Real Estate Search Blog

A couple who was considering moving to Newton asked a question about Newton schools on Newton’s WickedLocal.com page.

“My husband and I currently live in Cambridge and are considering relocating to Newton for the elementary schools. I am new to the American public school system and am trying to gather some information about the various schools – I was told that the Newton schools are in general very good (based on scores etc.) but that I should ask Newton parents about their personal take on the schools and if they have any advice on how to choose between them.”

One Newton resident said:

“As a kid who just went through the Newton school system I can say it is probably one of the best around. Kids are very accepting of others and are taught by some great teachers through the course of their years in the programs. Decent athletics, great clubs, and other activities make a good place to grow up. My story is similar to yours…to get a better education, my parents moved us to Newton. Best decision they ever made. Great location (right near the city), great schools, very safe… I am a product of Ward school, Bigelow Middle and Newton North High. I am now a Sophomore in college studying business and playing football.”

Couples often have questions about the schools in the city or town they wish to relocate to. Newton schools often receive favorable press, but sometimes the best way of deciding if a city is right for you and your family is to talk to its current residents. Visit the public library or go to the local grocery store to chat up a few Newton residents. When you are ready to begin looking for homes in Newton, visit Christine Norcross and Partners on the web, and call to speak with a few of the most talented and knowledgeable real estate agents in Newton.

A proposed ban on texting while driving in Boston could make buying real estate in Boston even more appealing for families looking to plant roots in a safe city. The ban on texting while driving passed through the House on February 4th, and will head to the Senate.

Described as “one of the toughest laws on texting in the nation,” the ban would punish first and second-time offenders with fines, and drivers who cause an accident while texting could be faced with prison time (under reckless driving laws) and a fine. It would also require drivers to use hands-free devices when talking on the phone, and would ban junior operators from using their cell phones in any way while driving.

The new ban makes Boston an even more appealing city for individuals and families interested in relocating to a safer city. In some Boston neighborhoods, it’s possible to do without a car because of Boston’s convenient transportation options such as “the T” (the subway), buses, designated bike paths, and of course, sidewalks. Pedestrians should feel even safer after the ban on texting while driving is put into place.

For more information on Boston real estate, please visit Prudential Prime Properties on the web. Prudential Prime Properties is your source for only the most knowledgeable and professional real estate agents in the Boston area.

On January 10th, the renowned Newton Symphony Orchestra performed with gifted elementary school students at the Rashi School Auditorium. The symphony’s goal was to highlight the accomplishments of young people in grade school who show great musical talent.

When New Englanders think of Newton, MA, most describe the City to be a forward-thinking community that fosters arts and culture, and places superior value on public education. The public schools in Newton have raised the bar for many schools in Massachusetts and in the rest of New England. Newton and the surrounding towns of Metro-West Boston are also big on sustainability, exhibiting this with a modern recycling system and the upkeep of the Newton Community Farm, which is closely tied to Newton’s schools.

To browse Newton MLS listings for homes in Newton and homes in the surrounding towns of Metro-West Boston, Christine Norcross and Partners represents the most knowledgeable group of real estate agents in Newton. Visit Christine Norcross and Partners on their website, where you can contact a real estate agent for more information about living in Newton.

Thanks to top Cambridge real estate agent Charles Cherney of Hammond Real Estate, several homes in Cambridge can now be explored on YouTube! By visiting the Cambridge For Sale Channel on YouTube, you can watch Charles Cherney’s videos of properties in Cambridge MA. Click the yellow “Subscribe” button to receive notifications when Charles uploads new videos.

How to get to the Cambridge For Sale Channel on YouTube:

www.CambridgeVideos.com

www.CambridgeChannel.com

www.CambridgeForSaleChannel.com

www.YouTube.com/CambridgeForSale

To learn about all the active MLS real estate listings in Cambridge, visit www.CharlesCherney.com and log in as a new visitor on the home page.

Thinking about relocating to Boston? Why not? The Travel Channel thinks Boston is one of the country’s most exciting places to visit — and we think Boston is one of the most exciting places to live. Here’s a list of Travel Channel highlights:

Man vs. Food: Adam visited Eagle’s Deli and challenges a customer to a giant hamburger-eating duel.

Samantha Brown: Sam competed in a sausage-eating contest in East Boston.

Family Travels: The show took viewers on a historical walking tour led by costumed colonials.

The first step in the relocation process is visiting the city you’d like to live in. Visit Boston for a week and try out its restaurants (see the previous entry on Restaurant Week), museums, and shopping areas. Unsure of which neighborhood you’d like to buy in? Do you love one particular neighborhood, but are you interested in researching comparable areas? Visit Prudential Prime Properties on the web to learn all about Boston real estate and look at the homes for sale in Boston.

