Update on the Genzyme "Damaged" Home on Route 30 in Southborough - 07/30/10 09:40 AM
Update on the Genzyme "Damaged" Home on Route 30 in Southborough 
Two days ago, I wrote a post about a home that I had passed by on Route 30 that displayed signs on the property claiming that Genzyme Corporation has ruined their home.   I asked for answers and received one - from one of my readers. 
She kindly sent me an article that was printed on June 7 in the MetroWest Daily News.  
The home in question is actually over the town line of Framingham and is located in Southborough.  This is an area that is directly across from a three-story … (10 comments)

Massachusetts Revises an Old Law - Alcohol Can Now be Served on Sunday Morning - 07/29/10 11:38 AM
Massachusetts Revises an Old Law - Alcohol Can Now be Served on Sunday Morning 
 
Due to the efforts of a local restaurant critic we can now raise a glass on bubbly on Sunday mornings in Massachusetts.  
Dave Andelman, who hosts both television and radio programs was behind the recent successful effort to change one of Massachusetts' antiquated laws.  It was all about the service of alcohol on Sunday. 
In a leftover from our Puritan ethics, the rule was that restaurants were not allowed to begin serving any alcoholic beverage prior to 12:00 noon on the Sabbath.  This meant dining on brunch … (15 comments)

Did Genzyme Corporation Ruin This House? - 07/28/10 08:56 PM
Did Genzyme Corporation Ruin This House? 
Genzyme is one of the world's leading biotechnology companies and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  
The company is an important leader in research and development and has services that have helped people in approximately 100 countries. It is also a leader in advanced technologies in the area of life sciences. 
More significantly to the Metrowest area, Genzyme is large employer of people in Massachusetts.  The company has an office at the 9/90 Corporation Center in Framingham and has recently expanded its presence in Framingham with a new lease of nearly 136,000 square feet to add … (7 comments)

One of the Best Kept Secrets in Framingham - Callahan State Park - 07/28/10 04:05 PM
One of the Best Kept Secrets in Framingham - Callahan State Park 
One of the best kept secrets in the MetroWest area is Callahan State Park in Framingham. 
Located across from Mill Farm Public Golf Course on Millwood Street, the park is really more like a series of mini parks.  The 820-acre area has seven miles of marked trails. The trails are used for hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.  

You will find in Callahan State Park that there are nearly 100 acres of open fields.  Seventy acres are currently under agriculture lease and many people actually plant some pretty substantial crops … (2 comments)

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010 - 07/26/10 03:18 PM

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010
Before you buy a home in Ashland, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 4th week of July in Ashland, MA.


For the past month in Ashland, Massachusetts , 14 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 96%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Ashland, … (4 comments)

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010 - 07/26/10 03:17 PM

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010
Before you buy a home in Hopkinton, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 4th week of July in Hopkinton, MA.


For the past month in Hopkinton, Massachusetts , 13 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (0 comments)

Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010 - 07/26/10 03:16 PM

Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010
Before you buy a home in Holliston, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 4th week of July in Holliston, MA.


For the past month in Holliston, Massachusetts , 12 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Holliston, … (0 comments)

Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010 - 07/26/10 03:16 PM

Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010
Before you buy a home in Natick, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 4th week of July in Natick, MA.


For the past month in Natick, Massachusetts , 21 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Natick, … (0 comments)

Southborough Massachusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010 - 07/26/10 03:15 PM

Southborough Massaschusetts Home Sales - July 24, 2010
Before you buy a home in Southborough, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 4th week of July in Southborough, MA.


