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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.
Somerville MA Real Estate Review Jan-Sept 2012
Somerville MA Real Estate Market Review
Here’s the last of the third-quarter wrap-ups with a Somerville MA real estate review of sales for January through September 2012.
Last year’s numbers for the same period are in parentheses.
Like the other towns and cities we’ve looked at Somerville real estate has done much better in 2012 than in the last few years. Demand was way up and inventory was way down. Significantly more properties sold this year than last. The increase was in condo and single family house sales while multi-family sales held steady.
On September 30, 2012 112 residential properties were on the market in Somerville. That’s a dramatic drop from one year ago when 227 properties were listed for sale.
Total properties sold in Somerville – Jan-Oct 2012 (2011)
- 551 (452)
- Average days on market = 67 (83)
- Properties sold for an average of 99% of asking price (97%)
- Median price of $419,900 ($410,000)
Somerville Single Family Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 68 (48 )
- Sale prices ranged from $185,000 – $1,295,000 ($109,000 - $965,000)
- Median price: $472,250 ($460,000)
- Average days on market: 89 (71)
- On average, houses sold for 99% of asking price (98% )
Somerville Condo Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 367 (286)
- Sale prices ranged from $144,850 – $1,200,000 ($73,000 - $1,180,000)
- Median price: $390,000 ($365,500)
- Average days on market: 66 (87)
- On average, condos sold for 99% of asking price (98%)
Somerville Multi-Family Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 116 (118)
- Sale prices ranged from $235,000 – $1,180,000 ($190,000 – $2,075,000)
- Median price: $535,000 ($520,000)
- Average days on market: 72 (79)
- On average, multi-unit houses sold for 98% of asking price (96% )
Info about Somerville MA real estate market in 2012 (2011) from MLSpin
Cambridge Solar Map
Check out the Cambridge Solar Map
Thinking about installing solar panels? Wondering how much it would cost? Wondering if solar is worth the investment?
The city of Cambridge, in collaboration with the Sustainable Design Lab at MIT and MoDe Studio , has just launched a very cool tool – the Cambridge Solar Map that will answer these questons and more.
On the Cambridge Solar Map page you can enter your Cambridge address and get estimates about how much it would cost to install a solar system and projections of potential production, cost savings and pollution reduction. There’s an estimated payback time given and links to additional info about rebates and other programs.
The Cambridge Solar Tool is fun and fascinating to play with. For my house the tool projects some significant savings as well as what to me seems a somewhat daunting price tag. Zooming around the color coded map it’s easy to see some buildings that look like particularly promising sites for solar. All those large flat roofs look to me like bright yellow potential solar farms.
PS – make sure you have an updated browser – no Internet Explorer laggards allowed - the Cambridge Solar Tool requires version 9 or above or some other more “modern” browser like Chrome, Safari or Firefox.
Cambridge MA Real Estate Market Update Jan-Sept 2012
Cambridge Real Estate Market Update
It has been a very busy year in Cambridge real estate. Summer is usually a slower season but there was little let up this year. Buyers have outnumbered sellers all year leading to bidding wars and quick sales.
Here’s a look at the numbers for the year to date. The same period’s numbers, January through September, in 2011 are in parentheses for comparison.
The numbers tell the story – by every measure 2012 has been a much stronger year than 2011. This is the first year I remember seeing the overall market list to sale price ratio at 100%. As you’ll note, so many single family houses and multi-families sold for over asking that on average these properties were selling for more than the list price. In 2012 it took considerably less time for most properties to sell with days on market reduced significantly.
On October 31, 2011, 167 properties were listed for sale in Cambridge. That’s a big drop in inventory levels from last year at this time when 249 residential properties were on the market. It’s no wonder the market is so frenzied – demand is way up and inventory down. If you’ve been wondering about whether or not it’s a good time to sell the numbers make the question easy to answer – yes – it’s an excellent time to sell in Cambridge right now.
Residential real estate sold in Cambridge – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- 813 properties sold (695)
- Average days on market = 57 (80)
- Properties sold for an average of 100% of asking price (97%)
- Median price of $475,000 ($465,000)
Cambridge Single Family Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 100 (87 )
- Sale prices ranged from $315,000 – $3,740,000 ($280,000 - $3,750,000)
- Median price: $882,000 ($793,475)
- Average days on market: 54 (74)
- On average, houses sold for 102% of asking price (97% )
Cambridge Condo Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 642 (560)
- Sale prices ranged from $187,500 – $2,870,000 ($164,000 - $3,450,000)
- Median price: $443,000 ($424,900)
- Average days on market: 59 (82)
- On average, condos sold for 99% of asking price (97%)
Cambridge Multi-Family Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 71 (48)
- Sale prices ranged from $400,000 – $2,186,000 ($282,000 – $2,325,000)
- Median price: $899,000 ($810,000)
- Average days on market: 49 (68)
- On average, multi-unit houses sold for 103% of asking price (97% )
SEARCH FOR CONDOS FOR SALE IN CAMBRIDGE MASS
SEARCH FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE IN CAMBRIDGE MA
Info about Cambridge MA real estate market in 2012 (2011) from MLSpin
Belmont Library Renovation
Massachusetts does a really great job of supporting city and town library renovations. Locally, Cambridge, Arlington and Watertown have beautifully renovated libraries.
It looks like Belmont will be the next local library to be expanded and renovated.
Belmont made it off the waiting list for state library construction grants and was awarded a grant for $7.5 million.
This weekend the Belmont Public Library will hold a thank you celebration for library supporters on Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Belmont Public Library is located at 336 Concord Avenue, Belmont MA 02478.
