Hopkinton Real Estate

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report--November 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:53:48 -0600

Just released: the latest video discussing inventory trends and for the fall real estate market in Hopkinton, MA. Charts in the video are also included below for your reference.

Hopkinton Real Estate Market Report: November 2009 produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

Some of the raw data:

* 69 single-family homes on the market currently and of those 3 have accepted offers and remain as "active" only to seek back-up offers.
* Average DOM (days on market) is up a bit to 126 days from 117 days on average last month.
* The lion's share of activity as measured by number of homes having gone under agreement is happening below $700,000 with the most activity price range being the $300,000's.

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 gray bar column is the same number from one month ago, and the red line to the right in each price range indicates the number of homes which have gone under agreement since 10-15-09.

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 homes for sale in particular or the Hopkinton housing market in general, don't hesitate to contact us at 508-275-9155 Star Realty Hopkinton

Star Realty Business Profile: A Homegrown Hopkinton Firm

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:14:28 -0600

Star Realty is an independent, non-franchise real estate brokerage firm specializing in residential real estate sales in and around Hopkinton, Massachusetts. This short business profile video was produced by TurnHere Productions at the suggestion of Morgan Brown.

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report--October 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:03:27 -0500

Just released: the latest video discussing inventory trends and for the third quarter and early fall real estate market in Hopkinton, MA. Charts in the video are also included below for your reference.

Hopkinton Real Estate Market Report: October 2009 produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

Some of the raw data:

* 79 single-family homes on the market currently and of those 12 have accepted offers and remain as "active" only to seek back-up offers.
* Average DOM (days on market) is holding steady at 117 days.
* Homes in nearly every price range from $200,000 to over $1,000,000 have gone under agreement during the past month in an unusually active market.

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

And finally the slide of Q3 2009 results:

For more detailed information about the homes for sale in particular or the Hopkinton housing market in general, don't hesitate to contact us at 508-275-9155 Star Realty Hopkinton

Wildwood Glen Estates Neighborhood, Hopkinton, MA

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:30:26 -0500

Wildwood Glen Estates is a popular neighborhood of about 40 homes mostly built from 1998-2002 in Hopkinton, MA. All the homes on Breakneck Hill Road, Hopkinton and even number homes #2-#32 as well as odd numbered homes #9-#17 Glen Road, Hopkinton are included in Wildwood Glen Estates.

Wildwood Glen, Hopkinton, MA produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

One of the defining features of this neighborhood are the truly gorgeous skies. Mount Wachusett, and stunning sunsets can be seen from this location.

Homeowners in Wildwood Glen report being highly satisfied with the location due to it’s proximity to I-495, the schools, the town center and major retail outlets in neighboring Milford.

The neighborhood is active with progressive dinners, and Halloween parades among other holiday parties for adults and kids alike.

Further along Glen Road lies Hopkinton Ridge, an adjacent neighborhood of an additional 36 homes, so together Wildwood Glen and Hopkinton Ridge make quite a sizeable development with sidewalks throughout.

If you would like to be notified when homes in Wildwood Glen become available for sale, like the home at 26 Glen Road currently on the market, please let us know and we will keep you apprised.

Star Realty: Delighted to Sponsor the Hopkinton Community Spelling Bee 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:25:13 -0500

One of the great advantages to being an independent, non-franchise local brokerage firm is the flexibility it provides in sponsoring local community events. The Hopkinton Community Spelling Bee is a collaborative effort between the two main school support non-profits in town: the Hopkinton Parent Teacher Association (HPTA) and the Hopkinton Education Foundation (HEF). We love to sponsor this event because it brings together so many different organizations in Hopkinton. Last year for example, some of the teams (yes spelling is done by consensus in teams of three) competing were the Hopkinton Athletic Association, Boy & Girl Scouts, the Senior Center, the Schools, the Police Department, the Garden Club, the Board of Selectman, and our local newspaper the Hopkinton Independent.

During the event, refreshments are available and a 'Mini-Bee' takes place during intermission giving K-5 students an opportunity to compete in their own age-appropriate bees. Last year over $7000 was raised to benefit the HEF & HPTA who bring innovative and enriching programs to our Hopkinton Public Schools.

