Wondering Where to Get Your Turkey?

Yes, there is a big holiday coming up but why list grocery stores on a Real Estate website? Why not? Other than your work or your house or apartment, it might be the place we sometimes visit most often. Unless of course you’re a Peapod fan in which case, you’ve probably saved a lot of grief by avoiding the hassles of getting yourself there, parking, bagging and long checkout lines but in our opinion, missing out on all the fun: the hunt for the perfect tomato or the irresistible impulse dessert purchase. We’ve also included, in true Territory fashion, a local on-market property near each pick so that you can be even closer to your favorite haunt and always be in good produce!

1. A. Russo and Sons Watertown

Neighborhood: Watertown Square
560 Pleasant St
Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 923-1500
www.russos.com

Nearest Transit: Otis & Summer St Stop (558 Riverside Bus Via Newton Corner & Mass Pike)
Price Range: $
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Map It

Why we love it: There are no words. A farmer’s market on crack. This oddly located nirvana may not be very accessible but it’s worth navigating the small and overcrowded aisles to get local, fresh produce at practically wholesale prices. This is where the pros shop and so should you.

What’s not so great: Limited meat, fowl and seafood unless you head to the prepared foods section and pay a premium.

Territory Tip: Avoid this place on weekends at all costs, and if possible use a basket rather than a cart (or just fill up your arms “Supermarket Sweep” style as far as you can make it).

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 290 Pleasant St - Unit 201

2. Shaw’s Copley Square

Neighborhood: Back Bay/Copley Square
65 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02199
(617) 262-4688
www.shaws.com

Nearest Transit: Prudential (Green); Back Bay (Orange)
Price Range: $$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Garage
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Map It

Why we love it: Convenient Central Back Bay Location with all the benefits of a large, suburban supermarket. It even has an entire second level dedicated exclusively to beer, wine and spirits.

What’s not so great: Weekends and evenings are almost always crowded and Prudential construction had made the front door taxi stand temporarily unavailable.

Territory Tip: Avoid the prepared foods section as it tends to lack in um, quality and stick to the bakery, produce, deli, meats, cheeses and “Wild Harvest” organic sections instead.

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 90 Chandler Street - Unit 2

3. Whole Foods – Cambridge Street

Neighborhood: Beacon Hill
Charles River Plaza
181 Cambridge St
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 723-0004
www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Nearest Transit: Government Center (Blue, Green); Bowdoin (Blue), Charles/MGH (Red)
Price Range: $$$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Validated
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Map It

Why we love it: There’s not much not to love about Whole Foods overall, but the city location and validated parking makes this Beacon Hill destination practically irresistible. You probably won’t ever find it quiet (lunch time is actually the worst) but the endless salad bar options of every ethnic food type and prepared foods section makes it hard to stay away if you live or work anywhere in the Government Center or Medical area.

What’s not so great: Whole Foods prices, and of course, the lunchtime mob.

Territory Tip: If you drive, keep your trip to under an hour otherwise you will be charged up to $10 an hour for parking.

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 286-288 Cambridge St - Unit 7

4. Trader Joe’s Memorial Drive

Neighborhood: Cambridge
727 Memorial Dr
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 491-8582
www.traderjoes.com

Nearest Transit: Saint Paul Street (b) (Green)
Price Range: $
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Map It

Why we love it: Three words: Three Buck Chuck! Charles Shaw isn’t the only cheap wine they carry either, they’ve got loads of drinkable wine for reasonable prices. TJ’s are known for across the country for their fun, friendly staff, and great food at wonderful prices. This is our favorite location in the city because of it’s size, wine selection and parking availability.

What’s not so great: Some people can find TJ’s to be limited, especially if you do not exclusively shop for exotic foods (sometimes you just want some Kraft Mac N Cheese).

Territory Tip: Stock up on wine for entertaining here and save lots of $$.

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 55 Magazine Street - Unit 11

5. Foodie’s Urban Market South End

Neighborhood: South End
1421 Washington St
(between Dedham St & Monsignor Reynolds Way)
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 266-9911
www.foodies-urban-market.com

Nearest Transit: Union Park St (Silver)
Price Range: $$$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Street
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Map It

Why we love it: Foodies is a great place to shop if you live in the area. Prices are high so coming here to stock up on groceries isn’t ideal, but they are a great option for last minute dinner inspiration or entertaining. Great selection of sauces, marinades and prepackaged foods also.

What’s not so great: Small dairy section, limited selection of “everyday” brand items you usually find in larger, chain supermarkets. Also, the bread selection tends to be very limited during busy times as South Enders fight for the last $3 baguette

Territory Tip: There are always prepared sandwiches, sushi and dinners at the register that sometimes could replace your entire list in a pinch. If you can find it, the pre-packaged Foodie’s tuna is pure heaven!