For the past month in Southborough, Massachusetts , 9 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 97%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Southborough, Massachusetts or … (0 comments)

Surely - There is More to Talk About Than Shirley - 07/22/10 09:51 PM
Surely - There is More to Talk About Than  Shirley 
For the past few days the air waves and print media have been dominated by a story about former United States Department of Agriculture director, Shirley Sherrod, who was erroneously forced to resign.  
After a heavily edited video of her giving an address in March to an NAACP meeting was posted on a blogger's website a controversy broke out and began to snowball.  In her remarks, Ms. Sherrod described her own attitude when a white farmer sought her help with his farm which was about to be foreclosed on.  Taken completely out of context … (11 comments)

Summer Water Bans in MetroWest Massachusetts - 07/22/10 04:30 PM
Summer Water Bans in MetroWest Massachusetts 
Along with the heat, humidity and fun summer activities comes the necessity to ration one of our most precious commodities - water. Various towns in the MetroWest area have written and published their own restrictions. 
Due to the warm weather this season as well as the dropping water levels in the Hopkinton Reservoir; the town of Ashland has imposed restrictions on outdoor watering.  Under the Stage 1 restriction, car washing, automatic sprinklers, ornamental pools and the topping off or filling of swimming pools with town water are prohibited for now. 
Residents are encouraged to use only … (2 comments)

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - July 18, 2010 - 07/21/10 09:38 PM

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales  - July 18, 2010
Before you buy a home in Hopkinton, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of July in Hopkinton, MA.


For the past month in Hopkinton, Massachusetts , 18 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale … (2 comments)

Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - July 18, 2010 - 07/21/10 09:38 PM

Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - July 18, 2010
Before you buy a home in Holliston, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of Julyy in Holliston, MA.


For the past month in Holliston, Massachusetts , 18 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 96%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (0 comments)

Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - July 18, 2010 - 07/21/10 09:37 PM

Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - July 18, 2010
Before you buy a home in Natick, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of July in Natick, MA.


For the past month in Natick, Massachusetts , 32 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (0 comments)

Southborough Massachusetts Home Sales - July 18, 2010 - 07/21/10 09:36 PM

Southborough Home Sales - July 18, 2010
Before you buy a home in Southborough, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of July in Southborough, MA.


For the past month in Southborough, Massachusetts , 11 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 97%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Southborough, … (0 comments)

What a Difference a Foreclosure Makes - 07/21/10 05:45 PM
What a Difference a Foreclosure Makes 
A recent study by MIT and Harvard researchers revealed that a foreclosure reduces the value of a house by an average of 27 percent. 
MIT economist Parag Pathak and Harvard researchers, John Y. Campbell and Stefano Giglio examined 1.8 million home sales in Massachusetts from 1987 to 2009.  They came up with some revealing numbers on how dramatically a foreclosure can affect the value of a home as well as the value of all the properties surrounding it. 
They also contrasted the impact on value of foreclosures as compared to other events like the death of an … (7 comments)

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - July 18, 2010 - 07/18/10 10:16 AM

Ashland Home Sales - July 18, 2010
Before you buy a home in Ashland, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of July in Ashland, MA.


For the past month in Ashland, Massachusetts , 15 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Ashland, Massachusetts or … (2 comments)

Fannie Mae Tightens Up on Appraisals - 07/17/10 11:12 PM
Fannie Mae Tightens Up on Appraisals 
Since the new appraisal rules went into effect last year there has been a noticeable decline in the quality of some of the work that has been turned out by appraisers.  This has been largely due to the fact that local knowledge of the market has been put on the back burner and, in its place, has been the goal of getting the job done as cheaply as possible. 
The net effect has been third party companies hiring appraisers from up to 100 miles away.  This, of course, negates any chance of their being familiar with the neighborhood that the property is actually … (28 comments)

A Kitchen With Something for Everyone - 07/16/10 10:34 PM

 
Can't decide which color to go with?  This kitchen has a little representation of everything. 
White Stove Black Dishwasher Stainless Steel Hood Avocado Refrigerator I guess if you can't make a choice - just throw everything at it but the kitchen sink. 
Well, you can include that too.
  
