We have 93 single family listings on the market through today 9/2/08.  I am expecting to see a lot of new listings coming on in the next couple of weeks.  The children will be back to school by Thursday so that should make a difference. The average list price is $1,002,611.  The lowest price is $349,500 and the highest price is $3,500,000.  The concentration are in the following price points: 13 in the $500,000 to $599,999 16 in the $600,000 to $699,999 19 between $1,000,000 and $1,499,999 13 between $1,499,999 and $1,999,999 The median price is $769,000 and the average days on market are 162 There were 17 properties that went  under agreement in the last month. 29 properties sold in the past month with the average price being $921,888 and the median price being $810,000 with the days o... 09/02/2008

Posted on September 2, 2008 by bostonkayakguy | Edit Countdown to Football !!! The Needham High School Football Team kicks off its season Saturday, September 6th at Dedham! Needham Football: * courtesy Boston.com JOHN PRESCOTT -BostonKayakGuy   Call John Prescott 508-523-9252 regarding your professional real estate services.     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 http://www.boston.com/partners/globesports/schools/teams/sfb/4272.html       Conference: Bay State (Carey) Date Opponent Time/result Sat., Sept. 6 at Dedham 10 a.m. Fri., Sept. 12 Braintree 7 p.m. Fri., Sept. 19 at Milton 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 27 at Newton North 6 p... 09/02/2008

  Numbers don't lie. Or do they?       WELLESLEY VS NEEDHAM Sent from BlueOrganizer Long time rivals Needham and Wellesley's latest skirmish isn't on the playing fields; rather it's taking place at the dump.  Or actually the transfer station where town recycling takes place. Numbers released for 2006 (the most up to date figures) indicate that 69% of Needham residents recycle, compared to 49% of Wellesley townspeople. According to Mass. DEP, Needham is the "best in the state!"     * courtesy Boston Globe   But Wellesley officials take issue with this, since all communities "self report."  They report that Wellesley's numbers are in fact much higher.  Self reporting by municipalities is now the standard procedure.       And as such, these reported numbers are subject to interpretation...... 09/01/2008

Posted on August 31, 2008 by bostonkayakguy | Edit Needham Public Schools welcome their returning students on Wednesday, September 3rd. Motorists, a gentle reminder that the opening of school will bring increased foot traffic and increased traffic on commuter routes. 2030 02 4 prev  *courtesy freefoto.com Sent from BlueOrganizer For information on School Bus Routes for 2008 - 2009: http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/ss_transportation_bus.htm Transportation: Transportation Department Frequently Asked Questions WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION IN NEEDHAM? All Needham students in grades K-6 who reside beyond 2 miles from their assigned school. WHAT IS THE FEE-BASED BUSING PROGRAM?. Fee-based busing applies to: all students in grades K-6 who reside within 2 miles of their assig... 09/01/2008

Often when I am helping a client in their home search in Needham I am asked what is the best elementary school. The answer is they are all great.  If your friends have children in one particular school or other they will say that is the best school, but Needham has nothing but best schools.  There is a real sense of community in each of the schools.  I have also included 2 other high school options and the link to Educational Cooperative Tech. All schools open September 3rd, 2008 and the kindergartners will start on September 4, 2008 Link to Bus Schedules:  http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/ss_transportation_bus.htm IAt this website you will find a map of the location of each of the schools as follows: http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/gi_district_map.htm Broadmeadow - k-5  http://broad... 08/30/2008

This is just a small capsule of Needham, Massachusetts but a good one. Stay tuned for upcoming events. Plans are already underway for our Tercentennial celebration in 2011. Contact Bill Dermody 781-444-7400 Bill.Dermody@nemoves.com To watch the Needham Channel and get an inside peak at the Field of Dreams at Memorial Park and DeFazio Field so tune in as follows: Channel 9 -- Comcast Channel 15 -- RCN Channel 29 -- Verizon Written by: Pat Baker, Licensed Real Estate Broker/Agent of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage of Needham, MA 08/26/2008

To our family of three it has been a wonderful life.  It sounds like a title to a movie doesn't it?  If we look at the years since we married and before that it has been a great life in Needham and we could not have chosen a better place to live.  We just happened to find a neighborhood that had the best family ever living just behind us.  So for all the years we have lived in our home and raised our son we were lucky to have our best friends living right behind us.  They have been like second parents to our son and we have been there for their three children as well.  We have been able to lean on each other when things were tough for either of us and somehow it got us through.  My husband has lived in Needham since he was 3 and I am a late comer because arrived just after graduation at... 08/25/2008

