Centers And Squares
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 Snow Removal
Somerville Snow Removal
It was 6:30 this evening before I finished shoveling so I haven’t been out and about.
I can only imagine the mess – it’s not easy when large amounts of snow are dumped in the city. Working as a real estate agent in Cambridge means that I’m frequently driving around searching for parking spaces ever more rare in the snow filled streets, climbing over snow banks, repeatedly taking off and putting on the LL Bean boots that become my footwear of choice once snow falls.
Every year I find myself wishing that Cambridge would follow Somerville’s lead in snow removal. The city of Somerville does a great job of snow removal – not just during the storm but in the days after. Somerville actually removes snow from the streets – clearing parking spaces, making sure that crosswalks are cleared, making room for the next storm’s snow. In Cambridge we just hope that the snow melts quickly.
Sure enough, yesterday I spotted this City of Somerville truck loaded with snow removed from the streets in anticipation of the storm. The DPW has been out all month taking away snow, days after the last storm. It only makes sense in the city where there just isn’t room for large piles of snow that make driving, parking and walking a hassle or worse.
Medford MA Real Estate Market-2010-Year In Review
I’ve been doing quite a few market analyses for Medford homeowners recently so I’ve been looking forward to seeing how the real estate market did in Medford for the year. Here’s a review of 2010 real estate activity. The numbers from 2008 and 2009 are included for comparison. And if that’s not enough stats the monthly activity for December 2010 is included at the end of the post.
Overall, sales were down by 5% in Medford. The total dollar volume of sales was up ever so slightly.
The decrease in units sold was mainly due to fewer condominiums sold this year. Condo sales were down by more than 18%. The median price of condos sold, however, rose by 5%.
The increase in the median price of multi-families sold was even more dramatic – the median price rose by more than 10%.
Medford Real Estate Market – 2010 – Year In Review
Welcome to the Medford MA Real Estate Review
Total properties sold in Medford:
- In 2010: 460 (-5.16%)
- In 2009: 485 (+1.9%)
- In 2008: 476
Average days on market:
- 2010 76
- 2009: 90
- 2008: 112
Total value of real estate sales:
- 2010: $163,870,078 (+0.70%)
- 2009: $162,742,034 (-4.9%)
- 2008: $171,111,513
Properties sold for:
- 2010: An average of 97% of asking price and a median price of $345,000 (+6.16%)
- 2009: An average of 97% of asking price and a median price of $325,000 (-5.8%)
- 2008: An average of 96% of asking price and a median price of $345,000
Click here to continue reading about the Medford MA real estate market
How to Select a Pendant Light
Have you ever stood in a lighting store and wondered how to select a pendant light among all the beautiful choices? Here’s a creative way to simplify the decision. This homeowner chose to install half a dozen different pendant lights over the dining area in a kitchen. I love the look.
Click on the thumbnails for a larger view.
Arlington MA Real Estate Review – 2010
Here’s the year in review post for the Arlington MA real estate market with the 2010 numbers. You can also see how 2010 compared to 2009 and 2008. Following the 2010 wrapup are the numbers for sales in December 2010.
It was another good year for Arlington single family sales – the number of houses sold increased by more than 10%. The median price of an Arlington single family increased modestly.
For the second year in a row the number of condos sold in Arlington dropped. However, the median price of condos that sold in 2010 increased by 10% over 2009. I haven’t dug deep in the condo sales numbers but my hunch is that the big increase in the median price has more to do with fewer sales of inexpensive condos pushing the median up rather than a big jump in values.
Multi-family sales numbers in 2010 looked very similar to 2009.
Arlington Real Estate Market – Year In Review
Welcome to the Arlington MA Real Estate Report
Total properties sold in Arlington:
- 2010: 514 (+3.01%)
- 2009: 499 (+3.53%)
- 2008: 482
Average days on market:
- 2010: 53 (-11.67)
- 2009: 60 (-15%)
- 2008: 69
Total value of real estate sales:
- 2010: $248,959,218 (+12.88%)
- 2009: $220,552,380 (+1.14%)
- 2008: $218,078,422
Click here to continue reading about the Arlington real estate market
Cambridge Bookstores
Cambridge Bookstores After a particularly unsatisfying trip to Barnes & Noble I’m recommitting to shop at the wonderful independent bookstores that remain in Cambridge.
