As always, thank you for visiting the Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide blog. Recently we have moved the blog and integrated it with the Buyers Brokers Only, LLC Web site. We will continue to bring you the latest Massachusetts (and sometimes New Hampshire) reale estate news, market reports and home-buying tips and advice. We also blog about topics important to homeowners. You'll also be able to find information about Massachusetts first-time home buyer programs and New Hampshire first-time home buyer programs. Please be sure to update your bookmarks, and please subscribe to the Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide by email once you... Continue reading

The Massachusetts Buyer Broker blog has been merged with the Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide, which will now include the latest news and information about Massachusetts real estate and Massachusetts home buyer tips. Please be sure to update your bookmarks and subscribe to our new blog. Continue reading

MassForeclosed.com has been merged with the Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide, which will now include the latest news and information about Massachusetts foreclosed property and Massachusetts foreclosure listings. Please be sure to update your bookmarks and subscribe to our new blog. Continue reading

The following is a press release issued by the non-profit Massachusetts Association of Buyer Agents regarding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's proposals to make applying for a mortgage more consumer friendly. --- Boston, MA – October 16, 2012 – While generally supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new proposals aimed at simplifying the mortgage application process and protecting consumers, the Massachusetts Association of Buyer Agents (MABA) has gone on record criticizing the bureau’s new proposal on mortgage disclosures – the so-called “Know Before You Owe” proposal. “In and of itself, changing the disclosures will do little to help consumers... Continue reading

Massachusetts single-family homes sales increased again in September, continuing the upward trend in 2012; however, prices dipped back below $300,000, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported October 25, 2012. A total of 3,791 single-family homes sold in Massachusetts in September, an 8 percent increase from 3,507 sales in September 2011. Sales also increased in the third quarter – rising to 13,861 from 11,691 during the same period in 2011. Year-to-date sales are up by almost 22 percent at 35,482, compared to 29,088 during the same period a year ago. The buyer's market of the last few years... Continue reading

Lenders completed 566 foreclosures in Massachusetts in August 2012, a number that represents the lowest monthly foreclosures so far this year, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, recently reports. August marked the third consecutive month of year-over-year foreclosure deed decreases. It is also the fewest number of completed foreclosures in any month since February 2011, when there were... Continue reading

1. Install Dimmer Switches: Not yet ready to say good bye to incandescent bulbs for the mercury-filled alternative? Then consider that simply dimming a light by 10 percent more than doubles the bulb's life, saving money on bulbs and energy. 2. Add a Motion Sensor: You can add motion sensors to your outdoor lighting fixtures. A motion sensor will turn on lights when someone walks by and turn off the light when nobody is present. Besides saving energy, these great gadgets will alert you to someone on your property at night. Motion sensors also are great for the seldom-used areas... Continue reading

The median price and sales of homes in Quincy, Massachusetts increased in the first half of 2012, according to data compiled using MLS Property Information Network, Inc, a local multiple listing service. Single-family home sales in Quincy, MA increased 13.9 percent in the first six months of 2012, a difference of 25 sales compared to the same period in 2011. The median price of single-family homes were flat in the first half of 2012, rising just $550 compared to 2011. Condominium sales rose 38.5 percent in the first half of 2012, an increase of 42 sales compared to the six-month... Continue reading

Sales of both Massachusetts single-family homes and condominiums rose in August 2012, marking the seventh straight month both property types posted a year-over-year increase, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported September 25, 2012. A total of 5,118 single-family homes sold in Massachusetts in August, a 20 percent increase from 4,262 sales in August 2011. August was the second time single-family home sales surpassed the 5,000 mark in 2012. Year-to-date sales are up 24 percent at 31,733, compared to 25,581 during the same period a year ago. As long as economic growth does not slow, the housing market... Continue reading

The number of auction announcements in Massachusetts declined in July 2012, The Warren Group reported September 17, 2012. Auction announcements declined 14 percent to 1,135 from 1,319 in July 2011. From January through July, 9,267 auctions have been announced, an 8 percent decline from 10,107 auctions during the same period in 2011. Continue reading

A look at the latest Massachusetts forelcosure activity begs the question of whether time is running out to buy a foreclosure and whether there are any good deals even left. Massachusetts foreclosure petitions and foreclosure deeds declined in July 2012. Read more at Massforeclosed.com. Continue reading

The Massachusetts foreclosure disaster finally may be winding down. A total of 1,198 foreclosures were initiated in Massachusetts in July, marking the lowest monthly level recorded so far this year, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported September 17, 2012. Year-over-year petitions were down almost 17 percent in July, dropping from 1,441 petitions in July 2011. This is... Continue reading

