Click below to view the video (about 7 minutes) discussing sales volume for single-family homes in Hopkinton, MA for the first half of 2009. Slides in the video are also included below for your reference.

Some of the raw data:

* 55 single-family homes were sold in the first six months of the year, down from 63 at this same point in time last year.
* Average DOM (days on market) for those sales was 126, also down from 151 days last year.
* The median sale price was $445,000, down significantly from mid-2008 when it stood at $562,000.

Below is the History of Sales Volume slide shown in the video. We have fewer than half the sales of homes in the first six months of 2009 than we had during the same period in 2000.

Below is the slide presenting inventory supply at this point in 2009 as compared to last year at the end of June. Some experts define a market in balance as one with a six month supply of inventory. The nearly nine-month supply we currently have would be deemed a buyer's market.

In conclusion, sellers must be aware that the inventory supply will continue to exert downward pressure on prices.  Macro-economic conditions such as unemployment and mortgage rates are still uncertain, hence sellers should guard against the overconfidence that recent multi-offer situations may have encouraged. 

If you are considering buying or selling and are in need of expert advice in the Hopkinton real estate market, please contact us at Star Realty Hopkinton, 508-275-9155.

Click below to view the video (about 4 minutes) discussing inventory trends for the late spring market for Hopkinton, MA. Charts in the video are also included below for your reference.

Some of the raw data:

* 81 single-family homes on the market currently and of those 9 have accepted offers and remain as "active" only to seek back-up offers.
* Average DOM (days on market) is down to 108 from 115 in mid-May.
* The price ranges below $600,000 are still seeing the most activity.

Below is the inventory trend chart shown in the video. The dark blue represents the number of homes in each price range this month, the lighter blue line is the same number from one month ago, and the red line on the bottom is the number which have gone under agreement since 5-15-09.

The $500,000-$600,000 price range is still the most crowded but is also the one seeing multi-offer situations.

Below is the chart showing inventory trends since January 2005. You can see that our inventory levels are relatively low.

For more detailed information about the Hopkinton residential real estate market, don't hesitate to contact us at 508-275-9155 Star Realty Hopkinton

Newsweek magazine has released their list of America's 1500 Top Public High Schools.  They rank the schools according to this formula:  "Public schools are ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, Intl. Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2008 divided by the number of graduating seniors." 

Hopkinton High School ranks number 420 on the list, moving up from their spot at 496 last year which puts it in the top 2% of schools ranked by this method. 

For the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), all 10th graders in the state are tested and scored according to their performance:  advanced, proficient, needs improvement, or failing.  Hopkinton 10th graders scored a combined 84% advanced and proficient in both the English and Math exam (these are the only two subjects tested in 10th grade) with an impressive 58% scoring advanced in Math.  See full results of MCAS testing for Hopkinton.

In addition to stellar performance, the school is aesthetically beautiful and offers a state of the art athletic center, fitness, facility, and performing arts stage.

For the upcoming fiscal year 2010, the Hopkinton town management team, volunteer, elected, and professional, has done a phenomenal job of maintaining the high level of services we've come to expect without increasing property taxes.  This short video clip below features Brian Herr (Chair--Board of Selectman) and Nancy Burdick (Chair--Hopkinton School Committee) discussing the intensive and successful collaboration amongst volunteer boards and professionals in town.  This process has resulted in a budget which leaves:

• our schools fully supported,
  
• police and fire fully supported,
  
• and no lay-offs on the horizon.
  

They managed this by capitalizing on opportunities to reduce cost model by combining facilities departments and by combining information technology departments in town.

Nancy Burdick explains that the school committee, a body of 5 elected officials, is responsible for developing policy and budget for the Hopkinton Public School District.  Their goals for FY '10 budget were 3-fold:

• keep class size reasonable
• retain extracurricular services at current level
• not increase fees for current level of services

"Strong schools, no tax increase, things are looking up for Hopkinton even in very difficult financial times." Herr concludes.

Recently our local independent newspaper, appropriately named The Hopkinton Independent, ran an article about our homegrown Hopkinton Firm. Highlights were:

• with no franchise fees to cough up to far away corporate owners, we can use those dollars to better market our listings with intensive staging, professionally drawn floor plans, full motion video tours, neighborhood tours, and more;
• we've expressed our gratitude for our success by giving over $30,000 back to community causes
  
• Some causes we've been able to support include the Hopkinton Education Foundation, Project Just Because, the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Association, Hopkinton Little League, Hopkinton Lacrosse, Hopkinton Women's Club, and others.

