A restored 19th-century Back Bay townhouse on Commonwealth Avenue quietly hit the market this week with a $38 million asking price, instantly joining Boston’s small club of ultra-luxury listings. The grand, sun-soaked home spans roughly 10,800 square feet across four above-ground levels, plus a wellness-loaded basement that reads more like a boutique spa than your typical lower level.
As reported by The Boston Globe, the property at 55 Commonwealth Ave. is being marketed by Antonio Khoury of SERHANT and is listed with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, along with a temperature-controlled wine room and nine fireplaces. Khoury told the Globe the price tag is "not just defensible but arguably conservative," adding that opportunities like this "rarely come to market." In other words, he sees it less as sticker shock and more as a once-in-a-decade chance.
What's inside the house
The SERHANT listing spells out a layout geared toward serious entertaining and everyday comfort. There are both chef's and catering kitchens, a library, a media room, two offices, multiple laundry rooms and an elevator that hits every level, so no one has to haul anything up those Back Bay stairs unless they really want the workout.
The basement has been turned into a full-on wellness zone, outfitted with a sauna, gym and mirrored studio. Outside, the property stacks up three private terraces and a roof deck with skyline views, plus two private garage spaces and a gated outdoor spot, a parking lineup that alone would make many city homeowners jealous.
How it ranks in Boston
According to Boston.com, the $38 million ask puts 55 Commonwealth among the priciest active listings in the city. Only a Seaport penthouse currently on the market at $44.5 million tops it, underscoring just how high this Back Bay address is swinging.
Back Bay context
Single-family homes of this scale are rare on the sunny side of Commonwealth Avenue, which helps explain the trophy pricing and the full-court press on the marketing front. The listing is live on MLS and major consumer sites — Redfin shows the $38 million entry — and nearby sales have kept Back Bay firmly in the luxury spotlight. A $21 million closing at 59 Commonwealth Ave. last year turned heads, and 18 Commonwealth reborn into a $20 million mega-townhome highlighted the enduring appetite for large, polished Back Bay properties.
The home is being marketed by the Antonio Khoury Group at SERHANT, which is leaning into the turnkey systems and "legacy" appeal for buyers who want a single-family foothold in one of Boston’s most storied neighborhoods. Whether the ambitious asking price translates into a quick sale remains an open question, but for now 55 Commonwealth stands as a rare trophy on Comm. Ave., very much priced like it knows it.
