2008 May

Forbes Park Lofts (Chelsea)

By Anthony Longo 31 05 2008

Forbes Park is an exciting new loft conversion over in Chelsea, MA. The new loft development is located at One Forbes Street, Chelsea, MA 02150.

Forbes Lofts is being transformed into the region?s most visible model of sustainable development.

In the first re-development phase at Forbes Park, the four-story concrete Building X has been converted into 68 live/work lofts, creatively adapted to meet the needs of a new generation of users, and reused to salvage a beautiful and durable historic structure.

The radical re-design slices through the center of Building X with an open air breezeway, bringing fresh air and natural daylight into the heart of the building. As a result, all lofts have over-sized windows at both ends to benefit from nature’s free resources; sun and wind.

So What Makes Forbes Park So Cool?

1. Sustainable Design & Construction: Green Design.

2. Multi-modal transit options: Shared community owned electric cars, water taxi & more.

3. Wildlife Habitat Creation: 12 acres of preserved wildlife land.

4. Waste Management: Recyclable guidelines for owners.

5. Energy Initiatives: A big ass wind turbine on site!

6. Storm-water Management … and much more…..

Check out Forbes Lofts…we will be heading over there for a tour very soon and will report back more.

So where is this Forbes Park Lofts?

The City of Chelsea, Massachusetts is located directly across the Mystic River, just 2 miles north of the City of Boston. The industrial revolution transformed the once pastoral suburb into a bustling manufacturing center. Chelsea flourished and its ambitious, ethnically diverse population boomed. The City has an estimated population of 35,080 and occupies a land area of 1.8 square miles.

A fantastic view of Boston’s nearby skyline can be enjoyed from the waterfront and numerous hills and highpoints throughout the City. On the south, the Chelsea River and Mystic River form the boundary, on the east, the Chelsea River and Mill Creek. The City was first settled in 1624, and has a rich and proud history. The Tobin Memorial Bridge is the principal highway link with Boston, tying into the Boston Central Artery system.

Although noticeably industrial, Chelsea has many other important assets,tree-lined streets with affordable, well-kept homes, ballparks, playgrounds, excellent schools and a bustling, friendly downtown. Link to the City website.

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Categories : Boston Condos, Boston Lofts, New Developments, RE.TECH

45 Province Emerging

By Anthony Longo 30 05 2008

45 Province the all new ultra sleek, ultra high-end new Boston condo development is now viewable from all the way across town. Check out these pictures below of 45 Province. These photos were taken from a unit at Flagship Wharf which is all the way across town and over the Boston Harbor in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Search all Midtown Condos

Search all Charlestown Condos

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Categories : Boston Condos

Mandarin Oriental Set To Open In October

By Anthony Longo 29 05 2008

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, the upscale international hotel chain, said today that its Boston hotel and condominium complex will open in October.

Mandarin Oriental, Boston, on Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay had been scheduled to open in July. But a fire broke out in April on the fourth floor, causing smoke damage that required contractors to restore a handful of its 148 hotel rooms and its 16,000-square-foot spa and fitness center for condo owners and hotel guests.

While the fire was contained, custom-made stonework, cabinets, and carpets had to be reordered for the Mandarin, which will be the city’s most luxurious hotel.

Mandarin Oriental Condos

Mandarin Oriental Blog Posts: here, here, here, here, and here.

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

Trulia Snapshot is Sick

By Anthony Longo 29 05 2008

There is really nothing else to say other than it is sick!

Check it Boston here. (Via TruliaBlog)

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Categories : RE.TECH

PRO CONSUMER: NAR DOJ Settlement

By Anthony Longo 29 05 2008

us anti trust doj NAR real estate law suit Many of you saw on the front page of the WSJ yesterday the 3 year old battle between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Department of Justice settled on Tuesday.

*** If you dont have the time to read this post…the most important part of this settlement is: Under the terms of the settlement, the Realtors will enact a new policy that guarantees Internet-based brokerage companies (US) will not be treated differently than traditional brokers!!! ***

Beginning in 2005, the antitrust lawsuit was against the real-estate trade group, according to a DOJ news release. NAR policies challenged in the lawsuit were believed to prevent consumers from receiving the full benefits of competition provided by the online newcomers (US) and they also discouraged discounting or any type of “alternative” business model that saved consumers $$$.

The case was scheduled to go to trial in July.

Specifically, the lawsuit challenged some of the group’s rules on how traditional brokers were permitted to interact with a new breed of broker based online.

These online brokers allow their customers to access listings via password-protected sites instead of requiring a broker to facilitate their searches, according to the release. The Virtual Office Web sites or VOWs, often increased the productivity of brokers affiliated with the systems, which translated to lower commission rates for sellers and rebates for buyers.

Prior to the lawsuit’s filing, multiple listing services permitted traditional brokers to withhold their listings from VOWs (a policy suspended during the investigation). NAR didn’t however, permit brokers to withhold listings from a traditional broker member of an MLS.

If approved by the U.S. District Court in Chicago, the proposed 10-year settlement would require the association to change the policies and resolve the competitive concerns. NAR also will enact a new policy to guarantee Internet-based brokerages won’t be treated differently.

In a news release, NAR pointed out that it is not required to make payments or admit any liability or wrongdoing in connection with the settlement.

Richard F. Gaylord, president of the National Association of Realtors, called the settlement a win-win for the industry and consumers.

“Competition is alive and well in the real estate industry. In fact, the competitive nature of our industry is even more apparent in times of market turmoil like those we are currently experiencing” Gaylord said in a news release.

Joe Ferrara over at the Sellsius Blog took a unique look @ this outcome which shows the few giant steps forward for innovative web-based real estate brokerages (US) … but also the small setbacks.

