Report Run: 12/5/2007 3:28:30 PM Property Type(s): SF Start Date: 11/5/2007 End Date: 12/5/2007 Towns: Needham, MA Active Listings Price Range# ofListingsAvg. Dayson MarketUnder $50,000--$50,000 - $99,999--$100,000 - $149,999--$150,000 - $199,999--$200,000 - $249,999--$250,000 - $299,999--$300,000 - $349,999-- $350,000 - $399,999 3 329 $400,000 - $449,999 3 133 $450,000 - $499,999 3 41 $500,000 - $599,999 8 55 $600,000 - $699,999 17 53 $700,000 - $799,999 12 172 $800,000 - $899,999 4 81 $900,000 - $999,999 6 79 $1,000,000 - $1,499,999 22 126 $1,500,000 - $1,999,999 6 371 $2,000,000 - $2,499,999 2 40 $2,500,000 - $2,999,999 3 226 $3,000,000 - $3,999,999 2 58 $4,000,000 - $4,999,999--$5,000,000 - $9,999,999--Over $10,000,000--Total Properties91Avg. 127 Lowest Price: $375,000Median Price:... 12/05/2007

Not far from Needham, about 35 minutes is one of the best musicals I have seen.  The musical is "Ebenezer Scrooge: A Christmas Carol" back by popular request.The location is:   The Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord, MA  The dates are:  December 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23I personally have gone numerous times because I take various friends and family.  It is great if you can plan to come early and see how pretty Concord is at Christmas.  The tickets are available in advance or you can go to the website: www.newlifefinearts.orgThe talent, the costumes, the lovely location, and the great intermission refreshments.  A combination of talented performers, musicians, colorful sets, period costumes, special effects, Dicken's Christmas Carol philosophy "Christmas can be every... 12/04/2007

Needham Market 11/3/07 to 12/3/07  Please note the last column in this report.  This is the ratio of the original price vs the selling price. Please note: The 8 properties at the top off the report under $50,000 are rentals. There is more bang for your buck in Needham with the services provided, the schools are outstandng, the convenience in Needham's transportation and proximity to major highways. Needham is close to Boston by car or public transportation.   Needham is close to great shoppping, starting with the shops in Wellesley, new shops in Natick, Framingham, & Burlington.Pat Baker, Realtor, Needham and surrounding  towns of Wellesley,Weston, Dover, Dedham, Natick, So. Natick, Holliston, Newton visit our website: www.patannbaker.com  **At our website you will be able to get all so... 12/03/2007

We know it as the Bradley Estate.  This  property along with many acres was given to the Town of Needham for its useby the former owner many years ago. Lots of weddings have been held here.   There are presently Rangers who take care of the property and prepare it for events.  It is a another place I like to come to get away from the noise and just read or relax in the beauty of the country side.  There are walking trails and in the summer there is a day camp across the road from this building. It appears that this will be the site of the Senior Center.  The present Senior Center really needs so much work and there isn't adequate parking.  It looks like there is a green light to go forward with the project to house the Senior Center at the Bradley Estate site.  They will ask for $500,00... 12/01/2007

We are a college town now.  Olin College of Engineering is located on Great Plain Avenue.  It actually backs up to Babson College, Wellesley, MA  The original administration building is where my husband's uncle lived and raised his family.  Where the college sits they kept horses back in the 30's and 40's.  Just kind of neat to see this beautiful campus and know the history of the land. 12/01/2007

Needham Women's Club Annual Holiday House Tour - Dec. 2,  1 - 4:30 PM tickets in advance are $25.00 before 12/1 or $30.00 at the doorColdwell Banker Residential Brokerage is one of the House Tour sponsors.  This the 10th annual.  Tickets can be purchased at Roches Bros. and Sudbury Farms Grocery Stores' Customer Service Desks.   There are six homes featured this year. Two of the homes have historic significance.  The tour will kick off the Needham School House at the  Historical Society on Central Avenue, Needham, MADec. 2, Parent Talk hosts Saturday Holiday Stroll - 10 am  - 3 pmWe hope you will be able to join us this year for our 5th annual event. The event will be held on Saturday, December 1st at the Congregational Church 1154 Great Plain Avenue (across from the post office) from 1... 11/29/2007

