About Sharon's Sharon, Ma

In 1945, Sharon Massachusetts was a small town with a population of approximately 4,000 people. It had a history as a mountain lake resort, and an even deeper past rooted in Colonial America and the Revolutionary War.

At the time, there were few homes available in Sharon MA. Before World War II, home ownership was just a dream for most Americans. During the war, the housing industry was mostly at a standstill as labor and materials were diverted for the war effort. But, after the war things changed. Millions of returning soldiers took advantage of the GI Bill's home loan guaranty. According to information on the Office of Veteran Affairs website, the Veteran Administration backed nearly 2.4 million home loans for World War II veterans.

Developers looked for land where they could build housing to meet this new demand. Sharon MA looked very good with 25 acres of farms, forest and lots of land to build on.

Sharon also had three train stations at the time. This was ideal for new homeowners who could commute into Boston or Providence, Rhode Island. There's only one station in town now, but it remains a big draw for those who buy a home in Sharon MA and can commute into Boston in less than 30 minutes. Sharon is also ideally situated off I-95 with easy access to two major beltways, I-495 and Route 128.

One of the areas developed in Sharon in the mid- to late 1940s and 1950, is an area called the Heights. I always wondered about the name given that the area is very flat. Shirley Schofield, from the Sharon Historical Society explained that the trains coming up from Canton had to climb up "to the heights" in Sharon and then at that point, the ground leveled off.

The area that was once farmland and nurseries became part of the American Dream. Most of the homes built during this time were Ranch and Cape style homes on lots of approximately 10,000-20,000 square feet. These homes created a large neighborhood on either side of South Main Street. A small shopping plaza on South Main Street made groceries and other items readily available.

Today the Sharon Heights Shopping Plaza continues to offer a variety of shops and small restaurants. The Heights Elementary School is also located right on South Main Street.

Further down the street, Wards Berry Farm continues the farming tradition and offers a year-round, indoor farmer's market, and pick-your-own crops in the summer

The Heights remains an affordable choice for many people looking to buy a home in Sharon MA. In addition to the Ranch and Cape style homes, there are also Colonials and Raised Ranch homes along with a few turn-of-the-century homes.

In 2010, there were approximately 25 homes sold in the Heights, according to data from the MLS Property Information Network. They were primarily 3-bedroom Cape and Ranch style homes which sold between $182,000 and $380,000. The median price of homes sold in Sharon MA in 2010 was $397,000.

Currently, there are 11 homes for sale in the Heights priced between $219,000 for a 3-bedroom, 1 bath Cape of 1,020 square feet to $549,900 for a new construction, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath Cape in 2,600 square feet.

If you are interested in buying a home in Sharon MA, or would like more information about homes in the Heights, please call me.

Although July 2010 was the heat of the summer, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued a decision then that leaves property owners with expanded responsibilities this winter.

According to the SJC, every property owner has a duty to use "reasonable care" to protect visitors.

The key language is:

"We will now apply to hazards arising from snow and ice the same obligation that a property owner owes to lawful visitors as to all other hazards: a duty to 'act as a reasonable person under all of the circumstances including the likelihood of injury to others, the probable seriousness of such injuries, and the burden of reducing or avoiding the risk'...."

"Under this traditional premises liability standard, a fact finder (judge or jury) will determine what snow and ice removal efforts are reasonable in light of the expense they impose on the landowner and the probability and seriousness of the foreseeable harm to others...."

"The snow removal reasonably expected of a property owner will depend on the amount of foot traffic to be anticipated on the property, the magnitude of the risk reasonably feared, and the burden and expense of snow and ice removal."

Here are some steps that property owners should take according to an article in Bay State Realtor (January/February 2011) written by attorney Robert S. Kutner:

1. Review insurance policies to be sure that there is adequate coverage.
2. Determine whether contractors or others hired to remove snow and ice have insurance.
3. Be vigilant when there is newly fallen snow or when temperatures allow melting and refreezing. If complete clearing is not possible, warning signs may be appropriate.

Sharon, MA - When you live in a small town like Sharon, MA you have the opportunity to get to know your neighbors, participate actively in many aspects of the town, and learn about the town's history.

If you buy a home in Sharon, MA you won't have to look very far to start learning something of it's history. On your first visit to the Sharon Public Library, you'll see a statue in front of Deborah Sampson.

If you haven't heard of her before, Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man so that she could fight in the Revolutionary War. As a soldier, she was considered brave, and someone who volunteered for dangerous missions. It wasn't until she was wounded, and discovered to be a woman, that she left the Army with an honorable discharge. It's not clear why Deborah chose to fight in the war. From portraits, it appears she had rather strong facial features, and at 5' 7 ½" she was considered very tall for a woman. This may have made it easier for her to disguise herself. I think she must have had a fierce independent nature and a strong desire to stand up for what she believed.

For most of us who live in suburban America in the 21^st century, we can't even imagine how we would survive living in the late 18^th century. Life was very hard. Deborah had an especially difficult life. She came from a poor family and was an indentured servant for much of her childhood. However, she loved to learn and was able to educate herself by getting the boys in the family she served to teach her the lessons they learned in school. Later in life she used her education to teach school.

After the war, Deborah eventually married and had three children. Her independent nature, however, led her to travel around the country talking about her wartime experiences. Paul Revere helped her by petitioning Congress so that she would receive a pension.

When you live in Sharon, you can drive by the house in which Deborah and her husband, Benjamin Gannett, lived in. It's still a single family home. Just up the road, both Deborah and Benjamin are buried in Rock Ridge Cemetery, and not far away are the streets named after them.

I can almost picture Deborah as a neighbor growing her own crops, walking through town, and perhaps, being extremely outspoken at Town Meeting (I think this opportunity would greatly appeal to her).

Living in Sharon doesn't require such fierce independence, but you do have the opportunity to speak your mind and stand up for what you believe. You can do this at Town Meeting, by writing a Letter to the Editor of the Sharon Advocate, or posting your ideas on the Sharon Community Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/sharon.ma.usa

Looking forward to meeting new neighbors and hearing new ideas!

Nina

Month of July Comparisons

2010, 2009, 2008

Number of Single Family Houses Closed*

Sharon, MA

* This does not include the sale of condominiums, multi-family homes or land sales

Although half as many houses sold in July 2010, as in July 2009, the Average Sale Price increased by 23%.

January to July Comparisons

2010, 2009, 2008

Number of Single Family Houses Closed*

Sharon, MA

*This does not include the sale of condominiums, multi-family homes or land sales