Before you head off to bed tonight, don't forget to set all the clocks in your home back one hour. That way you'll wake up to the correct time...and maybe even get an extra hour of sleep! At the same time, it's a good time to put new batteries in smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. It only takes a few minutes. Doing this twice a year, when we change the clocks will ensure that all the alarms in your house will work if you need them to.               11/06/2010

If you are looking to buy a home in Sharon, MA or sell a home in Sharon, MA, this monthly market report will give you accurate information about the current market conditions. This will enable you to work with your Realtor® to make an informed decision if you want to buy a home in Sharon, MA or sell a home in Sharon, MA. Here is a summary of the Sharon real estate market, for single family homes, for the month of October 2010.  This is based on information provided by MLS Property Information Network (private sales are not included). This data is deemed reliable but are not guaranteed.                                                  The volume of sales in the Sharon, MA real estate market declined slightly since September, while average sales prices have increased slightly since then.... 11/03/2010

  Sell a Home in Sharon, MA. Buy a Home in Sharon, MA. Live in Sharon, MA! Visiting Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA is a great day trip from your home in Sharon, MA. Journey back to the world of rural New England during America’s early years (1790-1840). The whole family will enjoy chatting with costumed Villagers, watching craftsmen make items by hand, or actually doing a hands-on activity. Old Sturbridge Village was not an actual settlement in the late 18th century. It is a living museum with more than 40 buildings from that time period which were gathered from all over New England and re-assembled at Old Sturbridge Village. Once you pass through the Visitor Center, you are in the 18th century. There are no golf carts whizzing along ferrying guests or staff. You can easily sp... 10/31/2010

Free Home Evaluation Sharon, MA Are you in need of a Free Home Evaluation?  I'm Nina Rogoff of the Todaro Team from RE/MAX Executive Realty. I will be happy to meet with you at your home, and prepare a full Market Analysis of your home in Sharon, so you'll have an understanding of its value in today's market. My home is in Sharon, too. I grew up here and live here now. I will put my knowledge of the Sharon real estate market to work for you. You can reach me on my direct line 781-253-3385 ...this is a local call from Sharon. For information on the Sharon real estate market and more, please read my blog www.livesharon.com The Todaro Team is an award winning team of RE/MAX Executive Realty, ranked among the top 12 RE/MAX teams in Massachusetts.    10/29/2010

Choosing a Realtor® to represent you is a very personal decision. You have to be able to trust the person to represent your best interests. I chose to represent my real estate business with the slogan: What does it mean to be the Realtor® you can count on? It means being a trusted advisor with indepth knowledge of the real estate market. It means listening carefully, returning phone calls promptly, showing up on time, and being prepared with the information you need. Here's a little bit about my background and how I view myself as a Realtor®.  My Background - I grew up in Sharon and some of my family still lives here. My husband and I returned to Sharon to raise our children, too. I attended Cottage Street Elementary School...many of you remember Mrs. Marion Healey, who was my third gra... 10/28/2010

Imagine watching the reflection of the sun as it sets over the beautiful Lake Massapoag - the 400 acre lake known to Sharon Massachusetts Real Estate as a gathering place for concerts, fireworks, fishing and swimming. Imagine finding wild animals nearly in your backyard with a trip to the 2250 acre Audubon Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, or simply taking a hike through the more than 5,000 acres of Sharon's protected open space. No wonder it has earned the motto "A nice place to live because it is naturally beautiful."Yes, what is known today as the bustling New England town of Sharon Massachusetts, at one time was principally considered a summer resort town. From the 1800s to the 1940s, people would visit Sharon just to stay at inns and hotels and get some fresh lake air. But it was only... 10/27/2010

Have you listened in on the conversations kids are having this week in Sharon, MA? The excited talk is all about costumes and candy! For many children who live in Sharon, MA, dressing up for Halloween is one of the  highlights of the year. There are lots of princesses with long, flowing skirts and feathery boas. Tiny white ghosts in oversized sheets dragging behind them. Kids running and twirling...full of energy even before the sugar high kicks in. Many people who own a home in Sharon, MA are just as excited. There are lots of porches and steps decorated with pumpkins, spooky spider webs, with witches and ghosts hanging around the door. On Halloween night, some people will set out jack-o-lanterns glowing with candles, or paper bag lanterns with candles tucked inside. This is when the e... 10/27/2010

