Real Estate Search Blog

Waban, One of Newton's 13 Villages

Families looking at Newton real estate are often surprised to find that Newton is not a typical suburb of Boston. True, in the 1800s the area was a commuter suburb for wealthy Boston businessmen. Today, however, most of Newton’s residents work within Newton or its surrounding towns rather than commute to Boston. This contributes to a flourishing local economy, where restaurants, banks, boutiques, and other businesses prosper — along with buyers and sellers of Newton real estate. This vibrant local economy is a pleasant environment for everyone who works and plays in Newton, Massachusetts.

A unique aspect of the Newton economy is that there are 13 villages that make up the town of Newton. Each village center is a hub for shopping, dining, public art installations, and more. NewtonVillages.org is a city-wide coalition dedicated to making Newton’s village centers “better places to walk, bike, eat, shop, work, play, gather and live.” The organization manages such projects as planning festivals and events, adding bike racks, and placing local artists’ work in vacant spaces. The Newton Chamber of Commerce includes over 700 businesses and offers discounted health insurance, direct customer referrals, educational seminars, advertising opportunities and the advantage of networking with other local, established businesses in the area.

The 13 Villages of Newton, MA

Auburndale
Chestnut Hill
Lower Falls
Newton Centre
Newton Corner
Newton Highlands
Newtonville
Nonantum
Oak Hill
Thompsonville
Upper Falls
Waban
West Newton

For more information on Newton real estate and to begin a comprehensive search through hundreds of Newton MLS listings, visit the Newton real estate website today.

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.

Before the recession, the phrase “house poor” was adopted into the average home buyer’s vocabulary, as buyers hesitated to spend every last penny of their life savings on a down payment for a dream home. To go beyond the “house poor” consideration is to prevent oneself from also becoming “Maintenance poor.”

Marketwatch.com recently published an interesting article for home hunters on how to financially prepare to buy a house in these shaky economic times. To become “Maintenance poor” is to purchase a home unaware of its necessary future repairs with the fatal error of not having enough in the bank to cover these costs.

The article advises house hunters to save at least 1 to 3 percent of a property’s purchase price for major maintenance costs and unexpected expenses. As for mortgage payments, these days buyers should have 6 months of payments saved in the bank because of the wavering job market. For basic repairs like painting and caulking, anyone buying a typical starter home budget $500 to $1,000 a year.

If you’re a home buyer looking at homes in Newton, Natick, Needham, Wellesley, Brookline, and Weston, the top real estate agents of the area are Christine Norcross and Partners. Browse the Homes by Norcross website for Newton listings, and feel free to contact Christine Norcross and Partners if you have any question about Newton real estate or about a particular property.

The city of Newton has found success in its new recycling program which recently launched on October 5th, 2009. The program makes it easier than ever for Newton residents to recycle.

Newton’s Single Stream Recycling system means that residents can throw all recyclable materials into one bin, rather than separating each material into different bags. Going green has become more appealing to those who have never recycled. For seasoned recyclers, recycling has become easier.

There are other important effects from the new recycling system in Newton. Green and blue bins distributed to all Newton residents keep the city’s streets cleaner because they lock animals out, and are sturdier than a regular garbage can. The garbage trucks use automated arms to pick up the containers, making trash collection more efficient and less costly for the city and its residents. Automated collection is also safer for public works employees.

If you are browsing Newton real estate, there are dozens of perks to becoming a part of the Newton community. To see several beautiful homes in Newton and read about the perks of buying real estate in Newton, select “Newton Real Estate” under the “Real Estate” category on the Categories drop-down list on the right column of this blog.

Needham Community Farm

Newton and Needham are two towns in the MetroWest Boston area that operate community farms which are closely tied to their school systems. Browsing for homes in Newton MA and homes in Needham MA will not leave you questioning the future quality of your child’s education. MetroWest Boston has long tempted home-buyers with some of the best schools in Massachusetts, which fairly recently have become supplemented by the “outdoor classrooms” that are a part of their community farms.

The Needham Community Farm was organized by the town to carry out a mission of providing hands-on environmental education for elementary school students, with a focus on teaching organic farming methods and sustainable living practices. As an “outdoor classroom” in front of the Newman Elementary School, the farm helps the Needham school system incorporate environmental education and sustainability into everyday curriculum. Students grow seedlings in the classroom and then plant in the garden, participating in the entire crop cultivating process.  Along with accomplishing educational goals, the farm has been so successful that it has been able to donate fresh produce to a local food pantry. The farm’s committee is in the process of securing another plot of land to be used as a community garden for all residents, with bigger plans for teaching sustainability through water collection, composting, solar greenhouses, and classes for adults.

