Tag: South End

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Q4 Boston…what to expect

 

What David Bates thinks about Q4!

Boston Condos in the Last Bit of 2014: What to Expect

CurbedBoston.com by Tom Acitelli

Here’s the latest installment of Bates By the Numbers, a weekly feature by Boston real estate agent David Bates that drills down into the Hub’s housing market to uncover those trends and people you would not otherwise notice.Follow him on Twitter and check out his ebook, Context: Nine Key Condo Markets, 2.0.

holiday-house_283.jpgIt’s Q4. And while Q4 is packed with holidays, let’s not forget that it’s also chock-full of home sales. Nearly 1,000 Boston condos went under agreement during the fourth quarter of 2013, and sometimes holidays and sales were linked—like last Halloween when 12 Boston condos went under agreement, what a treat. And, on Thanksgiving 2013, twoBoston condos sellers gave thanks as they signed offers with one hand and presumably held drumsticks with the other. Also, while you might have missed the real estate door-buster last Black Friday, four Boston condo buyers didn’t; they put condos under agreement that day.

Even on the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse… three Boston condo sellers could be heard countersigning offers. At least that’s what the MLS data shows. Then, on Christmas itself, one Boston condo seller got a present they may not soon forget. It wasn’t an ugly sweater or something to be re-gifted, it was an acceptable sales price, so they wrapped up the paperwork and went on their merry way.

Will Q4 bring joy to Boston-area real estaters in 2014. Why not? There are plenty of reasons to buy this Q4. Interest rates are low; and, for many, new babies and new jobs crank up the home-buying motivation. And let’s not forget that what we often want most in a new year is positive change. Hey, what’s more positive change than a new home? In the last week of 2013, a week where almost nothing of consequence happens for most, 45 Boston condo buyers put units under agreement, guaranteeing their new year would start off on the right foot.

Today’s buyers, who for one reason or another missed the spring market, will note that more Boston condos were available for sale on Oct. 1 than were available for sale on April 1. Additionally, it is highly likely that there will be more Boston condos available on Nov. 1 than were available on May 1. So, if you like selection, put on your condo-buying shoes. Of course, while buyers note more selection, they’ll also note fewer competitors as it’s traditionally a slower time of the sales year—even more reason to buy in Q4 2014.

While there are many reasons to buy this Q4, it would be an injustice not to point out that it can be a great time to sell as well. Last year, 865Boston condo sellers listed their homes for sale in Q4. And, although Q4 is not known for its buyer quantity, it might be remembered for its buyer quality. That’s because the median list price of a Boston condo that went under agreement in December 2013 was $449,000. Heck, the median list price of a Boston condo that went under agreement in April 2013 was only $429,900. Can there be any doubt that holiday décor and wishes for joy, peace and goodwill toward all adds to home values?
· Our Bates By the Numbers archive [Curbed Boston]

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Three Boston Neighborhoods With A September To Remember

 

An interesting post from Curbed.com.

 

Three Hub Condo Markets Have a September to Remember

Thursday, October 16, 2014, by Tom Acitelli
Here’s the latest installment of Bates By the Numbers, a weekly feature by Boston real estate agent David Bates.

up-arrow.jpgIf September was the month that you were supposed to put down the home sale and pick up the homework, then nobody told the Cambridge, Somerville and South End condominium markets. In Cambridge, the number of condominiums that went under agreement in September 2014 was 53 percent greater than did so in September 2013. In the South End, September under-agreements were up 64 percent. And versus September 2013, Somerville’s under agreements were up 18 percent and the median list price of Somerville under-agreements was up an impressive 20 percent.

These significant sales gains were in sharp contrast to the weak and somewhat flat results of many other Hub condo markets. In Back Bay, 17 percent fewer condominiums went under agreement in September 2014 than in September 2013. And, in Charlestown, September under-agreements were off 29 percent compared with the year before.

What was the leading indicator of how a market fared in 2014 versus 2013? Inventory, of course. In Cambridge, 40 percent more listings came to market this September versus last. The South End listed 20 percent more condos than it did in September 2013. In contrast, the Back Bay (-23 percent) and Charlestown (-23 percent) markets had significantly fewer condominium listings come to market than they had last September.

The increase in for-sale inventory and the advantageous market conditions combined to make this the best September for Cambridge pending sales since 2007. As well, according to MLS, data it was the best South End September for pending sales in at least as long. In Somerville, where nearly three times as many condominiums went under agreement as did in September 2011, it might have been the best ever September.