  10/24/2007  11/24/2007Price RangeNumber ofListingsAvg. Dayson Marketvs. todayNumber ofListingsAvg. Dayson MarketUnder $50,000-- --$50,000 - $99,999-- --$100,000 - $149,999-- --$150,000 - $199,999-- --$200,000 - $249,999-- --$250,000 - $299,999-- --$300,000 - $349,999-- --$350,000 - $399,9993287 3318$400,000 - $449,9998120 5104$450,000 - $499,999441 329$500,000 - $599,9991168 1162$600,000 - $699,9991385 1463$700,000 - $799,99917124 13165$800,000 - $899,999557 470$900,000 - $999,99912138 6118$1,000,000 - $1,499,99928131 26131$1,500,000 - $1,999,99910252 7308$2,000,000 - $2,499,99910 229$2,500,000 - $2,999,9994113 4145$3,000,000 - $3,999,999297 388$4,000,000 - $4,999,999-- --$5,000,000 - $9,999,999-- --Over $10,000,000-- --Total Properties118Avg. 125 101Avg. 126 Lowest Price:$385,000Medi... 11/24/2007

There are some dynamic changes in the number of sales in a lot of the communities here.  Most dramatic being Dover with 160%.  I look at these and I am encouraged.  The luxury markets are still strong.  Median prices have basically moved down except for Dover and Dedham.   These are very interesting stats I think. Sales Review by Town                                    Number of Sales                                                                   %Chg      2006    2007              %Chg        Median Price % chg. 0607                8/06   8/07      6/07       YTD     YTD         6/07   ___________________________ Needham     40     72        80%       355     432         22%           1%Wellesley     36     49        36%       319     343          8%           -12%Dover            5... 11/21/2007

Here are some helpful websites for the area: Great organization for young parents: http://www.parenttalk.info/newsite/ Needham Golf Club for all ages www.needhamgolfclub.com/ Women's Club - very active and fun www.needhamwomensclub.org Needham School Profiles http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/search.asp?orgtype=0&location=268&word=&submit=Find+Organization&mode=o MCAS test results spring 2007 http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?mode=o&so=-&ot=5&o=1147&view=tstBy no means is this an exhaustive list but as time goes by I will be adding other organizations and helpful web links in order to know the town of Needham and its people a little better.  11/17/2007

Well there is one more thing about Thanksgiving that I think of and that is wonderful Owen's Poultry Farm.  It happens to be within walking distance of my house.  That was great place to go when my son was growing up.  We would walk over to see the chickens, turkeys, pheasants, bunnys, pigs, horses, cows, emus, lambs, roosters, geese and occasional ducks.  It was great. I didn't have to jump in the car.  Now I have 3 wonderful grandchildren that I also take over to Owen' Poultry Farm on 585 Central Avenue, Needham .  Prior to Thanksgiving they have  kept a large cage with all these turkeys in it.  Well now the blog is to tell you that they have the most amazing Turkeys there.  This year I am picking up a fully cooked, stuffed and complete very large turkey.  It is frozen and all I have ... 11/16/2007

November 17th Village Fair at the Congregational Church of Needham, 1154 Great Plain Ave, (corner of  Linden and Great Plain Ave.) Across from Post Office  10-3 - Baked goods, silent auction, luncheon, Attic treasures.Wellesley Event at Mass Bay Community College, just over the Needham line:  3 PM November 18th - Wellesley Symphony Orchestra  featuring Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales.  11/14/2007

The Annual Blue Tree Lighting and Holiday StrollEvery year since 1954 to start off the holiday season a very large tree in the Town Common and a Tree Lighting at Avery Square in Needham Heights.  This year's lighting is November 24. 2007.  After the lighting there ae Santa rides in the Town Common.  Between 5:20 and 5:45  Shoppers stroll through Needham shops and there is just a very warm spirit  and one not to miss.  This event is sponsored by the Needham Business Association.  They have done some great things in town for beautification.  I will speak more of this in future blogs.  Pat Baker, Realtor Needham, MA  11/14/2007

In the last 5 days 6 properties in Needham went under agreement.  The list prices were as follows:1 at $529,000; 1 at $569,000; 1 at $750,000; 1 at $799,000; 1 at $975,000; and 1  at $999,000A Total of 5 newly listed propertiesas follows:$519,000, $529,000, $539,000, $575,000 and $735,000.There are 110 properties on the market as follow:3 between $350,000 - $399,9993 between $400,000 - $449,9995 between $450,000 - $499,99913 between $500,000- $599,99912 between $600,000 - $699,99912 between $700,000 - $799,9998  between $800,000 - $899,9997  between  $900,000 - $999,99927 between $1,000,000 - $1,499,99910 between $1,500,000 - $1,999,9992  between $2,000,000 - $2,499,9993  between $2,500,000 - $2,999,9993  between $3,000,000 - $3,999,999   11/10/2007

