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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.
Anne Hathaway – Hasty Pudding Club Woman of the Year
Anne Hathaway – Hasty Pudding Club Woman of the Year for 2010. On Thursday, Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Club honored actress Anne Hathaway as its Woman of the Year. The traditional parade through Harvard Square was held despite the snow and followed by a roast and presentation of the pudding pot at the New College Theatre.
The parade and pudding pot ceremony for the 2010 Hasty Pudding Club Man of the Year, Justin Timberlake, is scheduled for this Friday, February 5th.
Here’s a look at Anne Hathaway and the Hasty Pudding Club:
See also:
Renee Zellweger 2009 Hasty Pudding Club Woman of the Year
When Does the Spring Market Start?
It's already here - the Spring Real Estate Market in Cambridge
When Does the Spring Market Start? Spring is traditionally the busiest time of the year for real estate sales in Cambridge. But when does spring start in real estate terms?
It’s bitter cold out and there are still piles of snow with undoubtedly more to come. But no matter the temperature, spring starts in January for real estate buyers.
More than the school calendar for kids, it’s the upcoming ending of leases that drives large numbers of buyers into the Cambridge market. Buyers whose leases run through May or June or August start looking for a new home at the beginning of the year.
Most homeowners choose not to put their homes on the market during the holidays. Inventory is at a low point. But buyers are eager for new listings to see. Their real estate agents have promised them that new listings will come on the market after the holidays. Buyers keep waiting, hoping for more condos or houses that match their wish list.
Already there have been multiple offers on newly listed properties. Open houses are busy. Our loan officer is busy writing pre-approvals for new buyers. It’s spring!
Sellers often like to wait until the grass is green, the snow has melted, the flowers are out. Spring is a beautiful season in Cambridge and I’ve found myself thinking, on a perfect spring afternoon, “Ahhh, this is why so much real estate sells in the spring.”
But there’s much to be said for having plenty of potential buyers and lots less competition. Getting a jump on the spring market is a smart move.
And this year, with the homebuyer’s credit requiring that a property must be under contract by April 30, 2010, there’s all the more reason to put your home on the market soon. Before the first-time homebuyer credit was expanded and extended, the initial November deadline caused a big spike in real estate sales in November. The April 30th deadline, coupled with the annual influx of buyers into the market, is going to create a big push in sales early in the year. You do not want to miss out on the spring surge of 2010!
Sellers – start your engines! It’s springtime in Cambridge!
If you’re thinking of selling and would like to talk about how best to position and market your home, please give me a call at 617-504-1737.
Park Street Lofts – Park and Ivaloo Street Somerville
Park Street Lofts Somerville Mass
The Park Street Lofts were built in 2003 at the corner of Park Street and Ivaloo Street in Somerville MA.
Park Street runs between Beacon Street and Somerville Ave near Porter Square, Union Square and Kirkland Village. The Academy of Arts and Sciences is nearby and it’s not far from Harvard Square.
There are 18 residential units in the complex – four townhouses, four two-level lofts, and ten loft flats. There is also one large office condo.
Park Street Lofts Layouts
- Townhouses have three levels, 2,093 – 2,166 sq.ft
- Duplex lofts – 1617 – 1909 sq. ft.
- One level lofts – 842 – 1878 sq.t.
- 1-3 bedrooms
Park Street Lofts Features
- Garage parking
- Elevator building
- Central air conditioning
- Huge windows
- Master bedroom with walk-in closet
- Granite and stainless steel kitchen
- Deck and / or balcony
- In-unit laundry
Recent Real Estate Sales at Park Street Lofts
- A 1,077 sq.ft. two-bedroom sold for $355,000 in 2009
- An 848 sq.ft. two-bedroom sold for $297,000 in 2009
Other Somerville Loft Buildings:
400 Washington Street – Ivy Place
Still want more? Click on the Somerville Condos tag link below or to search for Somerville real estate for sale click on the MLS Search link at the top of the page. And remember – I can show you any home that catches your eye. Call me at 617-504-1737 or email me with any questions.
If there are condos available at the Park Street Lofts they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional info and more photographs.
The Park Street Lofts are at 43 Park Street and 17 Ivaloo Street, Somerville, MA 02143.
Longfellow House On The New Cambridge Parking Sticker
Longfellow House on the new Cambridge parking sticker
Longfellow House On The New Cambridge Parking Sticker I love the new picture of the Longfellow House on Brattle Street that’s on the 2010 Cambridge parking sticker.
Jim Landfried took the winning photo in the 2010 Resident Parking Permit Photo Contest. There’s a slideshow with all of the entrants on the city’s website - more than 80 beautiful photos of Cambridge through the seasons.
Tomorrow is the last day to get your parking sticker – or risk a ticket on Monday.
To get a Cambridge parking permit you need:
- Your current automobile registration showing your car garaged at your Cambridge address
- $8.00 and money to pay any outstanding parking tickets
- A current utility bill sent to you at your Cambridge address - or -
- Two pieces of current mail sent to you at your Cambridge address (magazines don’t count)
The name on your proof of residence mail or bills must match the name on your vehicle registration.
The Traffic and Parking Department is at 344 Broadway, Cambridge MA 02139
Don’t forget – tomorrow’s Friday so the office is only open from 8:30 am to noon. Get there early and get in line.
