Roslindale

Roslindale, located in southwest Boston, lies between West Roxbury to the west and Mattapan to the east. The neighborhood features a mix of single-family homes, triple-deckers and small apartment buildings. Roslindale Village, a major subdivision, is a thriving business center. Bistros, specialty shops and a popular farmer's market create a small-town feel to this urban neighborhood.

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The neighborhood is ringed with greenspace including Arnold Arboretum, Franklin Park and Stony Brook Reservation. Roslindale is just 12 minutes from downtown Boston via the Orange Line, several bus routes and Needham commuter rail.

Roslindale Residential Investments

Single-family homes account for almost 25 percent of housing, giving a suburban feel to this community of almost 30,000. About 76 percent of the residential properties in Roslindale were built before 1939 and feature large windows, high ceilings, wood floors and spacious rooms. Many have sizable yards, garages and off-street parking. Small apartment buildings constitute 58 percent of the housing. About half the homes in Roslindale are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 6.1 percent.

Roslindale's median home value was $411,600 as of April 2015, an increase of 6.8 percent over the previous year. Home values are expected to rise 2.8 percent in the next year. The median sales price for the quarter between March and June 2015 was $320,000, a decrease of 7.2 percent for the year between June 2014 and 2015. The number of sales for this period decreased 94 percent.

Apartment rental rates are lower than Boston's as a whole although rates vary between subdivisions. Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Roslindale Village averaged $1,800 in mid-June. A two-bedroom was $1,700 in the Lower Washington area and $1,495 in the West Street area for the same period. Comparatively, the average for Boston was $2,600.

Choosing the Right Roslindale Investment Property

Roslindale is a popular choice for those who want quick access to Boston while enjoying a relaxed living environment. Many single-family homes are being renovated into multi-family units, luxury condos and apartments. The foreclosure rate has dropped to 2 homes per 10,000, in contrast to the high of 17.4 homes in 2010.

Boston City Properties offers full-service marketing for new developments. To ensure that your residential investment property gets full exposure, we use marketing tools such as virtual tours, designing and staging models, photographs and listings on major real estate websites. For more information, call 617-247-1933 to speak to one of our agents, fill out the form on this page or visit our office at Copley Square.

Roslindale Market Report 2017

Placed in southwest Boston, Roslindale was once an agricultural area. After the development of the Providence Railroad and streetcars, it became a popular site for residential developments. It was later annexed in 1873 by Boston and underwent a development boom in the 1890s. Now, this residential community is a site of single-family homes and traditional triple-deckers. Small apartment buildings can be found throughout the neighborhood.

For outdoor lovers, the neighborhood offers a number of community parks. One of the most popular parks is the 256-acre Arnold Arboretum. This park is located on Roslindale's northern border. Other parks in the area include the Stony Brook Reservation and Franklin Park.

For shopping, residents can check out the local shops around Adams Park. The Roslindale Village Main Street is a popular destination for shoppers. Meanwhile, commuters can use the Needham line of the MBTA Commuter Rail to reach downtown Boston. Other transportation options include several bus routes and the Orange Line. It takes just 12 minutes to reach downtown Boston from this community.

Real Estate in the Area

Within the community, residents can find triple-deckers, single-family homes and small apartment complexes. One of the major subdivisions is Roslindale Village. This area also hosts a popular farmer's market, unique shops and bistros.

Currently, about 25 percent of the housing options are single-family homes. This gives the area a suburban-like atmosphere. The area offers beautiful architecture with roughly 76 percent of the residential homes constructed before 1939. At many of these properties, residents can fine large yards, off-street parking and garages. Many homes offer amenities like wood flooring, large windows, high ceilings and well-appointed rooms.

Within Roslindale, investors will find a vacancy rate of just 6.1 percent. Nearly half of the units in this area are owner-occupied. In addition, about 58 percent of the housing consists of small apartment buildings. Depending on where residents live, the price of rent can vary. Roslindale Village tends to have higher prices, while the West Street area has some of the lowest rents. Lower Washington tends to have mid-range prices. Investing is a popular option right now with a foreclosure rate of just 2 homes per every 10,000.

2017 Real Estate News in Roslindale

In 2016, Roslindale homes fetched a median price of $430,000. In 2017, home prices advanced by 16.4 percent to reach a median price of $500,500. During the same time period, the average price per square foot rose from $350 to $380. The median rental cost is currently at $2,100.

The neighborhood is known for being a gold mine of gorgeous homes. Unlike many neighborhoods in Boston, these impressive condos and single-family homes tend to be fairly affordable. The average price per square foot is cheaper than residents can find in South Boston, Allston, Brighton or East Boston.

Depending on the property, the price per square foot ranges from $233 to $590. In May 2017, the home with the lowest price per square foot was in a gorgeous, antique building. The most expensive listing was for a condo that was conveniently placed near the commuter rail lines.

Real estate prices can vary depending on the amenities, location and size of the home. At the top end, residents can find homes like the one at 652 Hyde Park Avenue. Offered for $1,160,000, this rental building spans six units and offers updated features. For investors, properties like this one offer steady, long-term cash flow.

For a mid-range option, check out properties like 69 Seymour #2. This condo is on the market for $469,000 and includes two bedrooms. It was gut renovated to include solid bamboo flooring, a custom kitchen and an open floor plan. It is outfitted with extra storage on the deeded front deck and a soaking tub. Plus, residents will get access to the future expansion of the roof deck.

One recent addition to the marketplace was a 10-room Colonial placed on Doctors Row. This area of Roslindale's South Street from Walworth to Guernsey Street was known as Doctors Row because of the stately homes that were built between 1895 to 1906 for doctors. This particular home was constructed in 1901 and has an asking price of $719,000. It includes a finished attic, six bedrooms, an unfinished basement and a large front porch.

2017 Real Estate Developments

In spring 2017, a new project was proposed for Roslindale. Placed at 317 Belgrade Avenue, the project was officially approved by the Boston Planning and Development Agency in May. Once it is completed, the property will include four stories and 21 apartment units. The goal of the apartment building is to provide a gateway for Roslindale to people coming from West Roxbury. It will include 18 two-bedroom units. The rest of the units will be three-bedrooms. In total, there will also be 5,980 square feet of ground floor retail space as well as 24 parking spaces.

Another project is underway near the Roslindale cemeteries. Placed at 289 Walk Hill Street, this complex will include 136 condos. The entire project was designed by the architects at Embarc Studio of Boston. The entire project will be 157,000 square feet in size on an 87,631-square-foot lot. The project will include a four-story building and a five-story building. There will also be 18 ground-level parking spaces and 147 underground parking spaces.

Once the units are completed in 2018, 1199 will be market-rate units. The remaining 17 units will be designated as affordable. While Roslindale is known for having single-family and two-family homes, the new project will provide multi-family housing options to open up the suburban market. With so many cemeteries surrounding the complex, residents can enjoy plenty of open, low-activity space around their homes. The entire project is expected to finish by summer 2018.

Known as a primarily residential neighborhood, Roslindale offers a convenient location in Boston, Massachusetts. It is surrounded by neighborhoods like West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan and Hyde Park. Placed just six miles away from downtown Boston, this neighborhood offers residents a range of single-family homes, apartment complexes and condos.

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