Do I really need to clean my gutters more than once a year?
By Jeanne Huber
The Washington Post
Q.Gutter cleaning companies are always trying to sell me on getting mine serviced multiple times each year. How often should I be cleaning them? And when is the best time to do it?
A. For some houses, a yearly cleaning of gutters is sufficient. For others, twice a year might not be enough. The truth is that gutters should be cleaned as often as necessary to keep rain runoff flowing through the downspouts, rather than cascading over the lip of the gutters or backing up and soaking the edge of the roof.
Plugged gutters can lead to all sorts of maintenance issues that cost far more time and money to fix than what you save by skimping on gutter cleaning. When they function correctly, gutters collect water at the edge of the roof and channel it into downspouts, then drainpipes or at least onto ground that should slope away from the house. But if the gutters and downspouts clog, rain just slides off the roof and lands on the ground, splashing mud against the bottom of
the walls, causing the paint to peel. Or the water might flow out of a clogged gutter at the low spot, which should be at the downspout but could be in the middle of the span if the gutters have sagged.
When people try to figure out why their basements are flooding, it’s often because downspouts became clogged and the gutters did not function properly. Water in a basement or crawl space can lead to mildew problems in the house and even rot out the roof from underneath, because it travels up through the house as water vapor, then condenses on the underside of the roof sheathing, leaving it damp for weeks in cold weather.
Clearly, it’s important to keep gutters from clogging. But how often to clean really does vary. Nearby trees make a huge difference. Pine trees and virtually all other conifers shed needles year-round, though it’s usually heaviest in the fall. Most deciduous trees — including conifers such as larch, dawn redwood and bald cypress — drop all their leaves or needles in the fall. But a few deciduous trees, such as certain beech and oak varieties, as well as live oaks, southern magnolias and other broadleaf evergreens, shed
leaves mostly in the spring when buds for new leaves push the old leaves away. The case for cleaning gutters in the spring in addition to the fall becomes especially strong if you have a lot of leaf drop in spring and nearby trees are also producing a lot of pollen.
be a sign that the gutters are plugged. Or it might mean your gutter system wasn’t designed correctly and you need more downspouts or deeper gutters that hold more water. If the overflow happened because the gutters sagged, you might just need to add a few more spikes or
When people try to figure out why their basements are flooding, it’s often because downspouts became clogged and the gutters did not function properly.
Weather patterns also matter. If you live where rain falls almost exclusively in the winter, as in much of the arid West, cleaning gutters just in the fall might be enough. An annual cleaning might also be all you need if you live where storms tend to blow in from the southwest and the tall trees near your house are on the northeast side.
The best way to determine how often to clean gutters is to look at them. But what if the gutters are so high that there is no easy, safe way to inspect them? From the ground, you can look during a storm to see if water is spilling over the gutters. That might happen even with clean gutters during a record-breaking deluge, but if it happens during a typical storm in your area, it could
brackets, but it’s more likely that the existing spikes or brackets didn’t hold because they were fastened to wood that rotted, which can happen if gutters back up repeatedly. Or, instead of trying to gauge how often to clean gutters by inspecting during storms and hoping you catch issues before problems escalate, you can clean twice a year, or hire someone to do it, and note what each cleaning finds. If you or the pro find a lot of debris in the fall but little in the spring, you have the answer to your question: You probably need to do it just once a year. If there is a lot of debris in both the fall and the spring, try three cleanings next year and adjust your annual maintenance calendar according to what you find. It’s worth noting that leaves
peeking out from the gutters may not be a clue about how often to clean. A few big leaves can fill up a gutter, but if they are not packed in, water can still flow. The big issue is how many leaves have broken down into more compact debris, and whether that flows into the downspouts and plugs them. If you clean gutters yourself, make sure to use a ladder that is tall enough, position it correctly and step only as high as the highest safe tread, which is often marked on the ladder. The top two steps are almost always unsafe to stand on; with orchard ladders, avoid the top three steps. Start at the far end of the gutter, away from the downspout, or in the middle if a gutter drains in two directions.
Otherwise, each area you clear will send more debris toward the downspout, risking a clog. Scoop the gunk into a bucket rather than flinging it on the ground; that saves you from having to pick up the debris later. If shrubbery keeps you from positioning the ladder by a section of gutter, use a stick to pull or push the leaves to a place where you can reach them with your body safely centered over the ladder. If you’re not comfortable working on a ladder, call a pro.
Plugged gutters can lead to all sorts of maintenance issues that cost far more time and money to fix than what you save by skimping on gutter cleaning. (PHOTO / COVER PHOTO
IMAGES)
The top two steps of a ladder are almost always unsafe to stand on; with orchard ladders, avoid the top three steps. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)
Lee Reich | In the Garden
Endive is cold-hardy and easy to grow
SAY IT: EASY; NAME It: Hm-m-m, pinch your nose with your fingers and say “on.” Follow that with a long, drawn out, “d-e-e-e-e-v,” your mouth in a smile to get emphasis on the e’s. Endive. I once considered endive to be lackluster in flavor, so needed to be offset with this highfalutin pronunciation. After many years of growing endive, I’ve come to recognize a more distinct flavor, nutty and just slightly bitter.
(This is the first time I’ve used “nutty” to describe a flavor, having recently figured out what it means. Nutlike. Duh. Hints of nuttiness are found in the flavors of many foods, including seeds, wines, beans oils, cheeses, fish, and, of course, almonds, hazelnuts and other actual nuts. Since writing the above description of endive flavor, I learned that others have also described its flavor as nutty.)
Whether you consider endive flavor to be lackluster or nutty, what else it has going for it is how easy it is to grow, its cold-hardiness, and its attractive, wavy or frilly leaves. It’s commonly used in restaurants seemingly only for decorative purposes, where a leaf or two might be found lying beneath anything from a taco to a T-bone. In a salad, the texture contrasts nicely with the flatness of lettuce and spinach leaves.
