Whether you are an outdoors fanatic or if you have resolved to get more exercise in 2013, the First Day Hike at the Blue Hills in Canton MA is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise. Located on the border of Milton MA and Canton MA sits one of the state's great natural outdoor resources - the Blue Hills Reservation, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).  It is home to a ski area, as well as the Mass Audubon's Trailside Museum, miles of hiking trails a weather observatory, a swimming spot and more.   What better way to kick off the New Year than to join the DCR Park Rangers and staff from the Trailside Museum than with a hike through the beautiful Blue Hills Reservation.   There is no fee to participate in the hikes and no registra... 12/30/2012

If you are looking for a way to Celebrate New Year's Eve 2012 near Canton MA the most popular choice is to go to First Night Boston. One of the most popular ways to ring in the New Year is to attend First Night Boston on New Year's Eve.  Commuter rail trains run from the Canton Center MBTA station and the Canton Junction MBTA station so park your car, jump on the train for a quick ride to enjoy the First Night Festivities. The MBTA is free after 8 pm on New Year's Eve and they are running on an extended schedule.  First Night originated in Boston over 35 years ago and is still going strong.  Festivites start as early as 1:00 pm for those with little ones and run through midnight with fireworks over Boston Harbor.  It is a cultural and diverse evening withperformances from around 200 art... 12/28/2012

November 2012 Market Report for Canton MA In November 2012, there were twelve single family homes sold in Canton MA.  The lowest priced home sold for $203,000.00 and the highest priced home sold for $910,000.00*.  The average sales price was $395,000.00.     While not a large number of homes sold in one month, it is an increase from November 2011, when there were only eight single family homes sold in Canton MA.  Below is a chart showing the number of home sales in Canton MA in November for the past five years.  Keep in mind that 2009 and 2010 were impacted somewhat by the first time homebuyer tax credit.   The holidays are generally a slower time for real estate sales so the numbers for November are not surprising.  December is almost at an end so we can then see how 2012 ended up for ... 12/27/2012

Are you a first time home buyer in Massachusetts?   Maybe you are hoping Santa will bring you the keys on Christmas.  But if you forgot to put that on your list for Santa, instead, make it one of your New Year's Resolutions.  There are a variety of resources and options available to first time home buyers in Massachusetts. Mass Housng Partnership's SoftSecond program is a great opportunity for first time homebuyers who meet the income guidelines.  This program offers rates slightly below market rate and has downpayment requirements as little as 3%.  This loan program breaks down the mortgage into a first mortgage and subsidized second mortgage. The borrower makes the full payment on the first mortgage loan and a subsidy is provided toward the second mortgage loan.  Best of all, there is... 12/21/2012

December 2012 Requests from the Canton Food Pantry   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 MA always come through for them - as they do anytime they are asked for help.    The Canton Food Pantry sends out a monthly email to its subscribers, letting them know what items they are most in need of for the current month. Each month they stress that all donations of any kind are always welcome. If you would like to get on the list you can email the food pantry and ask to be put on the list. I find it useful. The week that I receive the email, I put a few of the items on my shopping list for the week so that I remember. Then, ... 12/19/2012

Canton High School's 2012 Winter Concert will be held on Tuesday, December 18th.  It is looking to be another great performance by our high school students.  The concert will be held at Canton High's Morse Auditorium and admission is FREE! First on the agenda will be the Tri-M Candidate Performances from 6 pm - 7 pm.  Tri-M is a Music Honors Society open to those dedicated music students who have participated in the music programs at Canton High for at least one year, who maintain good grades and who volunteer their time in helping the music department.     The main concert starts at 7:00 pm.  There will be performances by the Chorus, Chorale, Band and Orchestra. This is the first year that the high school will have an Orchestra.  Canton's first string students who started about four or... 12/13/2012

Come enjoy the Songs of the Season with the Canton MA Garden Club's annual holiday house tour. The Canton Garden Club is holding its annual Holiday House Tour on December 7th from 1-8 pm and 8th from 12-3 pm.  This year's theme is "Songs of the Season"  Come and tour some of Canton's beautiful homes, all decoratged for the holidays by members of the Garden Club.   The homes on this years tour are: 14 Williams Street, Canton MA: With beautiful views of Reservoir Pond, this home will be decorated inside and out. 54 Messinger Street, Canton MA: Located on one of my favorite streets in Canton, the Garden Club says that in addition to lovely decorations, this house will have the smells of gingerbread coming from the kitchen...mmmmm. 319 Sherman Street, Canton MA:  An 1838 Victorian home loca... 12/06/2012

