When Liz, her husband and son first moved to Franklin six years ago, she knew only one other family.  She quickly realized how lonely her days were as a stay-at-home mother of a toddler especially when the only other mom she knew worked full-time. Liz did her research and discovered the local chapter of the MOMS Club of Franklin, MA North which became her lifesaver.  She was meeting new friends, filling her son's and her own time with activities and really feeling connected to her new community.  Her new relationships were put to the test when she became pregnant and was put on 8 weeks of bedrest.  The MOMS Club was right there with meals, emotional support and babysitting help.  The MOMS Club began back in California in 1983 when a stay-at-home mom saw the need to connect with other mo... 01/12/2010

The new condominium market is a very strong, active market in our marketplace of Franklin, Ma.  We have a variety of condo communities from which to choose in this town.  So we, the marketing agents, need to make sure that the features of our inventory are competitive with the other condominiums.  Most of them have similar amenities, and the sizes are quite comparable.  We find granite, hardwood and open floor plans to be the norm in all of the condominium subdivisions.  The major difference is becoming evident, especially if the condo community is an extremely large one.  The condo fees are adjusted every year to reflect the new bids for maintenance of the lawns, snow plowing, etc.  There is one community that also has a waste-water treatment plant to maintain.   The condo fees for the... 01/11/2010

  This chart displays the number of pending new condos in the town of Franklin, Ma and their respective marketing agents. The Villas at Eagles Nest leads the way with 5 pending condominiums as of today, followed by Meadowbrook Heights with 4 pending sales.  Both of these subdivisions plus Palladini Village with one pending are being marketed by The Todaro Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin, Ma. The Villages at Oak Hill currently has 3 pending sales and that community is being marketed by The Kelly-Colombo Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin, Ma. The last new condominium community with one pending sale is Franklin Heights in Franklin, Ma and Prime Time is marketing that subdivision.  The condo market in Franklin, Ma is a very healthy, active market and the demand is inc... 01/11/2010

  The chart is a display of the single family homes in the town of Franklin, Ma that have closed in 2009.  The average sale price is $418,000.  There were 264 closed homes according to MLS-PIN and the average marketing time was 114 days. When we compare the 2008 market in Franklin, Ma for single family homes, the results are very similar.  There were 240 homes closed.  The average sale price was $424,018 and the average days on the market were 126 days. Franklin, Ma is a very stable marketplace.  The number of closings for 2009 has increased by 24 homes from the previous year.  The average sale price is very similar and the days on the market have decreased slightly. This representation is based on data provided by MLS-PIN who does not guarantee the accuracy and the data may not reflec... 01/11/2010

  Strawberry Fields in Franklin, Ma is a small seven lot subdivision in a prime location.  This area is walking distance to the center of Franklin, schools, churches and, most importantly, the "T" to Boston.  This is an ideally convenient location for anyone who is working in Boston and needs the commuter rail everyday. This eight room colonial features four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, step down family room with gas fireplace, custom kitchen with granite counters, hardwood, tile, farmers porch and two car attached garage.  The asking price on this home is $609,900. Call us now for a private showing. 01/11/2010

  We are under construction with this luxury 3,200 s.f. colonial at Sandy Knoll Estates in Franklin, Ma.  We will be prepared for an end of April closing on this property. This home is on lot #24 on Silver Fox Road in Franklin, Ma.  There are 8 rooms with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, custom kitchen with granite counters, island, stainless appliances, hardwood, tile, two story foyer, formal dining and living rooms, large moldings and family room with plenty of glass and a gas fireplace. The lots in this subdivision are all acre+ wooded lots and each home is custom built and uniquely designed.  This home is offered at $699,900.  Directions:  Miller Street to Silver Fox Road. 01/11/2010

