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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.
Hawk Nest at 185 Alewife Brook Parkway in Cambridge
I’ve been meaning to write about the hawk nest at 185 Alewife Brook Parkway in Cambridge for a week or two but real estate has been keeping me too busy to blog.
I was out on a tour with buyers when we passed a group of people with binoculars looking up at the office building across from Whole Foods. The nest on the front of the building is quite large and hard to miss once you try to figure out what everybody’s looking at.
A quick search pulled up all sorts of info about the red-tailed hawk nest and its occupants – the two parents and their three baby chicks. Here’s a video that tells the story of the Cambridge hawk family. There’s also an update on youtube that shows the chicks in the last few days – they’re really getting big!
The Boston Globe had a long article about the hawks today and it hit the news on TV this evening as well. The hawk family is famous!
According to the Globe article, traffic’s been affected as people slow to try to figure out what’s going on. Truthfully the traffic through this stretch is so horrendous you’re typically sitting there anyways.
2 of the baby red tailed hawks at 185 Alewife Brook Parkway
Update on May 29th: I finally stopped and joined the crowd watching the birds. The babies are so big now that you can see them clearly when you’re driving by – and it sometimes seems that only one or two are still in the nest.
But no – all three are still there though they seem to take turns standing up at the front of the nest.
I think that’s why some of the birdwatchers return day after day – they’re hoping to catch the hawks’ first flight.
It must be getting pretty crowded in that nest. And as my dad commented – those hawk parents are working really hard keeping those big baby birds fed.
My dad was a bit blase about hawk watching since he’d just been fishing up in New Hampshire the day before and had a close-up view of the bald headed eagle that nests at the lake.
Watching the hawks across from Whole Foods
Birdwatching traffic problems remind me of another amazing roadside birdwatching opportunity – the blue heron rookery on Route 2 near 495 – it’s in Littleton I think. When the herons first nested here cars lined the side of the highway as people parked to watch these beautiful birds. In short order no parking signs were posted. Nowadays you have to crane your neck as you zoom by – not the safest way to birdwatch. Someday I’m going to find some place to park and hike back.
285 Harvard St Cambridge – John Alden Apartments
285 Harvard Street Cambridge MA - The John Alden
285 Harvard St Cambridge is a classic Cambridge brick building built in 1929 as the John Alden Apartments.
Today there are 48 condos in the four-story building which is entered through a landscaped courtyard.
Cambridge real estate buyers will appreciate the convenient Mid-Cambridge location – close to Inman, Central and Harvard Square.
Condo buyers will find a variety of units here. There are studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom condos. Some retain the charm and character of the period, others have been stylishly updated.
285 Harvard Street Condos Feature:
- Hardwood floors
- Some units have a working fireplace
- Some retain the original glass fronted cabinets
- Elevator building
- Common laundry
- Additional storage
- Condo fees include heat and hot water
285 Harvard St Cambridge-Real Estate Sales at the John Alden
There has not been a two-bedroom sold in the building since 2006 when two 748 sq.ft. two-bedrooms sold for $345,000 and $350,000. A 592 sq.ft. one-bedroom condo sold in 2009 for $301,200 and a one-bedroom condo was recently offered for sale for $300,000.
If units are available at 285 Harvard Street they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional photographs and more information.
Condos at the John Alden Apartments are located at 285 Harvard Street, Cambridge MA 02139.
Looks Like The Electric Needs Updating
Original Edison Electric Wiring Box
How cool is this?
I spotted this vintage electrical wiring box / gizmo in a carriage house in Somerville during our weekly tour of new real estate listings.
Yes – that’s knob and tube wiring visible at the top of the photo. But what I really love is the original “Edison Service Cut-Out” box. Never have seen one of these before!
I can’t remember when Boston Edison turned into Nstar but this piece of equipment clearly predates that by many a decade.
Somerville Real Estate Market – April 2010
Welcome to the Somerville Real Estate Market Report
Here’s the last of this month’s real estate roundups – a look at the Somerville real estate market in April 2010.
Real Estate on the Market in Somerville
300 residential properties were listed for sale in Somerville in the MLS on April 30, 2010 priced between $169,000 and $1,500,000. Properties had been on the market an average of 91 days.
Somerville Real Estate Sales in April 2010
49 residential properties sold in Somerville in April. The median sales price was $365,000.
7 Somerville single family houses sold last month for prices between $365,000 and $933,000. The median sales price was $540,000. Houses had been on the market an average of 124 days and sold for an average of 98% of asking price.
36 condominiums sold in Somerville during April for prices from $210,000 to $590,000. Condos were on the market an average of 73 days. The median condo sales price was $330,000. On average, condominiums sold for 98% of the list price.
6 multi-families sold during April for prices from $248,000 to $599,000. The median sales price was $427,750. On average, multi-families sold for 99% of the asking price and were on the market 83 days.
