This week’s listing updates from Barrett & Company have lots to offer for everyone interested in the Greater Boston real estate market. There is an amazing 14 room Concord Colonial with 6 fireplaces, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Or how about a Waltham townhouse in a building circa 1890 that was completely renovated in 2008, including a granite and stainless kitchen. Maybe an Acton Colonial with oversized family room featuring beamed ceiling, stone corner fireplace, built-in bar and sliders to an open deck are more what you are looking for. Check out this week’s properties that are newly listed, have had a price adjustment or will be hosting an open house this weekend.

For details about each of the listings, including open house schedule, click on any of the photos below or contact Barrett & Company. Click to view open houses on a map instead.

Open Houses

New Listings

Price Adjustments

This one of a kind waterfront property located at 163 Lindsay Pond Road in Concord Massachusetts sits on 5.17 acres and abuts conservation trust land. The 12 room Contemporary style home has been freshly remodeled and features a versatile and open floor plan. Views, from every room, of the water and surrounding gardens are just spectacular and Spencer Brook is perfect for canoeing, fishing, and ice skating. This country estate fulfills your every dream and includes an expansive rear patio, mature landscaping and complete privacy provided by surrounding woodlands, yet has all the benefits of a friendly and scenic neighborhood. Historic Concord Center, with shops, restaurants, history and culture, is just 3 miles away.

Buyer Walkthrough

Additional Listing Information and Photos

163 Lindsay Pond Road, Concord, Massachusetts

Concord, MA Market Snapshot

90-day stats for Single Family properties in CONCORD, MA as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,159,167	Average List Price:	$1,500,965
Total Inventory:	101	Price per Square Foot:	$311
Average Home Size:	3,600	Median Lot Size:	48,292
Average # Beds:	4.26	Average # Baths:	3.39
Homes Absorbed:	5	Newly Listed:	12
Days on Market:	134	Average Age:	62

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Looking for your next home in Massachusetts? From a sunny townhome or grand Colonial in historic Concord Center to a condo in hip Harvard Square and more, here are this week’s properties that have had a price adjustment or will be hosting an open house.

For details about each of the listings, including open house schedule, click on any of the photos below or contact Barrett & Company. Click to view open houses on a map instead.

Open Houses

Price Adjustments

Located at 12 Harrington Avenue in Concord Massachusetts, this stunning five room condex has a crisp, fresh interior and cheery, sun-splashed rooms. The eat-in kitchen has been renovated and features hardwood floors and accesses the fenced backyard with sparkling views of Kennedys Pond. Parking is available for two cars and sidewalks provide access to vibrant West Concord Village and the commuter rail. You will also find walking trails around the corner. Three levels of living space including a bonus room on the third floor currently being used as a bedroom. The lower level offers great storage and laundry. A new septic system was installed in August, 2011.

Buyer Walkthrough

Additional Listing Information and Photos

12 Harrington Avenue, Concord, Massachusetts

Concord, MA Market Snapshot

90-day stats for Single Family properties in CONCORD, MA as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,159,167	Average List Price:	$1,500,965
Total Inventory:	101	Price per Square Foot:	$311
Average Home Size:	3,600	Median Lot Size:	48,292
Average # Beds:	4.26	Average # Baths:	3.39
Homes Absorbed:	5	Newly Listed:	12
Days on Market:	134	Average Age:	62

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Answering the question “how’s the market?”, here are this week’s properties that are just listed, have had a price adjustment or will be hosting an open house.
For details about each of the listings, including open house schedule, click on any of the photos below or contact Barrett & Company. Click to view open houses on a map instead.

Open Houses

Price Adjustments

Just Listed

This elegant and spacious Colonial style home located at 404 Elm Street in Concord, Massachusetts was completely renovated in 2006. Updates include the addition of a master suite with radiant heat in the bathroom; new heating system and central air. The gourmet kitchen has granite counters, breakfast bar island, hardwood floors and a Wolf stove. Enjoy the oversized screened-in porch and level back yard with spacious patio. Enjoy the private wine cellar in the finished lower level. Walk to all Concord Center has to offer.

