Access to Boston

If it’s an easy commute to the city you’re looking for, there’s convenient access to Boston via the Green “T” line as well as by Route 9. Within twenty minutes (without traffic) you could be enjoying the social and professional benefits of being in downtown Boston. On the flip side, Brookline offers its residents an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can have the small town feel while still being able to access the fun of the big city. Brookline is the perfect mix of urban and suburban living.

Historic Feel

Brookline has a long record of being home to various notable people – for instance, John F. Kennedy, Conan O’Brien, Larry Bird, James Taylor, Barbara Walters, and others. Brookline also boasts several historical buildings which are registered in the National Register of Historic Places. These sites include the Dutch House, St. Aidan’s Church, and the  Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. There is a lot of rich history to be explored in the town of Brookline.

Great Schools

The Brookline school system sets the bar for excellence throughout the state of Massachusetts. It is ranked the number one school system in the state by Boston Magazine. So if you’re looking for a town where your kids will get the educational attention they deserve, Brookline may be the perfect fit.

Vibrant Area

One of the most attractive aspects about Brookline is that there are so many exciting things to do in the area. If you’re a Red Sox fan it’s just a short walk to Fenway Park. Also, the streets are lined with award winning shops and restaurants – great for an afternoon of exploring the area or a night out on the town. This may be why Brookline was named among Money Magazine’s “Top 25 Best Places for the Rich and Single.”

What are you waiting for? Contact a Warren Residential Group real estate agent to find the perfect Brookline apartment or Brookline condo for you!

Visit Brookline Booksmith for author readings year-round that include complimentary refreshments at both its Harvard Street location and at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. There is an event tonight, Tuesday March 8, featuring a reading by Sheri Holman, author of Witches on the Road Tonight, a haunting American epic that traces a family’s lines and its sins from an Appalachian sorceress to modern New Yorkers broken by their past.

For those with an artistic side, visit The Clayroom at 1408 Beacon Street. This paint-your-own-pottery place lets you decorate dishes and color coffee mugs, and all of the items are microwave and dishwasher-safe. The studio also allows you to bring snacks, drinks, and wine make an evening out of it.

Are you a fan of yoga? Visit Brookline Village, home to The Inner Space yoga studio, and Baptiste Power Yoga Institute, a hot yoga studio that practices in 90-degree heat. Most studios allow you to drop into any session, and there are various dates and times to choose from if you have a busy schedule.

If Red Sox tickets are out of your price range, head out to see the pint-sized Brookline Youth Baseball around ton or catch a Northeastern University Huskies game at the Ken Street stadium. Take a few friends and enjoy a hot dog and some beer for a lot less than you would have to pay at Fenway Park, and bonus- the commute back to your Brookline apartment will be a lot quicker and easier.

Grab some subs or sandwiches from one of Brookline’s lunch spots and a cheap bottle of wine from Trader Joe’s, and head over to the park on the hill. Corey Hill Park, located on Summit Avenue between Coolidge Corner and Commonwealth Avenue, is a great spot to enjoy your picnic and the pretty view that the park has to offer.

For those with young children, visit the Puppet Showplace Theatre, which offers lots of great children’s shows including Jack & The BeanStalk and Rumpelstiltskin to name a few. The theatre is also a great place for birthday parties and field trips.

Unleash your inner wine snob at Best Cellars, which offers daily tastings Monday through Friday, and a Saturday wine tasting that often includes perfectly paired hors d’ouevres. The Wine Gallery offers themed tastings most Fridays and Saturdays, and a Wine Works 101 class periodically, which you can find out about on their website. Just make sure to have a cab take you back to your Brookline condo after all that wine!

Visit Athan’s Bakery for a vanilla baklava gelato and an espresso to go with it, and sit next to the window with a good book. Japonaise Bakery offers tasty Japanese-French fusion treats and outdoor seating for people watching along Beacon, although you might want to hold off on the outdoor seating until it gets a bit warmer.

If you would like to find the perfect Brookline real estate, or need help finding a Brookline apartment or Brookline condo, please contact Warren Residential today. One of our knowledgeable agents would be  happy to assist you with whatever you need!

For the majority of cities and towns in Massachusetts, home sales have hit a 20 year low, with July home sales falling 26% over the past year.  Here is a list of the 10 Massachusetts towns that have stomped on these statistics and weathered the economic storm.

(Percentages represent increase in sales compared with July 2009)

Cohasset- 130%

Norwood- 117%

Chatham- 100%

Bedford- 78%

Dennis- 41%

Easton- 27%

Brookline- 20%

Melrose- 20%

Hingham- 18%

Marblehead- 18%

Not only did Brookline real estate experience a 20% increase in sales, but this small city also saw an increase in median home prices by 14.5%.  Experts attribute Brookline’s success to its many shops and accessible public transportation. Boston’s young professionals and recent college grads also help make this area recession-proof.

Check out Warren Residential’s online listings of Brookline apartments and condos. You can also view the full article here.

