ON THE BLOCK
Houses Under $300,000
Most in this range have small lots, tight spaces, and work to be done.
279,000
1083 OCEAN STREET, MARSHFIELD
SQUARE FOOTAGE 756
LOT SIZE 5,300 square feet
BEDROOMS 2
BATHS 1 full
2007 TAXES $2,067
LAST SOLD FOR $225,000 in 2004
PROS The owners have made the most of this little ranch, painting the rooms in soft colors with bright white trim and sprucing up the 14-by-12-foot eat-in kitchen with new stainless-steel appliances. The finished former garage has electricity and cable (but no heat) and adds 150 square feet of space that could be used as a home office or hobby room. The fenced backyard feels spacious and has a deck and flagstone patio. CONS The house is right on busy Route 139. Contact Madelene Semeria, Century 21 Abigail Adams Agency, 617-894-1124, ma-homesforsale.com.
$289,000
4 SMALL STREET, NORTH QUINCY
SQUARE FOOTAGE 720
LOT SIZE 5,000 square feet
BEDROOMS 2
BATHS 1 full
2007 TAXES $2,820
LAST SOLD FOR $26,500 in 1972
PROS Location is a draw for this house, especially for a buyer looking for an easy commute to downtown Boston. It's a short walk to the North Quincy T station from this neighborhood of mostly 1950s-era starter homes. Gleaming hardwood floors in the fireplaced living room give a hint of the potential for renovations. The yard also holds promise for a landscaped oasis. CONS A buyer should plan on updating the kitchen and bathroom and possibly rethinking the boxy floor plan. Contact John Heaney, Century 21 Annex, Quincy, 617-515-0209, c21.com.
$299,000
5 LORENZO STREET, DORCHESTER
SQUARE FOOTAGE 1,318
LOT SIZE 2,998 square feet
BEDROOMS 3
BATHS 1 full, 1 half
2007 TAXES $3,382
LAST SOLD FOR $199,000 in 2002
PROS At this price, this much space is rare. The new kitchen, baths, and vinyl windows were installed in 2003. Walk to Pope John Paul II Park, or replace the chainlink in the backyard with privacy fencing and enjoy the shade of your own weeping willow. CONS Located in the Port Norfolk section off busy Neponset Circle, the house is within sight and earshot of the Southeast Expressway. Contact John Tran, Re/Max Real Estate Specialists, Dorchester, 617-905-1137.
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