There is a new business in Needham and it is right in step with green initiatives.  What is that company "Big-Belly Solar."  The visionary is only 36 years old Jim Poss.  He was really upset when he passed by an overflowing municipal trash can.  The company is locatedd on Brook Road, Needham, MA. http://www.bigbellysolar.com/I am very excited about this and so I can't wait to share it globally.  How fabulous is this?BigBelly is a company that is earthy friendly.  BigBelly is rectangular shaped, rounded edged contraption that can handle just about anything tossed into it.  Liquids are absorbed by paper debris as they are crushed together and items like aerosol cans are nestled in paper and plastic when compacted."Cold weather, hot weather, sunless days all have no impact on its funtional... 01/22/2009

Obama: The Man and the Message Bend the Rules of Ethnicity and Geography...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene… bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com Submitted: 5 min ago - The technicolor Inauguration of Barack Obama. They came in different shapes and sizes. They came from cities, countries, villages, and continents. They were white, black, brown, yellow, and every color in between. Inauguration spectators? Try the RELATIVES of the new FIRST FAMILY.. (continued)... » Full Story on bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com   And the families of Barack and Michelle Obama are a new snapshot in time, for they too, come in various colors, shapes, and packages. *Source: NY Times     They are a diverse family in living “technicolor” and you might be intrigued by where they came from...   Barack and Michelle Obama h... 01/21/2009

Date Night: Needham There once was a bar in Boston where everyone knew your name...(Cheers!) And now we're hoping there's a bistro in Needham, where the food and service and prices are so good, everyone there will know OUR names...(continued)  BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's 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   BostonKayakGuy…The MetWest Scene   01/12/2009

Brief market update for 1/12/2009 In Needham, MAThere are  60 single family homes on the market as of this moment.  The price range is from $369,500 to $2,850,000.  Average list price is $971,530. There was one new single family that came on the market today for $519,900 in Needham Heights.There were 2 single family homes that went under agreement today: One was priced at $299,000. The other was priced at $699,900.  One land listing went under agreement that was priced at $299,000 for a 10,087 sq. ft. lot.One new townhouse came on the market today for $899,000.Pat Baker, Real Estate Expert - Needham, MA: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.  Serving my clients in Needham, Dover, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Sherborn, Holliston, Millis, Medway, Medfield, Dedham, Natick, South Natick, a... 01/12/2009

This list represents the ranking for household income from the Boston Business Journal date January 2-6, 2009It appears that the most expensive zip codes by county are Micclesex with 56%, with Norfolk County next at 24%, then Worcester County at 12%, then Essex and Plymouth Counties both at 4%.The source: ESRI ( Environmental Systems REsearch INstitute, Inc.)    MEDIAN  HOUSEHOLD     2008 AVERAGE    POPULATION  NUMBER OF HOMES   COUNTYRANK    INCOME    HOME PRICE1.Weston   $234,061   $1,022,460 11,465   3,706  Middlesex   024932.Dover $215,420   $1,013,045    5,732   1,914  Norfolk   020303.Carlisle  $208,241$  806,075    4703 1,635 Middlesex   017414.Waban   $208,023   $   998,5955,6041,979    Middlesex   024685.Sherborn$203,689   $   862,735   4,338 1,477    Middlesex   017206.Wellesl... 01/10/2009

  Needham HS Students: If You Don’t Have Anything Nice To Say… John Prescott's The MetWest Scene bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com Image by josephleenovak via Flickr Submitted: Just now! - Needham High School principal Paul Richards acted swiftly and decisively when he decided to give a "time out" to students behaving badly at hockey games..(more) 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   01/07/2009

It really is nice to have a golf course in town.  Here is the link to the Needham Golf Club Needham's course is 9 holes.  http://www.needhamgolfclub.com  We don't have to travel too far out of town to find a golf course either. I have included other golf courses near to Needham, Massachusetts Wellesley has 2 The Wellesley Golf Club  http://www.wellesleycc.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp , The Nehoiden Country Club at Wellesley College - 9 holes http://www.ngcwc.org/ Newton has  four. 1. The Charles River Country Club http://www.charlesrivercc.org/ ; 2. The Sterling Golf Club - public course http://www.sterlinggolf.com/newton/ 3. The Braeburn Golf Club http://www.braeburngolf.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp ;  4.  The Woodland Golf Club http://www.woodlandgolfclub.com/Club/Scripts/Home/hom... 01/06/2009