Before going any further, let’s make sure we are talking about the same leafy vegetable, because the common names can be confusing. Botanically, the endive of present interest is Cichorium endiva, although the endive with wavy leaves (C. endiva var. latifolia) is also sometimes called escarole or Batavian endive. The endive with frilly leaves is, botanically, C. endiva var. crispum, and is also called frisée, and is the more bitter of the two.
Confused? Hang on tight because there’s more. Real confusion arises because another plant, botanically Cichorium intybus, is known as French endive or Belgian endive. Complicating matters further, French endive also is known as witloof chicory. French endives (or witloof chicories, whatever you want to call them) are those small, anemic, torpedo-shaped heads of tightly folded leaves.
Common endive has another ritzy cousin in the same species as French endive: radicchio. I used to plant a row of that every year. And then I realized that I was doing so only to make myself feel very rich having so much of this expensive salad green (or red). And that, to me at least, it was only bitter, and too much so, so I haven’t grown it for years.
Endive and radicchio, botanical cousins, happily share a bed in the vegetable garden.
GARDEN NOTES
AGAWAM Agawam Garden Club meeting
The next meeting of the Agawam Garden Club will be Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Agawam Public Library , 750 Cooper St.
After a short business meeting Matthew
Flatow, owner of Flowers Flowers, will create fall arrangements while sharing tips and advice on how to work with and care for the plant materials. All meetings are open to the public and not restricted to Agawam residents.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@ repub.com two weeks prior to publication
(LEE REICH PHOTO)
A look at the best times of day for watering, planting, pruning and other garden tasks
By Jessica Damiano Associated Press
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYing that seasonal gardening tasks should be performed at specific times of the year, mainly because of the weather. But many gardening practices are also best performed at certain times of the day to ensure the health of your plants.
For instance, early mornings are best for watering lawns and gardens, and there are several reasons for this.
The timing allows for water to work its way down to plant roots before the sun gets too strong. Midday watering often results in faster evaporation from the soil’s surface, which is not only wasteful but also unhelpful to plants.
Watering in the evening risks
the opposite: Without sufficient sunlight for evaporation, excess moisture becomes trapped within and between plants, creating a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew and fungal diseases.
Other tasks to tackle early in the day
Fertilizers, especially liquid formulations, are best applied in the morning, too, as they should be watered in to ensure deep distribution and avoid chemical burns. Fertilizing during morning hours helps avoid the evaporation risk of midday and helps prevent diseases that could develop overnight.
For the best flavor and aroma, harvest herbs in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the sun becomes too
intense. This is the time when the plant’s oils are most concentrated. In my suburban New York garden, 10 a.m. is ideal.
The same timing is important for crispy, hydrated lettuces and other greens. Wait any longer and leaves are more likely to be wilted when overnight moisture evaporates and temperatures rise.
Morning is also best for cutting flowers. After building up moisture and recovering from the previous day’s heat, blooms are at their plumpest in the morning, just after the dew has dried.
End-of-day gardening tasks
Evening is best for garden chores that risk stressing plants.
is fully grown, the inner leaves blanche and are tender and tasty with just a pleasant bit of bitterness.
Reich
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F3
If you planted common endive (C. endiva) this summer, now might be the time to start making it palatable. One leaf under a taco tastes OK, but you would not want to bite into a head of dark, green endive because it’s too bitter. Bitterness is removed from the plant by blanching. Once the plant makes a tight rosette of leaves, the idea is to exclude light from the heart of the plant, which turns it pale, succulent, and sweeter.
There are a number of ways to accomplish this blanching. You can gather together the leaves of each endive plant, then hold them in place with a rubber band. One problem with this method is that in a wet season, water may get inside and rot the head. You also can blanche endive by inverting a flowerpot over each plant, using a clay flowerpot so the air within doesn’t get too stagnant. You can blanche endive by laying a board over the plants. You’re thinking the board will press the plants down? It does, somewhat. Or blanche endive by digging up the plants and repotting them for growing in a dark cellar. The amount of time required for blanching depends on temperature. In warm weather, blanching might be finished in a couple of weeks; in cold weather, longer.
I use none of the above methods. Take a
look at this year’s endive bed in my garden and you’ll see a 3-foot-wide carpet of greenery, a middle row of closely planted endive flanked closely on either side by also closely planted Bibb lettuce plants. The close spacing not only forces the endive leaves up and over the centers, shading the interior leaves, but also shades out any weeds that might try to sprout.
One reason endive is such an ideal salad green for cool weather is precisely because it needs to be blanched. When frost threatens, we gardeners scurry out to our gardens and cover plants to keep them from freezing. Well, besides endive’s inherent cold hardiness, it’s already covered while it is being blanched! I’ll protect my row of self-blanching endive by draping a floating row cover over it or by setting up metal hoops with clear plastic to create a low tunnel.
If you missed out on growing endive this season, the next chance for planting it is early next spring for a crop next summer. I prefer to grow endive as a fall crop only. For fall harvest, I sow the seeds in flats in early July, then transplant the seedlings out to the garden in mid-August. One summer I was late in sowing endive, and my plants didn’t grow enough to make blanchable heads. I had to use the less elegant dark, green leaves and pronounce the plant’s name in a similarly less elegant manner, just rolling the words “end” and “dive” together.
As light is excluded once endive
(LEE REICH PHOTO)
This Aug. 31 image provided by Jessica Damiano shows the water stream from a sprinkler in a home garden on Long Island, N.Y. (JESSICA DAMIANO VIA AP)
SEE TIMING, PAGE F6
Here’s why the end of solar tax credits could actually be good for solar
By M ichael J. C oren
The Washington Post
LIKE CINDERELLA
rushing home from the ball, Americans are racing to buy solar panels before the clock strikes midnight.
On Dec. 31, a generous federal rooftop solar tax credit will expire thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill signed by President Donald Trump in July. The credits, worth about $8,000 on average last year, have helped U.S. homeowners install thousands of megawatts of solar panels.
If you’ve been weighing whether to go solar, you might feel this is the moment. If you aren’t ready to make the leap, you may worry your chance is slipping away.
