Centers And Squares
Welcome to Centers and Squares
As a Cambridge real estate agent, the city squares of Cambridge, Somerville and Medford and the town centers of Arlington, Watertown and Belmont, Massachusetts are my home turf. And as a lifelong New Englander who’s lived within twenty miles of Boston most of my life, I can introduce you to other nearby towns as we search for your new home. If you’re planning to sell your home in Cambridge, MA or nearby you’ll find plenty of info about the home selling process here too. Questions? Send me an email or call me at 617-504-1737.
Medford MA Real Estate Market – January-October 2011
Medford MA Real Estate Market
Wondering how the real estate market is doing in Medford? So are we, so we decided to pause and take a look at the Medford MA real estate market for January to October 2011.
Last year’s numbers for the same period are in parentheses.
Overall the numbers of properties sold in Medford remained stable though houses took longer to sell and the median price was down. Average days on market increased by more than 25% and the median sales price dipped by 4% .
Quite a few more single family houses sold this year than last but prices were down a bit. The number of single family homes sold in Medford increased by almost 15% but the median price dipped by 3%. On the other hand, approximately 20% fewer multi-family houses sold in 2011 than sold in the same period in 201o but the median price did not budge.
On October 31, 2011 191 properties were listed for sale in Medford. That’s just about the same position we were in last year when 193 properties were on the market on October 31st.
Residential real estate sold in Medford – Jan-Oct 2011:
- 382 properties (376)
- Average days on market = 91 (72)
- Properties sold for an average of 97% of asking price (97%)
- Median price of $336,000 ($347,500)
Medford Single Family Sales – Jan-Oct 2011
- Total sold: 195 (170 )
- Sale prices ranged from $135,000 – $768,500 ($132,000 – $744,000)
- Median price: $348,800 ($360,914)
- Average days on market: 90 (73)
- On average, houses sold for 97% of asking price (97% )
Medford Condo Sales – Jan-Oct 2011
- Total sold: 126 (130)
- Sale prices ranged from $136,000 – $600,000 ($157,500 – $525,000)
- Median price: $286,500 ($294,500)
- Average days on market: 94 (77)
- On average, condos sold for 97% of asking price (97%)
Medford Multi-Family Sales – Jan-Oct 2011
- Total sold: 61 (76)
- Sale prices ranged from $225,000 – $660,000 ($230,000 – $635,000)
- Median price: $415,000 ($415,000)
- Average days on market: 91 (63)
- On average, multi-unit houses sold for 95% of asking price (98% )
SEARCH FOR REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN MEDFORD MASS
Info about Medford MA real estate market in 2011 (2010) from MLSpin
Richard Pinkham House – Octagon House in Medford
Richard Pinkham House Medford - Octagon House
We were on our way to a brokers’ open house in Medford when I stumbled upon the house at right. I love octagon houses and knew there was an unusual example of one in Medford but I never knew where it was. Turns out it’s the Richard Pinkham House at 24 Brooks Park in Medford.
Richard Pinkham was a house builder and this was his own home. The house’s construction dates from 1850 – 1855. Pinkham purchased the land in 1850 and the house first appears on a map in 1855. Richard Pinkham lived in the house for at least 50 years.
The house is very distinctive – blending elements of three architectural styles: Greek Revival, Italianate and Octagon Mode. What’s most unusual about the house is that the octagonal element is enveloped by the rest of the house with wings or rooms projecting from three sides of the ocatagon. It’s best appreciated in an aerial view.
The Richard Pinkham house was restored and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
Next door to the house (with a parking lot that straddles the Pinkham house) is this handsome building. It’s a large Federal Colonial style apartment building at 20 Brooks Park. The building was designed by Stirling / Brown Architects of Winchester. It’s a beautiful city building. You really have to look long and hard to realize that it’s only a few years old rather than 150 years old or more. Why can’t more new buildings look so good?