  As of December 31, 2008, there were 70 single family listings in Needham on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin).   Year to date sales figures show a 17.7% decline in sales volume and average sales prices are slightly up (4.95%) compared to 2007. Based on current market absorption rates (see below), the market for single family homes in Needham appears to be "balanced."  In other words, market supply and demand are in balance, such that it is neither a buyers' nor a sellers' market.  However, much of the inventory currently available has been sitting idle for over five months, therefore further price improvements are required for these properties to sell and buyers do, in reality, have the upper hand. In addition, current average asking prices are far above historical averages, there... 01/06/2009

Needham Area Market Report 2008 I am comparing the single family sales for 2008 to those of 2007 and the inventory is so low.  At this point there are 67 single family homes on the market and some of those are Active with a flag for essentially they are under agreement. There were less homes sold in 2008 but the median price increased by 5% The average price increased by 5% 2008  -266 Single Family Homes Sold Lowest Price: $289,000 Median Price: $657,576 Highest Price: $2,722,732 Average Price: $785,959 Total Market Volume: $209,065,093 2007-373 Single Family Homes sold Lowest Price: $250,000 Median Price: $626,500 Highest Price: $3,550,000 Average Price: $748,577 Total Market Volume: $279,219,386 Notice the concentration of sold properties between $500K and $599K,between $600K and $699... 01/01/2009

Posted on December 30, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  SAT Scores…Towns Take a Bow…Wellesley, Weston, Needham, Dover-Sherborn, Natick, Holliston, Hopkinton, Westwood, Lincoln-Sudbury The State Department of Education has released the SAT scores for the school year 2007. Massachusetts schools' average exceeded the nation's average SAT score.     And while much of the information is as expected, there are a number of surprises…   Included in the Top 100 is Natick at Number 68. Stats include a combined score of 1591.   Needham is in the Number 17 slot, combined score of 1731. Wellesley landed at Number 6, combined score of 1822. And the number 5 position was earned by Weston with a combined score of 1841. Dover-Sherborn ranked in the Top 10 with 1796, and the number 10 position. Wayland landed the... 12/31/2008

Needham schools still rank high over and over among the best schools in the state of Massachusetts.  I have included a link to today's article on the Boston Globe's web site boston.com. The Needham High School is near complete and the finishing touches are being done.  There have been renovations at some of the other schools as well to make room for expansion. Not only are the public schools great but the Needham's private schools  are as well.  Olin College began it's first admissions in 2002.  Olin is an alternative to other Engineering schools.  The new buildings there are truly beautiful.  There a marvelous dining room that we can take advantage of when school is in session.  The lunches are great.  I haven't tried the dinners but the prices are moderate. The college shares faciliti... 12/28/2008

    Special Celebration in Needham.  The events start on December 31 from 12:00 pm to midnight.  This year there are more perfomances offered to cater to Needham residents of all ages. This event is made possible by the generosity of Roches Bros., Sudbury Farms, Wingate at Needham, Dedham, Needham Bank, Petrini Corp., Condon Realty, Coldwell Banker, Muzi Motors, and Needham Exchange. www.needarts.org Admission Button $5.00 can be purchased at the folowing locations: Park & Recreation Department Needham Public Library YMCA Charles River Branch Roches Bros. & Sudbury Farms Creative Movement and Arts Center Selectmen's Office Stephen Palmer Senior Center Taylor's Stationery Perennial Designs Some of the performances include:  Fire Performance, Mystic Paper Beasts: "SKY TAILS"/ Christ Episc... 12/27/2008

Tom Brady's Next Move:  First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage Posted on December 26, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  Well, apparently it’s official... The ailing Boston Patriot’s quarterback, Tom Brady made his best move yet, when over Christmas Eve he reportedly asked the world’s highest paid supermodel to be his wife. And in a classy move designed to endear  himself with parents the world over, Brady proposed mid-air on a private jet with Gisele’s family and four dozen white roses in attendance. - Gisele, her Mom, and one of her five sisters Credit: FREDDY BAEZ/ Ramey Published: Friday Feb 01, 2008 /People.com     As I’ve reported earlier, word has it that a wedding in Costa Rica is planned in March for the winsome twosome…     JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy     Top Real Estate Agent for more ... 12/26/2008