Boston’s Restaurant Week is the perfect time to visit and take a look at what Boston real estate has to offer. Restaurant Week in Boston takes place this year from March 14th to 19th and March 21st-26th. This is your chance to sample all of the great restaurants that the City of Boston has to offer without emptying your kids’ college fund! At over 200 participating restaurants, a three course lunch menu is only $20.10, a three-course dinner menu is only $33.10, and a new two-course lunch menu is only $15.09 (an entree and either a dessert or an appetizer).

The list of restaurants isn’t available anywhere on the Web just yet, but here’s six of the 200 restaurants who fed Bostonians in last year’s Restaurant Week:

Via Matta (Italian, Back Bay) *

The Capital Grille (American, Back Bay)

Mamma Maria (Italian, North End)

Oak Room at The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel (Steak, Back Bay)

Oishii Boston (Sushi, South End)

Top of the Hub (American, Back Bay)

*This blogger highly recommends Via Matta. Mmm.

Visit Prudential Prime Properties on the web to scope out the many options for real estate in Boston.

The town of Newburyport MA (part of Cape Ann real estate) is becoming one of the trendiest places to live in Massachusetts. Here are a few “in” things:

• Organic food and live food restaurants. Two just opened in Downtown Newburyport.
• Open spaces. This summer,  the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority announced its plan to turn a 3-acre site into a waterfront park with a playground, sculpture park, and performance space.
• Historical sites. Butler’s Toothpick, a 19^th-century navigational marker, got a new look this summer.
• Citizens gearing up to help nonprofits. Pennies for Poverty, 2 Cents 4 Change, the Salvation Army, the Masons and the Rotary Club, the Anna Jaques Hospital Aid Association and the Roof Over Head Collaborative are just a few organizations which Newburyport residents actively participate in.

If you’d like more information about Newburyport real estate or Cape Ann real estate as a whole, visit http://capeannrealestate.com/ where you can find expert advice from Rosemary Quarato, an experienced Cape Ann real estate agent.

On December 31st, 2009, the Boston Herald honored Fall River real estate agent Marguerite Cashman of Arrow Realty Group as its Agent of the Week.

A realtor since 2002, Ms. Cashman attributes her success in real estate in Fall River to the personalized service that she gives all of her clients, rather than the “big box” strategy that other real estate agents often pursue. Clients often find Ms. Cashman through referrals. To reach Ms. Cashman and find out more about the homes for sale in Fall River, call (508) 676-7600 or visit Greaterfallriverrealestatema.com.

To read the full article, click here.

Walking around a new city can only show you so much. For a little guidance, there’s a new tool provided by HGTV.com that can help you see all that Newton real estate has to offer before you hit the streets.

HGTV’s Frontdoor.com provides a user-friendly guide to your future city, condensing information from sources such as City-Data.com, Yelp.com, and Eventful. With this tool, you can easily get to know the basics about your new city by visiting one website instead of several.

As shown above, click the “Reviews” tab to be shown a list of the most frequently reviewed businesses on Yelp.com. This is great because Yelp.com can be extremely helpful for residents who know the area, but a bit confusing for someone who doesn’t know Rialto from McDonald’s. A person new to the area can see what his new town is known for. The “Explore” tab allows users to choose a point of interest, like “Schools,” and a map shows pinpoints of all local schools. There are many more helpful facets to this tool, which you can explore for yourself here.

For a more in-depth analysis on Newton real estate and all that it has to offer, visit Christine Norcross and Partners online. Find out if relocating to Newton would be a good choice for you and your family, and browse the homes for sale in Newton and in the surrounding towns.

If you’re looking to buy real estate in Cambridge or you’re simply new to the city, there are plenty of ways to get to know the neighborhood. “Explore the Neighborhood” is a great tool on HGTV’s Frontdoor.com that allows users to virtually explore their city. Below is a screenshot of the tool.

By using the menu bar to the right of the map, you can choose what you’d like the map to show you. For example, if you just bought a home on Harvard Street and you’d like to see if there are schools nearby, check off the “Schools” box and the map will show your pinpoints of all schools in Cambridge. Because the map is powered by Google, you can zoom in to view residential street names.

For more detailed information about the Cambridge area, visit CharlesCherney.com. Charles Cherney is a top Cambridge real estate agent who has years of experience assisting buyers and sellers of homes in Cambridge. If you are a student or working professional who is thinking of relocating to Cambridge, take the first step by visiting CharlesCherney.com.

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