Needham Business AssociationHarvest Festival this year is on October 4, 2008                              between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. This is really one of my favorite events in town.  It is great to see friends and enjoy the ushering in of the Fall.  It is a hit for any age group.  It is just a fun place to go. One of the best features of the event is the "Souper Bowl" under the tent.  It is a soup tasting of some of the restaurants in Needham along with a vote for the best tasting by the samplers and a select group of judges.  Then there will be a "People's Choice" award given to the purveyor of the best soup.  Generally there 8 to 14 soups to taste. The town common transforms into a fair extraordinaire.  There are tables organized by local merchants and a chance to sample their war... 08/22/2008

    Have you heard it?  The clock is ticking!     Exactly 2 weeks from Wednesday, you'll hear even more.   There will be the frantic search; cabinets and cupboards being opened and closed.  Drawers closed in frustration.  Doors slammed.   Clothes will be taken from the closet.  Some will land on the floor.  Missing shoes will be retrieved.   Breakfast will remain untouched in some instances.  Hairdryers will be humming.  iPods will be removed from the bedroom, family room, car, ...and other sundry places.   Running feet will be heard...out the front door.  Car doors will be slammed; buses will be waiting. Moms and Dads will start their engines.  And they'll all be headed to the biggest gathering of friends since summer began.   That's right!  You guessed it!   Two weeks from Wednesday, ... 08/18/2008

"Green Goes With Everything." by Sloan Barnett I love passing on great information. I also love being green and have been since 1982. I am thrilled that the word is out. We switched to green products back in 1982 and I did everything I could to recycle and think green. I could say more but her video says a lot. There are a lot of kids with asthma these days. As a child and on into my adulthood I was very bad with asthma and used inhalers. I had to get away from the products that made me sick. I did back there in 1982. The products she shows are the ones we have used all these years. That is the title of a new book coming out in September.  You may know the author her name is Sloan Barnett and she is a regular on NBC Today show.  She tells her story regarding her son got asthma and it se... 08/17/2008

Needham Luxury Market Report 2003 - 2008 Properties sold over $1 Million 1-03 --6-08 Here are some interesting stats for the luxury home market as follows:                              2003            2004           2005            2006           2007         20008 1 Million $ bracket -    17               41               47               48               57               23 2 Million $ bracket -      4                 8                4                 8                 5                 2 3 Million $ bracket -      1                 0                0                 0                 1                 0 4 Million $ bracket -      0                  0                0                 0                0                 0 5 Million $ bracket -       0                 0                1... 08/15/2008

Have you heard it?  The clock is ticking!                                         Exactly 3 weeks from today, you'll hear even more.   There will be the frantic search; cabinets and cupboards being opened and closed.  Drawers closed in frustration.  Doors slammed.   Clothes will be taken from the closet.  Some will land on the floor.  Missing shoes will be retrieved.   Breakfast will remain untouched in some instances.  Hairdryers will be humming.  iPods will be removed from the bedroom, family room, car, ...and other sundry places.   Running feet will be heard...out the front door.  Car doors will be slammed; buses will be waiting. Moms and Dads will start their engines.  And they'll all be headed to the biggest gathering of friends since summer began.   That's right!  You guessed it!... 08/13/2008

The single family on market listings are lower than I have seen it in a long time with just 93 properties on the market and  5 of those have accepted offers and will take back up offers. The list price range is from $349,900 to $3,500,000. During the last 10 days there have been 7 single family homes sold.  One of those properties was very unique and historical one.  There are less buyers in that category and price range of $2,400,000.  The original price was $2,750,000 and it was on the market for 322 days.  This is a wonderful property near the center of town. A total of 9 properties came on the market and 2 of those are pending.  So it has been a busy 10 days in spite of the fact that we are all trying to enjoy what is left of the summer.  The market is still strong and as I always s... 08/10/2008

In today's August 1, 2008 Boston Herald there was a great article really talking about how this wonderful suberb of Boston - Needham, MA is meeting the needs of buyers who want the close commute to Boston without the high prices of living in Boston. Recently  Bill Bartlett purchased a starter home, ranch-style for $395,000 with 3 bedrooms and it has met his needs.  He has been renting for 17 years.  Ofter the homes at that price range have been purchased by a developer. The ome he purchased for his family was 50 years old and owned by the original owner for the life of the home.  She had maintained it well.  He is planning to add a garage with a studio above it. Developers have been snapping up properties that are what we call "tear-downs." and they are replaced with $1 million plus hom... 08/01/2008