Perhaps Needham is modeling its new community garden on its neighboring Newton Community Farm. Families, and couples planning to start a family, have long been drawn to real estate in Newton MA because of the town’s top-quality public schools. The Newton Community Farm is another benefit of relocating to Newton MA. Residents can assist farm staff in performing daily farming operations which are always sustainable in nature. The farm also runs classes and workshops for all ages such as “All You Ever Wanted to Know about Apples,” as well as special youth programs, and a school outreach program where groups are invited to visit the farm for hands-on learning. While the farm sells its produce to the public, a portion of each harvest is donated to a local food pantry.

If you are searching for real estate in the Boston area, consider looking into the homes for sale in Newton MA and the homes for sale in Needham MA.

Thinking of selling your home in the near or distant future? There are several things you can do to make your home more appealing to potential buyers that don’t require a lot of effort or expense. These tips were pulled from a video on HGTV’s Frontdoor.com.

Tip 1: Hire it out

Hire a designer or realtor for about an hour to check out your home. Though you’ve always liked that art deco backsplash in the kitchen, a potential homebuyer might not. See what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the taste of the general public. If you’re not comfortable doing the work yourself, see these helpful tips for hiring a contractor or remodeler.

Tip 2: Get an Inspection

I’ve spoken with several real estate agents in Massachusetts, and most of them recommend having your home inspected before you do anything else. The inspector can point out major and minor problems that you can fix, before potential homebuyers see them.

Tip 3: Get a Fresh Look

Paint each room in a different earth tone. Doing so will give each room its own distinct feel — a house full of white rooms isn’t very appealing and doesn’t inspire buyers to imagine how they will decorate each room. Make sure to draw attention to accents like crown moldings. Below is a picture of the hallway of one of the homes for sale in Newton MA. The earthy, sandy color that the owners chose for the walls draws sharp contrast to the banister, the moldings, the small window, and the gleaming hardwood floors. Sometimes plain white paint just doesn’t do a home justice.

Tip 4: Decorate

Pick up a few home design magazines and see what you can do to improve the aesthetics of your home. Don’t go overboard with trends and embellishing — after all, when you move out the decor goes with you. Stick with basic decorating details. If your larger furniture has a busy or bright pattern, throw a few neutral slipcovers over them and add a couple of brightly colored pillows. Upgrade bland window blinds to neutral-colored drapes. If you can’t afford to overhaul your bathroom, paint it a neutral color and choose one bright accent color for the hand towels, shower curtain, and rug.

Tip 5: Get an Energy Audit

Visit your energy provider’s website to evaluate your home’s energy efficiency. You can find tips to quickly and inexpensively decrease your home’s electricity costs, like replacing regular lightbulbs with energy-saving ones. If you’re not planning to sell your home for some time, consider replacing windows with better-insulated ones. Take advantage of this federal tax credit which allows for 30% off your home energy-improving expenses (in effect until December 31, 2010.)

These basic tips should put you on the right path to selling a home.

One of the great things about looking for real estate in Newton, MA, is that there are homes available that are simply stunning. Whether you’re looking for a home with a sprawling but perfectly manicured lawn or you are exploring the options that will put you a little bit closer to your neighbors, whether you’re thinking about living right near the center of town or you’re looking at buying a home that’s a bit closer to Needham or even to Brookline, when it comes to Newton real estate, you can be sure that you’re choosing a home that will be very much the definition of luxury.

While not all of the could simply be deemed luxury homes, if you’re looking for a property with a fully updated kitchen, you’re likely to find it. Want to buy a home that has a master suite as well as high ceilings or crown moldings? If so, it’s a great idea to start talking with your Newton real estate agent about what you’re looking for – after all, there’s a good chance that a home you’ll love is already on the market (and, if there isn’t such a property available already, chances are good that one will be on the market soon).

There are plenty of great reasons for those who are thinking about living in the Boston area to consider homes for sale in Newton. Newton, MA homes are an ideal option for many because:

• There is a community feel in Newton that just isn’t going to be found everywhere in the area. In Newton, there’s still a sense of neighbors knowing one another and having the time for a great conversation when they run into one another at a local coffee shop or pharmacy.
• Those who look into Newton real estate are going to find that they have access to public transportation into Boston; in other words, they’ll still be able to spend some time in the city at museums or at some of the area’s well known restaurants without having to worry about finding a spot to park.
• Newton homes let parents know that their kids are going to be enrolled in a great school system – and that there are private schools available as well.

In other words, if you’re just looking for a home where you’ll be able to settle down and feel like you’re a part of your community, Newton real estate is a great option – particularly if you want to be sure that you also have space in the yard.