ERA Key Realty Services

Mara A. Eisenhardt of Marlborough has joined ERA Key's Marlborough office as a Realtor.

She is a Construction Technology Specialist at Commodore Builders, a construction management firm in Waltham. She has also worked as a CAD Drafter at Walsh/Cochis Associates in Westborough.

She is earning a bachelor’s degree from Boston Architectural College. She speaks German, as well as English, and is a licensed drone pilot.

“I was seeking greater knowledge of the real estate market, as well as purchasing and selling properties,” Eisenhardt said. “I found that ERA Key has some of the best training in the field, and offers great opportunities for new and current Realtors.”

The following article by ERA Key President and COO Cheryl Eidinger-Taylor was published recently in Banker & Tradesman.

Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates have risen more than 260% since the year 2020, when the year ended with an average rate of 2.67%, according to Freddie Mac.

Today’s average mortgage rate is 6.96%, which may seem high compared with the historically low rate of 2020, but it’s still below the historical average of 7.74% from 1971 to the present. And those who need a mortgage can be thankful that today’s rates are far below the 18.53% average rate reached in October 1981, when rates were raised to lower inflation that was even higher than we’ve recently experienced.

But what can we expect moving forward? Will rates continue to rise? Or will they drop back to a lower level?

Many experts believe mortgage rates will fall moderately in the coming months. For example, Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater said that, with inflation decelerating, rates should “gently decline” over the remainder of 2023. Others predicted rates could drop to 5.5% to 6.6% by year’s end:

• Fannie Mae’s July Housing Forecast predicts that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate will drop to 6.6% by the end of 2023 and 5.9% by the end of 2024.
• The National Association of Realtors expects that the 30-year fixed rate will fall to 6.0% by year’s end and 5.6% in 2024.
• Bank of America Global Research predicts that rates will drop to 5.25% by the end...

Lucas Bimberg of Franklin has joined its Millis office as a Realtor.

He was previously a Commercial Account Representative for RSA Security LLC in Bedford. Before that, he was a Sales Representative and Account Executive for Dassault Systèmes SE in Waltham. He began his sales career as an Account Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. in Waltham.

He studied construction management at Central Connecticut State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Framingham State University.

“During my first experience with ERA Key, I recognized that the Millis office had an innovative, forward-thinking team of future-oriented professionals,” Bimberg said. “That’s just what I was looking for. I look forward to working with them and to becoming a key resource for my clients.”

Joselle L. Turner of Whitinsville has joined its Whitinsville office as a Realtor.

She previously served as General Manager of the Valley Pub in Whitinsville. She has been involved in many fundraisers and community activities through her restaurant work.

“When I decided to get into the real estate industry, I wanted to learn from the best of the best,” she said. “Whitinsville agents Laura Hebb and Carla Horn were instrumental in my getting my license and signing on with ERA Key.”