Metrowest Town’s Recycling Programs
July 13th, 2010
Thank you to the person on www.HollistonFreeCycle.com (which is a Yahoo Group) for the links to all the local Metrowest recycling information.
I feel that Massachusetts does a pretty good job, either thru grassroots organizations or towns saving money, in providing recycling opportunities to the local residents.
Ashland Recycling Program Info
Framingham Recycling Program Info
Holliston Recycling Program Info
Hopkinton Recycling Program Info
Milford Recycling Program Info
Sherborn Recycling Program Info
Check out the previous posts regarding related sites:
Asbestos Removal Article from 2008
I hope you find these links as a useful source of information whenever you are searching out information on your town’s recycling program.
Ed Daniels of the MAHome Team can be reached at Ed@MAhome.com or 508-341-7880. He calls Holliston his hometown and works with Re/Max Executive Realty selling homes all around the Metrowest area.Categories: Ashland, Bellingham, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Local Communities, Medway, Milford, Natick, Real Estate, Town Hall Info
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Metrowest Foreclosure Updates
July 7th, 2010
Today I received a news release from RealtyTrac, which is the leading online source for foreclosure properties. The report made me question how the specific Metrowest Massachusetts marketplace is doing in regards to foreclosures. This post will report on the following questions you may have:
- Are there a bunch of foreclosures driving down home values in our area?
- How much of a discount can I get if I buy one of these foreclosure properties?
- Is the market getting worse or better out there?
Foreclosures in Massachusetts
RealtyTrac reports that Massachusetts is one of the top 5 states in % of foreclosure sales for the 1st quarter of 2010. (June 30th – Not really sure why it took so long to issue these stats??) As alarming as this sounds, let’s look a bit closer…
Number of foreclosure sales were 2,111 in quarter 1, which is 42% of all sales! Sounds bad, right?
How does this compare to other states they reported on? It works out to .9% of Total foreclosures in the United States.
Still digging a bit deeper, I checked MLS data for number of sales in MA for the 1st quarter. MLS reports 6628 total single family home sales, which works out to 32% of all single family home sales are foreclosure sales. Since they report 2,111 were ALL sales, let’s add condos and multifamilies to that number… now it is over 11,000 sales, or about 19% of all sales.
Categories: Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Local Communities, Market Conditions, Natick, Real Estate, Southborough
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6 Money Mistakes of Newlyweds
June 7th, 2010
A new group of professionals working in the Massachusetts wedding industry, called The 495 Wedding Group, recently had The MAhome Team come on board. A terrrific group of people working hard to give local newleyweds an all-in-one-place resource.
In addition to this group of professionals, I came across this recent article on Kiplinger’s website that would be helpful to Metrowest MA newlyweds. Click here for the full article: Six Money Mistakes of Newlyweds. The mistakes are:
- Keeping Money Secrets
- Not Having a Budget
- Giving one Person the Financial Reins
- Dragging Debt Down the Aisle
- Sweating the Small Stuff
As the preferred Real Estate Agents for The 495 Wedding Group, I hope that if you have a friend or loved one who is getting married, that you turn them onto this collection of professionals. Of course, if we can serve you or your friends with buying a home in Metrowest Massachusetts, please call on us anytime.
Ed and Doriane Daniels of Remax Executive Realty can be reached at 508-341-7880 or Ed@MAhome.com. The MAhome Team covers all of the Metrowest Boston towns in the sale or purchase of homes.Categories: Preferred Business
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Framingham MA Rental Home
May 12th, 2010
The single family home at 11 Debra Lane in Framingham is a rental property that I represented last week. It took all of 5 days to get a stack of applicants for this rental!
Framingham MA
The home is very nicely updated. The owners, David and Maria Shapiro, worked very hard to update all areas of the multi level home.
The hardwood flooring is gleaming, the kitchen has all new appliances to go along with tile and new cabinetry. Bathrooms renovated, heating system is updated, and everything has a fresh coat of paint.
The asking rent for this home is $2000 per month, and the tenant cares for all utilities.
This is the best type of showing I could ask for as a local Metrowest Realtor!
Renovated Kitchen
So, the report is IN… the Framingham rental market is alive and well! Plenty of strong candidates applied for the home, and it looks to have a great match in only a few days!
Ed Daniels of Re/Max Executive Realty can be reached at 508-341-7880 if his MAhome Team can be of service on finding a rental or helping a Landlord locate a great tenant.Categories: Framingham, Real Estate
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My Cutler School Goes Affordable
May 10th, 2010
I spent my 1st grade year at the Cutler School, high on the hill behind Town Hall. Years later it was transformed into apartments, and now the community will see work beginning on Cutler Heights.
This project brings much needed affordable housing to Holliston.
This 3 1/2 story building will house 30 units and parking for over 50 cars, half underneath the building. Every single unit will be affordable.
