Condominium sales in Massachusetts jumped 54 percent to 1,840 from 1,195 in November 2008, according to a new report released by Banker & Tradesman. It was the biggest gain in monthly condo sales year-over-year so far in 2009. A total of 17,133 condo sales transactions have been recorded in the first 11 months of the [...]

Home foreclosures continued to rise in the third quarter as even once-solid borrowers increasingly fell behind on their mortgage payments.
For the first quarter ever, the number of homes in foreclosure with mortgages serviced by U.S. national banks and savings and loans topped the 1-million mark, according to figures released Monday by the Office of Thrift [...]

Here’s the latest update from the W: 14 condos are under agreement and 2 have sold.
W luxury condos under agreement:
16I, 17I, 18I, 18D, 19I, 16H, 17H, 19H, 27H, 17A, 16C/D, 25B and PH4.
W condos that sold:
17D asking price $745,000, sold for $710,000.
19F asking price $750,000, sold for $750,000.
What are your thoughts?
File Under: Boston Luxury condos

As of this morning, the Clarendon has had four (4) closings thus far: 17G, 18F, 15F, and 16F.
Here’s my big prediction of the day. The Clarendon will have more closings by the end January 2010 than 45 Province Street. It appears that the last closing at 45P was back in September.

An economist at Moody’s Economy.com is predicting another fall in home prices next year. Scott isn’t so sure, and he lists all the reasons why there are still upward pressures on home prices in Massachusetts due to historic trends.
Your thoughts?
File under: We’d all be millionaires if our crystal balls worked now and then.

A Back Bay landlord refused to negotiate a lower price with a retail tenant — and now the Arlington Street property sits empty. The landlord admirably admits he was wrong and has come up with a catchy ploy to find a new tenant.
But the Lesson of the Day comes from Thomas Brennan, a retail broker [...]

Today, The W, has just listed 24 new listings on MLS. The least expensive unit #18I, 512 sq ft condo, is priced at $345,00.00 or $666.02 per sq ft. (MLS#71011649). The highest priced W condo on MLS, $4,550,000.00.
$666.02 per sq ft is a competitive price for the Theater District Back Bay.

44 Hull St. “Spite House”
In 1874, two brothers in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts, got into a dispute. Each had previously inherited land from their deceased father. While the second brother was away serving in the military, the first brother built a large home, leaving the soldier only a shred of property that the [...]

Comparing Boston condo sales data from 10/18/09 – 12/18/09, with the same dates in ‘08.
10/18/09 – 12/18/09
Number of Boston condo sales – 773
Avg. Boston condo sales price – $497,747.00
Med. Boston condo sales price – $337,375.00
Avg. sales price per sq. ft. – $472.00
10/18/08 – 12/18/08
Number of Boston condo sales – 633
Avg. Boston condo sales price – [...]

Comparing 12/1/09 – 12/18/09 with the same dates in ‘08. The results may suprise you.
12/1/09 – 12/18/09
Listings: 153
Avg. $: $552,800
Median $: $380,000
Avg. $/SF: $462
Avg. DOM: 116
12/1/08 – 12/18/08
Listings: 186
Avg. $: $441,077
Median $: $300,000
Avg. $/SF: $458
Avg. DOM: 139
Hmm … I wonder how many blog readers are suprised [...]