Will the uptick in pending sales continue in these key Hub markets for the rest of the year? It will depend on the amount of sale-able inventory that comes to market.
· Our Bates By the Numbers archive [Curbed Boston]

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Fabulous Ink Block In Boston

great post by Scott!

From Tabloid to Hip Condos

Link|Comments ()Posted by Scott Van Voorhis

Location, location, location – that’s what real estate is all about. And the new Ink Block, taking shape where the South End meets Chinatown, has it in spades.

The glitzy glass-and-steel, six-building condo and apartment development is taking shape on Harrison Ave., where the big old brick red Boston Herald building stood until it was demolished last year.

As a reporter at the Herald back in the 2000s, the location couldn’t be beat. Need to get to Beacon Hill? No problem, that’s a 20 minute walk. Press conference in the Back Bay – be there in 15 minutes. Hungry? Let’s head across the street to Chinatown. Or for that matter, around the corner to the South End, a restaurant paradise. No car needed – just you and your two feet. (OK, I’m tall and a pretty fast walker, but still.)

That location, which was great for reporters, will be even better for the residents of the $500 million Ink Block, with the city and its attractions literally at their feet.

A total of six buildings are planned, each featuring a unique design inspired by the South End and intended to be an antidote to the Boston’s increasingly hard to tell apart bevy of new luxury condo towers, Ted Tye, managing director of National Development, tells me.

“There is so much being built in the city these days that is very generic – you can’t tell whether you are in the Seaport, the Back Bay, or the South End,” Tye says.

Final Sepia Hero Night.jpg

 

More than 60 percent of the units at the Sepia, the project’s 83 unit condo building, are already spoken for, Tye tells me. (Herald, Ink Block, Sepia – you get the theme.)

Prices range from $500,000 for a studio to over $2 million for a penthouse unit. The condos come with balconies large enough to actually recline in a chair and take in the city skyline, with a neat rooftop hangout spot, complete with an outdoor kitchen.

The developer’s initial proposal to build condos at the Herald site drew its fair share of skeptics a few years back, with condos still recovering from the downturn. Now demand is soaring, condos are hot, and Tye feels vindicated.

“On Sepia, the idea has been to create luxury condos and really take advantage of being in the South End,” Tye said. “We bet a couple years ago the condo market would come back. We took a risk.”

Beyond skyline views – the project is taking shape roughly where the Herald’s publisher once held court in a suite facing the city – some additional treats are in store as well for Sepia residents.

A 50,000 square foot Whole Foods is also taking shape at the site, along with a bevy of what will hopefully be some hip new restaurants, in keeping with the South End’s proud culinary traditions.

There are also some extra perks for residents, who can enter the store directly from the Sepia without going outside, and then head back up the elevator, groceries bags in hand, to their condos. Or they can take a plunge in the rooftop pool that is being built on the roof of the grocery store.

Three apartment buildings are well underway now, with openings planned for early 2015.
Named Ink Block One, Two and Three, each takes a different design theme from the South End. Ink Block Two, for example, will feature loft style units with a black and white color theme.

While the Ink Block is a great launching pad from which to explore Boston, the immediate area around the project wasn’t always much to write home about.

In fact, the old Herald, when it was standing, was an outpost of zaniness amid a no-man’s land of sprawling parking lots, a homeless shelter, and the occasional streetwalker.

But the streets around the emerging Ink Block are on their way to becoming a residential hot spot, with a number of projects taking shape in the area.

The Ink Block itself was deliberately designed with six different buildings in a bid to give the project more a vibrant neighborhood feel, Tye notes.

Stay tuned.

 

 

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Middle Market Towns Back

 

Interesting Boston.com post by Scott.

Middle Market Towns Hot

Posted by Scott Van Voorhis June 2, 2014

The spring market has been particularly choppy this year. Sales have stalled amid a shortage of listings that has left many buyers fuming. The up today, down tomorrow economy hasn’t help things much either.

And it has been an increasingly uneven real estate market as well. A few towns and neighborhoods are super hot, with double digit increases in sales and prices. By contrast, many other communities are seeing a falloff in either sales or prices, and, in some cases, both.

Not hot right now are a growing number of the more affluent suburbs, such as Hingham and Carlisle, which have seen both prices and sales fall off this spring.

