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.
Arlington Home Sales by School District
Kelwyn Manor is in the Hardy School District
Arlington MA has seven elementary schools and the location of the house that you buy will determine where your kids go to school. Arlington has become a very popular town for real estate buyers and demand for single family houses continues unabated with many houses receiving multiple offers and selling for over the asking price.
In the last twelve months 206 single family homes sold in Arlington Massachusetts. Houses sold for an average of 98% of asking price and sales prices ranged from $210,000 to $1,350,000. In Arlington the average sales price for a single family home sold in the last twelve months was $511,371 and the median sales price was $458,500.
I decided to look at the sales breakdown by school district. This isn’t meant to suggest that school district is the only factor impacting sales price in a neighborhood. Some school districts include large numbers of more modest homes while another school district might have a concentration of large, expensive homes. But it’s interesting to look at the breakdown and if you’re limiting your search to several school districts or to one particular district, it’s helpful to have some idea of average home prices in the school district.
The Bishop School district includes much of the Morningside neighborhood, houses in Arlington Center, Jason Heights and the Pleasant Street Historic District. In the last twelve months:
- 39 houses sold
- for sales prices between $330,000 and $1,350,000
- median sales price in the Bishop School district – $592,500
- average sales price in the Bishop School district – $656,580
The Bishop School District Includes Morningside
The Brackett School district includes parts of Arlington Heights and the area near Menotomy Park and Skyline Park. This area continues to be very popular with Arlington real estate buyers – more than half of the houses sold in the Brackett school district sold for over asking in the last year.
- 33 houses sold in the Brackett School district in the last 12 months
- for prices ranging from $307,000 to $840,000
- median sales price in the Brackett School district – $487,500
- average sales price in the Brackett School district – $494,267
The Dallin School district includes part of Arlington Heights and also encompasses the Arlmont neighborhood, the small piece of Arlington beyond Route 2 that abuts Belmont. In the last 12 months:
- 46 houses sold in the Dallin School district
- for prices ranging from $322,500 to $840,000
- median sales price in the Dallin School district – $447,500
- average sales price in the Dallin School district – $478,408
The Hardy School district includes part of East Arlington, Kelwyn Manor, and the neighborhood near the Capitol Theatre. In the last 12 months:
- 14 houses sold in the Hardy School district
- sale prices ranged from $370,000 to $1,009,597
- median sales price for a house sold in the Hardy School district – $444,950
- average sales price in the Hardy School district – $543,499
The Peirce School district includes neighborhoods near Summer Street and Forest Street, the Mt Gilboa neighborhood, and streets near the Arlington Reservoir.
- 28 houses sold in the Peirce School district in the last 12 months
- for prices between $325,000 and $685,000
- median price in the Peirce School district – $404,000
- average price in the Peirce School district – $415,211
The Stratton School district includes part of the Morningside neighborhood, and neighborhoods near Summer Street, Overlook Road and Ronald Road. In the last 12 months:
- 30 houses sold in the Stratton School district
- for prices between $210,000 and $1,050,000
- median sales price in the Stratton School district – $455,000
- average sales price in the Stratton School district – $500,080
The Thompson School district includes part of East Arlington by Broadway, streets near the Mystic Valley Parkway, and houses in Arlington Center. In the last year:
- 16 houses sold in the Thompson School district
- for prices between $279,000 and $874,000
- median sales price in Thompson – $ 448,500
- average sales price in Thompson – $470,469
If you’re interested in Arlington MA real estate you also might want to check out Arlington Homes Sold for Over Asking Price
Belmont Real Estate Market Activity for May 2009
Time for a look at the Belmont real estate market activity for May 2009.
Real Estate Inventory in Belmont MA:
114 homes were listed for sale in Belmont on May 31, 2009. The lowest priced home was listed for $214,500, the most expensive house for $2,495,000. Average days on market was 136.
Real Estate Sales in Belmont MA in May:
11 houses sold in Belmont during May with an average sales price of $587,500. Average days on market was 68. Houses sold for an average of 97% of list price. Real estate activity seems to be slow to take off in Belmont this spring. 19 homes sold in Belmont in April and it would be expected that the number of sales would increase, not decrease, at this point in the spring real estate market.
7 Belmont single family homes sold in May for prices ranging from $520,000 to $965,000. The median sales price for a single family home was $665,000. Average days on market was 87. Single family homes in Belmont sold for an average of 98% of asking price in May.
3 Belmont condos sold in May. Condominiums sold for $335,000, $360,000 and $433,500. Average days on market was 41. Belmont condos sold for 95% of asking price.
1 Belmont two-family house sold in May for $465,000.
Total residential sales volume for May was $6,462,500.
Data about Belmont real estate market activity for May 2009 data from MLSpin.
See also:
January 2009 Real Estate in Belmont MA
February 2009 Real Estate in Belmont MA
March 2009 Real Estate in Belmont MA
April 2009 Real Estate in Belmont MA
Porch Railings With Curved Balusters – House Parts We Love
Arlington Multi-Family House with Curved Porch Balusters
Some people look at the whole – others are taken in by the parts. With houses there are all sorts of unique, charming or unusual details that attract me. Don’t ask me why but I really love curved porch balusters. I don’t see them all that often but for some reason there are a number of houses with curved balusters lining the porches in Arlington near the Capitol Theatre on Mass Avenue and the nearby side streets.
