Luxe in the suburbs: What you can get for up to $34m outside Boston

Luxury Homes

With indoor pools, waterfront access, and fitness centers (one with its own juice bar), here’s a snapshot of the ultra-luxury market in Boston’s suburbs.

Amy Mizner predicts a record year in the high-end market. “I’m very optimistic,” said Mizner, of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Weston. “There’s already vibrant activity from very qualified buyers in MetroWest and Boston.”

What are these buyers looking for? “High-net-worth clients want privacy, a lot of acreage, multiple dwellings, and security,” Mizner said.

John Farrell, an agent with Coldwell Banker Realty in Beverly, concurred, adding that “prospective buyers … want wireless connectivity, including video monitoring from anywhere in the world.”

An emphasis on wellness has increased since the pandemic. Both agents cite indoor/outdoor living, views, and natural light as priorities, along with spa amenities and fitness facilities.

On the coast, it’s unsurprisingly all about the water. “If the home’s not waterfront, there must be access or at least a water view,” Farrell said.

Quality and condition are valued over aesthetics — we’re talking turnkey properties. Farrell and Mizner said that buyers expect — and can get — homes with state-of-the-art chef’s kitchens and spa-like bathrooms. They do not want to do major work.

There is also a huge emphasis on family. Mizner, as well as Beth Dickerson of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Boston, observes empty nesters opting to upsize in the suburbs rather than migrate to a town house in the city. They’re looking for what Mizner calls “magnet properties” — homes to which kids want to return after college. “There’s a nesting instinct occurring,” she said.

Can buyers’ checklists be met? Pretty much — for a price.

According to Farrell, the North Shore, for example, offers historic estates with original architectural details and updated kitchens and baths for $10 million; add $5 million for more acreage (3 acres-plus) and an oceanfront setting.

“Ten million-plus dollars gets you a custom-built, architect-designed home of 10,000 square feet or more, pool and pool house, tennis or sports court, car barn, and space for additional structures such as a guest house,” Mizner said.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s on the ultra-luxury market in Boston’s suburbs for up to $34 million.

Year built: 1928

Square footage: 12,714

Bedrooms: 6

Baths: 6 full, 2 half

Taxes: $143,497 (2026)

Last sold for $7,000,000 in 2004

Listing agent Amy Mizner, Mizner + Montero, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, 544 Boston Post Road, Weston. 617-851-4909, sothebysrealty.com

Wind your way up a wooded ridge, past a pond, to this supremely private, 6.33-acre estate that seems tucked far away from the city but is just 16 miles from the airport. Renowned architect Peter Pennoyer oversaw the meticulous restoration of this 1920s English Tudor Revival. The property abuts land and water belonging to the Weston Golf Club

Classic columns and a sweeping stair set the tone in the formal entry hall, while tall, box bay windows pull in natural light and wood-paneled rooms never feel heavy. The primary suite is akin to one in a five-star European hotel, and there’s a guest house for visitors or staff. The garage accommodates six cars.

Year built: 1995

Square footage: 14,000

Bedrooms: 5

Baths: 6 full, 3 half

Taxes: $88,496 (2025)

Last sold for $10,000,000 in 2024

Listing agent Joanna Dresser, LandVest, 292 Newbury St., Boston. 617-584-6855, landvest.com

A coastal wonderland, this 15.5-acre oceanfront property (offered with the option of expanding to 25-acres) has 600 feet of water frontage boasting a deep-water pier with five moorings, 1,060 feet of private beach, and a 2-acre pond with a boardwalk and dock.

In addition to the main five-bedroom house that exudes cozy New England vibes are multiple outbuildings: a dock house, a boat house, a historic antique house, a barn with a caretaker’s apartment, and a grilling pavilion are all set among a lush landscape with fruit trees, fields, and flower gardens.

Year built: 1996

Square footage: 13,650

Bedrooms: 7

Baths: 6 full, 4 half

Taxes: $141,575 (2026)

Last sold for $4,850,000 in 2016

Listing agent Beth Dickerson, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, 277 Dartmouth St., 3rd floor, Boston. 617-510-8565, bethdickerson.com

Nestled into nearly 6 acres adjacent to conservation land, this home, impeccably renovated by custom builders Kistler & Knapp, is as much a vacation-like gathering place as it is a family oasis. There’s a classic white kitchen with a sunny breakfast nook, a library with rich millwork, and expansive rooms for entertaining, as well as a theater, billiards room, and a heated pool with a retractable roof.

Beyond the main house are three guest houses, a commercial kitchen with a chef’s living suite, a fitness center (complete with locker rooms and a juice bar), two greenhouses, a play area, and a tennis court.

Year built: 1899

Square footage: 10,664

Bedrooms: 7

Baths: 7 full, 2 half

Taxes: $64,237 (2026)

Last sold for $4,375,000 in 2012

Listing agent John Farrell, Coldwell Banker Realty, 50 Dodge St., Suite 105, Beverly. 978-578-5203, coldwellbanker.com

Esteemed architecture firm Carpenter & MacNeille restored this majestic 10,000-plus-square-foot Greek Revival for modern living. Known as Seaway, the historic home enjoys Atlantic Ocean views and private deeded access to Singing Beach. The .82-acre property features a three-bay carriage house adjacent to a covered entryway. Inside, gracious rooms function flawlessly for formal entertaining and feel welcoming for family. Highlights include the original staircase, an AGA stove, and a dining porch that overlooks the manicured lawns with stone terraces and a pool.

Marni Elyse Katz is a contributing editor to the Globe Magazine. Follow her on Instagram @StyleCarrot. Send comments to [email protected]