Centers And Squares
Welcome to Centers and Squares
As a Cambridge real estate agent, the city squares of Cambridge, Somerville and Medford and the town centers of Arlington, Watertown and Belmont, Massachusetts are my home turf. And as a lifelong New Englander who’s lived within twenty miles of Boston most of my life, I can introduce you to other nearby towns as we search for your new home. If you’re planning to sell your home in Cambridge, MA or nearby you’ll find plenty of info about the home selling process here too. Questions? Send me an email or call me at 617-504-1737.
Belmont Real Estate Market – April 2010
Belmont MA Real Estate Market Report - April 2010
Here’s a quick look at the Belmont Real Estate Market in April 2010.
Belmont Homes On The Market:
110 homes were listed for sale in Belmont on April 30, 2010 for prices ranging from $164,900 to $2,940,000. Homes had been on the market an average of 93 days.
Belmont Real Estate Market in April 2010:
23 homes sold in Belmont during April. Homes had been on the market an average of 152 days and sold for an average of 95% of asking price.
14 single family homes sold in April for sales prices between $440,200 and $1,150,000. The median price was $720,000. Average days on market was 138 and houses sold for an average of 94% of asking price.
7 condos sold in Belmont in April 2010 for prices between $205,000 and $820,000. The median price was $365,000. Condominiums sold for an average of 96% of the list price.
2 multi-family houses sold last month for $587,000 and $630,000. Both sold for over the asking price.
Total value of sales in the Belmont real estate market in April was $14,618,700.
Also see:
BELMONT REAL ESTATE MARKET – March 2010
Info about Belmont real estate market in April 2010 is from MLSpin.
Watertown Real Estate Market – April 2010
Welcome to the Watertown Real Estate Market Report for April 2010
It was a very busy real estate market as the last days of the homebuyer tax credit wound down. Closed sales figures for May and June should be impressive. Here’s a quick look back at the sales in the Watertown real estate market in April 2010.
On the Market in Watertown
175 Watertown residential properties were listed for sale in the MLS on April 30, 2010 priced between $169,900 and $1,785,000. These homes had been on the market an average of 89 days.
Watertown Real Estate Market – April 2010
Total value of Watertown real estate sales in April 2010 was $$10,080,700
See Also:
Watertown Real Estate Market – March 2010
Info about Watertown real estate market in March 2010 from MLSpin
Don’t Drink The Water
All Out of Water In Arlington
Don’t Drink the Water – unless you boil it first. In case you haven’t heard – Centers and Squares territory is right in the middle of the area affected by today’s huge water main break.
A water main in Weston bringing water from the Quabbin Reservoir to MWRA customers developed a catastrophic leak this morning. Over 8 million gallons of water per hour were going into the Charles River for much of the day.
Emergency supplies of water have been pulled into the system but this water is not treated for drinking. People in affected communities – thirty towns and cities east of Weston on the MWRA system including Boston – are advised to boil their drinking water. Locally that includes Arlington, Belmont, Medford, Somerville and Watertown. Cambridge has its own water system and is not affected.
I was out earlier this evening and it seems there’s been a run on bottled water. Not that I was in the market – I was out in a last minute search of the weekly sales items I’d circled in last Sunday’s paper. The stores were bustling but the shelves were just about bare in the bottled water aisles.
I’m no fan of bottled water – I think it’s an atrocity in fact. Paying for water has to be a measure of insanity and gullibility as far as I’m concerned. Even in a situation like this one – boil it for cripes sake! It’s not as if we’ve lost power.
It was just this morning that I was delighted to read in the Globe that Concord has voted to ban the sale of bottled water. Hurrah! Let’s hope that this is the beginning of a trend. We’re fortunate enough to live in an area with delicious tap water – there is no excuse for paying soda pop prices for water in a plastic bottle that’s been shipped from who knows where.
We’ve got wonderful water in our neck of the woods and a disaster like this one makes the value of it all the more clear. But for the timebeing – you’re advised to boil the water.
Somerville Open Studios
Somerville Open Studios - Artist Exhibiting on Meacham Street
Somerville Open Studios The weather’s supposed to be great tomorrow – perfect for hitting the streets and taking in Open Studios in Somerville.
There’s a lot to see over the two days – over 300 artists in more than 100 locations will invite people into their studios and homes.
Trolleys will be running around the city to transport visitors.
SOS booklets with maps and information about the artists are available around the city. We’ve got a stash at my office – stop by Coldwell Banker at 171 Huron Ave in Cambridge to pick up yours.
Somerville Open Studios – Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2, 2010, noon to 6 pm
Want more? Check out the schedule for upcoming open studios in Massachusetts.
Cambridge Science Festival
Don't Miss the Cambridge Science Festival
From Cambridge’s schools, to Cambridge businesses and local museums there’s a wealth of scientific talent in town. Much of it is on display this week at the 4th annual Cambridge Science Festival.
The festival opened on Saturday and daily events continue through Sunday, May 2, 2010. The lineup is truly amazing with plenty of free events and some that charge admission.