2012 Chanukah Wonderland in Canton MA Chanukah begins at sundown on Sunday, December 8, 2012.   To kick off the eight day festival of lights, The Canton Chai Center, located at 580 Washington Street in Canton, MA is holding its annual Chanukah Wonderland on Sunday December 9th from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm at Canton High School. Free of charge and open to the public, the Chanukah Wonderland is the Canton Chai Center's annual celebration of Chanukah.    The Chanukah Wonderland will feature musical entertainment, a comedy magic show, face painting, moon bounce, latkes and donuts, Chanukah gift shop and of course, giant menorah lighting.   Come celebrate the holidays in Canton MA...there is something here for everyone!       12/06/2012

Looking for some Holiday Cheer in Canton MA?  The Village Shoppes in Canton MA have a variety of events going on. Pictures with Santa Claus December 15th from 11 am - 1 pm Horse drawn Hayrides December 15/16 and 22/23 from 1 pm - 4 pm Pet Photos with Santa Paws and The Grinch at Especially for Pets December 8/9 from 10 am - 4 pm - proceeds to benefit Vested Interest in K9s dedicated to providing protective vests for law enforcement dogss. Live Holiday Music Savings and sales and great gift ideas throughout the season In the spirit of the holidays, the following donations are being accepted at the Village Shoppes: Canton Community Theatre is collectingnew or gently used kids clothing, shoes, boots and toys to benefit Conway Kids Clothing Closet in Canton MA and Mainspring House in Brockt... 12/05/2012

October 2012 Market Report for Canton MA In October 2012, there were seventeen single family homes sold in Canton MA.  The lowest priced home sold for $200,000.00 and the highest priced home sold for $750,000.00*.  The average sales price was $408,647.00.     That is an increase from October 2011, when there were only 4 single family homes sold in Canton MA.  Below is a chart showing the number of home sales in Canton MA in October for the past five years.  You can see that 2012 had the highest number of home sales in October over the past five years.     The Fall and Winter tend to be the slowest times in real estate.  However, the real estate market in Canton was going strong in October.  Year to date (January 1 - October 31), there were 148 single family homes sold.  In 2011 for the ... 11/30/2012

Thanksgiving Traditions in Canton MA   In Canton MA, and in fact in most Massachusetts cities and towns, Thanksgiving means high school football.  I'm not sure about other parts of the country but In Massachusetts, Thanksgiving is the day when local high school football teams play their rivals.   For Canton, that means the annual Canton vs. Stoughton Thanksgiving Day game.  The 2012 meeting represents the 87th annual game, which started in 1926.  Stoughton is in the overall lead, having won 43 games to Canton's 39 losses, with four ties.  Not only do current students turn out for the game, but  recent graduates returning home from college attend the game and reunite with old friends and former classmates.   However, Thanksgiving Day is not the only day for big football games and rivalri... 11/21/2012

Canton High Drama Club Presents Grease It's my favorite time of year.....time for the Canton High School Drama Club's annual fall musical. This year, Canton High's actors and actresses will present the popular musical "Grease." Auditions took place on the second week of school in September and the cast and crew have been working hard ever since.  The final touches are being put on this week as performance day draws near. Performances will be Friday November 9 and Saturday November 10 at 7:00 pm at the Canton High School auditorium.  Tickets are available at the door.  Admission is $12.00 for adults and $10.00 for students and seniors.   Kudos to the Canton Public Schools for continuing to support the performing arts.  Special thanks to Director Stephanie Shapiro, Music Director John Rus... 11/05/2012

November 2012 Requests From The Canton Food Pantry 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 MA always come through for them - as they do anytime they are asked for help. The Canton Food Pantry sends out a monthly email to its subscribers, letting them know what items they are most in need of for the current month. Each month they stress that all donations of any kind are always welcome. If you would like to get on the list you can email the food pantry and ask to be put on the list. I find it useful. The week that I receive the email, I put a few of the items on my shopping list for the week so that I remember. Then, after... 11/03/2012

