The numbers are in and they look good!  Total sales have almost doubled last year's numbers.  Prices have increased slightly.  Here is your April 2015 Canton MA Home Sales Report.The MLS Property Information Network reported that a total of 14 Canton MA homes were sold in April 2015.  This was a 75% increase from the same time last year.  It was also a 75% increase from the eight that were sold the previous month.  And we haven't even hit the busy part of the year either!The average sale price of a Canton MA home in April 2015 was $475,807.  That was a 5.3% increase from the same time last year.  One Buyer purchased a 3 bed, 2 bath, 1304 square foot Colonial that was built in 1880 for $199,000, just under the $199,900 list price.  It needed a bit of renovation work.  But that wasn't eno... 05/07/2015

The Town of Canton does not allow household hazardous waste to be disposed of in the regular trash.  Items such as car tires, car batteries, oil paint, pool chemicals and the like need to be brought in on the special Hazardous Waste Collection Day so it can disposed of properly.What: Canton MA Hazardous Waste Collection DayWhere: DPW Garage (150 Bolivar St)When: Saturday, May 2, 2015 9am to 1pmContact: Canton Recycling Dept (781) 575-6650Canton MA Hazardous Waste Collection Day is offered to Canton MA residents only.  No commercial businesses will be allowed to bring their hazardous waste in at that time.  Be prepared to prove your residency when you arrive at the DPW garage.  Adherence to drop off times is strictly enforced.  No early or late drop offs will be accepted.  There are vary... 05/01/2015

It's becoming more and more common for buyers to be buying or looking for a home with other family members.  Quite often it may be a couple and one of their parents.  Sometimes it is for financial reasons that they have decided to pool resources and buy a home.  Sometimes it may be that the older generation is going to provide childcare for the younger generation.  Maybe you want your parents close by so you can care for them. Or, perhaps it's a cultural tradition.Whatever the reason, there are some issues to consider if you are thinking of buying a home with other family members. Here are some things you should think about up front.  I use the term parents in this list - but this would apply to any relative or friend with whom you may want to buy a house.   Will all of you be pooling r... 04/09/2015

The snow is finally going away. Time to lace up those running shoes and join in the Foley's Backstreet Grille 5K to benefit Canton's Mass Hospital School. You don't need to be in tip-top shape to participate.  There are always a variety of runners, walkers, people in wheelchairs and pushing wheelchairs and strollers.  Everyone is welcome and everyone is cheered on. Foley's also hosts an annual Golf Tournament.  Between the 5K and the Golf Tournament they have raised thousands of dollars for the Mass Hospital school over the past few years. The Third Annual 5K to Benefit the Mass Hospital School will be held on Sunday April 12, 2015 at the Mass Hospital School located at 3 Randolph St., Canton MA.   Registration begins at 10 am at the gym at the Mass Hospital School and runs through 11:4... 04/04/2015

This winter has been exceptionally harsh for the Northeast.  Canton MA Home Buyers were still persistent.  They dug themselves out from under record snowfall in search of their next home.  Canton MA home sales for March 2015 showed how persistent these Buyers could be. According to the MLS Property Information Network, there were a total of eight Canton MA homes sold in March 2015.  This broke the streak of 13 homes sold in March for each of the last four years.  It also matched the total amount of homes sold in February 2015.  One lucky Buyer purchased a 3 bed/1.5 bath, 1795 square foot, multi-level home for $310,000 (list price) after two months on the market.  Another Buyer was able to secure a 4 bed/2 full + 1 half bath, 3980 square foot, Custom Contemporary Ranch-style home for $87... 04/02/2015

We may still have snow on the ground but it is April and Winter 2015 is in the rear-view mirror.  And what an historic winter it was.  Everyone is ready to move on to SPRING! With Spring comes Easter.  There are a few Easter events going on this weekend in Canton MA.  If only the Spring weather would come along with it.   Every year the Canton MA Parks and Recreation Department holds an Easter Egg Hunt.  Normally it is held outdoor at Pequitside Farm but because of the cool temperatures, predicted inclement weather and remaining snow on the ground, this year it is being held indoors at the Canton High Gym. The 2015 Canton MA Easter Egg Hunt will be heldthis Saturday, April 4, 2015 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.  Find the Golden Egg and win a prize! Each age group has its own time frame for s... 04/01/2015

BLUE, Inc., a not for profit organization, will be holding FREE first time home buyer classes at the Canton Public Library on April 11th and April 18th. Participants who attend both sessions will receive a certificate, required for MassHousing mortgage loans.  However, the classes are open to all first time home buyers - not just those obtaining a MassHousing mortgage - and are a great opportunity for home buyers to become informed consumers before heading into the spring market. The two-day class will provide a soup to nuts overview of everything a home buyer needs to know before buying a home in Massachusetts.  Whether you want to know about first time home buying mortgage programs, what to look for when looking at houses or how much money you will need for closing costs, this course ... 03/30/2015

