Shanahan Real Estate Group will have open houses today from 1-3PM.

This weekend, Shanahan Real Estate Group is participating in Nationwide Open House Weekend. This is the third annual event, organized locally by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR).

About National Open House Weekend

Since its first year, Shanahan Real Estate Group has participated and coordinated all of our open houses to ensure that buyers had a very clear day and time to see as many of our listings as possible. While open houses are only one component to a successful marketing plan, most buyers utilize open houses as a first step in the home buying process.

Who goes to open houses?

• 68% of buyers in Massachusetts take advantage of visiting an open house as part of their home search process. Nationally, only 45% of buyers do.

• Home buyers in the northeastern United States visit open houses more frequently than any other region in the country.

• 94% of all buyers felt going to an open house was either very useful (56%) or somewhat useful (38%).

• 79% of sellers in Massachusetts used an open house to help market their home. Only 58% of sellers nationally used open houses.

(The data is from the 2011 Massachusetts Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, compiled by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), on behalf of the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR)).

Open Houses Today

Our listings at 1 Ivy Circle, 12 Plymouth Rd, 161 Cambridge St, 98 Wildwood St and The Ledges Unit 57 will all be Open today (4/29) from 1-3PM. For more information and a list of all open houses in Winchester today, visit our website. And as always, there is a very friendly and knowledgable agent in our office ready to answer any questions that you might have about a specific property, the local market or about the process of buying a home in general. Stop in or call us anytime!

1 Ivy Circle, Winchester: A Colonial filled with tradition and renovations

Shanahan Real Estate Group and Paula Sughrue present 1 Ivy Circle, Winchester MA

The spring market is upon us and the inventory in Winchester is growing.  New to the market is this gorgeous, meticulously maintained home nestled on a private cul-de-sac in the Flats.  This spacious home boasts of a state of the art kitchen, master suite, first floor washer and dryer, finished basement and central air system.

The bright eat in kitchen offers hardwood floors, granite countertops, recessed lighting and brand new stainless steel appliances.

The living room includes two custom built-ins and a brick fireplace while the dining area offers classic styling accented by crisp wainscoting panels. The first-floor also offers a room off of the kitchen that could be used as a home office or den.

The second floor offers four bedrooms, including a master suite with a walk-in closet.

The finished lower level is ideal for family relaxation with a fireplace and brand new wall-to-wall carpeting.

For relaxed outdoor living, this home also offers a brick patio with professional landscaping which includes a sprinkler system.

This home is in move-in condition.  It’s walk to town and elementary school location contributes to its charm.  Come see what this home has to offer!

Paula Russo Sughrue of Shanahan Real Estate Group

Shanahan Real Estate Group at The Winton Club Cabaret

Shanahan Real Estate Group’s Rebecca Brennan-Laird, Felicity Tuttle, & Mary Price contributed to this post about attending the Winton Club’s Cabaret “It’s About Time!” Each year, a group from the office attends this amazing show, which has continually been more successful than the last! We always love a fun night out and supporting a local, very worthy, cause.

Shanahan Real Estate Group attended the Thursday night performance of the Winton Club Cabaret “It’s About Time”, and what a show it was! We were so impressed with the amazing talent in this show and felt that this was one of the best Cabaret shows ever put on by the Winton Club. The vocal talent, the music, the dancing, the costumes, the sets — all made for a show to remember. It made us laugh, cry, & cheer — we left with smiles on our faces and wonderful memories of a great night filled with amazing talent and great friends. Thank you, Winton Club, for all you do for this town, for the Winchester Hospital, and thank you for a great show!

- Rebecca Brennan-Laird

A group of us from the office had a real treat attending Winton Club’s Cabaret “It’s About Time!” Of course the Tambos and the Drill Team were both as practiced and perfect as ever but there was so much more! Vivacious Beth Kennedy, tiny Wendy Smith, and the many dancers who give the show pace and zing were onstage again this year adding so much to so many numbers.

Giovanna Ward and Debbie Chasse performed beautiful, lyrical pieces which displayed their depth and range so well. Ciro Faienza had us melting at our table. In their solo pieces, Eddie and Diane Rae showed us what a musical family is all about!