For more information, to register a team, or to sponsor the event, please visit HopkintonSpellingBee.info.

Springwood Estates Neighborhood, Hopkinton, MA

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:58:02 -0500

Springwood Estates is one of the largest subdivisions in Hopkinton and remains exceedingly popular due to its convenient location, lack of highway noise, and relatively level lots. The first homes in the neighborhood were built in the early 1990's on Gibbon Road and building continues to this day on Connelly Hill Road.

Springwood Estates, Hopkinton, Massachusetts produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

Proximity to the center of town and the schools, as well as major retail outlets ensure the ongoing popularity of Springwood.

Homes in Springwood over the past year have sold in the price range of $625,000-$1,180,000. The most recent home for sale in the neighborhood, 14 Smith Road, came on the market for $949,900 and is featured below:

Elegant & Gracious Home in Springwood Estates, Hopkinton

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description
Videos
Neighborhood

$949,900

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

4 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
2 Partial Bathrooms
Interior: 5413 sqft
Lot: 45,870 sqft

Location

14 Smith Road
Hopkinton, MA 01748

Kathleen Buckley

(508) 259-9411
kathleen@kathleenbuckley.com
http://www.StarRealtyHopkinton.com

Listed by: Star Realty Hopkinton

Our recent listings

Elegant & Gracious Home in Springwood Estates, Hopkinton
Ideal Home for Casual Entertaining
Fantastic Retreat in the Woods of Hopkinton

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Hopkinton, MA real estate for sale

Here are the details of the Springwood Estates properties (including Connelly Hill) sold over the past year:

If you'd like more information about Springwood Estates or other neighborhoods in Hopkinton, please contact us. We would be happy to notify you when homes in this desirable neighborhood become available for purchase. We specialize in residential real estate in and around Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

Just Listed: Elegant & Gracious Home in Springwood Estates, Hopkinton, MA

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:38:08 -0500

Via Kathleen Buckley Hopkinton Specialist (STAR REALTY Hopkinton):

Home for sale in coveted Springwood Estates, Hopkinton, MA.

Elegant archways and gracious curves define this lovely home with over 5400 square feet of living space on three levels including a sumptuous master bedroom suite with delightful architectural details.

Elegant & Gracious Home in Springwood Estates, Hopkinton

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description
Videos
Neighborhood

$949,900

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

4 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
2 Partial Bathrooms
Interior: 5413 sqft
Lot: 45,870 sqft

Location

14 Smith Road
Hopkinton, MA 01748

Kathleen Buckley

(508) 259-9411
kathleen@kathleenbuckley.com
http://www.StarRealtyHopkinton.com

Listed by: Star Realty Hopkinton

Our recent listings
Elegant & Gracious Home in Springwood Estates, Hopkinton
Ideal Home for Casual Entertaining
Fantastic Retreat in the Woods of Hopkinton

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Hopkinton, MA real estate for sale

The home at 14 Smith Road is a stately colonial style residence built in 2001 which sits slightly elevated from the street and sidewalk in a well-established section of Springwood Estates. The facade presents nicely due to its brick federal front, hip-roof and portico entrance to the glass front door with sidelights and transom windows.

Foyer:
The two-story foyer uplifts as it welcomes with fluted archways into the formal rooms and light streaming from the palladian window over the holiday shelf. Turned banister on the wood stair case, crown molding, and hardwood flooring lend elegance and warmth.

Living Room:
A decorative trey ceiling adorns the living room along with crown molding and hardwood flooring.

Dining Room:
The ambassador-sized dining room is nicely finished with dentil crown molding, modified chair rail with wainscotting, trey ceiling, classic chandelier, and hardwood flooring with decorative inlay accent.

Office:
Convenient first floor office with French doors is as lovely as it is functional with hardwood flooring, a walk-out bay window, a wall of built-in shelving for books and accessories, and crown molding offset by warm Lennox tan painted walls.

