An airy living room with furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows at one end.

Around Boston’s South End, 10 solid options for starter homes right now

These aren’t the biggest spreads, but they come with modern finishes, and many include touches such as central air, storage, and outdoor space

By Tom Acitelli@tomacitelli Feb 3, 2020, 9:45am EST

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By Tom Acitelli@tomacitelli Feb 3, 2020, 9:45am EST

Listed by: Joe Schutt of Unit Realty

It can be darn near impossible to define a starter home in the Boston area. That’s largely because real estate is so expensive here versus much of the rest of the U.S. Still, it is possible to break down what a starter home might be neighborhood by neighborhood, using sales data and by eliminating certain types of housing right off the bat.

In Boston’s coveted and busy South End, it’s no good for first-time buyers to hunt for townhouses or single-families. Both are extremely expensive, even by modern Boston standards, and detached single-families are rare besides. So condos it is.

And what do condos generally go for in the South End? In the fourth quarter of 2019, the median condo sales price in the neighborhood was $975,000.

So! A starter home in the South End might be considered a condo retailing for well below the neighborhood median. That probably also means smaller condos, but ones with nice finishes and amenities such as storage and outdoor space—like these 10 options.

100 Shawmut Avenue, #413

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This 461-square-foot studio is part of a 13-story development that’s supposed to open in 2020—one of so many new buildings throughout the South End. The condo’s retailing for $599,900, with an HOA of $412.82. The building is due to include amenities such as a fitness center and concierge services.

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100 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Rendering of a sleek kitchen in a new condo.

191 West Canton Street, #2

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The 55-inch TV comes with this 701-square-foot duplex, which also has two bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. The condo is asking $769,000, with a HOA of $150.

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191 W Canton St, Boston, MA 02116

A narrow living room with a single chair facing a flat-screen TV mounted above a fireplace, and the living room’s leading to a kitchen.

408 Columbus Avenue, #1

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This 694-square-foot duplex is asking $699,000, and includes one bedroom and one bathroom. There is also bike storage for the building, and the unit has central air. The HOA is $172.

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408 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

An open living room-kitchen area just beyond a front door in a condo.

69 East Berkeley Street, #5

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This 617-square-foot condo is asking $549,000. It comes with one bedroom and one bathroom. The HOA is $332.52.

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69 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

A living room with three windows and a couch and a coffee table facing a TV stand.

139 East Berkeley Street, #201

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This 840-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom is pushing the starter home category limits for the South End. That is, it’s asking a cool $789,000—just below the neighborhood’s latest median sales price. A washer-dryer and central air come with the spread, and there is parking available for rent. The HOA is $419.

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139 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

608 Tremont Street, #2

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The Aries Commercial listing for this 650-square-foot two-bedroom, one-bathroom is frank and true: “It is rare to see a unit like this hit the market.” The unit is asking $749,999. The HOA is $234.42.

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608 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118

A small kitchen with a counter separating it from the living room of a condo.

600 Massachusetts Avenue, #7

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This 1,050-square-foot condo comes with two bedrooms and one bathroom. There’s storage as well. The asking is $699,000, and the HOA is $136.50.

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600 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118

An airy living room with a couch and a coffee table facing a TV.

46 East Springfield Street, #2

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A private deck comes with this 522-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom. The bath has been renovated too. The asking is $529,000, and the HOA is $175.

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46 E Springfield St, Boston, MA 02118

Empty rooms next to each other with a fireplace in each.

58 East Springfield Street, #2

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The Keller Williams’ listing for this 571-square-foot two-bedroom, one-bathroom gets right to the point: “Chance to snag one of the few condominiums under $600,000 in the vibrant South End!” The condo is retailing for $590,000, and includes the option to buy two deeded parking spots. It’s got central air and a back deck. The HOA fee is $400.

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58 E Springfield St, Boston, MA 02118

An open kitchen with an island with stools.

55 East Springfield Street, #PH

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A gut-renovation produced this 765-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom with central air and in-unit washer-dryer. It’s asking $679,000, with a $250 HOA.

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55 E Springfield St, Boston, MA 02118

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Around Boston’s South End, 10 solid options for starter homes right now

100 Shawmut Avenue, #413

191 West Canton Street, #2

408 Columbus Avenue, #1

69 East Berkeley Street, #5

139 East Berkeley Street, #201

608 Tremont Street, #2

600 Massachusetts Avenue, #7

46 East Springfield Street, #2

58 East Springfield Street, #2

55 East Springfield Street, #PH

100 Shawmut Avenue, #413

191 West Canton Street, #2

408 Columbus Avenue, #1

69 East Berkeley Street, #5

139 East Berkeley Street, #201

608 Tremont Street, #2

600 Massachusetts Avenue, #7

46 East Springfield Street, #2

58 East Springfield Street, #2

55 East Springfield Street, #PH