Ditto for low income cities and urban neighborhoods, which, after starting to rebound after hitting bottom during the Great Recession, are starting to see prices deflate again.

But the middle market towns out there right now are the hot ones, posting big increases in both sales and prices this spring, according to April numbers recently posted by The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.

Towns seeing the biggest jumps in sales and prices this spring include:

Danvers: Median price rose 18 percent, to $377,500, while sales rose by more than 18 percent;
Dedham: Median price surged to nearly $400,000 – a 20 percent increase – while sales jumped 13 percent;
Barnstable: Median price jumped more than 35 percent, to $469,950, while sales soared nearly 41 percent;
Beverly: Sales up 42 percent while prices increased nearly 12 percent to $369,959;
Milford: Sales rose by more than 41 percent while the median price hit $270,000, an increase of more than 17 percent.
Norwood: Sales increased by more than 46 percent while the median price rose more than 9 percent, to $377,450
Wakefield: Median price jumped to nearly $420,000, or a 13 percent increase, while sales rose by nearly 10 percent;
Waltham: Median price hit $441,000, an increase of 11 percent, while sales jumped more than 17 percent.

 

 

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Upscale Towns – Falling Prices

Interesting post by Scott. The $1M+ market in Provincetown which is anchored by single family homes is performing somewhat differently with rising average sale prices but with fewer properties selling. Watch for a post this week on $1M + sales year to date.

Upscale Towns, Falling Prices

Posted by Scott Van Voorhis

After some torrid increases, home prices are taking a hit this spring in some upscale suburbs and urban neighborhoods across Greater Boston.

The elite top of the market, such as the Lincolns and the Cohassets, are doing just fine.

That is, with the exception of Cambridge, where sales of single- family homes are off 30 percent so far this year, while prices are down more than 20 percent, according to The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.

Rather, it’s that larger tier of affluent towns where signs of trouble are starting to pop up.

Just take Medfield. Curt Schilling recently slashed the price of his seven bedroom, 26 acre spread to $2.5 million – a cut of $500,000 – after years of on-and-off attempts to find a buyer.

But right now the one-time Red Sox star is chasing the market down, with the median home price in Medfield having fallen more than 5 percent this spring, to $545,000. (Check out an evening view of the Schilling homestead below – looks rather cozy for a 7,890 square foot manse.)

0430-curt-schilling-medfield-home-38-studios-rhode-island-1.jpg

A look at the latest Warren Group numbers for April is rather revealing. Other examples include:

Hingham: The median home price has dropped more than 9 percent, to $567,500, while sales are off 21 percent.

Orleans: Sales in this mid-Cape tourist town, home to Nauset Beach, were choppy to say the least, dropping by more than 35 percent. But that’s nothing compared to the median sale price, which plunged 41 percent to $432,025.

Carlisle: The median home price fell more than 10 percent, to $590,000, while sales are off nearly 39 percent.

Amherst: While sales were up, prices fell more than 8 percent to $312,000.

Newburyport: Sales were down 15 percent, while the median price fell more than 5 percent to $465,000.

Charlestown: The median price dropped by nearly 14 percent, to $645,000, while sales were off by 16 percent.

 

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Will Success Ruin Boston?

Another interesting post by Scott.

Will success ruin Greater Boston?

Posted by Scott Van Voorhis

Boston is one of those hot cities increasingly favored by the global business elite.

It’s easy to gaze at all the posh new apartment and condo towers on the city’s skyline and wonder who can afford to live there, but the wealthy buyers just keep on coming, whether from the suburbs or from any number of distant lands.

We’ve got the best colleges and universities, one of the biggest concentrations of bio-tech and life science companies and talent in the world, and a thriving tech sector.

But success can come sometimes with a hefty price-tag, and rising real estate prices tops the list.

Writes Bynxers, a regular contributor to the comment board of this blog:

Eventually- the city will drown in its own success. Is it the natural evolution of a successful city? That only the wealthy can afford to reside there, and to “promote equality” affordable housing is put in place for those needing government subsidy, while no help or policy is put in place to assist the working class, middle class or even upper-middle class??

Right on, Bynxers. Too much success, unless treated properly, can prove to be a fatal disease.

The tendency is to keep on keeping on, despite diminishing and increasingly toxic returns.