But that’s almost certainly not the case. Getting rid of subsidies could end up being good for the future expansion and affordability of solar in the United States.
Yes, out-of-pocket costs will rise in the short term with the end of tax credits, and solar industry analysts predict a sharp drop in the pace of installations. The Trump administration has also dealt other setbacks to the industry: withdrawing federal support for solar manufacturers and imposing steep tariffs on solar panels from China and Southeast Asia, as well as on the components needed to assemble U.S.-made solar arrays.
Some fear that residential solar is on “the brink of collapse.”
It’s not. Researchers and industry players I spoke with described rooftop solar as a mature technology that should no longer need to depend on subsidies.
They also noted that unnecessary installation costs and shady sales practices have made residential solar more expensive in the United States than almost anywhere else in the developed world.
Ending subsidies could help change that and pave the way for a more efficient industry.
Why rooftop solar is so expensive
Rooftop solar is typically a good deal for the hundreds of thousands of U.S. households that install panels each year — especially when subsidies are factored in.
The average installation costs about $29,000, according to clean energy marketplace EnergySage. Tax credits can trim 30% off that cost.
Homeowners then pocket the savings from lower utility costs, typically breaking even within eight years. Many save about $50,000 on their bills over the 25-year lifetime of the panels.
But installing solar panels in the United States still costs roughly two to three times more than the global average.
Even as the cost of solar hardware has come down — plummeting about 75% in the past decade — few of the savings have been passed on to U.S. consumers.
The primary culprit is “soft costs.” Installation, permitting, sales, marketing and financing now account for 65% of a new home solar system, well above the share in other countries, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Subsidies perpetuate these costs, the argument goes, because they prop up bad actors and obscure inefficiencies in the system, including slow permitting, expensive labor, regulatory barriers and opaque pricing.
Two of the most egregious
practices are inflated dealer fees and sales commissions, said Ravi Mikkelsen, co-founder of home solar financer Atmos Financial.
Dealers charge fees to arrange financing. In the auto industry, this may add 1 to 3 % to the price of a new car. In residential solar, sellers may tack on 25 to 40% of the loan amount (also called “finance” or “program” fees), reports energy research firm Wood Mackenzie.
“They’re hiding these excess costs through the use of the tax credit,” Mikkelsen said.
Unscrupulous firms also hire thousands of independent “sales consultants” with little product knowledge who are paid entirely on commission. That encourages predatory practices such as door-to-door sales agents who pad their bottom line with dubious strategies.
How getting rid of solar subsidies could help
Subsidies often aim to accelerate the adoption of a new technology. Governments help pick up the tab until prices fall and market forces take over. Aviation, computer chips, nuclear and fossil power, and the internet all benefited from direct and indirect government subsidies.
But how generous these incentives should be, and how soon to phase them out, remains a legitimate policy question. The “optimal subsi-
dy” delivers the most benefits at the lowest cost to society as a whole.
For rooftop solar, a 2021 analysis out of the Rochester Institute of Technology concluded that the optimal scenario would have involved offering even more generous subsidies in the technology’s early years before a gradual phase out by 2032. That’s three years earlier than was planned under the Inflation Reduction Act, but still six years away.
So how harmful is the earlier, abrupt demise of rooftop solar subsidies? It’s likely to lead to slower adoption, unnecessary bankruptcies and more pollution, said Eric Hittinger, one of the RIT study authors. But that should be temporary.
The sense I got from analysts and insiders was that the residential solar industry in the United States has already taken off. It may now take longer to get to cruising altitude — and, granted, we don’t have a lot of time to mess around when it comes to climate change. But ultimately, residential solar should still be able to achieve broad market reach, potentially at a lower cost.
By 2028, Wood Mackenzie predicts, the home solar industry will start growing again and then pick up the pace. By mid-century, homeowners are expected to install more solar capacity annually than in a subsidy-driven future.
The end of subsidies, experts said, should help spotlight the true costs of solar and the need for better business practices.
One of the most promising examples is SolarAPP+, a streamlined permitting platform — backed by local governments, solar installers and the Energy Department — that can slash permit approval times from weeks to minutes.
Solar panel hardware prices are low and getting lower. What’s needed are operational efficiencies that dramatically drive down costs to consumers and make residential solar realistic for more households.
Relief from the sun, cooler temps and increased moisture will aid their recovery, whereas the blazing afternoon heat would further stress or even kill them.
So, save pruning (a form of surgery, if you think about it), deadheading, and even planting, dividing and transplanting for late afternoon or evening. Early evening and mid-morning are ideal times to mow the lawn. Avoid the afternoon, when the heat and direct sunlight can increase the grass’ stress and slow its recovery.
Never mow wet grass, regardless of the time of day; doing so can stress the lawn, spread disease and clog the mower. Wait until after rainfall to pull weeds, and the job will be a lot easier. But if the weeds must go and there’s no precipitation in the forecast, water the bed deeply the day before, and you’ll reap the same benefit. Any time’s a good time to enjoy your garden
There are some garden activities that you can — and should — do throughout the day. These include admiring your handiwork, basking in the beauty you’ve co-created with nature and smelling the flowers.
Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.
Solar panels are installed on the roof of a home in Kensington, Md., in July. (MAANSI SRIVASTAVA / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST)
A pair of shears snipping parsley in a backyard herb garden on Long Island, N.Y. (JESSICA DAMIANO VIA AP)
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques &
Collecting
Mass. company’s glasswork was unmistakable and valuable
Multicolor glass panels, gilt trim, and embellishments like the coin medallions on this jar give Royal Flemish art glass its regal look. (WOODY AUCTION)
THE MT. WASHINGton Glass Company was one of the most important American art glass makers of the 19th century. The company started in 1837 as the Mt. Washington Glass Works in South Boston. Later, it moved to New Bedford, where it operated until it merged with the Pairpoint Manufacturing Co. in 1894.
While it was in operation, Mt. Washington made art glass in many colors and finishes, like two-tone Amberina and Burmese, often embellished with gold and enamel.