Buyer Walkthrough

Additional Listing Information and Photos

404 Elm Street, Concord, Massachusetts

Concord, MA Market Snapshot

90-day stats for Single Family properties in CONCORD, MA as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,159,167	Average List Price:	$1,500,965
Total Inventory:	101	Price per Square Foot:	$311
Average Home Size:	3,600	Median Lot Size:	48,292
Average # Beds:	4.26	Average # Baths:	3.39
Homes Absorbed:	5	Newly Listed:	12
Days on Market:	134	Average Age:	62

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This is my favorite blog post I have written thus far partly because I have an irresistible urge to be “b-h-a-a-ad” and use possibly the greatest number of puns and idioms in a Barrett blog post, to date. We are talking about the “wooly” mammoth of outdoor farm festivals in Massachusetts, and no, it’s not about pre-historic times. It’s about the 25th Annual Sheepshearing Festival held Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at Gore Place in Waltham, Massachusetts. And before you ask, I’m not pulling the wool over your eyes on this one; I’m quite serious–this event is as popular as a wool sweater in the dead of winter.

If you’re feeling very sheepish about going, don’t be! In addition to being a great event for the whole family, I can even recommend going by yourself. I did just that at a similar event a few weeks ago, as research for this post. Woolapalooza, a fundraising event for Drumlin Farm, was held in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

Gore Place, “the Federal period, historic house and estate of Massachusetts Governor Christopher Gore, includes a small farm with sheep, goats and poultry. The elegantly furnished mansion has been called ‘the Monticello of the North’ and architectural historians consider it to be the most significant Federal period mansion in New England.” (goreplace.org) The festival will include sheepshearing exhibitions given by Kevin Ford, who will show the traditional technique using handshears, and Andy Rice, who will show more contemporary methods using electric shearers. Dave Kennard will be putting his border collies to the test and demonstrating sheep herding, which in my opinion, is a must see, based on my experience at Woolapalooza.

Now, that can be just the beginning to a fun filled day because there’s more, a lot more to do. For starters, or thirds in our case, there will be a craft fair consisting of 88 local crafters and their wonderful array of orts, fragments, and handmade treasures. If contemporary crafting is not your thing, than you’re in luck, because there will be historic crafters demonstrating how things were done in the days of ole.

As previously mentioned, this is a great event for the family and here are two solid reasons to bring the kids.

1. Wagon rides! I don’t care how old you are, wagon rides are ageless and timeless, from ages 10 to 40, whether you’re three feet or six feet tall, who doesn’t enjoy a good old fashioned wagon ride.
2. There will be a kids’ tent with activities; puppets and a puppet parade and Beth Guertin will be doing a hands-on weaving demonstration for kids, not only fun, but educational.

There will also be historic reenactments with American Revolutionary and USS Constitution 1812 Marine Guard encampments; live music from Pine Hill Ramblers and Moody Street String Band; The Commonwealth Morris Men Dancers; New England Disc Dogs Club and plenty of food vendors to help keep your energy up throughout the day. So pack your bags, pull up those wool socks, and get in line for one of the best days ewe will have this spring.

Gore Place, Waltham, Massachusetts
Sheepshearing Festival
Saturday, April 28, 2012
10am to 5pm (Rain or Shine)
$15 per person, adults, teens and seniors.
Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult are free. Free parking.

Are you thinking about buying a new home or selling your current one? Then this weekend is a perfect opportunity for you to find your dream house or get a really good look at the competition. National Open House Weekend is Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29 2012. Barrett & Company brokers will be hosting dozens of open houses in a number of towns North and West of Boston. Interest rates are still unbelievably low and new properties are coming to market every day.

For more information on each of the listings, including the time of their open house, click on any of the photos below, view the listings on a map instead, or contact Barrett & Company. See you there!

