Take a stroll down the Freedom Trail and explore Boston's history.

As one of the most prominent cities during the years that shaped the country that became America, Boston, Massachusetts is rich in history. From Paul Revere’s famous ride to the infamous Boston Massacre, the city saw more than its share of historical moments that changed the course of history and the fate of the fledgling country that became the United States of America. Just as the city itself blends history with the modern world, so does the city’s real estate. Boston real estate is unique in that it allows you to find a downtown Boston apartment that offers both the charm of days gone by and the amenities of the future. Boston luxury real estate offers the finest in Boston condominiums and lofts. Whether you plan to visit Boston in November, or are planning a Boston relocation during the Thanksgiving holiday, a tour of some of the more famous Boston sites is a must.

Thanksgiving in Boston is a beautiful time of year. Although snow is possible at Thanksgiving, you are more likely to encounter cool days and cooler nights. A daytime walk along the Freedom Trail will allow you the opportunity to take a step back in time while strolling through downtown Boston. The 2.5 mile trail takes you past many of Boston’s more well known historical sites such as the Boston Latin School. Founded in 1635, the school is not only the country’s first public school, but the oldest school in America. Both the Bunker Hill Monument and the statue of Benjamin Franklin can also be found along the trail. The Freedom Trail also passes by the site of the Boston Massacre which took place in 1770. The incident resulted in the death of five men at the hands of British Soldiers and is seen as one of the important seeds that eventually led to the American Revolution. The Revolutionary War, in turn, cost thousands of men their lives. The trail includes three important historical burying grounds where many Revolutionary War victims were laid to rest. Granary Burying Grounds, for example, is home to three signers of the United States Constitution along with Paul Revere and all five of the victims of the Boston Massacre.

Along with the Freedom Trail, the Boston National Historical Park offers a glimpse into many of the events that led to the American Revolutionary War. The U.S. navy, as part of the Historical Park program, offers tours through the U.S.S. Constitution. The Constitution, named for the U.S. Constitution by president George Washington, is the oldest commissioned naval vessel still capable of floating. Commissioned in 1797, the vessel was built in Boston and was part of the newly formed United States Navy. Both guided and self-guided tours are available along both the Freedom Trail and through the Historical Park.

Boston is not only a historically significant city, but a modern city with a wealth of real estate options for the discerning renter or investor. Whether you are looking for a Boston waterfront condo, a back bay condo, or prefer the elegance of South Boston apartments, Boston, Massachusetts has what you are looking for in luxury living.

Asana
776 Boylston Street
617-535-8888

For a Thanksgiving menu with an oriental twist, those living in a Boston loft could easily move their Thanksgiving dinner to Asana. Their Thanksgiving Day menu is four courses, with starters such as five-spiced poached seckel pear with La Pearl blue semifreddo and a main course of turkey with potatoes, chestnuts and vegetables. An adult can dine at the restaurant for $76 while a child will dine for $34. Call in advance to make reservations, as Thanksgiving day is a popular day to eat at a Boston restaurant.

Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro
25 Charles Street
617-723-7575

For Thanksgiving Day, the Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro affords its diners the luxury of enjoying a true New England Thanksgiving dinner without the hard work that goes into it. At $53 a person, diners enjoy a multi-course menu on Thanksgiving Day at this restaurant. The menu includes lobster bisque, turkey breast, New England soft cod stew, winter vegetables and homemade pies and tarts for desserts. You can’t go wrong with this classic take on the Thanksgiving meal, with a New England twist.

The Beehive
541 Tremont Street
617-423-0069

For those living in South End Boston condominiums who are looking for a truly unique way to spend Thanksgiving Day, The Beehive is the answer. This restaurant is offering live entertainment all day on Thanksgiving, as well as an a la carte menu that gives guests the luxury of choosing exactly what they want for their Thanksgiving meal. Menu items include pumpkin soup, farm-raised turkey, cranberry chutney, parsnip mashed potatoes and pumpkin chocolate chip cheesecake for dessert. In addition, the restaurant offers a vegetarian Thanksgiving menu as well as a menu for “little pilgrims” who may not eat as much.

Dante
40 Edwin H Land Boulevard
617-497-4200

If you happen to live in Cambridge condos, consider spending your Thanksgiving Day at Dante. Dante is offering a traditional yet elegant Thanksgiving Day menu. This prix fixe, three-course menus features all the wonderful aspects of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with touches of elegance and class. The menu includes Vermont turkey with stuffing, sweet potato fries, maple Brussels sprouts and cranberry sauce. For dessert, the restaurant is offering a sampling of four different homemade pies topped with homemade ice cream. Boston residents can’t go wrong dining traditionally on Thanksgiving Day at Dante.

Of course, these are just a few of the restaurants offering Thanksgiving Day menus in the city of Boston. Those living in Boston waterfront condos are sure to find plenty of options when they try and decide where to spend their Thanksgiving holiday. Just remember: you can still enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving Day meal, with all your friends and family by your side, without the work of cooking a turkey, timing your side dishes and baking the absolute perfect pie. Let some of the best restaurants in Boston do the work for you, so you can truly enjoy your holiday and reflect on everything you have to be thankful for.

Atlantic Fish Co.
761 Boylston Street
617-267-4000

Known as a landmark for seafood in Boston, Atlantic Fish Co. has been open since 1978. It prints a new menu daily, which showcases the freshest and highest quality seafood that is available that day. Specialties include their New England clam chowder, Maine lobster pot pie and a swordfish chop. The restaurant, designed to mirror a cruising vessel and show appreciation to the sea, also has an outdoor patio for diners as well.

Neptune Oyster
63 Salem Street
617-742-3474

For an experience totally unique to Boston, Neptune Oyster is the seafood restaurant to try. This tiny restaurant is made up of an 18-seat raw oyster bar and 26-seat dining room. It features a variety of oysters and wines designed to go perfectly with this seafood delight. In addition, it features other items on the menu including swordfish, sturgeon and scallops. It is sure to delight the palate of any seafood lover who lives in a Boston loft.

B&G Oysters
550 Tremont Street
617-423-0550

B&G Oysters is another unique oyster bar in Boston with a uniquely neighborhood feel. The restaurant describes itself as a “modern yet classic take” on the oyster bar. It specializes in seafood dishes that are paired expertly with the best wines, giving its diners a well-rounded restaurant experience. B&G Oysters is located in the city’s South End, and features a cozy dining room as well as an outdoor patio that is open during the summer months. It has been praised in a variety of publications, including Boston Magazine, Food & Wine and The Boston Globe.

Grill 23 and Bar
161 Berkeley Street
617-542-2255

With more than 20 years in business, Grill 23 and Bar has become known for its fine dining and elegant restaurant. Known as one of the best steakhouse and seafood grills in Boston, it prides itself on the creative yet delicious presentation of seafood dishes. Signature dishes include the Shetland Island Salmon which combines a delicious cut of salmon with noodletown marinade, toy sim greens, shady oaks oyster mushrooms and a miso mustard. In addition, diners can delight in the freshest catch of the day with the Dayboat Catch. Beyond its excellent selection of seafood dishes, Grill 23 and Bar has a wine list that cannot be topped.

Union Oyster House
41 Union Street
617-723-7940

If you want to dine at a truly New England restaurant, the Union Oyster House is the perfect choice. Known as the oldest restaurant in America and designated as a National Historic Landmark, this restaurant offers guests a variety of oyster creations. Guests can dine on unique oyster stews and chowders, or just eat the oysters out of the half shell. If oyster’s aren’t your thing, the restaurant also highlights a variety of seafood dishes that include lobster, scallops and halibut. It’s an easy choice when it comes to famed Boston dining.

Whether you are already living in a Boston waterfront condo, or are just looking into Boston luxury real estate, you are sure to find plenty of delicious seafood restaurants in the Boston area. These are some of the best the city has to offer, you won’t go wrong if you dine at one of these Boston restaurants

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Classic & Beauty at 285 Columbus

Originally built in 1924, this eight story property has been rehabilitated by the Boston Residential Group, the same developers of the highly sought after 360 Newbury St. properties. Located on the cusp of the Back Bay and South End, the 285 Columbus Lofts condos highlight high-end features and fittings in a building that is uniquely Boston. This brick building is in the classic revival style and is convenient to all the amenities of historic Boston. It also offers some of the best views of the neighborhood, especially from the rooftop deck.

There are 63 lofts located in the 285 Columbus Lofts property available in three different styles ranging from 753 to 1579 square feet. These three floor plans are available in any of four different views. The first style of loft is a one bedroom, one bathroom unit, and they range between 750 and 900 square feet. The second type of these Boston condominiums is a one bedroom plus a study and two bathrooms or a two bedroom, two bathroom loft, which range from 1000 to 1300 square feet. The third style of luxury Boston condo is a two bedroom, two bathroom and a study unit which are upward of 1500 square feet. Only one of these types of units is available per floor of the building.

Depending on the unit and the floor it is on, some of the available views are: of Clarendon Street and Columbus Avenue and the South End, or over the Back Bay T Stop.

Each loft in this building has been fitted with the most luxurious fittings and touches. Dark hardwood floors are throughout; custom made cabinetry by Rosario; high-end kitchen appliances by makers such as Wolf, Jenn-Air and Bosch; and elegant fixtures in the kitchen and bathrooms. European finishes such as marble bath countertops and granite kitchen counters add to the luxuriousness of these properties. Each unit comes complete with a laundry hookup, and cable and high-speed internet connections. Each loft has high ceilings and windows, but they offer the privacy of enclosed bedrooms. You can have the feeling of living in a loft but still maintain some privacy.

The building is serviced by two elevators, and there is a 24 hour on-site concierge. Each unit has access to a shared roof deck which has stunning panoramic views of the area, and there is extra storage available on-site. The ground level of this building is home to nearly 10,000 square feet of retail space. As an additional bonus, there is underground parking available.

285 Columbus Lofts are just steps away from public transportation, a high-end fitness center, world-class dining, museums, art galleries and other desirable amenities. Unlike other Boston condos, this building has artfully integrated all the historic value of the building with luxurious and modern lofts.

The 285 Columbus Lofts are ideal for those who want to want to live in luxurious surroundings but who still appreciate the aesthetic value of an historic neighborhood. Step away from the hustle of downtown Boston condos and enter a world of fine living in your own loft in one of the city’s best areas.

If you are interested in learning more aboutavailable 285 Columbus homes, please contact our knowledgeable Warren Residential Group agents today and schedule a viewing!

The area around The Bryant is a great place for all types of Boston residents.  Families, young professionals, and senior citizens can all appreciate the convenience of an urban downtown without the hectic bustle.  The peaceful, tree-lined streets never bother locals with too much noise, but they never seem boring either.

If you are interested in more information on condominium listings at The Bryant, contact Warren Residential Group today!

A New Alternative

Since about 30% of meals are eaten outside of the home Menino said in a statement regarding the initiative that, “food trucks are a fun, fresh way for people to enjoy a variety of food, much of it healthy and locally produced.” A few of the initial vendors include the Cupcakory, Redbones BBQ, Grilled Cheese Nation, Kick*ss Cupcakes, Clover Fast Food, and the Froyo Truck. Director of the initiative, Edith Murnane, also mentioned that several more locations and vendors will be announced soon. So if you’re walking down Commonwealth Avenue to your Brookline apartment you may be lucky enough to grab a delicious meal on the go!

Food Truck Initial Launch

The first day of the food truck launch last Wednesday saw only about a handful of the trucks at their designated locations. Companies blamed their absence on truck repairs as well as issues with obtaining food permits and other unforeseen problems. While the first day of the Boston Food Truck Initiative seemed to be a “soft launch,” Murnane assures Bostonians that food trucks will occupy these allocated spots as soon as they possibly can.

Although there is no specific deadline for when the food trucks must start selling to customers, there is a stipulation within the contract that they “could and would inhabit this space.” So it’s only a matter of time before these companies start capitalizing on this great opportunity.

If you’re looking for a new Boston apartment so you can enjoy the benefits of initiatives such as these, contact Warren Residential today!

Completed in 2005, Atelier 505 was one of the most successful luxury condo projects that have been completed in the past decade, selling out pre-construction very quickly, and its current resales are now in very high demand. Many units feature views of Boston’s Back Bay from their beautiful, large floor-to-ceiling windows.

Atelier 505 offers lots of great amenities, including a 24/7 concierge who is there to help you with packages, dry cleaning, reservations and more, an underground parking garage, as well as hardwood floors, custom cabinetry, and appliances. The 3^rd floor of the luxury apartment houses a gym outfitted with cardio equipment and free weights, as well as a common room and a patio that you can use for anything from family get-togethers to business functions.

Atelier 505 is truly one of the South End’s most luxurious properties. Located in the fabulous and diverse neighborhood along Tremont Street’s various cuisine offerings and sitting right next to the Boston Center for the Arts, residents of Atelier 505 will have numerous dining and entertainment options to choose from.

For more information on current sales and rental listings at Atelier 505, please contact a Warren Residential Group agent. In addition, if you’re considering a move to Boston or if you have any questions about Boston Real Estate or any of the Boston neighborhoods,we are qualified and knowledgeable on those aspects as well and would love to assist you.

• Lots of layers! Wear clothing that can be comfortably layered, and invest in a good pair of warm boots or footwear that will protect your feet from all the snow on the ground.

• Skin is vulnerable to frost bite at such low temperatures, so if you’re going outside for more than just a few minutes, cover exposed skin with hats, gloves, and scarves.

• Avoid walking on frozen lakes or ponds; ice may not be fully frozen and you do not want to fall into that freezing water! Try to avoid ice patches on sidewalks and streets as well, they pose a risk for falling and injuries.

• Drink warm, non-caffeinated fluids. There are tons of great places to get some hot chocolate around the city, just be sure to bundle up before you venture out of your Boston apartment!

For those who may be having heating issues at your apartment, here are some helpful tips for those situations:

• Boston Rental units should be heated to 68 degrees during the day then lowered to about 64 at night. (Warm blankets will keep you warm even with the lower heat setting.)

• If you have any issues with your heat, contact your landlord for help at first. If you find that your landlord is unresponsive, contact the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline by calling (617)-635-4500; the Inspectional Services Department will investigate situations and work with landlords to remedy them.

Lastly, here are a few general heating safety tips provided from the City for their residents:

• NEVER use your oven as a source for heat!

• Don’t keep electric powered portable heaters on while sleeping, and make sure to keep them at least three feet away from any combustible materials.

• Make sure you have working flashlights and extra batteries in case of power outages.

• Be careful not to overload electrical sockets, they can pose the threat of an electrical fire.

• If you’re burning candles and want to leave the room, blow out the flame before you leave; leaving candles unattended is another potential fire starter.

By following these helpful tips, staying warm in the Boston winter should be a snap! Don’t let the cold scare you away, if you’re looking to relocate to the greater Boston area or simply want to take a look at some South End apartments or Cambridge luxury apartments, contact Warren Residential. One of our knowledgeable and qualified agents would be glad to help you find your new home, and we’ll be sure to bundle up on our search!

In times of economic struggle, people seem to start resorting to desperate measures to earn money, and sometimes it can lead to scamming others out of their hard-earned cash. One well-known scam is called a Rental Scam. Whether you’re looking to rent an apartment in Brighton, Beacon Hill, or the South End, here are a few suggestions to help you avoid falling into the hands of a rental scammer:

–Perform a background check. Ask for a business license, company profile and the contact numbers/addresses of at least two customers who have dealt with the Realtor in question. In turn, if a Realtor approves your application without so much as checking your background, this is cause for suspicion.

–Be extremely wary of a Realtor who insists you pay cash instead of check for a deposit. Cashing a check leaves a trail while they can just disappear with your money, so only pay with a check.

–If the rent seems too low compared to other apartments in the neighborhood, question it! There is a benchmark from which rental rates are based, so check the cost of living in your location against the rent you will be charged for the property you have your eye on. Odds are, if you have a suspicion about the validity of the property being rented to you, you are probably right in your suspicions.

–Don’t sign right away! If the person you’re negotiating with seems far too eager to get you to sign, offering you anything and everything they can think of to make it happen, this is a RED FLAG! Make sure your questions are answered and every transaction has been made clear to you before signing.

–Do your research about foreclosures. Before sending a deposit, check with local banks or a trusted real estate agent that can provide you with property information. If the property is under foreclosure, it is under lock and key from a bank and you will not be permitted to move there.

–Ask your friends and family for their opinions. If you allow the people you trust to help you, it will be harder for scammers to con you out of your hard-earned cash.

Avoiding a rental scam all comes down to your ability to listen to your instincts and pay close attention to facts. By using a real estate company like Warren Residential Group, we can help you to avoid the stresses of searching for rentals on your own, so contact us today to schedule a viewing.

A recent article, however, indicates that now the debate may be shifting in the favor of buying a home. For a long time, renting was considered the cheaper alternative, but due to current economic factors such as low mortgage rates, it is now believed that in some instances homeownership may in fact be the less expensive alternative.

Since the economic downturn in 2007, average apartment rental rates have dropped, but when compared with the decline in home values, this drop appears moderate.  Research shows that home values in the US have gone down 30-40% in the past few years, indicating that there is more of a cost-cut in homeownership.  This factor, combined with low interest rates, tax benefits, and capital gains, contribute to the appeal of buying a home.

Although this shift may be occurring, it is not without hesitation and doubt.

As economic consultant Micahel Carliner explains, “Expectations have been tarnished by recent experience.  A lot of people were overconfident about capital gains — now they are overly pessimistic”.  He also notes that more upfront money is required when buying a home and additionally many potential homebuyers feel tied down with too much negative equity.

Everyone’s situation is different, but typically, if you plan to live in a given location for less than two years, it is better to rent due to the high costs associated with buying a home and the uncertainty of how long it could take to sell your home.  For those who plan on living in a location for more than ten years, however, it may be a more worthwhile decision to invest in a home.

No matter which option is best for you, Warren Residential Group can help.  We have a wide selection of Boston real estate for sale, and Boston rentals available.

Read the full article here.