Thanksgiving in Needham brings a couple of great events to mind.Needham High School and Wellesley High School holds the national record for the oldest (public schools) Thanksgiving day football game.  Only interrupted once in 1921. It is now 125 years since Arthur Judson Oldman posed the challenge to the students nearby to a "friendly game of ball."In honor of this annual football event the Rotary Clubs of Needham and Wellesley host a dinner on the Tuesday evening before the game and invite the football teams and coaches.  They include a speaker who is usually a  professional athlete and it is just a lot of fun.   The Rotary Club of Needham in conjunction with the Needham Community Council runs a dinner for folks who might be otherwise alone on Thanksgiving.  For those who are unable to... 11/10/2007

Walk the streets of Needham and you will see beautiful trees all along the way.  Bring your children and grandchildren to the Needham High School hill and go sledding. Oh What fun! we had when we were raising our son going to the Needham High School hill.  Go skating just before you enter the Town Forest there is a great place to ice skate.  Join the Rosemary Pool in the summer and have the kids take swimming lessons.  Play tennis at the private club Needham Pool & Racquet or go the the public tennis courts one of which is right by the High School hill.  Go to the Needham/Wellesley Thanksgiving Day game.  This is the longest running footballl rivalry in the US I believe. Go to the absolutely brand new Needham Public Library, it is jusst beautiful and up to the minute.  Just a few of the... 11/03/2007

"Back Bay Fill"In 1853, the first rail was laid, connecting Needham to Boston.  Rail access to Needham was extended not only for commerical purposes, but also to accommodate the "Back Bay Fill.\,"  Starting in 1859, gravel was transported from Needham to Boston to fill in the Back Bay for residential use.  For nearly 15 years, over 1200 freight cars per day were loaded with gravel dug from the area that now forms the Industrial Center and route 128/95 interchange.  Truly land of Needham is now in the Back Bay of Boston.  I truly love that part of the city and especially Commonwealth Avenue and the Public Garden.  I have memories of taking the Needham Local everyday to Back Bay for college.  I still remember the crisp wind as I walked over the bridge and in front of the Boston Public Lib... 10/24/2007

I am beginning to think that Needham is the restaurant capital of Massachusetts.  We are very fortunate because we don't have to go far to find a great restaurannt.  Needham has lots to choose from.   New Garden, Mandarin Cuisine, The Rice Barn, Pho Pasteur, Euro Taste Bistro, Fava, Fuji Steak House, Masala Art, Panera Bread, Fresco Restaurant,  Sweet Basil's (my favorite), Not Your Average Joe's (big hit), new to Needham - Spiga (Italian Cuisine), Bertucci, Ground Round, Blue  on Highland, Sheraton,  soon coming The Village Fish (re-locating from Brookline to Needham), Sweet Tomatoes is on its way here too, Pacini's Italian Eatery and Stonehearth Pizza.  I may have missed some but we have lots of pizza places and sandwich shops, Ice Cream -Cafe Mucca Blu, Needham Junction ice Cream and... 10/23/2007

The Chronicle of the Boston Transit System From the mass.gov website on MBTA Massachusetts Transportation Many people study and cherish Boston's rich and colorful history with its ideas of liberty, freedom, and democratic concepts. Few, however, are aware of Boston's historic lifeline regional mass transportation. While Boston is the birthplace of American liberty, it is also the birthplace of American mass transportation.Beginning with a family-operated ferry service, Boston has nurtured many forms of mass transportation, right up to today's most sophisticated mass transit vehicles. The Hub's transit system is the oldest and fourth largest in the nation has a history longer than that of American independence.Mass transportation first emerged in the city in 1631, when Boston was a penin... 10/21/2007

Longwood Opera "Die Fledermaus" Needham's Longwood Opera will perform Johann Strauss' comic masterpiece, "The Fledermaus (the Bat), on Friday, October 26 at 8 PM Saturday, October 27 at 8 PM, ahd Sunday October 28, t 2;30PM at Christ Episcopal Church, 1142 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA.  All performances are elegantly costumed, full staged and sung in English with piano. accompaniment.Tickets at the door $23 general admission, $18 for seniors, $14 for students and $10 for children younger than 10.  Purchase tickets in advance and save.  For more information  visit www.longwoodopera.org or call 781-455-0990 Holiday Craft Fair Local talented artisans - 66 Thurston Road, Needham on Thurs. Nov 1 7 - 9, Friday Nov 2 9 AM -3 PM, & Saturday Nov 3 from 10 AM - 4 PM. Trade Secrets Sectio of hidde... 10/21/2007

October 20th.  Before or after the pancake breakfast you can stop by the Parent Talk sponsored event:At Christ Church on Highland Ave from 8:30 to 12:30 - Clothing, Toy and Equipment Sale. This on is always a hit.  The Pancake Breakfast is at Newman School. Just follow Highland Ave then turn right on Great Plain Avenue, go about a mile out of town and turn left at Central Avenue follow to the Newman School.Have a great autumn day.  10/20/2007