Kevin brought great presence and tuneful projection to his roles, particularly that in the Finale from Les Miserables. Amy C. should not be able simultaneously to sing on key and kick as high as she did — that was a major challenge which she acquitted with elegance. Patricia Williams displayed her lovely voice while her trio graced shimmering blue sequined tops which caught the lights. Two gals wonderfully showcased this year were Abbie Sawyer and Sarah Folk who each had several solos and were an absolute delight to hear every time.

Anyone who missed “It’s About Time!” should mark their calendars for Winton Club’s 2013 Cabaret in late January/early February of 2013 — you don’t want to miss their production!

- Felicity Tuttle

After an amazing night out, we look forward to Cabaret 2013! We were a very proud sponsor of this amazing show!

A little about The Winton Club of Winchester – this non-profit organization donates all profits to to the Winchester Hospital. This dedicated & diverse group of women are committed to providing volunteer services and programs to benefit the Winchester Hospital. Last year, they donated over $125,000 to the hospital! Wow!

I’ve been a member of The Winton Club since l982 and had the pleasure to assist with makeup, selling raffle tickets, and organizing donations for this more-than-worthy cause.

We are all looking forward to Cabaret 2013!

- Mary Price

Many thanks to our contributors! We will absolutely be looking forward to next year’s show!

Shanahan Real Estate Group‘s Rebecca Brennan-Laird, is running the Boston Marathon on April 16th to raise money for arts and education. Below is a post from Rebecca explaining why she’s running and which worthy cause she is supporting. Good Luck, Rebecca!

Rebecca Brennan-Laird of Shanahan Real Estate Group

PS – Of course, all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Click here to learn more about the Stoneham Theatre

Shanahan Real Estate Group‘s June O’Keefe Burt offers her perspective on the market today and how to use absorption rate as an indicator of buyer and seller activity. Thanks, June!

We at Shanahan Real Estate Group wish to personally extend our best wishes to you for 2012.

On the business side, we thought it would prove helpful, if you are considering buying or selling a home in 2012, to present some data that will clearly show the “state of the market” in our area.

Real Estate is governed by the law of supply and demand; as such it is helpful to put a metric in place to judge the level of sales activity. The ABSORPTION RATE compares how many homes are for sale (the supply) to how many homes sold that month (the demand). We can then determine how many months it would take for all the homes currently listed for sale to sell at the current pace of sales.

A balanced market is one that has anywhere between 2-4 months of inventory. Anything over 4 would favor buyers (more selection) and anything less than 2 would favor sellers(less options for the buyers). The numbers for the last six months in Winchester single family sales indicate an absorption rate of 3 months.

Taken independently, this number is an extremely positive statistic for Winchester single family sales. From a seller’s standpoint, this indicates that there is a qualified buyer pool for a well -priced home for sale. From a buyer’s standpoint, it indicates a balanced activity level and alleviates concerns of overpaying for a home in our current market.

We anticipate as the spring market gets rolling, there will be increased levels of inventory, however, as anyone who has purchased a home in any spring market will tell you, there is an increased  buyer pool as well.  Winchester continues to outperform the market, even in these uncertain times.

Happy 2012!

June O'Keefe Burt of Shanahan Real Estate Group

This week, Shanahan Real Estate Group presents a new listing for sale at 1 Oneida Circle, Winchester MA. This beautifully renovated home is a model for effectively combining old-world character, modern amenities and even green technologies for energy conservation.

Shanahan Real Estate Group presents 1 Oneida Circle, Winchester.

Fabulous “New Construction” 1926 Dutch Colonial was completely gutted to the studs and totally re-built with an extensive new addition in 2011.  This unique 2,882 square foot home has 4 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths and every amenity imaginable.  Fabulous child-friendly neighborhood is located within easy walking distance to top-rated Ambrose Elementary School, MBTA train service to Boston, and Winchester Center.  Custom built with the character and quality of yesteryear, but everything is BRAND NEW.

