle R. Normand, 1180 Calkins Road, $342,500.
Jennifer N. McCarthy to Francis H. Venne Jr., Francis H. Venne III, and Samantha M. Farquhar, 10 Buckland St., $430,000.
Yvonne Grondin and Patriot Real Estate Holdings LLC, to Yeliza Quezada De Delgado, 17 Alden St., $360,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
Tracy L. Davis to Anthony Barbosa, 130 Granby Road, $50,000.
Ito Sachiko, personal representative, Jonathan Wilder, estate, and Jonathan Ward Wilder, estate, to Mark S. Haley and Hollis D. Haley, 121 Cold Hill, $601,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
Robert M. Buckingham to Maryalaine M. Buckingham, trustee, Robert M. Buckingham, trustee, and Maryalaine M. Buckingham Living Trust, 2 Mountain Road, $100.
George W. Phillips and Beth A. McGowan to Beth A. McGowan, trustee, George W. Phillips, trustee, George W. Phillips Living Trust and Beth A. McGowan Living Trust, 69 Brickyard Road Exten-
sion, $100.
SOUTHWICK
Dominica Louise Rice to William Pepe Jr., and Patricia Pepe, 99 Powder Mill Road, $320,000.
Megan Cammisa to Ventry Holdings LLC, 21 Feeding Hills Road, $260,000.
SPRINGFIELD
15 Whipple Street LLC, to DDMNS Realty LLC, 15 Whipple St., $425,000.
214 Dickinson LLC, to Mt. Empire Realty LLC, 214-216 Dickinson St., $400,000.
A&M Investments LLC, to Jessica Alcantara, 45 Monroe St., $365,000.
Adilenia Ramos to Brandon Clarke, 67 Thompson St., $449,000.
Alexander Sanginario to Jacquelyn Kraps and Vanessa Kraps, Durant St., Lot 1, $20,000.
Alexander Sanginario to Jacquelyn Kraps, 239 Durant St., $400,000.
Angelica Fermaintt to Jose Gonzalez Fermin, 310 Oakland St., $410,000.
Anne Marie Dooney, Edward M. Paolino Jr., Patricia M. Murphy and Mary M. Bedore to Julie T. Paolino, 20 Georgetown St., $160,000.
Anthony Trabal to Anthony Trabal II, 28 Crest St., $250,000.
APP Realty Trust LLC, to Jean Marie Mompremier Jr., 26-128 Maynard St., $259,100.
ARPC LLC, to Abigail Marisa Cordeiro, 86 Fieldston St., $231,990.
Bethany Boyle to Jessica S Benoit, 32 Spikenard Circle, $240,000.
Carrie E. Gould to Colondres + Co. LLC, 24 Hiawatha St., $250,000.
Caterina N. Penna and Michael N. Penna to Dreamwake Homes Inc., 191 Phoenix Terrace, $120,000.
Charlene Kelly and Charlene M. Kelly to BHO Realty LLC, NS Switzer Ave., $183,750.
Chenevert Properties LLC, to IHI Wave LLC, 21 Wendell Place, $275,000.
Chenevert Properties LLC, to IHI Wave LLC, 600 Union St., $200,000.
Debra Babowicz, Mark Babowicz and Gabrielle Babowicz to Danisha L. Flucker, 28 Notre Dame St., $325,000.
Dianita Gonzalez and Rafael Jomar Gonzalez to Sarah Lieb and Christopher Lieb, 43 Martha St., $351,750.
U S A Housing & Urban Development to Douglas Dichard and David Bibeau, 15 Verge St., $141,330.
Gemini Town Homes LLC, to Federico C. De Leon, 78 Central St.,
Unit 302, $189,000.
Gregory S. Kobuskaitis and Diane M. Kobuskaitis to Miroslav Nesterchuk and Petro Smoliarchuk, 206 Treetop Ave., $198,000.
James B. Morrissey Jr., trustee, John Swift, trustee, and Springfield Ventures Realty Trust, trustee of, to JHN Investments LLC, 26 Greenacre Square, $235,000.
JoeJoe Properties LLC, to Juan Rivera, 37-39 Vassar St., $382,000.
Kenny A. Rodriguez and Kimberly Rodriguez to Carlos Cosme Cuevas, 33 Coleman St., $290,000.
Kevin Mangano and Brianna Mangano to Caitlyn P. Crochiere, Caitlyn Phyllis Crochiere, Riley T. McBride and Riley Thomas McBride, 19 Mary Louise St., $295,000.
Linc Suppliers Corp., to Suly Yurany Herrera Monsalve, 64 Thompson St., $376,000.
Nathaniel Dusza to Jadir Uceli De Oliveira and Luciana Oliveira, 45 Wallace St, $225,000.