  Palladini Village is an active adult community of 25 single family homes on common land.  We are offering cape and ranch style homes with first floor master bedroom suites in the cape.  Our very open floor plan has been a popular feature, and buyers have the option of cutomizing the floor plan to their own taste. The cape style home is offered at $509,900 and the ranch style home is priced at $409,900.  There are only eight homes remaining of the original 25 homes.  Our condo fees are only $90/month.  Directions:  Rte 495 to King Street to Lawrence Drive to cul de sac. 01/11/2010

  The Todaro Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty had another successful open house weekend at The Villas at Eagles Nest in Franklin, Ma.  We had several new visitors that were interested in the non-age restricted building.  We have had much success selling those particular units to all age groups. We currently have four condos available and they all on the second floor with two in each of the two standing buildings.  Our third building (#5) will start construction in the spring.  Visit our open house events every weekend from 1:00pm to 3:00pm and take a tour of all of our units.  They all have something different to offer.  Directions:  Miller Street to Silver Fox Road to Eagles Nest Way.  Hope to see you this weekend. 01/11/2010

  The condominiums at Meadowbrook Heights provide luxury living in an active adult community with an minimum age restriction of fifty-five.  Our condos boast a first floor master bedroom suite in all of the units.  They also feature maple cabinets, granite counters, stainless appliances, 9' ceilings, cathedral family room with gas fireplace.  There is a one car garage, farmers porch and most importantly a very low condo fee of $200/month. This community is serviced by town water, town sewer and natural gas.  Visit our open house event every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm and take a grand tour of the model home.  Our prices start at $329,900.  We have two condos framed and one foundation in the ground.  Don't miss out on a 90 day delivery.  Directions:  Miller Street to Longh... 01/11/2010

The city of Chicago recently made news with their award-winning after school programs meant to keep kids busy with learning and fun during the often long and otherwise lonely after school hours.  Long term studies found that involved kids were more likely to have better grades, go on to graduate and were generally more successful than their non-involved counterparts.  While news outlets focus on city school systems, it seems noteworthy that our own small town of Franklin, MA offers many impressive after school learning and enrichment programs for both middle and high school students.  Many residents and newcomers have expressed surprise at the extensive selection of offerings. Did you know that Franklin youth can: *play music in the Rock Band Club *enjoy weekly afternoon/evening Ski Clu... 01/10/2010

Welcome to Charles River Farms in Franklin, MA!  Named the 10th Best Place to Live and Launch in 2008 by CNN Money!           This well established neighborhood is made up of traditional New England Colonials and is located in the Oak Street School District. Currently there are two homes under agreement and two on the market with one home sold in the past 6 months for $560,000.  Charles River Farms is a highly sought after neighborhood.   Most homes have 4 or more bedrooms and feature well planned out interiors.  It's a neighborhood filled to the brim with pride of ownership.  Scenic lots with mature trees average about an acre.   There's curb appeal galore!   Winding streets complete with sidewalks make it a walker's (or runner's) paradise!     With a 3 mile drive to Route 495 and a 2 ... 01/09/2010

Franklin Condo and Multi-family Round up There are currently 99 condos on the market in Franklin. The condo average list price is $328,000 with an average price per square foot of $179.  Average time on market is 240 days.  One new condo came on the market this past week.  It is a 2 bedroom townhouse located on Longobardi Drive. One condo went under agreement. It was a 2 bedroom townhouse on Grey Wolf Drive. Two other condos were flagged to go under agreement soon. One condo was sold in the past week in Franklin.  It was a 2 bedroom townhouse on Grey Wolf Drive that sold for $337,990. There are 6 multi-family homes currently on the market in Franklin.  The average list price is $393,000 and the average market time is 156 days. One new multi-family listing came on the market this past we... 01/08/2010

Franklin Single Family Home Round Up Currently there are 92 single family homes on the market in Franklin, Massachusetts.  The houses have an average list price of $496,000 and an average market time of 179 days.  There are 17 properties available for $300,000 or less. On the upper end of the scale, there are six properties listing for $800,000 or more.  In the last week four new single family homes came on the market.  The newly listed properties are on Northgate Street, Populatic Street, Maple Street and Vine Street.  They ranged in price from $269,900 to $429,000.  No single family homes went under agreement in the last week.  However, three other single family homes were flagged to go under agreement soon. There were three single family homes sold in the past week in Franklin: 2 Map... 01/08/2010

