French Toast for Lovers…and universalhub.com ??? bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com — Our friends over at UniversalHub.com are quite fond of french toast. Isn't everybody? And Jaimee Rose is known for her stylin' ways. So guess what's the perfect way for these two eloquent bloggers to enjoy a very special Valentine's Day???...(more) BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene   » Full Story on bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com     I love both Jaimee Rose and Adam Gaffin. And I so love The MetWest Scene. And I really love yummy toast! 02/14/2009

This is the beginning of a series of blogs highlighting Needham Businesses.I feel confident in promoting this Needham-based Business.  I have also included a recentproject in Wellesley, MA.Consolidated Plumbing & Heating, Inc. has been wonderful for me as a real estate agent becauase they have been there for me and my clients on many occasions.  I have needed someone in a quick fashion for a client and they have come through for me every time.They return phone calls.  I get a live voice on the other end of the phone or a quick return call.I feel confident referring clients whether seller or buyer clients.  They get the job done and savea lot of headaches.  They are efficent and timely in every way.  I know that others in my officehave also recommended them.  It is always nice when you k... 02/13/2009

Beastly Bullies…Needham High Goes On Offensive Posted on February 11, 2009 by bostonkayakguy  Officials at Needham High School continue to stay on top of matters affecting its students. In a recent email to parents, the subject of cyber -bullying took center stage.  Along with trying to raise parents’ awareness of some internet sites being misused by teenagers as weapons of reputation destruction, the communique listed resources available to parents and their kids about this issue. For more information: School Officials Warn Parents/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 PRESCOT... 02/11/2009

     As of January 31, 2009, there were 70 single family listings in Needham on the Multiple Listing Service (MLSPin).  Market performance in Needham is forecasted to be strong, due in part to a large amount of properties listed for below market averages for the year to date which should continue to attract buyers to this terrific town.  Sellers are finally catching on that Overpriced Homes Do Not Sell, and price reductions continue to follow market patterns for the Metrowest area.  During January, 12 new single family listings were added to our MLSPin and an additional 5 single family homes were relisted for sale on the MLS, with an average list price of $1,192,660.  Based on the number of active single family listings versus the number of sales during the month, there is a market abso... 02/09/2009

Needham students at Newman elementary school are seeing the Needham farm grow from a small piece of land by their school. This helps the kids think about and protect their environment Not too far from there and a few years back one of the residents of Needham loaned a piece of land to residents to grow a garden on Central Avenue.  That area is now developed so it is nice to see that these students are learning about sustainable gardening.  The project is promoting reduse, reuse, and recycle. They plan to have passive solar greenhouses.  This is a place they can come to learn and ultimately apply what they have learned and save money too. www.needhamfarm.org          The Needham Community Farm will model sustainable living practices and teach residents how to bring these practices home. ... 02/03/2009

Well if you look outside you would not think it was spring weather-wise or ground-wise with all the snow but the sun is shining.  The end of January brings a spring market to Needham.  Other nearby markets are busier too.  For example I did an open house in Holliston last Sunday 1/25 and it was much busier than I have been in a while.  It was pretty non-stop. In the past fourteen days there have been 12 new single family listings come on.  In the past couple of days there have been 2 new properties. $579,000 7-room Gambrel  with 3 bedrooms, 1 full, 2 half baths - today $659,000 9-room Split entry with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 half baths - 6 days ago $695,000 8-room Mulit, 4 bedroom, 2.5 baths - -today Single Family Listings:   69     Average List Price: $1,029,401     Average Market Time: 129... 01/31/2009

iPod: Chilled But Connected… John Prescott’s The MetWest Scene bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com Submitted: Just now! - Do you ski? Snowboard? Skate? Commute outside to work? Live where it's cold right now? Do you want to stay connected to your iPod while you're outside? Playing winter sports? Walking to the T? Well Kombi Sports has come up with an innovotative product so you can connect to your wireless electronic device and keep your digits warm and toasty!   » Full Story on bostonkayakguy.wordpress.com   Just perfect for when you go to the hockey games to root for Needham!   Skiing, snowboarding, skating...don't leave home without these really cool gloves that provide great warmth and allow you to stay connected to your ipod...it may be cold outside, but these gloves are really hot!...Bo... 01/27/2009

There are 68 single family homes on the market ranging from $350,000 to 3.200,000.  The largest concentration of the inventory is at $1,000,000 to 1,499,000 which is 25 listings.  The next largest concentration would be $500,000 to $599,000.  Not too many properties are coming on the market.   All and all it is typical for this month to be like that.  There are lots of buyers looking out there and the prices are great.  The open houses are busy.  It is a good time to buy a home in Needham or in the greater Boston area with the low interest rates and the prices more palatable. There were 12 single family homes sold in the past 30 day.  Of those the lowest price was $350,000 and the highest price was $2,335,000 which sold in 67 days.  The Median Price: $657,826 and the Average Price was $... 01/26/2009

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