GBAR Names New Executive Director
The main trade group for real estate agents in Greater Boston’s urban core and its tony MetroWest suburbs has named a new chief administrator.
2024 Housing Market Ends With Strong December
The number of home sales rose 16 percent year-over-year last month, and the annual median single-family sale price ended the year up 7.9 percent.
Massachusetts Among Most Unaffordable States to Live in U.S.
Massachusetts continues to deal with a lack of affordability and according to Realtor.com, the Commonwealth is one of the worst in the nation in this area.
Homebuyers’ Student Debt Issues Can Be Solved. Here’s Where to Start
Massive, often insurmountable amounts of student debt have prevented millions of otherwise qualified borrowers from obtaining financing to buy a house.
Real Estate Team Swaps Compass For Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker New England has picked up a founding member of Compass’ South Shore office.
Home Remodeling Activity Expected to Tick Upwards in 2025
With a stronger economy, among other things, boosting consumer confidence, the outlook for home remodeling activity appears to be improving.
Conforming Mortgage Share Reaches Record Low
In yet another indicator of the affordability issues that confront American homebuyers, the share of conforming mortgage rate-locks in the American housing market have hit a record low, according to a new report from Optimal Blue.
Typical Mass. Starter Home Cost Surges 58 Percent. NH’s Jump Is Bigger
The income required to afford a starter home across the nation has risen significantly since 2019.
Personnel File – No. 393
From new VPs to fresh project managers, see who’s been hired, promoted and honored: It’s our weekly Personnel File roundup.
After Death or Divorce, What Happens to the House?
When a family member passes away, their loved ones sometimes become homeowners unexpectedly. In these situations, servicers are supposed to help, but some just steer borrowers into costly refinances.
Community Good Works
Beverly residential brokerage J Barrett & Company announced its agents raised $6,000 to give to a local cancer support group that it matched dollar-for-dollar. See who else gave back.
Inflation Fears Rise, Sending Mortgage Rates Near 7 Percent
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate ticked up again this week, starting the first full week of 2025 off at its highest level since July.
U.S. Rents Drop to Lowest Levels in Three Years, Boston Continuies to Climb
While U.S. rents dropped to the lowest levels in three years in December, Boston rents continued to creep upwards.
Healey Backs Ending Tenant-Paid Apartment Broker Fees
“I think they should be abolished. I think they should go away,” the governor said. “I totally support that, and support taking action to make that happen.”
Southern New England Metros Outpace Boston in Zillow’s Hottest Markets of 2025
While Greater Boston jumped 10 spots in Zillow’s hottest markets rankings compared to 2024, the market was still outpaced by the likes of Hartford and Providence.
Shuttered Marshfield Brokerage Faces $490K Lawsuit
A Marshfield real estate broker is being accused of embezzling money by a dozen agents, and failing to pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions and other fees.
Renters Staying Put at Increased Rate – But Not in Boston
According to a new report from Redfin, 23.8 percent of Boston-area renters in 2023 stayed in the same home for more than a year, down from 26.7 percent a decade prior.
Top Residential Real Estate Stories of 2024
As the calendar turns to 2025, there will be more challenges ahead for buyers and brokers alike, and the Fed’s now-cooling ambitions for interest rate cuts have created uncertainty about how many homeowners will be interested in listing once the spring selling season arrives.
More Private Dorm Developments Making the Grade
Private developers are eager to build student housing in Boston. And city officials want more college students out of the rental market. But new dorms face thorny neighborhood politics to make it happen.
Advice for Developers Fills the Luxury Market Niches
Over the past four decades in Boston-area luxury brokerage, Sue Hawkes has followed the market’s shifts during up-and-down cycles. Now, her firm is casting an eye towards the suburbs.
This Week’s Newspaper
