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An open kitchen with a countertop that has three stools in front of it.

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

Southie can be on the pricier side as far as Boston-area neighborhoods go—but first-time buyers can find deals on decent domains if they know where to look

By Tom Acitelli
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By Tom Acitelli

It can be nearly 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 by neighborhood, using sales and inventory data to eliminate certain types of housing right off the bat.

In South Boston, that can mean doing away with single-families as they tend to be both more expensive and much rarer than the famed enclave’s more readily available condos. And, as for those condos, the median sales price for them during the last three months of 2019 was $737,500, according to appraiser Miller Samuel and brokerage Douglas Elliman.

So, it’s safe to say that a Southie starter home is a condo in decent shape and asking under $737,500. What might those be then? These.

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12 Mohawk Street, #3

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A heated garage parking space and central air come with this 925-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom. It’s all asking $725,000, with an HOA of $173.

12 Mohawk St, Boston, MA 02127
A living room with furniture, including a prominently placed couch, and there’s a bay window. Listed by: Compass

225 Bowen Street, #3

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This product of a recent renovation includes a washer-dryer, central air, and exclusive roof rights—so a deck is not out of the question for a new owner. The 607-square-footer has two bedrooms and one bathroom. The price is $549,000, and the asking is $185.

225 Bowen St, Boston, MA 02127
An open living room-kitchen area, with very modern appliances in the kitchen and furniture in the living room. Listed by: Ian Halpin

331 E Street, #2

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Washer-dryer hookups come with this three-bedroom, one-bathroom running to 751 square feet. The asking is $575,000, and the HOA is $150.

331 E St, Boston, MA 02127
An open, empty living room with a kitchen tucked just off it like an alcove. Listed by: Century 21

37 Gates Street, #3

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A sizable deck with strung lighting comes with this 725-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom with central air and an in-unit washer-dryer. The asking is $589,000, with an HOA of $155.

37 Gates St, Boston, MA 02127
An open kitchen with a countertop that has three stools in front of it. Listed by: Peter Tzannos

420 West Broadway

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This 606-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom shows what a new starter home in Southie can be like. It’s part of an under-construction development with 42 units and amenities that include a roof deck and a fitness center. The condo itself will have central air and come with a garage parking spot. The asking is $699,900, with an HOA of $237.

420 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
Rendering of a modern, new condo’s living room, with two women in it. Listed by: Janice Dumont/Advisors Living

146 M Street, #3

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This 902-square-footer is the product of a conversion last year, and includes a washer-dryer and central air. The condo has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The asking is $725,000, and the HOA is $402.

146 M St, Boston, MA 02127
An open and empty kitchen and dining room area with an island featuring prominently. Listed by: Compass

703 East Fifth Street, #1

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This 1,148-square-foot condo with two bedrooms and one bathroom comes with a sizable deck and central air. The price is $735,000, and the HOA is $175.

703 E 5th St, Boston, MA 02127
A small living room with a couch and a table facing a TV, and there’s a bay window. Listed by: Compass

124 O Street, #2

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This 992-square-foot three-bedroom, one-bathroom comes with in-unit laundry and a sizable deck. It’s asking $619,000, with an HOA of $125.

124 O St, Boston, MA 02127
A snug kitchen with a table and chairs in the middle. Listed by: Compass

810 East Third Street, #1

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This gut-renovation gives a good sense of what a newer-looking Southie starter home can be. It’s 1,047 square feet, and has three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. There’s also in-unit laundry and central air. The asking is $689,900, and the HOA is $224.

810 E 3rd St, Boston, MA 02127
A long, narrow living room leading to an open kitchen. Listed by: Compass

925 East Second Street, #1

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Two parking spaces come with this 978-square-footer with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and two small decks. There’s also central air. The tag is $689,000, and the HOA is $227.

925 E 2nd St, Boston, MA 02127
An expansive living room with a rug, a TV, and other furniture just beyond a front door. Listed by: Gilmore Murphy Realty
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12 Mohawk Street, #3

12 Mohawk St, Boston, MA 02127

A heated garage parking space and central air come with this 925-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom. It’s all asking $725,000, with an HOA of $173.

12 Mohawk St, Boston, MA 02127
A living room with furniture, including a prominently placed couch, and there’s a bay window. Listed by: Compass

225 Bowen Street, #3

225 Bowen St, Boston, MA 02127

This product of a recent renovation includes a washer-dryer, central air, and exclusive roof rights—so a deck is not out of the question for a new owner. The 607-square-footer has two bedrooms and one bathroom. The price is $549,000, and the asking is $185.

225 Bowen St, Boston, MA 02127
An open living room-kitchen area, with very modern appliances in the kitchen and furniture in the living room. Listed by: Ian Halpin

331 E Street, #2

331 E St, Boston, MA 02127

Washer-dryer hookups come with this three-bedroom, one-bathroom running to 751 square feet. The asking is $575,000, and the HOA is $150.

331 E St, Boston, MA 02127
An open, empty living room with a kitchen tucked just off it like an alcove. Listed by: Century 21

37 Gates Street, #3

37 Gates St, Boston, MA 02127

A sizable deck with strung lighting comes with this 725-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom with central air and an in-unit washer-dryer. The asking is $589,000, with an HOA of $155.

37 Gates St, Boston, MA 02127
An open kitchen with a countertop that has three stools in front of it. Listed by: Peter Tzannos

420 West Broadway

420 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

This 606-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom shows what a new starter home in Southie can be like. It’s part of an under-construction development with 42 units and amenities that include a roof deck and a fitness center. The condo itself will have central air and come with a garage parking spot. The asking is $699,900, with an HOA of $237.

420 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
Rendering of a modern, new condo’s living room, with two women in it. Listed by: Janice Dumont/Advisors Living

146 M Street, #3

146 M St, Boston, MA 02127

This 902-square-footer is the product of a conversion last year, and includes a washer-dryer and central air. The condo has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The asking is $725,000, and the HOA is $402.

146 M St, Boston, MA 02127
An open and empty kitchen and dining room area with an island featuring prominently. Listed by: Compass

703 East Fifth Street, #1

703 E 5th St, Boston, MA 02127

This 1,148-square-foot condo with two bedrooms and one bathroom comes with a sizable deck and central air. The price is $735,000, and the HOA is $175.

703 E 5th St, Boston, MA 02127
A small living room with a couch and a table facing a TV, and there’s a bay window. Listed by: Compass

124 O Street, #2

124 O St, Boston, MA 02127

This 992-square-foot three-bedroom, one-bathroom comes with in-unit laundry and a sizable deck. It’s asking $619,000, with an HOA of $125.

124 O St, Boston, MA 02127
A snug kitchen with a table and chairs in the middle. Listed by: Compass

810 East Third Street, #1

810 E 3rd St, Boston, MA 02127

This gut-renovation gives a good sense of what a newer-looking Southie starter home can be. It’s 1,047 square feet, and has three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. There’s also in-unit laundry and central air. The asking is $689,900, and the HOA is $224.

810 E 3rd St, Boston, MA 02127
A long, narrow living room leading to an open kitchen. Listed by: Compass

925 East Second Street, #1

925 E 2nd St, Boston, MA 02127

Two parking spaces come with this 978-square-footer with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and two small decks. There’s also central air. The tag is $689,000, and the HOA is $227.

925 E 2nd St, Boston, MA 02127
An expansive living room with a rug, a TV, and other furniture just beyond a front door. Listed by: Gilmore Murphy Realty