Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide

What Communities Are Worth Buying In?

The Boston Herald put together a special section April 4, 2008 on the Spring real estate market, including an article about places "worth spring-ing for."

Reporter Paul Restuccia did a great job. I spoke with Paul a couple of days ago  about the real estate market north of Boston.

Paul spoke with several buyer agents and buyer brokers to find out the places where potential home buyers could get a deal. I recommended Tewksbury, MA and Haverhill, MA.

"Broker Richard Rosa of Buyers Brokers Only likes Haverhill and Tewksbury this spring.

"He said Tewksbury’s median house prices have fallen 13.5 percent since 2005 to reach a modest $328,500. 'You can get a decent-sized house for a decent price in Tewksbury, and it’s an easy commute for those working in the Route 93-128 corridor,' Rosa said.

"As for Haverhill, median house prices there have fallen some 9 percent since 2005 to about $300,000.

"Add in a revitalized downtown and Haverhill offers 'both the city and the suburb,' Rosa said."

I also suggested a good deal.

"Unit 8, 48 Farrwood Drive, Haverhill. This two-bedroom, 2,100-square-foot condo costs $249,900, or just $119 a square foot. The unit offers two deeded parking spots, a new roof, a new heating system and new windows."

Other buyer agents/brokers suggested (Metro West) Needham, Natick (south of Boston), Plymouth and Norwell. In Boston Proper, Brighton and the Savin Hill section of Dorchester were suggested for condos, and Hyde Park's Fairmont Hill section for single-family homes.

Read The Boston Herald Article

The Best Zip Codes

The Boston Globe Magazine compiled a list of what it is calling the "best" zip codes in Massachusetts.

Only zip codes within I-495 were considered. To be the "best," communities had to, among other criteria, have retained housing values, have a lot of college-educated residents and have plenty of restaurants and shopping.

Check out the list.

Andover, MA Values Education And Open Space

Open space in Andover, Massachusetts, a city of more than 33,000 people, surprisingly comprises nearly one-third of its area.

Besides open space, Andover residents also are passionate about public education, which consumes 49 percent of it taxes, according to a January 6, 2008 Boston Globe article.

Among 293 school systems in the Commonwealth, Andover 10th-graders ranked 37 in English and 16 in math, according to a Boston Globe analysis of 2007 MCAS results.

Sixth-graders ranked 24 out of 309 systems in English and 24 in math, according to a Boston Globe analysis of 2006 MCAS results. Third-graders ranked 59 out of 299 school systems in reading and 71 in math.

Just 22 miles from Boston, Andover was settled in 1636 and incorporated in 1646.

Search for single-family homes in Andover, MA

Search  for condos in Andover, MA

Map of Andover, Massachusetts

View 2007 single-family housing market data for Andover, MA Source: MLSPIN

Read The Boston Globe Article About Andover, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Property Taxes

The Boston Globe has a blog that tracks Massachusetts cities and towns attempting to raise taxes by overriding proposition 2 ½. The blog is called Override Central.

This is great information for home buyers considering which community to buy in. On the right-hand side of the Web page you can click on specific cities or towns.

What's your city or town planning?

Snow Starts War Of Words Between Neighborhoods

A December 19, 2007 post on The Boston Globe's blog about parking in the City of Boston and surrounding communities after a snow storm resulted in some interesting comments between "neighbors."

The post discusses the use of markers, i.e., lawn chairs, etc., to reserve spaces residents have shoveled on the street after a snow storm.

One commenter said the following:

"I think it's interesting that certain parts of the city have been mentioned as areas where spot markers are used. Let's see: South Boston, Charlestown, Dorchester, and East Boston. Notice a pattern? These are the neighborhoods where "townies" live. In other words, the inconsiderate Boston locals that give this city a reputation for being the rudest in the country."

He also commented as follows:

"So for all of you people defending this practice, fine. But just understand that as long as that attitude prevails, your neighborhoods will continue to be thought of as backwards."

Actually, I think it is those types of comments that would give a city a reputation of being rude.

Personally, having lived in East Boston during college and law school, I understand why residents (myself included at the time) use the markers. My experience has been that it was not an issue after just a few inches of snow, but after about six or more inches have fallen shoveling out your car after the plows have come by is quite a job.

It never really seemed like a big deal when I lived there in the late 80s and early 90s. The vast majority of people seemed to respect the idea that someone who did the work deserved the spot for a few days. It's a bit difficult to explain unless you've lived on such a street.

