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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
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.
New Somerville Library Planned for Union Square
I was happy to read recently about plans for a new main Somerville Public Library in Union Square. Somerville has big ideas for Union Square revitilization and it turns out that relocating the main branch of the library is part of that vision. Exciting times for Union Square, with the Green Line, a new $45 million library, and more.
The yellow brick building that currently houses the main branch of the Somerville Public Library was built in 1912 on Highland Avenue.
The Somerville Public Library main branch was built in 1912 on Highland Avenue.
The 1912 library replaced the former library, pictured below, designed in 1884 in the Romanesque style by Somerville architect George F. Loring.
Former Somerville Public Library built in 1884
See images of the next version of the Somerville Public Library and read more about the grant Somerville hopes to get for library construction in this Boston Globe article.
Raised Garden Beds Talk at the Somerville Garden Club
Raised Garden Beds in a Community Garden in Cambridge
Raised garden beds are popular with backyard farmers and gardeners in Somerville and Cambridge. In a talk at the Somerville Garden Club on Wednesday evening, Jesse Banhazl will talk about raised garden beds as well as other options for growing produce in limited space – on roofs, on porches, or in small urban backyards.
Jesse Banhazl is owner and co-founder of Green City Growers, a Somerville-based business that helps to bring organic produce gardens to homes, schools and businesses.
The Somerville Garden club meeting and lecture is free and open to the public. There is parking available or you can take the T to Davis Square and walk up Holland Street.
What: Raised Garden Beds Talk at the Somerville Garden Club meeting
When: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Where: Tufts Administration Bldg., 167 Holland St, Somerville MA
Gulf Station on Broadway in Somerville Added to the Hall of Fame
We use a lot of gas when we tour new real estate listings in Cambridge and Somerville. We toured 14 properties on our tour this week and mid-tour my car was running on fumes.
I pulled into the Gulf Station at 583 Broadway in Somerville opposite Trum Field and Cedar Street. It was my first time there and since I had a car full of real estate agents somebody unrolled the window and asked for a fill up – thus foiling my usual “my-window-doesn’t-work” test to see if the attendant will come to my window.
Our chocolate bonus from Gulf Station on Broadway on top of Wednesday's real estate tour sheet
Well the Gulf Station on Broadway is my latest addition to the Gas Station Hall of Fame. Not only did the attendant come to my window to be paid – despite the easy opportunity to go to the passenger window – but he gave us a handful of chocolate too! We’ll definitely visit that gas station again.
Here’s my post about other local full serve gas stations with great service.
10 Francis Street Somerville – Single Family House for Sale
10 Francis St Somerville MA
10 Francis Street in Somerville is a four bedroom house on Somerville’s Spring Hill above Porter Square. It’s one of my favorite properties I’ve sold and it’s ready for new owners.
When I look for houses one of the most important criteria for me is charm – it’s a know-it-when-you-see-it quality and it’s in limited supply in the real estate search most days. 10 Francis Street has charm to spare. High ceilings, maple and oak floors, lovely bullseye moldings, an amazing, beautifully trimmed archway, bay windows, a beautiful staircase to the third floor, stained glass – lots of wonderful details, sun streaming in the windows – it all adds up to something that gives that internal “click” that makes me fall in love with a place.
The house was lovingly maintained but not updated by long term owners. The current owners have made important upgrades – replaced the furnace, updated the electric to 200 amps, rewired ceiling fixtures, and added some IKEA modular kitchen storage units. New owners will probably opt to redo the floors, paint, etc. There’s one full bath on the second floor and a functioning 1/4 bath in the cellar.
The yard is fully enclosed and there’s room to garden out back. The sellers have planted a couple of fruit trees, blueberry bushes, raspberry bushes (that yielded many pints last year), and more. Parking is on street with a resident permit.
10 Francis Street is walkable to Porter Square, Davis Square, and the bike path.
10 Francis Street, Somerville MA is coming on the market for $469,000. Showings begin on Wednesday, February, 23, 2012. Call Liz Bolton at Coldwell Banker (that’s me!) at 617-504-1737 for more information or to schedule a visit. I can also be reached via email at [email protected].
Green Line Extension Meeting
Green Line Extension Meeting
I’ve heard pessimistic rumblings about the Green Line extension recently so I think the public meeting scheduled for this Wednesday would be good to attend.
On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, a Green Line extension meeting on Phase I: Early Bridge and Demolition Package will be held at the Somerville High School.
On the docket are discussion of:
- Reconstruction and widening of the Medford Street bridge in Somerville
- Reconstruction and widening of the Harvard Street bridge in Medford
- Demolition and site preparation at 21 Water Street in Cambridge
- and more.
The Green Line Extension meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at the Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA.
Green Line photo courtesy of Pylon757
Somerville Flag Raising on New Year’s Day
Prospect Hill Tower Somerville MA
Looking for something different to ring in the new year? Head on over to Prospect Hill in Somerville for the annual New Year’s Day flag raising.
The Prospect Hill flag raising on January 1, 2012 marks the 236th anniversary of General George Washington’s raising of the nation’s first official flag on Jan. 1, 1776 on Prospect Hill. A processional led by a Washington re-enactor on horseback will leave Somerville City Hall at 11:30 am. The flag will be raised at Prospect Hill Park at noon.
There will be songs, readings, and re-enactments by several groups. Light refreshments will be served. Books about Somerville’s history and miniature replicas of the Grand Union Flag will be available for purchase.
The circa 1905 postcard at right reads in part: “Strongest work in besieging line of Boston 1775-1776. On this Eminence Jan. 1, 1776, The Flag of the United Colonies first waved defiance to a foe.”
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