Family Room:
Dramatic and gracious describe the cathedral ceiling family room anchored by the gas fireplace and paneled mantle with built-in shelving extending the length of the back wall. Gorgeous picture windows, sconces, hardwood flooring, and a curved balcony above lend elegance to this gorgeous space.

Kitchen:
Everything the contemporary home owner is looking for: plentiful and beautiful red birch cabinetry with roll out shelving and under-cabinet lighting, neutral and indestructible granite countertops including large island with stool seating, double wall ovens, gas cooktop, spacemaker microwave, paneled dishwasher and refrigerator, large table area and 9' of glass with slider to deck and back yard.

Convenient mud room creates access to 3-car garage, side door to the exterior driveway, and laundry room with utility sink and storage.

Basement:
The lower level has been professionally finished to the same high standards as the rest of the home with a media room to accommodate super sized screen, a bar area with tile flooring, cherry cabinetry, granite countertops with stool seating, an exercise area with built-in speakers, large carpeted play area with storage shelving, and convenient half bath.

Second Floor:
The three secondary bedrooms all with double closets share a hall bath with dual sinks and a Corian® countertop vanity.

The master suite serves as a sumptuous retreat with delightful architectural details such as the deep trey ceiling accented by cove lighting and crown molding, and the walk-out bay window with built-in window seat. Recessed lighting and a paddle ceiling fan allow for maximum ambiance control. Three closets offer plenty of wardrobe storage and a separate flex room currently serves as a sitting room.

Cove lighting also graces the master bath with tile shower, Jacuzzi tub, dual sink Corian® vanity, separate commode, and convenient linen closet.

The house sits back approximately 78 feet from the front property line on a well landscaped one acre parcel with that rarity in Hopkinton--a private and level backyard. The rear property line extends into the woods over 100 feet from the back of the home with no wetland or other deed restrictions encumbering the title.

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report--September 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:32:06 -0500

Just released: the latest video discussing inventory trends and current events for late summer real estate market in Hopkinton, MA. Charts in the video are also included below for your reference.

Hopkinton Real Estate Market Report--September 2009 produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

Some of the raw data:

* 76 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 up to 117 from 108 in mid-June.
* The $500,000-$700,000 price range accounted for nearly half (10 out of 21) of the homes that went under agreement during the past month.

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 gray bar line is the same number from one month ago, and the red line to the right in each price range indicates the number of homes which have gone under agreement since 8-15-09.

The $500,000-$700,000 price range is seeing the most activity including 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 homes for sale in particular or the Hopkinton housing market in general, don't hesitate to contact us at 508-275-9155 Star Realty Hopkinton

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report -- July 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:07:11 -0500

Just released: the latest video (it's long this month, about 9 minutes) discussing inventory trends and current events for summer real estate market in Hopkinton, MA. Charts in the video are also included below for your reference.

Hopkinton Mid Month Real Estate Market Report-July 2009 produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

Some of the raw data:

* 78 single-family homes on the market currently and of those 13 have accepted offers and remain as "active" only to seek back-up offers.
* Average DOM (days on market) is up to 113 from 108 in mid-June.
* The $500,000-$700,000 price range accounted for nearly half (10 out of 21) of the homes that went under agreement during the past month.

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 to the right in each price range indicates the number of homes which have gone under agreement since 6-15-09.

The $500,000-$700,000 price range is seeing the most activity including 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 homes for sale in particular or the Hopkinton housing market in general, don't hesitate to contact us at 508-275-9155 Star Realty Hopkinton

Hopkinton, MA Makes Money Magazine's Top 20 Best Places to Live

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:27:16 -0500

It comes as no surprise to those of us living here in Hopkinton, and now Money Magazine has put together a Top 100 List of best towns to live in the U.S.* Their criteria included affordability of housing, incomes, commute times, climate, job growth, and clean air ratings. In the words of Money magazine, "Yes, strong local economies still exist. These small towns have 'em - plus great schools, affordable homes, low crime, and much more."

Quality of education always plays a role in these rankings and Hopkinton has consistently performed very well on that score. See the links below for more details about Hopkinton's award winning school system, the financial stability and health of the town, and some of the natural beauty we so love about Hopkinton.