Its crown jewel may be the appropriately named Royal Flemish, which features panels of multiple colors outlined in gold. It was made by 1889, but the company did not patent it until 1894. Maroon is often one of the featured colors; shades of peach, pink, yellow, cream, and translucent white also appear.
The glass is further embellished with designs like flying birds, flowers, or mythical creatures. Decorations were
meant to evoke the exotic or antique. Royal Flemish was rarely marked, unlike some Mt. Washington glass lines, which doesn’t worry collectors; it is usually unmistakable. Making Royal Flemish glass was a complicated process, so it was not copied by other companies. Even today, it has not been reproduced. This makes it all the more valuable. The covered jar shown here, decorated with medallions inspired by ancient Greek and Roman coins, sold for $2,280 at Woody Auction.
Q. I bought a Japanese woodblock print at an estate sale. There is a handwritten note on the back that reads “Framed June 1962.” I like the print, but I do not know much about this category of art. Because the marks are in Japanese, it has not been easy to find much about them through an Internet search. How can I find out if it is an old print by a known artist and what it may be worth?
A. Japanese woodblock prints have been popular collectibles for centuries. They became available in the West in the late 19th century. Generally, if you have a Japanese print and want to find out more information or a value, it is worth contacting an expert if the print is over 30 years old. If yours was framed in the 1960s, it certainly qualifies. If there is a museum in your area with a collection of Asian art, they may be able to help you identify your print, the artist, and its age, but not its value. Remember that prints, including Japanese woodblock prints, can be reprinted over many years. Look for books on Japanese prints, also called ukiyo-e, at your library. Many auction houses and dealers that sell artwork deal in Japanese prints and may be able to help you evaluate yours. There are some auction houses like the Ukiyo-e Gallery that specialize in them.
Q. There is an unusual furniture piece that has been in my family for over 40 years. We were always told it was French, maybe from the 15th century, and called a lavabo. It is a wooden cabinet with a metal tank on the back of the top level, a metal basin on the lower level, and a cupboard with a shelf underneath. There is a key for the cupboard door. I’m not an expert, but the nails don’t look to be machine-made. I have looked at every furniture book in the library system and cannot identify it precisely. There are no marks on the metal or labels on the wood. Do you know what it is, how old it might be, and what it is worth?
A. A lavabo is a basin for washing one’s hands. There are many possible designs, from simple basins to elaborate styles resembling fountains. Lavabos like yours have a metal basin built into a wooden
cabinet with a tank to dispense water on the upper level. They were in use by the 18th century, so yours is newer than you have been led to believe. They are especially popular in French Provincial furniture of the 18th and 19th centuries. Oak and walnut are common woods, and the metal tank and basin are usually pewter. They usually sell for about $500-$1,000. A note about nails in antique furniture: The first machine-cut nails were made in the early 19th century, but they still had hand-hammered heads. The uniform machine-made nail we know today was made by the 1880s. However, nails are still being made by hand, often for repairing or restoring antique furniture. Handmade nails on their own may not be enough to confirm the date of an antique piece.
TIP: Never use hot or cold water on glass. Use dishwashing liquid, a soft toothbrush, and warm water. Rinse, then dry with a terrycloth towel.
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. Doll, Mattel, Baby’s Hungry!, plastic, blond wig, blue side-glancing eyes, pink bonnet and dress, battery pack, bottles, plate, spoon, box, c. 1970, box 18 inches, $25.
Textile, piano shawl, sky blue, ribbon, macrame border, diamond lattice, fringe, hand knotted, 1920s, 105 x 39 inches, $115.
Architectural, doorknocker, bronze, figural, left hand, holding ball, scalloped cuff, square back plate, France, early 20th century, 9 1/2 inches, $170.
Clock, tall case, grandmother, Howard Miller, model 623, ebonized mahogany case, rectangular dial, bar indices, large hand, glass window, pendulum, walnut panel, chrome trim, 54 inches, $225. Auto, sign, Goodrich, Guide Post, round, red and white, Slow Down, Safety First, porcelain, 20 inches, $480.
Bottle, Star Whiskey, cone shape, brown amber, ribbed, applied handle, embossed oval, mold blown, open pontil, W.B. Crowell Jr., New York, c. 1850, 8 inches, $770. Furniture, commode, Louis XVI style, parquetry, three drawers, overhanging top, France, early 1900s, 36 1/2 x 45 inches, $1,355.
Kovels answers 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, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.
Average long-term US mortgage rate ticks up for second straight week, to 6.34%
By M att O tt Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year U.S. mortgage ticked up for the second straight week following a string of declines that had brought down home borrowing costs to their lowest level in nearly a year.
The average long-term mortgage rate rose this week to 6.34% from 6.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.12%.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation.
They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
The 10-year yield was at 4.10% at midday Thursday, down from 4.19% the same time last week. Much of that decline has come in the past few days, driven by discouraging reports on the U.S. economy, particularly the job market.
In late July, mortgage rates started declining in the leadup to the Federal Reserve’s widely anticipated decision last month to cut its main interest rate for the first time in a year amid growing concern over the U.S. job market. However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell has since signaled a cautious approach to future interest rate cuts. That’s in sharp contrast with other members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee, particularly those who were appointed by President Donald Trump, who are pushing for faster cuts.
The housing market has
Deeds
AGAWAM
Janet Wysocki to Sean Buxton and Emma-Lee Rivet, 35 Danny Lane, $462,500.
Roger J. Cardin and Claire S. Cardin to Florim Haxhiu and Kosovare Misini Haxhiu, 13 G Mansion Woods Drive, $223,000.
AMHERST
been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began climbing from historic lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes sank last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. So far this year, sales are running below where they were at this time in 2024.
The second straight bump in rates could signal a repeat of what happened last year after the Fed cut its benchmark rate for the first time in more than four years. Back then, mortgage rates fell for several weeks prior to the Fed’s September rate cut. In the following weeks however, mortgage rates began rising again, eventually reaching just above 7% in mid-January this year.
