Where We Work: Jamaica Plain

We work all across Greater Boston to make the real estate dreams of buyers and sellers come true. In this series we’ll be sharing with you the neighborhoods we work in, as well as the micro-neighborhoods within them that each have a unique culture and property appeal.

Jamaica Plain is a vibrant, multicultural neighborhood just a short T ride from downtown Boston. It has a dynamic history, first as a country escape for wealthy urbanites in the nineteenth century, then as a haven for immigrant communities, and now as a cultural, culinary, and tight knit neighborhood.

In the nineteenth century Jamaica Plain was a country getaway spot, where the elite of Boston would build summer homes to flee to during the sweltering off-season. The lavish architecture and unusual number of single-family homes attests to this impulse. It’s rare in other areas of Boston to see the Victorian turrets or Gothic trim that you can spot on the majestic homes of Jamaica Plain.

It’s not just the architecture that remains from JP’s days as an enclave for the wealthy. The lush green spaces that attracted vacationers are still in bloom today. With the Arnold Arboretum offering 281 acres of flora and fauna, Franklin Park playing host to recreational activities of all kinds, and Jamaica Pond serving as a serene water oasis, there are neverending ways to immerse yourself in nature here.

Now, Jamaica Plain is home to a vibrant Latinx community, including Hyde Square, the official Latin Quarter of Boston. This means you’re never far from a batch of fresh empanadas, an impromptu salsa concert, or a cool piece of street art.

Jamaica Plain is also now known for its commitment to all things local. Local businesses thrive on Centre Street and many residents support nearby farms by shopping at farmer’s markets and prioritizing locally sourced products of all kinds. Sure this may hint at a hipster vibe, but it also reveals the neighborhood’s deep commitment to community and supporting each other.

Several of our team members have lived in JP for decades so they know all the ins and outs of the neighborhood, from the best taco spot to the best way to score a single-family home. If you think Jamaica Plain might be the neighborhood for you, shoot us an e-mail at nextdoor@unlimitedsir.com to get your transition into the area started.

3 Architecture Styles You’ll See in Jamaica Plain Homes

Jamaica Plain is an area rich with history. In the nineteenth century it was a country escape for wealthy Bostonians who would ride their carriages from their Commonwealth Avenue brownstones to palatial estates in JP for a summer respite. But as public transportation grew and the neighborhood became more urbanized, the lavish architecture shifted. Now, in 2021, visitors to JP can see the ebb and flow of local populations in the architecture of the local homes.

Colonial Revival

This style is akin to what we might find in New England suburbs still today. Between 1910 and 1930 the colonial revival style boomed, drawing on the United States’ early history and styles like Georgian and Federal architecture to create detached two-story homes. However many homes predate that popularization. Clapboard and shingle, or contemporary siding, are most common in Jamaica Plain colonial revival homes.

The Loring-Greenough house on South Street is a Colonial style circa 1760. You can see how later homes drew from those characteristics on a smaller scale. Often Colonial Revival homes are square or rectangular with symmetrical windows on the front, often on the sides as well, framed by shutters.

Italianate

Despite its name, the Italianate architecture style came to the United States from Britain. This style isn’t super common in Jamaica Plain but you can spot it, and it does provide an interesting contrast to the more stately styles around it. Inspired by Italian villas, these homes are often designed in an L or T shape with molded window surrounds and flat edges.

Interestingly, Andrew Jackson Downing who pioneered the style here in Jamaica Plain, designed three types of house for different classes of people: well-to-do, middle-class, and farmers. As could be expected, the grander the home the higher class bracket the buyer was in.

Victorian Gothic

This is a style that’s unique to Jamaica Plain, where you’ll find the most Victorian Gothic homes in the Greater Boston area. These are the homes that have turrets and spires growing boldly from the roofs and decorative ornamentation on the roofline. Sometimes these homes can be small but often they’re massive, majestic affairs that have since been turned into multifamilies.

This style was popularized in the mid-to-late nineteenth century and texture is crucial to achieve the look. That’s why you might see stone and wood mixed with three-dimensional ornaments and an asymmetrical roofline. This style of home is thought to be a romantic allusion to medieval architecture—you know, without the famine and lack of hygiene.

No matter what the style of home, we’ve seen them all. Let us know what appeals to you most during your consultation with our team, nextdoor@unlimitedsir.com

So You Want to Buy a House, What Next

You’ve decided to buy your first home and you’re wondering what the next step is. Great news! You’re past the first hurdle, which is making the big decision to buy, and most likely saving up money to do so. We know it can feel like a very overwhelming process so we’ve made a list of easy next steps to get things going and find your dream home.

Step One: Set a Budget

Your budget is going to dictate everything, from the neighborhoods you see homes in to the upgrades you might be able to swing if a house needs some love. Come up with a firm budget before you start looking, then you can avoid pining over properties that are out of reach and only view homes that you can actually purchase.

It’s also helpful to do this first because some real estate teams specialize in luxury homes while others specialize in affordable markets. Some work with a mix. Narrowing this down can help when you’re choosing a team, a neighborhood, and a style of home.

Step Two: Interview and Select a Buyers’ Agent

This is perhaps the most important step in the process. The right buyers’ agent will make the rest of the buying procedure as seamless and comfortable for you as possible. Select a few different teams in your area and interview them to see what feels like a good fit. Ask questions that will measure the depth of their knowledge as well as whether your personalities mesh.

Not to brag, but we happen to be very knowledgeable and likeable buyers’ agents with decades of experience in the Boston area. We’d love to have the chance to convince you why we’re a great fit!

Decide Your Needs and Wants

This step can be a bit tricky. We’ve all got a dream list of things we want in a home: quartz countertops, energy-efficient appliances, historic details, close access to downtown Boston, and the list likely goes on. But you need to separate the must-haves on your list from the would-be-nice-to-have-but-could-live-without things.

For example, two or more bathrooms might be essential to keeping your teenage children from murdering each other. But a kitchen island might be negotiable if there’s enough counter space to compensate for it. Think very hard about what’s a need and what’s a want and, if you work with us, we’ll do our best to get you both.

If you have any questions about this process, or want to interview us as potential buyers’ agents, reach out at nextdoor@unlimitedsir.com or 617-942-1741.