Claudette's Blog

Presidential Estates in Southborough, Massachusetts is located off of prestigious Sears Road which borders the Marlborough town line.  The neighborhood is comprised of the streets - Presidential Drive, Kennedy Lane and Glennwood Road.  

View a satellite image of the neighborhood.

Homes in this community were all custom built and sit on lots that are 1 ½ to 5 acres with estate like settings in an environment of elegance and sophistication. 

Unlike typical subdivisions where properties are all built in a similar style, the homes in this neighborhood were individually crafted with each property exuding a uniqueness that is distinctly its own.  

Homes in this community range from 4000 square feet to over 6000 square feet, with a few exceeding that size.  Amenities include stunning woodworking, state-of-the-art kitchens, multiple fireplaces,  3-car garages as well as some inground pools. 

List prices in Presidential Estates are currently $1,100,000 - $1,150,000.  

View all properties currently for sale in Southborough.

Southborough was recently named Number 31 in the nation on CNN Money's 100 Best Places to Live in 2009, and second in the nation for towns in which income was over $100,000. 

The town's public school system is highly ranked and Southborough is home to the prestigious St. Mark's School.  In addition, the Fay School is the oldest junior boarding school in the country serving grades 1 through nine on its 35 acre campus. 

Southborough is one of the most convenient locations in the Metrowest area with an MBTA Commuter Rail station as well as its proximity to Routes 495 and the Mass Pike. 

For information on Presidential Estates or any Southborough neighborhood please call my office at 508-881-6230.

Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, TheBuyersCounsel - 800-392-1446  - E-mail    

Your Metrowest Buyer Broker Since 1992

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

Whether chains are rattling, the floor is shaking or there is simply the knowledge that an evil deed was committed on the premises, you could possibly be dealing with a haunted house, or a "stigmatized property" sale. 

Since liability issues on these types of transactions vary from state to state - what is the guiding principal for selling a haunted house? 

In 1991, a case in New York provided some legal precedent on the matter. 

Stambovsky v. Ackley

The owner of a house, Helen Ackley had reported the existence of numerous poltergeists in her home and had, in fact, publicized these occurrences in Reader's Digest and a local newspaper on three occasions. As a result, the home was placed in a five-home walking tour in the city and received an enormous amount of publicity.  She even referred to the home in a article as a "Riverfront Victorian with ghosts." 

Some of the interactions Ms. Ackley described to reporters included ghosts waking her each morning by shaking her bed.  When spring break arrived she loudly proclaimed to the spirits that she did not have to wake up early anymore.  On this, she insisted that they listened to her requests and the bed immediately ceased all shaking.  

Despite the local notoriety, an unknowing buyer, Jeffrey Stambovsky signed a contract to purchase the home. On an agreed upon price of $650,000 he made a $32,500 down payment.  Since Mr. Stambovsky was not from the area he claimed to have ignorance of the widely known haunting tales. 

When the buyer subsequently learned of the haunting stories, he filed for a request of the rescission of his contract for the sale and also sued for damages citing fraudulent misrepresentation on the part of Ackley as well as the Realtor®. 

In ruling on this case, the court stated that since the existence of ghosts in the home had been widely reported, as a matter of law, the house was haunted. 

However, the court dismissed the fraudulent misrepresentation action and stated that the Realtor® had been under no obligation to disclose the haunting to any potential buyers. The court affirmed that the law of caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) applied in this case so the buyer did not prevail. 

Mr. Stambovsky subsequently appealed the case and won a reversal. 

On appeal, the court stated that a "haunting" was not a condition that a buyer could fairly be able to ascertain  through even the most thorough of home inspections.  In this case, "the most meticulous inspection would not reveal the presence of poltergeists at the premises or unearth the property's ghoulish reputation in the community."

It further stated that the seller had taken unfair advantage of the buyer's ignorance.  Since she had taken it upon herself to inform the community at large of numerous spirits roaming rampantly throughout the home, she owed no less to her perspective buyer. 

The judge then rendered a somewhat entertaining opinion using the following phrases:  

"In his pursuit of a legal remedy for fraudulent misrepresentation against the seller, plaintiff hasn't a ghost of a chance," I am moved by the spirit of equity," "In this instance - who you gonna call?" and "The notion that a haunting is a condition which can and should be ascertained upon inspection of the premises is a hobgoblin which should be exorcised from the body of legal precedent and quietly laid to rest." 

I have no knowledge of whether or not the parties in question had any appreciation of the judge's sense of humor. 

However, Mr. Stambovsky was finally let out of the deal and had his deposit fully refunded. 

