Buying downtown Boston real estate “as is”
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Buying downtown Boston real estate “as is”
- No Seller Repairs: The seller is not responsible for fixing anything, from minor cosmetic issues to major structural failures.
- Price and Negotiation: “As is” properties are often priced lower to reflect their condition, but there is typically very little room to negotiate for repairs after an inspection.
- Mandatory Disclosures: Despite the “as is” status, Massachusetts law requires sellers to disclose specific hazards like lead-based paint (for homes built before 1978) and septic system status. Sellers must also answer any direct questions from the buyer truthfully.
- Financing Hurdles: Many lenders, especially for FHA or VA loans, have minimum property standards. If the condo has major safety or structural issues, it may not qualify for a standard mortgage.
- Keep the Inspection Contingency: Never waive your right to a home inspection just because a property is sold “as is”. This contingency allows you to walk away with your deposit if the inspection reveals “deal-breaker” issues you aren’t prepared to handle.
- Verify Condo Documents: For a Boston condo, “as is” might only apply to the unit’s interior. You must still review the condo association’s financial health and any pending special assessments for common areas.
- Budget for the Unknown: Assume that the cost of repairs may be higher than initial estimates. Experts recommend having a substantial reserve fund (e.g., $50,000–$100,000) for major “as is” projects.
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Boston Beacon Hill Condos for Sale
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Beacon Hill Condos for Sale
Updated: Boston Real Estate Blog 2026
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If you’ve been searching for Boston real estate for sale a while, you may have come across some of the Boston condos for sale on MLS are being sold “as is”.
Boston condo buyers want to know what “as is” means
Buyers don’t always understand what ‘as is’ means. It does mean that the sellers are not going to fix anything and it also means that sellers are not responsible for property defects that they don’t know about. However, they are still responsible for disclosing anything that they do know about the property.
Buying a condo “as is”
Buying “as is” doesn’t mean that a buyer can not have a home inspection and it doesn’t mean that a buyer can not write an inspection contingent offer. Buyers should have home inspections so that they know what they are buying. If the Beacon Hill home has some problems that are too expensive to fix the buyer should be prepared to move on.
Boston condo Offer
It doesn’t hurt to add some wording to the Offer agreement stating that the water and electricity and gas must be turned on for the buyer’s inspection.
Buyers should not accept no for an answer when they ask to have the water turned on. They should not have to ask to have the water turned on but often it works that way. It might be a good idea to check for utility services before submitting an offer. The water can be turned on and it must be turned on for a complete home inspection.
Boston Real Estate and the Bottom Line
For FHA financing the FHA appraiser will not do an inspection if the water has been turned off which means that the property can not be financed through FHA.