This exclusive small city is a perfect blend of urban and suburban living with plenty to do.  Proving its versatility, there is an active farm with a farm stand, upscale shopping centers, and numerous playgrounds and recreational parks that boast great views of Boston.  It’s also home to the oldest country club in the nation, appropriately titled The Country Club. The location doesn’t hurt either. It’s an easy commute into Boston, and residents can walk a short distance to Fenway to catch a Red Sox game.

Don’t have a family?  Don’t rule Brookline out just yet.  It also made Money Magazine’s list of the ‘Top 25 Best Places for the Rich and Single’.  The article describes these locations as where the highly educated and affluent young professionals reside, and further describes them as “suave” and “sophisticated”.  Looks like Brookline has something for everyone!

Brookline also happens to be filled with some of Boston’s prime luxury real estate. A Warren Residential agent can provide additional information regarding buying or renting a Brookline apartment or Brookline condo. Contact us to help you make the most of your search for Brookline real estate.

You can view the article and the rest of the locations that made the top 100 here.

“The Warren Group, a Boston-based real estate tracking firm, provided us with the following median prices for 2005 and 2009 (2005 was considered the market peak in Massachusetts; since then, the median single-family home price has shrunk by 20 percent statewide).”

Here are the top 10 picks.

If you are interested in learning more on current great investments or wish to know how your Massachusetts town is weathering the storm please contact a Warren Residential agent, we are happy to assist you.

#10. BROOKLINE

Median single-family home price in 2009: $1,169,250
Change since market peak in 2005: +4%
Median condo price in 2009: $451,000
Change since market peak in 2005: -3%
Population: 54,896
Residential tax rate: $10.97

#9. WESTON

Median single-family home price in 2009: $1,207,600
Change since market peak in 2005: +1%
Median condo price in 2009: $665,000
Change since market peak in 2005: +9%
Population: 11,711
Residential tax rate: $11.10

#8. DOWNTOWN BOSTON (BACK BAY – BEACON HILL – WEST END – NORTH END - WATERFRONT – MIDTOWN – CHINATOWN – SOUTH END)

Median single-family home price in 2009: $1,958,000
Change since market peak in 2005: +45%
Median condo price in 2009: 510,000
Change since market peak in 2005: -2%
Population: 79,731
Residential tax rate: $11.88

#7. NATICK

Median single-family home price in 2009: $417,750
Change since market peak in 2005: -9%
Median condo price in 2009: $310,000
Change since market peak in 2005: +29%
Population: 31,880
Residential tax rate:$11.67

#6. LYNNFIELD

Median single-family home price in 2009: $495,000
Change since market peak in 2005: -12%
Median condo price in 2009: $452,200
Change since market peak in 2005: +45%
Population: 11,412
Residential tax rate: $12.84

#5. ROWLEY

Median single-family home price in 2009: $420,000
Change since market peak in 2005: -10%
Median condo price in 2009: $349,900
Change since market peak in 2005: +75%
Population: 5,738
Residential tax rate: $12.50

#4. WINCHESTER

Median single-family home price in 2009: $710,000
Change since market peak in 2005: -3%
Median condo price in 2009: $360,000
Change since market peak in 2005: +9%
Population: 21,090
Residential tax rate: $11.51

#3. CAMBRIDGE

Median single-family home price in 2009:$680,000
Change since market peak in 2005: +2%
Median condo price in 2009: $408,000
Change since market peak in 2005: -3%
Population: 105,596
Residential tax rate: $7.72

#2. JAMAICA PLAIN

Median single-family home price in 2009: $529,000
Change since market peak in 2005: +6%
Median condo price in 2009: $316,650
Change since market peak in 2005: -2%
Population: 38,074
Residential tax rate: $11.88

#1.  WENHAM

Median single-family home price in 2009: $550,000
Change since market peak in 2005: +5%
Median condo price in 2009: $599,000
Change since market peak in 2005: +87%
Population: 4,788
Residential tax rate: $15.56 per $1,000 of assessed value

We handle Boston and Cambridge area apartment rentals for people who make millions of dollars a year to students with no income what-so-ever and everyone in between.  With that said, many of our renters need a co-signer of some sort.  Here are some reasons why you might need a co-signer:

• Lack of Credit
• Bad Credit
• Lack of Income
• Bad landlord reference

The problem most people have is actually finding a co-signer.  How many of your friends would put their credit and money on the line for you?

Well, this is where WeCosign.com comes in.  They saw an opportunity and here is how it works:

1. An applicant who doesn’t meet the Landlords FICO score criteria is directed to call WeCosign so they can determine their eligibility for their service.
2. WeCosign reviews the applicant, and if approved they will cosign their lease agreement and act as their guarantor.
3. The landlord collects the rent from the tenant as usual, and the tenant pays WeCosign an additional monthly fee for their service.
4. In the event that a tenant stops paying their rent, WeCosign assumes financial responsibility under the terms of the lease agreement.

It’s that simple.  It’s really a genius idea that fulfills a big need.

So now that you have your co-signer, you need to find an apartment.  Clink the links below to do that!

Search for Your Boston, Cambridge, or Brookline Apartment Here

Browse all Cambridge Apartments Here!

Browse all Boston Apartments Here!

Browse all Brookline Apartments Here!