Bradley Mansion Luxury Condos Back Bay

We wanted to be the first to introduce you to the Bradley Mansion Condos in Back Bay. These 12 stunning residences on Commonwealth Ave, are set to open in spring of 2012. Comprised of 3 townhouses and producing an astounding 86 feet of frontage on Commonwealth Ave, these wide Park Avenue style floorplans are sure to attract a lot of attention from buyers. Each unit will come with heated garage parking, concierge services, state of the art kitchen and bath finishes and incredible detailing that you don’t find in todays new construction homes. These fine luxury residences range in size from 2100 sq.ft. to over 4600 sq. ft. . Currently, prices range from $2.6 Million to $3.899 million. If you are interested in learning more about these spectacular luxury homes in Back Bay, you can call our office at 617-449-3642.

Best Boston Condos for Boat Owners

This past weekend I attended the New England Boat Show, an annual trip that signals the coming of spring and a reconnection to old friends. After I got home, I began to think: what are the best Boston condos for boaters? So after giving it some thought, I’ve put together a list of what I believe are some of the best Boston condos for boat owners.

Commercial Wharf

For the bachelor that needs that perfect marina loft, it doesn’t get much more authentic then Commercial Wharf. This stunning loft features the classic wood beams from straight from the ships that used to fill Boston Harbor. The meticulously renovated home has 2 balconies and a wood burning fireplace. The kitchen has top of the line Viking and Miele appliances and features a bar top that over looks a built in eating area. Listed at $1,279,000 with slip spaces are available right out your front door and the best North End restaurants are just steps away.

Battery Wharf

For those looking for a more refined style, look no further than Battery Wharf. This two bed plus den has terrific views of Boston Harbor. The chef’s kitchen and private deck mean you’ll be entertaining friends till long after the sun goes down and with the extra space there’s room for some to stay. When the time comes to relax, you can take a soak in your tub while looking right into the harbor. Offering all the services of the Fairmont Hotel, you can finish your bath with a bit of room service or a meal down at the Sensing Restaurant all without leaving your building. The 2 bed plus den and 2.5 bath unit is currently asking $2,275,000.

Constellation Wharf

For the family that loves to boat but needs some space we head over to Constellation Wharf. This monster 3100+ sq.ft. 4 bed 3.5 bath 3 level home has 3 private decks to soak in Boston Harbor. The home features an eat in kitchen with tremendous views of the harbor and 2 wood burning fireplaces. There are also 2 deed parking spaces. Whether you commute by boat or by car you can’t go wrong and either way you’ll have place to store you vehicle. Currently listed at $1,685,000

If you’d like to schedule a tour of any of these fabulous homes call our office and tell them you need a home with a slip. 617-449-3642

W Residences Win

In what will come as no shocker to those who are in the know, the W Boston Residences have won their latest court battle against Prudential. For those that aren’t following the situation, Prudential was attempting to foreclose on the W project and the W entered into Bankruptcy protection to prevent this.

In this latest ruling, the judge agreed that residences and hotel provided sufficient collateral to allow a restructuring. The loans currently have an interest rate of 9.5% the restructuring would allow the rate to be dropped to 5-6%. One of the major points of the case was the value of the hotel and the judge ruled that Prudential had major flaws in how it had calculated that value.

For those interested in purchasing at the W the most opportune time is now as deals can still be had due to the protection still placed, but you can be secure in the knowledge that the building will emerge from protection in the next 4 months. The current stats for the building show 29 sold units and 13 more that are under-agreement. If you are interested in seeing what the W has to offer give us a call at 617-449-3642.

What Makes a Penthouse a Penthouse?

The New York Times recently ran an article about penthouse living not being what it used to be. The article makes a valid point about the fact that new developments offer a multitude of “penthouse” units that often are stacked one on top of the other, which makes you ask what defines a penthouse?

When most people think of a penthouse they usually conjure up a grand palace in the sky that sits atop the world with the best views in the city. No one above you, because you are the king of the mountain in the midst of the concrete jungle. Today, the reality doesn’t match the dream. Developers across the country have realized they can increase their profits by adding more than one “penthouse” unit to their properties. This practice doesn’t always prove to be an issue especially in buildings like 45 Province and the W where penthouse units can be at opposite ends of the same floor. This provides incredible views while maintaining the fact that you are at the top.