I’m a frequent book buyer – never leaving the store without a big bag. While I do spend plenty at bookstores in Cambridge sometimes when a book buying urge struck I would head out to Burlington. Typically the Barnes & Noble there would have a good selection in that day’s targeted subject plus plenty of other enticing books. More than once I’ve left an armful of books on the counter the better to free my arms to find more books.
But B&N seems to have made a distinct shift in emphasis – the store seemed markedly different than just a couple of months before. Much book space has been given over to toys and to promoting their electronic reader, the Nook. The books that were on display were a disappointment – lowest common denominator sort of books – the “masses” in mass market seem to be the target.
So I’m resolved – next time the book buying urge strikes I’m heading to a Cambridge bookstore. Sadly there are fewer independent bookstores in Cambridge nowadays – I still miss Reading International, Wordsworth and Paperback Booksmith. All the more reason to frequent the bookstores in Cambridge that we still can.
Bookstore hours and phone numbers are included below. Before planning a visit a call to confirm store hours would be a good idea.
Cambridge Bookstores – New Books
Porter Square Books – Years ago there was a bookstore in the Porter Square mall that I used to pop into to find something to read on the train back to Concord. After it closed Cambridge was without a bookstore north of Harvard Square for many years. Happily some folks from the Concord Bookstore – another wonderful independent bookstore – opened Porter Square Books several years ago. It’s become very popular – at Christmas the cash register line stretched to the back of the store – a sight that warmed book lovers’ hearts. There are frequent author appearances, a buyer reward program, and a cafe that’s become a popular neighborhood destination.
Porter Square Books is in the Porter Square Mall by the T station. 617-491-2220
Open M-F 7am – 9pm, Sat 8am – 9pm and Sunday 9am – 7pm
Harvard Book Store – Located in Harvard Square on Mass Avenue, the Harvard Book Store has been a favorite of Cambridge book lovers for over 75 years. It’s difficult to walk past their windows without spotting a must-have book. The Harvard Book Store has one of the best lecture series in Cambridge and when admission is charged you get a coupon for a discount at the store. A super destination for new books, there is also has a strong selection of used books downstairs.
The Harvard Book Store is located at 1256 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA.
Open Mon – Sat 9am – 11 am and Sun 10am – 10pm. 617-661-1515
Globe Corner Bookstore – the Globe Corner Bookstore in Harvard Square specializes in travel books and maps. I shop here when looking for guidebooks about various regions and countries and always make it a point to stop in when shopping for my Dad who appreciates the hiking books, maps, atlases, etc. I’ve bought here over the years. The owners have announced plans to sell the store so Cambridge book lovers have fingers crossed that they will find a buyer to keep this local treasure going.
The Globe Corner Bookstore is located at 90 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge
Open Mon – Sat 9:30am – 9pm and Sun 11am – 7pm. 617-497-6277
Cambridge Bookstores – Used Books
Bryn Mawr Book Store – This used book store has an excellent selection of fiction and non-fiction. You can find recent bestsellers at used book prices as well as rare books here. The store regularly holds sales of books by subject matter – one week (or is it month? I’m not sure) gardening books will be on sale, the next week sociology books will be discounted, etc. Proceeds from book sales fund scholarships to Bryn Mawr College.
Bryn Mawr Book Store is in Huron Village at 373 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617-661-1770
Open Mon – Sat 10am – 5:30pm. May to December on Thursdays open until 7 pm.
McIntyre and Moore Booksellers– McIntyre and Moore has long been one of my favorite used bookstores in Cambridge and I’ve followed them around from their first(?) location in Harvard Square, to Davis Square and now to their current spot in Porter Square near Bob Slate Stationery. McIntyre and Moore specializes in scholarly books in wide range of subjects. You can also find fiction, children’s books, cookbooks, and books on sports, games, gardening, health, finance and much more.
