Boston Living

Back Bay News

2010-01-31T10:27:00.000-08:00

Tom Brady Unloads Back Bay Condo

Back Bay Restaurants

Boston Herald

Back Bay Boston Real Estate

2010-01-31T10:17:00.000-08:00

Back Bay is a neighborhood of downtown Boston, MA offering luxury condos, studios as well as retail shops and commercial offices. Located adjacent to Beacon Hill, Back Bay is one of Boston's most pricey neighborhoods, with townhomes and brownstones priced into the millions, and fabulous shopping nearby. Back Bay is dominated by Victorian brownstones, and is far more commercial southward, where it houses some of Boston's tallest buildings.

Back Bay is an area where parking spaces alone go for $34,000 - $84,000.

Back Bay Boston Streets:

Boylston Street
Newbury Street
Beacon Street
Commonwealth
Marlborough St
Garrison St.
Follen Street

Back Bay Boston Real Estate

Beacon Hill in Boston

2010-01-30T18:53:00.000-08:00

Beacon Hill is a picturesque neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Developed in the 19th century, this downtown Boston residential area is located north of the Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden. This cozy enclave has engaging community activities and friendly neighbors.

This quaint area is famous for its historic roots and narrow, gas-lit streets and brick sidewalks. Beacon Hill is regarded as one of the most expensive and prestigious of all Boston neighborhoods.

Because the Massachusetts State House is in a prominent location at the top of the hill, the term "Beacon Hill" is also often used as a metonym in the local news media to refer to the state government or the legislature.

Beacon Hill in Boston

US may extend real estate tax credit

2009-09-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

US may extend real estate tax credit
Boston.com
September 17, 2009

The White House is considering extending an $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, which has helped to boost sales by more than 1 million this year.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration’s economic team is evaluating the tax credit’s effect on new home sales and will soon make a recommendation to the president.

The credit covers up to 10 percent of a home’s price - as much as $8,000 - for first-time buyers, but sales must be finalized by the end of November. If the credit is not extended past that date, the upward trend in housing sales could be reversed, real estate agents and builders said.

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State predicts bright future for jobs in solar energy

2009-09-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

State predicts bright future for jobs in solar energy
By Joyce Pellino Crane and Chris Reidy / Boston.com
September 9, 2009

The number of jobs in the state’s solar energy industry nearly doubled from 2007 to 2008 - and the numbers are on pace to grow sharply again this year, according to Massachusetts officials.

Ian A. Bowles, secretary of the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said he would disclose the numbers today at the trade show Cleantech Forum XXIII. The two-day show opened today at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

A survey of nearly 100 solar energy employers in Massachusetts showed the number of jobs in the sector grew from 1,086 in 2007 to 2,075 in 2008, Bowles said. The growth is “indicative of the health and welfare’’ of the local solar energy industry, he added.

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Red Sox Beat Rays for Key Win in AL Wild-Card Race

2009-09-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

Red Sox Beat Rays for Key Win in AL Wild-Card Race
The Associated Press / The New York Times

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Boston has an opportunity to put a serious crimp in Tampa Bay's playoff chances, so the Red Sox were determined to not let a rare victory at Tropicana Field slip away.

Jonathan Papelbon retired all six batters he faced Tuesday night, bailing the AL wild-card leaders out of an eighth inning jam before pitching a perfect ninth to finish an 8-4 victory that hurt the Rays' hopes of returning to the postseason.

''You know it's a big game whenever you bring your closer in in the eighth inning with no outs,'' said center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who made the defensive play of the game -- a diving catch that preserved a three-run lead.

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Boston Luxury Condos

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to Donate 5,000 Books to Boston Public Schools Students at the 2nd Annual Back-to-School Jamboree

2009-09-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to Donate 5,000 Books to Boston Public Schools Students at the 2nd Annual Back-to-School Jamboree
Reuters.com

Boston Public Schoolsstudents and their families are encouraged to attend a day of entertainment and education with prizes, health screenings and free books from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

BOSTON--(Business Wire)--
Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt today announced that it will be donating 5,000 books to children and families attending the Boston Public Schools 2nd Annual Back-to-School Jamboree on Saturday, September 5, 2009, at Boston's City Hall Plaza. Families will enjoy a day of fun, and get important information regarding school openings, after-school programs and family health. The event will include health screenings, community resources, live performances featuring Boston Public Schools students and local performers, activities, prizes and more.

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Boston Luxury Condos

Olympians to take part in Boston Harbor swim

2009-07-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

By Associated Press / The Boston Herald.com

BOSTON — About 80 people, including four Olympic athletes, are taking a plunge into Boston Harbor to raise money for cancer research.

The 14th annual swim Across America Boston Harbor Island Swim kicks off Friday morning.

The 22-mile relay event around the islands raises money for pediatric cancer survivor programs at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

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New England Sand Sculpting Festival 2009

2009-07-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

The Boston Globe

The sixth annual New England Sand Sculpture Festival was held this weekend at Revere Beach. The sculptures will be up for the next two weeks, but the competition culminated Saturday. Eight master sculptors from around the country competed for a share in the $18,000 prize purse and the chance to place in the prestigious event. See all the entries and vote for your favorite.

Rockport takes stewardship of historic lighthouse

2009-07-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

By Milton J. Valencia / The Boston Globe

In a decision fit for a community with lighthouses on its town seal, Rockport and the Thatcher Island Association will take over control of a historic lighthouse on Straitsmouth Island, adding to their collection of majestic beacons along the North Shore coast.

The US Department of Interior announced yesterday that it will transfer the Straitsmouth Island Lighthouse to Rockport and the nonprofit preservation association as part of the 2000 National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.

Under the act, lighthouses once controlled by the US Coast Guard as outdated navigational tools are transferred to communities and interest groups dedicated to their preservation.

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To sing and dance

2009-07-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

By Jazmine Ulloa / The Boston Globe

Maria Flores came to Villa Victoria eight years ago after a life in Puerto Rico of sewing, plowing, and doing almost anything a single mother in the countryside could to raise and educate her children.

Once her daughter and two sons had begun their careers, she moved from her native Sabana Grande to the South End neighborhood to simply enjoy the last and finest part of her life, she said.

But Flores, a 64-year-old woman with a buoyant laugh and a magnetic personality, did much more.

Full Story

The ages of science

2009-07-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

By David Filipov / The Boston Globe

When officials at the Museum of Science realized that the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing was fast approaching, they had another realization that was more alarming than celebratory: Their exhibit of space modules was 45 years old and, given the onslaught of millions of children, looked every day of it.

The urgent push to update the exhibit over the last several weeks, with a coat of fresh paint, refurbished interiors, and flat panel televisions airing rare footage of Neil Armstrong’s descent onto the moon, vividly highlights the challenge for a venerable - and still popular - institution that is very much showing its age. Like other science museums across the nation, Boston’s is trying to maintain a following in a world where scientific breakthroughs happen at breakneck speed and expectations for entertainment are geared to three dimensions rather than narrated videos.

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AirTran offers free WiFi promotion

2009-07-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

By Paul Makishima / The Boston Globe

In the latest response to Southwest Airline’s decision to begin service out of Boston in mid-August, AirTran Airways will offer free WiFi from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1 aboard its flights between Logan International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Christopher White, an AirTran spokesman, said that the carrier’s freebie was intended to celebrate the fact that on Tuesday AirTran had completed outfitting its entire fleet for WiFi. But he also noted that it was a competitive move designed to catch the eye of much-coveted business travelers flying the Boston-Baltimore route, which has become “among the most competitive in the country.’’

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City approves Spaulding Rehab's $200m project

2009-07-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

By Casey Ross / The Boston Globe

Boston officials have approved a plan by Spaudling Rehabilitation Hospital to build a $200 million medical center in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

The hospital, one of the nation's largest rehabilitation facilities, will move into the navy yard building from its current location on Nashua Street. Construction is expected to be completed in 2012.

The 221,000-square-foot hospital, which was approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority last night, will include 132 in-patient beds, a gymnasium, therapy rooms, and swimming pools. The project also includes completion of a new section of the city's Harborwalk and a two-acre park.

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Massachusetts creates agency for solar development

2009-07-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

By Danny Vo / Cooler Planet

Massachusetts is creating a new state agency to oversee the development of large-scale solar energy resources.

An announcement from Attorney General Martha Coakley said that the state is working to develop large photovoltaic facilities in collaboration with four investor-owned utility companies. The initiative is part of an overall effort by the state to develop 250 megawatts of solar energy by 2017.

"Development of solar generation through a statewide pool will drive down costs through economies of scale and spread the costs and benefits across the broadest base of customers," said Coakley.

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Out and About: June 3 - 14

2009-06-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 3
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New England String Ensemble celebrates Italian National Day with Concerto Per La Repubblica. 7:30 p.m., New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, Boston. A pre-performance discussion by Music Director Federico Cortese and Consul General Liborio Stellino will precede the concert by 45 minutes. Tickets range from $47, $37 and $27. Audience members with Italian passports receive 25 percent discount and students receive $10 discount. For tickets and information visit www.newenglandstringensemble.org or call 781-224-1117.

Poet's Pathway. Open mic sign up is 6:30 p.m., poetry runs 7 to 9 p.m., Coffee Milano 58 Center St., Middleboro. Repeats first Wednesday of each month. Call Louise, 508-947-1930, for more information.

Thursday, June 4

Photographic tour of southern Italy. 7 p.m., Stoughton Public Library. With Jeanne McKenna of the South Shore Camera Club. Free. For more information call 781-344-2711.

Heartsaver CPR American Heart Association course. 6 to 9 p.m., Conant Center, Bridgewater. Cost is $35. Pre-registration required. Visit www.her-cpr.com or call 508-697-5800.

Bin Ends introduction to wine appreciation seminar. 6:30 to 8 p.m., 236 Wood Road, Braintree. Cost is $15. For more information visit www.binendswine.com. To register e-mail rsvp@binendswine.com or call 781-817-1212.

Endway to take the stage at Lansdowne Pub. 10 p.m., 9 Lansdowne St., Boston. Cover is $5. Event is for ages 21 and older. For more information visit www.LansdownePubBoston.com or call 617-247-1222.

Eat a Peach to perform at Steve’s Backstage Pass. Doors open 7 p.m., show starts 9 p.m., 15 School St., Taunton. Allman
Brothers tribute band. Cover is $3.

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Work begins on Commonwealth Ave. project

2009-06-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

June 3, 2009

The state transportation department has announced that work is starting on a stretch of Commonwealth Avenue from Grant Avenue to the Boston city line.

According to a release, the $5.7 million project "includes new sidewalks with granite curbing and new traffic signals at Grant Avenue, Hammond Street and Mount Alvernia Road/Old Colony Road.''

“Commonwealth Avenue is among the city’s most traveled thoroughfares, and it plays an historic role in New England lore,'' Newton Mayor David Cohen said in a release.

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Young painters featured in exhibit

2009-06-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Young painters on exhibit in June

Gretchen Bierbaum's painting students will have their exhibit at Laurel Lake during the month of June. The opening reception is June 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. where the artists will be in attendance. Laurel lake Retirement Community is at 200 Laurel Lake Drive off Boston Mills Road between Routes 303 and 8.

The gallery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Bierbaum's paintings will also be included in this student/faculty exhibit.