Setbacks to web based brokerages & buy-side consumers include:

The ability for sellers to withhold listings and property addresses from display on the Internet.
The ability for sellers to prevent comments, reviews and AVM valuations from attaching to their listings on the internet, which we do allow right now.

DNA Lofts Photos

By Anthony Longo 28 05 2008

Got a note from my pal Serafin Sanchez from the Coldwell Banker New Homes Division today with some updated exterior photos of the DNA Lofts in Dorchester.

Serafin - get us some behind the scenes interior shots! Thx - Tony

Developers: News, Tips, Inside Scoop, Launching Soon Keep us and our audience posted on whats hot and whats not!

Search Dorchester Condos

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Categories : Boston Condos, Boston Lofts, Dorchester

Discount Real Estate Brokerage

By Anthony Longo 27 05 2008

We say NOT!

Just because an ‘alternative’ real estate brokerage firm chooses to compensate the company and its employees differently does not mean they are a discount brokerage! We read on a few blogs early this week some more “discount brokerage” bashing and it really got under our skin.

So…here in Boston you have a few choices to buy or sell your condo or home for “less than the average” 5% - 6% commission. ZipRealty is around, EntryOnly is a flat rate MLS entry only service and there are a few others too and some do offer “less than full service” service.

However, here at CondoDomain.com we offer a “Full Service - Buy Side” service to all of our clients…but we just charge a flat fee…so whats the big deal.

Here is how it works:

Buying a new condo with us is pretty simple. If you ve ever bought a piece of real estate in the past, either on your own or with a traditional real estate agent, working with us is basically the same. We take the same steps, review the same data, and perform all of the traditional services and then some.

On average our clients save more than $13,000 at the closing table!

1. Search - Search out entire website for Boston condos and luxury Boston real estate. Here you will find every MLS listing, every new development and existing condo building, foreclosure listings, FSBO (for sale by owner) properties and even upcoming auctions. Search Now.

2. Schedule Tour - Scheduling a private tour with CondoDomain.com couldn’t be any easier. On every listing there is a Tour This Property link that you can click and it will notify one of our local team members immediately. We will then reach out to you and schedule a private tour with you. Also, feel free to check if there are any open houses available for that upcoming weekend and you can preview the property then too. (If you go to an open house, don’t forget to print & bring our business card and let the listing agent know you are working with The CondoDomain Guys!

3. Visit Property - The fun part. Now that we have narrowed down our list of available properties we need to get on out there and see these properties in person. Shoot us an email or give us a call, we are always available to tour properties with you.

4. Negotiate - Our specialty. Negotiating the best deal for you is where we put our investment in our company. Our team members are the best in the business in this category. We know our product, know how to analyze the market & comparisons and we know how to score you the lowest possible price its all we do all day everyday!

5. Buy & SAVE - Okay, we made it. Now we dig in and take over to finalize market analysis, submit offers, paperwork, proper contingencies and make legal and financing referrals all the way to closing!

And.

SAVE you a ton of cash in the meantime. Our business model operates off a flat fee commission, so no matter what you spend we only collect our low flat fee commission and REFUND you the remainder. On average our clients are saving more than $13,000 at the closing table!

Side by Side Comparison of our Business Model

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Categories : Boston Condos, Commissions, RE.TECH

Internship Opportunity Still Available

By Anthony Longo 27 05 2008

Looking for the coolest “corporate” summer internship ever

One last internship position still available here @ CondoDomain.com in downtown Boston!!!

We are looking for a fun, high energy college intern who is interested in marketing, real estate & technology.

Click here to read about the requirements.

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Categories : RE.TECH

Persephone Now Open For Lunch Fort Point Channel

By Anthony Longo 27 05 2008

Persephone the restaurant component of the Achilles Project is now open for lunch!!! The ultra-hip clothing boutique, turned restaurant and lounge after 5pm everyday is now open for lunch. Just steps from our office here…you can tell we are pretty pumped up!

Last week our pals Pierre & Ninve from Trulia came up and they got to experience Persephones tasty menu.

Past Blogs on Achilles Persephone: here & here

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Categories : Boston Lifestyle, Seaport

Porter 156 Lofts East Boston

By Anthony Longo 26 05 2008

Porter 156 was the loft condo conversion development that jump started the East Boston marketplace. Built in 1912, this former warehouse building was converted in 2005 into 217 unique loft spaces. The Porter 156 Lofts are just a short walk from either the Maverick Square or Airport T Stops (Blue Line). Minutes away from Route 1A, 93 North and the Ted Williams Tunnel with access to South Boston, Downtown and 93 South.

Porter 156 offer its residences stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and amazing views: Boston’s sky line or a new 40 acres of park.

Porter 156 has a huge common roof deck and a party room as well as an on site professional manager.

This is a great building especially if you like loft living close to downtown Boston and for an under $300,000 price point.

Current Porter 156 Lofts For Sale: (View Details For Ever Unit)

$449,900, 1 Bd, 2 Ba, 1389
$439,900, 1 Bd, 2 Ba, 1119
$419,900, 1 Bd, 2 Ba, 989
$409,900, N/A, 1 Ba, 970
$369,000, N/A, 1 Ba, 939
$349,000, 1 Bd, 1 Ba, 1005
$339,000, N/A, 1 Ba, 800
$338,000, 1 Bd, 1 Ba, 1010
$299,000, N/A, 1 Ba, 703
$289,900, N/A, 1 Ba, 720
$289,000, 1 Bd, 1 Ba, 700 (Best Buy!)
$255,000, 1 Bd, 1 Ba, 835
$250,000, 1 Bd, 1 Ba, 929
$249,900, 1 Bd, 1 Ba, 694
$235,000, N/A, 1 Ba, 800