Enjoy all the amenities in this beautifully restored home at 1 Oneida Circle, Winchester MA

 Unique Features of 1 Oneida Circle

• Property sits on Registered Land (land boundaries and title guaranteed by the state)
• Sited on a 6,400 square foot corner lot that feels much larger
• Four bedrooms including large Master Suite with His & Hers walk-in closets
• 2 ½ baths with marble floors
• Red oak hardwood floors throughout
• Formal Living Room and Dining Room with wainscot & niche for China cabinet
• Open concept floor plan with Kitchen, Breakfast Area, and Family Room with gas fireplace
• Double slider from Breakfast Area to 12’x 22’ Deck and rear yard
• First floor Office with an additional built-in Desk alcove in Kitchen
• Finished Lower Level with Family Room, Mud/Laundry Room, and Exercise/Storage Room
• Oversized 2 car Garage with Carriage House style garage doors and separate walking door
• Pull-down stairs provide easy access to attic storage

Enjoy a wonderful neighborhood and even views of Winchester Center from 1 Oneida Circle, Winchester

 Green Features of 1 Oneida Circle, Winchester MA

• Insulation
  • Closed-cell spray foam insulation installed in previously existing portion of house provides at least R-21 in the walls and R-38 in Attic rafters creating a fully “conditioned” space in Attic
  • R-21 Fiberglass insulation located in new portion of house with 2”x6” walls
  • R-38 Fiberglass insulation located in ceiling of new portion of house
  • 1” rigid foam insulation installed under finished Lower Level floor
• 96+% efficient American Standard HVAC Units in both Basement and conditioned Attic
• Two 13 SEER Heil central air conditioning compressors
• Two separate heating/cooling zones (1^st Floor/Lower Level, and 2^nd Floor)
• Bradford White Energy Saver 75 gallon gas hot water heater
• Energy Star-rated 7-day programmable thermostats in Family Room and Master Bedroom
• Energy Star-rated Windows/Doors/Skylights
  • Andersen 400-Series windows with Low-E insulating glass and simulated true divided lights for architectural integrity
  • Velux skylight in Master Shower and Velux Sun Tunnel skylight in Master Bath
  • Jeld-Wen Front Entry Door and Garage Walking Door
  • Therma-Tru Side Porch Door
• Energy Star-rated Bosch kitchen appliances with water-efficient dishwasher
• Energy-efficient lighting
  • 55 LED recessed can lights (provide 65 watts of light each for 14.5 watts of usage)
  • LED under-cabinet lights in Kitchen
  • Fluorescent/CFL/Xenon lights in almost all other locations
• Pilot-less “Intellifire” Heatilator gas fireplace
• Conduit run from Attic to Lower Level Utility Room to facilitate future solar panel installation
• Conduit run from Garage to Lower Level Utility Room to facilitate the installation of future electric car charging stations
• Abundant natural lighting throughout minimizes need to use artificial lighting during daytime
• Water-efficient Kohler Wellworth toilets use just 1.28 gallons of water per flush
• Landscape Irrigation system uses water-efficient drip irrigation in planting beds.  Rain sensor prevents unnecessary watering when not needed.
• Lawn was winterized with Organic root-building fertilizer

View more pictures and a video tour for this property.  

This property is presented by Nan Shanahan, Shanahan Real Estate Group

This has been a big year for Shanahan Real Estate Group! Several of our agents and their families are celebrating the arrival of a new baby this year. We are a supportive group and couldn’t be happier for our friends and colleagues as they welcome healthy, happy little ones. Cheers!

Welcome Baby Byrne!

Last Thursady, an early Christmas gift arrived for our agent Molly Nolan Byrne. Just in time for Christmas, Molly welcomed her second son. Mom and baby are doing great and we wish the Byrne family all the best this season. What a special holiday for them!

Molly Byrne welcomed Baby Byrne in December. Congrats!

Another special arrival

Last Thursday was also a special day for our in-house staging specialist Ellen Fador (Spectacular Spaces) and our agent Lulu Coakley. On the same day that baby Byrne was born, Ellen met her first grandchild, a little baby girl. This little one is also the great-niece of Lulu Coakley. Congratulations to the Fador and Coakley families!

