Mother's Day is Lilac Sunday One of the many advantages of living in Milton MA or Canton MA (or a suburb close to Boston) is that you are close enough to Boston to enjoy all that the city has to offer.   One such thing is the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, one of the gems in Boston's famed Emerald Necklace.   It is one of the oldest public arboretums in North America. Located in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston, it is comprised of 265 acres of beautiful trees, plants and walkways.   Not only a beautiful place to visit, the Arboretum provides research, education and horticulture programs. Nearly any day of the year is beautiful inside the Arboretum.  However, on Sunday May 8th, Mother's Day, it is Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum.  All of the beautiful lilac bushes are ju... 05/07/2011

Canton MA Hansen School Presents Beauty & The Beat As a cotninuation of my 31 Things in May series, the Handsen Elementary Schoo 5th Grade will pesent the Disney classic, "Beauty & the Beast" on Friday May 6th and Saturday May 7t at 7 pm at Canton High School. As I haev mentioned before, each of the elementary schools puts on a play.  In keeping with the tradition, the Hansen 5th grade is the last of the elementary schools to put on their production.  After weeks of practice, it is finally these young performer's turn!  Each school always does a great job!  The other schools have put on their shows earlier in the year so it is time to turn out & support the final elementary school play in Canton MA.  P Performances are 7 pm at Canton High's Morse Auditorium.   05/06/2011

Canton Happenings to Help the Community Earlier this week I started a month-long series of 31 Things to Do in May in Canton MA. That first post contained Items 1 and 2.  Numbers 3, 4 and 5 were contained in the post May Happenings in Canton MA.  Today, I am tackling 6 and 7, with two events that will help out the community: Annual Post Office Food Drive - Saturday May 7th  May 14th: (Edited for Date Correction) This Saturday, May 7th, marks the date of the annual post office food drive in Canton MA.  The Canton MA Food Pantry  relies on this food drive and needs your help more now than ever.  All you need to do is to leave your non-perishable food and paper good donations by your mailbox on Saturday.  Your local mail carrier will collect it and see that it is brought to the food pantry.... 05/05/2011

So, You Want to Buy a House in Canton MA? The Spring real estate market is in full swing.  In spite of the drop in the real estate market over the past several years and despite what you hear on the news, the real estate market is very busy.  I have run into properties going under agreement within days of being listed and many multiple offer situations.  Agents who have Open Houses are reporting a lot of foot traffic. Maybe it's the fact that we had a LONG cold winter.  Once the snow finally melted, people could not wait to get out of their houses.  Maybe it's the fact that the economy, or at least the Massachusetts economy, is starting to show signs of recovery.  Perhaps buyers who have been on the sidelines have decided that the low interest rates coupled with low home prices are not ... 05/04/2011

Is Busy Always A Good Thing? Spring is in the air, the buyers are out and I have been busy.  Busy with existing customers and new customers.  And of course, busy blogging and writing and networking and marketing.  That's a good thing, right?  Last Saturday I was with some buyers for a showing.  We were supposed to see the property on Friday but my clients' daughter had a minor accident at day care so they had to cut our tour short to go take her to the doctor.  I called to reschedule for Saturday.  The agent told me she could not make it but would get someone to cover for her.  On Saturday, her husband (also an agent) was there to do the showing.  I thanked him for covering for her and getting us in to see the house.  He said his wife was very busy and he was happy to cover for her.  My... 05/03/2011

May Happenings in Canton MA Yesterday I started my series of 31 Things to do In Canton MA this May with two events.  Today, I have 2 more suggestions of things to do for tomorrow, Tuesday May 3rd in Canton MA and one suggestion for tonight. Conditioning Hike in the Blue Hills:  If you are a hiker or are looking for some conditioning training, the Appalachian Mountain Club and Friends of the Blue Hills are offering Conditioning Hikes on Tuesdays in May in the Blue Hills Reservation.  The hikes run from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.  If you are interested, you can make a reservation by sending an email to ken@friendsofbluehills.org.  If you are unable to make this hike, remember that the Blue Hills offer great hiking every day of the week!  The trails are marked and easy to follow.  They are a gre... 05/02/2011

 Canton, Mass. Real Estate - Week ending April 30, 2011 Here is a brief snapshot of the real estate market for single family homes in Canton, Mass. (Source MLSPIN)  Number of Homes on The Market                                              86 Average List Price                                                           $591,657 Average Market Time                                                      146 Days 05/02/2011

