Maynard MA 01754
Local Market Conditions - January 2012

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The 2011 median price was -9.93% less than the peak in 2007 and +7% higher than the low in 2009. The number of homes sold increased since the peak and has remained steady since 2009.

Days on market is an important factor to consider when pricing your home to sell. Buyers will not make offers on homes that are not priced correctly. The longer a house is on the market, the less it will sell for.

Single Family Homes: Current list prices for single family homes in Maynard range from $85,000 to $524,900; the median price is $259,900 - down from $318,250 last year; the average price is $269,997 - down from $330,340 last year at this time. There are 43 homes on the market; up from 30 last year. More inventory and lower prices combined with amazingly low interest rates make this a great time for buyers who would like to live in Maynard.

There are 3 single family properties with sales pending.

December Closed sales: December ended the year on a positive note. There were 10 sold, up from 8 in December 2010. The median price was $313,500; up from last year’s median of $287,000. The average was $308,300, slightly lower than last year. And on average, it took less time to sell – 116 days compared with 140.

Condominiums and Townhouses: Looking for easy living? There are a total of 10 condominiums including townhouses for sale in Maynard. Of the ten, four have accepted offers waiting for contingencies to clear. Last year at this time there were 18 for sale.

There were 25 condos/townhouses sold in 2011. The median price was $234,500; the average was $211,208. There were on 2 closed sales in December; a townhouse at Deer Hedge Run that sold for $201,000; and a half-duplex one on Butler Avenue that sold for $179,900.

About Maynard
Maynard Massachusetts is located in restaurants County approximately 22 miles west of Boston. Maynard offers a variety of housing styles and is a more affordable option compared with the neighboring towns of Concord, restaurants, Stow, and Acton. Residents enjoy the active downtown which includes a variety of restaurants, specialty shops, music and arts. Maynard also has many opportunities for outdoor activities including hiking, golf, canoing; and a new high school is under construction.

Most consumers know that if they want to “hire” a real estate broker/agent to sell their home and represent their interests, they are going to sign a contract. Realtors® are not allowed to list a property without one. The contract clearly spells out the terms of the agreement including length of time, compensation, who the agent represents and each party’s responsibility.

While buyer agency is not a new concept - it has been legal in MA for almost two decades and a few years ago the law that governs agent-consumer relationships was updated to further ensure consumer protection - many buyers and some agents still don’t understand the benefits of a written Buyer Agency Agreement/contract.

Buyers often call me to ask for help finding a home and many tell me they have had disappointing experiences with "their buyer agent." When I ask if they had a contract with the agent, they answer is almost always “no”. Well, of course they are disappointed! How did the agent know what the buyer expected? And were the buyer(s)' expectations realistic?

The benefit of a contract is that both the buyer and the agent know what to expect and that each is accountable. The buyer knows which geographic areas the agent covers, they know how the agent is going to be compensated, and that the agent is legally obligated to act in their behalf.

Buying a home is a process that takes time, effort and tenacity; it's a long way from finding a house that suits your needs to getting to the closing table. Successful negotiations are based on trust, confidentiality, and mutual respect. Buyers, you are entitled to have a qualified buyer agent on your side to ensure you get the representation you deserve and a written agreement is the first step.

While any agent can call themselves a buyer's agent, an ABR, Accredited Buyer's Representative, has additional training and is a member of the Real Estate Buyer Agency Council, the network that provides ongoing education and resources for representing buyers.

Before you start looking for a house find a qualified buyer broker/agent who will listen to you and respect your needs; one who knows the market in the area, knows how to negotiate, has a network of resources - lenders, home inspectors, attorneys, movers, etc.; and who will educate you so you can make the best decisions about your new home. Real estate is about relationships, so make sure you have your own agent who knows and cares about your well-being.

Click here and check out "I am an ABR" on Facebook at Living West of Bostonand get the latest real estate news and community information about about Wayland, Sudbury, Maynard, Stow and the beautiful towns west of Boston.

Welcome to the first 2012 market conditions report for Sudbury MA. The charts below show comparisons for the past 5 years including median and average sale prices, the number of homes sold, and average days on the market.

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Median: 2011 sale prices were - 4.97% from peak in 2007; and +4.16% from low in 2009.
Average: 2011 sale prices were -7.92% from peak in 2007; and +5% from low in 2009.