Did some people take it to the extreme? Certainly, but that's life.

My comment is number 9.

The bottom line: Why should someone who barrels out of their parking space in the morning to go to work without laying a finger on a shovel come home later in the day and take a nicely shoveled spot someone spent a couple of hours (or even 45 minutes) working on?

The Boston Herald reported December 27, 2007 that Boston residents are defying a city rule to remove markers within 48 hours.

Sox Owner To Wait To Demolish Brookline Homes

Boston Red Sox owner John Henry will have to wait to demolish two homes on the Brookline estate he purchased for $16 million in August 2007, the Boston Herald reported December 21, 2007.

"The Brookline Historical Commission voted last week to impose a demolition delay on Henry’s Sargent Road estate, after determining that the two structures he wants to tear down are historically significant."

In September, Henry filed paperwork at Brookline Town Hall, indicating plans to demolish the property’s 13,000-square-foot mansion and 5,000-square-foot guest (yes, the 5,000-square-foot home in referred to as a "guest house") house.

Apparently, his plan is to consolidate the four adjoining parcels and build one single-family home on the land.

But where will the guests stay?

Read The Boston Herald Article

Haverhill, MA Welcomes High-Tech Business

A Massachusetts High Technology Council survey of the most business-friendly communities in Massachusetts for high-tech companies ranked Haverhill, MA 29th, a jump from 244th from last year's rankings, The Eagle-Tribune reported  November 27, 2007.

Abington, MA ranked No 1 and North Andover, MA ranked No. 2 on the "MassTrack" list. Boston placed 35th. The top 35 communities are as follows:

Rank Town

1 Abington

2 North Andover

3 Uxbridge

4 Grafton

5 Canton

6 Walpole

7 Medway

8 Athol

9 Shrewsbury

10 Douglas

11 Palmer

12 Hingham

13 Leominster

14 Billerica

15 Natick

16 Attleboro

17 Revere

18 Dalton

19 Burlington

20 Chelmsford

21 Mansfield

22 Hopkinton

23 Boxborough

24 North Reading

25 Asland

26 Franklin

27 Dracut

28 Sutton

29 Haverhill

30 Lowell

31 Amesbury

32 Westwood

33 Newburyport

34 Upton

35 Boston

More Than 400 Multi-Family Homes For Sale In Lawrence

With new foreclosed multi-family properties hitting the market in Lawrence, MA regularly, Lawrence has more than 400 multi-family homes, including regular listings, bank-owned properties and short sales, listed on the MLS Property Information Network, Inc. as of today.

Find multi-family homes for sale in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Check out The Boston Globe's October 7, 2007 special report, including video, on Lawrence's foreclosure crisis.

Lawrence profile from the October 7, 2007 Boston Globe.

Haverhill, MA To Build River Boardwalk

Massachusetts lawmakers have approved full funding of a $1.2 million boardwalk project on the Merrimack River along Haverhill's historic and revitalized downtown.

Recently re-elected Mayor James Fiorentini told the The Eagle-Tribune newspaper that construction is set to begin in the spring behind The Tap restaurant and brew pub on Washington Street.

The 300-foot walkway will extend from behind The Tap to the new condominium building at 66 Washington Street. The project also includes renovating the old city boardwalk behind Haverhill Bank on Merrimack Street. The new boardwalk is expected to take about a year to build.

Other parts of the City's plans for the riverfront include dredging the Merrimack to make the downtown stretch accessible to larger boats, installing more public docks, redeveloping rundown property along the riverbank and eventually extending the boardwalk along the entire downtown.

The City's long-term plans for the river walk to eventually be on both sides of the river, with the downtown side connecting each bridge and to a trail on the Bradford side of the river, creating a loop.

More on Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Read The Eagle Tribune Article

Read A Boston Globe Article About Haverhill (Image Above Copyright -- The Boston Globe)

The Most Expensive Listing In Newburyport

To buy the most expensive home for sale in Newburyport, MA you'll need $2.6 million or something close. The 10-room, four-bedroom cape on the river boasts more than 4,000 square feet and panoramic views of the water.

Built in 2003, the home has a three-car garage and a master suite with a jacuzzi bath, walk-in closet and gas fireplace.

Located on a half acre, the home also has a 150-foot, deep-water dock and a glass solarium that overlooks the river.