Pah Properties LLC, to James M. Kalbaugh, 35 Lenn Road, $375,000.
Pah Properties LLC, to Samaris Natal Gonzalez, 124 Bristol St, $315,000.
R M Blerman LLC, and RM Blerman LLC, to Katherine Ruiz Lopez, 393 Newbury St., $300,000.
Rachel Boynton to Reginald D. Armstrong and Thokozani Armstrong, 637 Nassau Drive, Unit 637, $254,900.
Roberto Lopez to Yelissa E. Santana Clase, 92 Sunset Drive, $340,000.
Roderick R. Barton to Oluwole Fabikun, 14 Coomes St., $478,000.
Rosa P. Ryan to Jean Makenson Cesar, 636 Sumner Ave., $245,000.
Ross Dupuis to AMG Investments LLC, 44 Woodmont St., $18,000. St. James Place Properties LLC, to 553 St. James LLC, 0 St. James Ave., $6,150,000.
Thomas A. Oakley, Jeorgian Oakley and Jeorgian K. Oakley to Jessica Matias and Wilmar Gabriel Morales, 109-111 Woodmont St., $361,100.
Virginia A. Dagostino, representative, and Vincenza Liberti, estate, to Chenevert Properties LLC, 21 Wendell Place, $150,000.
Wilnette Morgan to Tanea Eddington, 38 Malcolm Road, $220,000.
WALES
HLRE Development LLC, and KM Visions LLC. to Sydney Summers and Heather Blais, 69 Monson Road, $436,000.
This series gives you the flexibility to sign up for one or more sessions, with a discount for choosing all three. Cost is $320 members, $350 nonmembers; Saturday, April 19, “Springtime Centerpiece Workshop.” Join in to embrace spring by creating a beautifully unique floral centerpiece from 10 a.m. to noon. Whether celebrating for the holidays or just needing some floral cheer, Hilary Collingwood of Moonflower Farm will guide you through the process. Vessel, flowers and all materials provided. Cost $90 members, $110 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.
Reich
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F3
These new varieties — the first one of which was named Endless Summer — will bloom anywhere. Blossoms on new shoots unfurl later in the season than those on older wood, too late in some gardens (like mine, some years). Cutting back older shoots after they flower fuels a better show from the young, growing shoots.
Oakleaf Hydrangea (H. quercifolia) is another hydrangea that is very cold hardy, except for it flower buds. Flowers sit on the ends of stems in elongated clusters, like cotton candy. Oakleaf Hydrangea can be pruned just like Bigleaf Hydrangea, except that it grows as a large shrub so need not be cut back so much.
Lack of a flowery show from Oakleaf Hydrangea is no loss because a billowing mound or mounds of the oak-like leaves are attractive in their own right through summer, and also in fall, when the leaves turn rich, burgundy red. Even where winter cold would test the reliability of flowering, Oak Leaf Hydrangea is often planted solely for its form and its leaves.
Years ago, I planted a Climbing Hydrangea (H. animala petiolaris) at the base of the
org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Road.
WEST SPRINGFIELD Garden Club Meeting
The West Springfield Garden Club will meet on Thursday, April 17, at 6 p.m., in the J. Edward Christian Municipal Office Building, 26 Central St. Parking is available in the municipal lot across the street. The meeting will be held in the Justin Morgan Auditorium on the second floor. The evening’s speaker, Shari Petrucci, will talk about “Propagating Herbs for Indoor and Outdoor Growing.” No matter if you live in a home or apartment, Petrucci will give
north wall of my home. It took a couple of years or more to get in gear, but now completely clothes that wall. Though leafless through winter, the peeling, light mahogany bark stands prettily against the brick red backdrop. Soon the stems will be draped in glossy, green leaves and, a little after that, white flowers that stand proud of the wall on short stalks and glow against their dark backdrop like a starry night.
This time of year my pruning consists of shortening shorten flower stalks that reach too far out from the wall and vigorous stems that keep trying to sneak around the wall to clothe the rest of the house. Twice in summer I prune stems again to restrain the plant to only the north wall.
Perhaps I’ll plant another Climbing Hydrangea at the base of my 90 foot tall Norway spruce that with age is thinning out. The hydrangea tolerates sun or shade, and can climb a tree without causing harm.
Rounding out this romp through pruning hydrangeas are two of the easiest to prune plants of the species. The first, Smooth Hydrangea (H. arborescens), grows long shoots from ground level, each capped in early summer with half-foot-wide clusters
tips on growing, maintaining, pruning, and collecting herbs, both on a windowsill and in a beautiful garden among your flowers and shrubs. The public is welcome to attend. Contact Joan at graceshad@msn.com if you wish to join us.