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Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, TheBuyersCounsel - 800-392-1446  - E-mail    

Learn More about Massachusetts Home Buyer Representation - Greater Boston and MetroWest Massachusetts -  Serving Massachusetts Home Buyers Since 1992 

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

In Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the streets -  Bullmoose Run, Rough Rider Ridge, Roosevelt Lane and Cubs Path make up the subdivision known as Roosevelt Farms. 

This picturesque cul-de-sac neighborhood is popular for its location which is convenient to the train station, Route 495 and the Mass Pike as well as its proximity to the Hopkinton Country Club.  

View a satellite image of the neighborhood.

The homes in this community were built from 1992 to 1997 and range in size from 2200 square feet to 3500 square feet.  Each home is built on a ¾ acre lot.  Many of the lots are wooded and have a fair amount of privacy.  

The residents at Roosevelt Farms enjoy a close community feeling with their frequent block parties, golf outings and holiday gatherings. 

There are currently two homes for sale in wonderful Hopkinton subdivision.  They are both located on Bullmoose Run.  

Features in these homes include: spacious kitchens with granite counters, cathedral ceilings in the family rooms, crown molding and wainscoting, tray ceilings in the master bedrooms, lovely master bathrooms and a wooded, private lot.  

The price range on these properties is $549,900 to $569,900. 

View all properties currently for sale in Hopkinton.

If you would like information on Roosevelt Farms or any other community in Hopkinton, please call me at 508-881-6230.   

I look forward to helping you with your move to the Hopkinton area.

 Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, TheBuyersCounsel - 800-392-1446 - E-mail    

Your Metrowest Buyer Broker Since 1992

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

A client recently asked about the term "easement" on a listing sheet.  He wanted to know if it was anything to be concerned about.

Having an easement on your property simply means that someone else has a right to use it for a specific purpose.   An example of this would be that your neighbors have an easement to walk over your driveway to get to their property or that the electric company has a right to get to a set of nearby meters.

Easements are quite common. They grant access of your land to other parties like utility companies, often to provide service or to maintain drainage flow across properties. In a way, an easement is similar to having joint ownership on a portion of your land with a complete stranger.

There are easements "for profit" that allow a neighbor to remove something from your property, such as blueberries.  Some common easements allow people continued and regular access to walk across your land often in connection with a recreational facility or nearby park.  

An easement is written into the deed.  The seller of a home knows about it and it should be listed on the property disclosure and MLS listing.  The broker should then disclose the information to any potential buyers or their broker.

If the property you are interested in has an easement, get a copy of the wording on the deed and have your attorney  review it.  Most easements are harmless and are not anything that should prevent you from purchasing and enjoying a property.  You just need to know all of the facts, read the exact wording and make the decision as to whether or not it is something you can live with.

An encroachment is another matter.

When a neighbor's swimming pool, garage or house partially hangs over your property, it is an encroachment.

More often than not, the encroachment has been going on for many years with the current owner of the property not objecting. If it has, then, chances are the neighbor has an implied easement on your property to continue using it in this way.

Once again, the facts should be disclosed at the time of the listing.

Usually, encroachments are a minor nuisance, if any, and should not influence your decision to purchase a home. Legally, you could force the removal of an item that is extending onto your property. However; it is wise to consider the impact it will make if you force the other property owner to pay the costs to make these types of adjustments. Not to mention, the effect it will have on your new relationship. 

The important thing about easements and encroachments is to be informed and know that they exist.  Having all of the facts will go a long way in easing tensions with the neighbors and will help you to derive the greatest amount of enjoyment from your new home.

Do you have questions about buying a home in the Metrowest area?  I would love to talk with you. Please feel free to call me at 508-881-6230 - any time or E-mail me. 

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Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner - TheBuyersCounsel     

Learn More about Home Buyer Representation - Greater Boston and MetroWest Massachusetts -  Serving Massachusetts Home Buyers Since 1992 

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

Earlier this week, a disappointing report on housing starts sent stocks plunging with the Dow Jones losing 50 points on the day. 

The Commerce Department reported that applications for new building permits fell by 1.2 percent to an annual rate of 573,000 units. Housing starts had only a modest increase of 05 percent to an annual 590,000 new homes and apartments. 

What, exactly, is a housing start?

The term, housing start, refers to the number of housing units, typically privately owned new homes, on which construction has started in a given period.  That is to say that the builder has begun excavation on the foundation of the home.  In response to some natural disasters, the definition was revised to include a housing unit that is being built on an existing foundation following destruction of the original home.

Housing starts are divided into single-family and multi-family numbers.  A 100 unit apartment building that has just begun, for example, would be counted as 100 starts.

To get an annual rate, the starts for the month are multiplied by 12 with the figure being adjusted seasonally given the fact that more home construction takes place in the summer rather than the winter.

Why does this number have such an impact on the stock market?

