2007 December

W Hotel Boston Moves Foward

By Anthony Longo 23 12 2007

The rumor is out and I personally think it is very close to becoming a reality. The BRA has approved the designs for a new glass tower that will house a W Hotel and luxury Boston Condos. To say this will enhance W Hotel Boston neighborhood is the understatement of the century. Just a block away from One Charles and the Boston Common, what some might think is a risk for W/Starwood, in my opinion is a HOME RUN. The Midtown/Theater District transformation is coming to fruition much sooner than most people thought.

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Categories : Boston Condos, Boston Real Estate, Midtown, New Developments, Super Luxury

The Clarendon To Be The Best Condo Property In The New Year!

By Anthony Longo 19 12 2007

The Clarendon Boston Condo Development

The Clarendon Condos located right down the ‘vine’ between the South End and the Back Bay to be the best residential property in the city in 2008!!!!

The Clarendon will boast 107 condos for sale, probably starting in January, 2008. We anticipate closings to be in the fall, 2009.

The Clarendon will have studios, one beds , one bed plus study areas, two and three bedrooms, three penthouse units with outdoor space. Above is a rendering of the exterior of The Clarendon which will hold a Stuart Street Address!

The development will have a five star restaurant, a gourmet shopping market for delicious prepared foods and wines, a fitness center, a Clarendon Club room, an Assouline Library , a common outdoor terrace, 24 hr. concierge services and valet parking. The Clarendon will truly be a full service luxury condominium development.

Interested in The Clarendon Well if you are looking for a true New York City Full service building in the Back Bay of Boston, MA let us know. We are estimating pricing to range from $1100 per sq/ft upwards to $1600 per sq/ft.

Email us for more pre-construction information on The Clarendon

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Rendering Courtesy of The Clarendon & Related Group

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Categories : Back Bay, Boston Condos, Boston Lifestyle, Boston Real Estate, New Developments, Super Luxury

Fort Point Channel Bashing

By Anthony Longo 18 12 2007

What is up with that Mr. Palmer from the Boston Globe tore into the Goldman Properties & Archon partnership again! Today they announced the sale of 2 buildings that were once talked about going condo…to a commercial developer. How can you blame them when it costs so much to build here in Boston. Sure, the market a little bit slower right now because of credit crunch…but at the end of the day thats not the reason they cant build (without loosing money). They can’t build because of the politics in this city and the unions that are all reaching out driving costs up. After all why spend $800 per sq/ft when you could probably get it for $600 per sq/ft without the city or unions involved. Don’t blame Goldman its simply just economical right now because of the structure that is in place. Mark my words….they still have another 10+ buildings they own and the SOHO of Boston will continue as promised…they just have to maneuver around things until either the market comes back in a big way or developers get a little relief from the politics. Read the article on Boston.com

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Categories : Boston Condos, Boston Lofts, Boston Real Estate, Featured Listings, New Developments, Seaport

Seaport District & Fort Point Channel

By Anthony Longo 17 12 2007

Who said the Seaport District and the Fort Point Channel area in Boston are up and coming Jease….these neighborhoods are already here and active and lively! Check out the full size version of this map that includes all the new condo buildings including Channel Center, FP3 to all the new restaurants, pubs and lifestyle activities.

Source: Goldman Properties Map

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Categories : Boston Condos, Boston Lifestyle, Boston Real Estate, New Developments, Seaport, South Boston

Boston Real Estate Confused?

By Anthony Longo 15 12 2007

boston real estate confused As some real estate companies and franchises close up shop, innovative firms and entrepreneurial companies fill the void. The past year we have seen more companies, bloggers and ‘teams’ leave the corporate giants and go out on their own. What is going on out in the industry Is the old commission standard on its way out Has the market tighted so much to put these well funded firms out of business GMAC noted the growth in online information to be the trigger…read below.

Lots of movement in both the mortgage and real estate industry right now will only make more room for companies to try different things and offer different levels of service. We (CondoDomain Boston) hope to make a contribution to this when we launch our Flat Fee Exclusive Buyers Brokerage in Boston in early January. Wish us luck…

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GMAC Real Estate is closing 15 offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and laying off staff as home selling and shopping increasingly migrate to the Internet amid a housing slump.

The Minneapolis company said yesterday it would lay off about 50 managers and support staff during the consolidation in New England. By Dec. 31, real estate agents in the affected offices will be relocated to GMAC’s remaining 35 offices in the two states.

“We certainly hope they will be willing to work out of one of our other offices. We anticipate most will,” said GMAC spokesman Brett Weinberg.

