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.
The American House – Class at Brookline Adult Ed
That's me in front of my family's first house. Even then I was a house enthusiast.
I’ve always loved course catalogs and typically find all sorts of classes that sound appealing. Seldom though has a class seemed so much up my alley as The American House offered in the Winter term at Brookline Adult and Community Education.
The American House is a three session class taught in January by Stephen Jerome. Jerome is a specialist in historic preservation and design and a trustee of the Brookline Historical Society.
“In Building the Dream: A Social History of Housing in America, author Gwendolyn Wright states: ‘From the first frame house in New England to the latest condominium in the Sunbelt, our houses have been filled with our images of ourselves, our myths, and often the images our neighbors, our government, or our employers have projected for us.’
In this course, we will unravel the myths and meanings of the American house, using the houses themselves as our text.
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How has the builder-client relationship evolved over time?
- Who were the first American architects?
- What are the myths and realities of such legendary houses as The House of Seven Gables and Scarlet O’Hara’s Tara?
These questions will be explored in this overview of Classic, Romantic, high-style, and vernacular house forms that have shaped and continue to transform the architectural environment.
By the end of the course you will be familiar not only with the names of architects and styles of houses, but also with the issues of cultural continuity that have shaped the American house for over three centuries.”
As someone who’s been obsessed with houses since a very young age, I was quick to sign up for the class. Classes fill up quickly – you can sign up by phone at 617-730-2700 or on the web at www.brooklineadulted.org.
The American House will be offered by Brookline Adult Ed at the Brookline High School in January 2010. The class begins on January 14th, 7 – 9 pm and costs $85 for three sessions.
Cambridgeport Commons – Cambridge Condos
Cambridgeport Commons – Cambridge Condos. Cambridge real estate buyers looking for a modern condo with easy access to Boston and Central Square will want to check out Cambridgeport Commons.
Modern Cambridge Condos - Cambridgeport Commons
Cambridgeport Commons, built in 1988, is located at the tip of Cambridgeport, not far from the BU Bridge. Walk across, soak in the beautiful views of the city skyline, and you’re in Boston, on Comm Ave by Boston University. Hop on the B Line T or walk to Kenmore Square and Fenway Park. In Cambridge, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and MIT are nearby.
The complex is flanked by Chestnut Street, Henry Street, and Sidney Street.
There are 100 condos in the association with a variety of layouts. The seven buildings, including a six-story mid-rise elevator building, surround a central landscaped courtyard with garage underneath. There are studios, duplexes, flats, townhouses, and 1 to 3 bedroom condominiums.
The association is professionally managed and there is an on-site superintendent during the week. Resident owners are allowed one pet per unit.
Features of Condos at Cambridgeport Commons
- Central air conditioning
- In-unit laundry
- Balcony
- Fireplace in some units
- Garage parking
- Additional storage
Recent Sales of Cambridgeport Commons Condos
- Two-bedroom flats sold in 2009 for prices ranging from $405,000 to $429,000
- A 1200 sq.ft. two-level unit sold for $405,000 in 2008
- A 1646 sq.ft duplex-style unit sold in 2008 for $535,000
If any condos are for sale in the association they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional information and more photographs.
SEARCH FOR CAMBRIDGE CONDOS FOR SALE
Charlie Allen Of Cambridge Featured In Old House Journal
Cambridgeport Mansard Restored by Charlie Allen
Charlie Allen of Cambridge Featured in Old House Journal. The December 2009 issue of Old House Journal is filled with features with a local spin. After I finished with my favorite Remuddling page here’s what I found:
Cambridge contractor, Charlie Allen, writes about a 10-year renovation and restoration of a Second Empire mansard on Kelly Road pictured at right. Charlie Allen Restorations has brought back many houses around Cambridge to their former glory and it’s a real treat to read about the metamorphosis of this house.
An article about a Winchester Queen Anne Victorian details its transformation from a two-family into a single. The house had been covered in aluminum siding and stripped of architectural detail. Not any longer!
Fans of Modernism will enjoy the article by a Lincoln homeowner about the restoration of a Modernist house after a fire.
As always OHJ is packed with useful articles for old house enthusiasts. Others include:
- How to research your house’s history
- Protecting your house from fire
- Repairing plaster walls
- Repairing leaded glass
- The Beaux Arts Style
Want to learn more about your neighbors’ old house experiences? Old House Journal is not to be missed.
Osgood Lofts – Somerville Condos – 25-27 Osgood St. Somerville
The Osgood Lofts. These 14 Somerville condos were built in 2005 at 25-27 Osgood Street between Porter Square and Union Square.
Osgood Street is just one block long, tucked above Somerville Ave. There’s a community garden and a park with playground on the block. The street is named in honor of Osgood Dane who quarried slate and granite on the hill here in the 1800s. Dane and Granite Streets also commemorate the quarry.
Osgood Lofts - Somerville Condos at 25-27 Osgood St.
Osgood Lofts Features
- Two bedrooms, two baths
- Huge windows
- In-unit laundry
- Central air conditioning
- Two-car garage parking with storage
- Visitor parking
- Elevator
- Pet friendly
Osgood Lofts – Real Estate Sales
12 two-bedrooms, 1066-1147 sq.ft.
