Take the dust-up over the state rep seat for the 34th Middlesex District, which includes parts of Somerville and Medford. Incumbent Carl Sciortino had the backing of some important Democrats, and brought a fresh, new outlook to the somewhat conservative (by Massachusetts standards) politics of the 34th.

But as this is a democracy, Somerville Alderman Bob Trane gathered the necessary papers to challenge Sciortino in this fall’s election. Running on a campaign free of lobbyists and special interests, Trane would have been a great opponent for Scioritino on this year’s ballot.

Problem was, Sciortino never made this year’s ballot because some critical paperwork went missing. Some say clerical error, others say foul play, but Sciortino and his most fervent supporters nevertheless mounted a write-in campaign that led him to narrow victory earlier this week.

Bob Trane has been gracious in the wake of his defeat at the hands of the Progressive Democrat “machine”, but he still isn’t done fighting—he’s now taking legal issue with a Somerville Journal editorial cartoon that accused him of sabotaging Sciortino’s paperwork, casting him in the same light as John Buonomo, the Middlesex County Register of Probate who was caught stealing from his own office.

Confused yet? If not, the hills and tree-lined streets around Somerville City Hall might just be the perfect launch pad for your foray into the city’s weird political world.

7 Berkeley Street #1
Somerville, MA 02143
2 beds, 2 baths
1,484 sq. ft.
$437,000

19 Grandview Avenue #B
Somerville, MA 02143
3 beds, 2 baths.
1,922 sq. ft.
$525,000

34-1 Madison Street #1
Somerville, MA 02143
4 beds, 2 baths
3,750 sq. ft.
$528,900

A Brief History of ‘Olde Cambridge”

Boston Sweet Digs Home

Not so, these days, where from Davis to Union Square, the only thing changing at the town line is the color of the street signs.

Of course, there’s still those other parts of Somerville; you know far from the T and the yuppies and the Starbucks. I hear you might run into someone who works in an auto shop, or maybe even who doesn’t speak English! And even the mayoral candidates are involved in the drug trade. Better add hours a week and hundreds of dollars a year onto your commute to be further from the places you visit every day.

Returning to reality, these “bad” things are only as scary as you make them. Fact of the matter is, in “Townie” Somerville, gorgeously refurbished Victorians (see right, from Adams Street) are selling well and for entirely reasonable prices. Surrounded by funky little business like Daniel Maher Stained Glass and True Grounds coffee house, these places are steals, and just a ten minute cab ride from downtown Boston.

And if you really can’t bear to be without the T, keep in mind, the Green Line will be arriving in just a few more years. If you think these prices will be this low after rapid transit service arrives, I’ve got some property out in Stockton, CA, that might be more interested in.

10 Roberts St #20
Somerville, MA 02145
1 bed, 1 bath
387 sq. ft.
$174,900

55 Vernon St #3
Somerville, MA 02145
2 beds, 2.5 baths
2,400 Sq. Ft.
$499,900

8 Montrose Ct
Somerville, MA 02145
3 beds, 1 bath
1,044 sq. ft.
$365,000

Prices Hold Steady while People Still Buy

Boston Sweet Digs Home

Safe to say, times have changed. Just 2 years after my first trip to Tufts, Davis Square sold its first million-dollar home. No one seems to be lacking an opinion on the region. Townies moan about the good old days.  Hipsters take issue with gentrification.  People moving out of Boston for more space whine about the distance from downtown (all of 20 minutes on the Red Line).  LiveJournal can clue you in to the other recurring issues.

If you’ve never been out to Davis,  or haven’t been in a few years, I highly recommend a trip out.  Despite the relative lack of greenspace, the neighborhood is gorgeous in the fall, and has seen a number of new businesses open in the past few months.  Yes, there are still homeless people in the T station, but plenty of folks see that as simply a touch of local flavor.

30 Day St
Somerville, MA 02144
4 Bed, 2 Bath
2,455 sq. ft.
$965,000

38 Meacham Rd #1
Somerville, MA 02144 
2 Bed, 2 Bath
17,22 sq. ft.
$539,600
Open House: Sunday, September 7, 2008 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

55 Grove St #55
Somerville, MA 02144 
3 Bed, 2 Baths
1,698 sq. ft.
$559,000
Open House: Sunday, September 7, 2008 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

If you want it, East Cambridge has it

Boston Sweet Digs Home

Only ten miles from Somerville, Lincoln’s bucolic landscape and quaint New England charm make it seem much farther from the city.