20 Brooks Park Medford MA
I’ve always liked Brooks Park. The loop of the street circles the grassy park of the same name. It’s tucked away but close to Medford Square, just across Main Street from the Royall House. There’s an interesting asssortment of houses of different eras including the house for sale at 13 Brooks Park that was our reason for visiting the neighborhood.
Harvard Bookstore Lectures
Jim Lehrer in Cambridge
Last night we went to hear Jim Lehrer speak in Cambridge about his new book, Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain. The lecture was sponsored by the Harvard Book Store and held at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square. Lehrer had all sorts of insights and anecdotes to share about presidents and presidential candidates. The book is a treat for anyone with an interest in politics or presidents and those who came close.
The Harvard Book Store lectures are one of the best things about living in or near Cambridge. The series bring some of the most interesting scholars, authors and political figures to Cambridge. Many events are free and ticketed events are just $5.
Other speakers this month include:
- Tom Brokaw on Nov 4, 2011
- Joan Didion on Nov 7, 2011
- Umberto Eco on Nov 12, 2011
That’s just a small sample of what’s on the calendar. Check out the schedule and ticket info by clicking on the events tab on the Harvard Book Store website.
You’ll get a chance to buy the speaker’s book at the event and to get it signed. Plus you get a $5 off coupon for the next time you shop at the bookstore. It’s a great way to support your local independent bookstore.
Here’s my brother Ted at the book signing table when Ariana Huffington visited Cambridge last year.
Ariana Huffington - and my brother - in Cambridge
Somerville MA Real Estate Market – January-October 2011
Somerville MA Real Estate Market
As we head into the holiday season real estate market activity tends to slow down a bit. Time for a look back to see how the Somerville MA real estate market fared this year with a look at the numbers for January through October 2o11.
Last year’s numbers for the same period are in parentheses.
Approximately 7% fewer residential properties sold in Somerville this year. Properties took an extra week to sell on average. At the same time the median real estate sales price in Somerville increased by 6% with increases in median sales price for all property types.
Total properties sold in Somerville – Jan-Oct 2011:
- 495 (529)
- Average days on market = 84 (77)
- Properties sold for an average of 97% of asking price (98%)
- Median price of $410,000 ($387,000)
Somerville Single Family Sales – Jan-Oct 2011
- Total sold: 57 (70 )
- Sale prices ranged from $109,000 – $965,000 ($150,000 – $1,001,000)
- Median price: $475,000 ($390,000)
- Average days on market: 89 (70)
- On average, houses sold for 98% of asking price (99% )
Somerville Condo Sales – Jan-Oct 2011
- Total sold: 309 (334)
- Sale prices ranged from $73,000 – $1,180,000 ($150,000 – $775,000)
- Median price: $367,000 ($357,000)
- Average days on market: 85 (79)
- On average, condos sold for 98% of asking price (98%)
Somerville Multi-Family Sales
- Total sold: 129 (125)
- Sale prices ranged from $190,000 – $2,075,000 ($248,000 – $940,000)
- Median price: $520,000 ($510,000)
- Average days on market: 80 (75)
- On average, multi-unit houses sold for 96% of asking price (98% )
Info about Somerville MA real estate market in 2011 (2010) from MLSpin
The City Was Spared Snow Damage
This snowman family didn't make it to Halloween
This is what the snow looked like on Monday morning in the city. Sure, we got snow Saturday night, but it wasn’t major and it melted by late Sunday.
Thankfully around Cambridge and Somerville we were spared for the most part the damage to the trees that I feared when I heard the forecast. Heavy snow is a disaster when the leaves are on the trees. The trees aren’t structured to bear the weight of collected snow on their leaves.
While I breathed a sigh of relief, I couldn’t let myself think of the devastation outside the city. It was easy to lose track of just how bad it was – until you saw the school closings for Monday. Just 20 minutes or so out of the city and students in town after town were treated to a snow day on Halloween – Acton, Bedford, Woburn, Medfield – the list went on and on and on. Clearly things were not good if schools couldn’t open on Monday – and were still closed on Tuesday in some towns.
