Every so often in Brookline, a home comes on the market that gets everyone talking. That was the case with 142 Crafts Road, a Spanish Colonial estate in Chestnut Hill that recently sold for $8,750,000, listed by Paul Neavyn of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty.
If you know Crafts Road, you know it’s one of those streets where nothing ever really changes hands. People move in … and stay. And stay. So when a property hits the market for the first time in over 30 years, it’s kind of a big deal.
A Home That Feels Like Its Own Hidden World
This place sits on 1.3 acres, which in Brookline basically feels like owning your own private park. The house itself comes in at around 9,400 square feet, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. More like: “Wow, I could actually spread out here,” instead of “Oh no, I’ll get lost.”
There are 8 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, so no one’s fighting over space. The kitchen is the real showstopper though: a huge chef’s setup with an oversized island, a walk-in pantry, and high-end appliances that probably make everything taste better. It opens to a dining area and out to a stone terrace, the kind of space where you can actually imagine summer evenings with friends.
Inside, you’ll also find all the classic rooms that make older Chestnut Hill homes so special: formal living and dining rooms, a peaceful library, and a big family room that feels like the natural gathering spot.
The primary suite has that calm, tucked-away feel with a spa-style bath and custom dressing closets. The upper levels add flexible rooms for guests, offices, hobbies, whatever life throws at you. And downstairs is a full lower level outfitted for movie nights, workouts, and storage galore.
The Grounds Are Something Else
The outdoor spaces feel like walking through different chapters of a garden story. Courtyards, terraces, little hidden corners … it’s the kind of setup you don’t see much anymore. And the historic 1906 auto house by Chapman & Frazer gives the whole place even more character.
Why Chestnut Hill Folks Paid Attention
Besides the house itself, the location is one that Brookline residents know well and love. You’re close to:
- Boston College
- The Street at Chestnut Hill
- Chestnut Hill Mall
- Wegmans (obviously important)
- The Green Line
- Longwood Medical Area
Basically, all the spots you want are nearby without losing that peaceful, leafy neighborhood feel.
Why Working With a Top Real Estate Agent Matters
Homes like this aren’t the everyday kind. They’re historic, special, deeply tied to the neighborhood’s identity. Selling or buying one takes more than tossing it online and hoping for the best.
That’s where a top realtor like Paul Neavyn comes in.
Paul isn’t just experienced, he’s genuinely one of the top agents in the country. He’s earned RealTrends Top 1.5% in the United States for three years in a row (2022, 2023, and 2024, with 2025 results coming next year). His track record this year alone includes:
- 14 closed transactions in 2025 so far
- 2 homes under agreement
- 1 home contingent
- 2 active listings
- $14,205,713 in closed volume YTD
- $2,579,000 pending and set to close in December
- 86 lifetime transactions
When you’re dealing with a once-in-a-generation property, especially one in a tightly protected historic district, you want someone who knows Brookline inside and out, understands the architecture, the local restrictions, the buyers, and the story the home needs to tell.
Paul brings that experience, and that’s a big reason this listing made such a splash.
A Rare Moment for a Rare Home
Now that 142 Crafts Road has new owners, it’ll probably be decades before it ever hits the market again. It’s the kind of home that becomes part of someone’s life story.
Whether you’re curious about what’s happening in the Brookline market, thinking about your own move, or just love keeping up with local real estate buzz, having a seasoned neighborhood expert on your side makes all the difference.
And if you ever want to talk Chestnut Hill favorites, historic homes, or what’s coming on next in Brookline, Paul’s always a great place to start.