Boston Condo, Loft and Luxury Boston Real Estate Blog

Developer Tim Pappas is floating plans to build an L.A.-style movie production complex on a vacant lot he owns at the corner of West First and E streets, according to state Rep. Brian Wallace (D-South Boston), who was briefed on the proposal.

Pappas, who has dabbled in movie making himself even as he rolls out upscale Southie condo projects, is looking to cash in on the Hub’s new reputation as a mecca for Hollywood filmmakers.

Massachusetts became a top filming destination after the passage of a bill that provides millions in tax credits for productions that shoot locally.

However, the current boom is limited by the state’s lack of movie production facilities, forcing movie crews and producers to fly back to L.A. after a few weeks or months.

“We highly encourage the cultivation of infrastructure, because that will solidify our position as a leader in film production,” said Rich Krezwick, managing director of the Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission.  Continued…

This is the best idea I have heard in a long time.  I will be a shame if we don’t get this built, this would be a huge addition to downtown Boston and Southie and will be a great economical and social stimuli for the city.  Lets help make this happen!!!

Pappas has recently developed Court Square Press & The Macallen Building

It’s that very exciting time of year again…Boston Restaurant Week! The Summer 2008 edition of Boston’s Restaurant Week kicks off August 10th and ends August 22nd, with only one day off on August 16th. With over than 200 restaurants participating in the area, make your reservations soon, because they fill up fast! (Believe me, I know) 

Get ready for 3-course lunches for $20.08 and dinners for only $33.08! This is a wonderful opportunity for trying out those new restaurants you’ve been curious about and revisit your old favorites– for only a fraction of the price. 

And while you’re at it, doesn’t a day filled with a delectable meal paired with a tour of a new property sound like a tremendous idea?

If you need to find something to do over the next few weeks, here’s a few ideas….

Grab some lunch at Grotto this Friday, before you check out this Beacon Hill Open House…don’t forget to contact us!

Check out this South End Open House this Friday and make reservations at Tremont 647 , just around the corner.

Don’t worry…if you can’t make it to an open house soon, restaurant week is going on for two weeks and our expert brokers are around anytime for you! Just contact us to set up a viewing.

And might I offer a few other suggestions…

For those of you who like the North End, you might want to make reservations at Vinoteca di Monica after you view this hot property

Back Bay fans should venture to view this listing and then check out the menu at Sasso

Or you could visit the Achilles Project in our ‘hood

Click here for more information on Boston Restaurant Week.

Restaurant Week!! Whoohoo! Let’s Eat!

It’s that time of year again in Boston’s historic North End- bring on the feasts! True, those who live there must fight even more for a much sought after parking spot on the weekends, but who doesn’t love eating some good fried dough while listening to live Italian music? 

Each weekend there is a different feast located in different sections of the North End, celebrating a specific Saint. With weekends filled with live entertainment and fabulous Italian cuisine, you couldn’t ask for a better way to enjoy this summer!

Here is a List of the Feasts for the rest of the summer…

August 1-3 St. Agrippina di Mineo Society (Battery & Hanover Streets)

August 8-10 Madonna Della Cava Society (Battery & Hanover Streets)

August 14-17 Fisherman’s Feast (Fleet & North Streets)

August 29-31 St. Anthony’s Feast (Thatcher & Endicott Streets)

September 1 St. Lucy Society (Thatcher & Endicott Streets)

And while you’re exploring the authentic and welcoming North End neighborhood, why not check out some properties? After all, it is currently one of the hottest spots in Boston to live. 

Click here to view some properties that this hot neighborhood has to offer!

If you see anything you like or would like to view more properties in the future, contact our own Thomas Cincotti, a North End resident himself.

The Melting Pot is coming to a downtown Boston location and is scheduled to open in mid-August! For all of you fondue lovers out there, get ready, they will be located right in Boston’s Park Plaza Hotel & Towers at the corner of Arlington and Columbus. This just adds to all of the other great restaurants the Back Bay neighborhood has to offer, and we couldn’t be happier! 

Click here for more details.