Ellen Fador of Spectacular Spaces celebrated the arrival of her granddaughter in December.

2011: Year of the Little Ones

These two little ones mark the fifth and sixth babies born in the Shanahan Real Estate Group family this year. The year started with the birth of Karen Garrett‘s daughter born in March, followed by the arrival of triplet granddaughters for June O’Keefe Burt‘s family this summer.

We are a tight knit group at Shanahan Real Estate and celebrate these joys with our colleagues and their families. These occasions remind us of what is important and what the holidays are really about. All the best this season to all of our friends and neighbors and we look forward to a very happy 2012!

Karen Shanahan Garrett and family celebrated a baby girl in March.

Lulu Coakley welcomed her first great-niece. Congrat's!

June O'Keefe Burt's family welcomed THREE babies this summer!

While we are all running last minute errands, attending holiday parties and decorating our homes, the real estate market continues. It is a slower pace than earlier in the year, but there are serious home buyers and sellers in the market. Here are some interesting facts and insights from Shanahan Real Estate Group about the end of the year real estate market in Winchester.

1. Last year, between November 15th through December 31st, 29 homes went under agreement in Winchester. The median sales price for this time period was $819,000, about $50,000 above Winchester’s typical median sales price.

2. Today in town, there are 81 homes on the market with a median price of $699,900. Last year at this time, it was a very similar picture with the same median price and 85 homes on the market.

3. While there may be fewer buyers in the market in these last few weeks, those buyers that are active are very serious and tend to be more motivated about making a purchase.

4. It is true that buyer demand is generally higher in the spring market, but with this demand comes more competition from other sellers also listing their homes at this time. If your home is on the market today, you are competing with fewer listings than in other times of the year, particularly the spring market.

5. We find that the holiday season is a time where many families begin thinking about their home and their future needs, while enjoying some downtime from work and school. Many of our friends and neighbors stop by the office, call or email after the New Year to talk about the market in town and what their plans might be. If your plans for the New Year might involve a move, let us know. We love what we do and are always happy to talk real estate!

Look for our blog next week with insights into the early winter market. In the meantime, enjoy these festive holiday weeks with family and friends.

The Shanahan Real Estate Group ladies at the One Shining Night Gala to benefit Winchester Hospital.

Shanahan Real Estate Group’s Rebecca Brennan-Laird contributed this post about the One Shining Night event to benefit Winchester Hospital. Each year, Shanahan Real Estate Group attends this really fun and festive event where we dress up, meet friends and support a very worthy and local cause. Thanks, Rebecca!

This blog courtesy of Shanahan Real Estate Group's Rebecca Brennan-Laird

Shanahan Real Estate Group of Winchester, MA was a proud sponsor of the Winchester Hospital One Shining Night Gala held on December 3rd at the Westin Waterfront in Boston. It was a beautiful night with everyone dressed in formal attire and raising money for a great cause.

The MC opened with a real estate joke, which we particularly enjoyed, and we danced the night away to an amazing band. It was a wonderful way to support the hospital and all they do while enjoying an evening with clients, friends and colleagues. It is an event we sponsor every year and are very proud to be a part of.

Shanahan's Turkey Trot Team

Shanahan Real Estate Group and FAN would like to take a minute to thank everyone for a very successful First Annual Turkey Trot for Kids. We had about 100 runners participate this year! We would especially like to thank our sponsors who helped in donating goods and services to this event, specifically Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Stop and Shop and Peterson Party Center.

We would also like to extend a big Thank You to all of the runners and their parents for participating in this great event. With all of your contributions, we were able to make a substantial donation to the Bridget Brigade Foundation and have some fun on Thanksgiving morning.

We are already looking forward to next year’s run!

If you missed the event but would like to contribute to the Bridget Brigade, we have a collection box in the office for new, unwrapped toys. These toys will be donated to children hospitalized over the holidays by the Bridget Brigade. The collection box will be in our office through December 13th.

Gobble Gobble!