On March 16th when the world halted activity due to the Coronavirus outbreak many wondered if Boston would prove its anti volatility once again. While it might be too early to tell, one key patterned we noticed was a shift in the type of product consumers are buying.
Full Service Buildings
Full service living was not always an idea that was embraced in Boston. However, the full service craze began with the Ritz Carlton Residences at the corner of Washington and Avery Streets in 2002. This made life easy. Everything was taken care of for you. Someone parked your car, someone opened the door for you, an elevator brought you to your unit, your home was cleaned and amenity spaces were always at your convenience. While this was a luxury up until March, since then has it become a recipe for disaster. Along with easy living comes delegating responsibility into “strangers” hands. As we can see with the continuous spread of the virus, people can only be responsible for themselves and not others. Can one live in a full service building while remaining safe or is this sense of lifestyle putting residents at a higher risk of becoming infected?
Brownstones and Smaller Multifamily buildings
The Brownstone market has continuously held their own here in the city. They are the foundation of Boston and provide traditional character throughout your home. Many buyers opt for brownstone living for privacy, charm, community, and small multifamily lifestyle. With the recent boom of luxury, full-service homes, we saw a switch to many buyers wanting luxury. Now the tables have fully turned and this pandemic has led buyers back to the independent journey. Having a private entrance allows less contact with neighbors and more control over human contact.