Localism: Middlesex County, MA

Lexington is more affordable now than ever!

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:04:00 -0600

Lexington probably has the highest concentration of million dollar new homes within the 128 corridor. The main driving force of these new homes is due to the excellent public schools. Lexington is also the only town in Massachusetts that has gained population within the last three years when most towns across the Commonwealth were losing residents.

A typical lot here in Lexington is under 0.2 acre and costs about $430,000. I have seen tear-down prices as high as $760,000s. Many homes, depending on the location & lot size, were bought by builders as "Tear-downs" to build new homes. The current financial and housing turmoil has not affected the new housing market in Lexington. Many new homes have been sold and more are coming into the market in the next three to six months.

However, I have seen substantial price reduction from builders in the last two months, a sign that they are trying to clear out their inventories before the end of the year. But unknown to most people, these million dollar homes have only accounted for less than 20% of the Lexington's housing stock. Although the medium price here in Lexington was in the high $800,000s about a year ago, it is now around the mid $700,000s. The overall values have declined about 5% from about a year ago. But the days in the market for homes priced over a million dollar are 30% longer than last year.

I have seen many nice homes priced between $400,000s to $650,000s with good location, condition and reasonable sized yard. This would not have been possible three years ago, when the market was really hot. But if you think about the land costs here in Lexington, then buying a house for under $650,000 is very good value as you are paying very little for the house! Your costs for home owner insurance is relative inexpensive as the insurance does not insure the land, only the house.

Lexington is also a very livable town. It has a classic and charming New England style downtown, with lots of shops, a handful of restaurants, a very famous and substantial library and lots of recreational facilities for kids. But the best part of the town is, it has a highly intellegent and diversed population. Asian population is growing in Lexington and many are Chinese families. Many European families are moving to Lexington as well. Moreover, the town is compact and easy to get around and it also has lots of green spaces! Major freeways are within minutes drive from any where in Lexington. So if anyone has been waiting to move to Lexington, this will be the best time to buy a house here as it's more affordable now than ever!

Woburn Massachusetts Foreclosures For Sale - Bank Owned Homes!

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:18:12 -0600

Click on Woburn Foreclosures to view MLS foreclosed (bank owned) listings and short sale opportunities.

Single family, condominiums, multi-family and land listings will populate a map in Quincy, MA.

Visit the Woburn MA Virtual Homes web site at www.woburnmarealestate.com

To view foreclosures in other Massachusetts communities:

Click here and the Virtual Homes MLS Map Search map will appear.
Type in a town in Quick City Search. A map of the town will appear with all properties listed shown on the map.
Select foreclosures under the Popular Search option.
Foreclosed (bank owned) and short sale opportunities will be shown.

The VirtualHomesMLS tool provides a map based search of all MLS listings. Search by town,keyword
phrases, price, location or specific criteria. Take advantage of a map based search.

Virtual Homes provides a complete Internet marketing solution for agents, broker/owners and lenders
including lead generation, lead notification, management tools (CRM), training and support. View virtual
communities for local, town information in various states at MA Real Estate, NH Real Estate, CT Real
Estate and RI Real Estate.

Hopkinton Education Foundation Winter Gala-Tickets for Sale Saturday December 6th at Hallmark Sotheby's International Realty

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:38:14 -0600

While you are out enjoying the holiday stroll this Saturday in Hopkinton Center, come by the office to make an ornament, have some hot chocolate and purchase tickets for the Hopkinton Education Foundation's Annual Winter Gala . . .

HEF Winter Gala 2009

Saturday, February 7, 2009

6:30 pm

Lake View Pavilion

Foxborough, Massachusetts

(just off Route 1, before Gillette Stadium)

Sit-down Dinner back by popular demand

Tables of 10 or 12

Select-A-Prize Raffle

Live Auction

Game Room sponsored by Hallmark Sotheby's International Realty

Live Entertainment

TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6TH!!

9-11 am in the Hopkinton High School Lobby

11-4 pm at the offices of Hallmark Sotheby's International Realty

(11 Grove Street, Hopkinton across from Colella's)

4-5 pm at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Town Common

Cost $85 per person

Tickets my be purchased for singles, couples, partial or full tables

For more information regarding ticket sales, contact Libby Skiba

at (508) 497-9465 or LIbby Skiba

Accommodations are available at the following area hotels:

Courtyard by Marriott Foxborough

(508) 543-5222

Residence Inn by Marriott Foxborough
(508) 698-2800

For more information about HEF and the grants currently being implemented in all of the Hopkinton Schools, visit www.HopkintonEdFoundation.org

The Hopkinton Education Foundation is a volunteer, non-profit corporation that promotes excellence in education in the Hopkinton public schools through the funding of academic grants. The HEF relies on the generous donations from individuals and local businesses including its corporate sponsors: Star Realty, EMC Corporation, Phipps Insurance, The Milford National Bank, Hopkinton Wine & Spirits, Hallmark Sotheby's International Realty, Middlesex Savings Bank, The Richmond Group. For more information, please visit our website: The Hopkinton Education Foundation.

The Warren Group's 4th Quarter Sales Review By Town: Watertown

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:23:23 -0600

The Warren Group has come out with its 4th Quarter Sales Review comparing statistics from September 2007 to September 2008 using Sales Volume and Median Prices. There was some great information included in this review, which shows great promise in our real estate market.

Is it a good time to buy in Watertown, MA?

Sure it is!

Is it a great time to sell in Watertown, MA?

Sure it is!

How can I say that it is a good time to do both? Doesn't that contradict itself?

Why would I say that when the media is reporting that we are in a horrible market? The media reports on the entire state of Massachusetts including many of the highly depressed areas, while real estate is local and needs to be taken on a town to town, neighborhood to neighborood basis.

Back to the last question, how can I say it's a good time to do both? If you need to sell your home and have the motivation to do so, please know that home sales have only decreased by -1.95% since last year. The market is not still plummeting, which means that buyers should understand that by waiting they could miss out on great interest rates or these great prices.

Here are the Sales Review taken from the sheet above for the town of Watertown. As you can see, while volume has dropped by 17.35% from 45 homes sales in September 2007 to 30 home sales in September 2008 the median sales price has only decreased by 1.95%.

If you have any questions on other towns in the area, please feel free to contact me at 617.448.9481 or email me at mark@smarthomesboston

Please click below to learn how you can help in our Toys for Tots collection campaign!

Click below to learn more about our services at Smart Homes Boston and Century 21 Commonwealth.

Tyngsboro MA Active Foreclosures ......very easy to use.

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:13:10 -0600

This is an image of our company website with foreclosure link on left side under "popular searches." Click foreclosures and you are viewing foreclosed properties. It's that simple.

To go to the actual website go to:

http://www.virtualhomesmls.com/realestate/MA/Tyngsborough

If interested in any of the properties either e mail me with the MLS number or follow the prompts on the website.

E mail me with any questions.