real estate news: Inside The Most Expensive Listing In Massachusetts - 02/10/17 09:58 AM
The most expensive listing in the entire state of Massachusetts is 150 Woodland Road in Brookline. You'll have to shell out $90,000,000  for the keys but after taking a look at some of the photos, it's easy to see why.
Born from the desire for ultimate privacy with city accessibility, 14 acres of untamed scrub and ledge were assembled into a single property, entirely reclaimed from the wild and transformed into a breathtaking tapestry of rolling lawns, ponds, sculpted rock outcrops and a horticultural encyclopedia of specimen plantings. Five miles from central Boston, this emerald island rises between the surrounding Brookline Country Club and Putterham … (2 comments)

real estate news: Everything You Should Know About Crowdfunding for Real Estate - 07/11/16 06:41 AM

Crowdfunding is a concept that's come to be known over the past decade as a way to raise money for more off beat ventures - quirky business ideas, travel adventures, etc. Now, it’s made it’s way into real estate.  This new approach to real estate allows average people to pool their money together and invest in apartment complexes, office spaces and even commercial shopping centers.
A change in federals law in May opened up the concept of getting money back on crowdfunding investments. As a result crowdfunding real estate companies have been popping up everywhere offering ordinary citizens the chance to become real estate moguls.
But be wary, if … (0 comments)

real estate news: Real Estate Roundup: May 4, 2016 - 05/04/16 02:02 AM

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Good morning and happy Wednesday!
Here's a summary of recent transactions and personnel news within Greater Boston's real estate community.
1.    Chevron Partners has acquired the historic Sears Crescent building in Boston's Government Center neighborhood from Copley Investments for $23.8 million. The 50,300-square-foot brick-and-beam building is fully leased to 14 tenants and is the third acquisition for Chevron Partners in Boston since 2014.
2.    CBRE has arranged $84.3 million in financing for Serenity, a 195-unit luxury apartment community that's under construction by Boston-based Longwood Group in Boston's Longwood Medical Area. John Kelly, Michael Prakken and Sam Dylag of CBRE New England's capital markets team procured financing for the buyer.
 3.    The Hampshire Cos. has sold a … (1 comments)

real estate news: Americas Top Ten Boom Towns - 05/02/16 03:03 AM
Have you been wondering what towns in the U.S. are currently booming? A new list from realtor.com® unveils the top 10 hot spots. These neighborhoods are striking it rich when it comes to new home construction, job creation and an increasing number of households—the gold mine for housing market growth.
These are America’s Top Boom Towns:
1. Gilbert, Ariz.
Largest Neighborhood: Power Ranch
Part of the Phoenix metropolitan area, Gilbert is located just over 30 miles east of downtown Phoenix in close proximity to where GoDaddy and PetSmart® have significant operations. The sunny neighborhood of 85297 is highly sought after by both snowbirds and locals for its … (0 comments)

real estate news: Pending Home Sales Reach Highest Level in Seven Months - 04/11/16 02:34 AM
Pending home sales rose to their highest level this February, and remain higher than a year ago according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Led by a sizeable increase in the Midwest, all major regions except for the Northeast saw an increase in contract activity.
Although the Pending Home Sales index, a forward-looing indication based on contract signings, has now increased year-over-year for 18 consecutive months, last month’s gain was the smallest.
This data is encouraging in that a decent number of buyers signed contracts last month, probably lured by mortgage rates dipping to their lowest levels in nearly a year.
As of now, … (0 comments)

real estate news: The Evolution of the Dream House: The 1960s vs 2016 - 03/18/16 04:51 AM

The typical American home has evolved significantly over the last 50 years. While buyers both now and then prefer the single-family in the ‘burbs, buyers in 2016 are bringing a new list of qualifications to the table – namely they want adaptable, open and efficient spaces.
When it comes to future design preferences, buyers will prioritize efficient design and energy efficiency.
According to Robert Dietz, the chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders, location will play a larger part in where buyers choose to build and single-family home sales will soon over take multi family. “We may see a rise in … (0 comments)

real estate news: Why 2016 Is The Perfect Year To Buy A Home - 01/02/16 04:17 AM
Why 2016 Is The Year To Buy A Home
Mortgage rates have been skimming rock bottom for a while now but they have finally started to rise again. Some homebuyers feel they’ve missed the window of opportunity. However, this is not the case.
Here are a few reasons this year is a perfect time to buy.
Home prices will finally calm down Real estate values have been on the rise for a while but they’re predicted to slow their growth in the next year.  Prices are expected to rise 3.5% according to Zillow’s Chief Economist.
Buyers who’ve been stuck behind … (0 comments)