Like last year, the Fed’s rate cut doesn’t necessarily mean mortgage rates will keep declining, even as the central bank signals more cuts ahead.
Still, the late-summer decline in mortgage rates has already encouraged many homeowners who bought in recent years after rates climbed well above 6% to refinance to a lower rate.
Mortgage rates will have to sink below 6% to make refinancing an attractive option to a broader swath of homeowners, however. That’s because about 81% of U.S. homes have a mortgage with a rate of 6% or lower, according to Realtor.com.
Economists generally forecast the average rate on a 30year mortgage to remain near the mid-6% range this year.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also inched up this week.
The average rate rose to 5.55% from 5.49% the previous week. A year ago, it was 5.25%, Freddie Mac said.
Marvin W. Daehler and June J. Daehler to Karyn J. Deroy and James F. Deroy, 124 Pondview Drive, $495,000.
Skyway Properties LLC, to David H. Shanabrook and Jessica D. Ryan, 25 Hickory Lane, $345,000.
John D. Barry, trustee, Felicity H. Barry, trustee, and John D. Barry Trust to Nathan Kielb and Katherine H. Clemans, 574 Station Road, $730,000.
ASHFIELD
John P. Zanini, personal representative of the Estate of Jacqueline Cooper, “aka” Jacqueline Cooper Domkowski, to Kristen R. Schreiber and Thomas D. Schreiber, 549 Watson Road, $275,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Joseph P. Maggi, Jocelyn A. Maggi and Jocelyn Ann Magner to Richard H. Maynard, 174 Sabin St., $100. Richard H. Maynard to Joseph P. Maggi and Jocelyn A. Maggi, 174 Sabin St., $100.
Carol Evans and Carol S. Thompson to Robert Ash and Adara Ash, 55 North Main St., $285,000. Benjamin K. Goulet and Malee Goulet to Benjamin K. Goulet, 30 Azalea Way, $100.
James J. Aliengena to James J. Aliengena and Tiffany M. Lees, 451 Michael Sears Road, $100.
Sylvia J. Webster-Gagne and Steven E. Gagne to Richard Police and Melissa Police, 8 Pheasant Run, $675,000.
BERNARDSTON
Corlene R. Porter to Samantha M. Smith, 16 West Road, $430,000.
Philippe C. Robillard, conservator for Jeanne T. Robillard, to David Burke and Lira Samanta, 111 Keets Brook Road, $50,000.
BLANDFORD
Donald E. Mikesh and Christina M. Mikesh to Paul Seymour and Sandra Seymour, 134 Chester Road, $440,000.
Jeremy Weaver and Charlou Weaver to Brian Murphy and Lori Murphy, 3 Kaolin Road, $340,000.
BRIMFIELD
U S A Housing & Urban Development to Judy Bergdoll, 273 Dunhamtown Palmer Road, $234,000.
CHESTER
Michael L. Welch and Theresa M. Welch to Angela Susanna Alexopoulos and John Phillip Swenson Jr., 9 William St., $315,000.
Rocket Mortgage LLC, to Yakov Kronrod, 28 Middlefield Road, $176,403.
CHICOPEE
Antonio Reyes and Kelly Reyes to DSWC Realty LLC, 37 Kennedy St., $370,000.
Cheryl Felsentreger and Mark Felsentreger to KMAK LLC, 636 McKinstry Ave., $215,000.
Christian Wiernasz to Damon Bermudez, 29 Albert St., $305,000.
Corinne Arnold to Arvind Kumar, 32 Irene St., $298,000.
Daniel R. Lowe and Melissa S. Lowe to Bryce E. Benware and Elizabeth J. Cannamela, 552 Pendleton Ave., $320,000.
DGL Properties LLC, to Merridith Chmura, 52 Bromont St., $540,000.
Diane Jean Pirnie to Constantine Pleshakov, 60 Falmouth Road, $315,000.
Heriberto Ortiz and Loida E. Ortiz to Michael V. Kochneff and Naomi Janel Ortiz, 1275 Burnett Road, $235,000.
Safia Kahn to Paul A. Terkelsen and Paula J. Terkelsen, 22 Keddy Boulevard, $270,000.
COLRAIN
Joyce M. Purington and Robert A. Purington to Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc., White Lane, $60,000.
CONWAY
Lisa C. Gustavsen and John A. Moore to Jennifer Weil and Joshua Weil, 40 Whately Glen Road and Roaring Brook Road, $790,000.
Amanda Lee Cleveland to Sarah E. Ambo and Stephen A. Smith, 936 South Deerfield Road, $340,000.
CUMMINGTON
Kenneth R. Price, trustee, Price Investment Trust and Jamie P. Elkins, attorney-in-fact, to Brandon Nevins, 8 Luther Shaw Road, $250,000.
DEERFIELD
Mollie A. Montgomery and James T. Ostendarp to Kelsy Catlett and Marcus Catlett, 9 Eastern Ave., $347,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Galina V. Anderson to Nathan Auger, Purves St., Lot B, $380,000.
Gemma L. Dorsey to Whitney C. Dunn, 169 Mountainview Road, $450,000.
Jean Williams to Somsai Silisack, 222 Pleasant St., $270,000.
Joseph F. Maiolo, Lawrence A. Maiolo and Jeffery P. Maiolo to Angelique M. Borrero and Tucker J. Costello, 50 Gates Ave., $315,000.
Karen Amato to Deborah Nash-Makita, 18 Bayne St., $445,000.
Sydney Dugard, Sydney Slattery and Jacob Dugard to Wesley Welch, 38 Garland Ave., $335,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Pineview Development LLC, and West Co Investments LLC, to Bonnie Gruszecki and Margaret Gruszecki, 10 Nicols Way, $685,000.
Deeds
GOSHEN
Daniel I. Olshansky and Nancy J. Garlock to Nancy Joan Garlock, trustee, Daniel Irwin Olshansky, trustee, and Nancy Joan Garlock Revocable Trust, 36 Lake Drive, $100.