The Arlington houses are two-families built, I would guess, around 1910 or so. Often there are front porches on the first and second level. The curved balusters lines the porches on both floors. I just love the look and have coveted those multi-families for years. The Capitol is a super movie theater and the surrounding neighborhood with its leafy streets lined with handsome houses is a very popular location for Arlington real estate buyers.
I don’t know anything about the history of these houses – perhaps one builder – who really liked porch railings with curved balusters too – built all of them. If I find out more info I’ll add it here or if by chance you know something about these houses please let me know.
SEARCH FOR ARLINGTON REAL ESTATE
More House Parts We Love:
House Numbers Don’t Have to be Boring
Cutout Shutters Add Instant Charm
*****
Porch railings with curved balusters are just one of the many features to love about houses in our area. As a real estate agent I’m always on the lookout – with camera in hand – for the special parts of houses that catch the eye and make you say – that’s the one! That’s my house!
Medford Real Estate Market in May 2009
Time to take a look at the Medford Real Estate Market in May 2009.
Medford Real Estate – On Market Snapshot
134 residential properties were on the market in Medford on May 31, 2009. The least expensive home was listed for $139,900, the most expensive for $950,000. Average days on market was 112. The median price of homes for sale in Medford was $369,900.
Real Estate Sales in Medford MA in May 2009
46 properties sold in Medford in May with an average sales price of $313,424 – an increase over April’s sales of more than 30%. The median sales price was $290,000. Average days on market was 120. Homes sold for an average of 95% of asking price.
17 Medford single family homes sold in May. The least expensive sale was for $175,000. The most expensive house sold for $535,000. The median price for a single family house was $320,000. Average days on market was 100. Homes sold for an average of 96% of asking price.
There were 21 condominium sales in Medford in May. The least expensive condo sold for $105,000. The most expensive Medford condo sold in May for $455,000. The median condominium sales price was $243,000. Condos sold for an average of 95% of the asking price. Average days on market was 133.
8 multi-family properties sold in May. Multi-family homes sold for an average of 94% of list price. The lowest price paid for a multi-unit house was $290,000. The highest sale price was $535,000. The median sales price was $425,000. . Average days on market was 127.
Total Medford residential real estate sales volume closed in May was $14,417,500.
Information about the Medford real estate market in May 2009 was based on data in MLSpin
Agassiz Neighborhood-Cambridge-Real Estate, Resources and History
Houses in the Agassiz neighborhood of Cambridge MA
The Agassiz neighborhood is very popular with Cambridge real estate buyers and one of my favorite areas of Cambridge. The Agassiz neighborhood stretches from Porter Square to Harvard Square between Mass Avenue and the Somerville line. Oxford Street is the main thoroughfare, paralleling Mass Ave from Beacon Street to the back of Harvard Yard.
A marvelously walkable neighborhood, the tree-lined side streets of the Agassiz neighborhood spill out onto a stretch of Mass Ave that is lined with restaurants, boutiques, stores, and a variety of shops selling books, housewares, clothes, records, furniture and more. The many public transportation options make this an easy neighborhood to live car-free. Red Line subway stops can be found in Harvard Square and Porter Square, the commuter rail stops in Porter Square and buses run up and down Mass Ave.
History of the Agassiz Neighborhood
In the late 1700s the area now known as the Agassiz neighborhood consisted of three large parcels of land owned by Nathaniel Jarvis, Jonathan Hastings, and the Frost family. Development did not take off until transportation options increased in the mid-1800s when the railroad stop at Porter Square was opened in the 1840s and horsecars began to run along Massachusetts Avenue in the 1850s. Much of the neighborhood development took place from the 1850s to 1900 resulting in a rich collection of Victorian architecture on the streets of the Agassiz neighborhood. As available land was built up in the early 1900s a number of apartment buildings were constructed in the neighborhood ranging from three-families to larger brick buildings.
Agassiz Neighborhood Resources
- Agassiz Neighborhood Council, 20 Sacramento Street, offers an art gallery and a variety of programs and services focused on children and the arts
- Lesley University‘s campus is in the Agassiz neighborhood
- The Mary Prentiss Inn, a lovely bed and breakfast, is located at 6 Prentiss Street
- Sacramento Field is a marvelous hidden park of just over an acre. There is a field for soccer and softball and a basketball court
- The Sacramento Street Community Garden is adjacent to the field
- The Harvard Museum of Natural History at 26 Oxford Street is not to be missed. There’s loads to see – the vintage mounted animals of every sort are my personal favorite and the glass flower collection is known around the world.
- Alden Park -a well used playground across from the Baldwin School
- The Baldwin School, formerly the Agassiz School, is a Cambridge public K-8 school. The school was renamed in 2004 to honor its former principal, Maria Baldwin, the first African American school principal in Massachusetts, a position she held for some 40 years. Poet ee cummings was a student at the school during Baldwin’s tenure.