31 Things to Do in Canton MA this May What is there to do in Canton MA? There is plenty!  There are always things to do for people of all ages.  Over the next month, I plan to chronicle what is going on in Canton MA and why Canton MA is a great place to live.  There may not be one for every day, but I plan on posting them regularly - maybe covering a few days all at once. So, starting off the month of May: 1.  Today is the 10th Annual Dean S Luce School 5K Fun Run/Walk that I blogged about last week starting at 10:00 am.  The 5K kicks off at 11 am.  My husband will be running & I will be on the sidelines cheering him on! 2. You can also enjoy Creepy Crawly Days at the Trailside Museum at the Blue Hills from 10:00 - 4:00.  Come and experience all those creepy, crawly creatures!  It's a b... 05/01/2011

There are 30 properties with Open Houses scheduled for Sunday May 1st in Canton MA. Twenty are single family homes and ten are condominiums. First, the single family home open houses: 13 Oakdale Road, $294,900.00, 11:00 - 1:00 10 Meadows Ave., $325,000.00, 12:00 - 1:30 5 Bailey Street, $379,900.00, 12:00 - 1:00 4 Springdale Terrace,$399,999.00, 12:00 - 2:00 33 Charles Drive, $459,900.00, 12:00 - 2:00 15 Fencourt Street, $484,900.00, 12:00 - 2:00 91 Greenlodge Street, $525,000.00, 1:00 - 3:00 15 Beaumont, $529,000.00, 11:00 - 12:00 7 Hickory Lane, $539,900.00, 1:30 - 3:00 6 Pamela Lane, $549,900.00, 12:00 - 1:30 3 Woodcliff Road, $609,900.00, 1:00 - 3:00 1469 Washington St,, $650,000.00, 12:00 - 3:00 25 Huckleberry Lane, $699,000.00, 12:00 - 2:00 33 Pleasant Street, $699,900.00, 1:00 - 3... 04/30/2011

The Market is Hopping - Another Reason to have a Buyers Agent While the real estate market has not completely recovered, it certainly is a busy real estate market in Canton MA, Milton MA and surrounding towns.  I have seen a number of multiple offer situations in recent weeks.  This is but one of many reasons why buyers should have their own, independent representation. Buyers need negotiation stratgey assistance in a busy market.  An experienced agent has insight as to how these situations work, which is different than in a regular offer situation.  Buyers certainly want to put their best offer forward in order to increase their chances of having their offer accepted.  However, buyers also need pricing, market, neighborhood and related advice so as not to get caught up in the bidding p... 04/27/2011

Canton MA Annual Town Meeting - Part Deux As I wrote about earlier this week, it is Town Meeting Time in Canton MA.  Monday's session was very productive and at times, quite lively.  The big discussions centered around re-zoning of the Canton Center Economic Opportunity District, in particular, the zoning of the former Plymouth Rubber site and whether or not to adopt a local meals tax that would provide more revenue for the Town of Canton.  In fact, the vote on the latter matter was a complete tie!  It is definitely democracy in action.  You can read all about my perspective of Town Meeting in my CantonPatch article. Since not all the warrant articles were voted on, Annual Town Meeting will continue tomorrow, Wednesday April 27th at 7:00 pm at the Canton High auditorium.  There are many... 04/26/2011

Luce School Fun Run is this Weekend in Canton MA This Sunday, May 1st, is the 10th Annual Luce School 5 K Fun Run/Walk and Childrens Fun Run.  It is put on by and for the benefit of the Dean S. Luce School Canton Association of Parents and Teachers (CAPT) but is really an event for the entire Canton MA community.  The race starts at the Luce School on Independence Street in Canton MA. The event was originally the idea of a couple of teachers who came to the CAPT to promote it as a fun event and not necessarily a fundraiser.  It has turned into a good fundraiser and a fun annual event in the Town of Canton.  The event kicks off at 10:00 am with the half-mile childrens run for ages 4-8, followed by a mile childrens run for ages 9-12.  The big event, the 5K run for all ages, starts at 11:0... 04/25/2011

