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... 05/21/2009

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 fa... 05/20/2009

Route 128 - commuter nightmare...technology icon. Many have tried to replicate what it stands for, but there's only 1 icon...and it's in high gear (more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene   ...That’s right!  Silicon Valley is the West Coast icon, but 128 represents the innovation and technology brilliance that has been lauded around the globe. And you may be very surprised about what’s going on in the 128 belt today. BitWave Systems The names may have changed over the years, but 128 is still a hotbed of tech, venture capital, and   - TheDeal.com Rte 128 America's Technology Highway Terrific story … Full story on TheDeal.com More: Rte. 128 Revisited JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley,... 05/19/2009

The glory days...   The names remembered...   And now there's a way to remember them forever!   You can name one of the Needham playing fields and be remembered in perpetuity...   Full Story Needham Times     JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene   05/15/2009

# Manic Mommies Descend On Natick May 7 Need a little comic relief? 'One Funny Mother, I'm Not Crazy' will have you shaking with laughter on 5/7 TCAN...(more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene   Full Story on BostoKayakGuy.wordpress.com   Sponsored by: Stop & Shop | Framingham Co-operative Bank       BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy   Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252 05/07/2009

My market report for Needham compares this same time period to last year. 4/5/09  to 5/5/09    as it compares with 4/5/08 with 5/5/08                               There were 20 properties that sold this year versus last year 15 were sold. The average days on market this past month and year was 127 but the year before was 77 The average sale price this time period was $594,950 While last year same time period was $748,707 The median price this year is $564,500 While last year it ws $665,000 The average price this year for 4/5/2009 to 5/5/2009 was $594,950 While last year the average price was $748,707 The Total Market Volume this year $11,899,000 While last year it was $11,250,000 The average sales price this year was $594,950 While las year the average sales price was $777,113 The sale... 05/05/2009

Posted on May 5, 2009 by bostonkayakguy |  Town of Needham With less than a 5% pay increase over the previous year, Neeham’s Town Manager heads up the Top 100 Official Salaries List for Needham, on Boston.com… JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy   Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252         BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene   05/05/2009

It is so nice to now be called a college town as Wellesley and other communities surrounding my metro area.  This fairly new college of engineering Olin has a terrific summer campus for pre-school to High School kids.  I have provided some info below and a link to more on their website alongwith another link to "mysummercamps.com" Green Apple Campus is a creative andchallenging program for kids preschool through High School.  These programs proved inspire imagination and invention.  The programs are rich in science, technology, engineering, architecture, design, robotics, and  math.  They incorproated hundreds of activities utilizing LEGO(R), Robotics, K'NEX(R), and more! GreenApple is going Green! See their GreenMachines program.  Check out the new Academy programs coming in 2009.  Cha... 05/04/2009

  As of April 30, 2009, there were 125 single family listings in Needham and Needham Heights on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin).  During April, 41 new single family listings were added to our MLSPin and an additional 2 single family homes were relisted for sale on the MLS, with an average list price of $956,849.   Market absorption rates have normalized in Needham; meaning that it is neither a buyers nor a seller's market, in general.  However, as with many communities in the Metrowest area, inventories of "luxury homes" are increasing as buyers demonstrate their preference for smaller, more affordable homes.  Inventory levels of these "luxury homes" are predicted to rise significantly as the second wave of short sales and foreclosures crashes through the higher end of the market ... 05/02/2009

Red Line Commute Posted on April 27, 2009 by bostonkayakguy   WBZ TV reports that it’s that time of year again at MIT… The Red Line “car” on the MIT’s Great Dome- WBZ   MIT Hackers Put Red Line on Dome/WBZ Hack: Red Line Stops at MIT Dome/Boston.com   JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene 04/27/2009

  Monthly market performance: As of March 31, 2009, there were 100 single family listings in Needham on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin).  During March, 36 new single family listings were added to our MLSPin and an additional 6 single family homes were relisted for sale on the MLS, with an average list price of $1,021,073.   While sales year to date are similar to 2008 levels, there needs to be further analysis "behind the numbers" because market absorption tells us a very different story.  42% of the single family listings in Needham are under 30 days old.  This skews the average days on market for the  entire inventory - which is to say that the remaining 58% of single family homes on the market have each been listed for well over 6 months (thank goodness I remember algebra). Thi... 04/25/2009