Current – there are 95 single family homes for sale in Sudbury compared with 88 last year at this time. List prices range from $229,900 to $3,199,900. The median price is $799,000; the average is $944,924 – both lower than last year.

Closed Sales – the charts above shows a year to year comparison from 2007 to 2011. There were 181 single family homes sold in Sudbury during 2011; the median price for the year was $625,000; the average was $684,804.

December sale prices were similar; the median was $623,500; the average was $677,079, however the number of homes sold dropped substantially – 12 compared with 25 during December 2010.

Buyers pay attention to the data when deciding what they will pay. Sellers also need to adjust their expectation based on market data. More inventory means more competition and buyers will not make offers on homes they think are not priced correctly.

Condos/Townhouses: Anyone interested in moving to a condominium should do it this year as the number for sale has decreased substantially from last year at this time; there are only 11 units on the market compared with 25 last year and list prices are also higher; prices range from $495,500 to $695,000. The majority of condos/townhouses in Sudbury are new construction and as the developments get closer to completion, the supply is limited and prices will most likely continue to rise.

Data Source: MLSPIN (Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network.)

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During the housing boom, buyers would often forego home inspections and not take time to do their due diligence for fear of missing out on a property; while they were taking the time to be smart and careful someone else was getting their dream home (or so they thought)! These days, it’s just the opposite; buyers are taking their time and scrutinizing every detail; home inspectors are suggesting that buyers ask about permits; and in Massachusetts many attorneys are asking to see the permits for work done in addition to sellers’ disclosures, etc., and buyer agents have to be more careful too.

If you are a homeowner and you plan to have any work done, make sure the contractor pulls a permit and that the inspector from the town signs off after the work is done. It’s very easy to find out if one is needed; towns have the information about permits on their web sites or you can call the building inspector. Most people don’t think about it. They assume that their contractor will take care of everything and especially because most contractors include the cost of a permit in their quote, so of course everyone assumes contractors do their job.

Unfortunately, contractors often do not follow through with applying for the permit(s) and scheduling the inspection after. Whether it’s laziness or lack of time or they’re keeping the money you’re paying for the permit (hope that’s not it!) but the bottom line is that you are paying for the permit(s) and they are required for your protection, protection of the town, and the protection of future owners. When you sell your house, if a home inspector sees a problem and there is no permit on file, even though it’s not your fault, it raises suspicion that will ultimately cost you; buyers will question what else is wrong or missing and start looking for reasons to reduce the price! This has happened to many of my clients in the Wayland, Sudbury area who paid top dollar to reputable contractors who never followed through on the permit.

Advice to homeowners and sellers: ask the contractor when the inspector from the town will be coming by to sign off on the work done. If they can’t answer, make sure you follow up with the contractor. Or, you can call the inspector yourself then you know it will be done.

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Single Family Homes: Good news for people who would like to live in Wayland. Inventory is up and the median list price is less than last year. There are 76 single family homes for sale in Wayland; 20 more than last year at this time.

List prices for single family homes in Wayland range from $179,900 to $18,800,000. At $627,000 the median list price is lower than last year at this time when it was $809,450. The average is $1,396,905, higher than last year when it was $1,099,993. Of the 76 single family homes for sale, 11 already have accepted offers and are being shown until contingencies clear. There are 13 properties with sales pending.

Closed Sales 2011 vs. 2010:

2011 – 123 closed sales
Median sale price - $560,000; average sale price - $616,096
Average time on market – 123 days

2010 – 133 closed sales
Median sale price - $565,000; average sale price - $629,815
Average time on market – 140 days

4th Quarter Sales:

2011 – 18 closed sales
Median sale price – $555,750; average sale price - $580,906
Average time on market – 144 days

2010 – 29 closed sales
Median sale price - $548,000; average sale price - $652,164
Average time on the market – 157 days

December sales:

2011 – 7 sold; exactly the same number as 2010.
2011 Median price - $720,000; average price - $716,786
Average time on the market – 195 days

2010 Median price - $726,000; average price - $555,929
Average time on market – 114 days.

Condominiums/Townhouses: Condominium and townhouse sales improved dramatically in Wayland in 2011.

