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Redefining Boston Real Estate

LRG Boston Real Estate Blog

Boston luxury real estate as it happens

Curious About The Bryant Auction Results?

October 20th, 2009

Bryant AuctionA lot of us have been eagerly waiting for the auction results at The Bryant in Boston.  Units were originally priced between $1,690,000 and $2,300,000, most of which are 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and around 2,000 square feet.  A majority of the units sold in the $1.3 to $1.4  million price range. 10 Total were sold during the auction and 5 after at the new adjusted prices.  This was a dramatic discount off original asking prices of between 21% and 41%. As a result, prices will be adjusted within the building of 20% – 30%.  Below is all the auction information that has been made public:

Unit # 602 – 1,959 square feet – 3 bed/ 3 bath had an original asking price of $1,976,250 and is under agreement for $1,500,000 or $766.00 per sq ft.

Unit # 601 – 1,913 square feet – 3 bed / 3 bath had an original asking price of $1,750,000 and is under agreement for $1,370,000 or $716.15 per sq ft.

Unit # 603 - 2,019 square feet – 3 bed / 3 bath had an original asking price of $2,290,000 and is under agreement for $1,485,000 or $735.51 per sq ft.

Unit # 406 - 2,165 square feet – 3 bed / 3 bath had an original asking price of $2,050,000 and is under agreement for $1,350,000 or $623.55 per sq ft.

Unit # 401 – 2,259 square feet – 3 bed/ 3 bath had an original asking price of $1,692,000 and is under agreement for $1,335,000 or $590.00 per sq ft.

Unit # 403 – 2,128 square feet – 3 bed / 3 bath had an original asking price of $1,900,000 and is under agreement for $1,366,000 or $641.91 per sq ft.

Unit # 505 – 2,165 square feet – 3 bed / 3 bath had an original asking price $2,050,000 and is under agreement at $1,350,000 or $623.55 sq ft.

Unit # 305 - 2,180 square feet – 3 bed / 3 bath had an original asking price $1,695,000 and is under agreement $1,325,000 or $607.51 per sq ft

Unit # 404 - 2,130 square feet – 3/bed / 3 bath had an original asking price $1,900,000.00 and is under agreement $1,350,000.00 or $633.80 sq ft

Unit # 801 – 1,686 – square feet – 3 bed / 3 bath had an original asking price $2,295,000.00 and is under agreement $1,352,000.0 or $801.89 sq ft.

We do not anticipate other developments going this route within Boston as they are very well funded but one can never tell. It is however an eye opener to say the least.  The Bryant is a unique luxury property but unfortunately was built on a lot that abutted a large commercial building and therefor had very limited views from the guest and master bedrooms.  Therefor, we see an adjusted price point of $600 to $800 a foot as both reasonable and fair for these new construction units.  The original prices were simply to high.  At the current time, buyers have limited downside and plenty of upside moving forward. Please visit Bryant Condos, Boston for new, updated pricing, as they become available.

Hollywood East – Celebs Descend on Boston, MA

October 13th, 2009
Boston IS Hollywood East

Boston IS Hollywood East

Boston, MA has quickly become The Hollywood of the East Coast.  Many of our clients have been asking, what are all these 18 wheelers parked around the Boston Common?  Who was that being followed by the Paparazzi on Newbury Street today?  The answer is very exciting.  Massachusetts is offering lucrative tax incentives to movie producers with the hopes it lures “A List” celebrities, high budget film productions, local job creation, and publicity that will make Boston known throughout the world as not only a charming city to visit, but also an exciting and vibrant place to live. Local, luxury condo buildings have been housing celebrities during their stays.  For obvious reasons, we cannot say who is currently staying where, but it is a safe bet that you will find an actor or two at properties like The Ritz Calrton Condos, Zero Marlborough, and The Mandarin Oriental .  The intended consequences of these incentives have become a reality. Dozens of movies(see below) have recently, and are currently being shot in the Bay State.

Perhaps more notably is the creation of Plymouth Rock Studios . They are pouring over $500 million into a new, state of the art, Green (We at LRG LOVE this), 240+ acre facility/community that will house sound stages, production lots, movie theaters, shopping, tours, and most importantly, 2,000+ new jobs for the Bay State.