He said the contraction was due more to the growth of the online housing marketplace and other technology changes than to the state’s housing slump. Buyers, for example, have become less reliant on real estate brokers as the Internet has made it easier for them to look for houses on their own. Continued….

Source: Boston.com

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Categories : Boston Condos, Boston Real Estate, Commissions, RE.TECH

Online Real Estate & What You Want!

By Anthony Longo 13 12 2007

google mapping online real estate

Here is a great article on all the new tools and innovative companies and what they are bringing to consumers via the web. With the launch of our new website, we are obviously very intersted in hearing feedback from you on how we can improve our website & information gathering.

What is most important to you (above and beyond the basics): Community Information School Information Neighboorhood Info Crime News Etc

The Web has helped home buyers find places to live for years, through real-estate agencies’ sites and classified listings. But now a number of sites have emerged that provide a raft of information beyond price, location and photos.

Among other things, these sites allow house hunters to screen prospective neighbors, evaluate school districts and see how members of the community rate a street’s Internet connectivity and cellphone service. Shoppers can keep abreast of the news in a neighborhood they’re considering, and get alerts when houses list for sale or restaurants open — or when a registered sex offender moves to the area. Consumers can find energy-efficient homes and compare locations by levels of toxic waste or drought conditions. And both buyers and sellers can join discussions with others who are in the market and real-estate professionals.

All of this information can be particularly helpful in turbulent real-estate markets like today’s, when many people would welcome greater assurance that they’re making the right decision. Continued…

Source: Real Estate Journal

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Categories : RE.TECH

Harbor Towers and its $76M assessment!

By Anthony Longo 13 12 2007

Harbor Towers, Assessment, Boston Condo, Luxury Residents of Harbor Towers, the Brutalist-era condominium building with some of the city’s best views of Boston Harbor, are close to coming up with the $76 million assessment to fund badly-need maintenance.

So far, about about $68 million — 89 percent of the total — has been collected from residents, according to Bill Packard, a Coldwell Banker agent in downtown Boston who owns a rental property in the building. Payments were due Nov. 29. Individual unit fees range from ranging from $70,000 to a budget-busting $400,000.
“It’s probably the largest building assessment on record, in Boston at least,” said Packard.

As for the 11 percent outstanding Those residents will be charged 1 percent penalty per month and will be forced into foreclosure proceedings if they fail to respond within 60 days.

Trustees are said to be dealing with hardship cases, and some residents have been able to work out payment plans. Continued…

See Harbor Towers Condos for sale

Source: Boston.com Real Estate Blog

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Categories : Boston Condos, Boston Real Estate, Waterfront

Macallen Building Goes Hybrid

By Anthony Longo 11 12 2007

macallen building lofts and luxury condos

The Macallen Building Year-End Clearance Sale runs until December 31, 2007.

Unprecedented discounts up to $250,000 for buyers that sign a contract (10% deposit required) before12/31/07 and close before March 1, 2008.

AND….. if you purchase before 12/31/07 and close before March 1, 2008 you ll also receive a complimentary Toyota Camry Hybrid - a $30,000 value - in addition to the incredible savings already on offer!

The Macallen Building stands on its own over in South Boston. The building is precious to look at, the architecture is gorgeous and its GREEN! The Macallen is a very cool building, we have loved this building from the day it was in blueprint. The Pappas family did a great job with this one and it sits right next to its previous development, Court Square Press!

If you don’t mind (or like very much) Southie….this is still a very convenient place to live. The Redline (Broadway) T stop is right at your front door or you could walk or dive to the south end in minutes! Check out the Macallen if you are in the market for a luxury Boston Condo!

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Categories : Boston Condos, Boston Real Estate, Featured Listings, New Developments, South Boston, Super Luxury

Menino Wants More for Seaport District

By Anthony Longo 11 12 2007

Menino Wants More for Seaport District
Mayor Thomas M. Menino yesterday said he doesn’t want the South Boston Waterfront to be just for luxury condos and glittery retail stores.

In a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Menino also reiterated his provocative call of last year to move City Hall to the South Boston Waterfront.

The 1,000-acre waterfront, he said, has room for other businesses and activities: universities, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, life sciences laboratories, and financial services firms.

After decades of false starts, the area is busy with development. The 21-acre Fan Pier is under construction, develop er John B. Hynes III is planning a large mixed-use development on parking lots nearby, and World Trade Center developer John Drew is hoping to start Waterside Place, a shopping complex near the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

But, Menino said, “I am not totally satisfied with our results thus far, and I remain firm in my belief that this part of town must belong to all Bostonians. We must broaden the mix of uses in these blocks.”

Continued…

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Categories : Featured Listings