Here’s more:

Hop in a plane and ride east for several hours to Europe or West to San Francisco. And behold, there you will see the future of Boston…..

Eventually- the city will drown in its own success. Is it the natural evolution of a successful city? That only the wealthy can afford to reside there, and to “promote equality” affordable housing is put in place for those needing government subsidy, while no help or policy is put in place to assist the working class, middle class or even upper-middle class??

Those original property owners are long gone: residents of Southie sold their triple deckers and now live on the South Shore…. Other neighborhoods have similar outcomes. Is this natural??? Is this the price of success???

I argue, in part, yes…. With a MAJOR “but” at the end….. Housing prices have been pushed up by artificial scarcity for years (atleast 20 or so). Not just in Boston- but eastern mass as a whole. Large lot requirements for single families, height restrictions and density restrictions…. its simple supply and demand. Now the city and state are just trying to catch up, but its too little too late.

There is no vindication at the end of this, no “gotcha” moment, no fairness, really. The middle class will have a choice: pay up or leave. There’s a constant new influx of young grads to fill the void for a while though and it will be a revolving door. Those born and raised here will likely stick it out. However, many will pack up and leave. The fate of the city and region at this point is more or less cast in stone, I’d assert.

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Condos Sizzle

Interesting post by Scott.

Condos party like it’s 1989

 

Posted by Scott Van Voorhis

Condos haven’t sizzled like this since the crazy condo boom of the 1980s.

OK, I took a little liberty with the headline. After all, by 1989 the great 80s condo boom had already started to go bust, but you get the point.

Condo prices are on a tear, rising 18.4 percent during the first two months of 2014 compared to last year, reports The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.

Even stranger still, condo prices have almost caught up with home values, which they traditionally lag by a considerable margin.

The median sale price for a condo in Massachusetts this February topped $281,000, just $4,000 below the median home price of $285,500, Warren Group numbers show.

So what’s going on here?

Well, for starters, the relentless decline in listings of homes for sale is doing more than just driving up Boston-area prices.

It also appears to be pushing some buyers into the condo market in search of affordable alternatives.

Of course, as more buyers switch to condos, that’s now having the unfortunate effect of driving up condo prices as well,

But we are also likely seeing the impact of empty-nesters moving into the condo market as well.

Remember all those Baby Boomers who wanted to downsize a few years ago, but couldn’t sell their homes? Well now they are finally making their move.

However, instead of buying another home, they are going condo

And, of course, let’s not forget all those luxury condos that are selling like hotcakes in downtown Boston – and skewing the median price upward.

“The 18.4 percent increase in condo median prices so far this year is an indicator that condominiums are increasingly popular and we have a strong mix of luxury condos in the sales totals,” said Tim Warren, chief executive of The Warren Group, in a statement.

“Empty-nesters are ready for a change in lifestyle and have the net worth to take the plunge,” he said.

 

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38 Essential Boston Eaterys

Blizzard here in Provincetown this morning.  It is crazy outside. A good day for thinking about food. I know this is a real estate website….but food matters!

WOW!  Rachel Leah Blumenthal is right that her post below is a must have for any foodie in Boston.  What a resource to keep handy. She writes for Eater.com/Boston. She is good!!!

I know this is a real estate website….but food matters!

 

The 38 Essential Boston Restaurants

January  2014, by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

22005_10_eater38logo.pngPresenting Boston’s updated Eater 38, your answer to any question that begins, “Can you recommend a restaurant?” This highly elite group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines, and collectively satisfies all of your restaurant needs. Every few months, we’ll be adding pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible (restaurants must be open at least six months), or have stepped up their game.

Your favorite restaurant isn’t on the list? There are certainly more than 38 fantastic restaurants around town — and probably about 38 million different opinions — so don’t hesitate to rip this list to shreds and say what you’d do differently in the comment section below. Please note that the numbers are not rankings; the list is geographically organized from north to south (roughly).