Phebe Williams to Sara A. Raymaakers, 665 East St., $60,000. Holly Bouvier to Katherine Butler, 156 Kendall St., $365,000.
GRANVILLE
Timothy J. Kent to Timothy J. Hogan and Amanda F. Pfaffenbach, 308 Crest Lane, $669,000.
GREENFIELD
Cynthia J. Gwosch to Walter M. Henritze III, trustee of the MKMU Realty Trust, 83 Riddell St., $475,000.
Ann L. Kirby and David C. Kirby, trustees of David C. Kirby and Ann L. Kirby Joint Revocable Trust, Deborah B. Hill, Susan L. Kirby, “fka”
Susan L. Galusha, William M. Kirby III, Douglas V. Parmenter and Joyce B. Ravain, “fka” Joyce B. Parmenter, to First Generation Investments Group LLC, Plain Road, $270,000.
Diane Conroy, Joyce Griffin, Sally LeBrun and Pauline Parolin to Dawn M. Capling and Guy M. Cathey, 93 Meadow Lane, $415,000.
Colin J. Hoyt and Kimberly A. Hoyt to PRB LLC, 7 Prospect Ave., $675,000.
Anthony F. Muszynski Jr., and Diane M. Muszynski to Alexandru Teaca and Irina Teaca, 71 Phillips St., $260,000.
Eagles Landed LLC, to 121 ½ Wells Street Greenfield LLC, 121 ½ Wells St., $565,000.
HADLEY
Linda Surgen to Paul F. Wanczyk, 130 Bay Road, $5,000.
Lee Ann Wanczyk Family Trust and Lee Ann Wanczyk, trustee, to Paul F. Wanczyk, 130 Bay Road, $5,000.
Paula Wojtowitz to Paul F. Wanczyk, 130 Bay Road, $5,000.
Tekla McInerny to Paul F. Wanczyk, 130 Bay Road, $5,000.
Suzanne Juskiewicz to Paul F. Wanczyk, 130 Bay Road, $5,000.
Gleason Masonic LLC, to ABRR Enterprises LLC, 31 Campus Plaza Road, $1,200,000.
HAMPDEN
Robert W. Shaw, Johanna Shaw
Boulting and Jennifer Shaw West to Carolyn M. Isham and Rene J. LaFleche, 157 Mill Road, $323,500.
HOLLAND
John David Holdcraft to Gretchen R. Kraner, 8 Heritage Drive, $285,000.
HOLYOKE
Barbara Vender and Barbara Vendor to , 319 Walnut St., $45,000.
Christine A. Janusz to Nancy J. Matteson, 77 Elmore St., $326,000.
Deena Perdue to Habip Ozgun Sulekoglu, 31 Alderman St., $270,000.
Elizabeth A. Patenaude to Beverly Anne Barish and William T. Drohan Jr., 10 Gilman St., $335,000.
Karen Barrett to Militza Jenit Rodriguez and Andrew Benjamin Kot, 381 Jarvis Ave., $300,000.
Lee H. Morrissette, trustee, Ann Kardos, trustee, and Kardos Morrissette Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Andrea L. Yurko and James R. Kennedy, 240 Madison Ave. West, $550,000.
Ryan J. Kokoski to Holly E. Magrone, 6 Ross Road, $80,000.
Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House Inc., to Peter C. Rosskothen, 500 Easthampton Road, Lot A, $100,000.
Vanwijak Eowsakul to Steven Anthony Carra and Alexandra Lucey-Carra, 1855-1857 Northampton St., $400,000.
LEVERETT
Brian J. Cook and Katelyn M. Cook to Christina G. Salgo, trustee of Sunflower Trust, 97 Cave Hill Road, $598,500.
LONGMEADOW
Christina M. Colello and Stephen D. Millas to Vincent White and Abigail White, 123 Whitmun Road, $452,000.
Christopher J. Casey and Kristin L. Casey to Michael Chu, 109 Yarmouth St., $489,500.
Glenwood Circle Realty LLC, to Jennifer Klamn and Zackery Klamn, 14 Glenwood Circle, $445,000.
James J. Flahive and Linda M. Flahive to Feng Zhao, 76 Coventry Lane, $706,000.
Jessica A. Melaas, trustee, and Jessica Melaas Revocable Trust of 2022, trustee of, to Barbara Slabaugh, 113 Chiswick St., $510,000.
Leslie A. Haynes-Hodgins, Stephen J. Hodgins and Spencer J. Hodgins to Papken S. Hartunian, 65 Laurel St., $449,900.
and Nancy R. Collins Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Patrick Ganieany and Mahsa Attaran, 31 Glenwood Circle, $465,000.
LUDLOW
Flow LLC, to Francia Monteiro, 15 Loopley St., $325,000.
Hemlock Ridge LLC, to Briana Leigh Deslauriers, 54 Balsam Hill Road, $900,000.
Jack Taylor to Christopher P. Liptak, trustee, and Matthew Curran Dowd Supplemental Needs Trust, trustee of, 665 Center St., Unit 601, $295,000.
Jason Balut to Maria Zoraida Diaz and Sandra Dee Fisher, 45 Glenwood St., $327,000.
Lydia B. Brady, trustee, and Lydia B. Brady Revocable Indenture Of Trust Of, trustee of, to Alexander Brady and Molly Elizabeth Brady, 246 Colonial Drive, $465,000.
RM Blerman LLC, and R M Blerman LLC, to Weibin Wu, 106 Erin Lane, $460,000.
William Raleigh to Kelly Laput, 23 Walnut St., $330,000.
MONSON
Gerald Marlow to Atdriel J. Figueroa, 39 Bridge St., $305,000.
Kurt K. B. Benoit and Jennifer A. Benoit to Elizabeth M. Demma and Bryan M. Stearns, 77 Old Reed Road, $435,000.
Robert J. Bready to Kevin Horne, 18 Palmer Road, Unit 7, $300,000.
