Pat Laracy Baker, Realtor, GREEN, ABR Needham/Boston, MA

This is truly wonderful for our children to be living in Needham and so close to the Boston Ballet School in Newtonville. My granddaughter is in her 3 rd year there and it is a treat. So close to Needham and right next to it is a wonderful shop called "Brussel Sprouts" and just next to that is a store where you can outfit a ballerina and it is all right there in one little block.

It is all just wonderful. We went to peek week yesterday and that was a treat. The children are amazing and some will be picked for the "Nutcraker."

A little aside here. If you have not seen "Game Plan" it is a treat too. One of the chidlren is throughout the movie because she is part of this wonderful organization and very talented. It is about a football player and his little girl who is supposed to be going to ballet school. See it if you have not. We have watched so many times especially knowing that she is in it.

The child can start at 2. This is a great opportunity for our childrenand in my case grandchildren.

http://bostonballet.org/school/default.html

Pat Baker, Realtor(R), GREEN(R), ABR(R) Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Needham/Boston, MA 617-435-3471

pat.baker@nemoves.com
http://budurl.com/GreenHomeTips

GO 4TH AND CELEBRATE - THEME FOR THE 4TH OF JULY THIS YEAR

Friday July 3rd events include Fireworks when dark....

5:00- 8:45PM FOOD TENTS - Grilled Food, Soft drinks, Ice Cream, cotton candy, and more

5:00 - 7:00PM Maple Street Project - Hometown Folk & Blues Band

5:00 - 8:00PM Children's Entertainment - Balloon Sculpting, Pony Rides, Face Painting & More...

7:00- 9:00PM Concert: "Reminisants' Boston's Best Oldies Band"

DARK................. FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

SATURDAY--JULY 4TH

8:30AM Registration-Children's parade decorated bikes and costumes - Greene's Field, Pickering St.

8:45AM Annual 5k Road race - YMCA / Exchange Club Trophy Start location Carter Memorial Church

9:00AM Town Common Salute and Flag Raising

9:05AM Grand Parade - Bands, floats, musical groups, antique cars, and much more

9:00-3:00PM Craft Fair and Flea Market

10-1:30 PM Food Tents - Grilled Food, Soft Drinks, Ice Cream, Cotton Candy and more

11:30-1 PM Music by The Centre Streeters - Country & Blue Grass Gazebo

12:30PM Children's races and contests, running events, sack races, egg toss -- Football field

2:00PM Open Swim Meet - Park & Rec Rosemary Pool

2:00PM Needham Little League All-Star Game Major's American vs Majors National at Memorial Park

All events are at Memorial Park except as noted.

Sponsored by the Needham Exchange Club

http://www.needhamexchangeclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=188&club_id=647136&module_id=8566&pp=1

Pat Baker, Realtor(R), GREEN(R), ABR(R) Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

617-435-3471

pat.baker@nemoves.com
http://budurl.com/GreenHomeTips

I just love the 4th of July. I love the cookout, the family, and no shopping. It is just great to kick off the summer this way for us in this great town of Needham. Best of all is the Needham Celebration that starts on Friday July 3rd with the best fireworks you could possibly ever see and enjoy on top of the the Needham High School hill. There are none to compare and since we didn't have them last year I am expecting them to be the best.

Thanks to The Exchange Club of Needham members who work tirelessly to make this two-day event happen every year. I am so grateful.

My first day to visit Needham was the 4th of July 1965. that was a day to remember and everyone since has been as well. Somehow the weather always cooperates too. Only 1 year when I was on a float did it rain and it was cold too.

There is so much to do and so much to see, great food, amazing parade, a town wide fun Needham event. I have only missed 2 in the last 44 years.

Here is a link for The Exchange Club with some photos.

http://www.needhamexchangeclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=188&club_id=647136&module_id=8566&pp=1

Pat Baker, Realtor(R), GREEN(R), ABR(R) Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 617-435-3471 pat.baker@nemoves.com
http://budurl.com/GreenHomeTips

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