Town of Holliston
My favorite town, being born and raised in this community of 13000 residents. Tucked into a location about 30-45 minutes from Boston, Providence and Worcester, this small community features a quaint downtown. Throughout the Fall there are antique shows, fairs, and community celebrations with your neighbors.
Many residents use the commuter rail stations in the neighboring communities to get into the city. More and more workers are finding employment on the very fast growing Route 495 highway belt. This “technology corridor” is home to EMC Corporation, Waters, and many others.
How to Judge a School System?
August 26th, 2008
I received my Community Newsletter from the Holliston Public Schools last week. It is the type of information that I hope every town resident receives. I do not have kids in school, but it is an interesting read.
A client looking for a home in the area turned me on to another school website that you may find interesting.
Prior to using this site, my wife turned to www.SchoolMatters.com. She passed it along to our real estate clients as a good resource. It was attractive for the clear and concise information laid out to the reader.
The data from the state website is more thorough and up to date, but it is a jumble of data.
Massachusetts Department of Education
and the Individual school district’s No Child Left Behind Report Card data:
As a Realtor, I am always asked about whether a town has a “good” school system. The answer is
a tough one to come up with. Do I give the wishy washy answer of “a school system is as good as your child makes of it.”?
I personally think this is statement is true, since disciplined study and striving for knowledge usually will lead to high scores on standardized testing and many extracirricular activities can be accomplished outside of a school system. Granted, the poorly run schools will have many more distractions socially, and perhaps less modern tools at the students disposal.
I attended Holliston Public Schools. My father was a science teacher in Framingham. His larger school system allowed students to have more opportunities to take unique courses. Subjects offered were Astronomy, Geology, Oceangraphy, et al. This was in addition to the typical Biology, Physics, and Chemistry we had in Holliston.
Was Framingham a better school system for this reason? It certainly makes me consider a larger school system for my child’s education.
When I first started real estate in Framingham, I had many clients voicing reservations about Framingham and the school system. Sometimes the reason for this were concerns that their child would get “lost” in the large system.
I came across a stat back then that Framingham offered the lowest student-teacher ratio out of all the area communities. This handy fact helped me to present the perceptions people have compared to the reality of the situation.
I am greatful we live in a region that has very good opportunities in public education. I feel that these schools are offering a great education to our children and will keep the area growing strong.
Where do you find school data? What data is important to you? Write me a comment to shed some light!
Ed Daniels of The MAhome Team can be reached at 508-341-7880. Ed is a Full-time Realtor with Re/max Executive Realty, a leading brokerage in the Metrowest Boston area.
Categories: Framingham, Holliston, School Info
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Crystal Ball on Holliston Real Estate
May 15th, 2008
The market in Holliston is showing signs of life. OK, not out of the woods yet, but there are certainly some indications that the slide has ended.
Take a look at this market report graph on Median Price:
Since January, the 90-day trend line has jumped up… stay tuned.
Combine that with a dip in Days on Market data since January:
I have a full analysis of several area towns, and would be happy to share this with you. Just contact me to learn about the particular town or towns, and I will send it over to you.
I am a numbers junkie, so if you are too, I can help with your addiction.
Categories: Holliston, Market Conditions
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
Holliston Discusses School Budget Shortfalls
March 22nd, 2008
Holliston School Committee member and my neighbor, Erica Plunkett, keeps us up to date with the status of the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Process. Here is her meeting updates that she sent me thru e-mail blast:
As you may recall, the gap between the Finance Committee’s guideline of -1.72% and the School Committee’s voted budget of 4.69% left a gap of $1.7 million and change. As more information has become available, the Fin Com has informed the School Committee that they have reviewed the revenue projections and they are able to provide an additional 460K.
This brings the Fin Com guideline down to 0.00%, which is wonderful news, but still leaves a gap of $1.252 million.
This gap is a difference between what the Finance Committee says we can afford and what the School Committee believes we need. Two boards, two different perspectives
Here is the article in the Metrowest Daily News on Friday: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x907489551).
To further discuss this gap, there are two important dates of which to be aware:
This Monday, March 24 at 8:00, the School Committee will be meeting with the Board of Selectmen in Town Hall. This is a public meeting and a chance to weigh in on the situation.
In addition, we have called a special School Committee meeting next Thursday, March 27 at 7:00 (most likely in the High School Library) to further discuss what the scenario might be, should we not be able to close the gap.
Overall, the School Committee’s philosophy is markedly similar to Superintendent Jackson’s, with the exception of fees. In a challenging fiscal year, fees are on the table.
I very much hope you will put these dates on your calendars and make it a point to attend these meetings. As of right now, an override is not on the ballot and the Board of Selectmen must make this decision by April 1.
They need to hear from you. I urge you, whatever your decision, to make it an informed one.
Again, if there are any questions, please don’t hesitiate to call School Committee members or the Superintendent’s Office.
Kindest regards,
Erica Plunkett
Categories: Holliston, Town Hall Info
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Navigating the New MA Auto Insurance
March 11th, 2008
My head is still spinning after reading the “section” in Sunday’s Boston Globe about the upcoming changes to the Massachusetts automobile insurance rates. In case you did not have a few hours to review all your different options, let me give you some quick advice.
