Thinking about kitchen renovations? Boston Globe gives us a FANTASTIC article on the latest in design choices. My favorite...the built-in espresso maker! Click here!

 The Salem News gives us the details on when and how long it will take. Click for the full story.

 Results from the MCAS exams conducted in the spring of 2012 have been released and Boston.com gives us a great breakdown by district and individual schools. Click here for Ipswich MCAS rankings. Click here for all districts.

Team Windhill gives new meaning to the term "picnic"! Thursday night picnic concert goers at Castle Hill in Ipswich have never seen such a thing! So many folks stopped by to ask what we were celebrating. What was the fuss all about? We were celebrating our amazing team, another fantastic year and most importantly, friendship. The weather was perfect and Christophers table served an amazing four course dinner.  A grand time was had by all.

 

 

 

 

I was fortunate to represent several cottage owners in their purchase whose families had owned their cottages for generations.  The personal stories they recounted as I met with each of them helped me to appreciate the unique sense of community that embodied Little Neck more than if I had lived my whole life in Ipswich.  Many of the buyers were not happy or even relieved to purchase their "condominiums."  They were painfully aware that the fabric of their community had already been stretched by the legal proceedings of the last several years and perhaps torn forever. I imagine that many other purchasers that I did not meet are experiencing the same sense of apprehension.

The days of policing social behavior with a simple phone call to a neighbor or a discussion over a cup of coffee on the front porch will be threatened by a regime of rules and regulations foreign to those who grew up on Little Neck.  Is your neighbor parking on the "Common Area" or your "Limited Common Area?" Now, you can call one of the Trustees or if you wish to be more impersonal, file a complaint with the soon to be hired management company.  Is your neighbor's clothes line blocking your water views?  Just report them to the condominium association.  Matters as simple as nighttime lighting, taking in trash cans on a timely basis and mowing the grass are all regulated under the condominium rules that are now in force.

I, for one, hope that the terms "condominium," "rules and regulations", "common area" and "limited common area" remain as foreign to those lucky enough to enjoy living on Little Neck as they were just a few short months ago.  Only time will tell.  But, I am not optimistic.  Land ownership typically triggers increased expectations of control, privacy and a sense that everyone must adhere to the same rules even when no one really suffers from slight variations or reasonable exceptions.

As I represented each buyer at closing, I, too, felt a sense of loss for the community that was known as "Little Neck" that is now formally named "The Condominiums at Little Neck."  It's the end of an era and all Ipswich residents should recognize the loss.

Legal Insider Content Contributed by Attorney Richard M. Kallman. Contact Atty. Kallman at 978-356-2934 or rich@kallmanlaw.com.

 

Address	#BR	#BA	List $	Sale $
JUNE
Single Family
131 Linden St, Hamilton, MA	2	1	$205,000	$186,500
101 Pleasant St, Wenham, MA	2	1.5	$249,999	$249,999
69 Postgate Rd, Hamilton, MA	3	2	$359,900	$355,000
9 Savoy Rd, Hamilton, MA	3	2	$369,000	$369,000
70 Rust St, Hamilton, MA	2	2	$400,000	$382,000
12 Donald Rd, Hamilton, MA	4	2	$420,000	$410,000
57 Maple St, Wenham, MA	4	1.5	$424,900	$423,400
110 Railroad Ave, Hamilton, MA	4	2.5	$440,000	$434,800
7 Hatfield Rd, Hamilton, MA	5	3	$449,999	$425,000
3 Patti Ln, Wenham, MA	5	2	$480,000	$469,000
8 Anthony Rd, Hamilton, MA	4	2.5	$519,000	$525,000
12 Rubbly Rd, Wenham, MA	3	3	$559,000	$550,000
114 Cedar St, Wenham, MA	4	2.5	$565,000	$539,500
26 Burnham Rd, Wenham, MA	4	2.5	$574,900	$585,000
22 Parsons Hill Rd, Wenham, MA	4	2.5	$845,000	$805,000
July
Single Family
58 Union St, Hamilton, MA	2	1	$249,900	$235,000
16 Beech St, Hamilton, MA	3	1	$299,000	$292,000
2 Beech St, Hamilton, MA	2	1	$339,000	$314,000
5 Ricker Cir, Hamilton, MA	3	2	$349,900	$349,900
98 Pleasant St, Wenham, MA	3	2+2	$469,000	$481,500
96 Rockmaple Ave, Hamilton, MA	2	2	$475,000	$463,000
66 Topsfield Rd, Hamilton, MA	4	3	$795,000	$770,000
19 Parsons Hill Rd, Wenham, MA	4	2.5	$835,000	$807,500
14 William Fairfield, Wenham, MA	4	3.5	$929,000	$879,000
5 Farrington Ln, Hamilton, MA	4	3+2	$995,000	$905,000
August
68 Pine Tree Dr, Hamilton, MA	3	1	$199,900	$190,000
47 Hull St, Wenham, MA	1	1	$229,900	$247,500
50 Walnut Rd, Hamilton, MA	2	1	$249,000	$276,000
24 Berrywood Ln, Hamilton, MA	4	2.5	$299,000	$320,000
250 Asbury St, Hamilton, MA	3	2	$309,900	$303,000
111 Lakeshore Ave, Hamilton, MA	2	1.5	$349,500	$360,000
256 Echo Cove, Hamilton, MA	3	1	$350,000	$347,000
18 Old Cart Rd, Hamilton, MA	4	2	$379,900	$374,900
8 Berrywood Ln, Hamilton, MA	3	2.5	$429,500	$410,000
128 Linden St, Hamilton, MA	3	1.5	$449,000	$450,000
167 Sagamore St, Hamilton, MA	4	3.5	$489,000	$486,000
7 Conrad Cir, Weham, MA	3	2.5	$539,500	$529,000
163 Main St, Wenham, MA	3	2.5	$549,000	$549,000
2 Spring Ave, Hamilton, MA	5	3.5	$585,900	$550,000
400 Essex St, Hamilton, MA	4	3.5	$629,900	$605,000
161 Main St, Wenham, MA	4	2.5	$630,000	$620,000
40 Parsons Hill Rd, Wenham, MA	4	3.5	$779,000	$705,000
246 Echo Cove Rd, Hamilton, MA	4	4	$785,000	$772,500
5 Settler's Lane, Wenham, MA	4	3.5	$985,000	$962,500
356 Grapevine Rd, Wenham, MA	6	6+4	$1,300,000	$1,095,290
6 Black Brook Rd, Hamilton, MA	4	3.5	$1,995,000	$1,686,500

