Sophisticated and one-of-a-kind, they are descriptions that capture the essence of 482 Glen Road in Weston. It’s difficult to believe that this elegant contemporary was once a mid-century ranch home. 

FUNCTIONALITY… It isn’t the first word that comes to mind in a grand Victorian. Gracious, stately, vintage, they all seem like a surer fit than a word that embodies purpose and usefulness. And while all the aforementioned adjectives describe 12 Whitney St., the functionality of this home may be the first thing prospective buyers might want know about this Northborough property.

Striking a balance between old and new is a tough task. Mirroring the vintage vibe of an antique is not a given when updating. Additions, more often than not, tend to look like… well, additions. It’s the rare antique that rates modern day press: a property so well done that the seam between  yesteryear and 21st century is invisible.

Buyers with a penchant for European allure, take heart: There’s a piece of the French Riviera for sale in Wayland.  Classic French Provincial architecture distinguishes this Bennett Road home from the competition.  A sprawling courtyard entry, reflective of its European inspiration, and meticulous landscaping set the tone for an imaginative property that captures not only a style but a way of life. 

For the first time since the early 1970s, the Wayland boys soccer team will be coached by someone other than the legendary Bill Snow.

Sales of existing homes rose 3.1 percent in July, easily beating Wall Street's expectations, as buyers snapped up deeply discounted properties in parts of the country hit hardest by the housing bust.

Sales of existing homes rose 3.1 percent in July, easily beating Wall Street's expectations, as buyers snapped up deeply discounted properties in parts of the country hit hardest by the housing bust.

Nowadays, "estate" is a loosely used term.  It denotes an upscale property and the setting in one sweeping stroke.  There was a time, however, when the word estate conveyed a way of life.  For sale, on a sprawling parcel of Weston’s historic Boston Post Road, is an estate that is also a way of life.   

In addition to offering 4.2-acres and 4,287 square feet of living space, this Northborough property is about a lifestyle.  Set on an estate-like parcel of land, with an interior befitting a home décor magazine, 67 Cherry St., Northborough, offers the atmosphere of a year-round vacation, complete with dynamic living spaces and a near-Olympic-size pool. 

Half of the nation’s six major mortgage insurers have recently added Boston, the South Shore and Cape Cod to their watch lists of declining real estate markets where they seek more stringent lending requirements.