~~  BostonKayakGuy's The MetWest Scene bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com Submitted:Just now! - Twitter showdowns...Susan Boyle Britain's New Singing Sensation...gobsmacked...It's the Hollywood hipster, CNN icon, and overnight media star - all in a day's work for Anderson Cooper...(more) BostonKayakGuy..John Prescott's The MetWest Scene » Full Story on bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com   Unlikely diva sings for CNN 0:50   JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene 04/17/2009

             Massachusetts Asbestos Prevention & Tips for Homeowners      Located on the Northeastern part of the United States, Massachusetts is known for its rich history, higher education, technology and rural areas.  Purchasing or moving into a new home in the state is a great accomplishment. It will insure you and your family will have a safe and healthy home for the foreseeable future. However, it is a time where additional responsibilities will be brought into your life. Gaining assistance from real estate agents can help in dealing with making that all important decision. Many older homes and buildings may still harbor older, corrosive building materials which can create health concerns. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was a prominent building application throughout the 20th ... 04/16/2009

Posted on April 11, 2009 by bostonkayakguy Needham Library Suggests Spring Reading for Kids Spring has sprung... or at least it’s trying to! The Needham Library has put together a list of spring books for children that includes stories about Easter, Passover, and other family oriented reads… Here is a sampling: Schnur, Steven. Spring: An Alphabet Acrostic. Describes spring, with its animals, green smells, and renewed outside activities. When read vertically, the first letters of the lines of text spell related words arranged alphabetically, from “April” to “zenith." Schotter, Roni. Passover! Rhyming text describes a family’s celebration of Passover. Stevenson, James. Mud Flat Spring. The animals of Mud Flat celebrate the coming of spring in their own ways. Stoeke, Janet Morgan. Minerva ... 04/11/2009

Red Sox Opening Day at Fenway 2009  bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com — It wouldn't be Boston or opening day at Fenway Park without the venerable Senator Ted Kennedy throwing out the first pitch...(more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene   » Full Story on bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com       It's chilly in Boston. Yeah, but Fenway Park is sizzling!   *photo courtesy Boston.com   JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene   04/07/2009

      First Interview of Eliot Spitzer on the Today Show bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com — While we may have been waiting for a new spin on Jay Leno’s famous inquiry to Hugh Grant, “What the hell were you thinkin’ …???” … Matt Lauer’s “get” interview of former Governor Eliot Spitzer was a bit of a let down. Lauer asked; Spitzer answered. ..(more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene   » Full Story on bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com   JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene 04/06/2009

A MUST READ! bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com Submitted:2 min ago - Love Story has no happy ending...Holden Oliver, attorney extraordinaire, from one of Boston's oldest families, perishes in kiln explosion in which a much younger Stanford student was uninjured. The case is under investigation...(more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene » Full Story on bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com     What...were they trying to recreate the scene from "Ghost?" He comes from a lot of money. Very suspicious...I read that...   JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT Vice President Century ... 04/01/2009

As of this moment in time 29 single family homes have gone under agreement in the past month.  The concentration of homes that have accepted offers are in the $600,000 to $699,999 price range.  The next highest price range of homes that have gone under agreement is $500,000 to $599,999. The luxury market is strong in Needham as well with 3 single family homes between $1,000,000 and $1,499,999 have accepted offers. There are 103 single family homes on the market with an Average List Price: $1,061,045 from $299,000 to $3,200,000 There are 22 condo/townhouses on the market with price ranges from $255,000 to $899,00 which is brand new construction. There are some truly fabulous homes on the market right now in Needham and some really great cond/townhouses as well. Needham always has a wonde... 03/26/2009

Needham MA Real Estate and Homes for Sale Buying a home is an important investment however your primary focus should be to solve a housing need. The process can be very complicated if you do not work with industry professionals that can provide accurate information and advise you. The professionals include mortgage lenders, Realtors, Attorneys, Home Inspectors and Accountants. If you are a first-time home buyer, you may qualify for a tax credit ($8000 in 2009) and could be eligible for special financing programs. For a map based search of all properties listed in the MA MLS go to NEEDHAM MA MLS Let Needham MA real estate assist you in finding the right property to meet your needs from local area homes for sale, foreclosure listings (bank-owned), country properties, land, condominiums an... 03/26/2009

Crocs Croak?…Say It Ain’t So! « BostonKayakGuy John Prescott’s The MetWest Scene bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com Submitted:2 min ago - Crocs revolutionized footwear and were a high-flyer favorite of both fashionistas and stock market pundits. Today the rubberized sandal is poised on the edge of the abyss...(more) BostonKayakGuy » Full Story on bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com       I love my Crocs! And they're so...affordable!     JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net JOHN PRESCOTT 508-523-9252   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene 03/21/2009