Do you live in Sharon, MA? If so, here is the information about the 2010 seasonal flu clinics for Sharon residents.                        FLU SHOT There are two separate clinics on two different dates. One is for those residents who have a high health risk. The second is for all residents ages 7 and over. This year, the seasonal flu vaccine includes the H1N1 Influenza strain. Please read the information carefully to attend the right clinic. FLUMIST There is also an intranasal FluMist clinic for all children, ages 5 to 18, who are residents of Sharon, (See schedule at bottom). The FluMist contains the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 Influenza strain. Information For All Clinics: Everyone is entitled to a shot whether you have health insurance or not. If you have health insurance, your... 10/18/2010

This sign caught my eye at a stop light as I was heading home in Sharon, MA today.   Maybe the town is going to start offering household tips on the street signs in Sharon, MA!   10/14/2010

Looking for a great day trip that you can take from your home in Sharon, MA? This is the first in a series about day trips from Sharon. Pack a picnic lunch, your sunscreen and beach blanket and let's start in Onset, Mass. Even in the Fall, it's a great place to go! One of the great things about Onset is it's location. Onset is about 47 miles southeast of Sharon. You can be there from your home in Sharon, MA in under an hour. Onset sits just off Buzzards Bay, about 5 miles before the Bourne Bridge that takes you over the canal and on to the Cape. (That's Cape Cod). When you leave your home in Sharon, MA in the summer, you'll miss all the Cape traffic because you get off the highway before the traffic backs up! As you approach Onset Bay, this is the view you'll see: This beautiful, bay ha... 10/12/2010

Sell a Home in Sharon, MA, Buy a Home in Sharon, MA, Live in Sharon, MA! If you are a buyer or seller in the Sharon real estate market, having information about the current market conditions will enable you to make an informed decision with regard to buying a home in Sharon, or selling your Sharon home.  Here is a summary of the Sharon real estate market for September 2010 based on information provided by MLS Property Information Network (private sales are not included). This data is deemed reliable but are not guaranteed.    SINGLE FAMILY HOMES     Number Sold 13 (decrease of 14% from August)   Average Sale Price $448,204 (decrease of 4% from August)   Average Days on Market 65 (decrease of 20 days since August)   Sale Price to List Price Ratio 100% (increase of 5% over the SP:LP ratio... 10/03/2010

Sell a house in Sharon, MA, Buy a house in Sharon, MA, Live in Sharon, MA! Let me set the scene: You're interested in buying a home in Sharon, MA. I've been showing you and your spouse homes for sale in Sharon, MA that meet your criteria and your budget. Then, it finally happened! You made an offer last week and it was accepted today. Congratulations! You love the house and can't wait to start redecorating.  But, wait...before you get the keys to your new home there are several steps that have to take place. My job is to make sure you have the information you need at each step towards buying your new home in Sharon, MA. Please read this carefully so you'll be fully informed. 1.      Home Inspection: Once an offer is accepted, we usually have 7-10 days to have a home inspection. I strong... 09/27/2010

Sell a Home in Sharon, MA, Buy a Home in Sharon, MA, Live in Sharon! Sharon, MA is a small, quiet town with an emphasis on outdoor activities. Here's a list of my favorite things to do when you live in Sharon, MA. 1. Pick your own fruit at Ward's Berry Farm, 614 South Main Street. Ward's Berry Farm is a family- owned  farm and roadside market. Depending on the season you can pick strawberries, peaches, blueberries and more! There's also a section with farm animals, picnic and kids' play areas. 2. Swim, kayak, boat or sail on Lake Massapoag, a 353-acre, spring-fed lake near Sharon center. From Memorial Day to Labor Day there are life guards, bathrooms and a snack shop. There are two beaches for swimming. Memorial Park Beach is for residents only. The Community Center Beach is available f... 09/26/2010

Sell a home in Sharon MA - Buy a home in Sharon MA - Live in Sharon MA! Yesterday I wrote a blog post titled "Your Real Estate Agent is Your Guide from Start to Finish". In it I described some of the benefits of working with a real estate agent. I want to expand on that topic and talk about how to choose a real estate agent. A great agent is someone you like and respect, who is looking out for your best interests at every step, and uses their knowledge and resources to help you achieve your real estate goals. Here's how to find someone like that. 1. Choose an Agent Who Will Represent You When my husband and I bought our first home I was not yet working in real estate. It took us two years to find a house that was in our price range, did not immediately require $100,000 worth of work, an... 09/14/2010