This means that if your income level falls under 60% of the prevailing median income, these units are available to you.
Three of the units are for households that fall under 30% of the median income guidelines. Holliston residents receive preference in these types of developments.
Based solely on 2009 median income figures from MA state websites, the 60% qualifying income levels look to be:
- 1 person household $27,876
- 2 person household $36,454
- 3 person household $45,031
- 4 person household $53,608
I will follow the building of this development, which they expect will take about 12 months to complete.
Metrowest Daily News article on Cutler Heights.
Funding for the project comes from a variety of sources. Townspeople pay into a Community Preservation Act fund in their taxes, and this is one source.
Additional sources include $2.2 million in state funds, and most importantly, $3.9 million in federal stimulus money.
Yes, that’s right, Holliston is getting it’s little piece of the stimulus funds. Frankly, without the state and federal funds, this project would have been dead in the water.
Clearing Cutler Heights
Affordable housing seems to get a reaction of “not in my backyard”, but this location and the great need this community has outweighs any negative points on this project.
Cutler holds a special spot in my childhood, and I am glad to see this project moving forward!
Ed Daniels is a graduate of Cutler School 1st grade and currently is a Realtor with Re/Max Executive Realty. His classmates can catch up with him by calling 508-341-7880 to plan our next reunion.
Categories: Holliston, Local Communities, Real Estate
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Oil Heat Homeowners Face New Laws
April 25th, 2010
Attention all Massachusetts homeowners with oil heating systems, a new law must be followed by July 1, 2010.
What do you have to do?
Upgrade your heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to your furnace. The upgrade is:
Install an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that don’t currently have this system.
Benefits for the Homeowner
The new law requires insurance companies that write homeowners policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil.
A leak may result in exposure to petroleum vapors in your home.
If the leak reaches groundwater or soil beneath your home, then a cleanup must be performed to restore your property to the tune of up to $250,000. Even a “simple” leak can be as much as $15,000. Several hundred Massachusetts homeowners experience some kind of leak each year.
Read all the specifics at this Massachusetts Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law webpage.
What does it Cost?
Typical cost is from $150-$350, which includes parts, labor, and permits.
Ed Daniels of Re/Max Executive Realty can be reached at Ed@MAhome.com to answer any additional questions you may have about this law or to find a reputable serviceman in the Metrowest area.Categories: Real Estate
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Holliston Market Report 1st Qtr 2010
April 15th, 2010
The Holliston real estate market is in trouble.
There’s nothing to sell!!
Compared to 2009, the number of available listings fell 15%. In 2009 there were 67 listings, today there are only 56.
The Big Picture:
The Warren Group reported on the February real estate market for all of Massachusetts:
- Single Family Median Prices jumped 8.4% vs. Feb 2009
- Single Family# of sales climbed 13.5% vs. Feb 2009
- Year to Date Median Prices are up 9.8%
Categories: Holliston, Market Conditions, Real Estate
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WANTED: Your Furniture Donations
April 13th, 2010
Selling homes in Metrowest Boston could bury me in really great household furniture that sellers can no longer use.
I have learned to just say NO (thank you).
Furnishing Options of Marlborough may be the resource that says YES.
Categories: Marlborough, Preferred Business, Real Estate
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Metrowest Homes Open House Weekend
April 9th, 2010
There is a big push this weekend to show off houses and condos in the area. Open Houses will be Everywhere!
This Sunday, April 11th, it is forecasted to rain, so go check them out. As part of a national push by Realtor associations, 35 states have agreed to increase open house availablity on this weekend.
As of Friday, there are 27 open houses planned in Ashland, 27 in Holliston, 64 in Framingham, 77 in Natick, 28 in Hopkinton, and 66 in Franklin, to name a few.
Categories: Events in Community, Market Conditions, Real Estate
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Short Sale Success: Morton St, Holliston
April 6th, 2010
The MAhome Team just completed a sale of 80 Morton Street in Holliston, which is one of those “dreaded” Short Sales!
I just spoke to the Sellers good friend and described it as “the easiest short sale transaction I have successfully sold.” I think he was shocked at that response to it since he was intimately involved, for the Seller is a co-worker friend.
The fact is that the bank responded to us in about 2 weeks! That is unheard of in this marketplace. I have another short sale that is on the 4th buyer and we have waited for 6 months for a response from the bank.
The Buyer is a great local family using the home as an investment. They got a great deal.
The Seller had some unfortunate scenerios come up in their life during a very tough marketplace. They got out, survived a difficult situation, and are moving on!
The only loser in this may have been the bank, but I guess it was better than the cost of a foreclosure. See – everyone is a winner.
Welcome to the Neighborhood, Grimes Family!
Ed Daniels of Remax Executive Realty is the new neighbor for the Grimes Family on Morton St in Holliston. Come by and say hi to the new neighbor and Ed (at 24 Morton St) anytime!
Categories: Featured Listings, Holliston
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