Condominium and townhouse sales improved dramatically in Wayland in 2011. There were 41 closed sales compared with only 25 in 2010. The median sale price was higher at $559,000; in 2010 it was $585,319. And it took less time to sell; average time on the market in 2011 was 144 days; in 2010 it was 319 days. There are currently 29 condo/townhouses for sale in Wayland including new construction at DeColores Drive near Commonwealth Road, Wayland Commons off Route 27, and The Field at Mainstone. Prices including resale and new units range from $329,900 to $1,100,000.

Luxury Homes Market: As in most towns in the area, the luxury homes market in Wayland Massachusetts still has the best opportunities for buyers. There 23 luxury homes for sale. Some of these properties have been on the market for several months; the average time on the market is 213 days. Winter is a great time to get a deal!

Click here to search complete MLS listings with addresses and maps; news and information and market reports for Wayland, Sudbury and the towns west of Boston. Visit and “like” www.facebook.com/livingwestofboston for the latest real estate news and community information. Data source: MLSPIN (Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network).

For Sale: Inventory of single family homes on the market in Sudbury is the same as last year; there are 134 with list prices ranging from 150,000 to $3,199,900. However, both median and average list prices are lower than last year. The current median is $788,750; the average is $906,004; last year the median was $850,000; the average was $999,736. Current activity shows there are 17 single family properties with accepted offers and 13 have sales pending.

Luxury Homes: If you are looking for a luxury home west of Boston, Sudbury has lots of excellent values; there are 40 properties listed between $1 million and $3,199,900; 26 of them in $1,000,000 to 1.999,900 range. With the average time on the market at 209 days, many sellers are ready to considers offers seriously.

Rentals: There are also 13 rental properties available in Sudbury. Rents range from $1500 per month to $7500. Most rental properties require a 12 month lease with a first month, last month, and one month security deposit; and often the tenant is responsible for the leasing agent’s fee as well. In some cases this amount can be as much or more than a down payment on a mortgage and with interest rates still low, buying makes more sense for most people. People should consider long term and short term goals before deciding.

Closed Sales: There were 69 closed sales in Sudbury during the third quarter this year; up from 55 during Q3 in 2010. The median sale price for Q3 2011 was $655,000 a bit lower than last’s year median of $670,000; while the average at $737,660 was a bit higher than the Q3 2010 average of $714,861.September sales were similar; 15 sales with a median price of $655,000 and an average price of $736,825 compared with 14 sales during September 2010 with a median sale price of $701,000 and an average sale price of $724,071.

Condos/Townhouses: For anyone looking for easy living, there are some excellent condominium/townhouse opportunities in Sudbury. There are 16 units available; most are new construction with prices starting at $499,900.

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Single Family Homes: Current list prices for single family homes in Wayland range from $94,900 to $18,800,000. At $629,000 the median list price is lower than last year at this time when it was $719,000. The average is $1,068,555, higher than last year when it was $946,248. The number of single family homes on the market is up approximately 11% from last year; there are 101 compared with 91. $500,000 to $599,000 is still the price range with the most homes; there are 15 homes for sale, so good opportunities for buyers.

Of the 101 single family homes for sale, 13 already have accepted offers and are being shown until contingencies clear. There are 8 properties with sales pending.

Closed Sales: There were 14 closed sales of single family homes in Wayland during September 2011; up from 10 during September 2011. Median and average sale prices were also up; the median sale price was $699,500, the average was $665,643. The median and average during September 2010 was $568,250; the average was $609,350. 

Third quarter sales were also up in Wayland; there were 44 closed sales; last year there were 40. The median sale price was $633,740, the average was $662,052. The median sale price for third quarter 2010 was $502,113 and the average was $612,657. 

Condominiums/Townhouses:  Sales of condominiums and townhouses during September and the third quarter improved substantially over 2010. There were 7 sales in September 2011, up from 2 the previous year although prices were about the same – the median sale price was $449,800; the average was $549,757.  There were 12 units sold during third quarter 2011, up from only 8 for the same period in 2010.

There are currently 40 condo/townhouses for sale in Wayland; 15 are new construction at DeColores Drive near Commonwealth Road, Wayland Commons off Route 27, and The Field at Mainstone. Prices including resale and new units range from $289,900 to $1,100,000.

Luxury Market: As in most towns in the area, the luxury homes market in Wayland still has the best opportunities for buyers. There 26 luxury homes available, some have been on the market for several months. Fall is a great time to get a deal!