Buy a Home in Sharon MA - Live in Sharon MA! If you are a looking to buy a home in Sharon MA, you may not know the benefits of working with a real estate agent. First off, there's no cost to you. In almost all cases, the seller pays the commission fee. Second of all, buying a home in Sharon MA or anywhere else, is not like buying a car. When you approach a car salesman, the salesman represents the dealership and tries to get the best price for the dealership. When you're working with a real estate agent that person is committed to representing your best interests throughout the transaction, resulting in your purchasing a house for the best possible price and terms. There are a ton of real estate websites, some more accurate than others. It's easy to spend your free time searching for ho... 09/12/2010

Sell a Home in Sharon MA - Buy a Home in Sharon MA - Live in Sharon MA! Remember when you were in high school? It seemed like your parents were always telling you a whole litany of things you needed to do. "Clean up your room," "hang up your clothes," "put away your bike," "take out the trash," "hang up your wet towel," "put away the milk." What phrase do you remember from that time in your life?  The thing is, Mom and Dad were just preparing you for when you would have to take care of your own home in Sharon MA. As a parent, I can see the value of having my kids do these things. As a REALTOR®, I see how homeowners would benefit from taking regular care of their homes, too.  I'm not talking about the decorative things that people do for their own pleasure, like new cabinets, new floorin... 09/11/2010

Sell a Home in Sharon MA - Buy a Home in Sharon MA - Live in Sharon MA! The other day one of my clients said, "Thanks for always returning my phone calls." Whoa! That made me pause for a moment. Here was a client thanking me for doing something that seems automatic to maintaining a good relationship. (With a client or anyone else!) But the way this client expressed it made me realize that returning a phone call is an acknowledgement of the other person. A recognition that you convey of someone's importance to you. A basic, human desire that we all have. It made me want to double my efforts to be someone who delivers that kind of attention to clients, and also extends that courtesy to other agents, mortgage brokers, appraisers, home inspectors, or anyone else with whom I'm doing business... 09/07/2010

Sharon, MA - For the month of August, 2010, 13 single family houses sold in Sharon, MA compared to 15 homes in July. Four houses sold between $241,000 - $289,000 - These were between 960 sq. ft. - 1,531 sq. ft. Three houses sold between $309,900 - $367,000 - These were between 1,534 sq. ft. - 2,230 sq. ft. One house sold for $475,000 - These was 2,770 sq. ft. Four houses sold between $615,000 and $687,500 - These were between 2,955 sq. ft -3,353 sq. ft. One house sold for $1,000,000 - This was 5,100 sq. ft. All of these homes were either three or four bedroom homes. The average list price was $494,100 and the average sales price was $471,146. This reflected a small change from July sales where the average list price was $498,760 and the average sales price was $475, 180. All of this in... 09/04/2010

Sharon, MA - A few days back people around here were talking about getting ready for Hurricane Earl. Some people called in tree services to take down branches and trees that they thought could come down in a storm. Others stocked up on bottled water and batteries. With the memory of April's severe flooding clearly on people's minds, it's a big relief to learn that Hurricane Earl has been down-graded to a tropical storm. In 1991, the last hurricane to strike New England was Hurricane Bob. I remember seeing massive trees ripped out at their roots and tossed on the street like toothpicks. Hurricane Bob came ashore as a category 2 hurricane and caused over $2.8 billion dollars in damage. Very sadly, 18 people died in that hurricane. More recently, in August 2006, a dorecho...or microburst, ... 09/03/2010

Sharon, MA - There are a wide variety of services, programs and activities available for senior adults living in Sharon, MA. Many are offered through the Sharon Adult Center and Council on Aging located on the lower level of the Sharon Community Center. Living in Sharon, MA can be quite a challenge without a car. There is no public transportation other than the commuter rail to Boston and Providence. However, for senior adults there are vans that provide regularly scheduled trips to a variety of area shopping centers. The van will pick you up right at your door. The transportation fee for shopping is $1! My mother, who lives down the street from me, uses this service occasionally. It allows her to maintain her independence without having to rely on a ride from me or other friends. There... 09/02/2010