Opinion
Green Groups, Major Source of Jobs Square Off in Westfield
Massachusetts is at a high risk of recession and may already be in the early stages of a contraction. Is this really the time for green virtue-signaling?
What Happens When You Lie on Your Loan Application
Even if you are not prosecuted, if your lender finds out you equivocated, they can call your loan due and payable on the spot.
Don’t Bet on Filling Those Lab Buildings Any Time Soon
The Bay State’s life sciences sector now faces the prospect of a potential retrenchment amid slashing cuts to research funding and drops in venture capital funding.
Parking Requirements Are One of the Greatest Threats to Historic Preservation
Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities show the scars of minimum parking requirements, with big chunks of downtown cratered by parking lots where new homes could be.
Central Mass. Residential Real Estate Market Now Balanced
Residential real estate in Central Massachusetts has been in a seller’s market since 2013. That 12-year run appears to have finally come to an end.
Pricing Strategies in a Shifting Market
The Massachusetts housing market may not have tipped into a buyer’s market, but it’s certainly in flux. So it pays to be strategic and data-driven when pricing a listing.
Scam Artists Flogging Real Estate Get-Rich Schemes
Buyer beware: Recent Federal Trade Commission actions show that scam artists are still out there, trying to separate you from your money.
Don’t Mess with the Market – Please!
The negative effect that tariffs had on the spring market should come as no surprise. But hopefully that uncertainty has passed and the luxury market will be on the upswing.
Why Agent Education Matters in a Rapidly Changing Industry
Over the last 18 months, the rules of residential real estate have changed dramatically for Massachusetts agents. Brokerages and agents must invest in training – now.
Urban Trees Vs. Cool Roofs: What’s Best for Beating the Heat?
Urban trees are a popular defense against rising temperatures, but are expensive. Coating rooftops with reflective paint or using light-colored materials can help.
State’s Top Taxman Dismisses Tower Tax Retaliation Claims
State Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder said he can’t “substantiate” claims that Boston raised taxes on tower owners who challenged their valuations. A lawsuit could be next.
How New Projects Are Responding to Climate Concerns in Boston
Like other waterfront cities, Boston faces existential risk from climate change – not just rising sea levels, but also sudden rainstorms and extreme temperatures.
Buildings Play a Key Role in Massachusetts’ Energy Future
If we want to maintain momentum on climate goals, we must be strategic in how and when building performance is integrated into the construction process.
SJC Limits Landlords’ Use of Security Deposits
When one of its tenants vacated her apartment without using professional cleaning services, a landlord deducted $115 from her security deposit. It could face a class-action lawsuit.
Good Buyers Look Beyond Home Staging
House hunters who visit homes that look like they belong in Architectural Digest need to take a closer look. Those places have been staged to hide their flaws.
Massachusetts Urban Conservancy Targets Unbuildable Land
If you’ve ever written a check to have grass mowed and said to yourself, “No one ever uses that grass,” we have an idea for you.
How to Talk to Building Owners About Embodied Carbon
Recent municipal regulations mean designers face an urgent need to translate these rules’ implications for building owners and developers.
Three Small Housing Reforms with Outsized Potential in Mass.
Potentially transformative ideas often face entrenched and widespread resistance How about looking for seemingly minor ideas that could unlock extra housing production?
Maine Leads the Way on Housing Reform in New England
Massachusetts could learn some lessons from Maine’s housing reform approach, particularly from a new law that removes barriers to housing while preserving some local control.
Review Your Homeowners Insurance Yearly
The beginning of hurricane season should serve as a reminder to homeowners in affected areas to make sure their homeowners insurance is up to date.
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