Needham, MA

Welcome to my Needham, MA local blog.

For some of the time I will be sharing with you "green" issues. Other blogs will focus on town events and what makes Needham the unique community it is. It is a little like "Mayberry" in some ways. The tree-lined street beckon you as you walk or travel through town.

The lovely streets of Needham include but not exclusive are: Fair Oaks Park (by far the best street in Needham), Coulton Park, Harris Avenue, Great Plain Avenue, Woodlawn Street, May Street, Burr Drive, Coolidge Avenue, Eaton Road, Prince Street, Plymouth Road, Manning Street, Tower Avenue, Parker Road, Broadmeadow Road, Bird Street, Grosvenor, Hillcrest Road, Birds Hill Avenue, Thornton Road, Melrose Avenue, Brookline Avenue, Lindbergh Avenue, Lexington Street, Concord Road, Burnside Road, Webster Street, Green Street, Needhamdale Road, Parkvale Road, Smith Road, Bonwood Road, Mt. Vernon, Beaufort, Washington Avenue, and I could go on and on. I have not kept to one particular part of town but there are just so many great neighborhoods. That is one of the reasons people keep purchasing homes in this lovely community.

You know that saying "Life is Good" well it is in Needham. We are a community that comes together and a community that really cares about our residents. The town has so much to offer for all ages. I personally feel it is a great town to bring up a family, to retire to, or live in whatever stage in life you are. Lots of folks love the Pool & Racquet Club on Central Avenue, the Park & Recreation Department is superb. Needham YMCA has lot to offer at an affordable price.

Our civic organizations are pretty hard to beat. I mention specifically The Exchange Club because they put on the best Fourth of July Celebration anywhere in the whole United States for sure. The Rotary Club of Needham does some big outreaches in the community, for example, the Pancake Breakfast in October which is there largest fundraiser. This makes it possible to give 4 $8000 scholarships to worthy High School graduates in Needham.

Having lived in Needham, MA now since 1965 I know every street and everything about this great town. I am a resource and I am also a "green" resource.

I have included a link to a helpful booklet "A Family Guide to Going Green"

http://www.greenandsave.com/pdfs/Family_Guide_to_Going_Green_2009.php

There are 61 single family homes on the market $1,000,000 and up to $3.499,000. The average List price is $1,500,331 for that portion of the Needham luxury market.

Essentially almost half the inventory is over a million dollars. The total properties on the market is 135 single family homes. Median price range for all inventory is $899,000 and average price is $1,037,828.

The strongest part of the market is from $500,000 to $899,000 as far as properties under agreement for the past month.

For the first quarter of 2009 home sold at 94% of asking price. The price change was 17.9% for Needham proper (02492) and slight change in Needham Heights(02494) of .64% and homes sold at 95.3% of asking price. the percentage of home sales 60% for (02494) Needham Heights and -22.58%. 24 single family homes sold in Needham Height (02494) average days on market 84, while 16 single family homes sold in Needham proper (02492) average days on market 89.

Historic low mortgage rates have created a favorable buying environment at this time. The forecast of the next quarter is for an increase in home sales.

I have read and heard from 2 economists who say that we are out of the recession. There is a slight upswing and it is slight but there is optimism that the housing market will be stronger towards the last quarter.

Recession Is Over According to Financial Experts
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=7564649&page=1

Is Recession's End in Sight?
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7564327

The home prices could stay flat or go up. With the Tax Credit available now and the low home prices it is clearly a good time to get into the housing market. Home prices will go up and the deadline for tax credit is November 30, 2009.

Pat Baker, Realtor(R), GREEN(R), ABR(R) Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - 617-435-3471 www.patannbaker.com

Route 128 - commuter nightmare...technology icon.

Many have tried to replicate what it stands for, but there's only 1 icon...and it's in high gear

(more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene

...That’s right! Silicon Valley is the West Coast icon, but 128 represents the innovation and technology brilliance that has been lauded around the globe.

And you may be very surprised about what’s going on in the 128 belt today.

BitWave Systems

The names may have changed over the years, but 128 is still a hotbed of tech, venture capital, and

- TheDeal.com

Rte 128 America's Technology Highway

Terrific story …

Full story on TheDeal.com

More:

Rte. 128 Revisited

JOHN PRESCOTT

-BostonKayakGuy

Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net

JOHN PRESCOTT

Vice President

Century 21 Commonwealth

508-523-9252

BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene

The glory days...

The names remembered...

And now there's a way to remember them forever!

You can name one of the Needham playing fields and be remembered in perpetuity...

Full Story Needham Times

# Manic Mommies Descend On Natick May 7

Need a little comic relief? 'One Funny Mother, I'm Not Crazy' will have you shaking with laughter on 5/7 TCAN...(more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene

Full Story on BostoKayakGuy.wordpress.com

Sponsored by:
Stop & Shop | Framingham Co-operative Bank

BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene

JOHN PRESCOTT

-BostonKayakGuy

Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net

JOHN PRESCOTT

Vice President

Century 21 Commonwealth

508-523-9252