The MetroWest Daily News also picked up the story with quotes from Tim Kilduff from the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce, Brian Herr, the Chair of the Board of Selectmen, and local real estate agents Bill Gassett and Katie McBride. The Worcester Telegram and Gazette also ran the story and quoted our Board of Selectman Chair Brian Herr: "Once we looked at the real estate & the schools, we were hooked (on Hopkinton),"

Once Again, Hopkinton High School Recognized for High Performance

Hopkinton High Schoolers "Advanced" on MCAS

Hopkinton State of the Town: May 2009

Hiking Trails of Hopkinton -- by Maureen Regan

Introduction to Hopkinton produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

Star Realty Hopkinton specializes in residential real estate sales in and around Hopkinton. Keep up with the latest local market reports at the Star Realty Blog. Hopkinton: it's where we live, where we work, and where we give back!

*CNNMoney's Best Places database of 1,800-plus U.S. cities includes towns with populations 8,500 to 50,000 with satisfactory education and crime scores, where income is below 200% of the state median, and that are no more than 95% white – as well as cities with populations 90,000 and up.

Mid-Year Real Estate Market Report -- Hopkinton 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:53:44 -0500

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.

Mid-Year Hopkinton Real Estate Market Report--2009 produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

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.

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report -- June 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:15:34 -0500

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.

June Mid-Month Hopkinton Real Estate Market Report produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

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

Once Again, Hopkinton High School Recognized for High Performance

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:58:00 -0500

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.

Hopkinton State of the Town: May 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:01:21 -0500

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

Hopkinton State of the Town--May 2009 produced by Kathleen Buckley on WellcomeMat

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

Hopkinton: Where We Live, Where We Work, Where We Give Back

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:28:12 -0500

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."

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report -- May 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:49:47 -0500

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

text

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report -- April 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:15:29 -0500

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.

April '09: Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report

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.

Hiking Trails of Hopkinton -- by Maureen Regan

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:24:06 -0500

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!

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report -- March 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:37:09 -0500

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.

Hopkinton Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report

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 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.

Top 5 Things Buyers Don't Like About Your House

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:45:47 -0500

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

Via Pam Simpson - GRI, Broker-Assoc. (Bob Leigh & Assoc., LLC):

Top 5 Things Buyers Don't Like About Your House
by Pam Simpson
Desoto-Tate County Real Estate

I came across a discussion on city-data forum the other day on what people dislike about looking at homes. The following items were mentioned over and over again.  Here are the Top 5 Things That Buyers Don't Like About Your House:

SMELL...Overwhelmingly, the #1 complaint among prospective buyers were unpleasant odors in the home. The chief offenders were smoke, pet odors, and strange cooking aromas. Some in the discussion said they turned right around and walked out because they found the smells so oppressive. Most of us are unaware of the 'peculiar' odors of our homes because we become immune to the smells - the buyers are not immune to these same odors.

CLEANLINESS...This one just boggles my mind - the #2 complaint that buyers had about the homes they viewed was that the seller simply did not bother to clean. We're not talking about home staging (which will help) or even unrealistic expectations of the home being spotless - just simple old-fashioned cleaning.  Selling your home can be a bit inconvient, but when you have advance notice that a buyer is coming to view your home - clean it up!!! At the very least, remove the pile of dirty dishes from the sink.

SELLER AT HOME...Coming in at #3 is having the owners at home while the buyers are tring to view it. Most buyers felt very uncomfortable with the seller there. Many said they could not take the time to really look at the features of the home because they were in such a hurry to get away from the seller. This is a real problem for FSBOs, as they are usually the ones showing their own home.

CLUTTER...The #4 complaint is related to the cleanliness point - the dreaded clutter. We have all seen it on the home shows, many buyers have a hard time seeing your home because of all the stuff. When I was selling my small (875 sq. ft.) home, I hauled a big truckload of stuff to a storage facility. How in the world do we accumulate so much stuff?