 Canton, Mass. Real Estate - Week ending April 23, 2011 Here is a brief snapshot of the real estate market for single family homes in Canton, Mass. (Source MLSPIN)  Number of Homes on The Market                                              84 Average List Price                                                           $607,003 Average Market Time                                                      161 Days 04/25/2011

Home Inspections in Canton MA I love home inspections! I know they bring fear into the hearts of many real estate agents. I have had my share of transactions that have fallen apart due to the results of the home inspection. In fact, I was at one just the other day that uncovered some structural and electrical issues. It's an antique home so some is to be expected but we saw a little more than expected. We shall see what happens with it. However, I really do enjoy home inspections. At each one, it seems that I learn something that I did not know before or find out interesting tips and advice. Sometimes there are things that I learn that I can use at my own house. As an Exclusive Buyers Agent, I want my buyers to have a complete and thorough home inspection from the licensed home inspecto... 04/24/2011

It's Town Meeting Time in Canton MA Canton MA has an Open Town Meeting form of government.  There is a five-member Board of Selectmen who run the town and oversee the town administrator, but the legislative body is made up of the citizens of Canton.  All registered voters in Canton MA are eligible to attend and vote at the Annual Town Meeting. Annual Town Meeting commences this coming Monday, April 25th at 7:30 pm at Canton High's Morse Auditorium.  It runs until approximately 11:00 pm and runs every consecutive Monday and Wednesday until all items in the 100-plus page Warrant.  The Warrant is mailed to every home in Canton a month or so prior to Town Meeting so they can find out what will be discussed and voted on at the meeting.  The deadline for Warrant articles is usually in January... 04/23/2011

First a Spotlight Article, Now a Feature Column! Some of my readers may remember that a little while back, I had been featured in the In the Spotlight segment of our local Patch site.  For those who do not know, Patch.com is a hyper-local news site featuring sites in cities and towns all over the country.  It is an interactive site where you can list your business, post announcements and events and comments on the stories that affect your town.  I was a fan from the first day that they launched Patch in Canton MA. Most of the Patch sites are also on Twitter so it is a good local news source to follow. Well, I was recently asked if I would write a weekly real estate column for them, featuring local homes for sale in Canton MA, Milton MA and Braintree MA.  The task is to feature a "home o... 04/17/2011

Canton, Mass. Real Estate - Week ending April 16, 2011 Here is a brief snapshot of the real estate market for single family homes in Canton, Mass. (Source MLSPIN)  Number of Homes on The Market                                              74 Average List Price                                                           $596,781 Average Market Time                                                      164 Days 04/17/2011

Canton MA Announces Recreation Programs While it is only April and we are still having some chilly days, it is that time of year when parents start planning for summer camps and summer programs.  In Canton MA, there are plenty of opportunities right here in town. The Canton MA Recreation Department has posted its spring and summer programs up on their website and registration has begun.  There is a wide variety of programs to keep the kids busy and entertained during those summer weeks.  If you need full-time camp to cover you during work hours, there is the ever poplular Pequitside Day Camp which runs in two-week sessions.   For $300.00, you get two weeks of camp, running from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm daily.  Included in the camp are daily swimming lessons at the town pool as well as free swi... 04/16/2011

Why do YOU Want to Buy A House? There are many good reasons to buy a house right now.....prices are low (who doesn't love a sale?) and interest rates remain historically low.  History tells us that prices and rates will eventually go up and then go back down.   However, any buyers may worry if this is good time; what if prices go down further? Given the way that the real estate market has gone in recent years, some of this nervousness is understandable.  But I would challenge potential buyers to think about why they are buying a home?  Is it an investment or is it a place to live? If you are looking for an investment, of course, like all investments, you need to assess the risks involved.  You want to make sure that your investment will pay off. However, if you are looking for a place t... 04/14/2011

Night Out to Support Canton MA's Problem Solving Teams The regular readers of my blog probably know about Canton's Championship Problem Solving Teams.  The good news is that Canton is sending at least two teams to the International Problem Solving competition in LaCrosse Wisconsin, possibly more.  (The teams that won first place in the State competition get an automatic invitation.  The second place state winners have to wait to see if they can go.) Canton Public Schools is able to fund the cost of the team registrations as part of its budget,  However, the traveling costs are beyond what can be funded by the schools, especially in these times of budgetary constraints.  As a result, the cost to send the teams to the competition must be either paid for by the team families and/or must be... 04/12/2011