Pat Baker's Blog

Needham 300, Needham Massachusetts...

Keep watch for the schedule of events as we approach Needham's 300th year celebration.  It is calle Needham 300.

The town of Needham will celebrate it 300th year in the 2011.  I am serving on one of the committees that are planning activities and it is going to be a really fun year.  The kick of will be at the end of 2010 and that is not so far away.  We are all getting really excited about this momentous occasion.  We have looked back at when was done in the 250th year celebration and that is fun to see too.  I didn't come to town until after that celebration but from what I am told it was really great.

We have come so very far and have so much to celebrate.  It would be wonderful if former residents will return for some of the fun things that will be happening.  I won't leak a thing right now so you will just have to keep checking in as time approaches but I know it will be great fun for all ages.

If you once lived in Needham I would love to hear back from you of some of the things that you remember and enjoyed.  We have a very rich heritage and some very famous people who came from Needham as well.

I personally live in an historical house built in 1870 and before that the land was owned by the Kingsbury family.  I am a history buff and so doing the research on our house was fun. 

Needham is a vibrant community now and basically always has been.  We have much to celebrate and be proud of especially our school system.

We have the finest police department and fire department and we are very lucky to have each and every man and woman who serve us.

All who are involved in our town government are dilligent about the tasks of running this great town and we appreciate everyone as well.

It is the best place to live we think and close to major highways and 20 minutes to Boston and not much more to Logan Airport.  It only takes a hour to get to the Sagamore Bridge and Cape Cod.  We can be in New Hampshire in less than and hour.  We are surrounded by wonderful culture and education and have much to be greatful for.

http://ma-needham.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=349 Healthy Needham j2011

As time approaches and this great town is celebrated I will keep postng what is planned.  Stay tuned,,,,,

Pat Baker, Realtor  Metro/West Boston/Needham, MA 617-435-3471 http://budurl.com/patbakerRE

Condo Home for Sale Rosemary Ridge Needham Heights, Needham, MA 02494

  Asking $325,000.

This Rosemary Ridge condo for sale in Needham, MA features 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a balcony. Located in the front on the 2nd floor, it also features an elevator. Full compliment of amenities include an on-site concierge, swimming pool, hot tub, club/function room, library, and more.

This condo would be great for a couple starting out, and couple downsizing, mom and daughter or son, or anyone on their own who likes to have a guest room.  It could also be great for someone who wants a home for the summer and who wants spend winters in Florida.

Condo Home for Sale Rosemary Ridge
Needham Heights, Needham, MA

See more photos and get additional information about this condo for sale in Rosemary Ridge Needham Heights, Needham, MA 02494

Area Schools:

• Hillside Elementary School
• Pollard Middle School
• Needham High School

Community Information:

As you leave the parking lot, you can see the town Rosemary Pool. Just above that and up the hill, you'll find the Needham Public Library, Needham High School and Sudbury Farms Grocery Store. Dunkin' Donuts is just beyond that.  If you turn left at that corner and walk about a 1/2 mile, you'll find banks, restaurants, Trader Joes, Starbucks and a little common park.

Needham shines when it comes to transportation with the commuter rail and the MBTA bus.  There are 4 Needham exits off Route 128/95, and 10 minutes to the Mass Turnpike, quick trip to Logan Airport without traffic about 25 minutes.

Community Attractions:

Needham has also become a mecca for restaurants and just about everything type of culinary delight is represented here.  I can name a few: Fuji Steak House, Petit Maison Robert, Fresca, Pomodora, Sweet Basil, Rice Barn(Asian and Thai), Masala Art (Indian), Acapulcos, Panera Bread, Not Your Average Joe's, Blue on Highland, Tu Y Yo Mexican, Sweet Tomatoes, and it goes on and from there.

Contact Information:

• Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 1 Chapel Street, Needham, MA- Phone: (617 435-3471
• Agent: Pat Baker, Realtor, ABR, Green
• Available for showing by appointment only
• Schedule a showing

Find out if you can afford this home.