Sometimes I yearn for the nature of Lincoln and the fishing villages of the North Shore. I love the open spaces and grassy fields. That beautiful day, I briefly thought it would be neat to live in a place like that. And the hippie-foodie in me thinks I would enjoy raising my own chickens, however…

An older couple we met at the park brought me back to reality. They abandoned the quiet of Lincoln for a life more convenient. “Four miles to EVERYTHING” she warned. “You need cough syrup, four miles there and four miles back. It gets old really quick.”

I agree. If I need milk or eggs, I walk three minutes to Star Market and the whole trip takes 15 minutes, even with a line. On my walk to work in Harvard Square, I can drop my kids at day-care. Life without driving four miles for basic necessities is unbeatable.

We don’t have Codman Farm in Somerville, but ten really cool playgrounds sit within walk distance. The journey to your destination is part of the kids’ fun. They get to look at blooming flowers, earth moving equipment, construction sites, fire trucks, trains, and all sorts of stuff.

Here are a few places around Somerville that involve more exploring and less car-seat:

57 Chandler Street
Somerville,02144
Beds: 4/Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 3484
$818,000

It’s one of the most fabulous listings in the Somerville, right in Davis Square. I drooled over that kitchen.

16 Freemont
Somerville,02145
Beds: 3/Baths:2
SQ.FT.: 1612
$449,000

It’s a couple of blocks from Ball Square, home of the Somerville Breakfast Wars. This Mansard-topped Victorian (you know, the Dracula-style roof!) is a diamond in the rough, but the bones are there to create a spectacular home.

88 Ossipee Road
Somerville,02144
Beds: 4/Baths:2.5
SQ.FT.: 3484
$839,000

In West Somerville, not far from Tufts University, we have a fully renovated single-family house. The unassuming exterior hides a glorious interior with a new, light filled kitchen and beautiful woodwork. Try getting that in Lincoln for under $1.5 million!

More of Margaret on Somerville and Cambridge

Sweet Digs Boston Home

But living on the railroad tracks with a preschooler and a toddler is an unexpectedly magical experience. During the summer when they are doing maintenance on the tracks, freight trains and heavy equipment buzz past my house. Last summery they carted trucks full of rails by several times per day. And the effect the train has on my kids, well it’s just magic. I’ll be at my wits end trying to be a responsible parent. “No you can NOT have another cookie.” WAAAHH!! (repeat) (repeat) Then I hear the distant hydraulic whine and I yell “TRAIN!” And they rush to the back windows and hold their breath until the train comes. Nine times out of ten, they will have forgotten what we were arguing about after it passes. Friends come over with their kids and when we’re outside and hear the Park Street crossing start to ring, the kids will scramble up the climbing structure as fast as they can to watch it go by. Each one of them jumping and hollering. It puts them in a good mood.

You might not see it as an amenity at first, but trains have a certain romance to them. Even the MBTA. And you can also sit in your dining room and laugh at those suckers going back out to the ‘burbs while you’re already home for dinner. Not that I would do that. Maybe just a little. You might not see it in the listing, but these Somerville properties are close to the commuter rail –and that is AWESOME.

This house at 23 Vernon Street is in my old neighborhood. It’s a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath listed for $369,900 –A bargain by ANY standards. It’s a HOUSE, not even a condo for that. It’s a fun neighborhood. It’s about a 20 minute walk to Davis –about 10 minutes to the bike path, and another 10 to the T from there. There’s lots of great kid parks. It’s down the street from the Vernon Street lofts if you’re looking for a little “aht” and “culcha” (art and culture for those of you who aren’t from around here.

These condos at 23 park street #4 and and 21 Park Street #4 are listed for $445,000 and $444,900 respectively are adjacent to the tracks and they look out onto Conway Field. These lofts are hip and urban. And you can walk to Harvard, Porter, Union and Inman Square in 15 minutes from there.

There’s two beautiful brand new units for sale at 47 Tufts Street in East Somerville for 288,900 for a 2 bedroom 1 bath unit $293,150 for a 2 bedroom 2 bath unit. And it looks like you might just be able to see the train go by based on it’s location on the map.

Don’t fear the railroad!

I’ve lived in Somerville ten years now, and many of my friends have passed through here during that time. Some have left for the bucolic pastures of Arlington, Littleton and and Lexington (basically places that end in “ton”). A lot of them are still here.

But I was still surprised to look at the listings today and find three units for sale that in buildings that I’ve actually either lived in or hung out in. All these places are between 315 and 345k and would be great starter homes for first time home buyers.

First of all we have unit 7 Vinal Ave #3 (pictured on this page) a two bedroom 1 bath listed at 345k. This building was gut-rehabbed in 2003 and the construction was really solid. But it has 2 things that aren’t mentioned in the listing. First, it looks right over Nunziato Field, a huge green public park. The unit is bright and sunny, and the cross breezes flow in the summer. I’ve been in there on a 90 degree day and it was really comfortable with the windows open. And it has a really cool yard.