Total value of Somerville real estate sold in April 2010 was $19,205,400.
See also:
Somerville Home Sales in March 2010
Somerville real estate market info from MLSpin
Open House Turkey
Today was a beautiful day – perfect for hitting the trail in search of real estate after celebrating with Mom. I was out with some home buyers and part of our tour took us to a couple of open houses in Belmont.
When we walked out of the open house who did we find but this turkey. I’ve heard of wild turkey sightings in Cambridge and nearby towns but this was my first encounter. He was beautiful – made me want to reconsider Thanksgiving.
Wild turkey outside a Belmont open house
I’m a magnet for odd urban animal sightings for some reason. Here’s a series of photos of an opossum in Porter Square I stumbled upon recently.
Medford Real Estate Market – April 2010
Welcome to the Medford Real Estate Market Report
Here’sa quick look back at the Medford real estate market in April 2010.
On the Market in Medford
On April 30, 2010 170 Medford properties were on the market priced between $174,900 and $859,000. These properties have been on the market an average of 101 days.
Medford Real Estate Market - April 2010
45 properties sold in Medford during April 2010. The median sales price was $366,000. Homes had been on the market an average of 54 days and sold for an average of 98% of the list price.
19 single family homes sold in April for sales prices between $270,000 and $585,000. The median sales price for a single family home was $366,000. Houses were on the market 67 days on average and sold for an average of 97% of the list price.
15 condos sold in Medford last month priced between $157,500 and $416,000. The median condo sales price was $297,500. Condominiums sold for an average of 98% of the asking price and were on the market an average of only 44 days.
11 multi-family houses sold during April in Medford MA priced between $335,000 and $525,000. The median price was $430,000. Multi-families sold on average for 100% of asking price. Average days on market was 44.
Total value of Medford MA homes sold in April was $16,343,405.
Also see:
Medford MA Real Estate Sales - March 2010
SEARCH FOR PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN MEDFORD MASS
Information about the Medford real estate market in April 2010 from MLSpin
Fresh Pond Day In Cambridge
Let’s hope the weather tomorrow is better than the forecast because there’s an amazing day planned at the 2nd Annual Fresh Pond Day in Cambridge with events sure to delight kids and grownups alike. It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy one of Cambridge’s nicest outdoor spaces.
2nd Annual Fresh Pond Day in Cambridge Mass
Fresh Pond Day Events Include:
- Native Plant Walks
- Cambridge Fire Department Truck Company Demonstration
- Scavenger Hunt
- Fire Dept Dive Team Demonstration
- Garlic Mustard Weed-Out
- Tours of the Water Treatment Facility
- Dog Licensing (bring proof that your pooch has a rabies vaccination)
- Voter Registration
- Sign Up for Free Home Energy Audits
- Free Bike Checks and Tune-Ups
- Fresh Pond Reservation Story Walk
- and more!!
Bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it!
2nd Annual Fresh Pond Day
Saturday, May 9, 2010 10 a.m. to 2 pm.
250 Fresh Pond Parkway Cambridge MA
Fresh Pond Day Transportation:
Parking is limited at Fresh Pond Reservation.
Alternate parking nearby at the:
Tobin School, 197 Vassal Lane, Cambridge
Free shuttle from the Alewife T station
Buses from Harvard Square that stop at Fresh Pond: 72, 74, 75 and 78
Free shuttles for seniors and wheelchair bound persons leave from the:
Citywide Senior Center, 806 Mass Ave, Cambridge 617-349-6060
North Cambridge Senior Center, 2050 Mass Ave 617-349-6320
For more information or to find out about event cancellation due to severe weather call 617-349-4339. For more information see the city website.
Arlington Real Estate Market – April 2010
Welcome to the Arlington Real Estate Market Report
It’s been a busy spring real estate market in Arlington with bustling open houses and many properties selling the first weekend, often with multiple offers. Here’s a look at the sales in the Arlington real estate market in April 2010.
Homes On The Market in Arlington
153 homes were listed for sale in Arlington MA on April 30, 2010 priced from $129,000 to $1,249,000. Average days on market was 74 for these properties.
Arlington Real Estate Market - April 2010
46 home sales closed in Arlington in April. The median price paid was $515,000. Homes sold on average for 99% of the asking price.
26 single families sold last month for sales prices between $382,500 and $1,035,000. The median price was $591,250. Houses were on the market an average of 49 days and sold on average for 99% of the list price.
18 condos sold in Arlington MA in April for prices from $187,700 to $590,000. The median sales price was $382,500. Condominiums sold for an average of 98% of list price and average days on market was 57.
2 Arlington multi-family home sales closed in April for $585,000 and $592,500.
Total value of Arlington MA real estate sales in April was $23,883,100.
SEARCH FOR ARLINGTON MASS REAL ESTATE
ARLINGTON HOME SALES March 2010
Information about the Arlington real estate market in April 2010 from MLSpin
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