Natick + a Wellesley Cape

• 27 Ranger Road, Natick - $500 (Sold for $480)
  Split-entrance, modern (1974) house in excellent condition. Modern kitchen w/ new appliances, gas stove, window over sink, exhaust to outside. Open dining/living area w/ vaulted ceiling, skylights, fireplace, large bay window in living. Carpet floors. Four reasonably-sized bedrooms w/ good closet space, MBR suite. 2+ car garage w/ 2-step access to lower level. Lower level is open family room w/ wet bar, half bath and laundry room. Older 2-level mahogany deck in good condition. One step from lower level to yard. Newer windows, utilities. Appx. 1/2 mile walk to West Natick station. No tree shade. Water issues in lower portion of back yard. Possible drainage issues (water was being collected in trash cans).
• 28 Fox Hill Drive, Natick - $550 (Sold for $480)
  Similar layout to 27 Ranger, but not updated since the 70s. Wood paneling, older windows. Pool in back yard, poorly maintained lot, needs landscaping. Rear addition possibly poorly done (squeaky floors, window from bathroom to addition room). W/D on main floor. Needs tons of cosmetic work: probably $20k+ to make livable. Carpet everywhere. A/C, baseboard heat.
• 13 Whittier Rd Ext, Natick - $580 (Listed at $509)
  Very nice house on a weird lot. Large, open kitchen/dining/living area w/ nice hardwood floors throughout first floor. Electric stove w/ exhaust. W/D on 1st floor. Built 2002. 2+ car garage w/ driveway space for 4 more. Finished basement w/ one bedroom. A/C was making a clicking noise like a running dryer. Side exit to concrete patio w/ tiny, shaded yard defined by cinder-block wall w/ drainage pipes. Looks like water drains from other yards to here. Minimal front yard. Front entrance probably not used except for guests. MBR tub was dingy. No stairs from garage to basement.
• 19 Wethersfield Rd, Natick - $595 (Sold for $544)
  "Party" house. Open, spacious dining/kitchen/family rooms w/ double-door opening to covered patio and manicured yard w/ pool and hot tub. Living room/entry way also connected. Excellent for teaching classes. Not so nice for 2 kids + guests. Completely rehab'd 1951 house. Very nice MBR suite, lots of closets. Two other small-ish bedrooms. Large laundry/mud/hobby room. Entrance to living room. Could use another bedroom. Flat lot. Minimal shade.
• 1 Countryside Rd, Natick - $660 (Sold for $515)
  Agent-owner. Cosmetically renovated. Nice hardwood floors throughout. Four large bedrooms. Not the best 1st floor layout. Front entrance leads to family room. Step up to kitchen/dining/living rooms. Large portion of kitchen counter not usable for class b/c of step. Huge lot. No gas. Outside vent for stove.
• 6 Countryside Rd, Natick - $600 (Sold for $550)
  Driveway needs repair. Needs serious updating. Older windows. Floors need refinishing. Older-style layout. Walk-though bathroom to main 1st floor bedroom. Decent size kitchen (12x12), but needs serious updating. Huge, oddly-shaped lot. Lots of space, but need to spend big $$$ to modernize.
• 10 Harvard St, Natick - $480 (Sold for $462.5)
  6 room, 1900s Colonial in decent shape. Older windows. Sloping floors. Grilles for forced air still in place, but heat is hot water baseboard/gas. Electric stove but gas in house. Nice deck (though needs stripping/refinishing) and back yard. Yard is on the small side. Granite counter. Floors in good, but not great shape.
• 400 School St, Wellesley - $745 (Sold for $738)
  Quaint expanded cape off Rt. 9. Rt. 9 very easy to hear from yard. 1-2 beds down, 2 beds up. Nicely renovated kitchen, but constrained, might be difficult for classes. Nice, flat back yard w/ shade. Floor plan somewhat closed. Finished basement, but low ceilings. Step down from kitchen to extension living room. Tight stairwell. Not very practical (even ignoring the price!).