UNFINISHED PROJECTS...Unfinished projects take the #5 spot. If you are planning on selling your home, finish up any on-going home improvement projects before placing it on the market. Homes with half-finished painting, flooring, trim, etc. gave buyers a bad overall impression.

But, none of the above matters if your home is overpriced. Buyers really hated it when the homes were priced above what the market indicates. An obviously overpriced home discourages offers because the buyer believes it is an indication of an unrealistic and unreasonable seller. The more out-of-line your price is with the current market, the longer your home will sit unsold and the more inconvenient the process is for you (the seller).

If your home is priced correctly and you have addressed the other items on this list, it will stand out like a diamond among the many lumps of coal out there.

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About the author:

Pam Simpson is an Assoc. Broker with Bob Leigh & Associates, LLC in Northwest Mississippi.
Copywright© 2009 by Pam Simpson. All rights reserved...***Top 5 Things Buyers Don't Like About Your House***

  Disclaimer: All information provided by this author may be based on information collected from several sources and is believed accurate but not guaranteed.

STAR REALTY underwrites HCAM, Hopkinton's Community Television Station

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:48:44 -0600

Seems like a natural fit for Hopkinton's Homegrown Real Estate Brokerage Firm to sponsor Hopkinton Community Television. Supporting a variety of local causes has been an explicit company goal since 2004.

Free of excessive overhead and franchise fees of larger and national brokerage firms, we are delighted to share the rewards of our success right here with and within the community we serve. HCAM Rocks!

Just Sold: 172 Saddle Hill Road, Hopkinton

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:44:07 -0600

This reproduction cape in the Highland Park neighborhood of Hopkinton, MA received an accepted offer in just 14 days when it was reactivated at $625,000 in January. The final sale price was $617,500 or 98.8% of asking price. Demand for housing in Hopkinton is fairly strong!

If you are considering selling your home in Hopkinton this season, please contact us at contact@StarRealtyMA.com or 508-275-9155.

STAR REALTY is a boutique real estate brokerage firm specializing in residential real estate sales in and around Hopkinton, MA.

Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report--Hopkinton, MA February 2009

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:29:16 -0600

Overall inventory trends are still somewhat favorable to sellers with just 53 homes to choose from in Hopkinton as of mid-February. In fact, the number is just 50 if we exclude the homes still appearing as active but which have in fact accepted offers. Video is embedded and the graphs within the video are available below.

Mid-Month Real Estate Market Report Hopkinton, MA (February 2009)

Days on market has gone down a touch to an average of 149 days this month whereas last month our average was 166. The price range we are watching closely is the $600,000-$700,000 range since we've picked up a net of 2 houses there will more inventory to come.

Although inventory may be favorable to sellers, reticence and outright fear on the part of prospective buyers is not. Nevertheless, in a supply and demand business, restricted supply should result in price stability at a minimum.

These levels are historically low as you can see from the History of Inventory Chart back to January 2005 below.

Buyer Activity is strong and all these being equal this should be a time for price stability in Hopkinton. For a more detailed analysis of your buying or selling situation, please contact us at 508-275-9155.

Buying Real Estate in Massachusetts: A Quick Introduction

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:04:45 -0600

Thanks to all the great resources and information found online, researching real estate options today is so much easier than it was just a few short years ago. From anywhere in the world, buyers can research and compare potential communities. For the Greater Boston Area, boston.com has some nice research tools, for example.

Buying RE in Massachusetts

When buyers are ready to start looking at specific properties, the local real estate agent serves as a wealth of information which is far more difficult, if not impossible to find online.

Selling your Home? Beware Your Enemy DOM (Days On Market).

STAR REALTY Hopkinton — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:19:35 -0600

Sometimes sellers believe it doesn't really matter how many days their property is on the market. Particularly if they have no pressing need to sell, they figure, "We'll just leave it on the market and if a buyer wants it they'll pay what we're asking". As the Days on Market (DOM) count rises, their chances of selling at their asking price decrease.

Seller Tips: Why DOM is Your Enemy

Although there is not linear correlation (the black line is the trend line), the graph below illustrates how as days on market increase, the ratio of sale price to original asking price decreases.