Fixer-Upper Friday: A Shabby Victorian in Hyde Park

It's a 10-minute walk to the Commuter Rail.

By Madeline Bilis· 9/28/2018, 9:52 a.m.

Photo via Century 21 Mario Real Estate

151 West Street, Boston
Price: $227,700
Size: 1,687 square feet
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 2.5

If you call up the listing to this Hyde Park home on a real estate site like Redfin or Zillow, you might see labels like “Hot Home” or “Popular.” That’s likely because the 1888 Victorian is one of only a handful of houses on the market for under $230,000 in the city of Boston. One look at the listing photos and you’ll see why: The place appears shabby. Really shabby.

The virtually uninhabitable “hot home” is a surely reflection on the sorry state of Boston’s housing market. But it’s also ripe for renovation—and at a somewhat decent price. The four-bedroom abode asks $135 per square foot. Tack $30,000 onto the asking price to account for competitive bidding, add another $100,000 for renovation costs, and it’s still a $360,000 single-family home within city limits.

Aside from its obvious drawback of needing a major overhaul, the foreclosed home has a lot going for it. The building has a good-sized kitchen and a whopping two and a half bathrooms. There’s crown molding, decorative mantels, and well-maintained hardwoods throughout. Plus, it’s only a 10-minute walk to the Commuter Rail. The thing it could use the most? An owner with deep pockets, a vision, and an endless amount of patience.

For information, contact Thomas Mario, Century 21 Mario Real Estate, century21.com.