We love it when a post writes itself. Here’s an email we got this weekend from a reader:

I noticed two twin brownstones on Union Street currently on the market just four doors from one another: 891 Union and 899 Union. 891 Union (listed by Warren Lewis) looks to be a renovated two-family priced at $2,450,000 while 899 Union (listed by Corcoran) is also a two-family but is unrenovated and tired but is priced at $2,750,000. Seems to me the listing agent at Corcoran should put down the crack pipe and try researching the comps before she prices. Who does she think she’s fooling when one can walk four doors down and save $300,000 (probably closer to $550,000 because the buyer of 899 will have to sink at least $200,000 into it)?

What’s this guy missing? Is there a rational explanation why the house in better condition is priced so much lower?
891 Union – #5122 [Warren Lewis] GMAP P*Shark
899 Union Street [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark