Spring has finally arrived and many are wondering what it will bring for the Boston housing market. Despite the pandemic continuing on, it’s certain to be very different from the spring we experienced at this time last year. Here’s what some top industry experts predict for the Boston housing market this spring.    1.    New Inventory Growth  Many experts are predicting a rise in available industry. Danielle Hale, chief economist from Realtor.com has stated: “Despite early weakness, we expect to see new listings grow in March and April as they tra ..read more

The growing real estate market that bloomed late last spring has shown no sign of weakness, and continued thriving with strength throughout the cold winter.  According to real estate metrics firm The Warren Group, there were 3,824 single-family home sales across Massachusetts in January. This reflected an 8.7 increase over a year ago, and the most January sales in over 20 years. The median price of a Massachusetts single-family, increased 12.7 percent over a year ago, from $398,700 to $445,000, a new all-time high for January.   Furthermore, this marked the sixth straight ..read more

1.    Your Commute    The first factor to take into consideration when choosing which neighborhood to live in Boston is your commute to work or school. Wasting time with a long commute isn’t ideal, so often your commute time will be a defining factor in choosing the right neighborhood. When evaluating your commute time, it is important to factor in fuel and/or possibly toll expenses. Some Boston neighborhoods only require a resident sticker which is fairly easy to obtain, while other Boston neighborhoods do not offer any parking. This means you may need ..read more

Although 2020 was full of dark and unprecedented times, the real estate market continued to thrive and boom. The flourishing housing market was one glimmer of hope in an otherwise struggling economy. Now with emerging COVID-19 vaccines, a path out of this painful pandemic is approaching. Many are wondering, what will a return to normalcy mean for the housing market in 2021?   Housing economists are predicting another big year for real estate. The chief economist at Redfin, Daryl Fairweather, predicts 2021’s real estate market will be ever stronger than 2020. “As the economy recovers ..read more

According to a report by the Greater Boston Association of Realtors released last Tuesday, The Greater Boston single-family and condo home markets saw record sales in October.  The 1,433 single-family homes sold last month reflected a 36.9 percent year-over-year increase in sales, while the median sales price rose to a new record for the month: $700,000. It was $593,000 last October. Meanwhile, the condo market boasted a 9.3 percent year-over-year increase, at 949 units sold. The median sales price, $575,000, also broke records for the month. The median sales price in October 20 ..read more

US long-term mortgage rates fell this week, reaching record lows for the 13th time this year, amid fresh signs of weakness in the pandemic-ravaged economy.  Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year benchmark loan declined to 2.72 percent from 2.84 last week. For contrast, the rate averaged 3.66 a year ago.  Meanwhile, the average rate on the 15-year-fixed-rate mortgage slightly declined to 2.28 percent from 2.34 percent.  Home loan rates have trended downwards throughout most of the year, stimulating buying interest from potential ho ..read more

1. Embrace natural light Throw open the curtains, let the breeze in and brighten your home decor. Open those blinds and bask in the natural light. Instead of flipping on your lights in the morning, pull back the curtains and let sunshine light the way. The simple act of opening your windows can help lift your mood, and you’ll save a little on your electric bill too. Don’t have big windows? By using large mirrors you can reflect light and brighten up your room. 2. Freshen up your furniture A white, beige, or light gray couch is a perfect and cozy nesting spot. Light neutra ..read more

Two reports released Wednesday affirmed the autumn housing market is thriving and healthy in Boston. The cost of a single-family home in Massachusetts in September averaged $472,000, which reflects an 18 percent year-over-year increase. Furthermore, sales were up more than 27 percent, according to a report by The Warren Group, a real estate analytics firm.   Historically in September the real estate market sees a significant slowdown in single-family home sales, but this proved not to be the case in 2020. As expected, Suffolk and Middlesex counties were the primary drivers behind t ..read more

Working from home is the new normal for many Americans, which emphasizes major importance upon your home workspace functioning well, and looking great. Here's 4 tips on how to design and revitalize your home office space for maximum capability.  1. Declutter Now is the time to be honest for yourself and completely declutter your desk and draws. The importance of having a clean workspace with only the necessary items is astronomical, and will help keep your brain running smoothly and lower stress levels. Toss away any unnecessary items that need to be thrown out, pair similar items ..read more

Thousands of data points correlate with home values and sale prices, many which are obvious (like the condition of the home) and some features that aren’t obvious.  Here are several surprising features which have the power to affect ethe existing value of your home or the price someone is willing to pay for it, based on factual data. 1.    Proximity to Starbucks A surprising feature which may raise the value of your home is your proximity to the nearest Starbucks. A 2015 Zillow report found that, between 1997 and 2014, homes within a quarter-mile of a Starbucks i ..read more