Either-Or: A Waterfront North End Stunner vs. a Modern Wayland Haven

It’s amazing what a few miles will do to the market. This month, we compare an inviting Burroughs Wharf condo with an open-concept single-family west of the city.


Jeffrey Dodge Rogers Photography (Wayland); Atlantic Visuals (Boston)

40 Battery Street, #401, BostonSale Price: $1,595,0002 Forest Hill Road, Wayland
$1,639,000
27
1,032 square feet
2
1.5
Asking Price
Days on Market
Size
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
$1,595,000
3
4,291 square feet
5
5.5

Whether they’re closing deals in the city or the ’burbs, there’s no denying that the pandemic has changed the way Realtors do business. Consider this Boston condo, where the agent led the buyers through their final walkthrough virtually. Once they actually unpacked their boxes IRL, the new owners were able to enjoy their light, bright kitchen with custom cabinetry and a private balcony featuring enviable views of the harbor, the Zakim Bridge, and the Old North Church steeple.

Twenty miles west in Wayland, coronavirus complications drove another set of buyers to purchase sight unseen. Given the rich mahogany woodwork and modern design that characterize the open-concept single-family, set on more than an acre of land, it’s easy to understand how a FaceTime tour sealed the deal. And considering the retreat sold in just three days for the full asking price, the question isn’t whether the market is moving, but where buyers are moving—and the speed of this sale makes a strong case for the suburbs.