Information Deemed Reliable but Not Guaranteed

Equal Opportunity Housing

Before all else thing of saving energy and futures dollars and ask if the contractor has done some retrofits.

1. Get at least three written estimates.

2. Check references. If possible, view earlier jobs the contractor completed.

3. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for complaints.

4. Be sure the contract states exactly what is to be done and how change orders will be handled.

5. Make as small of a down payment as possible so you won’t lose a lot if the contractor fails to complete the job.

6. Be sure that the contractor has the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance.

7. Check that the contract states when the work will be completed and what recourse you have if it isn’t. Also, remember that in many instances you can cancel a contract within three business days of signing it.

8. Ask if the contractor’s workers will do the entire job or whether subcontractors will be involved too.

9. Get the contractor to indemnify you if work does not meet any local building codes or regulations.

10. Be sure that the contract specifies the contractor will clean up after the job and be responsible for any damage.

11. Guarantee that the materials that will be used meet your specifications.

12. Don’t make the final payment until you’re satisfied with the work.

Be wise!

Pat Baker, Realtor, Green, ABR - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage of Needham, MA - Luxury  Home market in the Metro/West/Boston Needham area 617-435-3471  www.patannbaker.com

Heritage Modular, Central Avenue, Needham, MA has been awarded the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce's Green Business of the Year for its efforts "to incorporate environmentally sustainable business practices into their daily operations.

http://www.heritagemodular.com/Areas_Served.htm

http://www.heritagemodular.com/Why_Modular.htm

The homes are prefabricated, ready -made parts custom built in Pennislyvania, through Excel Homes, to construct homes.  These home are 70% built.   Heritage brought what they have learned to Excel Homes and the applicaitons to help promote more energy-efficient homes.

In these days of economizing it only makes sense to be energy efficient.  Over the years methods of being energy efficient have become perfected and effective to the consumer.

Heritage Modular gives their customers the option of having their home Energy Star-certified.  So far they have put up buildings in Westwood, Wellesley, Natick and Lexington.  The agerage Energy Star homeaverages a 30% savnigs in energy costs, or about $400 a year.

To quote Jason Lee of Westwood whose home was built by Heritage Modular he said "We were building, so we thought we might as well do it right the first time."  "We didn't build a home to get an Energy Star rating.  We built it more to save money in the long run."

Heritage Modular is also looking to put up LEED=certified homes.  LEED is a private organization that goes even further than Energy Star certification.

Although they have not had orders in Needham to build an energy-efficient modular home they have built in nearby communities.  I can this trend definitely coming to Needham.

see the complete article in the Needham Times page 1 and 19 July 2, 2009 Steven Ryan can be reached at sryan@cnc.com

http://www.wickedlocal.com/needham/news/business/x931214993/Needhams-Heritage-Modular-goes-green-with-modular-homes

 Pat Baker, Realtor(R), GREEN(R), ABR(R)  Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Needham/Boston, MA 617-435-3471

pat.baker@nemoves.com
http://budurl.com/GreenHomeTips

July 3rd the fireworks begin at approximately 9:30 pm.

I just love the 4th of July.  I love the cookout, the family, and no shopping.  It is just great to kick off the summer this way for us in this great town of Needham.  Best of all is the Needham Celebration that starts on Friday July 3rd with the best fireworks you could possibly ever see and enjoy on top of the the Needham High School hill.  There are none to compare and since we didn't have them last year I am expecting them to be the best.

Thanks to The Exchange Club of Needham members who work tirelessly to make this two-day event happen every year.  I am so grateful.

My first day to visit Needham was the 4th of July 1965.  that was a day to remember and everyone since has been as well.  Somehow the weather always cooperates too.  Only 1 year when I was on a float did it rain and it was cold too.

