Ahhh....the smell of a fresh pine tree! Many of us love the smell of those real Christmas trees! We've had them up for several weeks - some since right after Thanksgiving!  Once New Year's Day approaches, they start to look a little weary & it's time to take them down.   Once you have taken your lights and removed the ornaments from your tree, it looks a little sad - completely unadorned and more than a little bit dried out.   Where does it go now? If you live in Canton MA, you cannot put the tree out for pickup with your regular trash pickup.  Lawn and yard waste, including Christmas trees (and other live greens) are not allowed in the regular trash.  They must be brought to the Pine Street recycling facility, where they will be composted, like other yard waste.  The recycling facility... 12/25/2014

This weekend, the Canton Community Theatre presents its annual holiday show.  This year's presentation is the classic "Little Women" based on the book by Louisa May Alcott. Performances are December 5th at 7:30 pm and December 6th and 7th at 1:30 pm the Canton Community Theatre located at the Village Shoppes, 95 Washington Street, Canton, MA.   A classic known to many, "Little Women" follows the story of the March sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Following the ups and downs of their daily lives, there is both sadness and happiness and a lot of love. I loved this book when I read it as a kid....and am sure the performance will bring back many memories for all. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12.  They can be purchased at the door or online at the Canton Communi... 12/05/2014

I certainly hope everyone had a great time with their loved ones this Thanksgiving.  If not, I hope that you can look back at it soon and laugh.  We are now in what is traditionally the slowest part of the year for Canton MA real estate.  As the year winds down, so do the real estate transactions.  Here is a quick wrap-up of the Canton MA Home Sales Report for November 2014. According to the MLS Property Information Network, a total of 11 Canton MA homes were sold during the month of November 2014.  This is a 35.3% decrease from the same time last year.  However, it is more consistent with November sales dating back to 2010.  Homes sold during November 2014 ranged from a 2 bed/1 bath, 936 square foot, centrally-located ranch-style home that was purchased for $234,000 all the way up to a... 12/04/2014

    It's that time of year again.  Time to gather with our families and give thanks for all we have. There are many traditions surrounding Thanksgiving, not the least of which is the turkey.    In Canton MA, and in fact in most Massachusetts cities and towns, Thanksgiving means high school football.  I'm not sure about other parts of the country but in Massachusetts, Thanksgiving is the day when local high school football teams play their rivals.   For Canton, that means the annual Canton vs. Stoughton Thanksgiving Day game.  The 2014 meeting represents the 89th annual game, which started in 1926.  Stoughton is in the overall lead, having won 44 games to Canton's 40 losses, with four ties. Canton's most recent win came in the 2012 upset over Stoughton.   This year the game will be playe... 11/26/2014

Another weekend, another great event.  That's how it is here in Canton.  It's a small town but there's always something going on.  Last weekend it was the fantastic production of Footloose by Canton High School.  This weekend it is the CAPE Spelling Bee! On Friday, November 21st,  Canton Alliance for Public Education (otherwise known as CAPE)  will hold its Annual Spelling Bee.  This is truly a feel-good and fun event that brings everyone together.  The early part of the evening, starting at 6:00 pm, features Spelling Teams from Canton's three elementary schools.  There are 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teams, made up of five members, that compete against the teams from the other elementary schools to boast for top honors for the year for each grade.  It is an honor just to be on a team and it... 11/19/2014

Next week it will be Thanksgiving - a day to give thanks for all that we have.  Another way to be thankful is to share our bounty with others.  So, please consider donating to the Canton Food Pantry - or the food pantry of your choice if you live outside of the Canton MA area. The Canton MA Food Pantry provides an invaluable service to many members of our community who are struggling. They rely on the donations and support from the Canton community. Luckily, the citizens of Canton always come through - as they do anytime they are asked for help.   This month's focus is on Thanksgiving. The Canton Food Pantry puts together Thanksgiving meals for approximately 175 clients. As in past years, they are seeking donations of store-bought pies. Note, they cannot accept homemade pies.  Just thin... 11/18/2014

It's time once again for the Canton High Drama Club's annual fall musical.  It is going to be hard to top last year's smash performance of Legally Blonde but I am sure this year will be just as great!  As I am sure most readers know, Footloose was originally a 1984 movie starring Kevin Bacon.  It was modified for a stage production in 1998 and the movie was re-made in 2011.   Footloose is the story of teenager Ren McCormack, a big-city Chicago teen who moves to a small town with his mother.  Under the influence of a local minister, the town has banned all dancing and rock music.  Eventually, Ren gets friends at his new high school to petition the town to drop the band so that they can hold a senior prom.  I'm sure you know how it ends - with the senior prom, giant dance number and even ... 11/11/2014