Arlington MA Real Estate Market Review Jan-Sept 2012
Arlington MA Real Estate Review
Here’s the Arlington MA real estate market review for the first three quarters of 2012 with a look at real estate sale from January through September 2012.
The numbers for the same period in 2011 are in parentheses.
Condo sales held steady in Arlington while there was an increase in numbers of single family houses and multi-families sold this year.
Like other nearby towns, the inventory of properties for sale is way down in Arlington. On September 30, 2012 85 residential properties were listed for sale in Arlington. That’s a huge drop in inventory levels from last year at this time when 135 residential properties were on the market.
Residential real estate sold in Arlington – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- 438 properties sold (387)
- Average days on market = 52 (63)
- Properties sold for an average of 99% of asking price (98%)
- Median price of $465,000 ($472,900)
Arlington Single Family Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 236 (198)
- Sale prices ranged from $265,000 – $1,425,000 ($243,000 – $1,075,000)
- Median price: $522,250 ($526,500)
- Average days on market: 42 (62)
- On average, houses sold for 99% of asking price (98% )
Arlington Condo Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 172 (170)
- Sale prices ranged from $100,000 – $795,000 ($84,000 - $759,000)
- Median price: $367,250 ($359,650)
- Average days on market: 62 (66)
- On average, condos sold for 99% of asking price (98%)
Arlington Multi-Family Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 30 (19)
- Sale prices ranged from $395,000 – $1,350,000 ($325,000 – $660,000)
- Median price: $549,500 ($550,000)
- Average days on market: 74 (61)
- On average, multi-unit houses sold for 98% of asking price (97% )
SEARCH FOR ARLINGTON MASS REAL ESTATE
Info about Arlington MA real estate market in 2012 (2011) from MLSpin
Chickens in Somerville
Chickens in Somerville
I love Somerville Massachusetts. More specifically, I love Somerville municipal government. Somerville city government always strikes me as progressive and forward thinking. I can’t help but be impressed in most interactions with the City.
Case in point – chickens. Somerville recently became the first Massachusetts city to pass an Urban Agriculture Ordinance. The ordinance encourages urban food production and specifically allows for beekeeping and the raising of chickens.
Hurrah! Many communities have yet to embrace the renewed popularity of raising chickens. Kudos to Somerville for its chicken-friendly stance. Ditto for bees – more and more people I know are keeping bees at home and it’s great to see the City acknowledge the value of urban food production. Look for Somerville eggs and honey coming to a market near you.
Belmont MA Real Estate Market Review Jan-Sept 2012
Belmont MA Real Estate Review
Wondering how real estate is doing in Belmont MA this year? Let’s take a look at real estate market activity in Belmont with sales figures for the first three quarters of 2012.
The numbers for January – September 2011 are in parentheses for comparison.
On September 30, 2012, 70 properties were listed for sale in Belmont. That’s significantly fewer than were available for sale one year before when 90 properties were on the market.
While in the Belmont real estate market as a whole the median price was down over last year that’s only a reflection of the mix of properties sold. When you look at properties by type you see that the median price was up in each category and was up significantly for single family houses and condominiums.
The condo market in Belmont was much busier in 2012 with 101 condos sold in the first three quarters compared to 69 in the same period last year. The median price was way up and days on market was down.
Residential Real Estate Sold in Belmont – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- 254 properties sold (214)
- Average days on market = 64 (63)
- Properties sold for an average of 99% of asking price (98%)
- Median price of $643,000 ($652,500)
Belmont Single Family Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 127 (118 )
- Sale prices ranged from $450,000 – $2,900,000 ($400,000 – $2,675,000)
- Median price: $749,00 ($700,500)
- Average days on market: 59 (48)
- On average, houses sold for 99% of asking price (98% )
Belmont Condo Sales – Jan-Sept 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 101 (69)
- Sale prices ranged from $160,000 – $1,215,000 ($145,000 - $1,337,500)
- Median price: $512,000 ($385,000)
- Average days on market: 76 (95)
- On average, condos sold for 99% of asking price (98%)
Belmont Multi-Family Sales – Jan-Oct 2012 (2011)
- Total sold: 26 (27)
- Sale prices ranged from $435,000 – $975,000 ($395,000 – $760,000)
- Median price: $575,750 ($565,000)
- Average days on market: 36 (42)
- On average, multi-unit houses sold for 99% of asking price (98% )
Info about the Belmont MA real estate market in 2012 (2011) from MLSpin
Nest Thermostat
This Nest thermostat caught my eye on tour in Cambridge
I’m a traditionalist when it comes to thermostats – I love my classic round Honeywell thermostat. Designed by Henry Dreyfuss in 1953 it’s non-programmable and works perfectly for my needs.
Perhaps it was the similar size and shape of the Nest thermostat that clicked with me when we were touring a house in Cambridge. The very cool display that came on when we walked by certainly caught my eye. I liked it enough to snap the photo at right.
The New York Times had an article about the Nest thermostat today – in the Business section, not the Home section. Turns out the thermostat is even cooler than it looks.
It’s the ultimate in smart programming – the thermostat can determine when nobody is home and turn itself down. It also “learns” your patterns over the course of a week and adjusts accordingly.
Best of all, for people like me with very unpredictable schedules that don’t jibe with regular programmable thermostats, there are apps to allow for remote control of the Nest thermostat. Aaah – to come home to a warm house this winter – that’s living!
The Nest thermostat sells for $250 and can be purchased online at nest.com.
Nest thermostats
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