Reasonable Fix to Boston’s Property Tax Problem Passes Senate
A bipartisan measure passed the state Senate last week to finally give seniors in Boston a break on their property taxes, fixing a problem the city’s mayor can’t.
Most Mortgage Borrowers Pay Too Much
Even if you shopped for the lowest mortgage rate you could find, you may be paying more than necessary – simply because you didn’t know lower rates existed.
Beacon Hill Won’t Go Big on Housing. But That’s Not the End of the Story
Hoping Beacon Hill will demolish NIMBY zoning in one grand bill? Consider the saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.
Luxury Market Outpaces the Field
The luxury housing market ain’t what it used to be, in more ways than one. Four different analyses show what’s happening.
In Maine and Mass., Dems’ Economic Tightrope on Display
Amid the fallout from Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s campaign, an overlooked intra-party fight over data centers shows how big of a problem Democrats have across the country.
How to Resolve Issues in a Homebuyer’s Credit Report
When you file a complaint with the CFPB disputing something on your credit record, you expect some relief. But you might not always get it.
Price Gap Between New, Existing Homes Narrows
The price gap between new and existing houses has been falling in recent years, but buyers are still likely to pay 15 percent more for new construction.
Federal Court Rules Against Luxury Homebuilder
What do you get when you combine a 100-year-old former oceanside inn, an inexperienced luxury home developer and a wealthy out-of-state buyer? You get a lawsuit.
A Tale of Three Church Conversion Projects
Boston has a housing shortage, and the answer does not always have to begin with a vacant lot or a full demolition.
These Amenities May Find a Home
Concierge-like services that ease the demands of everyday life will allow homeowners to tend to other priorities.
Is Boston Headed for Stagnation? Or Is This Slowdown Just Temporary?
Boston was a boomtown in the 2010s, with tower cranes dotting the skyline. That era is definitely over, and a new report makes you wonder about where we’re headed.
Housing Is the Ultimate Numbers Game
That we have a housing shortage in Massachusetts, and that it is getting ever more dire by the year, is not some arcane economics debate.
Focusing on Income Inequality Misses the Forest for the Trees
It’s a cost-of-everything crisis, and it has put large swaths of the middle class under financial siege, especially here in Massachusetts.
Rent Control ‘Deal’ Is Just a Negotiated Surrender
The much-touted agreement between rent control advocates and a handful of developers is no compromise. And it will do nothing to lower housing costs.
Don’t Pass on Government Loans
Misguided buyers and sellers too often turn their noses up at these loans thanks to unfair myths that linger. Let’s bust some of those misconceptions.
‘Family Feud’ Is Not Just a Game Show
There’s nothing enjoyable when family members are at odds off-screen – especially when it comes to real estate.
Boston’s Top Taxman Is Out, But Big Questions Linger
Boston’s Assessing Department is the target of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit by building owners claiming the city jacked up their tax bills in retaliation for seeking abatements.
Fixing ADU Failings Could Pave Way for More Homebuilding
By standardizing rules for things like septic systems and setbacks, state legislators could also help revive our anemic single-family construction industry.
Mortgages ‘Increasingly Out of Reach’ for Hourly, Gig Workers
It’s always been tougher for hourly employees to qualify for a mortgage. But new research shows that people in all kinds of occupations are having a more difficult go of it.
This Essay Has Boston’s Real Estate Scene Talking About Texas
Boston and Austin cities could not be more different in how they have dealt with the crushing cost of housing, and the seriousness with which local pols take the issue.
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