So what would it be in Euros?
As the dollar plummets and the Euro increases, word on the street is that a lot more foreigners are buying houses in Boston. The trend is particularly strong in the Back Bay and Beacon Hill, where I hear from a realtor friend of mine that 95 percent of her customers these days are from abroad. With the exchange rate near $1.60 per 1 Euro, (and with housing prices dropping in many areas) the real estate market feels a little bit like a giant fire sale for those coming from the other side of the pond. Many of the buyers are moving here, at least part-time, to partake of the biotechnology scene. Others are simply in the market for a vacation home or an investment property.
Though the international buying spree might not be quite as strong in outlying communities like Brighton and Brookline, it’s fair to think that there might be some spill over. In recent years, Russian immigrants in both these towns have invested heavily in real estate. So what would it all cost in Euros? Here’s a look at the prices of five homes new on the market, calculated with yesterday’s exchange rate:
8 Hamilton Road, No. 2, 372,529 Euro (or $588K). Brookline. At 1337 square feet, you get three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fireplace, built-in bookshelves, two deeded parking spaces, and a kitchen that looks like it needs some work.
138 Fuller Street, No. 1, 474,531 Euro (or $749K). Brookline. It’s large — 1,640 square feet, and the kitchen is much nicer than the one above. It’s three bedrooms, two bathrooms, but the condo fee is pretty high at 392 Euro a month (that’s $620!)
30 Cameron Street, 284,465 Euro (or $449K). Brookline. It’s a new construction townhouse of 1,667 square feet. It’s got two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two deeded parking spaces.
190 Corey Road, 285,000 Euro (or $450K). Brighton. Gut rehab construction in an 8-unit building that is fully-owner occupied — a rarity in Brighton. This two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment includes parking.
48 Wallingford Road, 367,460 Euro (or $580K). Brighton. Single-family Victorian of 3,505 square feet. It’s got seven bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and needs some work, but doesn’t appear to be in terrible shape.
All sounds a lot better in Euros, right?