The question remains however, do buyers out there care when purchasing a “penthouse” if there is another unit above them? I personally think the answer is yes! We can look at some local buildings as proof of that. The W has sold at least 1 of its penthouse units (they don’t have anything above them), but the Clarendon which has 3 stacked penthouse units hasn’t sold any. Now it would be unfair to say that this is the only reason that they haven’t sold any of their penthouse units but it’s probably a factor for some people. So I’ll ask, would it make a difference to you?

Single Family Homes Getting Snapped Up!

While some people may be concerned with the possibilities of a double dip recession, those in the know aren’t worried. For proof, look no further than the recent under-agreement listings for single family homes. Three top single family homes in Back Bay and Beacon Hill have gone UAG in just the past few weeks. These places weren’t going for small dollars either, with a combined asking price over 30 million these homes are some of the best in the city.

19 Marlborough Street

This stunning single family home on the first block of Marlborough Street, boasts an impressive 7,600 sq ft of living space, including 2 garage parking spaces and an indoor pool. The home, originally built in 1872 has impressive  architectural details throughout each room in the home. The 4 bedrooms and 5 baths have been scrupulously cared for and much of the home has undergone top notch renovations.

One of the crowning details, has to be the marquetry like hardwood floor design on the second floor. This stunning home was listed at $7.35 Million and has an anticipated sale date of  January 7th 2011.

128 Commonwealth Ave

This is one beast of a home, boasting a whopping 9,000 sq. ft. of living space it is the largest of our featured homes. The home includes 5 bedrooms 5 full baths and 3 half baths along with 7 fireplaces as well as 2 heated garage parking spaces. Oh did I forget to mention the 3 outdoor heated spaces as well!

The home has been spectacularly maintained to preserve some of its finest details. This incredible room is a rare find in most homes on the market today and it’s preservation speaks volumes about the rest of this gorgeous home.

Master Bath

The master bath in the home is a classic example of the stunning level of renovation you find in top notch homes. Designed to provide the ultimate in luxury for even those of the most discerning tastes, this bathroom relaxes the mind cleanses the soul as soon as you walk in.

The home is was listed at $9.5 million and has an anticipated sale date of 1/20/2011

74 Beacon Street

We’ve saved the crown jewel for last! This incredible home features the only roof top infinity pool in a single family home in the city. The majestic views of the Boston Garden and Back Bay skyline are simply to die for. If you think the pool is amazing, the rest of the home will not disappoint. The Benjamin Mansion as it’s known is comprised of 6 bedrooms 6 full baths and 3 half baths as well as a garage parking space all wrapped up inside 8,450 sq. ft. of incredible style.

The spectacular dining room has been renovated to bring back some of its original character and charm. The inlay flooring can be found in many rooms in the house and it helps define the rich history of this home.

Perfect for entertaining, this home has plenty of space to do it. A myriad of rooms to choose from means you never have to worry about where to put guests. The addition of a wine cellar in the home, besides the over-sized fridge means your guests will always be well taken care of.

The home was listed at $14.95 Million and has an anticipated sale date of 5/31/2011

If you like anything you saw here or would like more information on single family homes in Boston, please give us a call at 617-449-3642.

45 Commonwealth Ave

Have you been searching for a fantastic brownstone condo on a great street in Back Bay, but haven’t been able to find what you’re looking for? It seems every time you go looking the home lacks something. It could be the AC or maybe it’s parking, maybe it’s got loads of space but needs to be totally renovated? All of these are typical issues buyers run into when trying to find that perfect brownstone condo, but that’s all about to change. If you’ve been looking for a brownstone condo in brand new condition with parking allow me to introduce you to the residences at 45 Commonwealth Ave.

45 Commonwealth Ave Kitchen

The residences at 45 Commonwealth Ave were created by combining two buildings at 45-47 Commonwealth Ave into 5 spectacular residences. These 3 bedroom homes have everything you could desire in Back Bay brownstone condo. Brand new utilities means you get all the charm that comes with a brownstone without all the headaches. Each unit comes with 2 garage parking spaces and has direct elevator access. The kitchens all feature top of the line appliances and custom cabinets along with a great open concept layout right into the family room.

