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Foreclosure petitions drop, but deeds nearly double

— By: Marilyn Jackson

A record number of foreclosures were recorded across the state in July, but the number of petitions to foreclose dropped, according to the Warren Group, which publishes Banker & Tradesman.
The petitions are the first step of the foreclosure process, and many times the financial problems can be resolved before the properties are sold.
Fewer petitions may be a hint that the housing crisis is abating. The federal government has created programs to help rescue homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

Plum Beacon Hill building sold

— By: Marilyn Jackson

Plum Beacon Hill office building sold
A California-based real estate investment and management company with offices in Waltham has bought the 11-story office building at 9-11 Beacon St., Beacon Hill.
Nathan R. Miller Properties sold the 147,751-square-foot building Aug. 11 to 11 Beacon LLC, which is part of DivcoWest Real Estate Services in San Francisco, for $16 million.
Stuart Shiff, founder and a principal of DivcoWest, said in a press release it plans to upgrade the property to attract public agencies and professional firms as tenants.

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1724 Washington St. EXTERIOR

Boston's iconic Porter House has two-bedroom duplex

— By: June Albritton

Boston's iconic Porter House has two-bedroom duplex

1724 Washington St. EXTERIOR A beautiful two-bedroom duplex at 1724 Washington St. in the South End is one of five condominiums rebuilt between 2000 and 2004 in the Porter House, the oldest extant building in the South End.

Ricardo Rodriguez of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has listed this home at $799,000.

It features a chef’s kitchen, a wood-burning fireplace, interior French doors and a spacious patio.

COURTESY PHOTOS / ELEVIN STUDIO

The Boston Preservation Alliance honored the Porter House development with an award for significant renovation/restoration in 2005. The project also included a new carriage house on East Springfield Street.

Its history is fascinating.

In the early 1800s Boston selectman and distiller William Porter bought a lot from the city. Architect Charles Bulfinch who was also a selectman signed the deed. The lot was on the only road that connected Boston to the mainland and ran through marshland that would later be filled to become more of the South End.

In 1806 Porter built two elegant side-by-side Federal-style homes that shared a center wall. One was for him and his wife, and the other was for his son. The beautiful arched entrances mirrored each other, but one faced northeast and the other faced southwest.

Fall in love with color this season

— By: Cindy Bailen

Fall in love with color this season

Fall color story - GRAY 2 Picture an autumn day in New England: brilliant gold leaves juxtaposed against a gray sky.

Now, imagine bringing these colors inside to the walls, furniture and other surfaces of your home. It’s a color scheme that will be easy to execute this fall, with offerings at popular retail stores and upscale showrooms.

Gray walls are cozy and enveloping. Texture is important in a neutral room, so the woven veneer lampshade and the diagonal weave of the rug look smart. The deep orange of the couch pillow and side table prevents monotone overload.

COURTESY PHOTO / WEST ELM

If you’re painting gray on the wall, Farrow & Ball has Elephant’s Breath (#229), a contemporary light gray with a bit of purple undertone. It plays nicely in a room with warm or cool colors.

Paint the trim with Shaded White (#201), a true gray. Shades like Cornforth White (#228) and Blackened (#2011) are grays that blend in well with the stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. Layering neutrals can create interest in a room.

Median prices rise in six neighborhoods

— By: Marilyn Jackson

Median prices rise in six neighborhoods

ArtBlock East EXTERIOR Location, location, location is what real estate is all about, and July’s numbers and prices reflect that.

Although the sales volume of condominiums and co-operatives in the 11 neighborhoods covered by Boston Homes was less than a year ago – and in some cases even a month ago – the median sale prices are increasing.

A one-bedroom penthouse at ArtBlock East at 725 Harrison Ave. in the South End sold for $663,000 in July.

Data from the Listing Information Network show that 56 sales were recorded in July in the Back Bay/Midtown neighborhood, and the median selling price was $740,000.

That is higher than the $545,000 median selling price that the Warren Group reported for Boston, which it defines as Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the South End and the Waterfront neighborhoods.

That $740,000 sum was for a two-bedroom, 1,022-square-foot condo at 180 Commonwealth Ave.

South End townhouse sells for $2.5 million

— By: Marilyn Jackson

South End townhouse sells for $2.5 million

120 Pembroke St. LIVING ROOM The elegant single-family brick townhouse at 120 Pembroke St. in the South End is among July’s spectacular sales in the city. It sold for $2.5 million.

Conor Chamberlain of Sprogis & Neale Real Estate had listed the four-bedroom home, which includes an au pair suite. Steven Cohen of Keller Williams’ Boston Back Bay office was the selling broker.

Crown molding, a chair rail and a large fireplace create a comfortable room.

Constructed circa 1865, it was completely renovated during the past decade, and three years ago, smart technology was introduced that allows you to control the heating, lighting and audio from outside the home via the Internet or within the house.

The bowfront home has 4,498 square feet of living space, and it is designed well.

City:	, MA
Price:	TO
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Foreclosure petitions drop, but deeds nearly double

Plum Beacon Hill building sold

365 Marlborough St. Unit 2 EXTERIOR

The Macallen EXTERIOR

7 Exeter St. LIVING ROOM

152 West Newton St. GARDEN ROOM

65 Winthrop St. LIVING ROOM

1724 Washington St. EXTERIOR

Boston's iconic Porter House has two-bedroom duplex

Boston's iconic Porter House has two-bedroom duplex

COURTESY PHOTOS / ELEVIN STUDIO

Fall in love with color this season

Fall in love with color this season

Gray walls are cozy and enveloping. Texture is important in a neutral room, so the woven veneer lampshade and the diagonal weave of the rug look smart. The deep orange of the couch pillow and side table prevents monotone overload.

COURTESY PHOTO / WEST ELM

Median prices rise in six neighborhoods

Median prices rise in six neighborhoods

A one-bedroom penthouse at ArtBlock East at 725 Harrison Ave. in the South End sold for $663,000 in July.

South End townhouse sells for $2.5 million

South End townhouse sells for $2.5 million

Crown molding, a chair rail and a large fireplace create a comfortable room.

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