Buying and Selling Real Estate in Jamaica Plain houses

Many people in Boston Massachusetts are asking, "Is this a good time to buy real estate?" The truth is, for some people buying real estate is a great opportunity, but not for everyone. It is important to look at the specific location the real estate is in.

Of the neighborhoods within Boston Massachusetts, none have had quite as busy of a real estate market as Jamaica Plain. Why has Jamaica Plain real estate become such a hot market? There are a number of reasons; for one, over the past ten or so years, many developers have been gutting out the multi-families, or "triple-deckers," and converting them to brand new condos. These Jamaica Plain condos have been extremely popular among young professionals that want to be close to the downtown Boston but enjoy a little extra space, as well as empty-nesters downsizing from larger houses in neighboring towns like Brookline. Prices for Jamaica Plain condos have steadily risen, even in 2008 when other markets were suffering their prices remained stable. One could make a case that this is also due in part to all the great new Jamaica Plain restaurants.


Many of the Jamaica Plain homes have beautiful detail and charchter. It is not uncommon to see three-family homes painted in lively hues, often using 4-5 different colors. Historic Victorian properties now dressed up as painted ladies light up the Sumner Hill and Pondside neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain. But more than the pretty architecture, perhaps it is Jamaica Plain's people that have made the neighborhood so attractive. Jamaica Plain is very diverse in culture, race, economic status, and also is the home to many of Boston's intellectuals. In addition to the people and real estate, Jamaica Plain has a plethora of unique restaurants. From Indian to sushi, "JP" as the locals call it, has it all.

In terms of pricing one can expect to pay about $320,000 for a typical 2 bedroom condo in Jamaica Plain. If it is very renovated, perhaps $375,000. However, if you are seeking a luxury condo in Jamaica Plain, there are condos in the "pondside" neighborhood that sell for over a million dollars. There are also other Jamaica Plain neighborhoods where real estate is not cheap. The grand old Victorian homes of Sumner Hill Jamaica Plain often fetch over one million dollars. If someone is shopping Jamaica Plain condos for sale in hopes of finding a good value, they might search around the Parkside or Forest Hills neighborhoods. Residents there have great access to public transportation on the MBTA Orang Line, as well as easy access to Jamaica Plain's Franklin Park. Other great neighborhoods include Central Jamaica Plain, Hyde Square, and Jackson Square.

Parking is not as bad of an issue here and many Jamaica Plain condos and houses include parking with the sale. Also, many JP condos also have outdoor spaces (patios or decks).
The key to finding a great Jamaica Plain home is being ready to submit an offer quickly. In the Jamaica Plain real estate market, the good properties come on the market and go under contract very quickly, the bad condos can sometimes sit on the market for a whole year. Some Jamaica Plain condos will even sell at over the asking price. You would never know there was a recession going on judging by the competition among buyers in the Jamaica Plain real estate market.
Where will property values in Jamaica Plain go in 2011 and 2012? No one really knows. Many Jamaica plain residents do feel that the new Whole Foods market and recent influx of fancier restaurants indicate that prices are poised to sky-rocket in the next few years. Within the past few years, Jamaica Plain property values have remained steady. There also have not been too many foreclosure and bank-owned properties in Jamaica Plain. However, occasionally they do come on and get bought up quick, typically by Jamaica Plain investors.


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