Fixer-Upper Friday: A Teal Two-Family in Somerville

Prospective buyers, come prepared to preserve period woodwork.

By Madeline Bilis· 1/18/2019, 10:07 a.m.

Photo via the Charles Realty

9 Garrison Avenue, Somerville
Price: $899,900
Size: 2,995 square feet
Bedrooms: 6
Baths: 2

On what planet do owners list fixer-uppers for almost $1 million? Well, this one. If you’re shocked at the price tag of this Somerville two-family, there’s a good chance you’re new to the Greater Boston real estate landscape.

For those of us who are all too familiar with the market’s sad state of affairs, this house is an interesting opportunity. Built in 1930, the bright teal abode retains much of its original character. Both units boast period woodwork and moldings, antique heating registers, ceiling medallions, hardwood floors, built-in china cabinets, and butler’s pantries, though some features are in better shape than others. One unit’s kitchen, for example, has been recently redone, while the other comes outfitted with peeling paint and old linoleum floors.

Yet a total of six bedrooms—plus front and rear decks for both units—make the home’s $300-per-square foot price tag sting a little less. The same goes for the paved driveway and rear garage—rarities in the city. Armed with deep pockets and a gigantic pail of elbow grease, a buyer could restore this 1930s palace to its former glory.

For information, contact Sarah Glovsky, the Charles Realty, thecharlesrealty.com.