Sturbridge MA Real Estate Kathryn Acciari - REALTOR - CDPE, CIAS

Get Your Running Shoes! HRU's 5K Run4Fun is on Saturday, March 24 in Springfield MA

Spring has arrived, and that means it is road race season. You can get your running program in gear this month by starting with the HRU 5K Run4fun on Saturday, March 24, 2012. Check-in begins at 9:30 AM. The race starts at 10:30 AM.

The race kick-off is at Samuel's Sports Bar/Basketball Hall of Fame. The course is a flat loop that goes along the Connecticut River and back through downtown Springfield. Be sure to reach the finish, because Samuel's Sports Bar will host the post-run party!

Race entry fee is $25 for preregistration; $35 day of the race (cash only). Runners and walkers are welcome. There is also a 1-mile walk. The first 100 registrants will receive an event t-shirt. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place female, male, and wheelchair winners.

Teams may also register as a group for $100 for up to 10 youth in team jerseys.

HRU (which stands for Human Resources Unlimited) is a non-profit organization located in Springfield, Massachusetts. HRU serves mentally and physically challenged individuals. A major component of HRU's mission includes helping their clients find the means to secure gainful employment in their community. All proceeds from the 5K race will go to support HRU's Changing Habits, Transforming Lives program.

Pre-register for the race online.

For more details about the race, or about HRU in general, contact Winnie Siano.

Sneak Preview: 4 Bedroom Home in Sturbridge MA - Hitting the Market Soon!

Get ready, another fabulous home is about to hit the market in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. This four-bedroom Colonial has so much to offer. Here are but a few of the highlights:

• Over 2100 square feet (not counting the finished basement)
• Located in a popular neighborhood with sidewalks and street lights
• Two-story foyer with gorgeous turned stairway
• Kitchen with breakfast bar and Energy Star stainless steel appliances
• Beautifully finished basement with game room and bar, media room, and play/exercise room

Keep an eye out for the full listing in the next 24 hours.

Sturbridge vs. MetroWest Real Estate

4 Bedroom Colonial with Over 2600 Square Feet
Priced at $349,900 in Sturbridge MA

An interesting trend has started to appear here in Sturbridge in recent weeks. Agents from the MetroWest area are bringing their buyers to view homes in Sturbridge. My guess is that buyers are starting to notice what great homes are available here, and at very reasonable prices.

For example, a 2200 square foot Colonial style home, around 8 years in age in the MetroWest area is hard to find and will average around $450,000 in price. In Sturbridge, a similar property can be found for $100,000 less, and often with more square footage.

So, it appears that buyers are looking into more reasonably priced homes to the west of I-495. And I say, welcome! The delightful town of Sturbridge offers a greater variety of homes with more reasonable prices than the MetroWest area. Add in the fantastic schools, shopping, restaurants, natural resources, and highway access, and you have the perfect location for your new home.

Feel free to contact me for more information about the Sturbridge real estate market.

Coming on the market this week, an adorable bungalow in Dudley MA. This home has 3 bedrooms, one large bathroom (with laundry hook-ups), a big country kitchen, new windows, fresh paint, and new carpet. It is located on a country road, for those who want some elbow room and natural surroundings.

Take a quick peek at this house, and stay tuned for more information.

Fun at The Stripping Workshop in Worcester MA

One of my favorite businesses in Worcester, MA, is The Stripping Workshop. Before your mind goes there, let me tell you that The Stripping Workshop is a furniture upholstering and refinishing shop!

Occasionally, I'll have a piece of furniture, usually chairs, that need new upholstery. And without a second thought, I take the piece to The Stripping Workshop. They offer yards and yards of upholstery fabric, in all different price ranges. You select your fabric and leave your furniture at the shop. They give you a quote and call you to pick it up when done. So easy and so beautifully done.

Right now, they are working on a set that my husband and I inherited from his parents. It is a mid-20th century chair and ottoman, made in Denmark and very mod in design. I selected an art deco fabric of red and orange half-circles to replace the worn and matted original yellow fabric. The folks at The Stripping Workshop called me recently to come in because they needed to rebuild some of the underlying framework of the chair, which had become rotted over time. I decided that they were moving in the right direction, and they will probably finish the chair by month's end. I'll post some photos of the set once all the work is completed. Both the chair and ottoman are going to look fantastic.

If you live in the Worcester area and need expert help with a furniture piece, do visit The Stripping Workshop:

The Stripping Workshop
100 Grand Street
Worcester MA 01610
(508) 791-8450

...and if you have a house to sell in the Worcester area, call me! (508) 982-0686.