January 25, 2008

Open Houses: Three Cool Somerville Condos In Three Great Neighborhoods

I never got to house hunt in a buyers market. I jumped into the real estate game in 1997 when things were moving so quickly. Everything decent I looked at had multiple offers within minutes of going on the market. So, even though I’m happily ensconced in my ‘forever’ house, part of me is jealous of buyers now. You’ve got time to think things over. Mortgage rates just plummeted. You’re in a good place right now.

The streets are bleak and cold with gray frozen snow. But here’s three condos that looked warm and cozy in the literary sense, not the Realtor synonym for ’small’ cozy. These look like good places to hunker down and wait for Spring.

So, here’s your condo tour for Sunday. These are three of many good ones. First we have 254 Highland Ave, which is open from 12:30-1:30. It’s listed for $479,900 and I checked the map. It really is within easy (under 15 minutes) walking distance to Porter and Davis. It’s about a 5 minute walk to the beginning of the Minuteman Bikeway on Cedar Street. It’s 1280 square feet with three bedrooms and two full baths and it has two parking spaces. So whether you T to work or drive, this place could be very cool.

Next we swing over to the Somerville side of Inman Square to 429 Norfolk Street a huge 1663 SF 3 bedroom 2.5 bath condo listed for $489,000. It’s in a larger development, designed by the worlds most popular Boston developer, David Aphosian. If you live around here you may have noticed his buildings. They are usually cedar shingles that look varnished rather than painted and they nearly almost sport dark green trim. This one is open this Sunday 1/27 from 1:00 PM – 2:30. Inman Square is a nifty little neighborhoods full of independent (ie NOT chain) restaurants and boutiques. You can get inexpensive, exotic spices or the worlds best ice cream at Christina’s. You can buy a shirt for your two year old niece with a skull and crossbones at Bird By Bird or take your mom to dinner at the S&S Restaurant all in the same block.

And, I saved the best for last. Between 3-4 you can visit Somerville’s most wonderful neighborhood (mine) and visit a unit in what us locals refer to as “The Fancy Condos Down the Street.” A unit is for sale at 17 Ivaloo Street. It’s a 2093 square foot 3 bedroom 2.5 bath multi level condo listed for $599,900 (about 20k below assessment!). I visited some open houses here back in 2003 or so when they were first built and was very impressed with the quality of the construction. They had some of the most beautiful maple (I think it was maple) floors I have ever seen. They had huge windows and were really bright and comfortable. And for you hearty New Englanders who secretly wish you lived in the west coast every time you’re out there shivering chipping ice off your car– it has underground, HEATED parking. Two spots. Just think, no scrambling for parking during street cleaning and snow emergencies. The neighborhood is GREAT. I’ve been here for 2 years and I never want to leave. It’s an easy walk to Harvard, Porter, Inman and Union. The people on the street know each other by site and often by name. So cool.

So, get your muffler on and get out there this Sunday. There’s some good stuff and some really nervous sellers that need to sell.