Gretchen's students range in age from 8 to 80 in weekly classes through Hudson Community Education (330-653-1210).The classes continue all year on Monday mornings.

Gretchen also teaches collage workshops at the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (330-928-8092) and the Peninsula Art Academy (330-657-2248).

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Randy Price to anchor Channel 5 morning news

2009-06-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

By Jessica Heslam June 2, 2009

Longtime Boston newsman Randy Price - ousted from Channel 7 in February after 12 years at the Boston station - has been hired to anchor the morning news at competitor Channel 5, the station said today.

Price is set to helm WCVB-TV’s morning EyeOpener newscast with Bianca de la Garza beginning at 5 a.m. Monday. The announcement followed weeks of speculation and came after Price tried out with de la Garza last month.

Price, who replaces David Brown, will also be reporting and plans to contribute to breaking news and major event coverage, the station said.

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Wrong assignment for Boston schools

2009-06-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

By Kim Janey and Myriam Ortiz
June 3, 2009

MANY PARENTS are concerned that the Boston Public Schools proposal to change student assignment and transportation may hurt rather than help their children.

Superintendent Carol R. Johnson has proposed replacing the three assignment zones with five smaller zones to reduce busing costs. School officials say the proposal could save up to $10 million annually.

While the proposal recognizes the priority of improving the quality of education, it does not specify how and when the reforms would be implemented. Without this information, it is impossible for parents and community members to judge whether the proposals will improve education and provide equitable access for their children.

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Evidence That US Housing Has Hit A Price Floor

2009-06-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, June 02, 2009
by Don Miller

The U.S. housing market has been the epicenter of the global financial crisis. And many analysts believe that by watching it, investors will be able to better predict an economic recovery.

Unfortunately, because housing market data is an amalgam of a wide range of local markets, it is notoriously difficult to follow.

“It’s like a weatherman who combines conditions in Nome, Alaska and Clearwater, Florida and issues an “average” national forecast of 45 degrees,” says Andrew Waite, a former institutional investor who is now the publisher of a magazine focusing on real estate investing. “Real estate markets are by their very nature ‘hyper-local.’ Averages simply don’t apply.”

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After crash, has twilight come to the Sun Belt?

2009-06-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

By TODD LEWAN – May 31, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — We first heard the term decades ago: The "Sun Belt" was just starting a run of phenomenal growth — and no wonder. It conjured a sunny state of mind as well as a balmy place on the map.

Everybody, it seemed, wanted a spot in the sun.

Industries such as aerospace, defense and oil set up shop across America's southernmost tier, capitalizing on the low involvement of labor unions and the proximity of military bases that paid handsomely, and reliably, for their products and services.

Later, San Jose, Calif., and Austin, Texas, developed into high-tech nerve centers; Houston grew into a hub for the oil industry; Nashville became a mecca for music recording and production; Charlotte, N.C., transformed itself into a center for low-cost banking and finance; and then there were the new Dixie Detroits, places like Canton, Miss., Georgetown, Ky., and Spartanburg, S.C., that began rolling out Titans, Camrys and BMWs.

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Growing seller realism, but not here in Massachusetts

2009-05-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

By Scott Van Voorhis May 19, 2009

Are sellers finally crying uncle?

Well, maybe everywhere except here in Massachusetts.

Hammered by the worst downturn in at least two decades, would-be sellers are getting more realistic about what their homes will fetch on today’s market, according to a nationwide survey of real estate agents by HomeGain.

One key finding is that 36 percent of home sellers believe their homes should be listed 10 to 20 percent more than what their real estate agents recommend.

Doesn’t sound like progress until you match up the results of this latest survey, which covers the second quarter, with the 45 percent who believed their homes were being undervalued by 10 to 20 percent back in the first quarter.

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Realtors Tweeting, Texting To Sell Homes

2009-05-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

BOSTON -- It's no secret that the real estate market is a roller coaster ride for buyers and sellers these days. Now, some local real estate agents are going high tech to try and make that big sale.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that real estate agent Lisa Johnson is trying to sell a split-level, four-bedroom house in North Andover. With the market slow, she's trying something new: she's using Twitter and Facebook social networking sites to sell her properties.

"The most likely thing for me right now, to use it, is for new listings. When I get new listing or when I've just signed up a contract, I'm saying to people, 'OK, I just listed this, it's going to be coming on on Tuesday,'" Johnson said.

Typing in a couple of words, she Tweets her followers and they Tweet their followers and the word gets out, with hundreds of people in her cyber-neighborhood getting the word about the latest open houses and new listings.

Read More at TheBostonChannel.com

The fine art of home staging

2009-04-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

Home staging is hardly new. But in their desperation to move homes in the worst downturn since the Great Depression, some builders are taking this art form to a whole new level.

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the cottage industry that has sprung up as builders, desperate to sell new homes and condos, hire faux owners to liven things up.

The article looks at a Los Angeles event planner hired to give a lived-in feel to a $1.2 million seaside California townhouse that a builder has been trying to unload for more than a year.

The faux owner, who pays a modest rent and gets a bonus if the home sells fast, plays the part to the hilt, putting on some jazz and lighting scented candles before buyers come over. With a little advanced warning, she’ll even throw a batch of cookies into the oven.

She’s even set up a small yoga studio and put up a picture of a baby on the wall.

What’s even more amazing, the ruse works, and works quite well, the Journal reporter finds.

One prospective buyer, informed that the owner was just a tenant hired to put on a good show, was “briefly flummoxed,’’ the Journal reporter notes.

Apparently, he had imagined the faux owner to be a rich “world traveler’’ and maybe even a Fortune 1000 executive, the article notes.

Now that’s staging. Now whether it actually helps sell a home is another question, but I guess it can’t hurt.

Source

Mortgage-relief bill draws more fire

2009-04-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

Bloomberg News / April 30, 2009

WASHINGTON - A proposal to let bankruptcy judges cut mortgage rates for struggling borrowers would "make matters worse," industry groups said as Senate Democrats scrambled to round up enough votes to pass the measure today.

The Financial Services Roundtable, the American Bankers Association, and 10 other organizations, in a letter to senators, said the bill, which is backed by Citigroup Inc., would destabilize the nation's housing market.

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Double-digit drops in home sales, prices

2009-04-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

By Jenifer B. McKim
Globe Staff / April 30, 2009
Massachusetts real estate prices probably haven't hit bottom.

Median residential prices and sales volume dropped by double digits over the first three months of the year, according to data released yesterday by Warren Group, a company that tracks real estate.

The median price for single-family homes fell 18.2 percent, to $253,500, in the first three months of 2009, compared with the same period last year - marking a record drop during any quarter since Warren Group started charting prices in 1987.

Full story

Home prices post loss, but no record is set

2009-04-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

Associated Press / April 29, 2009

NEW YORK - In another sign the housing crisis could be reaching the bottom, home prices dropped sharply in February, but for the first time in 25 months the decline was not a record.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index, released yesterday, showed home prices in 20 major cities tumbled by 18.6 percent from February 2008.

That was slightly better than January's 19 percent and the first time since January 2007 the index didn't set a record.

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Real estate slump hits luxury condos

2009-04-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Boston's luxury real estate market is finally feeling the pain of the housing downturn.

Until recently, sales of luxury condominiums were holding steady - boosted in part by sales at high-end properties like the new Mandarin Oriental - while the city's general housing market lagged behind. But now the luxury market is faring worse than the rest of the Boston condo market.

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Banking on a housing market recovery - by 2020 that is

2009-04-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

Here’s another sign the housing market still has a long away to go.

In New Jersey, a housing analyst is predicting that it will take until 2020 before prices in that state get back to 2005 levels.

My first reaction was that this sounds like more of the mindless doom and gloom that is popular in the market right now.

If the run-up in prices was driven by herd mentality, at times it seems like the never-ending, downhill slide in housing prices is being driven by a similar phenomenon.

But then I started thinking. After all, 2020 is not as far off as it may sound – just 11 years.

And that is about the time it took for the Bay State’s housing market to rebound from the beating it took back in the early 1990s.

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Greater Boston Real Estate Market Rebound Accelerates

2009-04-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

March second straight month-to-month sales increase and big reduction in unsold home inventory demonstrate positive signs for Greater Boston Real Estate Market

NORWELL, MA, ISSUED APRIL 13, 2009…The HouseSavvy Research Department analysis of the Greater Boston real estate market in March shows a 29% increase in month-to-month sales over last month’s numbers, which also had the first month-to-month gain in nine months. Coupled with a 17.5% month-to-month drop in the supply of unsold listings, these are strong indicators of a market poised for continued growth.

Veteran real estate analyst Walter Hall, Chairman of HouseSavvy (housesavvy.com), has released his latest analysis on March real estate market trends throughout the Greater Boston area, which consists of the six counties surrounding Boston and their 167 cities and towns.

March sales totaled 2,419, a 29% increase over 1,868 in February - an increase over the January sales of 1,617, which was the first month-to-month increase in nine months. The average sale price in the Greater Boston market was $337,023 – down 23% March year-to-year, but experiencing only a minor drop the last three months. A third and major positive market indicator: unsold home inventory dropped to a 12 month low of a 5.67 month supply as opposed to a 7.95 month supply as recently as November, 2008. With today’s economic conditions, HouseSavvy Research views a five month supply as indicating a “Balanced Market” with the number of sellers and buyers about equal and home values holding steady.

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Swine Flu: Tips For Staying Healthy

2009-04-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- A swine flu outbreak appears to have killed dozens in Mexico and more cases are showing up in the United States and around the world.

Health officials are recommending several steps to prevent the spread of the virus:
--If you have flu symptoms, stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the disease. Do not return until two days after your symptoms are gone.

--Wash your hands often and cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

--Go to the hospital if you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing; but if your symptoms are mild, stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others at the hospital.

--Masks may be recommended for health care workers, family members and others who come in close contact with swine flu patients, but there is no need for the general public to wear masks.

--It is safe to eat properly handled pork. Cook it to at least of 160F.

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Family Events for April

2009-03-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 1
New Babies/New Moms

It's never too early (or too late) to make new friends. Warmlines is inviting all new mothers to bring their bundles of joy to meet other new mothers and their babies. Ask questions on developmental issues, expectations, and child care options.

12:30-2 p.m. The event repeats on April 15. Free. 225 Nevada St., Newton. 617-244-4636. www.warmlines.org

Thursday, April 2
Early Explorers

The environment needs as many helping hands as possible — even small hands can make a difference. Preschool-age children will learn about the natural world through stories, games, hands-on activities, art projects, and outdoor adventures at this class.

10-11:30 a.m. $4-$6. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 617-983-8500. www.massaudubon.org

Friday, April 3
Emmanuel Music: Bach's St. Matthew Passion

The Orchestra and Chorus of Emmanuel Music will be joined by some young voices — the Boston Children's Chorus — as they perform some of Bach's religious music. John Harbinson will be the conductor.

$25-125, $20 for students. 7:30 p.m. This event repeats on April 5. Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury St., Boston. 617-536-3356. www.emmanuelmusic.org

For More go to Boston.com

Mass. home prices dropped 18 percent

2009-03-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

March 24, 2009 From the Boston Globe Business Team
The median selling price for a single family home in Massachusetts fell 18.3 percent last month on a year-to-year basis, and it was also the worst February for condo sales in 13 years, the Warren Group reported.

Last month, the median selling price for a single-family home in Massachusetts was $245,000, down from $300,000 in February 2008; it was the sixth straight month that the median price has been under $300,000 and the sixth straight month that prices have declined by double-digit percentages, said the Warren Group, a Boston firm that tracks local real estate data and publishes Banker & Tradesman.

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Community health centers get money

2009-03-31T07:48:00.000-07:00

by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor March 27, 2009

Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry todayunveiled a fuller list of 36 community health centers in Massachusetts that will receive a total of $8.6 million in economic stimulus money.

"At a time when families across the Commonwealth are losing their jobs and struggling with health care costs, this funding for our community health centers is desperately needed and will greatly benefit the vital work they do so well,” Kennedy said in a statement. “The first community health center was created here in Massachusetts, and I’ve long been an advocate for the outstanding services they provide in our neighborhoods. I commend President Obama for his commitment to ensuring health centers are a centerpiece of our nation’s health care system so they can continue to serve those who would not otherwise have access to such quality care.”

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Walking away from mortgage is costly

2009-03-31T07:37:00.000-07:00

By Leslie Geary • Bankrate.com

Call it the fast unraveling of the American dream.

Americans are losing their properties at an alarming rate. The national foreclosure rate now stands at 3.3 percent, and more than 11 percent of all mortgages are either delinquent or in foreclosure, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

In most cases, homeowners end up in foreclosure because of a job loss or a gimmicky mortgage with a rate that resets so high the homeowner no longer can afford to make the payment.

However, some homeowners who can afford their mortgage -- even if they struggle to make the payment -- may be tempted to abandon their dwellings simply to get a financial fresh start.

Such a decision can have dire and lingering financial ramifications, experts say.

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Boston Condo Sales

2009-03-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

In the last 3 months 478 Boston condos sold according to MLS. So, who’s buying what?

Below is a price break-down of Boston condo sales.

Number of Boston condos sold from $99,999.00 or Less
86

Number of Boston condos sold from $100,000.00 to $199,999.00
72

Number of Boston condos sold from $200,000.00 to $299,999.00
85

Number of Boston condos sold from $300,000.00 to $499,999.00
149

Number of Boston condos sold from $500,000.00 to $799,999.00
40

Number of Boston condos sold from $800,000.00 to $999,999.00
10

Number of Boston condos sold from $1,000,000 to $1,999,999
22

Number of Boston condos sold from $2,000,000.00 and Above
14

Boston Real estate listings on rise; some feel a thaw

2009-03-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

Spring may be thawing the Massachusetts real estate market.

After weeks of having few homes to market, real estate agents in parts of Boston and the suburbs said an increasing number of owners are putting their homes up for sale, as lower mortgage rates induce buyers to make offers.

"The spring market is definitely opening up," said Patti McTague, a sales agent at Hammond Residential in Belmont. "There are many new listings going under agreement quickly. Listings are coming on. We are very optimistic."

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Boston Real Estate - Living large by living small

2009-03-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to live well is to live in less space. Many of us are “overhoused.” That means we live in more house than we really need. Can you afford that guest room that serves as a personal junk depot?

I asked Laura Moore, owner of Clutter Clarity, what she’d recommend for people who want to live large by living small:

The great thing about living in small number of square feet is that it keeps you honest and creative. Your stuff gets in your way sooner, so you have to deal with it sooner. You are much more likely to put things back where they belong because if you don’t, it literally gets in your way. For example, you know you have too many books when they stop fitting into the bookcase. Yet, if you want to be creative, you can turn those attractive picture books into a stacked side table in the living room or next to your bed. After that it’s time to choose to let go of some. Or you can build a shelf along the top edge of the window and the ceiling for books or display a much loved collection.

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Boston Mortgage applications surge in week

2009-03-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - Mortgage applications surged last week, coming mostly from borrowers looking to refinance at sharply lower rates after the Federal Reserve unveiled plans to buy Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said yesterday its weekly application index climbed 32.2 percent for the week ended March 20. The index came in at 1,159.4, up from 876.9 a week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the index rose 31.4 percent compared with the previous week, the trade group said.

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February existing home sales rise by 5.1 percent

2009-03-23T10:32:00.001-07:00

March 23, 2009
By ALAN ZIBEL, AP Real Estate Writer

WASHINGTON – Sales of previously occupied homes jumped unexpectedly in February by the largest amount in nearly six years as first-time buyers took advantage of deep discounts on foreclosures and other distressed properties.

Economists said sales, while still at levels not seen since 1997, may finally be coming back to life after declining sharply following the stock market plunge last autumn.

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Sixty-four websites on Boston life that you should know.

2009-03-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

Industry insiders devour bostonreb.com, owned by John Ford, and boston.redfin.com/blog, a local appendage of a national online brokerage. The sites have a fair amount of boosterism -- hey, they're in real estate -- but there's also some solid analysis and even off-topic silliness, such as a bostonreb colloquy about London's street-side public urinals.

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Storm barrels up Atlantic Coast

2009-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK, March 2 (UPI) -- Police reported three storm-related traffic deaths from a snowstorm that blew into New England Monday after burying states along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.

Separate crashes on icy roads Sunday claimed the lives of Jose Fuentes, 57, in Greenlawn, N.Y.; Ray A. Charles, 23, in Medford, N.Y.; and an unidentified man on Route 78 in Newark, N.J., Newsday and The (Newark) New Jersey Star-Ledger reported.

The storm left nearly a foot of heavy wet snow in parts of New York and states south to the Carolinas, canceling hundreds of flights in airports from Nashville to Boston, where as much as 15 inches of snow was expected.

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Massachusetts Turnpike OKs higher tolls

2009-03-02T09:37:00.000-08:00

Feb 24, 2009
BOSTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority's directors approved a two-part toll hike on Tuesday that would not go into effect if the legislature approves an alternative, a 19-cent hike in the gasoline tax.

The Turnpike risks defaulting on some of its debt by the end of June unless it gets more revenue, and the toll hikes would raise $100 million.

Turnpike Authority Executive Director Alan LaBovidge, just before the board approved the toll hikes by a four to one vote, said: "It (the toll increase) provides sufficient revenues to meet legally required bond coverages."

If the legislature rejects Democratic Governor Deval Patrick's plan to raise the gasoline tax to 42.5 cents, one of the nation's highest fuel taxes, drivers in the Boston area would pay an extra 25 cents to take the Turnpike. They would pay a total of $1.50, starting on March 29, and $2.00 starting on July 1.

Tolls for Boston tunnels would first increase $2.00 to $5.50 and then rise to $7.00.

Like many municipal issuers, the Turnpike has had problems with interest rate swaps backed by troubled bond insurers.

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Mass. healthcare reform is failing us

2009-03-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

MASSACHUSETTS HAS been lauded for its healthcare reform, but the program is a failure. Created solely to achieve universal insurance coverage, the plan does not even begin to address the other essential components of a successful healthcare system.

What would such a system provide? The prestigious Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, has defined five criteria for healthcare reform. Coverage should be: universal, not tied to a job, affordable for individuals and families, affordable for society, and it should provide access to high-quality care for everyone.

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Chef, mom will teach 'Raw food, A to Z,' at Lancaster library

2009-03-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

Lancaster - Adrienne Martin, a raw food chef, instructor, wife and mom, will discuss healthy eating and how to prepare a raw food meal in a workshop at the library at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.

Eating raw is not what you think it is. It is not grabbing a carrot out of the refrigerator or forcing down the same salad for lunch every day. Eating raw is fun, easy and delicious and adds great nutrition to your daily diet. Raw foods can be woven into a traditional diet or become an entire lifestyle.

Martin is a certified raw food chef and instructor and she is a delightful program presenter. Adrienne is a wife and mom and shares great ideas for including healthy eating into family life. Adrienne will demonstrate food prep for an entire raw food meal and each participant will enjoy a little feast. Cost will be $8 per person and registration is necessary.

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Reaching high in City of Seven Hills

2009-03-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

The Sunday Herald is taking a hard look at how communities across the state are poised for a post-recession economic recovery. Our first stop last month was Chelsea. Today we visit Worcester.

Boston is the Hub. Providence had its “renaissance.” But Worcester, birthplace of the American Valentine card, has long been saddled with an unromantic label: New England’s second-largest city.

While Worcester’s neighbors grabbed the limelight, the City of Seven Hills became an unpretentious and increasingly desirable destination for health care, biotechnology and education, industries that hold their own when economic storm clouds gather.

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Stuczynski sets American indoor pole vault record

2009-03-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AFP) — Olympic silver medallist Jenn Stuczynski easily won the women's pole vault at the US Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The 27-year-old Stuczynski surpassed her own American record to win the event by clearing 4.83 metres. The American outdoor and indoor record holder failed in three attempts to clear 4.86 metres.

She won silver at the 2008 Beijing Games with a vault of 4.80m and trails only world indoor record holder Elena Isinbaeva of Russia (5.00m).

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Business groups call for 25-cent gas tax increase

2009-03-02T09:20:00.000-08:00

Five business groups today endorsed a whopping 25-cent increase in the state gas tax - 6 cents more than proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick - as long as tough new reforms are enacted.

The surprise endorsement of such a big gas-tax hike was made this morning by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, NAIOP Massachusetts and A Better City.

“It is time for Massachusetts to make bold decisions and take on the incredible challenges that our transportation infrastructure faces today,” said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

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Snowstorm targets East Coast; New England braces for 15 inches

2009-03-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

(CNN) -- A snowstorm that could last up to 18 hours was on its way to southern New England, and Boston, Massachusetts, could be snowed under with up to 15 inches, the National Weather Service said Sunday afternoon.

Monday's commuters in the region could face a nightmare with blowing and drifting snow, freezing temperatures, gusty winds and periods of sleet. Flight delays and cancellations were likely, the weather service said.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared a snow emergency starting 10 p.m. Sunday in anticipation of the storm, CNN affiliate WCVB reported. Boston public schools will be canceled on Monday. At 2:15 a.m. Monday, light snow was starting to fall, WCVB reported.

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Wine events on Mondays

2009-03-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

It's snowing outside. No matter what may have occured weather-wise in the few days earlier last week, Mother Nature is explicitly reminding us that it's still very much winter.

What better way to start your Monday that with sleet and snow and gray skies early in the morning? What better way than to arrive at work, if you work at an office, wet and grumpy, with coffee spiled over your waterproof jacket sleeve?

But Bostonians are a tough crowd to wean off their routine. I don't know about America, but Boston definitely runs on Dunkin--or whatever your wake-up beverage station of choice is.

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MA Governor Patrick Proposes $2 "Carbon Fee" At Logan Airport: New Money Goes Where?

2009-03-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

We are seeing the effects of global warming, and I don't mean the erratic disasters that are suppose to occur, but rather new government fees on the people. Who would have guessed that? According to reports, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts wants the Logan International Airport to hike up their parking rates by $2 for a "carbon fee".

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Obama Unveils Plan to Stem Foreclosures

2009-02-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama rolled out a bold $75 billion, three-part plan Wednesday to halt the soaring rate of mortgage foreclosures nationwide, one that seeks to encourage refinancing of homes now worth less than their mortgages and provides incentives for lenders to lower the debt load on struggling homeowners.

The Homeowner Stability Initiative, which Obama unveiled in Phoenix, seeks to address one of the triggers of the global financial crisis: the 2.3 million U.S. foreclosures last year that are protracting the housing crisis and helping to drive down home prices across the nation.

Specifically, the Obama plan seeks to provide low-cost refinancing for as many as 5 million Americans. It seeks to help delinquent or at-risk borrowers get their mortgages modified so that no more than 31 percent of their income is tied up in their mortgages. And it provides financial incentives to lenders and even a new insurance program to promote more mortgage modifications.

Like the failed efforts under the Bush administration, however, the Obama plan doesn’t compel banks and other lenders to modify troubled mortgages. Instead, it provides a menu of incentives that may or may not prove sufficient.

Banks joined two prior voluntary efforts during the Bush administration _ Hope for Homeowners and the Federal Housing Administration’s FHA Secure _ but these efforts have resulted in relatively few mortgage modifications.
Now they’ll have a stick waved at them if they don’t comply with the subsidy plan. It will come in the form of Obama’s support for legislation pending in Congress that would allow bankruptcy court judges to modify the terms of a mortgage.

That’s forbidden right now, and banks and other lending institutions fiercely oppose what they call “cram down” legislation, warning that it’ll bring uncertainty for lenders, who will respond by restricting mortgage lending.

Banks may soon have to choose between the lesser of two evils. They could either modify loans - with a subsidy - to provide lower lending rates, and lose what they might have made from the higher lending rate over the life of the loan. Or they can do nothing and run the risk that a homeowner could file for bankruptcy and then have a judge order new loan terms that allow the borrower to stay in the home - and pay the lender less money.

The president’s plan also offers payments to mortgage servicers, who collect mortgage payments on behalf of investors who own the mortgages originally issued by banks but were sold into a secondary market. Servicers apparently would be offered a payment for modification on par with what they would collect in the case of foreclosure.

Charter schools score in budget

2009-01-28T14:56:00.000-08:00

By James Vaznis
Governor Deval Patrick, who has consistently opposed raising the cap on the number of
charter schools, will dramatically change course in the budget he releases today, allowing for more charters in low-performing districts as long as these new schools try to help the most vulnerable students.

The reversal was fueled by a desire to shrink persistent achievement gaps in those districts, Education Secretary Paul Reville said in an interview with the Globe yesterday afternoon. The new schools would be required to cater primarily to those who traditionally struggle the most: special education students, English language learners, low-income students, and those on the brink of dropping out.

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Museum backers seek halt to selloff

2009-01-28T14:55:00.000-08:00

By Geoff Edgers
Donors and longtime supporters of the Rose Art Museum are exploring whether they can block Brandeis University's stunning decision to close the museum and sell an art collection that had been valued at $350 million.

Jonathan Lee, chairman of the museum's board of overseers, said yesterday that he intends to meet with officials in the state attorney general's Public Charity Division to see if there is anything he can do to stop the university from shutting down the 48-year-old museum at the end of the summer.

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Downtown Crossing

2009-01-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

Median home prices: Condominiums $540,000 (Boston proper)
Residential tax rate: $10.97 (citywide)
Average tax bill: $3,801 (citywide)
Choice location: The Opera House on Washington Street, with its mural art and ornamental details, restored to its former glory.
Cocktail party nugget: British troops trashed the Old South Meeting House during the Revoluntionary War as payback to the patriots who used the historic building as a gathering spot.

More on this Neighborhood

It's all a matter of ZIP code

2009-01-28T14:15:00.000-08:00

Finally, that place on Cape Cod may be affordable.

Hyannis was among the communities on the Cape that experienced significant drops in housing prices in 2008. The median price for a single-family house in that Barnstable village was a mere $205,000 by the end of the year, according to a review by Warren Group.

The towns of Brewster and Falmouth also saw large declines in real estate prices as the housing slowdown entered its fourth year, along with the Barnstable villages of Cotuit and Osterville.

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House defeats bill to delay digital TV transition

2009-01-28T14:06:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON—Bucking the Obama administration, House Republicans on Wednesday defeated a bill to delay the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting to June 12 -- leaving an estimated 6.5 million U.S. households unprepared for the switchover.

The 258-168 vote failed to clear the two-thirds threshold needed for passage in a victory for GOP members, who warn that postponing the transition from the current Feb. 17 deadline would confuse consumers.

House Republicans say a delay also would burden wireless companies and public safety agencies waiting for the spectrum that will be freed up by the switch, and create added costs for television stations that would have to continue broadcasting both analog and digital signals for four more months.

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Postmaster General: Mail days may need to be cut

2009-01-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON—Massive deficits could force the post office to cut out one day of mail delivery, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday, in asking lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.

If the change happens, that doesn't necessarily mean an end to Saturday mail delivery. Previous post office studies have looked at the possibility of skipping some other day when mail flow is light, such as Tuesday.

Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year. "If current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year," Potter said in testimony for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee.

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Gov. Unveils $28 Billion Budget

2009-01-28T14:01:00.000-08:00

BOSTON -- Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday proposed a series of service cuts, new taxes and deep draws from the state's dwindling rainy day fund to finance the Massachusetts budget amid a national recession and sagging state tax collections.

The Democrat said he planned to close a $1.1 billion deficit for the current fiscal year with $191 million in cuts, $68 million in new taxes or fees, a $327 million withdrawal from the state's rainy day fund and $533 million in federal stimulus money the state is expecting.

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Meal Tax Proposal Meets Opposition

2009-01-28T14:00:00.001-08:00

By Matt Quan
BOSTON, Mass. -- Restaurant industry leaders are angry that Gov. Deval Patrick wants to increase the sales tax for restaurant meals and allow cities and towns to impose an optional additional meal tax.

"This proposal singles out restaurants at a time when they can least afford it!" said Peter Christie, CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.

The governor wants to increase the meal tax to 6 percent and allow cities and towns the ability to collect an additional 1 percent local meal tax. This proposal means greater hardships for restaurants and the people they serve who are already suffering from a poor economy, said Christie.

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New! Boston MA News on Twitter

2009-01-26T08:12:00.000-08:00

Visit us for real-time real estate related news and info at http://twitter.com/bostonmanews.

Ship crashes into South Boston pier

2009-01-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009

A ship crashed at Conley Terminal in South Boston Wednesday morning. The 598-foot oil tanker called the Baltic Commander One was switching berths when it lost propulsion and crashed into the pier, the Coast ...

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European-style apartments close to ready

2009-01-05T09:19:00.000-08:00

Bit by bit over the last four months, new multi-colored housing units have begun to rise on a vacant lot on Bradford Street, adding a bit of panache to the city's drab West Side, a neighborhood that developers ...

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Modern and Historical Home in Andover

2009-01-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

This Andover home is barely distinguishable from its original form in 1790

This home only had two lower and two upper rooms when it was built in 1790 by the Abbott family, one of the town's founding families. The home now has 8 total rooms, 4 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms.

Address: 72 Central St.
Price: $895,000
Style: Federal
Built: Circa 1790
Square feet: 2,987

(Aram Boghosian Photo for The Boston Globe)

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To avoid the rough, country clubs cut fees

2009-01-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

The Golf Club of Cape Cod opened in Falmouth in June 2007 to broad acclaim. Ranked by golf magazines as one of the nation's top new courses and billing itself as an "exclusive enclave," it commanded a jaw-dropping initiation fee of $85,000.

But 18 months later, hammered by the disintegrating economy, the club is throwing open its gates by waiving the fee in order to attract new dues-paying members.

"Like everybody else, we're struggling a little bit, trying to find people willing to spend the money to join a private club," said Doug Errhalt, the club's head golf pro.

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Topless Coffee Shop Proposed For Small Town

2009-01-05T08:57:00.001-08:00

Motel May Offer New Way To Start Day
POSTED: 9:45 am EST January 5, 2009

A one-time motel in a small central Maine town could soon be offering an eye-opening way to start the day -- topless coffee shop waitresses.

The Vassalboro Planning Board on Tuesday will consider a business permit request for a topless coffee shop at the site of the former Grand View Motel on busy Route 3.

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Icy Roads Make For Treacherous Commute

2009-01-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

Some School Systems Call For Delayed Openings

January 5, 2009

BOSTON -- Early morning freezing rain has made for a treacherous commute.

The pre-dawn rain on Monday morning coated cars with a glaze of ice and left some side roads slicker than skating rinks.

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Beacon Hill Neighborhood in Boston Massachusetts

2008-11-28T14:24:00.000-08:00

Beacon Hill is an upscale neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. This luxury neighborhood features condos for sale priced up to the millions with views of some of Boston's tallest skyscrapers.

Beacon Hill is a Boston Neighborhood that is home to approximately 10,000 residents. Beacon Hill offers Federal Style row houses with gardens out front that resemble brownstones.

The area is named "Beacon Hill" because it is at the highest point in Boston.

Beacon Hill Condos

Boston Back-Bay Massachusetts

2008-11-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

Back-Bay is an upscale Boston Massachusetts neighborhood offering luxury homes, business and retail venues. Back Bay and neighboring Beacon Hill are considered Boston's most expensive neighborhoods, with townhouses regularly selling for millions of dollars.Popular upmarket shopping destinations include Newbury and Boylston Streets as well as the Prudential Center and Copley Place malls.

Architecturally the neighborhood is dominated by Victorian brownstone buildings in its northern, more residential portion; the southern part of the neighborhood is far more commercial and is home to some of Boston's tallest skyscrapers.

Back Bay Condos for Sale

Allston Massachusetts

2008-11-28T14:14:00.000-08:00

Allston, Massachusetts is a Boston Neighborhood offering many single-family homes, townhomes, highrises and condos and

Allston's residents are mainly students who attend Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern University, Harvard University, MIT and Emerson College.

Housing stock varies but largely consists of brick apartment buildings, especially on Commonwealth Avenue and the streets directly off of it; while areas further down Brighton Avenue, close to Brighton, are largely dotted with wooden triple-deckers. Lower Allston, across the Massachusetts Turnpike from the rest of Allston, consists of mostly 1890-1920s single-family and multi-family Victorian homes.

Allston Condos

Mortgage rates fall for 3rd week in a row

2008-09-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Fixed mortgage rates fell for a third week in a row as oil prices dropped.

The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 5 basis points, to 6.55 percent, according to the Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders. A basis point is one-hundredth of 1 percentage point. The mortgages in this week's survey had an average total of 0.41 discount and origination points. One year ago, the mortgage index was 6.5 percent; four weeks ago, it was 6.74 percent.

The benchmark 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 5 basis points, to 6.09 percent, and the 30-year, fixed-rate jumbo, for larger loans, dropped 9 basis points, to 7.52 percent. The benchmark 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage went the other way, rising 2 basis points, to 6.29 percent.

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Boston Living: About Boston

2008-08-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

Boston is the capital of the largest city of the commonwealth of Massachusetts and is located in Suffolk County. As the largest city in New England, Boston is the eceonomic and cultural center of the entire region.

As one of the early English settlements, Boston has a rich history including events during the American Revolution such as the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston. Boston is also home to the first public school, Boston Latin School, and the first college, Harvard, as well as the first subway system in the United States.
Boston also takes pride in sports, such as it's baseball team, the Red Sox who took the 2007 World Series Champs and it's NBA team, The Celtics, with a rich history of their own and recent 2008 NBA Champs.

All this makes Boston one of the most interesting places to live on the East Coast. Click to learn more about Homes and Real Estate Opportunities in Boston.