Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, and I love the way Google expressed the Happy Holidays sentiment this holiday season (pictured above)…. With regard to real estate, as you probably guessed, this holiday time is typically the slowest in the residential real estate market.  And so it’s not surprising that in the last two weeks in Weston, MA, there weren’t any single-family homes that came on the market, and our inventory decreased again – from 63 to 53.  We did have some activity, however, given that three properties sold.*  As I mentioned in my last report, we are in the midst of saying goodbye to 2011 and awaiting what 2012 will bring.  In the meantime, I want to wish you all a very Happy 2012.

To fully enjoy all of the market stats, please click Weston Pinnacle Report 12-12-2011-12-25-2011 for the details.  And if you are considering putting your house on the market in the spring, please call me for a complimentary home appraisal or with questions about the market.

* Sold means “pending/under agreement” and not yet closed.

Merry, Merry Christmas from my home in Weston, MA to yours!  I hope that your celebration is filled with family, friends and loved ones and that it is joyful, fun, loving, peaceful and full of laughs.

Today I am missing my hometown of  Baltimore, MD and my family and friends there, and so I figured I would share some “Bawlmer” Christmas images with you (thanks to Jamey Hebb via Facebook for the photos).  The first is from 34th Street in Hampden, which is a neighborhood in Baltimore that takes Christmas decorating to a seriously fun, over-the-top level.  And the second is the Christmas Crab.  You may know the renowned saying – at least in my neck of the woods – “Maryland is for Crabs”, and so just by plain geography, Baltimore is for crabs too.

And if you do not celebrate Christmas, I hope you are enjoying the day off and the slow-down of our crazy lives for at least one day.  Wishing you all the Happiest of Holidays…..

xxoo ….. Lisa

It’s the day before Christmas and the fourth day of Hanukkah, and so it seems the perfect time to ask – what is your favorite holiday gift?  It may be one that you have given or one that you have received.  We all know the saying that it’s better to give than to receive, but it can be pretty fun to receive gifts too.  So what is your favorite holiday gift?  And when did you give or receive this gift – as a child or an adult?

For me – and since my short-term memory is better than my long-term memory – one of my favorite gifts is the ginger bread house that I just gave to the kids and have pictured here.  Every year we try to make a ginger bread house, and it fails miserably.  We can’t get the icing to hold the house together so it collapses, and we never succeed in making it stand.  This year, I had a different idea thanks to my friend, Landis.  She recommended the ginger bread houses from Icing on the Cake.  You can buy the ginger bread house already made, then you take home the icing and the candy, and the kids have a ball decorating the ginger bread house.  We did our gingerbread house this morning, and it was fabulous in every way.  Definitely one of my favorite holiday gifts!

And now back to you…. What is your favorite holiday gift?  I can’t wait to hear…  And in the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!  Xo Lisa

You know I love these questions, because I love to hear your thoughts and because your answers provide an incredible insight into the latest consumer preferences.  And this question – What is your preference for your kitchen countertops: granite or otherwise? – is particularly interesting because granite has been so popular of late, but it seems that the tides have turned a bit.  Where the trend used to be largely in favor of using granite for kitchen counters, I now hear many people, buyers especially, saying that they dislike granite and would not use it in their kitchens.

So if you were just about to renovate your kitchen, which material would you choose for your kitchen countertops?  I am not a countertop expert* by any means, but here are a few thoughts on some of the options:

Granite – is a type of igneous rock.  It gained favor because of its intricate natural and earthy appearance as well as for its durability, but it can be costly.  Depending on the color, it can also mask spills and messes on the counter, which actually may be a good or bad thing?!

Wood – think butcher block.  Not only does the wood provide a warm and rich look to the kitchen, many people use it because it can absorb the impact of knife blades and meat cleavers.

Soapstone – is a metamorphic rock and is softer than granite, which in turn means it has a bit of a softer look and feel as well.  Soapstone is extremely durable and absorbs heat.  We used it for our kitchen, and I am so glad we did.

Silestone –  is the leading manufacturer of man-made, quartz countertops, which are designed to look like other stone surfaces.  Silestone is durable and non-porous, and because it is man-made, its look is more uniform in color and pattern than other natural rock choices like granite or soapstone.  It too can be costly.

Corian – is a solid-surface material created by DuPont and can give a clean and uniform appearance to the kitchen.  Corian countertops are easy to clean, but because they are plastic, they are not heat resistant.

Formica – is a synthetic countertop manufactured by the Formica Group. My Mom still prefers formica for her kitchen countertops, and we had it in our 1970′s house too, before we renovated the kitchen.  Formica is also non-porous, durable and easy to maintain, and it also offers an affordable option for counters.

Stainless Steel/Metal – this can give a sleek and contemporary look to a kitchen and can be quite resistant to stains – it’s metal after all.  But you need to be mindful of corrosion and scratches.

Of course these are just a few of the options for countertops.  There are many others to choose from (marble, copper, limestone, tile, concrete and more).  Which is your preference?  And which criteria is most important in determining what material to install – the look, maintenance issues (they all have them), durability, practicality, uniqueness, cost, etc.? I can’t wait to hear….

* If you are looking for a countertop expert, try www.TypesofCountertops.com.  I found the web site to be incredibly informative about the world of countertops.

Given where I live, I find myself driving by 11 Washington Street in Wellesley, MA every day – and often three to four times a day.  But when I drove by last night, something was different….  There were lights on and a “Grand Opening” sign outside of Jin’s Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar – the restaurant has officially opened.  Located where Bobby’s Grille used to be (and this was a sad one for me to see go), Jin’s is owned by the same people who, according to the website, own Bamboo in Dedham, Bedford and Westford as well as Mandarin in Reading.  Jin’s will likely face some competition from its close neighbor, CK Shanghai, but that seems to be the trend there in Wellesley Hills which houses three pizza places in ultra close proximity.

The restaurant is in the process of hiring, and a sign on the door says that they will be serving liquor soon.  Best of luck to Jin’s, and I can’t wait to try it myself….