Real Estate Search Blog

One of the many reasons people fall in love with Newton real estate are the endless opportunities to experience arts and culture right in Newton or in its neighboring suburbs. If you’re looking for Newton real estate, consider working with Christine Norcross & Partners, who provide assistance for those relocating to Newton, Wellesley, Brookline, Natick, Needham, and Weston, Massachusetts.

One of the most relaxing things to do on a frigid winter day in Massachusetts is to take the family on a trip to the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens. Admission is free, the rooms are warm and balmy, flowery perfume lingers in the air, and kids can marvel at plants that are native to places all over the country. Afterwards, take the family on a walk through town to do some shopping, book-browsing, or a leisurely lunch at a local cafe.

Click this picture to be taken to the Youtube video from last year

And pictures from the plants of 2010:

A lemon

At Bigelow Middle School in Newton, several classes are experimenting with the use of netbooks, wireless, and SMART boards during class. The equipment was paid for by federal stimulus money, and came to a total of $60,000.

The netbooks were given to 45 sixth-graders as part of a pilot program in the Newton public school system. Teachers facilitate computer-assisted learning by asking questions which the students can respond to, and immediately see their classmates’ responses. The teachers use Google Docs to design assignments, and SMART boards to teach. The data is being reviewed by researchers at Boston College, with results expected at the end of the school year.

The Newton public school system is recognized in Massachusetts to be one of the state’s most forward-thinking schools systems. Many families search for Newton real estate because of the city’s great schools, strong foundation in arts and culture, safe streets, and pleasant neighborhoods. There are many homes for sale in Newton that are offer superb value for their listing price. Take a look at the Newton MLS listings 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.

The city of Boston is once again advancing to become one of the safest cities in the country for drivers and pedestrians. A unanimous vote yesterday by the Boston City Council to outlaw text messaging while driving might help jump-start a state-wide prohibition. If approved by state legislators, this law would impose fines ranging from $100 to $300 for violators. The texting ban needs Mayor Thomas Menino’s approval to be sent to Beacon Hill.

Boston is known around the country and by its own residents as a walking city, so this new law may be great news for families in the area. It could be just another perk for people looking at real estate in Newton MA. The city of Newton is already one of the safest in the country. If you are considering looking at homes in MetroWest Boston, look to Christine Norcross and Partners for one of the most knowledgeable real estate agents in Newton 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.

Real estate is one of the safest long term investment options available. Because you live in a property that doesn’t mean it is not an investment. Any property that appreciates over time can be considered an investment. Newton real estate is a prime example with house prices today far exceeding those of 20 years ago.

Buying a home in the Newton area is a wise choice. The area itself is well sort after, it has the amenities that all families require, and it has the potential to appreciate considerably in value in the future. What more could you ask for?

When looking for a property in Newton that has good appreciation potential, look for those that are sound, will not require a lot of money spent on them but do need some fine tuning. Properties with unkept gardens are a good example. A good garden can add thousands to the sales price – likewise, an unkept garden can reduce a properties value.

Gardens just require a little work – but then, that is what weekends are for. They are generally easy to develop and don’t require a lot of capital expenditure. If you are buying to live in a property, then you have all the time in the world to slowly develop your garden.

Newton real estate offers are great lifestyle, represents a great investment, and is the perfect place to house a growing family.

Any one of the Newton homes for sale that you’re looking at needs to have a good roof. It’s not one of the more exciting features that you’ll be sorting through when you start looking at all the possibilities that Newton real estate brings, but it’s one of the most important.

That said, there are some things that you need to look for.

1. Look for the most obvious signs of damage at first. Shingles have a way of being blown off the roof in stormy conditions. Even one missing shingle gives water a way in under the protection that a roof normally gives.
2. Even if you don’t see any potential problems right away, being proactive and learning to identify spots that can flare up in the future is helpful. Trees are lovely and can add shade to your yard, increasing the value of your Newton real estate. However, they can be problem for your roof in the long run. When branches overhang, they can prevent sunlight from drying the shingles out and mold can eventually become an issue.

The roof is one of the things that will help you to determine which of the Newton MA homes for sale that you’re looking at is right for you. Knowing what to look for is invaluable, and being proactive can help you head off potential problems in the future.

When you’ve made the decision to go with a Newton condo as a first home, one of the first things that that you’ll notice after all the dust settles is your wallet is a lot lighter than it was when you first started shopping .

Still, there’s no need to feel down when you see that there’s some work left to do in your new space. With a few helpful hints you can have your Newton real estate looking like a million bucks on a budget.

Flooring. Make sure that you know what’s under those floors before you go out and buy anything new. It’s easier than you think to haul up old carpet and refinish those floors. You can even rent a sander and learn fairly quickly to do it yourself.

Kitchens.You more than likely don’t have a lot of money left over after buying that new place for kitchen cupboards. So , instead of tearing out those old ones, why not add new moulding and knobs to the exsting cupboards? It saves time and will look great in the end.
Adding a new back splash is another great way to brighten up the kitchen. For $100 dollars putting up some tiles can update that space in just one afternoon.