Open Houses Scheduled for April 28-29, 2012

There are a few tell-tale signs that spring is right around the corner: lemonade stand sightings, overflowing bowls of ice cream with sugar cones and a worldwide celebration of the very planet we inhabit. That’s right, I am talking about Earth Day. For those of you who don’t know what Earth Day is (what? are you from another planet?) here is a brief history.

Seeing a need for environmental awareness and education, United States Senator, Gaylord Nelson (1916-2005), a Democrat from Wisconsin, called for an environmental teach-in to be held on April 22nd, 1970. The scope of this teach-in was to help raise awareness of environmental issues such as oil spills, air pollution, the loss of wilderness and anything else that causes imminent danger to the planet. Not being confined to just one city or state, the call was made for a nationwide celebration and looked to communities, along with colleges and universities, as well as primary and secondary schools to help spread the word.

Starting from a humble grassroots level, Earth Day has now grown into a worldwide event and is observed in 192 countries connected by the Earth Day Network. Over 1 billion people a year participating in Earth Day activities makes it the “largest civic observance in the world” (Earthday.org). So on April 22nd 2012 (and a day or two before) get out and get involved. Whether you are interested in doing clean up along the Charles River, having a picnic, attending a concert, taking a hike or much, much more, here are some Earth Day activities in the Greater Boston area.

• Earth Day Hike–Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, Princeton, MA A celebration of land protected. Learn about the history, habitats and wildlife of Wachusett Meadow.
• Picnic for the Planet with the Nature Conservancy, Boston Frog Pond, Boston, MA Enjoy live music and Be part of The Nature Conservancy’s attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the largest global picnic while learning how to be green.
• 13th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup At sites all along the Charles River and its tributaries
• Musketaquid Earth Day 2012 Celebration, Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts, Concord MA Parade, festival, fun and food.
• So many more Earth Day 2012 Activities throughout Massachusetts

As a prospective home buyer, there is more to seeing than meets the eye.

• There is the ability to see behind the staging or beyond the gorgeous view to the home’s actual architecture.
• There is the ability to see the potential when the presentation is dreadful.
• And there is visualization – the ability, in your mind’s eye, to project scenes of your family life within the walls of the house you are looking at.

There really is a lot to look at when looking at houses.

I had a prolonged house search before we bought our new home a few years ago. I wanted to see every house on the market. I guess I had a critical eye because people commented a bit acidly on how many houses I viewed. Now just like every homebuyer, I was balancing what I was seeing in reality against what I was seeing in my imagination, while keeping a steely eye trained on our budget.One house comes to mind where I had to tune out a certain feature, very deliberately, in order to “see” the house. The house was sited on the shore of a gorgeous pond. We saw it at an open house on Father’s Day. Wow, it was a beautiful day…the glittering water was captivating. There were walls of glass, and every room had views. I felt like I was floating right out of the house into that pond. We were in love. But then I asked myself, “Would I love this house if the pond wasn’t there?”

I deliberately tuned out the pond. I imagined a dark winter night outside – no easy task in June! I looked just at the kitchen and at the first-floor bedroom, and then just at the kids’ lower-level bedrooms. I thought of the size of the rooms and imagined our furniture in those rooms. I realized that the house would not work for our family. But, boy, it sure had great views.

The house we ultimately bought had the worst presentation one could ever imagine. It had been damaged in a fire and was being offered “as is.” So what did the eye see upon entry? An absolute nightmare. The windows were boarded up, broken by the firemen. The furniture was burned and in disarray. The only light came from emergency lights strung on yellow cord. There was no heat in February. Thick black soot covered every surface of the house. I noticed some photos on the wall where the Plexiglass frames had actually melted into long, hanging drips.We walked through the charred remains of a library, and stepped gingerly over the tragic remains of the possessions. (Note: the family was not hurt in the fire.) We held our noses and covered our mouths. Nothing prepares you for the deep, disturbing smell of the dregs of a residential fire.

I knew immediately that this was the house we had been searching for. How? Well, I guess I tuned out the forlorn reality and looked to the house itself. I saw large window spaces that wrapped around the living room. I saw the layout itself, how the large square living room opened directly to a cozy dining room with its own fireplace. I immediately loved the French doors next to the fireplace.