The 38 Essential Boston Restaurants, January 2014

HIGHLAND KITCHEN
150 HIGHLAND AVE., SOMERVILLE, MA 02143
(617) 625-1131, WEBSITE
A regular haunt of practically everyone who has ever lived in Somerville’s Spring Hill or Union Square in the last few years, Highland Kitchen specializes in comfort food, a lively ambiance, and strong cocktails. Try the spicy goat stew and the house-made ginger beer (also spicy), or swing by on a Monday for fried chicken and tiki drink specials.
150 HIGHLAND AVE., SOMERVILLE, MA 02143
(617) 625-1131
Now open for just over a year, Giulia has racked up a number of highly positive reviews for its house-made pasta and warm staff. The pappardelle with wild boar is a popular choice.[Photo: Rachel Leah Blumenthal]
1682 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138
(617) 441-2800
Hidden off an alley in Somerville’s Union Square, Journeyman recently did away with its menu, which used to simply offer a few different sizes of tastings with dishes that changed weekly. Now, there’s no menu at all — pay $75; eat what is served. The focus is on delicate, artful preparations of local ingredients.
9 SANBORN CT, SOMERVILLE, MA 02143
(617) 718-2333
One of the hottest openings of 2013, Bronwyn is the second project from Tim and Bronywn Wiechmann of the acclaimed T.W. Food. The Union Square restaurant features German and Central European food, and the biergarten is always packed in pleasant weather.[Photo: Chris Coe]
255 WASHINGTON STREET, SOMERVILLE, MA 02143
(617) 776-9900
This romantic “Spanish Caribbean tapas” spot comes from a couple of architects, so the space is as beautiful as the menu items. You’ll feel like you’re dining in someone’s living room, which makes sense, since owners Alberto Cabré and Angelina Jockovich got their culinary start by throwing elaborate “underground” dinner parties.
253 WASHINGTON ST, SOMMERVILLE, MA 02143
(617) 764-2180
One of the most beautiful restaurants in town, Dali is always the right choice for a romantic night out. It’s lively, the tapas are delicious and meant to be shared, and it’ll make you think you’re in Barcelona. It’s such a landmark that many Somerville residents call the Washington/Beacon/Kirkland intersection the “Dali Corner.”
415 WASHINGTON ST, SOMERVILLE, MA 02143
(617) 661-3254
This 69-seat restaurant opened in 2010 and has helped pave the way for a new era of Somerville dining. The critics have praised Bergamot’s synthesis of relaxed attitude and serious skill. The team behind it reportedly has a new restaurant, Angel’s Share, slated for Inman Square.
118 BEACON ST., SOMERVILLE, MA 02143
(617) 576-7700
Yes, there’s amazing Italian food outside of the North End. This Eastie gem has recently received a huge amount of attention thanks to a Food Network appearance, but locals have always known that it’s the place to go for huge ravioli and excellent homemade pasta.
257 SARATOGA ST, BOSTON, MA 02128
(617) 567-7412
This cozy Somerville watering hole pairs hot dogs with classy cocktails in a retro lounge. The Monday “industry brunch” leaves diners happily full of chicken and waffles, homemade pop tarts, and Kool Aid du jour.
3 BEACON ST, SOMERVILLE, MA 02143
(617) 576-0006
James Beard winner Jody Adams’ Harvard Square flagship has been drawing crowds since opening nearly a decade ago, focusing on regional Italian cuisine and locally sourced ingredients. More recently, Adams opened up a new restaurant, TRADE, near South Station.
1 BENNETT ST, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138
(617) 661-5050
An intimate, Chinese-inspired small plates restaurant presided over by chef Phillip Tang, ExNE was named one of the “The Top 6 Places to Taste the New Asian Fusion” by Bon Appetit. In-house noodles, dumplings, and bao blow away the competition, of which there is little.
1128 CAMBRIDGE ST, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
(617) 876-0286
Santarpio’s in Eastie is the place to go to shut up your obnoxious New York friends when they claim there’s no good pizza in Boston. This classic joint is unassuming and rough around the edges, just the way it should be. Pizzeria Regina may win the classic duel for sheer expansion, but Santarpio’s pizza is unmatched.
111 CHELSEA ST, BOSTON, MA 02128
(617) 567-9871
One of the city’s few restaurants with a vegetarian tasting menu, let alone one that diners regularly rave about. Oleana serves omnivores as well, with chef Ana Sortun imparting her well-known Mediterranean accents in dishes like octopus with crispy Brussels sprouts. Sortun and Oleana chef de cuisine Cassie Piuma are days away from opening a new restaurant, Sarma, in Somerville.
