Posted by Leslie Mann on Wed, May 09, 2012 @ 08:21 AM
Dover-Sherborn, Hopkinton, Needham, Newton South, Wayland, Wellesley, and Weston High Schools were among the schools in Massachusetts ranked as Gold Medal Schools in the 2012 U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best High Schools in the Country. Gold Medal schools are considered to be the top in the country for college readiness.
If you're considering Boston relocation, here are some additional links to learn about the top ranking public school systems in the Boston area and surrounding suburbs.
Posted by Leslie Mann on Tue, May 08, 2012 @ 03:25 PM
Boston's luxury real estate market is looking good this spring. We've already seen an increase in the volume of sales over the same time last year. 274 single family homes priced at $1 million and above have sold in the area this spring, compared to 231 luxury homes sold last year.
The average days on the market has also decreased slightly, from 224 days to 216 days.
Posted by Leslie Mann on Thu, Apr 19, 2012 @ 06:45 PM
While noodling around online today preparing our new home lisiting in the Harrington Ridge neighborhood for sale, I came across some sweet pictures of local residents Christmas caroling -- by horseback no less! -- through the neighborhood. The tradition was started by the Sherborn Forest & Trails Association, a family-oriented volunteer organization dedicated to the enjoyment, protection and maintenance of our natural resources.
It's just one of the many sweet things I love about the neighborhood.
[photo courtesy of Sherborn Forest & Trails Association]
Posted by Leslie Mann on Tue, Apr 03, 2012 @ 10:45 AM
Kyle & I are always looking for fun ways to highlight our home listings, so we were thrilled that Circle Furniture picked Circle Furniture picked Hearthstone Estate to hold their latest photo shoot. Not only did they photograph their gorgeous furnishings in the home, but they also set up some fun vignettes outside the house. Here's one of my favorites -- al fresco dining alongside the home's pretty blue barn.
Model: Stephanie Birchenough
Photographer: Eric Roth
Furnishings: Circle Furniture
Posted by Leslie Mann on Tue, Feb 28, 2012 @ 09:09 PM
With so many lovely horse properties for sale in Sherborn, Kyle & I decided to organize a Spring Equestrian Tour featuring some of the areas most exquisite horse properties for sale. The tour features an array of homes that are sure to please equestrian enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates the beauty of fine homes.
From 1-4pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012, you're invited to stop by to see these beautiful homes for sale.
For information about participating in the event, or joining the tour, please contact me by email or at 508-904-4967.
Photo courtesy of C. Banck
Posted by Leslie Mann on Fri, Feb 24, 2012 @ 08:11 PM
I have well qualified buyer clients looking for a 4+ bedroom home in Hopkinton. Due to Vastu cultural beliefs, they have very specific needs. I'm checking with our blog readers to see if we can find just the right match. Here's what they're looking for:
- Fairly level lot
- Lot must be square or rectangular
- Public water & sewer (Private septic system is fine, as long as it's not located in the southeast corner of the lot.)
- The master bedroom can be anywhere in the home except above the garage.
- $500-750K price range
If your home fits the bill, please give me a call at 508-904-4967 or have your listing agent drop me a line.
Many thanks!
Posted by Leslie Mann on Tue, Feb 07, 2012 @ 04:07 PM
With Valentine's Day less than two weeks away, I thought it would be fun to highlight homes for sale in the Boston suburbs for the romantic in all of us. Here are three of my faves:
This home for sale in the Boston suburb of Sherborn is hardly grand, but I couldn't ask for a grander setting. Oh I would love to buy this home, and dip my toes in the water on the dock alongside my sweetie.
This Wayland home for sale offers privacy seekers nearly 100 acres of nearby conservation land to roam.
I adore a master suite with a fireplace. The master bedroom in this Sherborn home gets an extra vote from me for two reasons: It's bathed in sunlight through much of the day, and has cozy window seats to curl up in.
Posted by Leslie Mann on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 @ 08:05 PM
Curious which manses in the Boston suburbs offer the sweetest "man caves" to check out the Superbowl? Here are some fun pics to check out.
This 25,000 estate home for sale in Wayland is the ultimate entertaining abode, complete with home theatre, a billiard room, swimming pool, sports court, steam room & more.
In addition to a gorgeous home theatre, this Sudbury estate home for sale features this impressive wine cellar.
This architecturally crafted home for sale in Sudbury features a lavish home theatre.
Tour luxury homes for sale across the Boston suburbs.
Posted by Leslie Mann on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 @ 07:47 PM
There are plenty of articles about interviewing listing agents, but it's often tough to know what to ask a buyer's agent. One of our new clients had some great questions they asked a previous client of ours and I thought they might be helpful. By the way, we were thrilled by our client's answers about working with my husband Kyle! (also shown below)
1) How was your overall experience working with Kyle?
Awesome! It took my husband and I a long time to find a house that we liked and could settle on and Kyle was always patient and willing to keep working with us even when it seemed like we would never find something.
2) Did you feel that he was working for you?
Yes. He searched for more houses than we did. He would screen houses for us so we didn’t have to and only bring us to them if it met some of our criteria.
3) Did you feel any sales pressure from him?
Never! Quite the opposite to be honest with you. There were several times that we thought we “loved” a house and he reminded us that it was missing things that we were dead set on having - for me it was the dream kitchen and he knew I wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t have that. We once loved a house whose backyard was on the highway and made us see past the house and look at the neighborhood – you can’t move a house.
4) How knowledgeable is Kyle on the Metrowest area?
When we first started looking, we were focused on the Hudson/Marlborough area, then we changed our minds and looked in Westford/Chelmsford and then in Wayland/Sudbury/Weston where we settled – all along the way – Kyle knew the markets, what was appropriate for the neighborhoods in terms of prices, school systems, etc.
5) How knowledgeable is he in terms of the real estate process? Was he able to give accurate advice and was he knowledgeable about all the laws and documentation and the entire process?
Yes. This was the first home purchase for us and we knew nothing about it. He explained all the steps along the way, what we needed and answered any questions we had.
6) Was he able to communicate information to you in an accurate and timely manner?
We had a lot of problems with the seller and their realtor being unresponsive to emails/phone calls. All the while, Kyle was tracking down information for us, keeping us calm and helping get us the answers we needed.
7) Was he able to negotiate a good price with the seller?
We didn’t have much negotiation with the seller, just one go around, but we had planned on offering more than what we did thanks to Kyle’s suggestion. He knows the market and where homes are priced and what you can get them for.
8) Did he dedicate enough time to show you houses?
Kyle probably showed us over 50 houses along the way. He always made time for us and worked around our schedule whether it was a holiday, after work, weekend.
9) Did you work with the inspectors/lawyers/mortgage brokers he recommended and what was your experience with them?
We used the inspector Kyle had recommended and he was quite efficient and honest. He found a lot of items that we hadn’t seen with the naked eye. My father-in-law is a lawyer and he recommended someone for that closing so I can’t speak to his recommendations on a lawyer, but I am sure they are top-notch.
10) Anything else I should know about him?
We’ve recommended Kyle to a few sets of friends all who couldn’t speak more highly of him. I wouldn’t think about buying/selling a house with anyone else besides him. Even my family jokes that they can’t believe he stuck it out so long with my husband and I…we are potentially his most “high maintenance” couple, but at the end, we found the right house and we are happy there.
Readers, What other questions have you found helpful when considering working with a realtor on the purchase of a home? I'd love to hear from you!