2023 Real Estate Observations (Brookline, Needham, Wellesley: summer, Asians, nanny)

[id77]

Originally Posted by ca1337

All the other top-tier towns around Boston have people that are equally as rich but you only target Wellesley for some reason? Where is the love for Newton, Brookline, etc? Even Needham at this point.

Significant parts of Newton and Brookline are more urbanized and thus take a more city-like approach to security and crime. Once you get out to places like Weston, Wellesley, Dover, etc it's the "small town" attitude of everyone knows everyone and crime is very infrequent. The criminal in a town like Dover is a renegade teenager with some rolls of toilet paper, not car thieves or gangbangers. When it does happen, it will make the news and others will comment like has been done here about why they're so naive, and yet the fact remains that it happens so rarely despite the fact the residents rarely or never lock things up that it makes the news when it does happen. By comparison, how many cars (probably locked, no less) were stolen in Boston in the last month that we didn't hear about?

When I park at a friend's place in Brookline or Newton, I lock my car. When I park at a friend's place in Wellesley or Dover, I do not.

[msRB311]

What are your thoughts on homes that come with a guest house? Example:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...18989428_zpid/

I mean based on the pic, it all looks nice, the guest house looks quite livable. Whoever buys the house won't be able to rent out the guest house due to some law. It made me think why would you really want/need a guest house? First thing that comes to mind is older parents, maybe kids in college or living there temporarily after, maybe a nanny. Most of those situations are pretty temporary though...for me I just can't see getting excited about spending 2.5M on a decent house that has a guest house. Whatever the situation it's spending 2.5M to house someone else, lol

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by ca1337

All the other top-tier towns around Boston have people that are equally as rich but you only target Wellesley for some reason? Where is the love for Newton, Brookline, etc? Even Needham at this point.

The article specifically cites this happening in Wellesley. If it was Brookline, Needham, etc.similar deal. However, in regard to ranking on Swellesley, I think it's because I always remember on Mix 98.5 years back, the host would have a weekly Swellesley report segment and go thru all the 'egregious' crimes that happened in town. It was his play on an uber wealthy town where nothing bad can happen, it's always glorious in Swellesley and he would highlight the type of silly things the residents would get in an uproar over. lol

[MtPleasantDream]

Originally Posted by msRB311

What are your thoughts on homes that come with a guest house? Example:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...18989428_zpid/

I mean based on the pic, it all looks nice, the guest house looks quite livable. Whoever buys the house won't be able to rent out the guest house due to some law. It made me think why would you really want/need a guest house? First thing that comes to mind is older parents, maybe kids in college or living there temporarily after, maybe a nanny. Most of those situations are pretty temporary though...for me I just can't see getting excited about spending 2.5M on a decent house that has a guest house. Whatever the situation it's spending 2.5M to house someone else, lol

What law forbids renting out the guest house? Just curious

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by msRB311

What are your thoughts on homes that come with a guest house? Example:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...18989428_zpid/

I mean based on the pic, it all looks nice, the guest house looks quite livable. Whoever buys the house won't be able to rent out the guest house due to some law. It made me think why would you really want/need a guest house? First thing that comes to mind is older parents, maybe kids in college or living there temporarily after, maybe a nanny. Most of those situations are pretty temporary though...for me I just can't see getting excited about spending 2.5M on a decent house that has a guest house. Whatever the situation it's spending 2.5M to house someone else, lol

I imagine this will be very appealing to the right buyer. Someone who's parents might be snowbirds and want to come back to MA for the spring/summer/fall, enjoy summers at Duxbury Beach. No need to own their own place if their kiddos have a nice guest house. Also, no nagging mother in law living inside hovering over you. Yet, she's still close enough to be able to watch and spend time with the grandkids since she's in her own little separate cottage right on the premises! lol

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

The problem is none of these folks locked their doors. If a thief has to spend/waste time fiddling with locks to try and gain entry they'll likely move on to an easier, unlocked target. Smashing glass in a residential area where vehicles are parked most likely near someone's window or door will create noise...so that might not be as likely (although possible) a scenario either.


