About the Newton, Massachusetts Area 

Currently rated one of the safest cities in the nation by the City Crime Rankings, Newton is an elegant community about 10 miles from downtown Boston. Beautiful landscaping, ample recreational pursuits and facilities, superb public and private schools and an outstanding local arts scene only adds to the charm of this historic community. Newton is near to some of the countries best universities, colleges, and hospitals. 

Newton has two malls, The Atrium and The Mall at Chestnut Hill, and several charming local shopping and dining neighborhoods. 

Location
About 9 miles west of downtown Boston Massachusetts, Newton is in Middlesex County. Newton is about 4 miles west of Brookline and 10 miles west of Boston. Cambridge is 8 miles north. 

Geography
Newton is in the western part of Greater Boston, which is a hillier region than Boston proper. The coast is about 12 miles to the east, and the Charles River a short drive north. 

Jobs
Health-care is a primary employment sector with the many world-renowned hospitals in the area. Many of the nation’s best universities (including Harvard) and colleges are a short distance away. Specialized telecommunications and computer-related businesses are an increasing presence in the city.
 

Housing
Housing values remain consistently stable in Newton, even in times of economic downturn. Prices have varied little over the last five years, making it a buyer’s market at present. Most homes are single-family houses, but there are apartments, duplexes and condominiums available as well. A typical single family home costs about $1,150,000 on the average and the median house price stands at about $839,000. The lowest priced homes available sit at around $359,000 and the highest at around $13,000,000. (Current as of 11/6/2006 Source: Boston Area MLS).  

New state laws were passed in July of 2005 that place strict requirements on real estate agents working with buyers. Buyers working with an agent must now be supplied with the best market and property data available and this helps them make educated decisions. The new laws have also protected housing prices from becoming artificially inflated.
 

The city coordinates a full yearly round of events for residents, from block parties to art fairs and annual festivals and there are plenty of sporting and recreation activities for families to enjoy.  

The nearby Charles River is a beautiful resource, offering swimming, kayaking, water skiing and wildlife spotting in summer and ice skating, cross country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.
 

Recreation
Known as “the Garden City”, Newton is a pretty community with tree lined streets and ample parks and green areas between. There are plenty of playgrounds and the city administers two excellent recreation centers, one in the north and one in the south.  

Edmands Park stretches for several blocks and has a lake at one end. Crystal Lake and Garth Pool are great places to swim in summer and the city offers swim classes in both places.  

Newton Commonwealth Golf Course is an 18-hole public course that was originally built in 1887. Elegantly redesigned in 1920 by architect Donald Ross, the course has benefited from several sensitive upgrades and beautification projects since. Known for its short but challenging round of play, Newton Commonwealth has relatively narrow fairways and frequent water and sand hazards.
 

Interesting Facts
Newton is a charming city with many beautifully restored eighteenth and nineteenth century homes proudly wearing date plaques from the Newton Historical Society. The city offers several informative booklets with routes for self-guided walking tours.  

Now part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, the historic Jackson Homestead was once a stop for escaping slaves on the underground railroad and now houses an excellent nineteenth-century museum. 

GOVERNMENT REAL ESTATE RESOURCES
Try the US Census Bureau, FedStats.com, or the Bureau of Labor Statistics for useful information. The HUD web site is full of resources. Don't forget Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae. Get home buying tips from the Federal Consumer Information Center.

LOCAL INFO
Find your local Chamber of Commerce or State Government.

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