For adults and for kids – you’ll find lots to do every day through Sunday. Many Cambridge schools have science fairs scheduled this week with students’ projects on exhibit. Each weekday there’s a Lunch With a Laureate where you can brownbag it and have lunch and chat with a Nobel Prize winner. All week long you can participate in a Rock the World Treasure Hunt with clues placed around Cambridge based on geology questions. Your first clue is at Lesley’s University Hall at 1815 Mass Ave.
Here are some of my favorites on the schedule this week. All are free except where noted:
- Science Trivia Challenge. Teams compete in a Jeopardy-like test of general science knowledge. Kirsch Auditorium at the MIT Stata Center, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge. Wednesday, 6 – 9 pm.
- How the Hippies Saved Physics. Lecture at the MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. Wednesday, 6 – 7 pm.
- Engineering Origami: Folding, Design and Analysis. Hands on workshop with MIT’s Origami Club. MIT Museum, 265 Mass Ave. Thursday, 5:30 – 8:30 pm.
- Sidewalk Astronomy at Cambridge City Hall. View the stars and planets through telescopes set up outside City Hall. Weather permitting. Thursday, 8 – 10 pm.
- Science of Baseball. This talk will answer questions like How does a knuckleball work? Do steroids help baseball players? and more. Stata Center at MIT, 32 Vassar Street, Room 32-155. Friday, 6 – 7:30 pm.
- Science of Cheese. A Harvard Medical School professor and a local cheese expert will talk about why we love cheese. A reception and tasting follow. 21+ only. Preregistration required. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave. Friday, 6:30 – 9:30 pm.
- Improbable Readings From the Ig Nobel Prizes. At the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway. Four sessions on Saturday, 10 am, noon, 2:00 and 3:3o pm.
- Rocket Day at Danahy Park. Build and launch your own rocket. Bring a tennis ball and two two-liter drink bottles. $5 donation suggested. Sunday, May 2, 2010 10 am – 4 pm.
That’s just a sampling of what’s on tap this week at the Cambridge Science Festival. It’s truly astounding – and one more reason to love living in Cambridge! Check out the Cambridge Science Festival website for lots more info and the schedule for event details.
New Law for Homes Heated By Oil in Massachusetts
New Massachusetts Law Governs Homes Heated By Oil
New Law for Massachusetts Homes Heated By Oil It’s not uncommon in Massachusetts for homes to be heated by oil. In some areas or communities without gas lines most houses you’ll visit will have oil heat.
Everyone has their own preference, often based on what they’re accustomed to. It shouldn’t be a matter of price since typically the price differential between oil and gas will vary over the years. I grew up with oil and like it as a fuel source – the oil company guys know what they’re doing – nothing like having somebody with experience show up when there’s a problem, the oil fuel companies compete so service tends to be better than that provided by a company with a monopoly, and I like the idea that oil doesn’t make a house blow up.
But oil can leak and an oil leak can be very expensive. A new Massachusetts law covering homes heated by oil takes effect on July 1, 2010 and is intended to minimize the potential for oil leaks from the fuel line.
The law requires that an oil safety valve or a protective sleeve on the supply line be installed if not already in place. The law also requires that homeowner’s insurance policies offer coverage for oil leaks. The insurance coverage is not mandatory but must be made available to homeowners for purchase.
More info is available at the MassDEP website or call your oil company.
Voices of the Somerville Home
Voices of the Somerville Home I just love the sounds of this event!
Residents of the Somerville Home, a retirement home on Summer Street in Somerville, have been writing their life stories and memoirs in a class funded by the Somerville Arts Council.
On Wednesday, May 5, 2010 residents will will read from their work in an event that is free and open to the public. The evening will be hosted by workshop leader and Somerville writer, Cam Terwilliger. Free refreshments will be served.
From the time I was little I’ve always been fascinated by older people’s stories so I’m really looking forward to this.
The reading is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, 2010 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.
The Somerville Home is located at 117 Summer Street, Somerville, MA 02143
Mark your calendars! See you at the Somerville Home!
Happy Patriots Day
Old North Bridge Concord
I grew up in Concord so today is one of my favorite holidays – Patriots Day. And happily, in the age of the Monday holiday, this year Patriot’s Day falls on the “real” day – April 19th.
Today marks the 235th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. There will be reenactments and parades in Lexington and Concord.
In Massachusetts the Monday holiday is also Marathon Day – today is the 114th Boston Marathon.
What's 26.2 about?
Last year when I was just starting this blog I went out in search of Obama bumper stickers. Along the way I kept seeing these mysterious stickers and wondered what does 26.2 mean?
I remembered coming across those inexplicable “420 friendly” references in Craigslist postings but since most of these bumper stickers were on cars in the Whole Foods parking lot I figured it meant something else entirely.
Sure enough – 26.2 is a bumper sticker for marathoners. A marathon is 26.2 miles in length. Yikes. Good luck to all the runners and Happy Patriots Day to everyone!
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