 

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by our MLS partners. These entities neither guarantee nor are responsible for data accuracy. Data maintained by MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Address	#BR	#BA	List $	Sale $
JUNE
No closings in June
JULY
Single Family
64 Central St, Topsfield, MA	3	2	$319,000	$302,500
199 Ipswich Rd, Topsfield, MA	3	2.5	$329,900	$329,900
14 Winsor Ln, Topsfield, MA	4	2	$449,900	$444,900
99 Howlett St, Topsfield, MA	4	2.5	$449,900	$435,000
75 Howlett St, Topsfield, MA	3	3.5	$499,900	$490,000
28 Wilmor Rd, Topsfield, MA	4	2.5	$565,000	$540,000
18 Prospect St, Topsfield, MA	4	2	$765,000	$675,000
Condo
3 S Main St, Topsfield, MA	2	1.5	$299,000	$299,000
281 Rowley Bridge Rd #12, Topsfield, MA	2	2	$399,900	$389,900
29 English Commons, Topsfield, MA	2	2.5	$856,000	$871,748
Land
Lot 1, 61 Washington St, Topsfield, MA	.84 ac	Res.	$220,000	$220,000
August
Single Family
130 Ipswich Rd, Topsfield, MA	4	2.5	$299,900	$259,000
197 Central St, Topsfield, MA	3	1	$339,900	$315,000
49 Averill St, Topsfield, MA	3	1.5	$349,900	$330,000
11 Andrews Rd, Topsfield, MA	3	1.5	$429,000	$425,000
59 Willowdale Rd, Topsfield, MA	3	2.5	$510,000	$506,000

 

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by our MLS partners. These entities neither guarantee nor are responsible for data accuracy. Data maintained by MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

 

Address	#BR	#BA	List $	Sale $
JUNE
Single Family
117 Main St, Rowley, MA	3	1.5	$229,900	$200,000
6 Homestead, Rowley, MA	4	3	$479,000	$471,500
45 Meadows Ln, Rowley, MA	3	2.5	$519,900	$515,000
JULY
Single Family
5 Prospect St, Rowley, MA	3	1	$106,300	$130,000
14 Newbury Rd, Rowley, MA	3	1.5	$299,900	$290,900
11 Mehaffey Ln, Rowley, MA	3	2.5	$429,900	$425,000
90 Daniels Rd, Rowley, MA	3	2.5	$429,900	$429,900
22 Dexter Dr, Rowley, MA	4	2.5	$529,900	$530,000
41 Green Needle Ln, Rowley, MA	4	2.5	$532,000	$522,500
19 Oak Ledge Cir, Rowley, MA	4	2.5	$599,900	$580,000
Condo
870 Haverhill St 2C, Rowley, MA	2	1	$49,900	$49,900
8 Longmeadow Dr #16, Rowley, MA	2	1.5	$159,000	$147,000
August
Single Family
444 Newburyport Tpk, Rowley, MA	3	1	$174,900	$174,900
192 Dodge Rd, Rowley, MA	3	1	$180,000	$160,000
40 Railroad Ave, Rowley, MA	4	2	$299,900	$299,900
30 School St, Rowley, MA	3	2.5	$449,900	$452,000
76 Newbury Rd, Rowley, MA	3	2.5	$474,900	$455,000
159 Dodge Rd, Rowley, MA	4	3.5	$499,000	$499,000
61 Emily Ln, Rowley, MA	4	2.5	$549,900	$535,000
Condo
192 Dodge Rd, Rowley, MA