McIntyre and Moore bookstore is in Porter Square at 1971 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Open Mon – Thurs 10am – 6pm, Fri & Sat 10am – 8pm and Sun noon – 6pm 617-229-5641
Rodney’s Bookstore – Rodney’s, in Central Square, is a big store for a used bookstore with a very good selection in all sorts of popular subjects. They’ve recently added a second floor for remainder books and also offer pine bookshelves if you’re looking for some new bookcases to hold all those books you just bought.
Rodney’s Bookstore is in Central Square at 698 Mass Ave, Cambridge.
Open Mon – Sat 9:30am – 9pm, Sun noon – 8pm. 617-876-6467
These are my favorites but there are more used bookstores and specialty bookstores in Cambridge. Feel free to put in a plug for your favorites in the comments below.
Cambridge MA Real Estate Market-2010-Year In Review
It’s good to see, when we tally the end of year numbers, that there was improvement in the Cambridge real estate market in 2010. The total number of properties sold rose modestly while the total dollar volume rose by over 10%.
Much of the improvement came in the single family sector. The number of single family houses sold increased by 15% over 2009’s sales and the median price rose by more than 10%.
Condo sales dipped ever so slightly. The median price rose about 3%.
Multi-family sales were robust – increasing by more than 15% over the number sold in 2009. The median price increased by 3%.
Cambridge Real Estate Year In Review
Welcome to the Cambridge MA Real Estate Review
Total properties sold in Cambridge:
- In 2010: 851 (+2.41%)
- In 2009: 831 (-8.38%)
- In 2008: 907
Average days on market:
- 2010: 80 days
- 2009: 79 days
- 2008: 91 days
Total value of real estate sales:
- 2010: $528,083,938 (+13.78%)
- 2009: $464,152,012 (-10.12%)
- 2008: $516,395,918
Properties sold for:
- 2010: An average of 97% of the list price. The median price was $465,000 (+5.69%)
- 2009: An average of 97% of the list price. The median price was $440,000 (-0.91%)
- 2008: An average of 97% of the list price. The median price was $444,000
Click here to continue reading about the Cambridge MA real estate market
How Do You Like the View?
View of the Mystic River and Boston Skyline
I swear that a beautiful view has a physical impact on our bodies – you can feel your body relax when you come across a beautiful vista.
Whenever we tour a condo or house with a wonderful view I snap photos. This one is from my new listing at Mystic River Park Condos in Medford. It’s one of my favorite buildings – very well run, with a glorious pool, 24 hour front desk coverage, and lots more.
This condo faces the Mystic River across the street with the Boston skyline visible beyond. At night the view in every direction is mesmerizing. In my mind I start thinking about where I would put my desk in the second bedroom to look at this view every day – but would I ever get any work done? Probably not!
Here’s more info about 3920 Mystic Valley Parkway Unit 701.
Belmont MA Real Estate Market 2010 – Year In Review
Here’s the tally for sales in the Belmont MA real estate market in 2010 – our year in review post followed by the numbers for December 2010.
The Belmont real estate market was on the upswing in 2010. Numbers of properties sold were up over 2009 and so were median prices. The number of condos sold increased dramatically – by more than 25% over 2009.
Belmont MA Real Estate Market In 2010 – Year In Review
Total residential properties sold in Belmont:
Belmont MA Real Estate Report
Numbers in parentheses show the change from the year before
- In 2010: 261 ( +7.41%)
- In 2009: 243 (+13.56%)
- In 2008: 214
Average days on market for Belmont real estate:
- 2010: 104
- 2009: 93
- 2008: 100
Total value of Belmont MA real estate sales:
- 2010: $169,907,968 (+11.73%)
- 2009: $152,079,929 (+6.89%)
- 2008: $142,278,688
Click here to continue reading about Belmont MA real estate
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