Since the housing market is one of the cornerstones of the economy, negative numbers are going to produce jitters among the public and, in turn, affect the stock market.

Market experts feel that the housing starts number is usually a good indicator of where the economy is moving.  Sustained declines in housing starts can slow the economy and could push it into a recession.  By the same token, increases in housing activity can trigger economic growth.

For the past few months, home builder sentiment has been on the upswing. But, with recent weak reports, along with the fact that the home buyer tax credit is soon set to expire, builders are getting nervous. 

The question now is - will the government intervene to extend the tax credit to help these sluggish numbers or will they, perhaps, put a completely different kind of program in its place?

Do you have questions about buying a home in the Metrowest area?  I would love to talk with you. Please feel free to call me at 508-881-6230 - any time or E-mail me. 

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Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, TheBuyersCounsel - 800-392-1446  - E-mail    

Learn More about Home Buyer Representation - Greater Boston and MetroWest Massachusetts -  Serving Massachusetts Home Buyers Since 1992 

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

Just off of the scenic, winding country road of Fruit Street in Hopkinton is the community of Oak Hill Estates.  

The subdivision which consists of 42 homes was originally built by Bartolini Builders, a well-known builder in the Metrowest Massachusetts area.  The first homes were built in 1997 and construction continued into 2005.  

View a satellite image of the neighborhood.

The neighborhood sits on Huckleberry Road which is a long, well-manicured cul-de-sac situated close to Route 495 with connections to Route 9 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, making Oak Hill Estates a convenient location for commuting into Boston as well as other destinations. 

The homes in Oak Hill Estates range in size from 2,700 square feet to 4,000 square feet with each home sitting on an acre plus lot.  

Over the past year, homes have sold in this neighborhood in the price range of $598,000 to $694,000.  

Currently, there is a beautiful resale available with a wonderful open floor plan, 2 story foyer, updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counters, finished basement and a first floor library. 

If you are considering a move into Hopkinton or any of the surrounding towns, please call my me with any questions you may have.  I can be reached at 508-881-6230.

View all current property listings in Hopkinton.

                                                                                      Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner The BuyersCounsel - 800-392-1446  - E-mail 

Your Metrowest Buyer Broker Since 1992   

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

With summer behind us and spring, a distant memory, the best time to buy is actually staring right at us. 

Did you know that fall is a great time to start planning a home purchase? 

Most people in Massachusetts are thinking about the holidays and the upcoming winter months. 

If you begin your search now, you will probably be negotiating right around the start of the holiday season.  Sellers who have their homes on the market during the holidays are usually pretty serious about their need to sell, since the optimum time for selling is in the spring. This puts you in a great bargaining position. 

In addition to the upcoming holidays, there are a number of other good reasons to buy a home right now: 

1. Affordability is better than ever - Prices have fallen dramatically over that past few years making homes more within reach than they have been in decades.
2. There is much to choose from - In most towns there is still a large inventory of homes on the market.  This lets you be more selective and the competition is helping to keep prices down.
3. Builders are offering discounts - With the market down, builders are being more flexible on their pricing and are offering more incentives and upgrades, particularly on homes that are at or near completion.
4. Mortgage rates are at historic lows - The Federal Reserve is currently buying mortgage backed securities, an action that is keeping rates down.  The 30-year mortgage rate has been staying at around 5% or less and has recently dipped as low as 4.7%.  These rates are the lowest they have been since the 1970's.  

With rents still sky high in Metrowest Massachusetts and the Greater Boston area, it just makes sense to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities there are currently in the market and to get in on a great season of home buying. 

Do you have questions about buying a home in the Metrowest area?  I would love to talk with you. Please feel free to call me at 508-881-6230 - any time or E-mail me. 

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Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, TheBuyersCounsel - 800-392-1446  - E-mail    

Learn More about Massachusetts Home Buyer Representation - Greater Boston and MetroWest Massachusetts -  Serving Massachusetts Home Buyers Since 1992 

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

In another twist to the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit saga, the IRS is looking into 100,000 potentially fraudulent claims for the credit. 

The program which was adopted in February has generated more than a million claims for the credit and housing industry analysts have estimated that it has been responsible for around 350,000 home sales that would not have otherwise happened.  But, now there is a possibility in the minds of tax experts that a number of these claims may be unjustified. 

Representative John Lewis, chairman of the House Ways and Means oversight committee has said in a statement, "I am concerned about recent reports that there have been fraudulent schemes involving the credit."  A subcommittee hearing has been planned on Thursday to discuss the matter. 

Since the tax credit is not being taken at the time of the sale, the concern is that some people may be filing for it with their tax returns that do not really have a right to it.  

