12 must-see open houses in Eastern Mass. this weekend (Feb. 1-2)
From a one-bed Somerville condo with easy access to transportation for $389,000 to a two-bed Back Bay brownstone for $2,150,000.
For many first-time home buyers, diving into the housing market can be daunting.
TD Bank surveyed more than 850 millennials (ages 23 to 28) who plan to buy their first home in 2020, and 75 percent said they are overwhelmed by the housing process. Meanwhile, 68 percent suggested that it’s a good time to buy a home, and 52 percent said they actively search online listings.
Although buyers intend to purchase a home in the next year, many are not financially prepared, according to the survey.
A little more than half (52 percent) said they have started saving for a down payment, 53 percent have reviewed their credit report, 42 percent have created a budget for their home purchase, and 30 percent have spoken with a mortgage lender.
Many millennials said that although it’s a good time to buy, home costs are too high. One in five said high prices have prevented them from purchasing a home, and 36 percent agreed that homes are overpriced.
As well, nearly 70 percent of millennial buyers said their expectations for their first home are higher because of the amenities they have where they currently live, and 84 percent suggest that they would prefer to delay the purchasing process until they find the ideal place.
The housing crisis of 2008 made 47 percent of those buyers surveyed nervous to purchase a home, with 70 percent viewing the housing market as fragile.
‘‘The millennial cohort of home buyers is unlike any other in history,” said Rick Bechtel, head of US residential lending at TD Bank. ‘‘They grew up during the explosion of personal technology, the fall of the housing market, and the renaissance of the rental market. And as our survey found, their expectations of homeownership are shaped by all of it.’’
Whether you’re a millennial ready to purchase a home or just window shopping, check out these 12 must-see open houses happening in Eastern Massachusetts this weekend — from a one-bedroom Somerville condo with easy access to transportation for $389,000 to a two-bedroom iconic brownstone in the heart of Back Bay for $2,150,000.
Check them out:
For under $500,000
245 Highland Ave., Somerville
$389,000
1 bedroom, 1 full bath
490 square feet
Open houses: Saturday, Feb. 1, and Sunday, Feb. 2, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
***
862 State Road, Plymouth
$450,000
3 bedrooms, 2 full baths
2,384 square feet
0.47-acre lot
Open house: Sunday, Feb. 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
***
27 Armandine St., Unit 1, Dorchester
$499,000
2 bedrooms, 2 full baths
950 square feet
Open house: Sunday, Feb. 1, from noon to 1 p.m.
***
4 Mahoney Circle, Middleborough
$499,000
3 bedrooms, 2 full baths
2,072 square feet
0.49-acre lot
Open house: Saturday, Feb. 1, from noon to 2 p.m.
$500,000 to $1 million
45 Burnett St., Jamaica Plain
$849,000
3 bedrooms, 2 full baths
1,150 square feet
Open house: Saturday, Feb. 1, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
***
8-12 Museum Way, Cambridge
$919,000
2 bedrooms, 2 full baths
1,064 square feet
Open house: Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
***
35 Moreland St., Somerville
$929,000
3 bedrooms, 3 full baths
2,000 square feet
Open house: Saturday, Feb. 1, from 12:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
***
4 Garrison Way, Carlisle
$942,625
2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath
2,330 square feet
Open houses: Thursday, Jan. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 1, from 12:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
$1 million-plus
213 Lamartine St., Jamaica Plain
$1,199,000
3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath
1,647 square feet
Open houses: Saturday, Feb. 1, and Sunday, Feb. 2, from 11 a.m. to noon.
***
3 Brookmere Ave., Wellesley
$1,495,000
3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath
3,650 square feet
0.48-acre lot
Open houses: Saturday, Feb. 1, and Sunday, Feb. 2, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
***
88 Beacon St., Beacon Hill
$1,650,000
2 bedrooms, 1 full bath
1,045 square feet
Open house: Sunday, Feb. 2, from noon to 1 p.m.
***
1 Marlborough St., Back Bay
$2,150,000
2 bedrooms, 2 full baths
1,225 square feet
Open house: Sunday, Feb.2, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
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