What $1 Million Buys You

CNBC's Diana Olick and Jackie DeAngelis tour two $1 million homes in mystery locations; while super real estate broker Dolly Lenz, discusses which is a better value.

1st Open House at the new price at 330 Beacon Street in the Back Bay

330 Beacon #63 has been reduced by $505,000 from $5,500,000 to $4,995,000

Join us this Sunday April 28th from 1:30-3 at the 1st public open house at the new price. 

The building is located on waterside Beacon at the corner of Fairfield Street in the Back Bay.  Easy access to the Charles River and Esplanade, Newbury Street and the Back Bay business district.

This property has never been offered for sale.  A combination of two units, this luxury doorman condominium offers 54 ft. of picture window views of the Charles River; from the dramatic living room and dining room, kitchen and two private balconies overlooking the Charles.  Up to five bedrooms,  three full baths and one powder room.  

Designed and decorated by William Hodgins; unique mural by famed muralist Robert Jackson.

Elevator access. Concierge, on-site mgmt. and resident superintendent.  Central air.  Two garage parking spaces.

For more information contact Tim Marsh at 617-548-7145 or timmarsh@bostonluxuryrealestate.com

1st Public Open House at 98 Mt. Vernon at the New Price!

This gorgeous single family home on Beacon Hill has a new price!

This Sunday, April 28th, we are hosting our 1st  open house at the new price

from 11:30 - 1.  

Old price: $4.7M without parking.

New Price:  $4.6M including one garage space ($300K value).  Total price reduction:  $400K 

This quintessential home features Classic detail, seven fireplaces, bay windows and soaring ceilings.  A rare elevator provides access to every floor.  Double parlor with dualing fireplaces.  Granite and stainless steel kitchen. Up to five bedrooms, four full baths and two half baths.  Coveted "hidden garden" and a private roof deck with panoramic views of the Charles River, Beacon Hill, Back Bay and downtown Boston.  A+ South Slope location, steps from Louisburg Square.

NOTES:  Seller has a second garage space available for sale.  Seller will also sell the house with no parking.  Recent sales of similar garage spaces have closed at $300K.Contact Tim Marsh, exclusive listing Broker, for a private viewing or more information.  

(C) 617-548-7145       email: timmarsh@bostonluxuryrealestate.com

Bay State home sales fall for second consecutive month as prices rise

Tim Marsh Owner/Broker

BBJ.com.  Sales of single-family homes and condominiums in Massachusetts dipped again in March as falling inventories leaves few options for potential buyers, according to data from The Warren Group and the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

Single-family home sales dropped 3.6 percent to 3,100 in March, down from 3,215 in March 2012. Condominium sales decreased more than 2 percent to 1,211 from 1,240 in March 2012.

“A good supply of homes for sale is the only thing we’re missing from a sustainable housing recovery,” said Kimberly Allard-Moccia, president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, in a statement. “While an increase in prices should entice sellers, it has yet to happen. We need buyers to move up and down the housing ladder, but right now they’re either stuck on the rungs or it’s too difficult to grab on to.”

The inventory of single-family homes at the end of March decreased 29.8 percent to 19,761 listings, down from 28,159 a year ago, the association reported. To date, this has been the biggest monthly year-over-year decrease since this data has been tracked. This translates into 5.1 months of supply in March, compared to 8.6 months of supply last year and the 12th straight month of inventory decreases. Condominium inventory was even worse, down 34 percent in March to 6,543, down from 9,908 lone year ago, a 4.3 months of supply. This is down from 7.9 months in March 2012.

While housing volume tanked, the median price for single-family homes sold in March rose more than 8 percent to $285,000 from $263,000 a year earlier. It was the sixth consecutive month that monthly home prices have increased year-over-year.

The median price for condos sold in March was $261,000, up more than 1.5 percent from $257,000 in March 2012. The first quarter median condo price was also up more than 1.6 percent to $250,000 from $246,000 during the prior year’s first quarter.

Layouts We Love: Comparing 1200 Square Foot Layouts Around the World

April 19, 2013
By HotelHomes.com Staff

There is more than one way to skin a cat, but there are also hundreds – if not thousands – of ways for architects to design homes of specific sizes and styles. In this week’s “Layouts We Love” column, we take a look at four different 1200 square foot (111 square meter) homes in hotel-residential properties around the world.

At New York’s Plaza Hotel, overlooking Grand Army Plaza where Fifth Avenue meets Central Park, an oversized one-bedroom home measuring 1245 square feet (116 square meters) is currently on the market. This wing of the Plaza is available for primary or secondary home-ownership, and its renovation and restoration in 2007 created gracious residences while respecting the landmark building’s original windows and proportions. This 14th floor residence features a grand living room with a decorative fireplace mantel overlooking the treetops and city lights of Grand Army Plaza. This luxurious home features a separate kitchen, beautiful master bedroom suite with five-fixture bathroom and walk-in closet, as well as a powder room for guests. This residence is currently on the market for US$4.4 million, available through one of the building’s most successful agents, Elizabeth Lorenzo of Stribling & Associates.

Meanwhile in the Swiss Alps, the new Chedi hotel and residences in Andermatt combine modern Asian luxury with the area’s rugged chalet style. Measuring 118 square meters (1270 square feet), a third-floor residence offers a luxurious one-bedroom layout. Both its large living room and oversized bedroom open onto a long balcony, while its unique bathroom offers the option to fold back a wall to expose the wonderful mountain views while soaking in the bathtub. Denniston Architects have planned the interiors to maximize its open feeling, and sets of double doors, folding screens, and disappearing pocket doors optimize the flow between rooms, including the lavish dressing room with extensive closets – perfect for accommodating the ski season’s extra wardrobe changes.

Back in the USA, top Boston agent Tim Marsh of Marsh Properties, Inc. has recently sold a 1245-square foot (116 square meter) home at Four Seasons Place. The luxury building located on Boston Common was completed in 1985, and remains today as one of Beantown’s most desirable residential addresses. Located on the 11th floor with sunny southern exposure, its layout has a remarkable flow that maximizes its flexibility. Its living room has double doors opening both into a library that doubles as a guest room, as well as a kitchen that can be opened for casual living, or closed for formal entertaining. Its master suite features three closets, and an oversized bathroom that separates its large vanity and sink from a separate “wet room” with bathtub and toilet.

A world away in China’s 13th largest city of Chengdu, the new Residences at the Fairmont Chengdu form part of the Palm Springs development, combining high quality office space, luxury shopping, a new Fairmont hotel and luxury residences. Currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2014, a 112 square meter (1206 square feet) residence is designed as an efficient apartment with up to three bedrooms. That may seem like a lot of rooms for 1200 square feet, but the living areas accommodate a generous living/dining room, entry foyer, separate kitchen and balcony. It’s three private rooms include a corner master bedroom suite with bathtub framed by an oversized window and separate stall shower, as well as a gracious dressing area. The second and third bedrooms can also be used as a study/library and media room.

Whether opulent grandeur in New York, luxurious flow in the Swiss Alps, flexible space in Boston, or efficient planning in Chengdu, there is a lot one can do in 1200 square feet. These four options represent some of our “best-in-class” favorites.