Open House in Harvard 6/26, 2:00-4:00, Custom home with Views! $675,000

Million dollar views! Expertly sited & designed by an architect, this
passive solar home will surprise you! Spectacular cook’s kitchen, w/ double ovens,gas range, Subzero refrigerator. Two story stone fireplace, exquisite master suite, luxurious bath, with soaking tub and sauna. Finished lower level offers media/guest or inlaw potential. Views from every window, sits on 6 + acres, fenced for dogs, professionally designed gardens. Enjoy top schools, town Pond, natural setting & convenience to major routes.


More details and photos at: http://harvardviews.com

Verrill Farm Strawberry Festival - Saturday June 25

Where: Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Rd # A, Concord, MA 01742
Date: June 25, 2011
Time: 11:00am–3:00pm


Entertainment
■Live music by Ben Rudnick & Friends
■Tanglewood Maroinettes - The Fairy Circus - 40 minute shows at 11:30am & 1 pm
■Giddy Up Ponies
■Hayrides

Strawberry Dessert Recipe Contest
Judges are looking for your signature strawberry dessert examples include cake, pie, cobbler, crisp, torte, pudding, ice cream....

2 categories: Baked and Non Baked
2 groups: Adults & Children

11-1 pm: bring your entry & a copy of your recipe
Please attach a card to your serving dish with your name & phone #.

1:15-1:30 pm: judging

Contest judged by members of the Culinary Guild of New England. Prizes awarded in each category & group

River Solstice

Where: The Old Manse, 269 Monument St, Concord, MA 01742
Date: June 21, 2011
Time: 6:30pm–10:00pm


Celebrate the Summer Solstice along the Concord River

Welcome the arrival of summer at the annual River Solstice celebration on Tuesday, June 21

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a picnic at the Old Manse, 269 Monument Street in Concord. Bring food, drink and a blanket to enjoy an incomparable view and musical offerings by Snow Crow and Voices for the Earth chorus.

At 8 p.m. accompanied by the chorus, canoes and kayaks launch from the Old Manse for an illuminated flotilla to confluence of the Assabet and Sudbury Rivers at Egg Rock. Bring along a candle lantern to attach to your boat. You can paddle to the picnic or launch your boat at the Old Manse dock. The South Bridge Boat House (978-371-2465) is offering a special solstice rental rate.

For those who want to participate without getting wet, the best flotilla viewing spot is from the Lowell Road Bridge just outside Concord Center

The celebration continues at the nearby Old Calf Pasture with a drum and dance fire circle led by Earth Drum Council.

For more information go to www.emersonumbrella.org or www.oars3rivers.org. River Solstice is sponsored by MusketaquidArts and Environment; OARS for the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord rivers; and the Old Manse - The Trustees of Reservations in cooperation with the Town of Concord.

Features: Free, Open to All, Outdoor

Real Estate Market Update - May 2011

Although this spring feels somewhat slower than last year with the tax credit, in reality, it is about the same. The chart below shows the number of sales and under agreements Jan-May, for the composite of the local towns going back to 2000. It is amazing to see how many more homes sold in 2000 and 2002. Ah, I guess those were the good old days! At least the local real estate market appears to be steady which is not true in other parts of the country. (Towns included, Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Maynard, Stow & Sudbury)

Source: mlspin.com

Riverfest

Where: Old North Bridge, Monument St & Great Meadows Rd, Concord, MA 01742 (and elsewhere in Concord)
Date: June 11, 2011


Riverfest hosts over 30 events in 11 towns in metrowest. From Lowell to Framingham there are a variety of events, all free to the public. Paddles, walks, music, poetry, book readings and art exhibits. As well as boat trips, birding trips, rubber ducky races, fishing lessons and more. Riverfest is a celebration of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Features: Families, Free, Kids, Open to All, Outdoor, Seniors, Teens
Website: http://WWW.SUDBURY-ASSABET-CONCORD.ORG
Phone: 617-223-5225
Price: free

Carlisle Country Garden Tour

Where: 27 School St, Carlisle, MA 01741
Date: June 10, 2011 / June 11, 2011
Time: 10:00am–4:00pm
Next on: Tomorrow, June 11, 2011


The Carlisle Garden Club will feature eight private gardens on its 9th country garden tour on Friday June 10th and Saturday June 11th from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. The Country Gardens Tour will showcase stunning formal gardens, charming rustic gardens, enchanted woodland gardens and one spectacular water vista.

Tickets can be purchased in advanced at for $15 per person ($10 for seniors) at Ferns Country Store, New England Nurseries in Bedford, Chelmsford Agway or online at www.carlislegardenclub.org. On the day of the tour, tickets will be $20 per person and available at the First Religious Society in the town center.