Driving through Arlington on Tuesday to visit broker open houses (we real estate agents live the good life – several days a week we get to tour properties newly listed for sale and get treated to multiple lunches) we came across many downed branches and broken trees. It was a terrible sight.
I can only imagine it’s much, much worse the further west or north you drive. Many homes and businesses remain without power. The thought of how many trees Massachusetts lost is heartbreaking.
Our tree canopy has really taken a beating in the last year or two – drought, tornado, tropical storm and now this. One has to wonder what the landscape will look like in the coming years as the climate continues to change.
14 Packard Ave Somerville MA
14 Packard Ave in Somerville MA is coming on the market tomorrow. This two-bedroom condo is midway between Davis Square and Teele Square.
The condo is a wonderful blend of original architectural detail and modern amenities. There’s new central air conditioning and a spacious renovated kitchen with wide expanses of granite counters, a large island where you can pull up a stool, and stainless steel appliances including a gas range with convection oven.
14 Packard Ave has a spacious kitchen
Don’t like to share? You won’t have to – the backyard and covered deck is exclusive to the condo. There’s a fence on two sides and a beautiful hedge of holly bushes on a third side.
14 Packard Ave has two bedrooms. There’s room in the gracious foyer for a bookcase and a desk if you’d like – it’s a lovely space with fluted columns and two stained glass windows.
The yard is all yours at 14 Packard Ave
You can’t beat 14 Packard Ave’s location – walk to the Red Line T in Davis Square or hop on the bike path. You’ll have enough restaurants, cafes, pubs, and coffee shops to eat out every day for a month or more. Tufts University is nearby and if you drive to work you’ll appreciate the easy access to commuting routes.
14 Packard Ave Unit 1 Somerville MA 02144 is new to the market and priced at $399,000. Call Liz Bolton of Coldwell Banker at 617-504-1737 if you would like to schedule an appointment to see this lovely Davis Square condo for sale.
Your Empty House in Winter
Will your house be empty this winter?
Winter’s coming – with a snowstorm in October it becomes more difficult to ignore the impending cold weather.
An empty house in winter is a potential disaster in the making. In the last few years, I’ve noticed a number of properties listed for sale at a fraction of their former value. Not because real estate values have dropped but because the houses were severely damaged when the pipes burst during the winter.
Water cascading through a house is devastating. Floors buckle, plaster comes down, fixtures and appliances are ruined. A flood from burst pipes can easily result in $100,000 or more of damage or loss of value.
Ideally, you won’t leave your home empty through the winter. Perhaps a family member or friend can stay in the house. Insurance coverage for vacant properties is very expensive – because the risk is high. My vacant property insurance came from Lloyd’s of London – with a price tag to match – when my house renovation was underway. It’s worth it to have someone stay in your home – even if they’re camping out in an empty house.
Empty bank-owned properties are “winterized” by companies that drain the radiators and plumbing and shut off the utilities. It’s by no means the best way to show a property – freezing cold, no lights, and tape over the toilets – but it does prevent damage.
At a minimum someone should be checking the house daily. Make sure the heat is on and there’s plenty of fuel if you heat by oil. Economizing on heat could be a very expensive way to save money if problems ensue. If your heat is turned down too low and goes off for some reason the house will too quickly cool to a dangerous temperature when the weather is at its coldest. If the house is kept at 68 degrees and it’s down to 50 degrees when someone checks you can catch the problem before you’re in serious trouble.
If your house is vacant it’s time to start thinking about how to make it through the winter.
Happy Halloween
Now that most of the snow’s melted in the city it’s time for trick or treating.
Happy Halloween to all! May you get lots of candy.
From the archives – Here’s someone – probably me – in one of my favorite Halloween costumes, bought years ago at Irwin’s, a toy and hobby store that used to be in Porter Square.
Happy Halloween!
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