134 HAMPSHIRE ST., CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
(617) 661-0505
Bondir has just blown everyone away, most notably by being named one of the ten Best New Restaurants in America in 2011 by Bon Appetit in addition to racking up about as many local accolades as you can get. It took what a lot of restaurants were already doing – the classed-up, local, rootsy thing – and managed to tighten the screws, add some flourishes, and still make it distinct and feel fresh. A Concord outpost opened up in fall 2013.
279A BROADWAY, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
(617) 661-0009
There are other restaurants that do local ingredients, French technique, or Southern recipes, but not under one roof. It’s amazing that shrimp and grits can taste this good so far north.
233 CARDINAL MEDEIROS AVE, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02141
(617) 499-0090
Since opening in late spring 2012, West Bridge quickly became the darling of Kendall Square, among many existing darlings. The French-inspired menu comes from Aquitaine Bistro alumni chef Matthew Gaudet. Don’t miss the egg in a jar.
1 KENDALL SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
(617) 899-6088
A local legend of the prodigal son and former chef de cuisine at Momofuku Ssam Bar, who came home to run dad’s diner and put lots of octopus on the menu. The junior Maslow now owns his own spot as well — Ribelle in Brookline.
93 SCHOOL ST, WATERTOWN, MA 02472
(617) 923-4330
Western Mediterranean accents appear on chef-owner Steve Johnson’s menu, which is enhanced by a rooftop herb garden (in season). Sit at the bar for the full cocktail experience.
502 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
(617) 576-1900
Craigie is known for making simple dishes like roasted chicken extraordinary by using advanced techniques and technology — and for serving dishes that are just plain extraordinary, like a shareable confit and roasted milk-fed pig’s head with spicy pumpkin sambal and boudin noir-hoisin sauce. Owner Tony Maws recently opened up a new, more casual restaurant, The Kirkland Tap & Trotter, on the edge of Somerville and Cambridge.
853 MAIN ST, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
(617) 497-5511
The North End is generally known for Italian, which makes it all the more impressive that a seafood restaurant has made its name as one of the neighborhood’s best places to eat. The lines are long, but the lobster rolls are beloved. Choose cold with mayo or hot with butter.
63 SALEM ST., BOSTON, MA 02113
(617) 742-3474
This instant industry-approved classic has helped revitalize Downtown Crossing dining with its small, meaty menu, adult milkshakes, late-night dining and blunt rules for patrons. Opening executive chef Sam Monsour put a creative twist on junk food until leaving in the end of 2013, and his sous chef Chris Bauers has stepped up to take his place, continuing the tradition. Diners who want something more upscale can sidle into Bogie’s Place, the tiny steakhouse hidden inside.
21 TEMPLE PLACE, BOSTON, MA 02111
(617) 338-5333
Lovely views of the common and proximity to a variety of theaters give Troquet an advantage location-wise, but the food is outstanding as well, and the wine list is deservedly award-winning. Plus, it’s probably the only place you’ll see servers scooping butter out of a giant basket that is completely full of butter.
140 BOYLSTON ST, BOSTON, MA 02116
(617) 695-9463
A favorite of food nerds ’round the city, Taiwan Cafe is an easy answer when a Chinatown first-timer is wondering where to go. The soup dumplings rival other options in the neighborhood, and the Szechuan fish is another must-try.[Photo: Official Site]
34 OXFORD ST, BOSTON, MA 02111
(617) 426-8181
Sushi lovers who have not yet embarked on O Ya’s grand omakase have not yet lived. And it’s not just the seafood — the wagyu beef is so tender that it may bring a tear to your eye. Hidden in the Leather District, this tiny spot has accumulated numerous awards, including a James Beard for chef Tim Cushman.
9 EAST ST, BOSTON, MA 02111
(617) 654-9900
Superbly executed Shanghai-style dishes like lion’s head meatball and xiao long bao manage to be just as flavorful as their Sichuan counterparts, minus the heat. Considered by many to be the city’s best Chinese — and it’s nowhere near Chinatown.
204 HARVARD AVE, ALLSTON, MA 02134