Auburndale and Nonantum

• 36 Grove St, Newton - $580 (Sold for $579)
  Ranch on somewhat busy street near the Pike. Large, central living room. Small eat-in-kitchen. 3 bedrooms, 2 adjacent bathrooms (why?). Older windows. Nice, wood deck. Older roof. Nice unfinished basement. Owned by a bachelor. Need some TLC, expanded kitchen. 1 car garage w/ short driveway. Nice back yard w/ morning/evening shade.
• 529 Crafts St, Newton - $640 (Sold for $614)
  4 car parking, side entrance on Harding St. Basement entrance or steps to deck outside kitchen & living rooms. Basement finished w/ full bath, lowish ceilings. Could be in-law suite. Renovated kitchen w/ gas, granite. Spacious dining and living rooms w/ sun room off living. Coat closet in foyer. Most windows are new/replacement. Hardwood floors throughout. Upstairs has 3 bedrooms + study. Master bedroom is huge. Central A/C. Nice front yard w/ shrubs to protect from Crafts street. Rear concrete patio. Step down to small yard.

Arlington + Chinese Belmont

• 118 Hemlock St, Arlington - $455 (Sold for $445)
  Cape with full rear dormer, no front dormers; renovated, but smallish kitchen---expansion possibility into dining room; bad 1st floor layout; 2 family/living rooms; might convert from living room to dining w/ kitchen expansion; 2nd living room has step down, was expanded (largish); master bedroom okay size, no front window, sloping ceiling; 2nd bedroom fine; 3rd bedroom small w/sloping ceiling; finished basement w/ full in-law suite; nice smallish front yard with a large tree; small back yard with levels, raised shed, large rock in the ground.
• 20 Joyce Rd, Arlington - $599 (Sold for ?)
  Nice entrance (2 steps), gas stove, similar layout to Jason St (stair on right side, next to garage: living/dining/kitchen form a loop to the left); 2nd living room addition to right of kitchen; kitchen a bit cramped; addition work a bit sketchy; huge master bedroom suite w/ large, nicely done bathroom; noticed a broken, rusty window in MBR; 2nd & 3rd bedrooms reasonable size; tiny 4th/office; synthetic porch; somewhat sloping back yard, but not bad.
• 297 Cross St, Belmont - $649 (Listed at $628)
  Colonial with large living room, office/playroom to left, half bath (w/ emergency? shower) where coat closet should be, dining + kitchen to left; spacious kitchen w/ good appliances, directly connected to dining room (no doorway); basement ceiling a bit low; heater is ancient; 4 bedrooms up; renovated bathroom w/ whirlpool tub, but tub felt out-of-place; some odd things: window frames cutting into walls, banister cutting into the wall, driveway crosses back yard to garage on rear of house; driveway kills back yard; good shade in back yard; busy street
• 63 Coolidge St, Arlington - $549 (Listed at $549)
  "Spiritual" house; about 20 steps to the front door; on a hill; nice views from upstairs bedroom; weird attic/"office" w/ entrance through upstairs bathroom; no south trees; no 1st floor bath
• 477 Appleton St, Arlington - $449 (Sold for $430)
  Cute little colonial; many steps to front door, but has basement entrance w/o steps; 78 bus route on Appleton to Harvard; good size living room; okay kitchen/dining; would need to remove part of a wall to make it workable for classes; nice finished basement room for visitors; only full bath upstairs; smallish rear yard, but just enough w/ nice patio area; just big enough for a family of 4, but barely an extra space for storage/expansion/etc.
• 201 Appleton St, Arlingto - $499 (Sold for $477)
  "Estate sale". Cape w/ two front dormers, full rear 2nd floor expansion. Cosmetically awful, some water damage on right side. New windows. Kitchen needs a full rehab and wall removed between kitchen/dining. One bedroom on first floor w/ full bath. Two large bedrooms upstairs. Large garage, largish lot (.18 acre). Basement only partially finished, was used for "whoopie parties".

West Newton and Jason Heights

• 97 Linwood Ave, Newton - $525 (Sold for $500)
  2 Family, 1st floor owners unit. Large kitchen w/ gas, but needs updating. Odd layout: 2nd bedroom off kitchen (separate from bathroom), living room access via dining room. Rear door exits to driveway. Nice covered patio across driveway. 1st floor A/C. 2nd floor has sloping ceilings throughout, very outdated kitchen. Ceilings aren't terrible, but make it feel small. Full, finishable basement. 2 driveways.
• 120 Crescent St, Newton - $560 (Sold for $529)
  Old colonial (1900) w/ side stair. Showing its age a bit. Kitchen was nicely renovated ~10 years ago, is in great shape for teaching. Synthetic rear porch. Large brick driveway area in rear (space for 9 cars). Driveway could use repair. Limited shade---a few trees. Three bedrooms on 2nd floor. Large bonus room w/ nice bath and large closet on 3rd floor. Older roof, older floors except kitchen, older windows. Some water in basement. Near commuter rail.
• 192 Jason St, Arlington - $650 (Sold for $620)
  Great condition colonial. Spacious kitchen/dining area. Kitchen needs updating (cheap counters, sink; dark cabinets; no gas; no vent), but updating should be relatively cheap/easy. Replacement windows. Large living room. Floors in excellent condition. Four good size bedrooms upstairs, open stairway area. Two full baths up, one half bath down off kitchen. 1 car garage, finished basement w/ separate play/guest area and laundry/storage. Deck off kitchen for grilling. Shaded, fairly level back yard below basement. Not easy to access back yard. Nice neighborhood. Very close to Menotomy Rocks Park entrance.