Tass Properties LLC, to Southeast Capital LLC, 35-45 Elm St., $570,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to House Hack Helpers LLC, 42 Washington St., $200,000.
MONTAGUE
Donna M. Liebl to Cameron Rice, 59 Dell Street, $333,300.
Jeffrey W. Walker, trustee of the Robert W. Walker Revocable Trust, to Susan Pulliam and Mark Voorhees, 102 Chestnut Hill Loop, $780,000.
Victoria Baldyga, Linda Shunaman and Raymond A. Shunaman, “aka” Raymond Shunaman, to Hilary Terapane, 11 Crescent St., $299,413.
MONTGOMERY
D. Louise Fowles, Doris L. Fowles and Doris Louise Fowles to Edward O’Brien Jr., 90 Pine Ridge Road, $515,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Martha C. Martin, trustee, and Martin C. Martin Living Trust to Aaron S. Hitchcock and Jessica R. Pollack,
46 Allison St., $665,000.
578 Elm LLC, to Jeffrey Caron, 576578 Elm St., $560,000.
Mary Ellen Walsh and Debra A. Keefe to Deborah M. Henson, 154 North Maple St., $515,000. Dufrayne LLC, to Einar Brendalen, 67 Park St., $810,000.
Fredric G. Ransom and Lorraine M. Carulli to Racarulli Associates LLC, 183 Bridge St., $100.
Peter E. Olsen III, and Traci L. Olsen to Stephen Wasilewski and Lockhart Webb, 380 South St., $455,000.
Daniel I. Olshansky and Nancy J. Garlock to Nancy Joan Garlock, trustee, Daniel Irwin Olshansky, trustee, and Nancy Joan Garlock Revocable Trust, 121 Warner St., $100.
Teresa M. Day and Teresa M. Toner to Florije Marion, 157 Oak St., $325,000.
Nu-Way Homes Inc., to John R. Stifler, trustee, and John Reed Stifler Revocable Trust, 180 State St., $587,450.
Jane S. Karras to 243 Main LLC, 243 Main St., $290,000.
Margo Chanin to Margo Chanin and Eric Lovell, 28 Marian St., $100.
Maurice Willems and Cheryl Willems to Luke C. Brown and Danielle S. Brown, 75 Lyman Road, $1,765,000.
NORTHFIELD
Donald M. Billings, Douglas R. Billings, Gloria D. Billings, Neil W. Billings and Carolyn Ann Singer to Kayla Speros and Melissa Speros, 231 Millers Falls Road, $325,000.
Glenn H. Cutting to Gail J. Graveline and Joseph P. Graveline, trustees of the Graveline Investment Trust, Route 10 and Sage Hollow Road, $100,000.
Douglas R. Fish and Stacey A. Fish to Caleb J. Parker and Jaimi R. Parker, 79 Caldwell Road, $375,000.
ORANGE
U.S. Bank Trust NA, trustee of 1900 Capital Trust II, to Karen Calderon, 78 Cheney St., $190,000. Schwowens Properties LLC, to Duane Smith and Alivia Valcourt, 82 Mechanic St., Unit 1, 82 Mechanic Street Condominium, $260,000.
Elaine Wood to Scott Jackson, 24 Rosemont Ave., $245,000.
PALMER
48 Crapo Street LLC, to Brendan Briggs and Teaghan Fallon, 3030 Main St., $389,000.
Dennis Dambra and Anna-Maria Della Dambra to Ronnie Lynn Theriault, 43 Meadowbrook Lane, Unit 43, $250,000.
Jane M. Lewis, representative, and Normand A. Charpentier, estate, to Adam A. Jensen, 1083 Overlook Drive, $275,000.
Michael J. Skoczylas, Michael J. Skozylas, Emily Skoczylas and Emily R. Pelletier to Andrew Sprague and Kristen Sprague, 23 Birch St., $320,000.
Mr. Home Inc., to Jenny Kelly and Evan Spooner, 34-36 State St., $390,000.
Richard L. Dickinson and Dorothy M. Dickinson to Revampit LLC, 54 Bourne St., $167,000.
SHUTESBURY
Erin Migdol Sadiq and Talib Sadiq to Lisa H. Lamothe and Richard B. Lamothe, 15 Merrill Drive, $320,000.
SOUTH HADLEY
John H. Barszewski to Pamela Czewska, 26 Chileab Road, $178,000.
AnneLaura Cunningham, personal representative, Carole Joan Sullivan, estate, Carol J. Cunninham, estate, Carole J. Cunningham ,estate, and Carole J. Sullivan, estate, to Onstar Properties AA LLC, 35 Ludlow Road, $155,500.
Maryanne Stefanelli, Margie L. Methot, Margie L. Conway, Kelly M. LaBombard, Maureen D. Dulude and Michael J. Flanagan to Andrew Flanagan, 10 Edgewater Lane, $487,500.
Alexandra L. Lyman to YungTseng Chu, 35D Hillcrest Park, $194,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
J. Curtis Shumway and William J. York to Alisha R. Seney and Angelia Marie Seney, 75 Pomeroy Meadow Road, $550,000.
SOUTHWICK
Suzette Cennamo and Thomas J. Girroir to Ryan Michael Roberts and Chelsea Roberts, 83 Granville Road, $440,000.
Todd Barlar to Morgan White and Tyler Nichols, 49 John Mason Road, $505,000.
SPRINGFIELD
6S T Springfield MA LLC, to CARS-DB5 LP, 365 Cadwell Drive, $16,286,584.
AJ Capital Inc., to Yoly K. Marte, 97-99 Melrose St., $515,000.
ties LLC, 113 Lexington St., $200,000.
Jonathan A. Hagopian to Jillian K. Perry, 335 Peekskill Ave., $290,000.
S. Patel and Roshniben R. Patel, 315 Morton St., $549,000.
WARWICK
Eddie Drewes, personal representative of the Estate of Ronald Lee, to Alysha Bohnet, 83 Hastings Heights Road, $438,500.