(617) 566-7344
Island Creek Oyster bar looks more slick than the restaurant you would expect an oyster farm to operate, but it’s no less legit. The seafood-centric menu straddles straightforward and fun. The team is opening up a new restaurant, Row 34, in Fort Point later this fall.
500 COMMONWEALTH AVE, BOSTON, MA 02215
(617) 532-5300
Since opening in January 2013, Asta has quietly built up a devoted following for its tasting menu-only format. The mysterious restaurant has a minimal website, little to no marketing or social media presence, and an amazing Zeus painted on the wall, salvaged from the restaurant formerly in the space.
47 MASSACHUSETTS AVE, BOSTON, MA 02115
(617) 585-9575
Going strong since 1978, with a few location moves over the years, L’Espalier is revered for chef/owner Frank McClelland’s hybrid of French and New England cuisine, which makes extensive use of local, seasonal ingredients. If money’s no object, let him take you on his Tasting Journey, “a unique menu inspired by the seasons of New England crafted for your table.” Or stop by for a Cheese Tuesday to eat cheese and sing along to classic hits like “Don’t Stop Blue Cheesing.”
774 BOYLSTON ST, BOSTON, MA 02199
(617) 262-3023
Perhaps the only Boston restaurant to serve elaborately prepared sunflower buds, Erbaluce is no stranger to the title of the city’s “best Italian restaurant.” Chef/owner Charles Draghi changes the menu nightly.
69 CHURCH ST, BOSTON, MA 02116
(617) 426-6969
Open just over a year, Shōjō has managed to create a wildly successful Asian fusion menu — in Chinatown, no less — in a time when “Asian fusion” is not always enthusiastically received. Diners will find dishes like a “pot o’kimchi” alongside a charcuterie board. And then there’s the duck fat fries with Sriracha aioli.
9 TYLER ST, BOSTON, MA 02111
The most approachable of Barbara Lynch’s local empire, where tagliatelle with bolognese rubs elbows with dishes like strozzapreti with braised rabbit. Lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch are served on a diner-like counter. Doubles as a bakery with early-morning hours, offering delicacies like cronuts and apple cider donuts as weekly specials, depending on the season.
348 CONGRESS ST, BOSTON, MA 02210
(617) 737-1234
One of the priciest seats in town, Menton is Barbara Lynch’s crown jewel, boasting Relais & Châteaux status. After Kristen Kish, chef de cuisine at Lynch’s demo kitchen Stir, won Top Chef, she was swiftly promoted to chef de cuisine at Menton.[Photo: Official Site]
354 CONGRESS ST, BOSTON, MA 02210
(617) 737-0099
A veteran of the dining scene for over 20 years, this restaurant stakes its reputation partly on its infamous roasted chicken. Over the years it has changed exactly as much as it should. President Obama has been known to eat here.
553 TREMONT ST, BOSTON, MA 02116
(617) 423-2700
What’s not to like? Some dishes are Chinese, some Thai, some Vietnamese, and some a fantasy amalgam of various nationalities, but no one would dare call Myers+Chang Pan-Asian. One of the city’s most vibrant restaurants, it has an atmosphere that seems buoyed by a sense of chef Joanne Chang’s other successes with Flour Bakery. The badass dragon on the window doesn’t hurt either.
1145 WASHINGTON ST., BOSTON, MA 02118
(617) 542-5200
Scotch egg, suckling pig tacos, and at least three kinds of poutine. The dark humor in the name and decor continues through the menu, where heirloom vegetables appear alongside oysters “Rockafella.”
1395 WASHINGTON ST, BOSTON, MA 02118
(617) 425-0200
TORO
Chef-owner Ken Oringer and chef Jamie Bissonnette team up for one of the city’s hardest-to-get-into restaurants. Toro serves modern and traditional tapas ranging from simple grilled corn to elaborate dishes pairing seafood and charcuterie with rich, bold flavors that keep the crowds lining up. And now they’re lining up in New York City as well — Oringer and Bissonnette recently opened a new location in Chelsea.
1704 WASHINGTON ST, BOSTON, MA 02118
(617) 536-4300
Helmed by David Punch of Ten Tables, Sycamore has been turning heads in Newton since opening a year ago thanks to its refined contemporary American cuisine and solid beverage program.[Photo: Facebook]
755 BEACON ST, NEWTON, MA 02459
(617) 244-4445
The flagship of an expanding mini-empire now in Cambridge, P-town, and the burger biz, this tiny space is where it all began. The $48 tasting menu rivals ones that cost at least twice as much.
597 CENTRE ST, JAMAICA PLAIN, MA 02130
(617) 524-8810

