Two-Level Living
THESE DUPLEX CONDOS PACK A LOT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE (AND A STAIRCASE) INTO ONE UNIT.
(From top to bottom)
$389,000
75 CAPEN STREET, UNIT 2, MEDFORD
SQUARE FOOTAGE 1,723
BEDROOMS 4
BATHS 1 full
2007 TAXES $3,121 (estimated)
CONDO FEE $195 per month
LAST SOLD FOR First time on market
PROS The entry to this second- and third-floor duplex is quite convenient, with a foyer/mudroom leading to the large eat-in kitchen with a built-in desk and access to a private deck. Outdoor space includes a private-use area in the yard, and the three-season room off the main living area also brings the outdoors in. The unit is pet-friendly and close to Capen Park. CONS There's no bathroom on the third floor, though the condo association will allow for a dormer to be built to accommodate one (assuming the city's permitting department agrees). Contact Nancy Dixon or Lisa Drapkin, Coldwell Banker, Cambridge, 617-721-9755, truehomepartners.com.
$487,500
224 CHESTNUT STREET, UNIT 5, CAMBRIDGE
SQUARE FOOTAGE 1,300
BEDROOMS 3
BATHS 1 full
2007 TAXES $2,568
CONDO FEE $225 per month
LAST SOLD FOR $214,900 in 1999
PROS Location is the big draw for this Cambridgeport penthouse unit, just steps from Memorial Drive and a short walk from Central Square. The kitchen has a practical layout, with a breakfast bar and cooking island that looks out onto the private deck with rooftop views. There are two bedrooms on the lower level, and the second floor is a vast expanse with four skylights. CONS The kitchen needs updating, and there's no bath on the upper level. Contact Paul Campano, Keller Williams, Cambridge, 617-304-3686, isellyourhome.com.
$1,070,000
542 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, UNIT 1, BOSTON
SQUARE FOOTAGE 2,750
BEDROOMS 2
BATHS 2 full, 1 half
2008 TAXES $12,079
CONDO FEE $248 per month
LAST SOLD FOR $189,900 in 1994
PROS Fourteen-foot ceilings, gorgeous acanthus and crown moldings, and three antique marble mantels lend this bow-front Victorian row house sweeping elegance. The street level has a private deck overlooking the courtyard, which is accessed through sliders from the kitchen and the master suite, both on the garden level. The house is quieter than you might expect, since it's buffered from Mass. Ave. by Chester Park. CONS The kitchen and dining room are below street level, and there is no wall between the master bedroom and master bath. Contact Ted Pietras, Gibson 