Next we have unit 4 at 91 Summer street, a two bedroom two bath unit listed at 319k. This is a great building, and I’ve been in this unit as well. It’s not huge, but it makes great use of the existing space. It doesn’t mention it in the listing, but I recall it had a working fireplace back in the ‘day (meaning the ’90′s). Looks like they’ve upgraded the kitchen too with granite and schmancy appliances.

And lastly, we have a building that I’ve been in, but not in this unit. The Grandview is a huge victorian that sits right next to Prospect Hill Park where the teeny tiny castle is. My friends had a fabulous view of Somerville and Boston from their basement apartment. So, I can only imagine what the view would be like from an upper level unit. Plus it abuts the park, so you’re seeing a lot of green right in the city. I’ve never been in this particular 2 bedroom one bath unit at 82 Monroe Street that’s listed for 325k but it looks completely charming– Gorgeous woodwork and exposed brick combined with modern conveniences. Even the common areas have the Victorian details that you won’t find in a newer building.

There’s some really good stuff out there this month. Really, I know what I’m talking about!

Yes, Somerville has a waterfront. There’s a neighborhood out by the Assembly Square Mall called “Ten Hills.” This is the part of Somerville that got cut off from the rest of it in the 1950′s when I93 went in and bisected the city. The neighborhood slopes down to the Mystic River where Sean Penn NEVER killed ANYONE. The neighborhood is also across the street from the under developed land known as “Assembly Square.” Right now, it’s only a bunch of big box stores, but thanks to a tenacious group of Somerville residents who fought tooth and nail for nearly ten years and it will not be a big strip mall on the river, it will become a real river front neighborhood. With a strip mall-esque component.

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On the left side of this photo, you can see the new proposed development. It will be mixed use housing and office space. The plans include an Orange line stop and an Ikea. On the bottom left hand side of the photo, in black and white… That’s part of Ten Hills. While this neighborhood is currently a bit cut off from the rest of Somerville, many future amenities are planed right across the street. You can see the detailed plans here.

There’s not usually a lot for sale in Ten Hills. When I originally moved to Somerville, I really liked it, but my choices were rather limited and the right property didn’t come along.

Here’s a few places that look like they’re reasonably priced. You get a lot of bang for your buck in this neighborhood. And like so much of Somerville, it’s a neighborhood on the brink of a major positive transition. The T is moving in, the river is slated for a major clean up and it’s really, really pretty over there. Just don’t look too far to the right at the highway.

Here’s what’s for sale in Ten Hills

First, we have 74 A Putnam Road, a two bedroom 1 bath totally renovated condo which is on the market for $339k. According to the listing it has river views, which is pretty cool, especially considering you’re about two miles from downtown Boston. But at$342 per square foot, it seems a little steep for the current market.

Next, we have 129 A Govenor Winthrop Road, a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath townhouse which is on the market for 359k. At $262 per square foot this seems like a better deal than the first one. According to the photo in the listing, this unit has 4 season river views. It’s really quite lovely.

The most “bang for the buck” goes to 82-2 Fellsway West. It’s a 3 bedroom 2 bath condo listed at 349,800 and it’s large enough to be only $169 per square foot, which is a good deal for anywhere in Somerville. There’s only a few other properties on the market for less, they don’t seem as fixed up.

This area may not be as trendy as Davis Square, but if you’re looking for a nice place to live with a lot of future potential, this riverside neighborhood could be a good fit for you.

During the four years I rented out my studio condo, four out of the other five owners were either also renting them out, or were out of the state or country for their jobs more than half of the year. There was only one guy left and he didn’t have the time or energy to manage the place. But because he was the only one who lived there full time a lot of the responsibility fell to him.

In a five unit building, it’s not cost effective to hire a management company. They cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars per month, plus you pay an hourly fee whenever they send somebody to actually do something like cut the grass or shovel snow. When each owner pays less than $200 per month in condo fees, that’s a steep increase. Since most of the owners weren’t there when it snowed, nothing got shoveled. The hallways went years without being vacuumed and when agreed we needed a new roof, nobody even wanted to make the calls to make it happen. So, when an absentee owner sent a desperate e-mail that said, “My ceiling is falling in. I’m off to Australia for a month. Help!” I took pity on him and made the calls. It takes many hours to get a roofing contractor lined up. You have to call about ten of them, five will return your calls, three will bid the job and you usually have to go to the site with each of them to discuss the job. Even after I did all that, nobody else wanted to take the time to check references. So, we just went with the guy with the middle bid.