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 11C Waltham St. - Unit 1

6. Super 88 Chinatown

Neighborhood: Chinatown
73 Essex St
(between Harrison Ave & Hersey Pl)
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423-3749
www.super88market.com

Nearest Transit: Chinatown (Orange, Silver), Downtown Crossing (Orange, Silver, Red), Boylston (Green, Silver)
Price Range: $
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Map It

Why we love it: While smaller than the other Super 88 markets (the ones in Roxbury and Allston are enormous), this tiny treasure has much of the same quality produce and Asian foods that you can’t find anywhere else. The best part about this place is it’s extremely affordable. It’s also conveniently located in Chinatown and easily accessible from multiple T-stops.

What’s not so great: There’s the occasional odd smell, sometimes the selections can border on “too exotic”.

Territory Tip: If you’re entertaining, stock up here on china, chopsticks and Asian cookery for a very low price. Best bet: Wooden bamboo steamers for just a few bucks!

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 40-44 Harrison Ave - Unit 7A

7. Deluca’s Market Charles Street

Neighborhood: Beacon Hill
11 Charles St
(between Beacon St & Branch St)
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 523-4343
www.delucasmarket.com

Nearest Transit: Arlington (Green), Charles/MGH (Red), Boylston (Green, Silver)
Price Range: $$$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Map It

Why we love it: Quaint Charles Street market with all the essentials. Prices are not ideal but this place is hard to beat for last-minute dinners. Visit the deli counter for quality prepared foods and homemade subs and sandwiches. Also, the downstairs wine cellar is very authentic so this is true one-stop shopping in the heart of the city.

What’s not so great: City prices and lack of parking make this ideal for locals and walkers only.

Territory Tip: Check neighborhood flyers for wine and cheese sampling nights

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 6 Goodwin Pl - Unit 2

8. Roche Bros Grocery: West Roxbury

Neighborhoods: West Roxbury, West Roxbury Center
1800 Centre St
(between Maple St & Willow St)
West Roxbury, MA 02132
(617) 327-7666
www.rochebros.com

Nearest Transit:
Price Range: $$
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Map It

Why we love it: You can get much higher quality produce, seafood and meats, while still maintaining that large chain-market feel. Here, you can get everything you need for your weekly groceries and also plan a great menu for a night of entertaining. We’ve heard the Roche Bros turkeys are worth their weight in gold!

What’s not so great: Slightly higher prices than Shaw’s or Stop and Shop.

Territory Tip: Roche Bros. Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips. The absolute best!

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 223 Temple Street

9. Stop & Shop South Bay Center

Neighborhood: Dorchester
1100 Mass Ave (South Bay)
Dorchester, MA 02122
www.stopandshop.com

Nearest Transit: (Bus Service) 1 Harvard Station Via Mass Ave
Price Range: $
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Parking Lot
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Map It

Why we love it: Mega-sized supermarket right in the city. Also, South Bay Center boasts a new Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Circuit City, Old Navy and a handful of restaurants all with one parking spot.

What’s not so great: Crowds and limited selections during peak times; bread baskets are almost always empty after 5pm. Get there early on weekends and you’ll be happy.

Territory Tip: Use your Stop and Shop card to get $0.05 off per gallon at the adjacent gas station.

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 15 Coffey St

10. Market Basket Somerville

Neighborhood: Somerville
400 Somerville Ave
Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 666-2420

Price Range: $
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Parking: Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Map it

Why we love it: Simple: it’s a Market Basket right in the city! Great prices, fast efficient service and parking!

What’s not so great: Crowds. Plus it’s not the best of the chain in terms of organization and cleanliness.

Territory Tip: Go during off-peak times as items have a tendency to run out.

Recommended Neighborhood Property: 400 Broadway - Unit 2

Send us your comments and let us know if we missed any of your favorites!

Mortgage Update… As of this morning Mortgage Master, Inc. is offering a 5.5% rate and no-closing costs on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. If you are buying or refinancing right now that’s hard to beat.

Mortgage Master - Lock Desk
(508) 850-4060
lockdesk@mortgagemasterinc.com

I spent Tuesday evening at an event for City Councilor Mike Ross. At the event City Council President Maureen Feeney expalined that she was retiring and that Ross would be taking over the position of President. I left the event wondering who would end up filing the open seat, what their politics would be, etc…

This morning the Boston Globe is reporting that the FBI has arrested Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner on brbery charges. Turner’s arrest stemmed from the same undercover probe that saw State Senator Dianne Wilkerson arrested on allegations she accepted eight bribes worth $23,500.

