Opinion
Rent Control Will Slash Property Values. Boston Will Be Hit Hardest
Talk about playing with fire: Some of the most affluent and politically progressive cities and towns in Massachusetts are the staunchest supporters of a draconian, statewide rent control proposal.
Your Marketing Is Likely Turning Off Buyer and Seller Clients. Do This, Instead
The big question agents facing agents today is: How do you stand out in an immense sea of sameness?
Is Town Meeting Really the Best Body to Vote on a Development’s Zoning?
Town meeting votes are so risky for developers, it locks Massachusetts out of large-scale housing production. What if we could fix that while keeping democratic accountability?
Indie Coffee Shops Are Meant to Counter Corporate Behemoths. Why Do They Both Look the Same?
Patrons want more than a good espresso. They want to immerse themselves in a “scene” that matches their lifestyle and aspirations, and store owners have been happy to oblige.
Creative, Mid-Sized Developers Endangered By Boston’s CRE Slump
The 2022 Boston development bust and the tough permitting environment gave a big edge to national developers. That’s weighing on the mind of Jim Grossman, once one of the local industry’s rising stars.
Inclusionary Zoning Deserves a Serious Debate, Not a False Choice
A Cambridge lawsuit has sparked important conversation on inclusionary zoning – but one that should be grounded in evidence and experience in Massachusetts.
Beacon Hill Saved the MBTA from Years of Crisis. Don’t Let the Pendulum Swing the Other Way
If the transit system is not currently broken, can the MBTA still convince legislators to provide increased state budget support?
Boston Needs More Homes. So Why Are We Driving Out the Workers Who Build Them?
Fear of federal immigration agents isn’t abstract, and it is beginning to paralyze the construction pipeline Greater Boston desperately needs.
Feeling Stressed Out? Increase Your Productivity Simply by Taking a Break
The type of break you choose has a huge impact on how effective you will be with your clients as well as coping with the challenges you face daily in your real estate business.
Why Realtors Want Every Agent to Get Fair Housing Training
Fair housing is not an abstract concept for Realtors. It is a professional obligation and public responsibility. But only a third of licensed agents are Realtors, leaving a big gap in fair housing protections.
The Housing Crisis Is Forcing Americans to Choose Between Affordability and Safety
When housing becomes unaffordable in safer areas, the only available and affordable property is often in riskier locations, like flood- or fire-prone locales.
Why Won’t Candidates for Governor Bring Back the Starter Home?
Many Massachusetts pols have embraced the YIMBY Gospel. But why won’t Gov. Maura Healey or her Republican challengers get behind the biggest effort to unlock starter homes?
Landlords Need Extra Insurance
If you’re an owner-occupier landlord, remember: a traditional homeowner’s insurance policy won’t cut it, alone.
For Boston Hotels, 2026 Is a Year of Cautious Optimism
While the outlook for Boston hotels’ revenue growth is positive, expense pressures persist, driven by continued increases in labor and other operating costs.
Despite Headwinds, Boston’s Hotel Market is Well-Positioned for Growth
Boston has one of the most balanced bases of demand in the country, little prospect of adding new hotels and has three big demand-drivers ahead this summer.
Hotel Management Agreements Are Critical for Hospitality Properties. Here’s How They Work
It is an understatement to say that hotels are different from other CRE investments. To understand why, you have to understand hotel management agreements.
Parking Mandates Drive up Housing Costs. Let’s Learn from Others and Eliminate Them
One parking space can add more than $200 to monthly rent. Bring down the cost of production and more dollars go to housing and fewer to parking.
There’s Still Hope for Mass. YIMBY Bill, Despite Zoning Reform Fatigue
There are only a few months left to pass a big zoning reform bill in Massachusetts. And so far, the bill has only gotten bigger.
Forgotten in Boston’s Building Bust: Tradespeople Thrown Out of Work
Thousands of union construction workers are taking part-time jobs or heading to other states thanks in part to Mayor Michelle Wu’s policies. Why doesn’t she take it more seriously?
Delisted Homes Are Coming Back, with a New Mindset
There’s been a jump in the number of houses hitting the market in recent weeks. A number are homes that had been listed without selling because they were overpriced.
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