Last spring, several local dance studios collaborated in the inaugural performance of Why We Dance. The benefit showcased several local dance studios, as well as the musical talents of The Wolff Sisters of Canton, and raised money to benefit the Furbush Family of Canton, who had suffered a tragic loss of both mother and father. The performance was a huge success and all involved decided that they would like to make this an annual event.  This year, Why We Dance is raising money to benefit The Jimmy Fund. The Jimmy Fund supports Boston's Dana Farber Cancer Institute by raising funds for cancer care and research to improve survival rates for cancer patients everywhere.  Founded in 1948, The Jimmy Fund has raised millions of dollars. The Jimmy Fund was chosen as this year's charitable orga... 11/09/2014

The popular local music extravaganza - Cantonstock - returns to Canton on Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Canton High School.  Cantonstock will feature performances from ALL of the performing groups from the Canton Public Schools, as well as musically-themed arcade games, food, raffle items and more!  It will be a fun and entertaining day for Canton residents of all ages.   Cantonstock is the major fundraiser for MusicCounts!, Canton's music booster organization.  MusicCounts! was founded in 2001 by parents, music teachers and administrators to ensure that music in the Canton Public Schools received the appropriate level of support. The generosity of MusicCounts! volunteers and supporters has funded scholarships for after-school lessons, after-school music ensembl... 11/06/2014

We have officially entered the "slow season" in Canton MA home sales.  The only consistent thing you can say about home sales in Canton MA during the month of October is how inconsistent they were.  Let me tell you what I mean by that. The MLS Property Information Network showed that a total of 15 Canton MA homes were sold in October 2014.  This is just one more than the 14 sold the same time last year.  However, it is two less than October 2012 and three times as many as five years ago.  One Buyer purchased a 3 bed/1 bath, 1327 square foot Cape-style home for $248,000.  Meanwhile, another Canton MA Buyer purchased a beautiful 4 bed/3 full and 2 half bath, 3636 square foot Colonial in Algonquin Estates for $1,028,000. The average sale price of a Canton MA home in October 2014 was $479,7... 11/06/2014

It's Election Day 2014! Please remember to get out there and VOTE! If you're a new resident in Canton MA or maybe you recently moved within the town and are in a new precinct, you may be wondering where you are supposed to vote.   There are six voting precincts in Canton MA.  The Canton MA Town Clerk's Office has a map of the voting precincts. You can also go to the Massachusetts Secretary of State's website to find out where to vote in Massachusetts.  If you live in Canton MA and know your precinct but are not sure where to vote, here is the list: Precincts 1 and 6: Canton High School - Rodman Building Precint 2: Dean S. Luce Elementary School Precinct 3:  Blue Hills Regional School Precincts 4 and 5:  John F. Kennedy Elementary School For more voting information in Canton MA, visit th... 11/03/2014

October is here.  The leaves have turned.  Apples are ripe for the picking.  Pumpkins are everywhere. Fall in New England.....you can't beat it.   So, what you can you do to enjoy this great season in Canton MA?  Here are some things going on in the area: Pakeen Farm right here in Canton MA offers cider donuts and locally grown pumpkins.  Pick out your pumpkin.  Grab some fresh cider donuts and maybe some other locally grown produce.   Ward's Berry Farm in Sharon MA offers hayrides to the pumpkin patch where you can pick your pumpkin.  When you're done, head into the farm store to pick out some of Wards other fresh, local produce and Mrs. Ward's delicious baked goods.  While at the farm, let the kids play in the play area and take a visit to see the animals at the Sunny Rock 4H  Club lo... 10/13/2014

The weather isn't the only thing cooling off in the Northeast.  The Canton MA Home Sales Report for September 2014 shows a huge dip as well.  This could mean good news, though, if you are in the market for a Canton MA home. According to the MLS Property Information Network's numbers, a total of nine Canton MA homes were sold in September 2014.  That's a 40% decrease from the 15 sold during September 2013.  It is also the lowest September total in the last 10 years.  These homes ranged from a 3 bed/1 bath, 1404 square foot Colonial that sold for $280,000 all the way up to a 4 bed/2.5 bath, 2872 square foot Colonial in Washington Commons that sold for $744,000.   The average sale price for a Canton MA home was $452,778, a 10.2% decrease from the same time last year.  While there was one C... 10/02/2014