 

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Boston’s Best Selling Condo Buildings

Interesting post by  Tom Acitelli at CurbedBoston – with some surprising results.

 

Boston’s Best-Selling Condo Buildings

Tuesday, March 11, 2014, by Tom Acitelli

dorave141.jpg
[141 Dorchester Avenue]

‘Tis a busy, busy time in the Boston condo market, what with lightning-fast sales and super-low inventory (two not-unrelated phenomena). But which are the busiest of the busiest condo buildings in the city? Thanks to the crackerjack research of our pals at PropertyShark, we can give you a very good idea. Herewith the 10 Boston condos with the most sales in 2013. Some of the usual suspects are here—Harbor Towers, the W Boston—but also a few surprises (and surprise omissions, we think:paging Millennium Place?). A couple of caveats: The 10 cover closed deals in calendar year 2013, and only deals of at least $10,000.

42 EIGHTH STREET
Number of sales: 48
Median sales price: $380,000
Notable sale: a 1,295-square-foot 1-BR, 2-BA for $700,000
42 8TH STREET, BOSTON, MA 02129
141 DORCHESTER AVENUE
Number of sales: 46
Median sales price: $610,000
Notable sale: a 1,690-square-foot 2-BR, 2-BA for $845,000
141 DORCHESTER AVENUE, BOSTON, MA 02127
45 PROVINCE
Number of sales: 36
Median sales price: $1,262,500
Notable sale: a 2,628-square-foot 3-BR, 3-BA for $4,100,000
45 PROVINCE STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108
WHITTIER PLACE
34
$434,500
A 536-square-foot 1-BR, 1-BA for $360,000
6 WHITTIER PLACE, BOSTON, MA 02114
ONE CHARLES BOSTON
29
$1,345,000
A 761-square-foot 1-BR, 1-BA for $625,000
1 CHARLES STREET SOUTH, BOSTON, MA 02116
RESIDENCES AT RITZ-CARLTON
27
$747,000
A 2,667-square-foot 3-BR, 4.5-BA for $3,162,500.
1 AVERY STREET, BOSTON, MA 02111
W BOSTON
27
$1,730,000
A 427-square-foot studio for $530,000
110 STUART STREET, BOSTON, MA 02116
RESIDENCES AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL
23
$1,425,000
A 3,385-square-foot 3-BR, 4.5-BA for $3,223,000
500 ATLANTIC AVENUE, BOSTON, MA 02110
PORTER 156
22
$349,500
A 686-square-foot 1-BR, 1-BA for $300,000
156 PORTER STREET, BOSTON, MA 02128
HARBOR TOWERS
22
$737,750
A 1,223-square-foot 1-BR, 1-BA for $780,000
65 EAST INDIA ROW, BOSTON, MA 02110
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Condo Prices Shatter Record

 

Great post from Scott.

Mass condo prices shatter record

Posted by Scott Van Voorhis
Yes, condo prices are getting nutty again.

The median price of a condo in Massachusetts crossed the $300,000 threshold in January.

That’s the highest condo price ever for a January since The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, began tracking condo prices back in 1987.

It also represents a 24 percent increase from January 2013, when the median price for a condo in the Bay State was at a relatively more affordable $242,000.

By comparison, the median U.S. home price weighs in at $188,900. And that’s after a 10 percent increase in January.

Condo sales were also up by a pretty sizable 16 percent, with 1,144 units changing hands the first month of the year, The Warren Group reports.

What’s even more amazing, condo prices are not all that far behind single-family home prices in Massachusetts, with the median home price in January rising 16 percent, to $315,000.

Condos have long been a starter home alternative in pricey Greater Boston, but it’s not clear how much longer that’s going to last given current trends.

Certainly condo prices are out of sight now in Cambridge, Boston and the inner suburbs.

Of course, the price increases might be good news for sellers, but it’s hardly anything for buyers to cheer about. Even if you are trying to sell a house in order to move up into something grander, you are still going to be scrambling to keep up when prices are rising at double digits.

So what’s driving this price escalation? Some of it is due to pent-up demand, but low inventory – basically not enough listings for all the buyers out there – is the bigger problem right now.

The inventory of single-family homes dropped more than 20 percent in January compared to January 2013, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reports this morning. (There were 15,246 listings this past January, compared to 19,142 the year before.)

Condo inventory was down even more, by 27 percent, to 4,232, MAR reports.

Anyway, it should be an interesting spring market. At a time when sales and prices in many other parts of the country are starting to moderate, the market in Massachusetts kicking into high gear.