Here is a list of some of the recent films that have been shot in Boston, MA (Many of the actors and producers have used Luxury Residential Group to find Housing):

  1. The Women – Meg Ryan and Candace Bergen
  2. 21 - Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, and Laurence Fishburne
  3. Real Men Cry – Ethan Hawke and Mark Ruffalo – Not yet released
  4. The Lonely Maiden – Morgan Freeman
  5. Pink Panther 2 – Steve Martin
  6. My Best Friends Girl – Kate Hudson and Jason Biggs
  7. The Game Plan – The Rock
  8. Gone, Baby, Gone – Morgan Freeman and Ben Affleck’s directorial debut
  9. The Departed – Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Alec baldwin, Martin Sheen
  10. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – Jim Carrey
  11. Mona Lisa Smile – Julia Roberts
  12. Legally Blonde – Reese Witherspoon
  13. Wichita – Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz (Presently being filmed)
"Wichita" - Currently Being Shot in Boston, MA

"Wichita" - Currently Being Shot in Boston, MA

Nouvelle at Natick Collection Auction Feedback and News

October 8th, 2009
Jeff Shuman

Jeff Shuman

The auction at Nouvelle at Natick Collection was a clear success for buyers in Natick on Sunday.  Accelerated Marketing Partners (AMP) was ready that morning to auction off 44 of the 215 apartments in this BRAND NEW LUXURY building. People started arriving as early as 10:30. The room was packed by 11:30, with many people forced to stand in the back. People were eager to get a piece of this unbelievable deal. As the end approached, the head of AMP removed 3 units and added 2. It was an exciting process and many of the units ended in a bidding war.

The results were better than expected! All 43 units, sold at an average $300 per square foot and were well below what you might have expected to pay just 6 months ago for an ultra luxury, new construction condo in a great area.

Result averages by condo size:

1 Bed, 1.5 Bath: 8 units sold, 47% below listing price, sales price of $266,875,  $305/Sq. Ft., with a low of $249,00 and a high of $290,000.

1 Bed + Study, 2 Bath: 6 units sold, 49% below listing price, sales price of $322,000, $304/Sq. Ft., with a low of $308,000 and a high of $364,000.

2 Bed, 2 Bath: 19 units sold, 44% below listing price, sales price of $372,000, $293/Sq. Ft., with a low of $333,000 and a high of $417,000.

2 Bed + Study, 2.5 Bath: 3 units sold, 50% below asking price, sales price of $413,000, $265/Sq. Ft., with a low of $395,000 and a high of $447,000.

3 Bed, 2 Bath: 6 units sold, 58% below asking price, sales price of $550,000, $284/Sq. Ft., with a low of $489,000 and a high of $628,000.

 2 Bed, 2.5 Bath Penthouse: 63% below asking price, sales price of $470,000, $294/Sq. Ft.

 Overall Averages:

Asking price of $769,367

Sales Price of $375,884

Square Footage of 1261

$300/Sq. Ft., 49% below listing price

At the conclusion of the auction, bidders who stuck around, were given an opportunity to buy similar units at auction prices. 12 more units were bought at this time, bringing the total units sold to 55.

RECENT NEWS FROM THE SALES OFFICE

Nouvelle will be offering AUCTION PRICES for the next 30 DAYS on ALL available units. UNITS HAVE BEEN SELLING FAST!! Please CALL Jeff Shuman at (978) 460-0921 to schedule a tour of this exciting project and great opportunity.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU!!!!

Luxury Residential Group will be offering $1,000 BACK on all units purchased through LRG at Nouvelle.

CONDITIONS:

1)      INITIAL VISIT MUST BE WITH A BROKER FROM OUR OFFICE.

2)      YOU MUST PURCHASE A UNIT TO RECEIVE THIS REBATE!

3)      REBATES WILL BE GIVEN BY CHECK ONCE THE BROKER FEE IS RECEIVED BY OUR OFFICE!

