Breaking In and Entering

These sub-$200,000 condos are ideal for first-time buyers eager to try the soft market.

By Gail Ravgiala  |  December 3, 2006

$189,850
26 WINTER STREET, UNIT 10, SAUGUS

SQUARE FOOTAGE 650
BEDROOMS 2
BATHS 1 full
2006 TAXES $1,390
CONDO FEE $200
LAST SOLD FOR $120,000 in 2001

PROS The condo fee includes heat, hot water, and gas, and the kitchen has new cabinets, appliances, and vinyl flooring. The 14-unit building is small and neighborly and abuts a town baseball field and playground with views of the Saugus River. Open floor plan for living/dining/kitchen area. Deeded parking. CONS Space is tight, and the condo is at the front of the building, so street noise could be a problem. Building has a shared laundry room. Contact Karen D. Moore, Century 21 Greers/ Commonwealth, 781-856-1677.

$194,900
5140 WASHINGTON STREET, UNIT 1, WEST ROXBURY

SQUARE FOOTAGE 715
BEDROOMS 1
BATHS 1 full
2006 TAXES $1,968 (estimated)
CONDO FEE $228
LAST SOLD FOR $184,900 in 2005

PROS Although this is a garden-level unit, ample windows allow plenty of natural light. The galley kitchen, which was updated with new cabinets and appliances three years ago, is tucked behind a wall so that the condo, one of 30 units overall, feels larger than 715 square feet. Condo fee includes heat and hot water, and there is a no-rental clause, so the entire building is owner-occupied. CONS The bathroom is off the living room. One entry is hidden under the exterior staircase. Contact Tim White, Century 21 Carole White Associates, 617-323-4670, ext. 201.

$199,000
THE BOULDERS CONDOMINIUMS, RAINTREE CIRCLE, BROCKTON

SQUARE FOOTAGE 1,100
BEDROOMS 2
BATHS 2 full
2006 TAXES $1,518 (estimated)
CONDO FEE $262
LAST SOLD FOR New condo conversion

PROS The sylvan setting, adjacent to conservation land and in a residential neighborhood, makes this 103-unit complex seem almost rural. Prices range from $149,000 for a 700-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment to $209,000 for a 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom town house. All units have washer-dryer hookups, and condo fees include heat and hot water. CONS All units have new kitchens, baths, and windows, but these were updates versus complete rehabs. Contact Damien Mahaffey, sales director, The Boulders Condominiums, 508-586-5140.