Mostly, the integrity of the home’s architectural design was still evident. It is a 1949 Bauhaus style house and its simplicity and open design continued to make a strong statement despite the mess. I also saw that a concrete home can really withstand a fire. There was no structural damage (as confirmed later by a structural engineer). So what I saw at that first viewing was a beautiful home with architectural significance and a great layout in a location that we coveted and at a price that we could manage. After an eight month renovation process and a continuing list of home improvements, we are living in our “dream house.” It was love at first sight.

Throughout the renovation, I imagined myself one day making coffee in my new kitchen, cozily sipping it after the kids had walked off to school. It was a comforting image that I revisited in my mind’s eye many times. On the first day in our new home, my vision came to life. The kids left for the bus and my husband went off to work. I walked into the kitchen, running my hand over the sleek new Silestone countertops. I put the coffee maker on and turned my gaze to the view out the kitchen windows. Oops! In my excitement, I forgot to put the coffee pot on the burner. Newly brewed coffee began pouring all over the new counters, running down the high gloss cabinetry, and pooling onto the new cork flooring. I laughed and grabbed a mop. We never quite live what we imagine.

On Thursday April 12, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Barrett & Company Real Estate invites you to attend a night of food, fashion and fundraising to benefit a great cause. Barrett is participating in a night of shopping, raffles and silent auction items with Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs at 29 Main Street, Concord, MA where a portion of the shopping receipts and the raffle and auction item sales will benefit NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services). Barrett has donated a gift card for a Lilly & Abbie Custom Dog Bed, made right in Melrose, MA. The sample bed below will be on display on Thursday night.
Started in 1976, NEADS/Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans at the outset was an experiment for Holliston Junior College in Lenox, MA. Upon the College’s bankruptcy, a professor had to make a choice, continue with an experiment whose results were turning out positive or let it suffer the same fate of the school. Acquiring funding from the Medfield Lions Club, a new program was launched, one that trained dogs to become an aid for those deaf and hard of hearing.
Since then, NEADS has come a long way. After moving from location to location, they finally settled in 1992 and have been based out of Princeton, MA for the last twenty years. Initially, their facilities included a 26-run indoor/outdoor kennel, training areas, and on-site living quarters for clients. In addition they also have the, oh-so-popular (and for good reason), NEADS Early Learning Center for puppies.
Not only have their facilities grown, so have their programs. Starting with people who were deaf and hard of hearing, dogs are now also trained to help those with physical disabilities. There are two programs, especially, that have become the landmark achievements of NEADS. The first is their Prison PUP Partnership and the other is the Canines for Combat Veterans Trauma Assistant Dogs.

Prison PUP Partnership is a program where NEADS puppies are trained and raised by inmates in correctional facilities including the North Central Correctional Center in Concord and MCI Concord. Each inmate has to meet certain requirements and is instructed by NEADS trainers in obedience training and service dog tasks, as this is considered a premium program. At this point, I know what you’re thinking, “why train in a prison?” and I had the same thought. NEADS CEO, Gerry DeRoche explained,

“It’s ‘more effective’ because the inmates can tend to the pup 24/7. This includes housebreaking, care and grooming, and crate training. However, on the weekends dogs can be checked-out by neighboring volunteers and taken to public places as a way to help socialize the dog and get it used to being outside the prison environment.”

NEADS newest program is training Trauma Assistant Dogs, which was launched in 2010 under the Canines for Combat Veterans. These dogs are trained to help service men and women who have lost a limb, sense of balance, or other functioning part of their body. What makes the Canines for Combat Veterans special, as well as the Trauma Assistant Dogs, is their ability to act, in a way, as an extension of the body. Trained in a house-like setting, the dogs are able to retrieve and carry objects, turn light switches on and off, press buttons, open doors, and much, much more for those transitioning to prosthetics or wheelchairs. Most importantly, these dogs help individuals maneuver and operate with ease in public. And to make things a little easier on soldiers receiving a dog, NEADS goes a step further and provides the dog at no cost through fundraising efforts and hosting charity events.
Starting from the pound up, over the past 36 years NEADS has trained a total of 1,300 dogs and averages about fifty a year, with most of those being trained in thirteen prisons. Having high standards for their dogs (only taking the cream of the crop) and a lengthy interview for prospective clients, NEADS boasts an impressive 90% match rate for those seeking a Service Dog. At the end of the day, NEADS provides the best possible service to those with disabilities, just ask one of their clients or 200 volunteers.