Needham has 2 great spots but nearby Dover, Wellesley and South Natick have some great spots too.  In fact, my brother-in-law comes to visit us often from Cape Cod to do the nearby trails.  This keeps him young at 58. Ridge Hill Reservation - Charles River Peninsula - This reservation has sloping hills that gently roll down to the charles River also known as the city river. Needham Town Forest - 200+ acre trails run the gamut of types of terrain - your average garden variety type to a very frightening rocky sections Nearby Dover: Noanet Woodlands Trail - Dover -A network of trails with diverse terrain.  387 foot peak-- Great for Cross Country Skiing Nearby Wellesley: Elm Bank: This reservation has miles of trails that lead to the borders of the Charles River.  Beautiful spot. South Nati... 07/31/2008

Needham has the best schools. ..The best restaurants - like Panera Bread,  Sweet Basil's, Blue on Highland, Fuji's Steak House, Not Your Average Joe's, Masala Art, Quince Bistro, Fava, Gabriella's Bistro, Bertucci, Rice Barn, Village Fish, Stone Hearth Pizza, Spiga, New Garden, Mandarin Cuisine,  Pacini's, Fresca's ...The best transportation - Bus and commuter rail ....The best 4th of July Celebrations .....The best New Year's Eve Celebration ......The best coffee shops - Dunkin' Donuts (3) & Starbucks ........The best bagels - Bagel's Best, Finagle-A-bagel, Cafe Bagel .......The best hospital - Beth Israel Deaconess .........The best walking and hiking trails ..........The best clubs and organizations - to name a few- "Parent Talk" "Rotary Club of Needham, the Needham Exchange Club ...... 07/30/2008

Entire 2007 Real Estate Sales for Single Family Homes:  -Total homes sold all of 2007  = 373 home   The average sales price was $748,000   The average list price was    $776,000+   Selling at and average 97% of list price and average of 94% of original price The volume of sales for the entire of 2007 was $279,219,386   Comparatively from Jan. 2008 to July 29 2008   Total homes sold through July 29 149 homes   The average sales price  $780,000+    The average list price is $804,468+    Selling at an average of 97 % of list price and an average of 94% of original price    With a volume of sales thru today of $115,064,642  with 5 months of this year to go.   The blog was created by Pat Baker, Licensed Real Estate Broker/Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, One Chapel Street, N... 07/29/2008

The Green Needham Collaborative brings the community together with other people who are like-minded when it comes to the education and effice use of our resources.  There are many topics on the iste and they have kept the site up to date. There is a link to some great tips for conservation.  I am pleased that a group like this is available at no cost to join.  For 26 years I have been recycling before Needham had their recycle facility the town of Wellesley allowed me to bring my recycle materials there.  All these things take time but it is worth the time.  I have used biodegradable products since the l977.  I was introduced to some amazing products that were developed in 1956 and broke down in days and weeks instead of years.  This same company got the "Stevie Award," and is a Climate... 07/27/2008

Saturday Afternoon July 26th  report.  There are 102 Active single family properties on the market The average single family home on the market is $1,051,612 as of today. The prices range from $349,000 to $3,500,000 There are 24 condominiums are active starting at $248,000 to $749,000 There are 2 multi-families $519,000 and $799,000 Presently there are 10 land listings from $335,000 to $1,795,000 4 single famly homes went under agreeement as of 7/19/08 As we approach the end of July the market has been quiet but generally is during the summer months.  We continue to open houses in Needham and they are pretty well attended.  Folks will want to have made their home choice before we enter the fall especially if they have children starting school in September. The work continues at Needham ... 07/26/2008

Needham Market Report July 9, 2008 - Hazy Hot and Humid - still better than snow and ice cold.  There were 70 properties sold since May 1, 2008. Ranging from $289,000 to $2,722,732 Average days on market for that time period was 70 days.  Sales Ratio of 94% of the original price and  97% of the present list price. For the same period one year ago the Average Days on Market were 82.  The lowest sale price was $250,451 and the highest price was $2,850,000. Sales Ratio was $95% of the original price and 97% of the current list price. The Median Price for the period from 5/1/2008 to 7/9/2008 is $609,750 The Median Price the the period form 5/1/2007 to 7/9/2007 was $651,000. The Average Price (5/1/2008 to 7/9/2008) is $770,074 The Average Price (5/1/2007 to 7/9/2007) is $781,372 The On Marke... 07/09/2008