East Boston…Save a Space

Originally a center of shipbuilding, East Boston has always been a neighborhood of immigrants. Today its population is made up largely of Italian-Americans and immigrants from Central and South America and Southeast Asia. That diversity is reflected in the neighborhood’s myriad of ethnic restaurants. The nation’s first branch library was built in East Boston in 1870. The housing is a mixture of old and new, including many restored triple-deckers. Logan Airport, is located here, making East Boston a gateway to people from around the world. Located across Boston Harbor, East Boston residents enjoy fantastic waterfront views of the city skyline.

Boston’s last refuge for true Bostonians. A city comprised of transplants, immigrants, and students left little room for Boston’s true locals. East Boston’s wealth of triple and double deckers houses some of Boston’s oldest blue collar families and is Boston’s last traditional neighborhood. Locals have a charming tradition of using markers such as lawn chairs to save parking spaces they have shoveled out in wintertime, an act that would likely not be honored in any other Boston Neighborhood

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Jamaica Plain…Brookline charm without the price

Jamaica Plain, or “JP” as the locals call it, is a classic “streetcar suburb” that has evolved into one of Boston’s most diverse and dynamic neighborhoods. The ethnically diverse area is home to many Latinos, young families, and a growing gay and lesbian community. Hyde and Jackson Squares have significant Spanish-speaking populations from Cuba and the Dominican Republic. This blend of cultures is reflected in local businesses, such as the many different restaurants which line Centre Street, one of its main thoroughfares. Residents and visitors enjoy walking, biking, and running along Jamaica Pond situated on the Riverway, part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace.

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Chinatown…Boston’s Greenwhich Village

Boston’s Chinatown is the third largest Chinese neighborhood in the country. Located between the city’s Financial District and Theater Disctrict, Chinatown is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Boston. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to the area�s large selection of Asian restaurants and bakeries, where they can sample everything from dim sum to almond cookies. During the popular August Moon Festival, children carry brightly colored lanterns and revelers eat sweet cakes known as Moon Cakes, each containing a secret message. The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, which opened in 2005, is a tremendous resource for the community, providing residents with English-language classes, childcare, and social and recreational opportunities.

Chinatown is a much sought after neighborhood for Boston’s Bohemian crowd. The proximity of the theater district and the harbor make this a desirable place for the young and artistically inclined Boston crowd.
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Fenway Kenmore

Perhaps most recognized as the home of Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox, Fenway/Kenmore also boasts many of the City’s top cultural institutions, including the Museum of Fine Arts and Symphony Hall. Fenway/Kenmore also has a strong academic presence, including Boston Latin School, America’s first public school, as well as several institutions of higher learning. Many of these undergraduate students, as well as young people throughout the city, are drawn to the lively bars and clubs along Lansdowne Street. The Fenway is another central thoroughfare that encircles the Back Bay Fens, the neighborhood’s preeminent green space, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.

Fenway is certainly worth considering if location is a primary concern for tenants, but space is often at a fairly high premium, so be prepared with an appropriate budget for the area. 2 Beds tend to start at about $2000. You can find more inexpensive options, but you will pay the price in either space or quality. There are also several worthwhile luxury buildings, many of which house Red Sox players and coaching staff.
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A Good Read “Diary of a Real Estate Rookie”

Here’s a book definitely worth reading if you’re looking for some insight into your sales broker…It is entirely possible that we are just as human as you…

Although the writing style is aggressive and in point of fact brutal in its honesty, this is also its saving grace. You really get a sense of the day to day of an agent and the actual behind the scenes work that goes into selling your home. You may even begin to understand why 6% commission is a reasonable proposition.

Craigslist Advertising Poll

Which do you like better?

Active:

Passive:

Do you find more appealing, the Active Motion Ad or the Passive Simple Ad? 1) Active 2) Passive 3) Can’t Tell 4) Neither View Results Make your own poll

Boston Shines 365…Your Civic Duty

Get involved to protect your investment and better your environment. 

“Mayor Menino’s year-round neighborhood clean up and community service program, Boston Shines 365, provides the tools and materials to help volunteers successfully complete projects in every neighborhood in Boston. “

 From litter clean up and block sponsorship to neighborhood beautification through landscaping and painting, this initiaive seeks to clean up our fair city while increasing not only home value but also living standards. If you would like to sign up to help please follow the link below. Keep in mind, you don’t always need to volunteer, just do your part throwing out your garbage and keeping your nieghborhood clean. If everyone pitches in we’ll be able to make a huge difference.

Do Your Part for Boston

Charlestown Charm

Charlestown is a charming neighborhood. With back bay styled architecture it maintains all of the neighborhood feel and none of the traffic. A great area for young professionals looking for a short commute into the city and a far underutilized neighborhood. Definitely a rising star.

 

Situated on the banks of Boston Harbor and the Mystic River on the north side of the city, Charlestown has translated its historical roots into a thriving 21st Century neighborhood. As the home to such significant landmarks as the U.S.S. Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument and the Navy Yard, Charlestown’s allure has enticed a new generation of immigrants and young professionals to join its traditionally Irish-American population. Residents, new and old, frequent the local restaurants and establishments along Main Street and in City Square.
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Mission Hill…Investment Stability

Mission Hill is a neighborhood overlooking Notheastern university and the Huntington area. The triple decker heavy community makes for great investment opportunities. A neighborhood worth considering when buying.

With the addition of mixed-income housing, the renovation of One Brigham Circle and a strong business district along Tremont Street and Huntington Avenue, Mission Hill is alive with renewed energy while still retaining its original character. The community consists of a large African American and Hispanic population, a healthy collection of students from nearby colleges and young families who work in the Longwood Medical Area, making it one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Boston. New condominiums now join the traditional brick row houses and many three-decker homes that mark this architectural landmark district. Located just one mile from downtown Boston, Mission Hill also houses the historic Mission Church.
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Neighborhoods on the rise…

It can be important to realize that your home is an investment. This seems like a terribly simple concept, but real estate will always appreciate in the long run and typically at a greater rate than inflation. The question then becomes, how to maximize your investment. Urban areas are constantly expanding, and as a real estate professional this is particularly apparent. Rents and home prices continue to increase in neighborhoods that once held little real estate value. Gentrification has pushed into communities like Dorchester and Boston’s North End. Historically these neighborhoods’ high crime rates and low standard of living made them undesirable areas, but now not only are they safer but they have also managed to hold some of their cultural charm. Consider investing in neghborhoods on the cusp of suburban metro areas. These are long term investments with solid profit potential. A two family owner occupied house can cover a majority of the mortgage and insurance costs if the second unit is rented, meaning your equity gains value from someone else’s rent. It is certainly worth considering as these neighborhoods are or will soon be on the rise. Just like the stock market, buy low and sell high with minimal risk and you’ll earn long term stability and hold onto assets that through equity and sales will offer far more options than the majority of other investments.