Inspired by an Irish country manor, the craftsman’s masterpiece located at 3 Tower Field Lane in Lincoln, Massachusetts is sited to enjoy the stunning meadow views. The elegant foyer invites you into the home’s welcoming floor plan. Enjoy the warmth of the large limestone hearth in the dining room that is open to the richly designed marble kitchen that includes a butler’s pantry and seating for informal dining. Access the expansive pillared porch from the kitchen, dining room, living room and 1st floor master bedroom suite. The three family bedrooms encircle the fireplaced sitting room and share 2 stunning baths.

Buyer Walkthrough

Additional Listing Information and Photos

3 Tower Field Lane, Lincoln, Massachusetts

Lincoln, MA Market Snapshot

90-day stats for Single Family properties in LINCOLN, MA as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,338,125	Average List Price:	$1,636,830
Total Inventory:	35	Price per Square Foot:	$310
Average Home Size:	4,019	Median Lot Size:	84,883
Average # Beds:	4.24	Average # Baths:	3.48
Homes Absorbed:	2	Newly Listed:	3
Days on Market:	169	Average Age:	38

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This home located at 12 Granville Road in Lincoln, Massachusetts could be straight from the pages of a home design magazine. The completely renovated home is architect-designed, and urban chic, a blend of simplicity and sophistication. Features include slate fireplaces and gleaming hardwood floors. The stainless equipped kitchen with breakfast bar and granite counters, opens to the step-down fireplaced family room. Relax in the elegant master suite. Sliders from cathedral ceiling living room and dining room provide access to the private patio and backyard. The cosmopolitan interior is balanced by a pastoral cul-de-sac setting, surrounded by conservation fields and trails.

Buyer Walkthrough

Additional Listing Information and Photos

12 Granville Road, Lincoln, Massachusetts

Lincoln, MA Market Snapshot

90-day stats for Single Family properties in LINCOLN, MA as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,338,125	Average List Price:	$1,636,830
Total Inventory:	35	Price per Square Foot:	$310
Average Home Size:	4,019	Median Lot Size:	84,883
Average # Beds:	4.24	Average # Baths:	3.48
Homes Absorbed:	2	Newly Listed:	3
Days on Market:	169	Average Age:	38

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This heartwarming Village Colonial antique Massachusetts home for sale located at 333 Main Street in historic Concord, Massachusetts is rich in tradition and blends classic features, circa 1870, with recent renovations. The beautiful addition to this 5 bedroom home was built in 2009 and creates a brilliant new floor plan for today’s lifestyle. The kitchen is designed for the chef to interact with guests in the dining room and family room. A new half bathroom and the laundry room are located on the first floor. A new master bedroom suite is located on the second floor and includes a fantastic walk-in closet. The property boasts lush country gardens and fences for privacy. New systems include heating and air conditioning. A coveted location in Concord Center with a Walk Score of 71*.

Additional Listing Information and Photos

333 Main Street, Concord, Massachusetts

Concord, MA Market Snapshot

90-day stats for Single Family properties in CONCORD, MA as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,159,167	Average List Price:	$1,500,965
Total Inventory:	101	Price per Square Foot:	$311
Average Home Size:	3,600	Median Lot Size:	48,292
Average # Beds:	4.26	Average # Baths:	3.39
Homes Absorbed:	5	Newly Listed:	12
Days on Market:	134	Average Age:	62

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*Walk Score as of 3/29/2012

To meet the demands as one of the fastest growing independent real estate brokerages in Greater Boston, Barrett & Company is pleased to announce the addition of five real estate sales agents to our team: Carol Avery, Adriana Crosby, Rory Fivek, Sarah Kussin and Cynthia Stephenson.