Also, any of these well to do folks in Wellesley who maybe have a BMW Alpina, McLaren or whatever are probably smart enough to have some sort of GPS tracking device installed. They're just not smart enough to lock their doors......because......well, they live in Swellesley. Nothing bad can ever happen there in mulitmillionaire land, right?! Wrong.

A lot of the crime in these towns could be prevented by locking a door. This being said thieves these days don't need to break a window to steal a car. You can open your car remotely and often they can figure out how to do it too.

Originally Posted by ca1337

All the other top-tier towns around Boston have people that are equally as rich but you only target Wellesley for some reason? Where is the love for Newton, Brookline, etc? Even Needham at this point.

I don't know if I'd call that "love" but there are a lot of townies in Needham who still have the attitude of "I don't need to lock my doors." If you read the police blotter in these towns 90% of the crime could be solved by locking a door. It's not usually things like "car stolen" but rather "purse stolen from unlocked car." My guess is most of these crimes are not even performed by professional criminals. As someone else said, a lot are probably mischievous kids.

Originally Posted by id77

Significant parts of Newton and Brookline are more urbanized and thus take a more city-like approach to security and crime. Once you get out to places like Weston, Wellesley, Dover, etc it's the "small town" attitude of everyone knows everyone and crime is very infrequent. The criminal in a town like Dover is a renegade teenager with some rolls of toilet paper, not car thieves or gangbangers. When it does happen, it will make the news and others will comment like has been done here about why they're so naive, and yet the fact remains that it happens so rarely despite the fact the residents rarely or never lock things up that it makes the news when it does happen. By comparison, how many cars (probably locked, no less) were stolen in Boston in the last month that we didn't hear about?

When I park at a friend's place in Brookline or Newton, I lock my car. When I park at a friend's place in Wellesley or Dover, I do not.

I live in Needham and maybe it's just me but I always make sure to lock my car and my house.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by msRB311

What are your thoughts on homes that come with a guest house? Example:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...18989428_zpid/

I mean based on the pic, it all looks nice, the guest house looks quite livable. Whoever buys the house won't be able to rent out the guest house due to some law. It made me think why would you really want/need a guest house? First thing that comes to mind is older parents, maybe kids in college or living there temporarily after, maybe a nanny. Most of those situations are pretty temporary though...for me I just can't see getting excited about spending 2.5M on a decent house that has a guest house. Whatever the situation it's spending 2.5M to house someone else, lol

I was going to say, it's a perfect place for a live in nanny, in-law, a separate home office, or music/art space.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by msRB311

What are your thoughts on homes that come with a guest house? Example:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...18989428_zpid/

I mean based on the pic, it all looks nice, the guest house looks quite livable. Whoever buys the house won't be able to rent out the guest house due to some law. It made me think why would you really want/need a guest house? First thing that comes to mind is older parents, maybe kids in college or living there temporarily after, maybe a nanny. Most of those situations are pretty temporary though...for me I just can't see getting excited about spending 2.5M on a decent house that has a guest house. Whatever the situation it's spending 2.5M to house someone else, lol

Originally Posted by robr2

I was going to say, it's a perfect place for a live in nanny, in-law, a separate home office, or music/art space.

Or guests.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Or guests.

Guests are best at hotel....

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

WHat sorts of cars are getting stolen here? Not exactly easy to steal a modern car given the immobilizers and smart key tech in most. If the thieves have the tech to bypass this, then locking the door just slows them down for a moment. If they want your car (for instance, a high end luxury car that's in demand overseas) they are going to take it regardless of if the door is locked or not.

Actually it's pretty easy to steal a modern car now via CAN injection. All they have to do is access the headlight.

https://www.carscoops.com/2023/04/th...he-headlights/