L
uxury buyers in Metro West are seeking homes with high-end features and amenities. A checklist of must-haves includes open layouts for indoor/outdoor entertaining, tricked-out lower levels with theaters, wine rooms, gyms, and golf simulators, sports courts (if possible), elevators, and smart-home technology. En-suite bathrooms for every bedroom are now the norm, and seven bedrooms have become the new standard.
Buyers often collaborate with developers to ensure their wish-list items are included in the home. Spec homes typically turn into custom homes these days, according to agents. However, buyers tend not to be interested in existing properties that need work due to the time-consuming process and busy lifestyles.
In contrast, luxury buyers on the North Shore and in Lexington are willing to rehabilitate historic properties or take on renovation projects. They appreciate turnkey properties but want to put their own stamp on them.
Here are four properties on the market for just under $8 million:
* Weston: A contemporary dwelling built on nearly 9 acres, featuring a central living room with a 27-foot-high ceiling, a freestanding pavilion with an outdoor kitchen and bar, and expansive entertaining areas.
* Westport: A historic shingled farmhouse on a 45.5-acre saltwater farm, meticulously restored and updated in 2013, with pastures, orchards, gardens, and woodlands stretching to the Westport River.
* Newton: A contemporary-meets-Colonial new-build with 10,000-plus square feet of living space, featuring a sleek gas fireplace, double pantries, and bedroom suites on multiple levels.
* Marblehead: A turn-of-the-last-century estate with more than 200 feet of shoreline, boasting a dock and mooring, a pool and pool house, and Frederick Law Olmsted-designed grounds.