The best and yet saddest line in the article is the remark Turner made during his post-arrest interview. “If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 % and be left with us 10 %,” Turner said, according to the affidavit. - Boston.com

Looks like seat number two just open up on the Council.  Any libertarians out there gunning for a seat?

There is a basic principal that is associated with the concept of “Market Value”. It is simply that value is determined by the market.  Recently I was dealing with one of the top agents in Boston and he acknowledged that the condo we were negotiating on was worth only whatever the market said it was worth, ie the best offer that he could generate.  Now this sounds simple and really, it is but you would be amazed how many agents and sellers refuse to acknowlege this most basic principal.

Carl Bialik writes a good piece on this in the Wall Street Journal and points out that house-price index readings can be inflated, built on shaky foundations and data that is far from the right neighborhood.  According to Bialik only one person knows a home’s value: its buyer. I couldn’t agree with him more.

“The good news is your home may be worth more than the rock-bottom price that your neighbors’ houses fetched. The bad news: No one but you might think so.

The one point of widespread agreement in the real-estate industry is that there is no single accurate index of home prices. They are all over the map, cover different sets of homes and may exclude parts of the country or be unduly influenced by the mix of homes sold in a given month.” - WSJ.com

Apparently someone was willing to cough up big bucks for this rapidly appreciating piece of modern art.  Artist David Thorne originally drew a 7 legged spider and attempted to exchange it for the release of a $233.95 debt. The story of Thorn’s attempt to settle his bill with chiropractor Jane Gilles has since caught fire and the spider drawing sold yesterday on eBay for $10,000!

Read the full exchange between Thorn and Gilles HERE.

This might come across a bit like an ad but I can assure you it’s not.  A friend of mine works for a company called Mortgage Masters and recently he pointed out to me that they provide a low price guarantee. I figure this is something that Territory clients will at the very least want to know about.

“Mortgage Master, Inc. guarantees savings off any company’s best offer of financing by at least $500.00 or we will pay your application fee at that company, up to $300.00.

Your offer must be in writing on a computer generated estimate and be from a known and reputable company as evidenced by a clean record with the state banking commission and attorney general’s office. Due to market fluctuations the estimate must be from approximately the same time of day.

Mortgage Master, Inc. guarantees savings off any company’s best offer of financing by at least $500.00 or we will pay your application fee at that company, up to This offer is valid for fixed rate loans from $150,000 to $1 million assuming good credit, verifiable income and assets. We also have the best rates on adjustables, give us a call.

It’s that simple to save at least $500.00.”

If you want to know more you can contact Jason Jastrzebski - (860) 426.9677 x 306.

Well, not yet, but coming soon to a town near you.

I read an interesting blog this morning on Boston.com regarding “new” versus actually “new” to market listings and it got me inspired to keep doing what we do over here at Territory. I am sure everyone has experienced the ol’ bait and switch tactics used by so many real estate agents … They bait you with false info (i.e an amazing property that is no longer on the market, listing the condo as 1 bed but its really a studio, or saying it’s new to market when its really been on for 500 days) and then as soon as you contact them they try get you to sign a bunch of agency rep paper work and then switch you to a different property because the one you are inquiring about isn’t really what you thought.

When a listing agent puts a property in the MLS they are asked to fill out various property details (reference any property listing sheet on our site to see what I am talking about). One of those details is to mark the property as “new” to market or “back on market” (among other options). So, in an effort to trick you into thinking a new property in the neighborhood you love has just landed on your desktop, a lot of listing agents will temporarily pull properties from the MLS and then a couple days later re-list it as “new” giving you the impression it is the first time the property is being introduced to the buying public. it is their way of scamming you into thinking you have to jump on this “well priced” home when in fact it’s been sitting on the market for a year because it is actually over priced. This can be very frustrating to those not informed and informed. Good thing transparency is prevailing and people are starting to notice.

Either way, we know - actually we can guarantee - our Territory Buyer clients won’t (have to) fall for dirty sale maneuvers like these because we tell you everything you need to know to make an informed purchase. Make sure you look at the “Market History” and “Property History” -located on every property page - to get the total days on market not just the amount of days it’s been newly listed.

Here is an example of a property that is listed as “new” to market - came on “2 days ago” - but really it has been on the market for 55 days as shown in our “market history” section:

MLS #: 70841135 - Single Family - Detached
Address: 910 Monument Drive Oxford, MA
List Price: $237,000
Territory Rebate: -$255

Listing Office: RE/MAX Acclaim
Seller’s Agent: Caroline A. Bianchi
Buyer’s Agent: Mary Hios

Location: The town sits in a valley, and much its area lies in the flood plain of the French River, which runs through the town. A substantial parcel north and west of Oxford Center is held, for flood control purposes, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The land, known as Hodges Village Dam, also serves as a nature preserve.