The IRS has been on alert for any kind of abuse of the program and is currently investigating 167 "criminal schemes" involving the use of the credit.  They have declined to go into further detail of the suspected schemes, except to say that they will vigorously pursue anyone who has filed a fraudulent claim. 

Lucien Salvant, a spokesperson for NAR said, "Any time there is a lot of money around, there will be people attracted to it with evil intent."  

In the meantime, housing-industry lobbyists continue to work towards an extension of the program. Yesterday, a letter was written to the administration authored by the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Home Builders and the Mortgage Bankers Association asking for a twelve-month extension, as well as an expansion of the program to include all buyers, not only first-timers. 

Some in Congress are attempting to not only extend the program but to raise the income ceiling for eligible home buyers from the current $75,000 to $150,000 up to $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for couples. 

The request has been met with a great deal of skepticism from those who worry about the exorbitant cost verses any potential return of such an expansion.  

The unknown question at this point is whether or not the claims of fraud will further impact the decision to either end the tax credit on November 30 or to keep it going for a while longer. 

Do you have questions about buying a home in the Metrowest area?  I would love to talk with you. Please feel free to call me at 508-881-6230 - any time or E-mail me. 

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Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, TheBuyersCounsel Learn More about Home Buyer Representation - Greater Boston and MetroWest Massachusetts -  Serving Massachusetts Home Buyers Since 1992 

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

Every year at this time, the trees put on a brilliant show in New England.  From bright yellows to spectacular reds, the leaves transform, showing us their rich and vibrant colors.

If you cannot make it to the mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont or the scenic areas in Maine there is plenty of splendor to be had locally.  Here, in Ashland, Massachusetts, every tree-lined street turns into multi-color event.

The photo above is of one of my favorite local places to enjoy the artistry of the season.  It is a spot along the Sudbury River, just off of Fountain Street. 

The Sudbury River flows easterly where it becomes the border between Southborough and Hopkinton, and then continues toward Ashland and Framingham.  After flowing through a series of reservoirs it moves on through the Towns of Wayland, Sudbury, Lincoln and Concord, in effect, providing a connection between all of these towns.

This river originally drew the first settlers to the area as they were looking to harness its power to run their mills and to lead their livestock to graze in the river's banks. 

"The Sudbury River really was what made the real estate around here valuable," said Fred Wallace, a local historian.  "It meant there was a source of power."

In 1824, the Saxon Factory set up the first woolen mill at the falls and the name of the area was later changed to Saxonville.  Business continued to boom upstream in the town that would eventually become Ashland.

Possessing an "ideal" location, halfway between the cities of Boston and Worcester, Ashland remains a lovely residential New England town.  With its sprawling common, pristine state park, festive Ashland Day and so much beauty to be seen, it's a great place to be at this time of the year.

Do you have questions about buying a home in the Metrowest area?  I would love to talk with you. Please feel free to call me at 508-881-6230 - any time or E-mail me. 

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Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, TheBuyersCounsel - 800-392-1446  - E-mail    

Learn More about Massachusetts Home Buyer Representation - Greater Boston and MetroWest Massachusetts -  Serving Massachusetts Home Buyers Since 1992 

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough

The World War I Memorial statue "The Doughboy" proudly stands guard over Hopkinton at the Town's center.  The monument was erected in the 1920s to honor the Hopkinton citizens who served in the First World War.

Why "Doughboy?"

The actual origin of the word is unclear.  The explanation most cited is that the term arose out of the Mexican-American War after observers saw that U. S. infantry forces were usually covered in chalky dust from marching through the dry terrain in northern Mexico.  This, in turn, gave them the appearance of unbaked dough. 

Another premise is that they received their name due to the cooking method of their rations.  Meals were often comprised of doughy flour and rice concoctions which were baked in a camp fire or twisted around a bayonet and held over an open flame. These came to be known as doughboy dumplings.

A third theory suggests that during the 19^th Century American enlisted men used a whitish clay that was called pipe clay.  This helped them to give a polish to their uniforms and belts, albeit more of a doughy effect than an actual polish.

A fourth suggestion was given by the widow of General George Armstrong Custer written in her memoirs in 1887. She mentioned that small boiled dumplings served to sailors aboard the early 19^thcentury ships were known as "doughboys" and that the term became a slang name for soldiers since the large brass buttons on their uniforms resembled these dumplings.

Though many theories abound, none seem to have been proven to date.

Regardless of the authenticity of any of these stories or what the actual origin is of the term - the Doughboys will always be remembered as true American heroes.

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Copyright 2009 - Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, TheBuyersCounsel  

Learn More about Massachusetts Home Buyer Representation - Greater Boston and MetroWest Massachusetts -  Serving Massachusetts Home Buyers Since 1992 

Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Natick, Newton, Northborough, Framingham, Shrewsbury, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough