This Boston luxury condo complex features a rather retro façade built of pre-cast muted red brick, silver metal cladding and an abundance of glass. Underneath the building is a two level garage with room for 34 cars, convenient to the Metro Boston Transportation Association’s Green-D Line. Reserved parking spaces will be offered along with the individual condo units. Availability and price information for both the condominiums and the spaces are available with your Warren Residential Boston real estate agent.

Residents and their guests are greeted by an onsite concierge in the Audobon Park lobby, ready to help with everything from dinner reservations to an early wake-up call. The lobby itself is elegant, expansive and eye-catching. A natural stone floor leads to two stainless steel elevators and your own personal space. Living at these upscale Boston condominiums entitles you to the same customer service and care as at a five star resort.

The elegance in design carries over into the individual condos. A total of 53 handsomely appointed studio, one and two-bedroom condo suites are spread out over six floors, with 18 different floor plans offered. Some floor plans offer private balconies facing either the Boston skyline or the Charles River.

Carbonized bamboo flooring graces the living areas and hallways while the bedrooms are decked in thick, rich carpeting. Carrara marble vanities and Asian designed ceramic tile floors add an air of elegance to the bathrooms. The gourmet quality kitchens are equally enticing, featuring stainless steel appliances and Absolute granite counter tops. Sleek glass-topped electric ranges, courtesy of Bosch, and refrigerators by Fisher & Paykel are included. Designer cabinets are made of rubberwood, which like the bamboo floors are renewable and ecologically friendly.

Audobon Park is surrounded by plenty of open space, making it easy to get out and enjoy your neighborhood. Walk over to historic Fenway Park and take in a baseball game, less than a half mile away. A few blocks beyond that is the Fenway Victory Gardens, always looking for volunteers with green thumbs. Next to the gardens is Back Bay Fens, an urban wildlife park that is part of the Emerald Necklace, a collection of Boston’s most cherished open spaces. Head a few blocks north and find the Charles River Reservation, a park that stretches for 20 miles along the riverfront. Jog, walk or go cycling, all within easy reach of Audobon Park’s elegant Boston condos.

The Landmark Center, built in 1929 when the art deco style was in fashion, houses a 13-screen movie house, retail shops, businesses and restaurants. Listed on the National Historic Register, the center is a block away from Audobon Park. Additional restaurants within walking distance are found along Beacon Street, Brookline Avenue and along the Charles River. The Tsai Performance Center, part of Boston University, offers concerts from the New England Philharmonic and live theater productions. The more intimate Boston Playwrights Theatre offers locally penned and produced plays and musicals. Audobon Park is surrounded by natural beauty, history and an abundance of cultural finesse.

We often forget that there is tourism right here in our own town; and sometimes it’s fun to be a tourist at home! Below are four ideas for summer activities that do not require a vacation but do involve fun for the whole family:

Boston Museum of Science

With over 700 interactive, hands-on exhibits as well as a beautiful planetarium and OMNI MAX Theater (Better than IMAX) with shows running all day, the Museum of Science makes for many hours of educational fun.  While much of the museum is kid-centric, there is certainly plenty to keep adults entertained and engaged as well.  The museum is located on an easily accessible plot of land spanning the Charles River between Cambridge and Downtown Boston, and has plenty of parking.

Fenway Park Tour

Tour the historic ballpark with the whole family!  Learn about the history of Fenway Park, the Red Sox, and Boston in a behind the scenes tour of the stadium.  Make sure not to wear Yankees gear if you have any, because you’ll be the butt of every joke on the whole tour.  If you didn’t already know where it is, the park is located in the Fenway/Kenmore area.   Any Bostonian will happily give you directions.

High-Speed Catamaran Whale Watch

Hop aboard a fun and fast catamaran and get to the whales quickly.  It’s always nice to spend a day on the water, and adding family and whale-watching makes it even better.  The boats feature three decks so everyone on board gets the best view possible.  There is also a spacious, indoor, climate-controlled cabin with cushioned seats, tables, and available snacks and drinks.  Take the Blue Line “T” to the Aquarium stop.  Tickets for whale-watching are available at Long Wharf in Boston’s hip Seaport District.

The Franklin Park Zoo

Take the family to see some exotic animals up close.  The Franklin Park Zoo features the most intimate gorilla exhibit in the whole world where you can see the famous baby gorilla Kambiri!  Zoo guests also love the Lion exhibit and the recreated savannah with giraffes and zebras.  Located in Franklin Park next to Dorchester, the zoo is easy to get to by car or mass transit.

So enjoy your summer with the whole family!  Does your family need a bigger place or are you interested in buying or selling a home? Contact Warren Residential today!

Ever wonder where Boston’s Back Bay got its name?  It wasn’t always a bustling cultural and commercial center with historic brownstones, posh lofts, and beautiful waterfront condominiums.  This neighborhood of Boston, which includes some of the city’s most important buildings and landmarks, used to be a large bay stretching all the way from the Boston Common to Kenmore square.  By the early 1800s, Boston had already saturated its available and surrounding space, and only a narrow isthmus connected central downtown to the rest of the greater metropolitan area.  In 1857, after a failed attempt to circumvent the city’s traffic problems with a dam/toll road, the city of Boston began a project to “make land.”

35-car-long trains filled with rocks, dirt, and other fill arrived in Back Bay 16 times a day for 43 years, finishing what is now Back Bay Fens or “The Fens” in 1900.  Most buildings’ basements along Commonwealth Avenue and the other streets of the Back Bay were never dug; they simply were left as holes with more dirt and gravel piled around them.  The layout of Back Bay was devised by Arthur Gilman of the Gridley James Fox Bryant firm.  Much inspiration was taken from parts of Paris.  Gilman wanted wide, parallel, tree-lined airy streets, such as Commonwealth Avenue or Beacon Street.

Back Bay Today

The modern day Back Bay, which is an officially recognized neighborhood of Boston, still features rows of beautiful Victorian Brownstones that trace their origins to the monumental project that created the land they live on.  These historic brick walls now stand alongside global landmarks such as the Prudential Center, Hynes Convention Center, and Boston’s famous center for fun, nightlife, dining and high fashion: Newbury Street.  Few blocks in Back Bay lack an architecturally or historically significant building.  Once completely submerged, Back Bay is now a bustling part of downtown Boston brimming with culture, history, and endless entertainment.

Interested in an apartment in Boston’s historic and monumental Back Bay or another Boston neighborhood?  Contact a Warren Residential Group real estate agent to find the perfect apartment or condo for you!

Once you have agreed on the terms, it is time to review and sign the formal purchase and sales agreement. Typically, this will contain the following:

-The approximate closing date

-What property, such as drapes, appliances, and lighting fixtures is included

-The amount of mortgage that the buyer needs to finance the purchase of the house

-Cost adjustments to be made at closing, which can include points, property taxes, etc.

-The amount of buyer’s deposit and where it will be held until closing (it will usually be held in escrow, i.e. by a third party)

-Inspections the buyer may want to make: general home inspections, and more specific inspections for hazards such as radon, termites, asbestos, etc.

-What happens if either party backs out of the deal

-Any special conditions or contingencies: the seller fixing a problem with the house, the buyer obtaining financing, or a satisfactory home inspection report among others

It isn’t uncommon for a closing to be delayed due to one issue or another, such as a delay in the mortgage company processing your application or a number of other complications, and occasionally deals do fall apart at the closing conference table. It’s important to cover these contingencies when drafting your P & S Agreement. A Closing is when the ownership of the house passes from the Seller to the Buyer- the house isn’t yours until the entire process is complete!

Buying a home can be a stressful time, but working with a trusted broker can ease some of that stress. Contact a Warren RE agent today for help in buying your new home. We have listings including luxury buildings, apartments, and condos in a variety of different neighborhoods.

The Audubon Park Auction went off without a hitch (well, there was one bidder who didn’t realize he was bidding so they ended up having to put it back onto the auction block and they got an additional $4k for it 5 minutes after they initially sold it!) and was extremely successful for the developer and the buyers.  All 25 units were sold and an additional 10 were added during the auction.  Two more unique first floor layouts were sold after the auction at an undisclosed price.

There were over 250+ people at the auction and a lot of active bidders.  It was an extremely exciting event and I’m looking forward to the Bryant Back Bay auction on the 7th of November.  Remember, you can save $1000 off your closing costs if you setup your preview through Nick Warren at nwarren@warrenre.com or 617-933-9776.

Here is a PDF of the Audubon Park auction results:

Audubon_Park_Auction_Results

25 Gorgeous new Audubon Park condos will be going up for auction, and Warren Residential wants to help you bid on and win one of these stunning homes at a fraction of their original cost!

• Over 50% off of original asking price!
• Put as little as 3.5% down (FHA Financing available)
• Perfect for first time home buyers!
• Minimum bids of $195K

These Luxury Boston condos feature:

• Granite Counter Tops
• Bamboo Hardwood Floors
• Large Windows
• Juliette Balconies
• In-Unit Washer/ Dryers
• Stainless Steel Appliances
• Concierge Services

Aububon Park condos are located near Kenmore Square, and are only a short walk away from Fenway Park.  The Fenway/ Kenmore neighborhood is easily accessible via the MBTA Green Line and bus services as well.  The property offers a limited number of parking spaces (priced from $60K- $70K) that will also be available to the winners of the auctions on a first-come/ first-served basis to include in the purchase price of their home.

Minimum bids have been set for these properties, meaning any bids lower than the set price will not be recognized.  From the information posted on the auction website, one-bedroom/ one-bathroom luxury condos are starting with a minimum bid of $225,000 and the two-bedroom/ two-bath luxury condos are starting with a min bid of $325,000.

How Does this Work?

• Call or email Nick Warren at nwarren@warrenre.com or 617-933-9776 to setup a preview of the condos before the auction.
• At the preview you will receive condo docs and budgets if you want to register for the auction.
• CONTACT US TO REGISTER FOR THE AUCTION- YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY OCT. 17th TO ATTEND.
• Auction day is Tuesday Oct. 19th at the Colonnade Hotel in Back Bay.

I know you will have many more questions about the Fenway / Kenmore condo auctions at Audubon Park, so please don’t hesitate to contact me at 617-933-9776 or nwarren@warrenre.com for answers and to schedule a preview!

Over the years, the Fenway has traditionally been a middle class/student neighborhood given the proximity to BU, Emanuel, and other local Boston colleges.  However, over the past 3-5 years a new trend has emerged.  You can now find upscale luxury apartment buildings sprouting up right outside of Fenway Park with even more on the drawing board for the next 5 years.  The master plan, which is mostly going to be contributed to by the Red Sox ownership as well as local developer Samuels Associates both of whom own most of the prime undeveloped real estate in The Fenway, is going to involve new luxury residences as well as more appealing retail and restaurant space than what is currently available.

So what is currently available in the Fenway?  Here is a quick snapshot:

1330 Boylston Street NO FEE – Luxury Apartments for rent

While the picture above is just a rendering, this building was actually completed in August of 2008.  It is a full service luxury Fenway apartment building.

Features and Amenities:

• 24/7 Concierge
• Fitness Facility
• Club Room
• Roof Top Pool
• Hardwood Floors
• In-unit Washer/Dryer
• Dog Friendly
• Garage Parking

This building was originally designed to be condominiums but was changed to rental apartments at the last minute due to the economy.  The good thing about that is that the finishes are condo quality which is a big step up from rental quality.  Plus, you may even run into a few Red Sox players who are living there!

Trilogy Boston – NO FEE

Right down the street from the 1330 is Samuels first Fenway luxury building, the Trilogy.  Price points are slightly lower here as compared to 1330 Boylston but the amenities are just as good!  It is also a NO FEE building which means the building pays the brokers fee which saves you money!

Features and Amenities:

• 24/7 Concierge
• Lounge
• Club Room
• Fitness Facility
• Restaurants
• Garage Parking
• In-Unit Washer/Dryer
• Common Courtyard

Thinking of buying a condo?  No problem, Fenway has some great options to choose from.  Here is a snapshot of the condo market in The Fenway:

Past 12 Months:

Lowest Price Sold – $150,000 Fenway Studio Condo

Highest Price Sold – $700,000 New Construction 2 Bedroom Fenway Condo

Average Selling Price – $339,545

Median Selling Price – $315,000

Total Market Volume – $48,554,870

Click HERE to search all current Fenway Condo listings!