Chris Hill

Kristin Hilberg of Keller Williams Realty Boston Northwest was just named as the 2009 Cultural Icon of the market center. The award is given someone who best represents the very high standards of the KW culture.

Kristin's energy and commitment to our Market Center and our agents makes her a friend and an irreplaceable member of our team. Kristin's positive energy is felt the moment she walks in the door with her big smile and warm hear. Whether she is pitching in to help a fellow agent, or cheering others on, she seems to effortlessly always be there for us.

The time she contributes to serving on the education committee, teaching classes and working with individual agents is cherished by all. Her dedication to our Market Center is only the beginning. She is a devoted single mother raising two teenagers, serves on Boxborough town boards and has increased her business by 400% this year!

We know it takes effort, commitment and a big heart to give back in so may ways. No matter how busy she is, she will never say "I can't" to someone who needs help. Thank you Kristin! We are honored to have you on our team.

Kristin has listings and sells homes in Acton, Boxborough, Littleton Westford and Stow, MA

The local and national news will report on the home sales market. Where can you find local real estate market statistics? How do you know if the rate of home sales is increasing or decreasing in your area?

I look at the local numbers every month. The chart below shows combined numbers for Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Hudson, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow and Sudbury. The region experienced a year over year decline in home sales for the month of May. On a year-to-year basis, the number of single family homes that went under contract are also down.

Statistical Snapshot   May-07 May-08 May-09 Acton  12 16 9 Bedford 15 3 4 Boxboro 1 1 1 Carlisle 7 2 2 Concord 13 21 13 Hudson 11 9 8 Lincoln 6 4 2 Maynard 4 11 13 Stow 7 7 3 Sudbury 16 8 11

How do the numbers compare on a town to town basis? Three towns, Sudbury, Bedford and Maynard saw sales increases over May 2008. The real estate market in Massachusetts is actually subject to fairly dramatic shifts, depending upon the season. Sales are typically strongest in the spring and summer months. In June, we will get a clearer picture of the strength or weakness of the market when we look at quarterly and year to date figures. All real estate is local. Get to know what is happening in your town.

With favorable interest rates, low prices, and the first-time homebuyer tax credit, is something holding you back? For help with interest rates and the tax credit. Watch This Month in Real Estate (June)
 
Figures reflect data from MLSPIN Multiple Listing Services in Massachusetts as of June 3, 2009.

A big thank you to all who participated in our first annual company-wide community day of service, Red Day. Our Real Estate agents from Keller Williams Realty Boston Northwest completed a food drive collecting food and supplies to benefit the food pantries of Acton's Community Supper and The Concord Open Table.

We were made aware these organizations were seeing a dramatic rise in need of additional resources and volunteers. Collectively these organizations have been providing services to over three hundred households per week. We saw this as an opportunity to give back to the communities that support our agents and offices.

Thanks to the agents and their families who picked up food donations. Thanks to Donelans Supermarket and Roche Bros in Acton for providing the collection station at their stores. Most of all, thanks to the community, our clients, family, friends and business associates who made the donations in support of our drive!

The success of this program is a wonderful example of how an individual can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.

One last thank you to Bill Nickerson, Vice President Mortgage Network, INC, for his generosity in sponsoring a pizza party for the office after the day of collecting.