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.

What’s Your Neighbor Reading?

Wondering what’s your neighbor reading?  

codIf your town has a “One Book” or a  “Community Reads” program you may be reading the same book.

Local libraries sponsor the programs and encourage townspeople to read the selected book.  Lectures and other events about the book’s subject are offered by the library and local groups.

Cambridge Reads has selected Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World.  Medford Reads also read Cod and had some excellent lectures related to the book.  Plans are in the works for a 2011 Medford Reads - keep an eye on the MPL website for details.

One Book One Watertown is reading March by Geraldine Brooks this Fall.  The novel explores the Civil War as seen through the imagined experiences of Mr. March, the absent father in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.  There are a number of events planned for September and October focusing on Alcott and on the Civil War.

Belmont Reads picked Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle last year but I can’t find anything scheduled for this year’s book.

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Belmont Real Estate Sales – July 2010

Belmont MA Real Estate Report

Belmont MA Real Estate Report

Here’s our monthly recap of Belmont real estate sales for July 2010.   

Real Estate For Sale In Belmont MA

81 residential properties were on the market in Belmont, MA on July 31, 2010 priced between $155,500 and $1,975,000.  These properties had been on the market an average of 96 days.

Belmont Real Estate Sales - July 2010

31 homes sold  in Belmont during the month of July 2010.  That’s four fewer than sold during July 2009. The decrease is less pronounced than in nearby communities.  The properties sold in July 2010 had been on the market an average of 61 days and sold for an average of 98% of asking price.  

21 single family houses sold in July for sale prices between $420,000 and $1,695,000.  The median price was $740,000. Average days on market was 65 and houses sold for an average of 99% of asking price.

6 condos sold in Belmont in July 2010  for prices between $305,000 and $517,000.  The median price paid was $425,750.   Condominiums sold for an average of 98% of the asking price.

4 multi-family houses sold last month for prices from $546,050 to $705,000.  These properties had been on the market an average of 53 days and sold for 97% of asking price.

Total value of Belmont homes sold in July was $22,132,199.

Also see:

BELMONT HOMES SOLD IN JUNE 2010

 

belmont-real-estate-search1

 

Info about Belmont real estate sales in July 2010 is  from MLSpin.

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Solar Trash Cans In Arlington

New Solar Trash Compactor In Arlington

New Solar Trash Compactor In Arlington

Solar Trash Cans In Arlington  Have you noticed the new trash cans in Arlington?

These are actually solar trash compactors.  As part of Arlington’s Green Communities designation, the town recieved five Big Big Belly solar trash compactors that have been placed around town.

The compactor is totally driven by solar power and is able to hold five times as much trash as a regular trash can – cutting truck pickups by as much as 80%.  The trash can is completely enclosed which will keep out pests – a valuable feature in an urban environment.

The solar compactors are also used in Newton, Boston and Somerville.  In Arlington the new trash cans can be found at the Jason Street entrance to Menotomy Rocks Park, at Robbins Farm Park on Eastern Ave, and on Mass Ave at Medford St, at Park Ave and near Dag’s Delicatessen.

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Watertown Real Estate Sales – July 2010

Welcome to the Watertown Real Estate Review

Welcome to the Watertown Real Estate Review

We’ve been wondering if real estate sales would fall a bit after the end of the homebuyer credit.  Here’s the first of the monthly real estate reports - a rundown of  Watertown real estate sales for July 2010.  Take a look – there has been a post-credit drop in sales.

Homes On the Market in Watertown

143 Watertown homes were listed for sale in the MLS  on July 31, 2010 priced between $169,900 and $1,575,000.  That’s 15% fewer properties than were listed for sale at the end of June.  Typically, there’s lower inventory in the summer with many sellers choosing to wait until the Fall to list their homes for sale.  This can be an opportunity for sellers with fewer homes competing with theirs. 

Watertown Homes Sold In July 2010

24 Watertown home sales closed in July 2010. This is significantly fewer homes than sold in July 2009 (47) - a drop of almost 50%.  And 2009 wasn’t an extremely robust year for real estate sales.  It’s looking like the homebuyer credit did push sales into the earlier months of the year.  The median sales price in July 2010 was $410,400.  These  properties were on the market an average of 80 days. 
 
9 single family homes sold in July for sale prices from $355,000 to $705,000.  The median price paid was $509,500.  Average days on the market was 44.
 
14 Watertown condominiums sold in July 2010 for prices from $192,000 to $565,000.  The median sales price was $305,000.  Condos sold on average for 97% of the asking price and were on the market an average of 108 days.
 