It also serves to cut off east-west travel on former roads through the site. There are no state routes running east-west in Oxford; only north-south Route 12, locally called Main Street; less than a mile of Route 56, connecting North Oxford with points north; and Interstate 395, linking Oxford to Worcester and eastern Connecticut with three local exits: Depot Road in North Oxford; Sutton Avenue, the main east-west street in Oxford Center; and Cudworth Road, on the Webster town line.

The town used to include much of what is now Webster, on its southern border, but Oxford and neighboring Dudley both gave portions of their land to allow the creation of that town. Other towns bordering Oxford are Charlton on the west, Leicester and Auburn on the north, Millbury and Sutton on the east, and Douglas on the southeast.

Oxford has a public school system with two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Elementary schools include Clara Barton School, which serves the north side of town (including the village of North Oxford) and Alfred M. Chaffee School in the south, which serves grades K-4. All public school students in Oxford attend Oxford Middle School for grades 5-8. Oxford High School serves grades 9-12. - Wikipedia.com

Three Up:

1. Newer Construction
2. Cathedral Ceilings
3. Price - $215 Per Sq Ft

Three Down:

1. Partial Oil Heat
2: Assessed Value at $121,300
3. Wall-to-Wall Carpet throughout

Guide’s Opinion: This is a great opportunity to own a move-in ready home at a very reasonable price. The kitchen is fully updated with cherry cabinets, granite, and all top appliances. The seller’s timing also seems to be an issue which could mean there is potential for a great deal to be had.

Territory Rating: Buy

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT IN PERSON

Here are the top 25 towns hit the hardest by foreclosures according to FOX:

Click here to see the full list.

So, what does this mean for you?

If you are considering the purchase of a property in one of the towns hit hardest you should understand what it will mean for future local home values. It may take years to re-gain stable property values in those neighborhoods especially as the economic instability persists and as the “bailout” shows no signs of stimulation, so if you plan on re-selling the home in the next 3-5 years I would be very careful not to get stuck in a struggling RE market. Foreclosure properties are owned by banks who want 0 liability for the properties condition yet the sale transactions can take months to actually come together … This calculation (more often than not) equals disastrous property conditions - not good for the value of each property and also the neighboring properties.

Territory has a bunch of clients that see foreclosure and short sale properties as an opportunity to get a “nice” house for a low price but we always tell them (even before a simple tour) it is very important to get educated prior to taking the purchase plunge. It could turn out to be a great investment or your worst financial nightmare … A crazy game of poker.

Feel free to email us for a complete value breakdown of the foreclosure property you are interested in.

MLS #: 70829352 - Condo - Detached
Address: 136 Arlington St - Unit 2 Boston, MA : Bay Village
List Price: $359,000
Territory Rebate: $3,980

Listing Office: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Boston - Newbury St.
Seller’s Agent: Judy Goldfarb
Buyer’s Agent: Mary Hios

Location: Bay Village is the smallest and arguably least known neighborhood in Boston, with a population of approximately 2,100 residents, most of whom live in small brick rowhouses.

The Massachusetts Turnpike is the southern boundary of the neighborhood, which coincides with the right-of-way of the Boston and Worcester Railroad, laid down in the 1830s. Marginal Road and Cortes Street are the surface roads that parallel the Pike. Across the Pike to the southwest lies the South End neighborhood; to the southeast of the Pike and Tremont Street is the southern edge of Chinatown. To the west of Berkeley Street and north of Columbus Street (west of Arlington Street) is the Back Bay neighborhood. To the north of Stuart Street is Park Square, and to the east of Charles Street is the Theatre District.[1]

The one-way street network and non-grid arrangement makes the interior residential streets in Bay Village relatively quiet due to sparse automobile traffic.

Traditionally middle to lower-middle class, the neighborhood has become relatively expensive and upscale beginning around the 1990s - Wikipedia.com

Three Up:

1. New “Green” Construction
2. Central AC
3. Rental Parking Available

Three Down:

1. Price: $772 Per Sq Ft
2: Arlington Street Location
3. True “Studio” Feel; No Separate Bedroom Alcove

Guide’s Opinion: Bay Village is a hidden gem among neighborhoods in Boston. The fact that this unit sits right on busy Arlington St. however, makes it difficult to appreciate the neighborhood’s charm. This may not be a huge factor however, after experiencing the gorgeous new “green construction with eco- friendly radiant heat, reclaimed pine floors, and many other green features. There are 2 units left in the building; this 465 sq ft studio and a gorgeous 2 Br priced in the $700’s. They are definitely both worth seeing in person.

Territory Rating: Buy

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT IN PERSON