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Mary Wallace Collins (FKA: Mary Hannon) is a Seasoned Real Estate Agent who works with Buyers and Sellers in Boston. A Realtor since 1998 in Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood in Boston, she has extensive experience as a Fine Home Specialist with Prudential Real Estate and as an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), and a GREEN designation with the NAR. She is a member of the Unlimited Sotheby's International Realty Team with offices in Jamaica Plain, Brookline and Newton Center
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
89 for a Walk Score... not to mention.....
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
'City Feed's Values & The Value of City Feed'
Monday, March 1, 2010
A Stately Adams Colonial on the Arborway
66 Arborway
Above is a link to the virtual tour and photos of this rarely available home on the Arborway. Stately Colonial is in the Georgian family of architecture and known as an "Adams Colonial". This home has every update you need for the structure and systems: New roof, new exterior paint, updated electric with 200 amps, new wiring and a back up generator, seller has rebuilt the large front patios and has added patios in the back of the house with flower beds and a new composite deck off of the dining room. The landscaping has been thoughtfully designed to offer 4 seasons of gardens and plants.
This property is easy to show but will be appointment only. Please call me for a private showing.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Sustainable Location for this 3 bedroom Victorian Condominium
291 Lamartine Street, Jamaica Plain, Victorian Mansard Three Family
Friday, January 29, 2010
Community Action Committee for the Centre/South Street Redesign in Jamaica Plain
JP Centre Street sure has been changing over the years. The first time I really saw it was in 1980. I thought it was one of the ugliest neighborhoods I'd seen. Not much on Centre street for me... Woolworths was the best store I could see... there were grates and trash and lots of hard surfaces, seemed like no trees and just concrete. My first thoughts were, "gee, I hope I never have to live here". I was in High School living in a lovely suberb of Boston after leaving Miami, Florida where I grew up as a child. I thought Boston was beautiful, with red brick buildings, maple trees, cobble stone streets and acorn lights and stores with awnings and big glass windows with delightful displays... Centre Street had some brick, beat up empty trash cans, again...big metal grate fronts on the stores, no real shops that I could see... there were some drug stores, convient stores, a men's clothing store... a couple of fast food type places. Not much to speak of that stands out now. There was grid lock in the street, not many people walking around. It seemed like a place to drive through. Monday, January 25, 2010
I'm now a GREEN Designate with the National Association of Realtors
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Realtor Code of Ethics
Tax Credit Information
Casey Williams Joins My Team
Spring Cleaning and Green Ingredients
Green cleaning refers to cleaning techniques that are less caustic.
Usually it takes a while for the government to catch on to a good thing. The private sector is often ahead of government, especially where there is a profit to be had. I wonder why government is so far ahead of the private sector when it comes to green cleaning.
Green cleaning refers to cleaning techniques that are less caustic. They hurt the environment less than other traditional techniques and they hurt humans less as well.
Before modern products dominated grocer's shelves, a lot of simpler, less caustic products were available. Vinegar comes to mind. Many people from Europe still use vinegar to clean just about everything, and it works. Now, its regarded as one of those environmentally green products.
The federal government now has a green purchasing policy concerning its office buildings. There are various organizations that have certified products to be "green," and under the federal program these products are preferred.
The government observed that one of the benefits of its program is that it leads to a healthier indoor air quality for its work force. This is particularly important because Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors and according to some studies, indoor air quality can be much more contaminated than outdoor areas.
The feds are trying to convince other governments to follow their lead. As benefits they cite the following: promotes a healthier work environment, improves safety for janitors, reduces an agency's overall environmental liability, and it helps create a larger market place for cost effective green cleaning products.
In August 2007 New York State took a very bold move in the right direction when the Governor signed an executive order requiring that whenever feasible all New York schools must use green cleaning products.
The program is well underway. And the State takes this very seriously. Today, school children and school employees have drastically reduced exposure to the harmful chemicals that had been used for day to day cleaning.
In certain instances, the older products are still being used because effective alternatives have not been identified and in some cases, because so much of the less toxic material is needed that there is not net gain.
But the New York schools are very green today. That's New York. Here is a really good question: why isn't this being done in every school district across the country? Should only New York students have a cleaner environment?
We need to reduce the exposure of children and staff to harsh cleaning agents. Every school district in the US, without exception, needs to follow New York's lead. Why not attend local meetings and start making this demand.
To do this, read a lot of the literature that exists about New York's experience. Also, read information distributed by the certifying agencies that label certain products as green. There has been a lot of shared experience to date, and you should have this information with you when you make your pitch.
Frankly, you can't lose. The chemicals often cost the same as those now in use. And there is no reasonable debate as to the attributes of this approach. We need activists to go out and start making this happen all over the US.
Ultimately, when will be able to go to the local supermarket and have a large selection of nontoxic, capable cleaning supplies for use at home? The feds and New York are right about this. Its time that every household enjoys the same potential.
Monday, October 12, 2009
A Great Deal for a 1st Time Home Buyer

Inventory is down, but there are still a few properties on the market worth looking at if you are a first time home buyer and want to take advantage of the 1st time home buying credit....
- This property has a great check list:
1. parking
2.deck
3. New kitchen
4. Top floor
5. Walk to T and Centre St. Shops
6. Private basement storage
7. $300 condo fee includes heat
8.Professionally managed and 10/12 owner occupied
This renovated condominium w/16 windows, fresh paint, new light fixtures, french doors, open living with brand new kitchen, retiled bath, refinished floors, new ceilings, etc...
There are only 140 properties on the market in Jamaica Plain... this property is on the market for $245,000. a real bargain. Easy to show just call 617-293-8002
Ready for a quick closing.