All day long all I heard on several radio channels and tv news channels is that homes sales are down.  Then when I go on Yahoo first thing that pops up is how home sales are down.  Slowest in a decade.  I must say real estate is local and that is a national number. When there is a slow news day, which I can't imagine that could happen with the news of Illinois governor Governor Blagojevich, Caroline Kennedy becoming senator of New York, and Bernard Madoff's ponzi scheme.  Those are enough to report on.  I have noticed that real estate gets in the news when it is negative but then that is true of other subjects too.  I have noticed that about nutrition too.  They only report on something that is not working and never talk of what is. Hmmm.  What is with that? Offers are still being acce... 12/23/2008

Mayor’s Holiday Specials... John Prescott's The MetWest Scene   www.bostoncommonfrogpond.org     bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com — This week ’s date night suggestions come courtesy of Mayor Tom Menino. They include shopping, shows, accommodations and dining specials. The Capital Grille famous for its dry aged steaks is open for lunch during the holidays; a considerable savings for consumers. The restaurant Dante ...(more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's 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   BostonKayakGuy…The... 12/22/2008

The inventory in Needham is a low as 76 homes on the market between $329,000 and the highest price is $3,500,000.  The average list price is $1,000,548.  Last month 11/9/08 the inventory was 96.  In one month there were 22 homes that went under agreement.  Several between  and 10 days on the market.  Of course some were on a lot longer but there is a trend here. Homes come on the market and move quickly especially if they are priced right.  There were 19 homes that closed during the last month ranging from $350,000 to $1,355,000.  Average days on the market was 91.  The average selling price was $766,368. I have found that taking buyers to other nearby communities the homes, like Medway are having multiple offers.  I just had that occur twice with recents buyers.  The market is changing... 12/09/2008

  It’s been quite a season… Gridiron splendor for some; disappointing losses for others. High school football in metrowest Boston captures the hearts and minds of many.  Communities rally, cheerleaders perform, and the players make contact.   Photos by Matthew Healey Needham senior captains from left Drew O'Connor (75) Andrew Rayner (obscured) and Jean Baptiste (5) charge through a paper banner before the game against Wellesley at Memorial Field on Thanksgiving day Thursday November 27, 2008. - WickedLocal.com Skirmishes, scrimmages, grinding, passes, rushes…our high school teams represent the passions and rivalries of town histories and future stars. Some of this season’s key players will go on to college, and then on to gridiron glories on the national stage. Ryan Izzo, Jean Baptiste,... 12/02/2008

     As of November 30, 2008, there were 84 single family listings in Needham on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin).  Home sales are down 32% for the year.  This may be indicative of a slower market, but also shows that there is a level of saturation in Needham.  Simply put, the inventories are decreasing, because there are fewer homes available for resale and new construction is limited in the single family side of Needham.  Will this lead to stronger price competition and increased demand?  Only time will tell.  One thing that is noticeable, however is that less expensive single family homes are what is being listed currently in Needham.   During November, 15 new single family listings were added to our MLSPin, with an average list price of $674,707.  Based on the number of active ... 12/02/2008

Blue Thongs, Red Hats, and Needham’s Senior Center…John Prescott’s The MetWest Scene Posted on December 1, 2008 by bostonkayakguy  “After much number crunching, Needham officials believe the town can afford a new, larger senior center, without an override, and selectmen are setting up an exploratory committee to figure out how to make it happen.” _ Boston Globe     In the U.S., almost 8,000 people a day are turning 60 years of age! The first wave of the nation’s baby boomers has just started collecting social security benefits, and the impact on the country’s senior centers will be similar to this generation’s impact on schools, jobs, and consumer behavior. Already, the boomers are letting it be known that the word “senior” does not apply to them.  They much prefer the term “community c... 11/30/2008

NEEDHAM THRIVES/HOMES ARE SELLING/PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE HERE.  Needham is insulated it would appear.  It is proven over and over again by how the homes just keep selling.  We have been insulated here.  There are 25 properties that have pending sales in the past month.  There were 21 homes that closed in the past month from $350,000 to $1,530,000 at 97% of the asking price and original price and that was average.  One sold for 106% of original price.  There are only 86 single family homes on the market at the present time.  The newest report is that that sales are up 6.6% in Massachusetts over last year compared to  sales in October, 2007.    With inventory down properties will go up in price. according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.    Plus the announcement of the drop in i... 11/28/2008