Residential Real Estate
Personnel File – No. 364
Who’s on the move? From new VPs to fresh project managers, see who’s been hired, promoted and honored: It’s The Personnel File.
Which Comes First? A Buyer’s Dilemma
Young people have many options when it comes to homeownership – perhaps too many. Should they get married first or buy their first home? Buy a dream car or a house? Find a dream house or a dream mortgage rate?
What’s Next for the Spring Market?
Whether you’re a brand-new agent or a 40-year veteran, I sat down with market intelligence expert Rick Sharga to get the answers you need to cope with what’s ahead.
NAR Settles Commission Lawsuits
The National Association of Realtors abruptly reversed course Friday morning, announcing it was settling all lawsuits against it over real estate commissions for a substantially smaller sum than it would have paid under a preliminary verdict announced last year.
Why Are So Many Voters Frustrated by the Economy? It’s Home Prices
At the root of this problem: America failed to build enough homes for its growing population. The shortage strikes at the heart of the American dream of homeownership – dampening President Joe Biden’s assurances that the U.S. economy is strong.
Boston-Area Home Listings Up Year-Over Year as March Opened
A little uptick in a graph of new residential listings in Greater Boston could represent a flicker of hope for buyers and sellers alike.
Foreign Firms Make Inroads on U.S. Homebuilding
As federal and state authorities continue to clamp down on foreign investments in American businesses and real estate that could pose a risk to national security, some foreign entities are expanding into American homebuilding.
Boston Fed Analysis Sees Glimmer of Hope in New England Housing Markets
The latest report that the Federal Reserve compiled from banking and business contacts across New England revealed little movement in macroeconomic conditions, but it did indicate that “home sales appeared to turn a corner in recent data.”
Personnel File – No. 362
Who’s on the move? From new VPs to fresh project managers, see who’s been hired, promoted and honored: It’s The Personnel File.
Pandemic Boosted Boston Homebuyer Income by $87K
A new analysis by economists at Zillow say the income a Greater Boston homebuyer needs to afford the median home in the region rose by nearly $90,000 over the last four years.
Driving the Best Bargain Now Isn’t the Best Long-Term Strategy
Conventional wisdom says that you should never leave money on the table when negotiating. But research in the field of game theory suggests this could be exactly the wrong approach.
Watch Out for ‘Gotcha’ Clauses in Homebuyer Representation Contracts
Would you pay a 9 percent commission to buy a house? The scenario is a long shot, but it’s still conceivable, if you’re not careful, according to a review of buyer-broker contracts reviewed by the Consumer Federation of America.
With Compass Agents’ Switch, Corcoran Group Gets First Mass. Outpost
New York City luxury brokerage Corcoran Group now has a Massachusetts market presence, thanks to a pair of Compass agents.
Personnel File – No. 361
Who’s on the move? From new VPs to fresh project managers, see who’s been hired, promoted and honored: It’s The Personnel File.
These Show Homes Take Different Paths
Two model homes being showcased at this week’s International Builders’ Show try to offer solutions to some of today’s biggest challenges: sustainability and the difficulty of “trading up” as your family changes.
Jan. Home Sales Showed Little Sign of Improvement
With home sales effectively flat across the state last month, January offered few signs of encouragement that the 2024 housing market will be a significant improvement over last year’s.
DOJ Seeks to Block Settlement in MLS PIN Commission Case
Federal antitrust prosecutors have asked the judge overseeing a lawsuit against Massachusetts’ main multiple-listings service to reject a proposed settlement in the case, arguing instead that buyers should be the only ones to pay their agents’ commissions.
Zillow: Home Shopping Early May Pay Off
Zillow predicts another hot spring market this year, as well-priced homes are selling quickly and overpriced homes are seeing price cuts.
Feds Roll Out Money Laundering Rules for All-Cash Home Sales
All-cash purchases of residential real estate are considered at high risk for money laundering. The rule would not require the reporting of sales to individuals.
NAR Prez in Boston: Agents Must ‘Adapt’ on Commissions
Speaking at a Lamacchia Realty conference in Boston Feb. 1, the new president of the National Association of Realtors declared that the traditional rules of agent commissions are “going to change” in the wake of a $1.78 billion lawsuit.
This Week’s Newspaper