The Clarendon Boston Going All Rental Rumor is COMPLETELY UNTRUE

September 30th, 2009
Clarendon Living Room

Clarendon Living Room

At Luxury Residential Group, we think it is essential that our clients are in the know when it comes to rumors regarding luxury buildings they may be thinking about purchasing in.  The latest rumor was involving The Clarendon, a new luxury high rise condo development in the heart of the Back Bay and steps to The South End in Boston. It was rumored that the property was going to be sold and made into an all rental project.  Through our sources, we have confirmed that this rumor is unequivically UNTRUE.  Construction and closings are moving along as scheduled (First quarter 2010) and buyers should have confidence moving forward. Should anything change, which we do not anticipate happening, our readers will be the first to know.

Bryant Back Bay Auction – $2,000 Incentive

September 22nd, 2009

The Bryant Back Bay, Boston is going to auction off 10 units on Saturday, October 17th 2009.  This does not come as a surprise as the units were drastically overpriced from the get go. In 2+ years of marketing, less than 10% of the units actually went to closing.  Calls for price drops fell on deaf ears as the market for high end properties in Boston began to adjust.  This auction represents a growing trend around the state as developers scramble to sell a large portion of their remaining units.

As unfortunate as it is, their financial burden is your reward. We at Luxury Residential Group will be representing buyers at this exciting auction. Just like other auctions, we do NOT charge a brokerage fee to our buyers.  As a matter of fact, we are offering a $2,000 incentive to all our clients that win a bid and move forward with the purchase of a unit at the Bryant Auction.

Some important facts you need to know:

  1. Auction is October 17th
  2. Must have a Luxury Residential Group Agent accompany you to the first walkthrough in order to qualify for the $2,000 incentive.
  3. Must use a developer financing company in order to qualify for the financing contingency.
  4. Must bring certified funds to the auction – $20,000 made out to yourself (Buying entity)
  5. Must bring a personal blank check to make up the 5% deposit difference

Please contact Joshua A. Golden at 617-233-5800 to set up a walk through of the building and to answer any questions you might have.

Bryant Condo Auction

Bryant Condo Auction

!AUCTION! – Nouvelle at Natick Collection – $1,500 Incentive

September 11th, 2009

Luxury Residential Group’s buyers are welcome to join us for an exciting Auction at Nouvelle Condos @The Natick Collection Mall.  We feel it is important to inform our buyers of any upcoming luxury auctions in and around Boston, MA. This is one of many upcoming auctions that we will be representing buyers at. You do NOT pay us for our services.  We are 100% compensated by the seller.  Allowing us to represent you at this exciting auction is the smart route as we will take you on a pre-walkthrough of the units that interest you the most, consult you on what is a fair price to pay for each individual unit and help you secure financing through our relationships with local mortgage brokers.  Below is a list of where bidding will begin for each unit going to auction. To set up a private tour and go over our $1,500 incentive program on condo auctions, please contact Jeffrey Shuman at (978) 460-0921.

1+beds

2beds

2-3beds

What you need to know on Auction day which is Sunday, October 4th

Registration is required for each bidder and their agent  to attend the auction
and to become eligible to bid.

Bidders should arrive for check-in at 12:00 pm.

The Auction will begin promptly at 1:00pm and will last approximately 1 hour.

On auction day, all approved registered bidders are required to bring
$10,000 certified check as well as a blank personal check. (Terms &
Condition)

Some Helpful Tips on Securing a Mortgage

September 10th, 2009

Understandably, guidelines on securing a mortgage have become more challenging. It is crucial that you are prepared for tougher, but not unreasonable, requirements. You will be asked to provide important, timely documentation to the lender/underwriter(Person who reviews your information for the mortgage company).  You should always stay informed and up-to-date on the latest regulatory changes. Most professional mortgage agents will walk you through the steps necessary to help secure your loan.  Rest assured, there are systems in place to help you achieve your short and long-term goals with ease.  If you keep composed and patient, your loan will be secured in a timely fashion. Although many of our clients are “Conforming”(A loan Under $523,570 if you put down 20+%) or cash buyers, it is important to remain informed. Buyers sometimes overlook the challenges involved with securing financing for a new home.  Just remember, be patient, be prepared, and be thorough, it is not as difficult as you may initially think.

