Real Estate – Towns West of Boston
Real Estate – Boston Water
According to the MWRA annual Drinking water test, Boston has the best water in the country! The water is supplied from the Quabbin Reservoir, about 65 miles west of Boston, and the Wachusett Reservoir, about 35 miles west of Boston. To view official results visit www.MWRA.state.ma.us
Real Estate – Rent Values
A good visual for Rent Value increases from 1990-2010. This helps put in perspective the, seemingly, never ending increase in rent values. If this map was reflective of 2015 they would need to add a darker shade of red!
http://codeforboston.github.io/ungentry/#
Real Estate – Boston Blizzard Prep
-Salt driveway & sidewalks before/during/after snow.
-Have a backup shovel.
-Flashlight(s). Matches & candles.
-Have 3 days of water for drinking, and if prone to power outages, fill tub for toilet flushing.
-Intermittently check roof (especially if flat) and remove snow if possible.
-Keep alleyways and fire escapes clear if possible.
-2-3 days worth of food.
-If power goes out only use cell phone when necessary.
-Know where your heat system vents outside and keep snow from piling in front of it.
-Don’t turn on and sit in car before shoveling out.
Real Estate – Boston Top 5 Sales
Boston Top 5 Condo Sales, 2014:
1 – 776 Boylston St (The Mandarin) $11,950,000
2 – 250 Boylston St (Le Jardin) $9,200,000
3 – 776 Boylston St (The Mandarin) $8,500,000
4 – 6 Newbury St $7,500,000
5 – 304 Commonwealth Ave $7,350,000
Real Estate – As Investment vs Stock Market
Thinking of investing in stocks this fall? You may want to consider Real Estate instead. A few reasons why:
-Rental income can cover most, if not all, carrying costs.
-Strong, and consistent, appreciation in/around Boston.
-Tax write offs (mortgage interest, depreciation, operating expenses; etc).
-You will own a physical asset vs a paper one.
-As goes real estate, so goes the economy. It will always be a priority to fix if things go south.
Real Estate – 30 Year Mortgage Rates
Real Estate – Boston Apartment Saturation?
Interesting topic that is being brought up more and more: Will the apartment market become saturated as 9,000+ units are built over the next few years? The short answer is Yes… but not as much as people think. Of course whenever the supply begins to catch up with the demand, prices will start to level out. However, most units being built in/around Boston are targeting the higher end of Boston’s market. An example is the Seaport’s Waterside Place where 2-bedrooms are renting for $4,000/mo. Most new developments (that have enough unit volume to effect the market) are full service buildings in Grade-A locations. These higher end rentals will see more direct competition… but this will also make conventional apartment housing more desirable. Thereby keeping those prices stable.
Another side to the coin of an increase in new construction inventory is the increased desire for people to stay in Boston. A lot of these new buildings are also designed to make their respective location an entertainment hub (i.e. Seaport & Assembly Row). This “hub” design is in line with Mayor Marty Walsh’s plans to retain talent from local Universities by keeping restaurants/bars/T-service open later. The focus on retention will help keep demand high as local grads decide to stay in Boston instead of opting for NYC or Chicago.
Overall, I expect a market shift from the influx of new inventory — but I do not think it will have as drastic an impact as some.