Canton High is proud to present its annual spring play.  This year they will be performing The Miracle Worker on Friday March 13th and Saturday March 14th at 7:00 pm at Canton High's Morse Auditorium. In the fall, Canton High Drama presents its musical.  This year they performed Footloose.  In the spring, it is often time for a more serious production. The Miracle Worker is the well-known story of teacher Annie Sullivan who is able to break through and communicate with Helen Keller.  Helen Keller, as most people know, was born deaf and blind. As a result, she was mute as well and unable to communicate with her family. She was an unruly and spoiled child until Annie Sullivan was able to get her to understand the word water. Being able to communicate changed everything for her. I remember... 03/12/2015

The snow is still with us.  But it is March and Spring cannot be far behind!  (At least that's what I keep telling myself!) One sure sign of Spring in Canton MA is the Annual Dean S. Luce Elementary School Carnival!  The Carnival will be held this weekend. Here are the details:   What: Luce School Carnival When: Saturday, March 7th Time: 10 am - 3 pm Location: Luce School, Independence Stree, Canton MA    A completely indoor event, it is not dependent on the weather. Come on out and enjoy this fun family event! It is suitable for children of all ages - school-aged or not. The carnival is one of the major fundraisers for the school's parent/teacher organization, the Luce School CAPT (Canton Association of Parents and Teachers).  The CAPT provides and supports programming at the school an... 03/06/2015

I have yet to figure out what we have done to anger Old Man Winter, but Massachusetts has really taken a beating this winter.  I don't know about you, but I am ready to see a bit of sunshine.  The first official day of Spring is March 20th.  Do you think we might start to see some sunshine around these parts by then?  I certainly hope so!  For now, let's see what the Canton MA Home Sales Update for February 2015 said. According to the MLS Property Information Network, there were a total of eight Canton MA homes sold from February 1-28, 2015.  While this is slightly less than the 11 sold in January, it is the highest amount of Canton MA homes sold in January for the last five years.  One Buyer with vision snagged a 4 bed/2.5 bath, 2131 square foot Antique Cape-style home for $248,500.  A... 03/05/2015

So maybe it was really the worst of times.......... The winter of 2015 has hit us hard in Canton MA.  With about eight feet of snow being officially recorded in Boston, we are dealing with towering snowbanks, school closings, transit problems, roof collapses and more.  This past week in Canton there were two deaths associated with people falling after clearing snow off roofs. Another homeowner was injured after falling off a roof.  In addition, there was a gas explosion and fire at a commercial building caused by a snow-covered frozen gas meter that caused gas to back up into the building. No injuries reported but the building had significant damage. I won't even discuss the impact it has had on the real estate business. Below are pictures from my office window showing the progression o... 02/24/2015

File this in the category "if you can't beat 'em - join 'em"! I guess we can either complain about the snow or we can embrace it. For those willing to embrace it, come on out to the 4th Annual Blue Hills Winter Fest on February 24th from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.   Located on the border of Milton MA and Canton MA, the Blue Hills Reservation offers opportunities for all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts.  There are hiking the trails, skiing at the Blue Hills Ski Area in the winter and swimming at Houghton's Pond in the summer.  The Blue Hills Winter Fest takes place at the foot of the Blue Hills Ski Area.  You can enjoy a night of skiing under the lights or take a winter hike through the Blue Hills.  There  will be live Irish music for entertainment and crafts for the kids.  Local restaurants will b... 02/23/2015

This weekend Canton's Dean S. Luce Elementary School Presents: Treasure Island! A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the JFK Elementary School's production of Runway In Ruins.  This week, the fourth and fifth graders of the Dean S. Luce Elementary Shcool will have their turn as they perform their rendition of "Treasure Island."   As we all know, "Treasure Island" is based on the classic novel of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson.  With hidden treasure, pirates, ships and mutiny on the high seas, it's a classic adventure story loved by many.   The Luce School Play is a little different from the other two elementary schools in Canton MA in that theirs is a 4th and 5th grade play (not just a 5th grade play).  Personally I think that is great.  It gives the kids two opportunities to p... 02/02/2015

