2023 Real Estate Observations (Boston, Burlington, Duxbury: maps, central, inspected)

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by lrfox

That's another one that most people probably don't mind but has several stupid little design quirks that make me go "why?!" Specifically, all of the windows on the second floor are aligned with the windows on the first floor except the one window directly above the small garage bay. It is, for some reason, just slightly askew. It also looks like it's missing a window on the second floor the left of the front door. Shutter placement also looks haphazard - window on the 1st floor to the right of the front door has shutters. Similar sized window directly above does not because the facade is just not quite wide enough (due to squeezing in another unnecessary peak).

All of these gripes probably don't matter to most people, but you'd think there would be better attention to detail for a house that costs $1.8 million. I guess if they're selling, who cares?

I'm guessing that's what it is...they're selling at these prices so who cares.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by gf2020

Usually due to a high water table. This recent sale in Lynnfield is a perfect example:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...56931639_zpid/

Also meets the McMansion definition!

That is an extremely awkward looking house.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by msRB311

All i see being built now are those white farmhouses with black windows. My guess is that someday those are going to be considered weird and ugly looking because people don't even seem to like them now. People are buying them because they are pretty nice on the inside and well, low inventory. But they are odd looking homes to me.

I kind of like the colonial style homes. They seem to be timeless but it's rare to see homes being built like this anymore. Everything is big, all different shapes and levels. too much.

Blame Joanna Gaines - she didn't invent Modern Farmhouse but she made it mainstream.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by gf2020

Usually due to a high water table. This recent sale in Lynnfield is a perfect example:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...56931639_zpid/

Also meets the McMansion definition!

It sure does! Bonus points for having every single room painted gray.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

That is an extremely awkward looking house.

The shutters do bug me. Shutters aren't attached by hinges....problem number 1. If you were to shut the shutters, they'd literally only cover one half of each side of the window...problem 2. Very architecturally incorrect for these two reasons as far as the shutters are concerned.



Well, congrats to the new owners on their $1.3M plus jumbo mortgage.....hefty price to pay to have to endure the cars always flying by on Main St. in Lynnfield.

[BostonMike7]

That’s the house I listed last fall. Tore down an 1800s farmhouse to split the lot into two and build two McMansions.

I drove by there daily. I hate to say it, but getting a new build deeper into one of minefields neighborhoods is going to add at least $1mil or so to the necessary budget.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by robr2

Blame Joanna Gaines - she didn't invent Modern Farmhouse but she made it mainstream.

I always thought of modern farmhouse as a style within the home. Found this online: Modern farmhouse design takes the comfortable, relaxed farmhouse style and adds modern touches such as smooth lines, glossy accents and neutral color schemes.

I could see building a few actual modern day farmhouses here and there but they've really become a staple in the greater boston the past 2-3 years.

[newenglandgal123]

Shutters done right....https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...56953491_zpid/

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Shutters done right....https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...56953491_zpid/

I love that style home.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by msRB311

It just seems like little to no thought goes into the homes built today. MA has so many different style homes that have been build over the past few centuries. Not sure why it's become such a thing to build these cookie cutter homes that cost more than ever before. It seems lazy. Have some character and uniqueness with all that dough.

Since WW2, all houses have been basically cookie cutter. All that changed was the style. Builders went for mass production and max profit. Go down any suburban street around Boston and you'll see the exact same Cape, Ranch, or Split built from the 50-80's. In the 80-90's, you began seeing those colonials noted above. The late 90-early 10's the giant mismash starter castle started popping up. Now it's modern farmhouse.

Over time the houses have gotten bigger, fancier, and more expensive and that's mainly a factor of land costs. No builder is going to build a basic 1200 sq. ft. ranch on a $500K plot of land.