Unique Homes MA

Historic Inventory homes for sale in Massachusetts

Every listing is matched against MACRIS, the National Register, MassGIS historic districts, the Boston Landmarks Commission, and per-town historical commission inventories where available. Designation shown on each card.

What this covers

Every listing on this site is matched against at least five public historic-property registries:

  • MACRIS — the statewide MA Historical Commission
  • National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) — federal designations maintained by the National Park Service, including the National Historic Landmark (NHL)
  • MassGIS Local Historic Districts (LHD) — state-recorded LHD matching district boundaries
  • Boston Landmarks Commission — Boston-only designated landmarks plus the Article 85 demolition-delay queue
  • Cambridge Historical Commission — Cambridge-only inventory of ~5,000 addresses

Listings that match any of these get a designation on the property card and a detailed breakdown on their listing page.

What this index does NOT cover

Historic designation is messier than it looks. Be aware of gaps including:

  • MACRIS coverage is uneven. Local historical commissions decide what to survey. Boston, Cambridge, Salem, and the Cape are heavily inventoried; many rural and recently-developed towns are sparse or empty.
  • Address-match misses happen. Range addresses (“144–146 Main”), condo units in historic blocks (Beacon Hill brownstones), and vacant lots don’t match cleanly. Though rare, there are close-but-not-exact cases.
  • Snapshot lag. Sources refresh monthly; MassGIS LHD quarterly. New designations between snapshots may not appear immediately.
  • “Inventoried” ≠ “Protected”. Most MACRIS and CHC records are surveyed once and carry no legal protection. Local Historic District membership and Boston Landmark designation are the real protections; NRHP is largely honorific (it doesn’t prevent demolition).
  • Limited town inventory. Beyond Boston and Cambridge, we source public commission inventories across towns like Beverly, Concord, Ipswich, Lexington, Marblehead, Newburyport, Plymouth, and Salem. However, the majority of cities and towns rely on MACRIS alone unless their commission publishes records online.
  • Article 85 is procedural, not honorific. A Boston address on the Article 85 demolition-delay list is over 50 years old and currently under review — it doesn’t mean the property has been designated.

How to read the cards

Each card carries a chip showing the highest-tier designation matched:

  • National Historic Landmark — the federal “best of the best” tier
  • National Register — federally listed
  • State Register — Massachusetts state designation
  • Local Historic District — inside an LHD or directly listed
  • Local Landmark — locally designated (Boston, Cambridge, etc.)
  • MACRIS Inventory — surveyed by the state inventory
  • Article 85 (Boston) — under Boston’s demolition-delay review

Click into any listing for the full designation breakdown.

Verification

Designations here are compiled from federal, state, and municipal registries. Records can be incomplete, mis-keyed to the wrong parcel, or updated faster than this site can re-ingest them. Use this as a starting point, not a substitute for due diligence before you make an offer.

For buyers we represent, that verification is part of the work: we pull the official MACRIS file, confirm any local-district overlays, and flag the easements and review requirements that come with owning a designated property. Get in touch and we’ll handle it.

Current listings (2,069)

Showing the first 80 of 2,069.

Where they are

Map

National Historic Landmark

Federally designated as nationally significant — the highest U.S. historic recognition. Section 106 review applies to federal undertakings affecting the property.

National Register

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Owners may qualify for the 20% federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit on certified rehabilitation work.

State Register

Listed on the Massachusetts State Register of Historic Places.

Local Historic District

Inside a Local Historic District. Exterior changes visible from a public way require approval from the local historic district commission.

Local Landmark

Individually designated by the town as a local landmark. Exterior alterations require commission approval.

MACRIS Inventory

Documented in MACRIS, the state historic inventory. Informational only — no regulatory constraints.

Article 85 (Boston)

Subject to Boston Article 85 demolition-delay review, which can pause demolition of buildings 50+ years old for up to 90 days.

Ch. 91 Waterways License

An active MassDEP permit for a dock, pier, seawall, or other structure on or over a Massachusetts waterway. Many older licenses are not digitized; this record is provided for reference only.

Massachusetts Great Pond

A Great Pond under M.G.L. Ch. 91 — the Commonwealth retains public rights to fish and navigate these state-designated waters. Private docks and other waterfront structures require a Waterways License from MassDEP.

Likely Great Pond

The MLS listing describes this property as being on a Great Pond, which would be a state-designated water body under M.G.L. Ch. 91. GIS data did not independently confirm the pond name — verification needed.