Cambridge, Massachusetts lies on the left bank of the Charles River, just minutes from Boston, the hub of the New England region. But don’t be mistaken: Cambridge isn’t just another “neighborhood” of Boston. It stands as an international urban center in it own right. This city of 100,000 is home to two world-class institutions of higher learning and can boast of a unique historical heritage, rich cultural diversity, vibrant arts, music & theater scene, a bubbling intellectual life and an embarrassment of fine restaurants: all on a very livable, pedestrian-friendly scale. Then there’s Boston if you ever run out of things to do.

Cambridge is organized as a loose confederation of “squares” each with its own rendition of the city’s famous counterculture. Harvard Square, home of the University, offers a mixture of intellectualism and high culture with funky shops, bookstores and street performers. Central Square is the seat of city’s progressive government, nightlife and the hipster music scene. In Kendall Square, you’ll find the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the local headquarters of many global biotech, pharmaceutical & IT companies. Think Google and Biogen.

Cambridge architecture ranges from Colonial-era mansions on historic Tory Row to modern luxury residences with water views along the Charles. The majority of the housing stock is over one hundred years old and Cantabrigians are proudly dedicated to preserving and restoring the city’s historical fabric. A common offering on the real estate market is a blend of new and old: a condominium in a fully renovated historic Victorian outfitted with modern, luxury fixtures. As a university town, Cambridge offers many opportunities for real estate invertors. Cambridge property values have been rising since the 1600s, and while Harvard and MIT remain in town, the trend is expected to continue. Proximity and easy commute to Boston’s many teaching hospitals is an added bonus for many.