With over thirteen years in the industry, Westford, MA resident Carol Avery brings her expertise of historic home and antique properties to the table. Not only is she the past and current owner of an historic home, she is also Certified in Historic Real Estate by National Trust for Historic Preservation. Prior to joining Barrett, Carol marketed new construction projects. Whether marketing historic antiques or new construction, Carol makes sure her clients have full satisfaction, which is one reason she has been a consistent real estate top producer.

Formerly a mortgage broker and financial advisor of twenty years, Concord, MA resident Adriana Crosby brings her high spirits and energy to Barrett & Company. As well as having an expert eye for interior design, Adriana has extensive knowledge of the building and renovation process, having worked for her husband’s building company located in Concord and Osterville, MA.

Rory Fivek, a resident of Concord, MA received her real estate license in 2008. Before Barrett, Rory was a top ranked and award winning Professional Healthcare Representative with Pfizer, Inc. Prior to that she was an account manager at Boston Advertising agency from 1999-2001. Her clients included Avaya, MassHousing, MassDevelopment, and Webster Five Bank. Apart from work, Rory is a member of Big Sisters Association of Boston.

A lifelong resident of Concord, Sarah Kussin has been active in residential real estate sales and rentals for the past twenty-nine years. A loyal following of past clients will attest to her patience, persistence, integrity and always professional manner as both a buyer or seller agent.

Cynthia Stephenson, a Concord resident for the past 11 years, recently received her Massachusetts Real Estate Saleperson License. After working as an assistant to Patti Salem for 4 years, Cynthia has joined her team as a full-time agent.

We are thrilled to have them all on board and ask you to join us in welcoming them.

Spring officially started earlier this week, but the real estate spring market has been heating up for a while now. At Barrett & Company we hold a weekly office meeting and talk about recent activity in the real estate market, particularly about the past weekends open houses.

Over the last couple of weeks we have heard about open houses that attracted 15, 20, sometimes even upwards of 30 groups of people through. Each week, that number goes up. So we are seeing, yes, buyers are out there.

Something we hear over and over again from those buyers, though, is “where are the new listings?” Inventory is down, way down. Recently, the number of single family homes listed for sale in Concord, Massachusetts was 57 , half what the inventory had been in August 2011 at 117.

Yet in that same time span, the median sale price in Concord has increased from $868,000 in August 2011 to $1,080,000 in early March 2012.

We are also seeing multiple offer situations and properties going under agreement very quickly. Home buyers are still trying to take advantage of the low interest rates while they can, but they would love to see more options so bring on the inventory!

This superbly designed home located at 381 Thoreau Street in Concord Massachusetts was built in 2007 and is perfectly situated for all the amenities that a Concord in-town location offers. The foyer opens to an inviting living room and quiet office. The spacious dining room has a lovely bay window. The well-appointed kitchen is open to a fire-placed family room with wonderful views of the backyard. The spacious master suite features two closets and a sumptuous bathroom with his and hers vanities. There are three family bedrooms, family bathroom, large guest suite with private bath and laundry and an over-sized mudroom.

Walk to train station; Thoreau Street shops and restaurants; Abbott Elementary and Concord Carlisle High School.

Buyer Walkthrough

Additional Listing Information and Photos

381 Thoreau Street, Concord, Massachusetts

Concord, MA Market Snapshot

90-day stats for Single Family properties in CONCORD, MA as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,159,167	Average List Price:	$1,500,965
Total Inventory:	101	Price per Square Foot:	$311
Average Home Size:	3,600	Median Lot Size:	48,292
Average # Beds:	4.26	Average # Baths:	3.39
Homes Absorbed:	5	Newly Listed:	12
Days on Market:	134	Average Age:	62

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Concord, MA Market Snapshot