Real Estate in the Agassiz Neighborhood
Single family houses in the Agassiz neighborhood have sold in the last few years for prices ranging from $500,000 (for a total fixer-upper) to $1,323,000. Most Agassiz single families sell for over $1,000,000.
There are a variety of condominium styles in the Aggassiz neighborhood – condos in classic brick buildings, condos in multi-unit wood buildings, condominiums in converted two and three-family houses, and recently built townhouses. The average sales price for a Cambridge condo in the Agassiz neighborhood sold in the last three years was $424,183 with an average per square foot price of $435.
The five multi-families that sold recently in the Agassiz neighborhood sold for prices ranging from $845,000 to $1,104,300.
SEARCH FOR CAMBRIDGE REAL ESTATE
Here are some more photographs of the Agassiz neighborhood in Cambridge:
Fresh Pond Place Condos – Cambridge Condominiums
Fresh Pond Place Condos – Cambridge MA
The Fresh Pond Place condos offer many amenities for Cambridge MA real estate buyers. Located in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood, just across Huron Ave from the Fresh Pond Reservation, Fresh Pond Place residents will have no shortage of recreational opportunities.
Fresh Pond Place Condominiums
Fresh Pond Place, built in the early 1980s, was Cambridge’s first planned community of townhouses in condominium ownership. Fifty-seven townhouses were built in three phases. Landscaped courtyards, walkways and bridges connect the townhouses in the association. Lower level driveways lead to condo residents’ garage parking and to guest parking.
There are several townhouse floor plans at Fresh Pond Place. Townhouses range in size from 1325 sq. ft. to over 1800 sq. ft. laid out on two to four levels. Condos have skylights, decks, central air conditioning, central vac and garage parking for one or two cars. Other features in some units include greenhouse dining areas, balconies, and patios.
Fresh Pond Place has an indoor recreation center with a 16′ by 45′ swimming pool, changing rooms, sauna and a whirlpool. Across the street at Fresh Pond Reservation there is a public golf course, tennis courts, playground and a two mile path for walking or jogging around Fresh Pond Reservoir. The area is popular with dog owners and Fresh Pond Place is pet friendly.
Buses to Harvard Square run by Fresh Pond Place and the Alewife Red Line T stop is nearby. Commuting to Boston or to Route 2, 93 and 128 is easy from this convenient location. The shops and restaurants in Huron Village are a pleasant walk and Star Market is close by.
Recent Sales of Fresh Pond Place Townhouse Condos:
There have been only a couple of sales in the last two years in the MLS for Fresh Pond Place.
- A 1456 sq.ft townhouse at 676 Huron Ave – 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1 garage space sold for $525,000 in 2013
- A townhouse at 676 Huron Ave – 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, 1721 sq. ft, 2 garage spaces sold for $635,500 in 2013
If any condos are available at Fresh Pond Place they will appear below. Click on the photo for more information and additional photographs.
There’s been a lot of new construction near Fresh Pond. Interested in living in the neighborhood? I can help with that! Just give me a call at 617-504-1737 or email me at [email protected]
Liz Bolton, ReMax Destiny Cambridge. Sales data about Fresh Pond Place condos from MLSpin
Wisteria on Cambridge Street
Every spring I look forward to this gorgeous display on Cambridge Street near Harvard Square in Cambridge – the wisteria draped porch on this Greek Revival.
One of two matching large Greek Revivals built in 1845, this house like its twin, was built as two townhouses or “connected dwellings” as it was called when they were built. Nowadays we Cambridge real estate agents call it an “attached single family”. Both are quintessential Greek Revivals with the porch lined with Doric columns, the floor to ceiling windows on the first floor, and the sidelights flanking the front door.
One of these townhouses sold for $1,550,000 in 2008. It was renovated and had four bedrooms and 3.5 baths. What a lovely sight to come home to!
No Littering – Bumper Stickers Seen Around Cambridge
One of the many things I love about living in Cambridge are the variety of bumper stickers that you spot on cars as you travel around the city. Believe me – bumper stickers just aren’t the same out in the burbs. Cambridge has really good bumper stickers. A myriad of opinions, obsessions, jokes, causes and more are displayed on our bumpers.
So here’s the first installment in what I plan to feature regularly – Bumper Stickers Seen Around Cambridge.
When I spotted this bumper sticker down the street I was psyched since I hate litterbugs. The amount of trash thrown on Cambridge streets and sidewalks blows my mind and infuriates me. It’s my new hobby – picking up trash as I walk around town.
As you can see, it turned out to be a bumper sticker promoting the spaying of dogs and cats. I know that this is a cause dear to the heart of anybody who works in animal shelters and sees how many pets are abandoned. I actually have mixed feelings. I’ve found it almost impossible to find a kitten nowadays – if an ad is posted every kitten is spoken for almost immediately.
Still – a bumper sticker with DON”T LITTER in big letters is one I’d be happy to have on my car.
Actually this is the second Bumper Stickers Seen Around Cambridge post. Here’s the first:
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