In the news yet again….we were mentioned recently in an article published by Banker & Tradesman discussing the future of the Fort Point neighborhood, particularly targeting the much anticipated completion of the FP3 building. 

In a rather negative light, the article reflects sales in the newest condominium development in the Fort Point neighborhood as slow due to overpricing and the lack of a “neighborhood” feel as new construction in this yet-to-be-up-and-coming section of Boston pushes forward toward continued development. 

They claim that the units are too pricey in an emerging neighborhood that lacks a supermarket, dry cleaners, and a Starbucks.

Well… since our offices are actually right around the corner from the FP3 building, the CondoDomain crew is pleased to announce that there are in fact at least three Starbucks located in the area and while there is not yet a supermarket around the area, there are plenty of restaurants to keep us fed, and many more to come. 

Speaking of supermarkets, since when is that a requirement for a “neighborhood”? The North End certainly does not have a supermarket, while it is close to one in Beacon Hill, it is certainly not convenient. And yes, Beacon Hill has a Whole Foods, Back Bay residents have a Shaws, but with the ease and convenience of Peapod deliveries in the city, is a nearby supermarket really a necessity? 

While people have greeted this emerging neighborhood with a mixed reception, the Fort Point neighborhood undoubtedly exudes a vibrant energy as it grows into its own unique area of downtown Boston. Not only do the FP3 condos offer fabulous views of the Financial District, Seaport, Fort Point Channel, and Boston Harbor, but Barbara Lynch, of No.9 Park and B&G Oyster fame, is set to apply her signature style to  the ground-floor retail and restaurant spaces.

Our own Tony Longo was quoted as saying, “I love the building and the condos are spectacular…” And we can’t help but wholeheartedly agree.

We are huge fans of this property, and as such, are continuing to place buyers there. The Fort Point neighborhood is an exciting place to be now and holds an even greater promise for the future. Some may think that this area has a long way to go…but there is no question that the Fort Point is well on its way, and the FP3 building is playing a large part of that. 

For more information please feel free to contact us or view properties on our brand-new search site!

Our clients make the news…you shall be next!

Our clients Jonny Moore (Right) and Michael Olinger (Left) whom have just relocated from Dallas to Boston this month and are now proud new residents in our gorgeous South End Neighborhood.  Congratulations on your new home guys!

Read Globe Article | Blog

Boston Brownstones offer history while new condos offer added amenities

As someone from the midwest, moving to Boston was quite an eye opener for me. Driving down the tree-lined streets of Commonwealth Ave, the beautiful brownstones create a unique feel in Boston, that I had never seen before. Coming from a place where my apartments and townhouses had all been recently built and amenities such as parking and an elevator were automatically included, not a luxury, it was shocking to discover just what was lacking in these older buildings that were priced at such a high cost.

Both old and new buildings make Boston such a city of contrast, offering cosmopolitan sophistication in a historical setting. In today’s article in The Boston Globe, brownstone living versus modern condominium living is discussed. As new construction of luxury condominiums continues to boom in Boston, many people are choosing modern amenities over historic character.

There are many reasons why there has been a shift toward urban condominiums, including less maintenance and stress. Many of the older buildings in Boston require many repairs and upkeep as opposed to new construction condominium developments that offer the latest in modern luxury living. However, with the added luxuries these new condominiums offer, higher condo fees also play a part.

Ultimately, at the end of the day, whether someone chooses to purchase a brownstone or a new condo or loft, it is an individual decision. Boston brownstones are an integral part of the city’s rich history and the new developments have brought a new level in luxury living in Boston.

The purchase of a new home is big decision that requires much thought and consideration. Finding properties and researching information with a buyers agent helps the decision-making process, allowing the buyer to make a careful and well thought out decision before making such a large commitment.

Interested in looking for a new condo or brownstone? Feel free to contact us or search our new site. Don’t forget to register so you can login to see 100% data and view the properties at the same time! As always, check out the blog for the latest Boston happenings.

Boston parking is so expensive…there is even a book on it to show you how to save thousands.  Get it here.

Parking is hard to find and prices are only getting higher, according to the fifth annual parking rate survey released Friday by Colliers International real estate service company.