MONSON Garden Club Scholarship
The Monson Garden Club has announced that two $500 scholarships are available to high school seniors who reside in Monson and plan to continue school at a two- or four-year college to study in any branch of the life, natural, or environmental sciences. Applications with instructions may be obtained through their
of white flowers. To prune, just lop all stems right to the ground in late winter or early spring.
And finally, we come to PeeGee, sometimes called Panicle, Hydrangea (H. paniculata grandiflora), growing like a small tree or large shrub. This one blossoms in late summer on new growth, so if it is going to be pruned, that needs to be done before growth begins.
With that said, Panicle Hydrangea develops a permanent trunk or trunks, making it difficult to reach high into its dense head for pruning. No matter, because the plant flowers quite well with little or no pruning. Hydrangea is only one group of closely related plants where species differ in how they are pruned. Roses would be another example; climbing roses are pruned very differently from rambling roses, which are pruned very differently from . . . you get the picture. Clematis also. For more details about the individual pruning needs of these as well as lots of other trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, fruits, and houseplants, and special pruning techniques like pollarding, mowing and scything (yes, that’s pruning!), and espalier, take a look at my book “The Pruning Book.” It’s available through the usual sources or, signed, directly from me here.
school guidance office and are due by April 29.
HAMPDEN Garden Club meeting
The Hampden Garden Club April meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m. at Academy Hall on Main Street. The program for the evening “Intro to the Cut Flower Garden.” Becky Sadlowski will speak on growing colorful, home grown cut flowers. Sadlowski and her husband founded “Rooted Flowers,” a specialty cut flower farm in Agawam.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
Housing
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F4
If the decline in mortgage rates accelerates in coming months, that would boost homebuyers’ purchasing power.
Economic forecasts generally have the average rate on a 30-year mortgage staying around 6.5% this year, but those forecasts may be outdated now.
A sharp downward move last week in the 10-year Treasury yield as bond investors reacted to rapidly escalating trade war between the U.S. and nations around the globe points to lower mortgage rates.
Still, tariffs are typically inflationary, and the 10year Treasury yield tends to rise on expectations of higher inflation. That could keep mortgage rates where they are or nudge them higher.
If the trade war worries do pave the way for further mortgage rate drops, “those lower rates may be cold comfort to prospective buyers who are increasingly worried about job security and inflation,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS.
Deeds
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F9
WARE
Robert L. Pratt and Janice C. Pratt to Brian R. Pratt, 360 Palmer Road, $100.
Jane B. Stendrup to Jane B. Stendrup, trustee, and Stendrup Family Trust, 23 Crescent St., $100.
JCV Realty LLC, to Christopher J. Morgan, 48 North St., $95,000.
WENDELL
Margaret Evans Van Ert and KeyBank NA, personal representatives of the Estate of Joyce Ann Evans, “aka” Joyce A. Evans, “aka” Joyce Ann Parker, to Keith Waters, Stone Road, $130,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
83 Worthen Street Inc., to Worthen Realty LLC, Vine Street, Lot 20, $100.
CitiMortgage Inc., to Alixon Alejandro Herrera Martinez, 185 Windsor St., $166,000.
Flipping Best LLC, to Colin Vigneault and Mia Rose Rizzo, 63 Ashley St., $340,000.
Khalid Dhahir and Sarah Hnfsh to Karen Lisbeth Canela, 30 Hillside Ave., $290,000.
Michael Rose to Shardia Nehushta Jones, 60 Belmont Ave., $410,000.
WESTFIELD
Danielle Barton to Joshua A. Olmstead and Rylie B. Olmstead, 130 Elizabeth Ave., $405,000.
Jay Russell Johnson Sr., to Philip Magovern and Aimee Magovern, 80 Broadway, $478,500.
Zack & Sons LLC, to Rachel C. Swindle and Sara Scott, 140 Russellville Road, $682,000.
WILBRAHAM
Kurt J. MacDonald to Tyler P O’Neil and Monique Goodrow, 7 Wildwood Lane, $695,000.
Mark C. Morgan and Geraldine R. Morgan to Michael Douglas Ketterman and Leila Amy Ketterman, 1065 Tinkham Road, $485,000.
Richard D. Havican, trustee, Todd Ratner, trustee, and Cornelia A. Havican Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Sara Poindexter, 7 Horseshoe Lane, $440,000.
Thomas W. Larock and Suzanne L. Larocque to Matthew W. Dziok and Danielle K Dziok, 3 Highridge Road, $120,000.
Virginia M. Carranza and Carlos Carranza to James C. Patterson and Mia N. Ferrera, 27 Oakland St., $479,400.
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