Belmont and Arlington Jason Heights

• 50 Munroe St, Belmont - $699k (Sold for $699)
  2 story raised center-entrance colonial; flat, shaded back yard; door to back yard from kitchen; kitchen is large enough; good size living room, playroom off living room; large master bedroom; attic; partially finished basement; one car garage; has everything we need, but nothing stands out, doesn't feel special
• 61 Warwick Rd, Belmont - $579 (Sold for $549)
  Needs a major rehab. Old windows, ugly kitchen with weird eating cubby and pantry, sloping floors. Corner lot with minimal back yard. Limited shade.
• 29-31 Falmouth, Belmont - $629
  Two family. Upstairs is 6 room, down is 5 room. Down has larger rooms, probably about as much room as we have now. High ceilings. De-leaded upstairs w/ replacement windows. Down has older windows, in decent shape. Nice, level backyard with tons of shade. Stucco exterior. Finishable, walk-out basement (I didn't have to duck anywhere). Parking spot + (3 car) driveway. Nice front porch, small, but nice back porch. Kitchens need complete rehab. Ideally, wall between kitchen and dining would be torn down.
• 38 Kensington, Arlington - $599 (Sold for $505)
  Todd says this one will sell quickly, above list. Nice kitchen, but that's it. Sloping lot on a hill, overgrown trees/shrubs. 3 rooms on first floor (kitchen, living and dining/study), plus awkward 1/2 bath; 3rd room separate from other 2. Upstairs bedrooms are fine. Tiny basement: 5' ceilings.

Newton Nonantum and Oak Hill

• 87 Adams Ave, Newton - $525 (Sold for $500)
  This one seemed the most promising. Nice living/dining combo. Kitchen is a bit larger than ours, could add 2 ikea counters similar to what we have. Nice kids/family room addition on 1st. Mud room/bath has 2nd entry, w/d. Three bedrooms on 2nd floor: nursery (9x10), bedroom (12x11) and master (13x14); all carpeted. Bathroom is nothing special. Third floor has storage, extra sleeping area, but not clear if it would be livable in summer/winter. Old house (1880s). Many windows would need updating. Nice back yard w/ stone patio.
• 104 Cheery St, Newton - $595 (Sold for $630)
  Lower ceilings (7.5?), kitchen on the small side w/ too many door ways to put in ikea counters. Lg. living room. Good bedrooms w/ nice closet in master. Good A/C. Nothing special.
• 18 Arbor Rd., Newton/Waltham - $549
  Generally very nice. Well updated, feels fairly modern, but not new. Good size backyard w/ some seclusion. First floor has kitchen, dining, living + "sun" rooms. Kitchen is a bit awkward w/ a toilet closet and not enough room to run a class. Dining & living rooms feel spacious. Reasonably high (9ft?) ceilings. Fireplace in living room. Second floor has good-looking bathroom (redone bath/shower), three bedrooms (slightly larger master). Stairs to third floor off a smaller bedroom. Third floor would be a good kids play area. Basement has low ceilings. Nice patio in back. House is 2/3 in Newton, 1/3 in Waltham. Owners have choice of schools.
• 25 Shute Path (E Roadway), Newton - $589 (Sold for $538)
  Completely reconstructed home single-floor, ranch-style. Large living room with vaulted ceiling and sunlights. Open, roomy kitchen/dining area w/ all new, quality appliances, hood w/ outside vent, cherry-colored cabinets. Very, very nice. Hardwood floors through living/dining/kitchen. Three bedrooms, two ~12x11, large master w/ closet and nicely done bath w/ shower. Pull down attic entry; insulated attic, lots of storage space there. Utility room on main floor. Space and hookups for w/d. Ideal except for location, guessing ~45 min commute.