Click here to search complete MLS listings with addresses and maps; news and information and market reports for Sudbury, Stow, Maynard, and Weston Massachusetts. "Like" and search on Facebook @ Living West of Boston.

Data source: MLSPIN (Multiple Listing Service Property Information Network.

The single family home market in Sudbury MA has remained steady with 97 homes sold in Sudbury between January 1, 2011 and July 31, 2011; almost exactly the same number sold during the same period in 2010.

Median and average sale prices were also very close; the median sale price
was $637,500; the average sale price was $699,243.

In July 2011 there were 23 closed sales; exactly the same as in July 2010. The median sale prices was $610,000; the average was $714,115.

Currently, there are 138 single family homes for sale in Sudbury; last year at this time there were 133 - the number of homes varies by price range and in some there are fewer than last year.

16 of 138 active listings have accepted offers with contingencies waiting to be fulfilled. Since August 1, thirteen single family homes came on the market; and 14 listings have had price adjustments averaging -5.03%. Additionally there are 19 homes in Sudbury with sales pending.

List prices range from $175,000 to $4,500,000. The median list price is $750,000; the average is $909,489 - both approx. 11% lower than last year. The average time on the market for active listings is 146 days; last year it was 164.

For anyone looking for easy living, there are some excellent condominium/townhouse opportunities in Sudbury. Inventory is up and there have been substantial price reductions for some of the new construction for active adults.

Summer goes by quickly in New England and the Fall market is starting. People who want to move in October, November, or December are putting their homes on the market in August and September. Buyers looking for good opportunities should start their searches now to get the best choices. Most homeowners do not want to have their houses on the market in the winter, so they are more motivated to sell at this time of year.

Click here to search for homes in Sudbury and get daily MLS updates. Search for homes on Facebook at www.facebook.com/livingwestofBoston.

Check out the interactive floor plan and video. Ask a question or schedule a showing.  

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Prices for condominiums and townhouses have dropped significantly over the past couple of years and buyers are starting to find the Wayland, Sudbury, Maynard, and the towns west of Boston very attractive. Condominium living is exactly the right lifestyle for a lot of people. If you are a first time home buyer, you can generally get more living space for the same price as a single-family home, developments tend to be newer, and some offer amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers.  If you're just too busy or not interested in working around the house, owning a condo may be for you; the exterior maintenance is taken care of by the homeowner association so you don't have to be concerned about painting, landscaping, snow plowing, roof replacement, etc. - the benefits of home ownership without the work!

A lot of empty nesters also like the idea of simplifying and having someone else take care of things, especially after this past winter! Wouldn't it be nice to just lock the door and go somewhere warm next winter without having to worry about anything? Sounds perfect if you're someone who wants easy living; doesn't mind having close neighbors; is ok with letting other people make decisions for you or is willing to volunteer to be on the Homeowners Association Board, and won't mind trading some personal freedoms in return for convenience.

Buyers know that condominiums/homeowner associations have rules that govern the community and offers to purchase a condominium should include a contingency that says the offer is subject to satisfactory review/acceptance of all documents... Most HOA (Home Owner association) rules are pretty standard, and your attorney can tell you which ones you can expect to find in most places, however, communities can and do amend the rules over the years so rules can vary. Parking and pets seem to be the biggest issues but there may also be rules holiday decorations, gardening, decks, facility usage; bicycle and baby carriage storage, any selling restrictions - these days many developments will not allow investors ... Some associations dictate what vendors you can use to replace the windows - yes, units owners are often responsible for windows, doors; know what you will be responsible for.  

The lender will review the budget and send a questionnaire asking about the overall well being of the development - i.e. number of owner occupied units, if there are any pending lawsuits, special assessments; but as the buyer, it is really important for YOU to read the rules. Only you can know if you'll be comfortable living by the rules that govern the condo development you'll be sharing; and the best time to do that is before you make an offer. Once you accept the condominium rules (or not) you can move forward and enjoy the lifestyle that's right for you!  

About the author: Marilyn Messenger, CRS has sold dozens of condominiums and townhouses (new and resale units) in Sudbury, Wayland, Maynard, and the towns west of Boston since 1993. As  condominium/townhouse owner and former Board of Trustees Member at Deer Hedge Run, she knows how first-hand about buying and selling condominiums and about condo living. Ask Marilyn at 508-596-3501 or marilynmessenger@realtor.com.