Election Day 2012 in Canton MA Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Election Day 2012 is on Tuesday November 6th.  With no early voting in Massachusetts (unless you voted by absentee ballot...in which case you are out of town on election day), Tuesday is your only day to vote.  If you're new to Canton MA, however, you may not be sure where to vote. There are six voting precincts in Canton MA.  The Canton MA Town Clerk's Office has a map of the voting precincts. You can also go to the Massachusetts Secretary of State's website to find out where to vote in Massachusetts.  If you live in Canton MA and know your precinct but are not sure where to vote, here is the list: Precincts 1 and 6: Canton High School Precint 2: Dean S. Luce Elementary School Precinct 3:  Blue Hills R... 11/03/2012

In October of 2012 there were 16 homes that closed within the month for Canton, MA. This was a increase of 12 units as there were 4 homes that closed in October 2011. The average list price for the homes that closed in Canton for October 2012 was $426,450. The average list price for the homes that closed in Canton for October 2011 was $538,675. The average sale price for the homes that closed in Canton for October 2012 was $411,875. The average sale price for the homes that closed in Canton for October 2011 was $485,750. The average market time for the homes that closed in Canton for October 2012 was 130 days. The average market time for the homes that closed in Canton for October 2011 was 118 days. 9 homes went under agreement in Canton, Massachusetts for the month of October 2012. Th... 11/02/2012

What is Considered to be Living Area? I recently received a frantic email from a friend who had his house appraised for a refinance.  The appraiser gave him less living area than he's had for the past fifteen years.  He wanted to know...what is really considered living area?     This is a question that many buyers want to know.  And in fact, I see many errors in this area when homes are input into the MLS.  Many agents include finished basements in the living area.  This is not accurate.   Basements are not considered living area.  If more than half of the floor to ceiling height is below the average grade of the adjoining ground then it is considered a basement.  FInished basements certainly add value, but they are not part of the living area.  However, if more than have of the floor t... 11/01/2012

What Will Happen Hurricane Sandy Damages the House I am Buying? With Hurricane Sandy barrelling towards us, there are many nervous Buyers who are under agreement wondering what is going to happen to the home they were buying.  Last year, I had the question from buyers asking the same thing about Hurricane Irene.  I thought it was timely to re-post that discussion. Buyers of mine who were under agreement last year as Hurricane Irene approached, nervously wrote to me asking this question.  They had found the home that they love, put in an offer, got it accepted, made it through home inspection then the hurricane was heading straight towards us.  What happens if the house gets damaged or destroyed from the hurricane? First of all, safety of people is far more important to me than safety of... 10/29/2012

It is hard to believe that we are winding down 2012 already.  We are almost at the end of the first month in final quarter of the year.  Let's take a look at where the real estate market was for the previous quarter. For the period of July 1, 2012 - September 30, 2012, there were 59 single family homes sold in Canton MA, with an average sales price of $469,000.00*.  The lowest priced home sold for $224,500.00 and the highest sold for $1.2 million. The price range with the highest number of homes sold was in the $300,000 - $400,000 price range. (Price ranges in the chart below are listed by thousands.)   Sales of single family homes in Canton MA are up for the same period of 2011 where there were 47 single family homes sold with an average sales price of $478,000.00.  In fact, that is th... 10/28/2012

Canton MA Halloween Parade 2012   Fall is in full swing here in New England with gorgeous leaves all around.  That can only mean one thing - Halloween is around the corner! One of the nice things about living in a smaller town like Canton MA are the annual traditions. it is time once again for the annual Halloween parade through Canton center.  This year's parade will be on Sunday October 28th at 1:00 pm. Sponsored by the Canton Recreation Department the parade starts at the Bank of Canton parking lot and continues down Washington Street and ends at Canton High School.  At the end of the parade, the recreation department provides refreshments and entertainment, including a DJ.  It was always a fun event to participate in when my kids were little.  It is a nice family event and sometimes... 10/26/2012

Another Satisfied Homebuyer: Congratulations to the New Owners of 10 Copley Place, Canton, MA   Congratulations to my buyers who closed near the end of last month on their purchase of 10 Copley Place, Canton, MA.   I first met these first time homebuyers last spring when they were starting their home search.  They had a lot of questions and needed to be preapproved.  I sent them to a great loan officer, who worked with them to straighten out some minor issues.  Patiently, they waited until everything was sorted out until they started to look. We looked a few different homes in Canton MA and nothing was quite the right fit.  Then, this great Colonial style home came on the market early in the summer.  It has been previously listed the previous fall, and these buyers had seen it online an... 10/23/2012