45 Commonwealth Ave Living/Dining Room

The large Living room and dining room area both feature stunning views out on to Commonwealth Ave. For those familiar with the neighborhood the views of the mall trees lit up during the holidays will be spectacular from here. The second floor unit even features a balcony off the front. In addition the expansive space pictured above there is a study off the space for those that want to create another media room or simply want to add a library as a place to get away from it all.

45 Commonwealth Ave Master Bath Tub

45 Commonwealth Ave Master Shower

The master bath of each residence is a work of art. Each contains a stately jacuzzi tub surrounded in stunning Italian Marble and perhaps the most exquisite 4 headed shower you’ve ever experienced. The electronically controlled system features a rain shower head, regular shower head, as well as hand held unit and mist heads. This combined with the built in marble shower seat make this a great place to start or end your day. The double vanity means you never need to worry about not having enough space.

45 Commonwealth Ave Master Bedroom

The large master bedroom of each unit is bright and welcoming. Hardwood floors have been continued into the space so that it’s your to decorate any way you choose. The master closet space has been divided into his and hers closets with built in storage. The chandelier provides plenty of light provides a charm not found in modern buildings. The two additional bedrooms each have a private bath and walk in closet space.

If you are interested in scheduling a tour of these incredible units or simply learning more about what they have to offer, please give our office a call at 617-449-3642

Jim Cramer Props Up Housing Market

Last night on CNBC’s Mad Money with Jim Cramer, the show had some interesting news for those watching the real estate market. Jim Cramer was sadly pointing out that despite the facts, the housing sector continues to be the whipping boy for the media. His primary example, the venerable Wall Street Journal.

On July 28th the WSJ ran a headline that said “Home Prices Rise but Outlook for Sector Dims.” Then again yesterday they ran a similar story, “Home Prices Edge Up but Outlook Darkens.” So despite continued good news in the actual market, we’ve gone from a dimming of the market to a darkening. If this “look at the facts don’t listen to the headlines” story sounds familiar it’s because I said this a month ago. (See Here) So what has all this fear mongering cost us? Well according to Cramer it’s cost us a 10% dip in the market. On the upside it’s probably done wonders to boost attendance Stephen Colbert’s Keep Fear Alive March. Remember, always look at the actual numbers not the headlines.

No More Negativity!

The negativity about what’s currently going on in the housing market on the nightly news needs to stop! The major problem with it, real estate is local! So, what might be true in Miami isn’t necessarily true in Boston. Take a look at this video to see what’s really going on in Boston’s Back Bay when it comes to housing.

Studio Charts:

1 Bed Charts

2 Bed Charts

3 Bed Plus Charts

What Can Forrest Gump Teach Us About Real Estate?

“Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.”

Real Estate agents spend a lot of time explaining things to people. For some people, they spend time explaining what’s going on in the market and what their home is currently worth. For others, it might be why the property they are looking at is a great deal. Perhaps the most frequent explanation is, why they charge so much? (Agents, think how many books are devoted to this subject.) If you’re going to hire someone to market your property, (and you should) you need to hire the person to who can explain things the best. You want the person who can properly convey what your home is truly worth and why it’s worth that much. Real estate can be a complex and tricky thing and when it comes time for most of us to learn things that are complicated, we want the best teacher out there. We want the person who can break down that complex problem and make it easy for us to understand. So if you feel you need greater understanding or if you feel you need further explanation call or email me and I’ll be happy to explain.

First 10 Days of May Market Report

This month’s market data shows  a return to the spring market and an improvement over last year’s crazy decline. The improvements in every neighborhood are a positive sign for the market but it will be more interesting to see what happens with the full month of data.

Back Bay 2010
11 Condo’s sold
Avg. Sale Price: $2,680,013
Avg. Price/Ft: $909.43

Back Bay 2009
9 Condo’s Sold
Avg. Sale Price: $1,514,778
Avg. Price/Ft: $919.01

Beacon Hill 2010
3 Condo’s Sold
Avg. Sale Price: $793,333
Avg. Price/Ft: $758.40

Beacon Hill 2009
1 Condo’s Sold
Avg. Sale Price: $637,500
Avg. Price/Ft: $671.05

South End 2010
13 Condo’s Sold
Avg. Sale Price: $604,962
Avg. Price/ft: $623.8

South End 2009
7 Condo’s Sold
Avg. Sale Price: $563,286
Avg. Price/ft: $609.80