88 Hancock St Cambridge MA
Condos at 88 Hancock Street Cambridge MA
88 Hancock Street Cambridge Condos This handsome Colonial Revival style building was designed by architect John A. Hasty in 1894. Hasty designed many Cambridge buildings of the period including the Newport Road condos and the Washingtonian on Washington and Linnaean. Originally designed as eight units, the building was reconfigured as 16 units in 1914. Today it houses 16 one and two-bedroom condos.
The building sits on Hancock Street near the intersection with Mass Ave, just around the corner from shops, bookstores, cafes, restaurants, stores and pubs. Midway between Harvard and Central Square, this is a convenient location for students at the Business School.
Renovated in the early 1980s, some condos have subsequently been updated.
The common entry and staircase is memorable - the wood wainscoting continues up the stairhall and the mosaic tile floor is unusual and beautiful.
88 Hancock Street Features
- One and two-bedroom condos
- Ranging in size from 499 to 804 sq.ft.
- High ceilings
- Exposed brick wall
- Fireplace in some units
- Common laundry
- Basement storage
- On street parking
Recent Real Estate Sales at 88 Hancock St Cambridge
- A 4th floor two-bedroom condo sold for $402,500 in 2008
- A 4th floor one-bedroom condominium sold for $270,000 in 2009
If condos are available in the building they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional photos and more information.
Info about sales at 88 Hancock Street, Cambridge Mass 02139 is from MLSpin
What Do Condo Fees Cover?
What Do Condo Fees Cover? Many first time real estate buyers tend to think of condo fees as an ”extra cost” of owning a condo. I know I did. Then I bought a house as my first home and quickly came to realize that home ownership inevitably had expenses associated with it. Condo fees started looking a lot more reasonable to me.
So what are the typical things that condo fees cover for condos in Cambridge and nearby towns?
The two expenses most often included in the fees:
Master insurance - this is the insurance policy that covers the building structure and common areas. Typically you’re responsible for insuring the interior of your unit and, if so, banks have started requiring you to purchase additional coverage, called HO-6 insurance, prior to your closing.
Water and sewer bills - Typically in Cambridge you’ll find just one water and sewer meter in the building. If that’s the case then those bills will be paid via the condo fees. Some condo docs will spell out a formula that prorates cost by number of residents per condo but more often, the bills are simply paid from the condo fees collected.
Other Expenses That May Be Paid Through Condo Fees
- Heat and / or hot water
- Snow removal
- Landscaping
- Exterior maintenance
- Professional management
- Elevator
- Concierge or security desk
- Swimming pool
- Common area cleaning
- Contribution to reserves
- Common utilities
Many of the expenses covered by condo fees are simply the cost of home ownership that’s shared by you and other members of the condo association. Some expenses may cover things that are less important to you – a pool, an elevator, a health club. Others are costs in lieu of doing it yourself – snow removal, professional management, etc. You have to decide if the benefits provided are worth the expense of higher fees.
High condo fees are not necessarily bad – they may be an indication that the condo association is budgeting with the long view in mind. Buildings cost money to maintain and an association that fails to budget for inevitable repairs and upgrades will suffer from deferred maintenance and the possibility of large assessments to cover overdue projects.
On the other hand, some associations prefer to keep fees on the low side while each association member banks their own money until such time the association decides to pay for a project by divvying up the cost among the members.
As a part of the homebuying process you’ll have the chance to review the condominium association’s financial documents. You’ll want to decide if you’re comfortable with the finances and the association’s financial style.
52 Garden St – Cambridge Condos
Condominums at 52 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA
Cambridge real estate buyers looking for a condo in one of the city’s classic brick buildings will want to check out 52 Garden Street.
Located near Harvard Square, 52 Garden Street is what’s referred to as a “Harlow Building” in Cambridge and was designed by architect Hamilton Harlow in 1924. These handsome brick apartment buildings have classic layouts, nice detail, multiple exposures, and better closets than you’d expect in buildings of this period.
The 42-unit elevator building was converted to condos in 2002. There are two large basement units. The other units are studios, one bedrooms, and one bedrooms with study ranging in size from 359 to 1083 sq.ft.
52 Garden Street Features
- Fireplace
- Hardwood floors
- Common laundry
- Common landscaped patio
- Pets with permission
- Basement storage and bike storage
- Heat and hot water included in the condo fee
Recent Real Estate Sales at 52 Garden St Cambridge
- A 3rd floor studio sold for $298,500 in 2008
- A 1422 sq.ft. basement condo sold for $410,000 in 2008
- A 921 sq.ft. one-bedroom with study sold for $$415,000 in 2009
If condos are available in the building they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional pictures and more information.
Click on the Cambridge Condos link below to read about other condominium buildings or Search The MLS for Cambridge Condos For Sale.
Decorative Window Trim on Cambridge Houses
Bracketed window trim on a mansard on Avon Hill in Cambridge
Decorative Window Trim
Window crowns – curved trim, bracketed or pedimented window tops - became popular on houses during the Italianate period. Second Empire mansards often had trimmed window tops like the one at right and window-top ornamentation can be found on Queen Anne Victorians as well.
Here are some of my favorites spotted on houses in Cambridge. For the life of me I can’t get larger versions of the photos to show in the slideshow. If you click on it you’ll get the larger views.
It’s often a certain special feature that makes us fall for a house. Here are some more house parts we love:
And for more favorites, click on the House Parts tag link below.
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