South Boston New Construction: A Buyer's Guide to Townhouses and New Condos

Who this guide is for

• Buyers comparing new-construction townhouses and condos in South Boston, including Telegraph Hill, City Point and East Broadway.
• Buyers moving from a resale condo search who want to know what is different about buying from a developer.
• Investors and small developers weighing a South Boston new-construction or conversion project (see the Boston investment property guide).

What to look for in South Boston new construction

Qualitative checklist. No prices, fees or tax amounts for any specific property are quoted. Ask KM for current comps.

• Warranties and the builder's responsibility. Ask what written warranty the developer offers, what it covers, and for how long. Separately, Massachusetts courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability on new homes sold by a builder-vendor; it covers latent defects that create a substantial safety question or make the home unfit to live in, and it cannot be waived (Albrecht v. Clifford, 436 Mass. 706 (2002)). Claims are subject to strict time limits under G.L. c. 260, § 2B, so talk to your attorney promptly about any defect.
• Condo documents and the association. Most South Boston new construction is sold as condominium units, including townhouse-style homes. In Massachusetts a condominium is created under G.L. c. 183A, and the master deed describes what you own, the common areas, limited common elements (often parking spaces, decks and roof decks) and your percentage interest (Mass.gov RE12R07). Have your attorney review the master deed, the trust/bylaws, rules, and the proposed first-year budget and reserves. A newly formed association has no operating history, so ask how the budget was built and who manages the building.
• Parking. Confirm whether parking is a deeded space, a limited common element in the master deed, or a garage that is part of your unit, and whether it is tandem or side-by-side. In South Boston, garage parking often drives value as much as square footage.
• Roof decks and outdoor space. Confirm in the condo documents whether the roof deck is exclusive to your unit, who maintains and repairs the roof membrane beneath it, and whether there are use or alteration restrictions. Check what was permitted and built as shown on the plans.
• Plans, finishes and "subject to change." Preconstruction plans and renderings are often marked preliminary. Get the final plans, finish schedule and appliance list in writing, and know which items are included in the price versus upgrades.
• Taxes: the Boston residential exemption. Boston offers a residential exemption to owners who live in the property as their principal residence. For Fiscal Year 2026 it saved qualified homeowners up to $4,353.74 (City of Boston Assessing). Under a recent expansion, buyers who record a deed and occupy the home as a principal residence between January 1 and June 30 may qualify for that fiscal year; the FY2027 application deadline is April 1, 2027 (same source). A brand-new unit may not have its own assessment yet, so ask your attorney how the first tax bills will be apportioned.
• Inspection during and after construction. You can still hire your own home inspector for new construction. Ask about a pre-closing walkthrough, a punch list, and how warranty requests are handled after closing.

South Boston neighborhood pockets

Orientation only, using the subneighborhood names common on Boston listing sites. Not a claim that every block trades the same way. South Boston has a broad East Side and West Side split. Older housing on the East Side tends to be more traditional, and the West Side has more new, modern buildings. Within that, buyers usually search these pockets:

• Telegraph Hill: near the high point of South Boston, with neighborhood streets, elevation and, on the right lots, ocean views. Buyers pay for light, garage parking and outdoor space. 421 East Sixth Street, townhouses sold as condominiums, is here.
• Dorchester Heights: the area around Thomas Park and the Dorchester Heights Monument, next to Telegraph Hill.
• City Point: the eastern end near the waterfront, toward M Street Beach, Pleasure Bay and Castle Island.
• D Street–West Broadway: the West Side corridor, where much of South Boston's newer construction with elevators and garage parking is concentrated.
• Columbus Park–Andrew Square: the southwestern edge of South Boston, a mix of three-deckers and newer buildings.
• South Boston Waterfront (Seaport and Fort Point): inventory that buyers compare with neighborhood new construction. Parking, outdoor space and building quality often decide the offer.

East Broadway, the main shopping and restaurant street, runs through the East Side. Across these pockets, many triple-deckers and small multifamily buildings are candidates for condo conversion or redevelopment, and much small-project new construction comes from them.

Example: 421 East Sixth Street, Telegraph Hill

421 East Sixth Street is a limited collection of four new-construction townhouses sold as condominiums near the top of Telegraph Hill. KM represented the buyer of the development site in July 2024 and advised the project from site identification and ZBA relief through construction. Kirsten McEleney of KM Real Estate Group is the exclusive listing agent for Residences 3 and 4. Residences 1 and 2 are listed by Jorge Sariego of SERHANT. The townhouses, sold as condominiums, are more than 22 feet wide across three living levels, with four bedrooms, private roof decks and recessed bedroom decks, side-by-side two-car garages, a heated driveway with drainage, Thermador kitchens and electric living-room fireplaces. Residence 3 is listed at $2,250,000 (MLS 73576163) with 2,395 SF of MLS living area. For Residence 4 details, contact Kirsten or visit 421e6th.com. See also the Telegraph Hill townhome guide.

Example: 360 Athens Street, South Boston

KM represented the buyer of 360 Athens Street, an off-market, permitted two-townhouse development site, which sold for $1.01M in October 2021. After construction, KM listed the finished townhouses and sold one. It's an example of how KM works on small South Boston new construction from site purchase through the sale of the finished homes.

Steps to buy new construction in South Boston with KM

1. Set your must-haves: bedrooms, parking type, outdoor space, views, and move-in timing.
2. Get pre-approved: talk to a lender early; ask whether the lender has any requirements for new condominium projects.
3. Tour and compare: KM compares new projects and resales block by block using South Boston comparables, not citywide averages.
4. Review the documents: your attorney reviews the condo documents, budget, plans, finish list and any written warranty.
5. Offer and negotiate: price, included finishes, closing timing, and contingencies your attorney recommends.
6. Inspect and walk through: independent inspection, pre-closing walkthrough and punch list.
7. Close and file: close with your attorney; if it's your primary home, apply for the Boston residential exemption.
8. After closing: track warranty items and attend the first association meetings.

(Not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult your attorney, CPA and lender.)

How KM Real Estate Group helps

• Buyer representation for South Boston new construction and resales, with pricing from South Boston and Telegraph Hill comparables.
• Developer representation: pre-construction pricing, unit mix, marketing and sales, as for Residences 3 and 4, townhouses sold as condominiums, at 421 East Sixth Street.
• Site acquisition: buyer representation on off-market development sites, such as 360 Athens Street and the 421 East Sixth Street lot.
• Permitting coordination and conversion pathfinding for owners and small developers, kept on one plan with the eventual sale.
• Property management after you buy, if you plan to rent.

Talk to KM about South Boston new construction. Call (781) 307-8843 or email kirsten@km-regroup.com. Keep reading: Boston investment property guide · South Boston real estate · Telegraph Hill townhome guide · 421 East Sixth · All guides.