The holidays are over a month behind us but it's important to keep the spirit of giving going strong.  The Canton Food Pantry continues to serve members of the Canton community. The Canton MA Food Pantry provides an invaluable service to many members of our community who are struggling. They rely on the donations and support from the Canton community. Luckily, the citizens of Canton always come through - as they do anytime they are asked for help. For regular donations this month, the Canton Food Pantry is seeking the following: Cereal Baked Beans Cake Mixes Juice Hamburger Helper-type meals Milk (Dry/Evaporated) Pasta Sauce Peanut Butter Jelly & Jams Toothpaste Toilet Paper Shampoo/Conditioner Feminine Products Kellogg's Breakfast Drinks Diapers Depends Ensure Drinks Laundry Detergent ... 01/30/2015

Have you dug out from the Blizzard of 2015? Getting a little cabin fever after being cooped up for the past couple of days?   Head on over to the Blue Hills Trailside Museum on Thursday January 29th at 7:00 pm to their prgoram "What's Happening With the Snowy Owls this Winter?" The program runs until 8:30 pm and is geared towards an audience ages 8 and up. The cost is $5.00 for members and $8.00 for non-members. The program will talk about the snowy owl incursion of last winter (who knew?!) and talk about what is going on with th snowy owls this winter.  Sounds like a fun way to kick off the weekend.   The Trailside Museum is a Mass Audubon property and is located at the foot of the Blue Hills on the border of Milton MA and Canton MA.  The Blue Hills are part of the Blue Hills Reservati... 01/28/2015

  With a blizzard moving in to Canton MA and the entire region (I see light snow already outside my window), I thought it was a good time to remind everyone to remember to shovel out their local fire hydrant after the storm.  I know that if you've already shoveled out your driveway, walkway and stairs you probably do not want to take on more snow removal.  However, the fire department can only get to so many fire hydrants in town right after the storm.   Time spent going to the next hydrant or digging it out is time lost during a fire and can lead to serious injury and/or property damage so it is in a homeowner's best interests to dig out the closest fire hydrant. So, if you live next to or near a fire hydrant and see that it is covered in snow, go dig it out. The time it takes to dig o... 01/26/2015

The other night I received a voice mail message from a first time home buyer. The message went along the lines of this "Hi, my name is _____  and I'm calling because I am thinking about buying a condo.  It's priced at about $100,000 and I was wondering if you thought it was a good deal. I found your name on the internet and thought you could tell me if it was a good deal or not."   I had no way of knowing whether "it was a good deal or not."   I had never seen the condo. I did not know where it was located or what the neighborhood was like.  She had obviously seen it already, either with another agent or at an open house.  And who knows what personal information she had already disclossed to the Seller's agent.  I did not even know if she was preapproved or if she could afford it.  She ... 01/23/2015

The 2015 elementary school play season is upon us in Canton MA!  Leading off are the 5th graders from the John F. Kennedy Elementary School.  This year the JFK 5th Graders are performing Runway in Ruins on Friday January 23rd and Saturday January 24th.   Every year each elementary school in Canton MA puts on a play and the Kennedy school always leads off the season.  This is not a typical kids play where the lines are fed to them and it is done during school.  It is performed on the "big stage" at Canton High, with sound, lights and the works.  There is a director, who chooses, casts and directs the play.  The rest of the production (scheduling, costumes, stage crew, advertising, etc.) is put together solely through volunteer efforts of the parents and school community.  The school play... 01/22/2015

I hope everyone had a fun yet safe celebration on New Year's Eve.  We are now into the second day of a brand new year.  It is time to reflect on how the last year ended up.  Here is your 2014 wrap-up for Canton MA home sales. According to information provided by the MLS Property Information Network, there were a total of 172 homes sold in Canton MA in 2014.  This was 7% lower than the 185 sold in 2013.  A 3 bed, 1.5 bath, 1344 square foot fixer upper sold for $120,000 during the 4th quarter of 2014.  This was $20,000 over list price.  The highest priced sale was $1,275,000 for a 5 bed, 4.5 bath, 7140 square foot Colonial in Algonquin Estates in February 2014. The average sale price for a Canton MA home increased 6.1% in 2014.  However, Canton MA Home Buyers may be interested in the fact... 01/02/2015

Ahhh....the smell of a fresh pine tree! Many of us love the smell of those real Christmas trees! We've had them up for several weeks - some since right after Thanksgiving!  Once New Year's Day approaches, they start to look a little weary & it's time to take them down.   Once you have taken your lights and removed the ornaments from your tree, it looks a little sad - completely unadorned and more than a little bit dried out.   Where does it go now? If you live in Canton MA, you cannot put the tree out for pickup with your regular trash pickup.  Lawn and yard waste, including Christmas trees (and other live greens) are not allowed in the regular trash.  They must be brought to the Pine Street recycling facility, where they will be composted, like other yard waste.  The recycling facility... 12/25/2014