WENDELL
Jeffrey W. Walker, trustee of the Robert W. Walker Revocable Trust, to Susan Pulliam and Mark Voorhees, 102 Chestnut Hill Loop, $780,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Catherine L. Camarda to Joel S. Canoa and Donna M. Canoa, 125 South Boulevard, $320,000.
Heinz Windzio, trustee, and Windzio Family Trust, trustee of, to Doreen H. Dooley and Charles A. Dooley, St. Andrews Way, Unit 6, $491,000.
Patrick J. Butler and Melanie A. Butler to Jose Antonio Flecha-Sanchez, 32 Park Avenue Court, Unit 7, $100,000.
Steven F. Goluchowski and Dorothy A. Ungerer to Christopher D. Fager and Anna K. Steinman, 134 Lennys Way, $770,000.
Vahid Khaleghi to Ramin Piri Alamdari, 259 Ohio Ave., $325,000.
WESTFIELD
Carol J. Shannon to Shawn R. Czepiel and Shelley K. Czepiel, Cara Lane, Par A, $2,200.
April Medeiros, trustee, and PL Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Arlene Medeiros, 1026 Parker St., $310,000.
Ashley Mills, Ashley Margaret Mills and Monica A. Pettengill to Viva Holdings LLC, 44 Felicia St., $130,000.
Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, and CFC Development LLC, to Saleen Marie Guyette, 85 Edendale St., $310,000.
Avis M. Smith and Marcia Bird to Samuel Carter and Timothy Williams, 112-114 Clifton Ave., $260,000.
Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and 58-60 Pendleton Avenue Trust, trustee of, to Luis Humberto Garcia Bustamante, Lourdes M. Navarro and Margaret Patricia Navarro, 5860 Pendleton Ave., $385,000.
Brenda J. Lopez to Naylor Nation Construction LLC, 30 Parkwood St., $190,000.
Cig4 LLC, to Dayairis Victoria Mejia, 731-733 Carew St., $515,000.
Dreambighomes LLC, to Garrick A. Osbourne and Nicole Barnett, 3 Benham St., $340,000.
Edward Mayers to Julio S. Rivera Batista, 53 Thompson St., $355,000.
Elvira Lucia Soares to Brahian Sanchez Rodriguez and Arianna Sanchez Rodriguez, 69-71 Ranney St., $442,000.
Gemini Town Homes LLC, to Marcia Parry, 58 Morris St., Unit 604, $206,000.
Iovanni Baez and Mayrelis Baez to Sheila Scott, 15 Castlegate Drive, Unit A, $249,500. Jill Ross to Deena M. Perdue, 39 Bronson Terrace, $390,000.
John Thornton Rhoades to Freehold Proper-
Joshua S. Lopes and Josue I. Lopes to Pat Tan Ngo and Loan Thi Vo, 199 Cherokee Drive, $279,000.
Tyler J. Calhoun to Girish Badgi and Seema Dixit, 212-214 Fort Pleasant Ave., $345,000. City Of Homes Real Estate Ventures LLC, to
SUNDERLAND
Chester Mazun to Ronald C. Wetherby, 166 North Main St., $385,000.
WARE
Steven M. Koblich, Sheena M. Koblich and Sheena M. McConal to Steven Matthew Koblich, trustee, Sheena Marie Koblich, trustee, and Steven & Sheena Koblich Revocable Trust, 86 Coffey Hill Road, $100.
Real Estate Investments Northeast LLC, to James Schofield and Thomas George Schofield, 3 Aspen Court, $280,000.
Gwendolyn J. Levine, trustee, and GJL RNL Nominee Trust to Douglas R. Meneke and Laura Meneke, 182 Monson Turnpike Road, $358,500.
Akena Andonegui Segovich to Harris Holdings LLC, 6-10 West St., $40,000.
Karen M. Critelli to Julia A. Critelli, 6 Richfield Ave., $100.
Paul T. Orszulak to Christine Niquette, Daniel M. Orszulak, Michael Orszulak and Stephen J. Orszulak, 18 Juniper Hill Road, $100.
Paul T. Orszulak to Christine Niquette, Daniel M. Orszulak, Michael Orszulak and Stephen J. Orszulak, Juniper Hill Road Off, $100.
Barbara A. Carcione to Nancy E. Huntington, 24 Church St., $100.
Lawrence R. Donn and Deborah A. Donn to Fay A. Roux and Kevin D. Roux, 54 Shoreline Drive, $720,000.
Anthony J. Bruso to Corby A. Wright, 124 Glendale Circle, $325,000.
Denise J. Begley to Ronald Trent Anderson, 419 Southwick Road, Unit A2, $322,500.
Donald Bailey, Kim Bailey and Deanna Bailey to Natalia Zgerya, 26 Saint Paul St. $360,000.
Linda S. Williams to Francis B. Marsh III, and Angela M. Marsh, 15 Pineridge Drive, $550,000.
Michele K. Lyman, trustee, and Lyman Family Trust, trustee of, to Michael Piquette, 726 Holyoke Road, $313,500.
Norman R. Fioroni and Kathy L. Fioroni to Natalya Deven, 622 East Mountain Road, $450,000.
WHATELY
Susan A. Fowler and Robert R. Keller III, to Thomas Givan, 7 Grey Oak Lane, $885,000.
WILBRAHAM
Dingbin Chen and Guang Hua Ou to Peter D. Dowd and Jamie M. Dowd, One Edward Street, $499,000.
Frank John Fortune and Julie Fortune to Andrew Lopriore, 4 Pearl Lane, $275,000.
Henry W. Kort and Kristina M. Kort to Darius Trinka, 3 Valley View Drive, $1,075,000.
James T. Brennan and Marceline A. Brennan to Jared Austin Rollins, 35 Brainard Road, $370,000.
Justin Dufault, Anetsie Dufualt and Anetsie Dufault to Susan M Potts, 61 Manchonis Road, $297,500.
Kelcie Walters Knowles and Kenneth John Knowles II, to Timothy Wrona and Tianna Wrona, 17 Wandering Meadows Lane, $828,000.