Just one multi-family house sold last month – a two-family that sold for $482,000 – $32,100 over the asking price.

 

Total value of Watertown homes sold in June 2010 was $$9,801,800

 

See Also:

Watertown Real Estate Sold in June 2010

Watertown Real Estate

 

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10-12-14 Remington St – Remington Gables

10-14 Remington St Cambridge MA

10-14 Remington St Cambridge MA

10-12-14 Remington Street, Cambridge – Remington Gables   The condos at 10-14 Remington Street will appeal to Cambridge real estate buyers who appreciate the charm of period buildings and the proximity to Harvard Square. This distinctive ivy covered building is on a side street  just off Mass Ave.

 

10-14 Remington Street – History

10-14 Remington Street was built in the Tudor Revival style in 1910.  The three story apartment building, named Remington Gables, was designed by architects Newhall and Blevins whose many other Cambridge buildings include 10 Dana Street and 8-10 Avon Street .

The building was featured in the December 1921 issue of The Architectural Record in an article entitled “Tendencies in Apartment House Design: Open Court Types.”  The author noted that the building’s ells in a back to back U/E shape “provide the tenants as much cross draft and exposure as they could expect to secure in a private house.”

10-12-14 Remington Street Condos

Remington Gables is now thirty condos.  Condo features include:

  • One and two bedrooms
  • 479 – 980 sq.ft.
  • Leaded glass windows
  • Maple floors
  • Decorative fireplace in some units
  • Some condos have a porch
  • Some top floor units have created a loft in the gable
  • Heat and hot water included in the condo fee

10-14 Remington Street Condo Sales

  • In 2008 a 478 sq.ft. one-bedroom sold for $272,500
  • Also in 2008, a six room condo sold for $499,000

If properties are available on Remington Street they will appear below.  Click on the small photo for additional info and more photographs.

 

Remington Gables condos are located at 10 Remington St, 12 Remington Street, and 14 Remington St,Cambridge MA 02138

More Cambridge Condo Buildings:

61 Garfield Street Cambridge

35 Pemberton St Cambridge

33 Lexington Ave – The Lowell

And for even more – click on the Property Info link below. See something you like and want some help with your Cambridge condo search?  I’d love to help – email me or give me a call at 617-504-1737.

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Cambridge Shred Day – Free Public Paper Shredding

Cambridge Shred Day - July 31, 2010

Cambridge Shred Day - July 31, 2010

Cambridge Shred Day – Free Shredding.   Worried about identity theft? Do you have file cabinets stuffed with papers you don’t need but are afraid to throw out? Old bills, bank statements, credit card applications?  I know I do.  And after spending hours with scissors destroying my old student loan papers (who knew my social security number appeared three times on every statement?!) the idea of free shredding is very appealing.

This Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 9 am to 1 pm the City of Cambridge will hold a Shred Day at the Central Square Post Office.  You can bring papers for shredding including bills, insurance info, bank statements, etc.

Cambridge Shred Day is free and open to the public.   For more information call the Cambridge Consumers’ Council at 617-349-6150.

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Shovel The Snow – It’s The Law In Massachusetts

Let It Snow! Then We'll Shovel

Let It Snow! Then We'll Shovel

Shovel The Snow – It’s The Law   Nothing better on a hot summer day than reading about snow shoveling!  Makes you feel a little cooler if only for  a moment.

The Boston Globe reported today that  the Supreme Judicial Court:

“In a historic decision, the state’s high court ruled yesterday that landowners must make sure their property is clear of any snow and ice that could cause injury to others, regardless of whether the snow came from Mother Nature or from a plow or other source”.  Read more.

Poorly shoveled sidewalks are a constant source of aggravation – and danger to pedestrians – during the winter in Cambridge. Homeowners will want to make sure that their sidewalks and driveways are clear of snow and ice or risk a lawsuit.

I’ve got my shovel ready!

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Steamy Day for an Open House

Hot day for an Arlington open house

Hot day for an Arlington open house

It was a very hot day for an open house.

I was hosting an open house at 166 Sylvia Street in Arlington

It was so hot I brought my own fan.

Despite the heat quite a few buyers stopped by.

One real estate buyer pointed out the indoor / outdoor thermometer.

100 degrees outside.  Ouch!

I’m ready for fall.

 

166 Sylvia Street, Arlington is a sweetheart of a house – cheery and beautifully maintained. It’s a wonderfully quiet spot yet public transportation and Mass Ave are close by.  This Arlington single family is listed for $409,000.  Call me today at 617-504-1737 to take a look!

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