The company surveyed 64 U.S. cities in June and found that office occupancy rates remain high and that has pushed rates upward. Also one in five U.S garages polled by Colliers report having a waiting list with 4.3 months the average wait time for a space.

Three-quarters of the cities surveyed by Colliers described their parking supply as “fair” (meaning garages are 60-80 percent full Monday through Friday and on weekends during special events), while 23 percent indicated supply was “limited” (garages usually full Monday through Friday and on weekends during special events), 3 percent classified their parking supply as “abundant” (meaning garages are consistently less than 60 percent full).

Top 5:

* Midtown Manhattan – Daily: $40, Monthly: $585
* Boston – $33, $460
* Chicago – $30, $310
* San Francisco – $28, $350
* Los Angeles – $27.25, $196

Continued…

Source:  Colliers International via Realtor.org via BostonReb.com

FP3 Lofts Open House Back On for this Saturday and Sunday (since it was rescheduled last weekend).

The Open House will be this Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 pm.  I highly encournage  you go check this building out…it is one of a kind!

DO NOT GO ALONE and make a $10,000+ mistake!!!

Make sure to either bring one of us…or to at least bring our business card and let Marianna know that you are working with CondoDomain.com as your buyers broker.  Remember, buying with CondoDomain.com not only will help you get a lower price for the unit but also will entitle you to a huge chuck of our commission!  Read How It Works

FP3 Lofts  (FP3 Listings on MLS)

Other blogs on FP3

Buyer Beware:  Many of you know and are accustom to our very casual style in and around town.  Well, we have kicked it up a notch.  When meeting one of our local real estate team members here in Boston, you may encounter them in Flip Flops.  The office made a vote today that all days over 80% we should be wearing flip flops out on appointments.  Although its not mandatory…I have a feeling that most of us will be following the rule.

Other places you will find us in our flip flops this hot hot week!

Starbucks in Seaport District (Every a.m.)

FP3 Boston (Open House This Saturday & Sunday 1-4)

201 Newbury Street (Today @ 5 )

A new restaurant opened in the Seaport District last week. Just when the lunch hour started to become a little too repetitive around the CondoDomain offices, D Street Cafe has entered our lives. This casual eatery will serve grilled burgers, sandwiches, salads, and ice cream and the patio seating will be a great place to go during lunch breaks to catch some rays.
Located on D Street by the South Boston Maritime Park, the restaurant is a seasonal venture that will be operating each year from May-October. D Street Cafe aims to be family-friendly as well as cater to the lunch and after-work crowd, offering live music acts on Thursday evenings. This is great news for the Seaport District!
I plan on heading there for lunch this week so I will keep you posted!

Boston sports aren’t the only things on top in this happening city today…

 An article posted on the WSJ website today reports that the S&P/Case-Shiller home-price indexes, a closely watched gauge of U.S. home prices, show price declines continued to get steeper in April, with prices in every region surveyed now showing year-over-year drops. However, there are small, yet significant findings in some major metropolitan areas, showing a slight improvement from April to May. 

Out of the eight metropolitan areas able to avoid a decline from April over to May, it comes as good news that Boston would be included on the list. Although there has still been a decline since 2007, Boston is still ahead of the curve in terms of moving forward and continuous growth. 

In general, studies have shown that on a month-to-month basis, median prices for condominiums have increased by 2.7% from last month. With all of the new construction in Boston such as the Mandarin Oriental, and most recently, the proposal for luxury condominiums to be built from Copley Place, urban construction has continued to grow throughout the downtown area. 

With the rising gas prices, one must have to consider the convenience AND savings that urban living has to offer now more than ever. There appears to be a growing trend in urban condominium living , attracting  not only suburban professionals, but small families and baby boomers as well. The financial burden high gas prices have created play a major role in the decision to purchase an urban condominium. It’s not a surprise that Boston is experiencing booming condo construction considering how it is so easy to walk just about anywhere downtown. 

For more fabulous Boston happenings, feel free to check out our blog 

Source: WSJ.com, The Boston Globe