- Sold for $387,000 to $451,000
- Average sales price – $424,214
2 larger two-bedroom condos, 2100+ sq.ft.
- Sold for $580,000 and $635,000
Available real estate on Osgood Street will appear below. Click on the small photo for additional info and more photographs.
The Osgood Lofts are located at 25-27 Osgood St., Somerville, MA 02143.
Cambridge Real Estate Report – Oct 2009 Sales
Welcome to the Cambridge Real Estate Sales Report
Here’s the last of the monthly real estate market reports – the Cambridge Real Estate Report – October 2009 Sales.
Cambridge Real Estate On the Market – Oct. 31, 2009
On October 31, 2009 there were 316 homes for sale in Cambridge Mass. priced between $199,000 and $4,275,000. The median asking price was $542,450. Average days on market was 136.
Cambridge Real Estate Sold In October 2009
53 residential properties closed in Cambridge during October for sale prices between $172,500 and $4,850,000. Average days on market was 85.
13 single family houses sold last month for prices ranging from $260,000 to $4,850,000. These houses had been on the market for an average of 112 days and sold for an average of 96% of asking price. The median sales price was $695,000.
36 condos sold in Cambridge during October for prices from $172,500 to $1,531,300. The median condo sales price was $440,750. Condominiums sold for an average of 98% of the list price. Average days on market was 78.
4 multi-families sold last month priced between $585,000 and $895,000. These properties sold for an average of 94% of asking price and were on the market an average of 61 days.
The total value of residential real estate sold in Cambridge during October 2009 was $35,596,100.
Information from MLSpin.
Last month’s numbers:
September 2009 Cambridge Home Sales
SEARCH FOR CONDOS FOR SALE IN CAMBRIDGE
SEARCH FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE IN CAMBRIDGE
Lilac Court – Cambridge Townhouses
Lilac Court – Cambridge MA Townhouses Cambridge real estate buyers will find lots to like at Lilac Court in East Cambridge. These 24 townhouses are close to Kendall Square, MIT, Central Square, and the Charles River. The leafy enclave sits between Portland Street and Webster Ave.
Lilac Court - Cambridge MA Townhouses
Built in 1980 by Bell and Fandetti, these fee simple townhouses offer an open layout with rooms typically defined by the level rather than by walls. Owners who desire more privacy can enclose the rooms without too much trouble. The living room ceiling soars over 18 feet – right to the roof and there’s often a wood burning stove.
Owners pay a nominal yearly amount towards shared expenses such as snow plowing.
Lilac Court – Cambridge MA Townhouses
Townhouses vary but often include:
- 1400-1750 sq.ft. living space
- 2-3 bedrooms
- 1.5 – 2 baths
- Fenced patio or yard
- Wood stove
- Skylights
- Outdoor parking
Recent Lilac Court Townhome Sales
Two Lilac Court townhomes have sold in 2009 – one for $537,500 and another for $540,000.
If any townhouses are currently for sale or rent at Lilac Ct Cambridge MA they’ll appear below. You can click on the small photo for more info and additional photographs.
SEARCH FOR CAMBRIDGE TOWNHOUSES
The Lilac Court townhouses are located on Lilac Ct, Cambridge, MA 02141
President Signs New Homebuyer Tax Credit
President Obama signed the bill that included the new Homebuyer Tax Credit yesterday, extending and expanding the First Time Home Buyer Credit that was set to expire on November 30, 2009. The new credit is no longer limited to first time homebuyers and now includes buyers who are selling or have recently sold their home.
The details of the credit are fairly complicated and you’ll need to factor in the dates of your purchase relative to the enactment of the legislation. Consult your accountant or tax practitioner to determine your eligibility for the credit.
Here are some highlights of the new bill:
Who Is Eligible For A Homebuyer Tax Credit?
- A buyer qualifies as a first time home buyer if he or she has not owned a home in the three years prior to the purchase
- Homeowners buying a home who have used their previous home as a primary residence consecutively for five of the previous eight years
How Much Is The New Credit?
- First-time buyers – $8000 or $4000 married filing separately
- Current homeowner – $6500 or $3250 married filing separately
When Does The New Homebuyer Credit Expire?
- Buyer must have a written binding contract to purchase in place by April 30, 2010
- The homebuyer has until July 1, 2010 to close
Is There A Home Purchase Price Limit For The Credit?
- Yes. The home purchase price is now capped at $800,000.
What Are the Income Limits For The Home Buyer Credit?
The income limits have been increased with the new credit. Previous income limits are in parentheses.
- $125,000 single ($75,000)
- $225,000 married ($150,000)
- Additional $20,000 phase out
Low interest rates, a tax credit, and lower prices – it’s good to be a buyer right now. Looks like the spring real estate market will start early this year!
Watertown Homes Sold in October 2009
Welcome to the Watertown Homes Sold Report
Time to take a look back at Watertown homes sold in October 2009.
Watertown Homes on the Market
121 Watertown homes were listed for sale in the MLS on October 31, 2009 priced between $189,000 and $1,395,000. Average days on market was 121.
Watertown Homes Sold – Oct. 2009
Total Watertown residential real estate sales volume closed in October was $$8,335,050
See Also:
September 2009 WATERTOWN REAL ESTATE SALES
Info about Watertown homes sold in October 2009 from MLSpin
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