 

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by our MLS partners. These entities neither guarantee nor are responsible for data accuracy. Data maintained by MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Address	#BR	#BA	List $	Sale $
JUNE
Single Family
4 Kinsman Ct, Ipswich, MA	3	1	$197,010	$200,500
6 Howard St, Ipswich, MA	3	2	$249,000	$231,000
43 Topsfield Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	2	$264,900	$254,900
193 Topsfield Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	1	$275,000	$250,000
10 Pillow Lace Ln, Ipswich, MA	3	2	$305,000	$305,000
31 Birch Ln, Ipswich, MA	4	2.5	$339,900	$346,000
8 Heard Dr, Ipswich, MA	3	2.5	$434,900	$417,000
55 Boxford Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	2	$444,900	$440,000
64 River Point Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	3.5	$447,000	$425,000
29 Charlotte Rd, Ipswich, MA	4	2.5	$489,000	$460,000
7 Fille St, Ipswich, MA	4	3.5	$489,900	$470,000
7 Warner Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	1.5	$489,900	$457,500
25 Meadowview Ln, Ipswich, MA	3	2.5	$499,900	$505,000
50 N Main St, Ipswich, MA	3	1.5	$525,000	$515,000
67 Pineswamp Rd, Ipswich, MA	5	2.5	$529,000	$525,000
4 Pitcairn Way, Ipswich, MA	4	3f, 5h	$699,900	$680,000
63 Maplecroft Ln, Ipswich, MA	4	4.5	$899,000	$825,000
Condominium
35 County St, #3, Ipswich, MA	1	1	$174,900	$160,000
38 Kimball Ave #7, Ipswich, MA	2	1.5	$234,900	$228,000
64 Avery St, Ipswich, MA	2	1.5	$239,900	$234,000
38 Kimball Ave #10, Ipswich, MA	3	2.5	$274,900	$267,500
47 River Pt Dr #33, Ipswich, MA	2	2.5	$349,900	$349,900
3 Booth Ct, Ipswich, MA	3	3f, 2h	$859,000	$849,000
MultiFamily
47 Washington St, Ipswich, MA	2 Unit		$289,900	$260,000
JULY
Single Family
18 Mineral St, Ipswich, MA	3	2	$283,900	$257,000
451 Linebrook Rd, Ipswich, MA	4	2.5	$349,000	$337,500
5 Cedarview Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	1.5	$374,900	$356,000
6 Dix Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	2.5	$399,000	$385,000
50 Mile Ln, Ipswich, MA	4	2.5	$444,500	$420,000
21 Kimball Ave, Ipswich, MA	3	2.5	$479,900	$467,500
8 Highwood Ln, Ipswich, MA	3	2f, 2h	$549,900	$526,450
9 Spillers Ln, Ipswich, MA	4	2.5	$549,900	$547,330
1 Herrick Dr, Ipswich, MA	4	2.5	$565,000	$545,000
2 Cayer Way, Ipswich, MA	4	2.5	$579,900	$556,000
12 Woods Ln, Ipswich, MA	4	1.5	$599,000	$526,500
3 Long Ridge Ln, Ipswich, MA	4	4.5	$699,000	$660,000
1 Turkey Shore Rd, Ipswich, MA	4	3.5	$769,000	$720,000
Condo
500-8 Colonial Dr, Ipswich, MA	1	1	$119,900	$106,000
40 County St, Ipswich, MA	3	1	$219,000	$215,000
12 Mayfair Ct, Ipswich, MA	2	2.5	$289,900	$275,500
AUGUST
Single Family
10 Lafayette Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	1	$209,000	$240,000
19 Cedarview Rd, Ipswich, MA	4	2	$219,900	$217,000
1 Plains Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	1	$250,000	$195,000
9 Town Farm Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	1	$319,900	$317,500
15 Summer St, Ipswich, MA	4	2f, 2h	$479,000	$455,000
12 Blaisdell Terr, Ipswich, MA	3	2.5	$495,000	$475,000
2 Post Rd Lane, Ipswich, MA	3	2.5	$560,000	$540,000
19 Greens Pt Rd, Ipswich, MA	3	2	$599,000	$594,000
34 Buttonwood Ln, Ipswich, MA	3	3f, 2h	$925,000	$844,000
Condo
400-66 Colonial Dr, Ipswich, MA	2	2.5	$172,900	$165,250
2 Moray Ln #2, Ipswich, MA	2	2.5	$699,900	$777,900
Multi-Family
28 Mt. Pleasant Ave, Ipswich, MA	6 Unit		$630,000	$503,000

 

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by our MLS partners. These entities neither guarantee nor are responsible for data accuracy. Data maintained by MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

First, there are two types, lender's and owners. Unless you are paying cash, the lender's coverage is required but that doesn't protect the homeowner, it only protects the lender. The owner's policy is purchased separately by the homeowner. What does an owner's policy cover? How much does it cost? Where does that money go? Should you invest? Boston.com ran a great article that answers all those questions. Click here for full story.