Top Massachusetts Town/Zip Median Home Sale Prices

September 9th, 2009
Ever wonder how strong the home sale prices are in the town you are planning on buying, selling or living in? Well Forbes Magazine has ranked the top 500 zips across the United States as far as Median home sales prices.  Since Luxury Residential Group is a Massachusetts based real estate firm, we thought it would be helpful to pluck out the local towns that made the list. The final number is the year over year price variation.

 
Top Ranked Median Home Sales Prices – By Massachusetts Town and Zip
  
  • Carlisle – 01741 – $826,400 – -2% 
  • Sherborn – 01770 – $792,365 – +12%
  • Lincoln – 01773 – $1,098,396 – -3%
  • Dover – 02030 – $1,238,965 – +1%
  • Boston Waterfront – 02110 – $885,346 – -2%
  • Boston Waterfront/Southie – $993,432 – -7% (Includes Intercont and Fort Point)
  • Cambridge – 02142 – $761,769 – - -6%
  • Lexington – 02420 – 941,462 – +9%
  • Newton Center – 02459 – 845,686 – -13%
  • Waban – 02468 – 1,209,136 – +4%
  • Wellesley Hills – 02481 – 1,552,452 – 0 change
  • Weston – 02494 – 1,490,079

These rankings are based on median home price as of mid August 2009.

 

Senator Edward Kennedy’s Tribute – Motor Procession Route

August 27th, 2009
Sen. Ted Kennedy

Sen. Ted Kennedy

We at Luxury Residential Group pay our tributes to Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy(1932-2009) who has helped shape the United States History and Future.  Whether you agree or dissagree with his views, you cannot dispute the fact that he has had a great impact on making our great country what it is today.

Kennedy Procession through Boston, August 27th, 2009

Kennedy Motor Procession - Boston, MA                   SOURCE: Senator Kennedy’s office

Guest Mortgage Blogger – Jesse Kenner – Senior Loan Officer

August 24th, 2009
Jesse Kenner - Met Life Home Loans

Jesse Kenner - Senior Loan Officer

A good friend of mine, Jesse Kenner, who is a Senior Mortgage Sales Manager with a national lender, has agreed to give us an update of the current Mortgage Market as of today, August 24th.

He Writes:

Mortgage markets finished the week unchanged last week but don’t let that make you think the markets were flat.  It was a rough five days and rates
were up and down. Later in the week, Friday, was the toughest. An all-day deterioration, sparked by better-than-expected housing data, caused mortgage rates to tack on a quarter-percent by the noon hour and markets never recovered. Rates closed out at their worst/highest levels of the week and the unfavorable momentum figures to carry into this week’s trading, too.

There are two major reasons why rates could rise higher this week:
1.      Fed Chairman Bernanke said Friday that the near-term growth prospects “appear good”. Comments like this draw money from bond issues to the stock market — a move that’s bad for rates.
2.      Crude oil hit a 10 month high, a potentially inflationary development. During high Inflation, mortgage rates trend higher higher. During Jimmy Carter’s presidency, inflation was at one of its highest points in American peacetime history. This lead a spike in interest rates to 18% plus.  Great if you were hording cash in money market accounts, but terrible if you were trying to buy real estate.

Furthermore, rate shoppers should take note that this week will feature the release of two key housing reports — the Case-Shiller Index (Tuesday) and the New Homes Sales report (Wednesday). Both have handily beat expectations in recent months and should that trend continue, mortgage rates would likely rise because of renewed economic optimism.

What’s good for the economy, lately, has tended to be bad for rates. Whether you’re shopping for a new home or looking to refinance an existing one, be wary of the ever-changing mortgage market.  Rates move quickly and without warning. However, they tend to rise faster than they fall.

Today’s average 30 Yr Fixed Rate is 5.25%

15 Yr fixed Rate is 4.75%,

5 Yr Arm is 4%

7 Yr Arm is 4.5%

10 Yr Arm is 4.875%

We highly recommend Jesse as a great resource for mortgages in and around Boston.

JESSE KENNER CMPS
Direct  401-644-4066
Fax 401-633-7520

Featured Listing
671-673 Boylston St #2, Boston, MA Back Bay Boston, $2,450,000
671-673 Boylston St #2, Boston, MA
Back Bay Boston, $2,450,000
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