Here is the article as it appeared in the paper:

Hopkinton’s own celebrates five years of town giving

by Amy Comcowich

    It's a philosophy that works.  Kathleen Buckley, founder and owner of STAR Realty, believes in community: she believes the community helped make her and her independent real estate brokerage so successful, and she believes giving back to the community is the best way she knows how to express her gratitude.
    Giving back to Hopkinton has happened in a number of ways over the past five years since she founded her business in 2004.  She has given financial support to the Hopkinton Education Foundation, Project Just Because, Hopkinton Little League, Hopkinton Lacrosse, Hopkinton Women's Club, the Police Association and the Hopkinton Garden Club to name a few of the approximate 30 organizations she has supported.
     Buckley credits her ability to provide so much support to these various causes to her decision to not affiliate with the larger, franchised real estate brokerages.  As an independent firm, she explains, she doesn't have to pay fees to a franchise - which can be eight percent of the real estate transaction fee. 
     "We don't have that piece of overhead... It allows us to use these funds to best market a property and it allows us to invest in the community," said Buckley. 
     She also said that not being part of a franchise keeps her and the five agents who work with her on their toes. 
   "With every transaction, our reputation is on the line," she said.
   "We're a small but mighty group" she said of her agents Beth Maguire, Paula Hurlbut, Lily Holden, Donna O'Brien and Pat O'Brien, all of whom call Hopkinton home.
     Buckley believes strongly in keeping her focus on Hopkinton.  By doing so, she and her agents can be experts on the community, and giving back to just this community allows her to make the biggest impact.
    Overall, Buckley estimates that she has given back at least $30,000 to the various charitable events and organizations.  She modestly points out, however, that she is just one of the local businesses that contribute time, talent and resources to Hopkinton, and she is simply happy to play her part. 
    On Buckley's STAR Realty website, StarRealtyHopkinton.com, it says "Hopkinton: where we live, where we work, where we give back."  
    From the community here in Hopkinton, where so many lives have been touched by Buckley's efforts, it can be said in response: "Kathleen Buckley: to whom we are grateful."

Click below to view the video (about 8 minutes) discussing inventory trends in this spring market for Hopkinton, MA.  Charts in the video are also included below for your reference.

Some of the raw data:

    * 76 single-family homes on the market currently and of those 10 have accepted offers and remain as "active" only to seek back-up offers.
    * Average DOM (days on market) is up to 115 from 107 in mid-April.
    * The price ranges below $600,000 are seeing the most activity.

Below is the inventory trend chart shown in the video. The dark blue line on top is the number of homes in each price range this month, the lighter blue line is the same number from one month ago, and the red line on the bottom is the number which have gone under agreement since 4-15-09.

The $500,000's & $600,000's price ranges are still the most crowded.  Three of the indicated 15 homes in the $500,000's actually have accepted offers so they are only being shown for back-up offers.

Below is the chart showing inventory trends since January 2005.  The "J  A  J  O" along the bottom stand for "January, April, July, & October" of each year.  You can see that our inventory levels are low.

For more detailed information about the Hopkinton residential real estate market, don't hesitate to contact us at 508-275-9155 Star Realty Hopkinton

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Click below to view the video (about 8 minutes) discussing inventory trends in this spring market for Hopkinton, MA.  Charts in the video are also included below for your reference.

Some of the raw data: 

• 74 single-family homes on the market currently and of those 4 have accepted offers and remain as "active" only to seek back-up offers. 
  
• Average DOM (days on market) is down this month to 107 from 135 in mid-March.  This is simply reflective of new inventory.
  
• The price ranges below $500,000 are seeing the most activity.

Below is the inventory trend chart shown in the video.  Since my legend does not appear (ahem) the dark blue line on top is the number of homes in each price range this month, the lighter blue line is the same number from one month ago, and the red line on the bottom is the number which have gone under agreement since 3-15-09.

How proud the parents must have been to watch their daughter, now a young lady poised and confident, stand and greet the audience she'd assembled.  Hopkinton High-schooler Maureen Regan welcomed us to the première of her short film Hiking Trails of Hopkinton at the High School auditorium on Thursday, April 2, her passion and authenticity were self-evident.

In this film which Regan produced and directed, the natural beauty of Hopkinton is highlighted, as is the type of citizen the town is capable of forming.  Both contribute to the draw of Hopkinton as a place to live, recreate, educate children, and raise a family.

Congratulations Maureen on an informative and inspiring film about some of Hopkinton's best kept secrets!

Click below to view the video (about 7 minutes) discussing inventory trends in this early spring market for Hopkinton, MA.  Charts in the video are also included below for your reference.

Some of the raw data: 

• just 59 single-family homes on the market currently and of those 7 have accepted offers and remain as "active" only to seek back-up offers. 
  
• Average DOM (days on market) is down this month to 135 from 149 in mid-February. 
  
• Ten homes have gone under agreement in the past month which is quite a nice activity level.

Below is the inventory trend chart shown in the video.  Since my legend does not appear (ahem) the dark blue line on top is the number of homes in each price range this month, the lighter blue line is the same number from one month ago, and the red line on the bottom is the number which have gone under agreement since 2-14-09.

Below is the chart showing inventory trends since January 2005.  The "J  A  J  O" along the bottom stand for "January, April, July, & October" of each year.  You can see that our inventory levels are low.

This is an overview snapshot.  If you're considering buying or selling a home in Hopkinton, MA this spring, we'd be delighted to provide you with an in-depth analysis of the specific price range you are targeting to help you achieve your objectives. 

For an introductory video to the town of Hopkinton, please visit our website STAR REALTY Hopkinton. Or for a personal tour of the town, feel free to contact us at 508-275-9155.

These top same top five apply to the Hopkinton, MA real estate market as well!