3 reasons homebuyers love Waltham by Peter Thomas Ricci December 9, 2016

In October, there were more home sales in Waltham than in any housing market in Greater Boston, and for good reason – as we detail below, the community offers homebuyers considerable benefits and amenities.

1. Fantastic Returns – Buyers like the confidence of settling in a strong, sustainable housing market, and there is considerable evidence that Waltham is among Greater Boston’s strongest marketplaces. According to the latest stats from GBAR, total home sales are up 7.9 percent, while median sales prices for single-family homes and condos are up 11.7 and 15.8 percent, respectively; even more, average list-to-sale price is 101 percent, and in October, time on market fell 35.6 percent for single family and 58.5 percent for condos. Everybody wants a piece of Waltham!

2. Strong Education Networks – Good schools are a big selling point for many a housing market, and like most Greater Boston markets, Waltham’s education networks are top notch. In addition to Brandeis University – which is not only among the nation’s top 50 colleges, but is also the town’s largest employer – Waltham’s public schools receive very strong marks. According to analytics firm Niche, Waltham’s school district is among the most diverse in Massachusetts, and the system also receives top marks for sports, clubs/activities and college readiness.

3. A Vibrant Culture – Waltham features numerous sights and sounds for its residents, among them: the dynamic Moody Street in downtown, which has shops, restaurants, bars, a commuter rail and a lively night scene; “Concerts On Waltham Common,” a Waltham Arts Council-sponsored concert series that, during summer, hosts a different musical act each week; not one, but two terrific orchestras in the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra and Waltham Symphony Orchestra; and the annual Latinos en Acción Festival, which celebrates the town’s Puerto Rican, Mexican, Peruvian and Guatemalan residents.

Also, Waltham is a center for Ugandan culture. Starting in the 1960s, when President John F. Kennedy created scholarships for African students, Ugandans began attending universities in Greater Boston, and over the decades, more people from the country followed their lead and settled in the area. Now, more than 1,500 Ugandans live in Waltham – some residents call it “Little Kampala” – and the town contains Ugandan eateries, Waltham College Uganda, St. Peters Church of Uganda Boston and the Ugandan North America Association.