There is so much to do and so much to see, great food, amazing parade, a town wide fun Needham event.  I have only missed 2 in the last 44 years. 

Here is a link for The Exchange Club with some photos. 

http://www.needhamexchangeclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=188&club_id=647136&module_id=8566&pp=1

Pat Baker, Realtor(R), GREEN(R), ABR(R)  Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 617-435-3471 pat.baker@nemoves.com
http://budurl.com/GreenHomeTips

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 family homes sold in Needham Height (02494) average days on market 84, while 16 single family homes sold in Needham proper (02492) average days on market 89.

Historic low mortgage rates have created a favorable buying environment at this time.  The forecast of the next quarter is for an increase in home sales. 

I have read and heard from 2 economists who say that we are out of the recession.  There is a slight upswing and it is slight but there is optimism that the housing market will be stronger towards the last quarter.  

Recession Is Over According to Financial Experts
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=7564649&page=1

Is Recession's End in Sight?
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7564327

The home prices could stay flat or go up.  With the Tax Credit available now and the low home prices it is clearly a good time to get into the housing market.  Home prices will go up and the deadline for tax credit is November 30, 2009.

Pat Baker, Realtor(R), GREEN(R), ABR(R) Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - 617-435-3471  www.patannbaker.com

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 sales are as follows for this past month:

1 at $345,000 at 99% of list price and 93% of Original price

2 sold in the $361,000 and $392,000 at 91% of list price and 87% of original price

2 sold at $439,000 and 1 at $430,000 at 98% of list price and 95% of original price

2 sold at $460,000 and the other at $465,000 at 98% of asking price and 95% of original price

4 properties sold in the 500k market at $550,000, $520,000, $595,000, and $579,000

--the average list price came at 97% of the list price and 95 % of the original price

5 properties sold in the 600K market at $683,000, $666,500, $633,500 and $675,000, $604,000

--the average list price came at 97% of the list price and 95% of the original price

1 sold at $735,000 and that was 90% of list price and 74% of the original price  580 days***

1 sold at $947,000 and that was 96% of list price while 81% of original price

1 sold at $1,380,000 which was 99% of list price and 100% of original price - 167 days and started at $1,375, and was changed to $1,399,000

Overall the properties sold at 97% of  the list price and 93% original.  It was scewed by the 7% at the property that sold for $735,00 which started at $995,000.  The price was clearly off at the beginning of the marketing of the property.  What still remains a constant in this real estate market is to be priced right in the beginning to save the ultimate agony of what happened in the case of this property.

The strongest part of this market are the properties from $500,000 to $699,999 price range

There are 122 properties on the market today.  The properties seem to move in the $500k to $700k range.  The $8000 tax credit and the historically low interest rates have brought many into the market.  There are some great homes in Needham for every price range.

The breakdown of price as follows:

1 property at $289,000

2 between $350,000 and $399,999

5 between $400,000 and $449,999

7 between $450,000 and $499,999

14 between $500,000 and $599,999

13 between $600,000 and $699,999

10 between $700,000 and $799,999

5 between $900,000 and $999,999

39 between $1,000,000 and $1,499,999

11 between $1,500,000 and $1,999,999

2 between $2,000,000 and $2,499,999

3 between $2,499,999 and $2,999,999

2 between $3,000,000 and $3,999,999

The average days on market are at 97 days

Median Price $939,000

Average Price $1,067,941

There are 27 properties pending with the highest concentration of the market at two price points

7 pending salesbetween $500,000 and $599,999 and 8 between $1,000,000 and $1,499,999.

There were 42 price changes and 16 of those were between $1,000,000 and $1,499,999

With the overall price changes coming to 3.88%

Pat Baker, REALTOR(R), ABR(R), GREEN(R) Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Needham, MA - Serving my clients primarily in Needham, Wellesley, Dover but extending to the MetroWest Boston areas. 617-435-3471

http://budurl.com/GreenHomeTips