During the two days of the tour, the Carlisle Garden Club will also be hosting a plant sale featuring hearty perennials from the gardens of garden club members and colorful annuals. The plant sale will take place at the First Religious Society from 10:00am – 4:00 PM on both days.

This event is a major fundraiser for the garden club. Proceeds are used for town beautification projects, scholarships for high school students and civic programs.

Look for future announcements on speakers and events. For directions visit us on-line at carlislegardenclub.org and click on events.

Features: Open to All, Volunteer
Website: http://www.carlislegardenclub.org

Absorption Rates - June 2010 vs. 2011

The real estate market this spring has been unpredictable. In March, there seemed to be a lot of pent up demand and lack of inventory. The unusually snowy winter caused a delay in sellers getting their houses on the market. There were a lot of homes going under agreement but now it seems that listings are out pacing the number of buyers making offers. So, I decided to compare the inventory and absorption rate to this time last year and most towns have more inventory/and or fewer sales than a year ago. The tax credit helped drive sales last year so this is not too surprising. The towns that are selling slightly better than last year are Concord, Harvard, Sudbury, Stow, and Lancaster.

Under 4 months=seller's market, 5-7 mos. = balanced market
over 7 months = buyer's market

If you have any questions, or want more information, please contact me.
source:mlspin.com

24 acre farm in Harvard! Gorgeous land!

42 Old Mill Road Harvard MA

Market Activity Update

Houses are selling despite the multiple holidays this week! I took a look at the number of new single family houses listed in the last 7 days as well as accepted offers and under agreements. Under agreements usually mean that most contingencies have been met.

We also like to look at the Absorption Rates in each town, which measures the Supply vs. Demand. Under 4 months = seller's market, 4-7 mos. = balanced market and over 7 months = buyer's market

As you can see, Acton and Concord are experiencing a balanced market but Sudbury is still experiencing more of a buyer's market. This confirms what I have been seeing. If you would like more info, please contact me!

New Listing in Boxborough! OH Sunday 2-4

Acton Real Estate Review - 2011

The spring market is taking off now that we are no longer buried in snow. I looked at Acton's trends and in the last two weeks, 7 new listings of single family homes have come on the market and 8 have gone under agreement or have accepted offers. This is a very good sign! Buyers seem to be ready to buy. It's due to the market being somewhat stable in the surrounding towns with highly rated school systems and a concern that interest rates will rise. One thing I will say to buyers in a market such as this, make an offer if you like it, because houses are selling quickly when they are priced right and in good condition!

Here is a look at the last few years:

source: mlspin

As always, feel free to contact me if you have questions or would like more analysis about a town. Meanwhile, enjoy the bright sunshine!

QR Codes

The real estate industry has been hit with a new bit of technology called a QR Code. QR stands for Quick Response and it is merely a bar code that can be scanned with an iphone or smartphone to disseminate information, quickly. We are being told that this is the best thing since sliced bread and we can put a QR code on our signs, business cards, and marketing materials. Imagine standing in front of a house for sale and scanning a barcode with your phone from the sign to download the brochure on the spot...

I first downloaded a free app on my iphone. Then if you search on line to generate QR code, there are free sites. I created one for my cell phone number:

You can scan this in and hit call and my phone will ring. (not sure how much faster this is than typing my number out: 978-621-4370?

Then I created one for my website, concordcountryproperties.com:

Check it out. This is very slick. So, if you see these square black and white boxes in the paper or magazines, you will know what they are. Only time will tell if this takes off!

Pent up Demand

I held an open house in Acton yesterday and it was probably the biggest attendance I have ever seen in 19 years! There were over 25 families that came through indicating that the buyers are very ready to find a nice house. The house was priced well at $475,000, 4 BR Colonial with many updates! So, the spring market has begun despite all this snow!

New Listing! 3BR+ Passive Solar on 6 acres in Groton, MA, $499,000

For Sale: 3BR/2+1BA Single Family House in Groton, MA, $499,000

Concord Real Estate Review

I recently looked at single family sales in Concord, MA over the last 4 years. Sales in Concord were still rising in 2006 & 2007 so the correction hit later there than in the surrounding towns. It appears that 2009 was the low point for Concord. Sales increased in 2010 although the median price was lower. That just indicates that there are more homes in lower price ranges selling now. I looked at the # of sales in the high end $2,000,000+. In 2007, there were 14; in 2008 there were 13; in 2009 there were 4; in 2010 there were 6 high end sales.

I am happy to report that sales are now trending in the right direction!

Source: mlspin

2010 - A great year!