We groused at each other over e-mail and said things that we probably wouldn’t have said if we had ever managed to have a real condo meeting. The association became dysfunctional.

I learned that when associations don’t agree, any legal remedy is very expensive and almost impossible. It never came to that, but I actually had to start calling lawyers when I was ready to sell and the guy who was doing the bills refused to provide me with a budget, or any of the documents my buyer’s bank required. I eventually went through a years worth of e-mails and kludged it together. I may have said some things over e-mail about his dog that I regretted when I had to slink to him to get him to sign my 6D certificate. A 6D certificate is a document stating that the person selling does not owe any money to the condo association and the person who signs it must get it notarized.

If you find yourself in this situation, keep your cool. In retrospect, it didn’t matter whether or not I was right. It mattered that we needed to stay civil to solve problems constructively. No matter what you say, you still have to live with these people and if you decide you want to sell, you are almost completely dependent on them to get the proper paperwork that a buyer’s bank will require.

Here’s three that caught my eye.

For the price of a two bedroom condo in Cambridge, you could own this almost 2000 square foot single family. They just dropped the price from 550k to 530k. The exterior is a bit dated, but it’s in good shape and most of the work has already been done here. Fancy bathrooms? Check! Fancy kitchen? Check! Hardwood floors? Check! The photos of the house don’t look particularly staged, so make sure you look past the clutter. This is a great opportunity to live near the Porter Square T and two of Somerville’s most popular grammar schools, the Brown and the Kennedy.

Then we’ll go a bit South to this lovely single over on Dane Street. It’s listed as a single, but with five Bedrooms and four baths, I’m wondering if it has been a multi family at some point. Somerville is not known for those more-bathrooms-than-occupant McMansions frequently found in the ‘burbs. It’s listed at 575k and it’s been on the market for over three months, so they may be willing to make a deal. Dane Street is a meandering street that runs from Washington Street next to the newly renovated Perry Park and ends up by the Market Basket side driveway on Somerville Ave. It’s part of that neighborhood that is an easy walk to Harvard, Union and Inman Squares.

And lastly for 549k there is this house at 205 Beacon Street, right across the street from the Academy of Arts and Sciences. According to the listing, the house is in “need of complete renovations.” But if you’re in the market for a fix-er-upper right outside of Harvard Square, this could be the house. You’ve probably noticed it if you’ve driven down Beacon Street in the last few years. They have full sized Greek Statues, festooned with garlands in the yard. And you’re never quite sure if they are being ironic or not. But the yard is HUGE, an estate by Somerville standards. You could literally build another house there if you wanted to. There is a real driveway on Ivaloo Street with a garage. I’ve seen a couple open houses in the last three or four months it’s been on the market. They seem to be doing a very low key marketing campaign with no for sale sign.

When I was growing up in a Cambridge triple decker that my parents bought in 1976, I learned useful landlording skills such has, how to jam a screwdriver into the bottom of a window frame to make a temporary drain to keep the bathroom from flooding during a Nor’Easter. I learned that it’s better to get a quality plumber that shows up and does good work, than to hire the guy with the best price. And I learned that if you are not trying to milk every dime out of your rentals that the quality and temperament of your tenants increases greatly.

In 1999 we bought a 2 bedroom condo in Somerville and we managed to hold on to my studio condo and we decided to rent it. Prices were going up and it seemed like the wrong time to sell. So, I put an ad in boston.com (these were the days before I knew about craigslist) and within a few weeks, a very nice couple wrote me a check for first and last month’s rent and like my mother before me… I became a landlord.

I rented that place out for four years until I sold it to my final tenant and it worked out great. Here’s why: I knew the value in the place was mostly in the equity and the tax advantages to owning a rental. So, my goal was to break even on my expenses. I charged a slightly lower rent than I could have gotten, so I was able to get tenants with great references. And if they called with a problem, I got it fixed as soon as humanly possible (see above, you need to have a great plumber. Ninety percent of common tenant problems can be solved by a plumber). The hardest part in that situation was bickering with the condo association over maintenance. But I’ll write more about that on another day.

Being a landlord in a multi family you own isn’t that difficult, especially when you compare it to condo living. If your house is owner occupied, you would have a lot more control over who lives in your rentals, versus having NO control over who buys and sells in your building. A lot of multi-families on the market in Cambridge and Somerville don’t have the latest and greatest upgrades, but in the long run they can be a great investment. Your tenants help pay down your mortgage and you can write off everything you do to their unit, and a percentage of maintenance on the common spaces. And your tenants can let your kids in when they forget their keys every day for the entire year that they are in third grade. Not that I ever forgot my keys for an entire school year or anything. Well, maybe a little.