  Lorraine Kuney of The Todaro Team at RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin, Ma sold another one at Meadowbrook Heights, our active adult community in Franklin with 59 townhomes. We averaged a sale every other week last year, and expect to complete this subdivision by the beginning of 2011.  Visit our open house event every Saturday and Sunday from 1;00pm to 3:00pm.  Directions:  Miller Street to Longhill Road to Grey Wolf Drive. Prices start at $329,900.  01/08/2010

  This morning the condo at 69 Grey Wolf Drive at Meadowbrook Heights closed.  Lorraine Kuney is the "point person" from the Todaro Team for this community of 55+ condos.  The new owners of this condominium live locally in the town of Franklin and wanted to down-size but stay in this town.  We have many buyers who love the town of Franklin and will not move out when they decide that the big family property is too big now. The buyers of this condo paid $338,000 and we welcome them to Meadowbrook Heights.  Once again, great job, Lorraine. Visit our open house event every Saturday and Sunday from 1;00pm to 3:00pm.  Directions: Miller Street to Longhill Rd. to Grey Wolf Drive. 01/07/2010

If you are one of the many homeowners in Franklin, MA getting ready to put your home on the market you may want to do some preliminary work first.  I am not referring to staging your home, replacing light bulbs or updating the paint--those are topics for another post.  What I am referring to is the many resources available online for a homeowner to become informed about what is on public record for their property. The Multiple Listing Service data tells us that housing inventory is historically low for Franklin with only 57 homes available.  This translates into good news for homeowners since minimal competition with other properties could mean maximum sales prices.  There are countless buyers all planning to find a home this winter/early spring to meet the tax credit deadline with a co... 01/06/2010

  The chart shows production by the top six agents and their respective offices for Franklin, Ma properties since 1994.  Towns other than Franklin are not indicated on this chart.  The two top producing agents for Franklin, Ma properties are from RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin.  They are Barbara Todaro and Susan Stivaletta, respectively.  The third agent is from Keller Williams followed by Costello Real Estate, ERA Key Realty and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Franklin. This representation is based on data provided by MLS-PIN who does not guarantee the accuracy and the data may not reflect all real estate activity.  01/06/2010

  Nancy Maiorana, a member of The Todaro Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin, Ma., has been awarded the Hall of Fame Award.  This prestigious award is presented to those individuals who have earned one million dollars in commission money.  Nancy has been in the real estate business for 19 years and with The Todaro Team for 5 years.  She is also well versed in real estate appraising and is a candidate for her appraisal license. We congratulate Nancy for many years of success and fully expect that 2010 will be another award winning year for her. 01/05/2010

  Congratulations are in order for Marilyn Williams of The Todaro Team of RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin, Ma. for earning the RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award. The Hall of Fame is awarded to RE/MAX agents who have reached a million dollars in commissions during their career with RE/MAX.  Marilyn was the original member of The Todaro Team over 5 years ago.  Congratulations, Marilyn....RE/MAX Executive Realty and The Todaro Team are both very proud to have you on board, and we wish you much success in 2010. 01/05/2010

What distinguishes a full time agent from a part time agent?  There are agents who work solely in the real estate business and do not have another job.  Does that make them full time agents?  Does anyone in the real estate business work less than a 40 hour week?  I've heard agents who admit they work in this field just because there is flexibility of hours spent working.  I'm not sure if I understand exactly what that means!!!  I've been doing this job for 31 years, and I'm still waiting for my hours to become more flexible!!  I actually feel offended when real estate agents request to join an office on a part time basis.  I would never hire an agent who does not want to commit to a full force effort.  There are agents who only have this one job and describe themselves as full time, bu... 01/05/2010