If you are in the market in search of historic homes for sale in Boston, Massachusetts; it does not get any more historic than the Charlestown neighborhood. Charlestown is the oldest neighborhood in Boston having been planned out as far back as the year 1629. Located on a peninsula north of the Charles River and across from what is now downtown Boston, Charlestown was originally a separate town from Boston. Charlestown was also the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay colony, and officially became part of Boston in 1874 when it was annexed. This city has always maintained a very strong Irish-American population. Along with being the oldest neighborhood in Boston, Charlestown is also home to numerous historical landmarks such as the U. S. S. Constitution, the Navy Yard, and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Those who are looking for homes in Boston will find an interesting mix in the Charlestown area. Historic Boston Row homes listed on the National Registry of Historic Places can be found in the Charlestown area along with a selection of modern, completely-renovated condominiums. For those who are not familiar with Boston architecture, the row homes that Boston is so famous for tend to be attached single-family homes that are narrow and multilevel. Most Boston row homes have beautiful brick façades with many also retaining the historic character of the home by including wrought iron accents. Although you can find modern condominiums in the Charlestown area that are the result of commercial space that has been converted to loft-style condominiums, the majority of the homes for sale in Boston that are located in the Charlestown area will be historic row homes. Finding a detached single-family home in Charlestown is almost impossible.

Both Charlestown’s proximity to downtown Boston and its historic nature mean that homes for sale in Boston located in Charlestown tend to bring premium prices. As of August 2013, you can expect to pay between $500,000 and $1 million for two bedroom two bath homes in Boston that are located in the the Charlestown area. Keep in mind that many of the homes for sale in Boston that are located in Charlestown are historic homes and as such are subject to numerous rules and regulations that a potential buyer should be aware of prior to making an offer on the home. Often, for instance, when a home is officially registered as a historic landmark, the owner cannot make changes to the home that would take away from the original character of the property. This frequently means that any renovation you wish to make to the home must first to be approved by the city and then must be done using original materials so that the home retains its original character. This also means that a renovation to a Charlestown row home will be more expensive than its counterpart in another area. Be sure to consult with your real estate agent prior to making an offer on a home that is a historic landmark of Charlestown. You might want to be sure that you understand what that means from the perspective of a homeowner prior to purchasing a home that is a designated landmark.

Of course if you are up to the challenge, there is nothing like living in a piece of American history.