real estate news: Smart Homes 101 - 12/04/15 01:41 AM
Smart Homes 101 
According to predictions from market researcher MarketsandMarkets the global smart home market will expand to around $58.7 billion 2020! That’s a 17 percent annual growth rate that’s going to create a huge market for state-of-the-art smart homes. So, in preparation for the movement toward more technologically advanced homes, here’s a run down of the three most common smart home features.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are an easy and inexpensive way to upgrade your home. A smart thermostat (like Nest) learns from your habits and preferences and begins to adjust itself accordingly. If that wasn’t cool enough already, smart thermostats can pull … (0 comments)

real estate news: Andover Newton to Sell $40 Million Property - 11/13/15 12:44 AM

Leaders of the Newton Centre based graduate school, Andover Newton Theological School, announced Thursday that the school will cease to exist in its current form. They plan to merge with another school or significantly downsize program offerings. This historic school was the first seminary in American and the nation's oldest graduate school of any kind. In 2015, it was on the list of Seminaries That Change the World for the second consecutive year. 
The Andover Newton Theological School says that due to declining enrollment and inflated student debt the current operation is not "financially sustainable". They plan to sell its 22 acres of land in … (2 comments)

real estate news: Village Profile: Thompsonville - Newton, MA - 11/07/15 02:03 AM
Thompsonville, Newton MA
The Bowen School
Thompsonville is the smallest of the Newton villages located Newton Center, Newton Highlands and Chestnut Hill.
Thompsonville is often associated with the Bowen School. Figuring out where Thompsonville begins and end can be a bit difficult and locating its village center can be even more elusive. Thompsonville is bordered by Newton Centre and the Newton Andover Theological Seminary to the northwest, conservation land to the northeast and south, Oak Hill to the southwest and the malls of Chestnut Hill to the southeast.
Thompsonville real estate is primarily comprised of medium to large sized single-family homes as well as high … (0 comments)

real estate news: Village Profile: West Newton - 11/06/15 04:29 AM
West Newton, Newton MA
 
West Newton is one of the oldest of Newton's villages. Its main thoroughfare is Washington Street which provides easy access to the Massachusetts Turnpike and the MBTA Commuter Rail Station. In addition to the retail and service businesses, West Newton includes a large amount of the city's manufacturing use. A local movie theatre and a plethora of restaurants make the village a vibrant center in the evening. The West newton Advisory Committe provides input on community development.  
West Newton Square  is the town center of the village and home to many local businesses and venues. These include the … (2 comments)

real estate news: Village Profile: Newton Upper Falls - 11/04/15 01:32 AM
Newton Upper Falls
 
Newton Upper Falls sits on the East bank of the Charles River, bordering Needham, Wellesley and West Roxbury. It gets its name for its spot on the falls. The village has over 150 houses on the historic register and is home to the Echo Bridge pedestrian walkway.
Newton Upper Falls' industrial roots are tied to the railroad that borders it. The center, Pettee Square, sits at the intersection of Oak Street and Ossipee Road hosting a mix of small retail and large businesses housed in converted mill buildings. There is also another commercial area by Eliot Street and Chestnut Street. … (0 comments)

real estate news: 8 Things Your Homeowners' Insurance Won't Cover - 10/30/15 01:59 AM

If you think your beloved house is 150% covered by your insurance you're going to be severly disappointed. There are probably some pretty big holes in your coverage. Two of the most common doozies are flooding and earthquakes - and just because youre not looking to settle down in San Francisco or another high-risk area doesn't mean you're not at risk.
There are other tricky gaps as well including termites and mold.
Here are eight gaps in your coverage. Check them out and then call your agent to begin updating your homeowners' insurance. 
1. Flooding
It will never happen... until it does. Whether or not … (2 comments)

real estate news: Newton Village Profile: Auburndale - 10/29/15 04:56 AM
Auburndale, Massachusetts 
 