Being an exclusive buyer agent in Canton MA who only represents buyers, I am not usually in a position of giving out advice to Sellers.  However, time and time again when I have buyers who are having a radon test done in their home, I run into Sellers who were not advised what to expect. If the Massachusetts home buyer who is buying your home chooses to test for radon, their home inspector will leave a radon test running at the time of home inspection.  The radon test runs for a minimum of 48 hours.  When the Radon Test is running, whether it be canisters, vials or a continuous read machine, all doors and windows to the house must remain closed, except for normal exit and entry.  If the test is running in the basement, then the basement door must also remain closed.   During the summer ... 09/06/2014

It appears that Canton MA home sales leveled off a little last month.  The average sales price dipped down as well.  Buyers and Sellers both have something to be happy about with these numbers. According to the MLS Property Information Network, a total of 18 Canton MA homes were sold in August 2014.  This is a slight decrease from last year's total of 19 homes sold.  At the lower end of the spectrum, a 3 bed/1.5 bath 1267 square foot Cape-style home sold for $250,000 after 24 days on the market.  That was $11,100 over the listing price.  At the top end, a 4 bed/2.5 bath 2700 square foot Colonial in Pheasant Ridge Estates sold for $750,000 after just 11 days on the market.  That was $10,000 over listing price. The average sale price for a Canton MA home was $479,229, a 6.8% decrease from... 09/04/2014

But I can refer you to a great mortgage loan officer!  When I meet with a new Canton MA home buyer, I tell them that the first step they need to take towards buying a home is to have a solid mortgage preapproval from a reputable lender.  They often have some questions for me about mortgage, credit issues or first time home buyer loan programs.  Of course, I have some general information but to get their questions answered properly, I refer them to a well-qualified and reputable mortgage loan officer, because I am a real estate broker, not a loan officer. Often buyers will come to me already preapproved.  That's great!  They're serious buyers who have started the process already.  However, not all preapprovals are created equal.  Some loan officers merely run numbers through an automated... 08/25/2014

2014 Summer MeetUPBoston MetroWest Lots to Learn from Christine Smith     Thursday, August 14, 2014 at Papa Razzi in Wellesley, MA --- setting for the evening 2014 Boston Metro West MeetUP. In town to visit my family, I decided to offer an evening MeetUP. Praful Thakkar sponsors a lunchtime MeetUP each year.  Tonight the topics discussed ranged from how one got started in the business to which item on the menu to eat!  Christine Smith from Canton, MA drove all the way up to Wellesley for the 2014 Boston Metro West MeetUP. Both of us had received emails or calls from another six or eight people who couldn't come at the last minute.  Not a problem for me - I enjoyed learning about Christine's professional career path and about her family. Her first career as a Real Estate Attorney led her... 08/14/2014

Congratulations to my clients who closed at the end of July on their purchase of 4 Hillside Street, Canton MA!    These clients found me through a Google search back in 2012.  At that time, they had a lease expiring and had wanted to buy a home in Canton MA.  Their daughter was already in school hear and they did not want to move her out of the Canton Public Schools.  We looked for a while but were not able to find the right home that met their budget.  So, they renewed their lease and decided to put the home search on hold. In the spring of 2014 they contacted me again - with a new budget and higher preapproval amount.  Two years of saving and hard work made a difference for these Canton MA buyers.  It took a little time during the hectic spring and summer market but finally we found t... 08/09/2014

While June 2014 home sales in Canton MA heated up, they seem to have cooled off a little in July.  Total home sales dipped slightly from the same time last year, but home prices are up.  Let's see what the July 2014 Canton MA home sales report says. A total of 18 Canton MA homes were sold in July 2014.  This is 10% less than the 20 that were sold in July 2013.  These homes ranged from a 4 bed/1 bath 1739 square foot Bungalow that sold for $299,900 all the way up to a 4 bed/3.5 bath 5064 square foot Cape style home that sold for $920,000.  A 3 bed/1 bath split entry home in Wampatuck Estates sold for $350,000 (the list price) in just 8 days! The average sales price for a Canton MA home increased 16.4% in July 2014 (from $466,665 in 2013 to $543,128 in 2014).  Seven of the 18 homes sold i... 08/07/2014

This weekend, the Canton Community Theatre opens its summer musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"  Performances are August 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 at 8:00 pm the Canton Community Theatre located at the Village Shops, 95 Washington Street, Canton, MA.     The cast includes a mix of new and familar faces - featuring Rachel Lazerus, Kevin Fortin,  Kelly Lane, Cassie Jones, Reggie Joseph, Allison Ristaino, Mitti Bhattacharya and more!  The show is directed by longtime CCT member and Canton resident, Renee Hanscom.  With all this local talent, this musical comedy is sure not to disappoint!   A Tony Award Winner, "The 25th Annual Putnman County Spelling Bee" is a musical comedy featuring "six young people in the throes of puberty overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape chil... 08/01/2014