If You Want a Good Deal….

If you really want a good deal on a house, look for houses that have been sitting on the market like stale donuts at the end of the day in a coffee shop. In fact, houses on the market for at least 94 days seem to offer the best deals, according to a Redfin analysis.

Houses on the market that long were 82 percent more likely to significantly discount their sales price. Sellers who lowered the price at least once were also 37 percent more likely to offer a healthy discount. In other words, if you’re thinking of making a low-ball offer, your best chances are not with a spanking new listing— old listings are more successful.

Impressed by the Redfin report, I thought I’d take a closer look at Brookline and Brighton. I found more than a few likely suspects — houses that have been on the market for more than 90 days that have also dropped their prices at least once.

In Brighton, many of the properties in this category are basement units, investment units, or high-end luxury condos.

In Brookline, homes meeting this criteria run the gamut: a basement apartment, some new construction, and even a converted church. If the Redfin report is true, it suggests the owners of the following homes may be ripe to offer a good deal:

90 Park Street, #14
Brookline
BEDS:2/BATHS:2.5
SQ.FT:1429
$660K
On market for more than 140 days.
Comment: Evidently, a lot of people don’t want to spend their lives in church.

75 Winchester Street, #201
Brookline
BEDS:2/BATHS:2.5
SQ.FT:1710
$795K
On the market for more than 200 days.
Comment: New construction that apparently started off too high.

797 Washington Avenue, #1
Brookline
BEDS:2/BATHS:1
SQ.FT: 1500
$429K
On the market more than 120 days
Comment: Again, Looks as if they started off much too high.

244 Brighton Avenue, #206
Brighton
BEDS:2/BATHS:1
SQ.FT:1015
$406,500
On the market for more than 130 days
Comment: The proximity of Allston Village is both a blessing and a bane.

33 Brainerd St. #31
Brighton
BEDS:2/BATHS:1
SQ.FT:902
$374,900K
On the market for more than 120 days
Comment: This penthouse condo with private roof deck is pretty cute — maybe its time has come?

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