Copyright 2010 "A Kitchen With Something for Everyone"
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Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, The Buyers' Counsel - (508) 881-6230
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Massachusetts Lands a Spot in the Top Five States for Business - 07/15/10 08:07 PM
Massachusetts Lands a Spot in the Top Five States for Business 
Rising from its eighth place last year, Massachusetts was named number five in CNBC's "Top States for Business" for 2010. 
This latest achievement made it the first time for any northeastern state to finish in the top five of this annual survey.  
States are judged on ten different categories with the cost of doing business as one of the key factors.  Some of the other categories are education, quality of life, economy, transportation, technology and innovation.  
High marks were given to Massachusetts for its exemplary schools.  And this was not limited … (6 comments)

What Defines the MetroWest Massachusetts Area? - 07/14/10 03:00 PM
What Defines the MetroWest Massachusetts Area? 
The MetroWest Massachusetts area is a cluster of towns located west of Boston and also west of Route 128.  
More specifically, the MetroWest can be defined as the region enclosed by Interstate 93 to the north, Route 495 to the west and Route 95 on the east as well as the south. 
 
The actual term, MetroWest, originated from a contest that was held in 1983 by the local newspaper that was then called the Middlesex News.  The idea of the contest was to come up with a name for the area that the newspaper … (4 comments)

NAR Addresses an Important Issue - Thanks to a Blogger on Active Rain - 07/13/10 05:17 PM
NAR Addresses an Important Issue - Thanks to a Blogger on Active Rain
 
An article in this month's Realtor Magazine in the "Real Life" section discusses the fact that the issue of sexual orientation is finally being addressed in the  Code of Ethics. This turn of events is largely credited to a blog post written by an Active Rain member. 
In December 2007 Eric Kodner wrote an important post that pointed out the fact the Realtor® Code of Ethics has seriously neglected the issue of sexual orientation discrimination while Active Rain has thoughtfully included it in its guidelines. 
Article 10 of the Code of Ethics … (41 comments)

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010 - 07/12/10 04:08 PM

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010
Before you buy a home in Hopkinton, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of July in Hopkinton, MA.


For the past month in Hopkinton, Massachusetts , 17 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (0 comments)

Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010 - 07/12/10 04:07 PM

Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales -July 11, 2010
Before you buy a home in Holliston, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of July in Holliston, MA.


For the past month in Holliston, Massachusetts , 20 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 96%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (0 comments)

Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010 - 07/12/10 04:07 PM

Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010
Before you buy a home in Natick, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of July in Natick, MA.


For the past month in Natick, Massachusetts , 33 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 96%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (0 comments)

Southborough Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010 - 07/12/10 04:06 PM

Southborough Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010
Before you buy a home in Southborough, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of July in Southborough, MA.


For the past month in Southborough, Massachusetts , 12 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 96%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (0 comments)

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010 - 07/11/10 07:41 PM

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - July 11, 2010
Before you buy a home in Ashland, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of July in Ashland, MA.


For the past month in Ashland, Massachusetts , 19 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (2 comments)

Salem End Road and the Salem Witch Trials - 07/11/10 03:08 PM
Salem End Road and the Salem Witch Trials 
In the western part of Framingham, Massachusetts there is an area known as Salem End Road.  In 2007 it was voted as one of the "Absolute Best Streets" by Boston Magazine.  Some of the traits that were taken into consideration were aesthetics, environment, amenities and public services. 
There is diversity of home styles on Salem End Road with everything to ranches, contemporaries, stately colonials as well some very important historical buildings.
The winding, wooded and scenic road begins at the border of Ashland running thorough the Ashland Town Forest and ends where it parallels Route … (8 comments)

Russian Spies and Real Estate Agents - What is the Connection? - 07/10/10 04:44 PM
Russian Spies and Real Estate Agents - What is the Connection?
In a follow-up to the a post I wrote on the Russian spy ring, 10 agents who infiltrated the lives of suburban America were sent back to their country this week in exchange for people of interest to the United States. It turned into the biggest spy swap since the Cold War. 
 
After pleading guilty in court the ten were sentenced to time served and were swiftly deported. In return, four of ours who have been held in prison for allegedly contacting Western intelligence agencies while in the employ of … (16 comments)

Are McMansions on Their Way Out? - 07/09/10 03:30 PM
Are McMansions on Their Way Out? 
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal discussed the fact that "America's love affair with McMansions continues to wane."  However, it is not exactly clear whether this trend is due to a lack of love or if it is just in line with our current economic situation. 
For the past three decades home sizes have continuously increased.  However, they began to fall flat in 2008 to an average of 2,521 square feet and actually started to decline in 2009.  
 
