Much like a parent of multiple children, a realtor is not supposed to pick favorites. But seeing as my parents have always liked my brother better than me, I am jaded, and will deviate from this unwritten rule. I love Marlborough Street. It is my favorite street in Boston. It is centrally located, picturesque, quaint, and not heavily trafficked. The buildings are beautiful, and the tree lined streetscape is quintessential Boston.
Everybody loves a fine house. After all your house says something about its occupants. Whether it’s the style of the house, the size of the house or even where it is. Where and how you live tells everyone else about you.
And what’s the first thing people see when they come to visit you? It’s your letterbox. Your letterbox says as much about you as your house.
There are thousands of different styles of letterbox available nowadays.Checkout all the latest design on Aussie Clotheslines Faceplates and select your lettbox faceplates according to your wish. however at the end of the day almost everyone uses one or other of a small number of options. Maybe it’s just an opening in the brick pillar on the side of the driveway. Maybe it’s one of those horrible metal letterboxes on a metal stand beside the driveway. Maybe it’s one of the concrete letterboxes which are even worse than the metal ones.
But every now and then you find a home with a letterbox of distinction. A letterbox which stands up and says look at me, the occupants of my house have style and grace. A letterbox that you won’t see anywhere else on that street, or in that suburb, or maybe even in the city.
A letterbox that says somebody has taken the time to design me and to build me so that I am unique for every person who comes to visit
And as it turns out, we happen to currently marketing two of Marlborough Street’s most unique real estate opportunities. The first is a Back Bay dream house at 231 Marlborough Street and the second is an amazing opportunity to take place in an online auction for a Back Bay condo at 416 Marlborough Street.
231 Marlborough is the dream. You need to be pretty wealthy, or win powerball, as the list price is $5.95M, but it is a relative value for what you get. And that is a fully renovated almost 6,000 square foot townhome on the sunny side of Marlborough (why the sunny side matters). This property is magnificent. It is elegant, understated, and flush with all the amenities one could ask for. It has a garage, elevator, roof deck and a layout and finishes to die for.
The entry level differentiates itself from all other townhomes, as it has an extended floor plate with reception, kitchen, dining , and a family room all on one level. This is a rarity, and one that is lacking in most single families, as usually you have to split up 1 of these 3 core living areas onto another level, which severely compromises the layout.
The lower level is bright with high ceilings and does not feel like a garden level. It has a media or play room, kitchenette ready to be a customized wine cellar, an au pair suite, and loads of built in customized storage space.
The 2nd level is grand with a large formal living room that has a stunning bay window and accompanying window seat. The fireplace and original hardwood floors and moldings round out this spectacular space. Across the extra wide hallway with dramatic landing is a gorgeous library. The original woodwork and fireplace was meticulously restored and was complimented by modern lighting and a wet bar, complete with beverage center.
The master level has a stunning suite with walk through closet into a sleek bath complete with walk in shower and double vanity. The adjacent child’s bedroom is large with its built ins and en suite bath.
The guest level has 2 more huge bedrooms and a full bath. The roof deck level is amazing with another rarity: an elevator that goes all the way up to the head house. Most will typically only go to the penultimate floor. Not only does the elevator go all the way up, but there is a kitchenette and half bath on the way out to the deck. The deck has an outdoor gas fire pit and a built in grill with stone and copper surround.
So, please do me a favor: read and spread the work on this blog to the point where I get rich and famous, so I can buy this place….I will invite you over for roof cocktails (you can bring a friend or 5 so you do not have to tolerate me alone). Thank you in advance for your help. Or beat me to it, and buy it yourself.
On the opposite end of the price spectrum is 416 Marlborough Street #202. Also a terrific value, given its amenities, but herein lies a truly unique opportunity, as we will be auctioning this property in a first of its kind manner. The out of state seller needs equity fast to fund his business and has committed to sell for anything at the minimum bid or higher. There is no hidden reserve price to meet so the condo will sell to the highest bidder. The auction will be online on November 20th. Get all the details here.
This property was recently listed at $525,000. I actually sold #102 in the building, a mirror unit one floor lower for $495,000 not too long ago, and this unit #202 to be auctioned is actually more desirable, being a floor higher. Minimum Bids start at $315,000 (only $374 per square foot!), $210,000 less than the original asking price. Average list price per square foot in the Back Bay is currently $922, so the bidding is starting around 50% below average market value.
No one has ever attempted an online auction of this nature and there is a very real possibility for a buyer to “steal” a condo on Boston’s best street, in a great doorman building, with amenities such as a fitness center and roof deck.
So, as a tale of Two Marlborough Street Homes sadly comes to close, what is the moral of the story? It is that you can potentially live on Boston’s best street for anywhere from $315,000 to $5,950,000, in a 1 bedroom condo, or a grand 6 level townhome. Either way, you can enjoy all that Marlborough Street has to offer and impress me in the process by being able to say you live there…..What more could one ask for???