Pick up the phone and dial your trusted insurance agent to take good care of you. That was easy, wasn’t it! Will this save you every last nickel? No, but it will be competitive and you will get coverage that your personal situation requires.
Notice how I stated “trusted” insurance agent. If you do not have someone you can turn to when your home is on fire or you have just had a traffic accident, get a referral to another agent. Saving money is one thing, but piece of mind counts for something, doesn’t it?
As a Realtor, I had one occasion to receive a call from a past client while their home was on fire. Upon arrival, this Framingham home was under control, the family was safe, but the industry was descending upon the homeowners quickly. Adjusters, contractors, lawyers, et al. I learned at that moment that I would need to trust somebody in this instance. I would not be in a state of mind to handle big decisions or research the best course of action!
I grew up in Holliston, MA. My local insurance company is Kiley Insurance. Jerry and Mary Kiley are parents of a good friend from high school. Do I think this is a good choice for guidance when my family is in turmoil… yes! I would recommend them to you also.
Personal referrals are the way to go in insurance (and in real estate, by the way). There is always a “cheaper” way to go, but you are shopping value here, not the least expensive!
OK, you still want to compare the different companies? Here is the Mass.gov site that walks you thru some numbers while leaving out your personal coverage requirements, discount programs, etc. Many programs give you discounts for using the same company for both your homeowners insurance and your auto insurance.
One last try… Find a good Insurance Agent that will take care of you!
If you need personal referrals to trusted and local service providers, the MAhome Real Estate Team has put together a great list. Contact us to get access to this info!
Categories: Events in Community, Holliston, Preferred Business
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The Dirt on Senior Housing in Holliston
February 29th, 2008
Senior housing is going to become a larger need, as we all know by now, over the coming years. Each town tends to have its own authority providing a number of units for strictly senior residents.
These units are not “assisted living”, but mostly comprised of small apartments that are easily accessible.
Ken Curley, from Promise Lenders in Holliston, recently requested my help for one of his clients looking into these housing options. His company focuses on Reverse Mortgages, which is a great tool for seniors to stay in their current home while freeing up the equity for medical, living, and household needs.
My findings around Holliston are as follows:
Holliston has a Housing Authority which oversees the small number of senior apartments around town. This complex is known as Cole Court. The Authority reported that there is a 5-10 year waiting list for this complex! Wow.
The town of Holliston also has a federally sponsored complex called Mission Springs. This building, built in 1997, has 75 units for seniors over the age of 62. Applicants must qualify under HUD financial guidelines, which are currently a maximum income level for a 1 person household of $30050. The waiting list also exists here, but they currently only have about a dozen people on it. They can be reached at (508) 893-8021.
Planning entrance to community senior housing is something that the seniors and their children have to plan ahead for. I recommend that you surround yourself with professionals to lay out all the options and who are versed in how to help you achieve your goals.
Call if the MAhome Team can be of service in this area.
We direct you to people like Ken Curley in the Reverse Mortgage arena, as well as attorneys and servicemen to work out the details.
Categories: Holliston
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Foreclosure Real Estate Secrets
February 3rd, 2008
First time buyers of real estate are salivating at the idea that the Buyer’s Market in Massachusetts is offering “steals” in every neighborhood. They hear of foreclosures, auctions, and people unloading property at every turn.
This is not only a falsehood, but when buyers learn of the process, they usually run for the hills.
Let me explain how foreclosures work…
Home owners who do not pay their mortgage over time will have the bank try to take it over or sell it. The process is known as foreclosure, and the first attempt to sell the property is known as the auction.
The auction is advertised in a legal section of your local newspaper. To participate, you would bring a deposit check to the event. The bidder than stands on the curb and raises their hand if they are willing to pay x dollars for the home.
Notice how I did not say anything about looking inside the property, inspection conditions, or financing contingencies… this is because they don’t exist! You buy sight unseen, perhaps someone will still be living there when you end up buying it, and if you don’t show up in 30 days with payment in full, the deposit is retained by the auction house.
Not a great course of events for a rookie home buyer.
A bank representative is usually at the auction also. They are there to “bid” if the bank wants to buy it back rather than allow anyone else to “steal” the property. They will then prepare the home for listing with a local realtor. This is also known as a REO property, referring to the Real Estate Owned department of the bank.
A buyer can now preview the home, conduct an inspection, and negotiate on price, but at this point the bank usually spends a bit of money on the process and still is not going to allow the home to sell for an outrageous price.
There is certainly a lot more REO property in Massachusetts recently, but these properties are not for buyers who do not have financial resources or lack nerves of steel. They usually need at least cosmetic work, but most have quite a few inspection issues. There are companies out there that are in this business full time and they are also going to compete with your bids.
My official recommendation in 2008, stick with the listed properties and do your due diligence on a property you plan on buying. Currently it is a slim margin of benefit that you will receive from buying a foreclosure and not worth it. It may be in the future, just not right now in Metrowest Boston.
Contact me if you have questions or concerns about REO properties or click here to view listings on the MLS.
Categories: Ashland, Framingham, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Market Conditions, Marlborough, Milford, Natick, Real Estate, Southborough, Westborough
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