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Minnesota Housing News
James Doubek, NPR, Barry Gordemer, NPR and Jamila Huxtable, NPR

A 10-foot wide house in Boston sells for $1.25 million

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The "Skinny House" or the "Spite House" is 10 feet wide at its widest. It's been sold for $1.25 million.
The "Skinny House" or the "Spite House" is 10 feet wide at its widest. It's been sold for $1.25 million.
Atlantic Visuals

In the latest example of a wicked hot housing market, a 10-foot wide house in Boston has sold for $1.25 million.

Located in the city's historic North End neighborhood, the two-bedroom, one-bath home was built in 1890, according to city tax records, though some accounts say 1862.

The real estate agency calls it the "Skinny House," measuring 1,165 square feet. "Floor-through residence with 3 exposures offering a unique floor plan, manicured gardens and a private roof deck with unobstructed harbor and city views."

The house is a frequent tourist spot, seen along the Freedom Trail in Boston.

The Skinny House
Atlantic Visuals

"Our first day for marketing the property there was about 50 to 75 people just photographing the house, just part of their walking tour," says Travis Sachs, the real estate agent who sold the house. "Pretty amazing part of Boston, just to see it and say, 'Wow look at this house I can't believe somebody lives there.' "

Mary McGee, who lives across the street and has been in the North End for over 40 years, tells Morning Edition that locals know the house as the "Narrow House" or more commonly as the “Spite House."

The legend is that two brothers inherited the land some time around the Civil War. One of them went away to fight and came home to find that the other brother had built a house bigger than his share of the land.

The Skinny House
Atlantic Visuals

So the returning soldier built a skinny house in the only space left.

"That other brother, to spite him, built the house there to block off entry" to the bigger house, McGee says.

Sachs says they had a handful of offers. They sold to a local family of four who offered more than the $1.2 million list price.

"The kids are going to have the bunkbeds and the mother and father are going to be in the master suite next to the private roof deck. The kids are going to have the whole backyard," he tells Morning Edition. "And they're also going to have four really skinny levels of house to live in."

The Skinny House
Atlantic Visuals

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.