On the border of Waltham and the bank of the Charles River sits Auburndale.  "The Reverend Charles du Maresque Pigeon, grandson of an illustrious eighteenth century local, is credited for persuading the railroad to introduce a flag stop on its line two miles West of West Newton. This influx of traffic led to a surge in real estate activity: there were three major sub-divisions in 1847 alone. This was the start of the village which would later become famous as the home of Norumbega Park and the Riverside Recreation Area on the Charles River. The number of clergymen living in … (0 comments)

real estate news: Elm Street: Why Freddy Krueger's Horror Street Is So Popular - 10/29/15 02:51 AM

When Wes Craven conceived "A Nightmare on Elm Street", the classic 1984 horror flick, he chose to set it on a street that would evoke a kind of "Everywhere", US. Craven's goal in using Elm Street was to imply that horror can happen anywhere - even in seemingly safe residential neighborhoods. 
In real life, the house where Freddy Krueger haunted the dreams of Nancy Thompson is on North Genesee Avenue in Los Angeles. However, Elm Street is a widespread address throughout the US. Seventeen of the country's largest 25 cities have one. There are 2,376 Elm Streets across the US - a … (0 comments)

real estate news: What Is Luxury Real Estate? - 10/29/15 02:09 AM
Luxury is clearly defined by the Miriam-Webster dictionary as "a condition of great comfort, ease and wealth" and "something that is not usually or always available.  However, when applying this term to real estate this definition does not always apply. While New York City is inarguably experiencing a huge surge in "luxury" real estate, the qualifications required to rank in this elite market are somewhat of an anomaly.The New York Observer took a look at the increase of "luxury" listings and their break from exclusivity. The article notes that real estate in New York City today is anything but unavailable. So, if luxury … (0 comments)

real estate news: 10 Ways to Stay Sane While Moving - 10/29/15 01:09 AM

Going through the stressful escrow process is a necessity when buying a home. Once you're past it, you finally get to live in the home you've worked so hard for. But first, you have to move...
Not only is moving seriously inconvenient and time-consuming but it can be a major stressor on you and, if you're moving with someone else, your relationship. "Almost two in three placed [moving] at the top of their stress list in a poll of 2,000 adults." That's 61 percent! The most stressful parts, according to the poll, were misplaced possessions (killer) and procrastinating packing.
So the question is, … (1 comments)

real estate news: Boston's Inventory Blues Worsen! - 06/26/15 05:51 AM
In May, Boston's housing inventory fell, while affordability worsened and sales declined...sound familiar?
 
Single-family housing inventory in the Greater Boston area fell 16% year-over-year in May to a 3.3-months supply, while condo inventory dropped 16.7% to just 1.8-months.
Those two stats came courtesy of the latest analysis from the Greater Boston Association of Realtors (GBAR), which reported that the same old, same old for the Boston area's housing market.
 
Single-Family Housing in Greater BostonBelow are GBAR's main findings or Boston's single-family housing market:
Closed sales dropped 10.9 percent to 1,074. Median sales price, meanwhile, rose 3.4 percent to $480,000; housing affordability, interestingly, rose marginally, … (0 comments)

real estate news: 7 Markets Have Hit Their Peaks! - 06/10/15 01:25 AM
Clear Capital recently released its Home Data Inex Market Report with data through May 2015. The report found, outside of the usual headline-making markets, there are seven markets, considered "major" in density and culture, which are in bubble territory. These markets have had two years on consecutive quarterly softening, meaning each subsequent quarter, over the two year period starting May 2013, has seen less growth than the previous quarter. The company has rulled out seasonality since two summers and winters have gone by with no observed impact on the softening.
After a LONG winter in some parts of the country, mainly the … (7 comments)

real estate news: How Women Are Using Real Estate To Break International Molds - 05/29/15 12:08 AM
There are almost as many women in the world as men. So why is it that we see so few as our bosses, GMs and CEOs?
A report by Pearl Initiative (PI), titled “Women’s Careers in the GCC” and released in April 2015, revealed that though women almost matched men in population numbers, their contribution to the global workforce stood only at 32 percent. The report said only 12 percent of CEOs are women, only 17 percent acted as board members, and a meager 24 percent were found working in senior management positions.
According to a 2010 UN report, having women on a board … (0 comments)

 
James Lowenstern, Castles Unlimited. Newton MA Real Estate (Castles Unlimited®)

James Lowenstern

Castles Unlimited. Newton MA Real Estate

Newton, MA

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Castles Unlimited®

Address: 837 Beacon Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459

Office: 617-964-3300

Fax: 617-244-5847

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