Certainly, a larger home is tougher on the pocketbook when it comes to heating and cooling. And, the tax man cometh … (22 comments)

The Scenic Lakes of Hopkinton - Massachusetts - 07/08/10 02:16 PM
The Scenic Lakes of Hopkinton - Massachusetts 
The town of Hopkinton enjoys the benefit of an enormous amount of scenic beauty with an 80 acre town forest as well as four distinctive lakes.  
The lakes that grace this town are Echo Lake, Lake Maspenock, Lake Whitehall and the Hopkinton Reservoir. Several rivers are also credited to have their start in Hopkinton and these are the Blackstone, Charles and Concord Rivers. 
Echo Lake is located in the southwest part of town between Route 85 (Hayden Rowe) and Lumber Street.  This charming lake is known for small boating as well as fishing, primarily … (6 comments)

A Famous Citizen of Natick Massachusetts - Still Remembered - 07/06/10 05:44 PM
A Famous Citizen of Natick Massachusetts - Still Remembered  
Prominently sitting on Route 135 in Natick not far from the Framingham line, is the little shoe shop that was originally owned by a distinguished citizen of Natick. 
Henry Wilson was known as the "Cobbler from Natick."  He was also the 18th Vice President of the United States. 
Born in 1812, he was originally named Jeremiah Jones Colbath, a name his father had given him after a financially successful neighbor with the hopes of getting an inheritance for his son. The child, Jeremiah, learned to hate that name and vowed to change it at … (7 comments)

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - July 04, 2010 - 07/05/10 07:42 AM

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - July 4, 2010
Before you buy a home in Hopkinton, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 1st week of July in Hopkinton, MA.


For the past month in Hopkinton, Massachusetts , 18 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 94%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Hopkinton, … (2 comments)

Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - July 4, 2010 - 07/05/10 07:41 AM

Holliston Massachusets Home Sales - July 4, 2010
Before you buy a home in Holliston, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 1st week of July in Holliston, MA.


For the past month in Holliston, Massachusetts , 22 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 96%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Holliston, … (0 comments)

Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - July 4, 2010 - 07/05/10 07:40 AM

Natick Home Sales - July 4, 2010
Before you buy a home in Natick, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 1st week of July in Natick, MA.


For the past month in Natick, Massachusetts , 30 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Hopkinton, Massachusetts or … (0 comments)

Southborough Massachusetts Home Sales - July 4, 2010 - 07/05/10 07:39 AM

Southborough Home Sales - July 4, 2010
Before you buy a home in Southborough, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 1st week of July in Southborough, MA.


For the past month in Southborough, Massachusetts , 13 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Southborough, Massachusetts … (0 comments)

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - July 04, 2010 - 07/04/10 11:01 PM

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - July 4, 2010
Before you buy a home in Ashland, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 1st week of July in Ashland, MA.


For the past month in Ashland, Massachusetts , 18 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in … (0 comments)

Mortgage Rates Hit Historical Lows - Again - 07/03/10 11:04 PM
Mortgage Rates Hit Historical Lows - Again 
At 4.58 percent for an average 30-year fixed rate loan mortgage rates are at levels unseen in more than half a century.  The last time rates were lower than this was in the 1950s at a time when most home loans lasted only 20 to 25 years. 
15-year fixed rate loans have also hit a new record at 4.04 percent. Rates on hybrids fell to 3.79 which are pretty much equal to the average rate on a 1-year ARM which is now at 3.8 percent.  The 1-year ARM was the only loan program that … (6 comments)

Having a Zoo on the Front Porch Will Not Sell Your Home - 07/02/10 10:37 PM
Having a Zoo on the Front Porch Will not Sell Your Home
 

I previewed a home this week for a client who is relocating here from another part of the country.  As with so many properties in the MLS, it sounded wonderful from the description. In fact, it was quite appealing until I actually arrived at the house.   
Some of the features that had been touted were: great location, hardwood floors, updated kitchen (20 years ago, it turned out), full basement (that only had access from the outside through a 20 x 20 inch trap door,) and window treatments included (there were actually none.) 
But the most interesting detail of … (26 comments)

 

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