The median price of single-family homes in Scituate, Massachusetts decreased in the second quarter of 2012 while sales increased, according to data compiled using MLS Property Information Network, Inc, a local multiple listing service. Single-family home sales in Scituate, MA increased 18.8 percent from April through June 2012, a difference of 12 sales compared to the same period the previous year. The median price of single-family homes fell 9 percent in Q2 2012, a difference of $44,000 compared to the second quarter of 2011. Condominium sales declinedl 14.3 percent in Q2 2012, a difference of just one sale compared to... Continue reading

Home sales in Haverhill, Massachusetts increased in the second quarter of 2012 and median prices were flat for single-family homes while increasing for condos, according to data compiled using MLS Property Information Network, Inc, a local multiple listing service. Single-family home sales in Haverhill, MA increased 18.3 percent in the second quarter of 2012, a difference of 17 sales compared to the same period in 2011. The median price of single-family homes dipped 0.4 percent in Q2 2012, a difference of only $1,050 compared to 2011. Haverhill, MA condominium sales jumped 60.5 percent in Q2 2012, a difference of 26... Continue reading

Boston’s housing prices showed strength in June, increasing 2.5 percent on a month-to-month basis, according to the latest Case-Shiller Home Price Index Boston Business Journal. Boston's June prices slightly outpaced the Case-Shiller national home price index, a 20-city composite that rose 2.3 percent over May's numbers. Boston's home prices were flat on a year-over-year basis. June marked the third consecutive month in which home prices in all 20 cities rose on a month-over-month basis. The index follows existing home sales in major metropolitan areas and uses 2000 as a base year to measure price changes in a given real estate... Continue reading

The median price and sales of single-family homes in Needham, Massachusetts increased in the second quarter of 2012, according to data compiled using MLS Property Information Network, Inc, a local multiple listing service. The median price of single-family homes climbed 2.2 percent in Q2 2012 compared to the previous year, a difference of $15,000. Single-family home sales in Needham, MA jumped 26.8 percent in the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 26 sales compared to 2011's Q2. The median price of condominiums slid 5.5 percent in Q2 2012, a decrease of $26,450 compared to the previous year. Condominium sales... Continue reading

Massachusetts single-family home sales continued at a brisk pace in July, increasing nearly 27 percent compared to July 2011, and posting the highest number of sales for the month since 2005, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported August 29, 2012. A total of 4,979 single-family homes sold Massachusetts in July, a jump from 3,922 during the same month last year. July saw the best sales volume since 2005, when there were 6,672 sales. So far this year, 26,596 single-family homes have sold in Massachusetts, an increase of 24.8 percent from 21,319 during the same period in 2011,... Continue reading

The median price and sales of single-family and condominium homes in Natick, Massachusetts fell in Q2 2012, according to data compiled using MLS Property Information Network, Inc, a local multiple listing service. The median price of single-family homes dropped 3.9 percent in Q2 2012 compared to the previous year, a difference of $16,750. Single-family home sales in Natick, MA plunged 26.1 percent in the second quarter of 2012, a difference of 24 sales compared to Q2 2011. The median price of condominiums declined 14.9 percent in Q2 2012, a difference of $61,000 compared to the previous Q2. Condominium sales fell... Continue reading

Home sales in Billerica, Massachusetts increased in Q2 2012 while the median home price decreased slightly, according to data compiled using MLS Property Information Network, Inc, a local multiple listing service. Single-family home sales in Billerica, MA soared 55.9 percent in the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 38 sales compared to Q2 2011. The median price of single-family homes dipped 2.6 percent in Q2 2012, a difference of $8,000 compared to the second quarter of last year. Condominium sales rose 18.8 percent in Q2 2012, a difference of 15 sales compared to the previous year. The median price... Continue reading

Confidence among U.S. homebuilders climbed in August to the highest level in more than five years, affirming the improvement in residential construction, Bloomberg.com reported August 15, 2012. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder confidence index rose to 37, higher than projected and the best rating since February 2007, the Washington-based group reported. The forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for no change from July’s 35 rating; however, ratings below 50 mean more respondents said conditions were poor. Builders are benefiting as less-expensive properties and record-low mortgage interest rates persuade consumers to buy new homes. Continue reading

The number of single-family homes and condominiums put under agreement in Massachusetts were up again in July, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported August 14, 2012. July marked the 15th straight month compared to the same time the year before that the number of single-family homes and condominiums put under agreement (pending sales) increased. Pending figures are a leading indicator of actual housing sales in Massachusetts for the following two to three months. The number of single-family homes put under agreement in July jump 33.58 percent compared to the same time last year (3,514 homes in 2011 to 4,694 homes... Continue reading

Massachusetts single-family home sales increased again in June, reaching the highest level for any month in two years, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported recently. Single-family home sales in the Commonwealth rose nearly 26 percent in June, the fifth straight month of double-digit percentage increases. A total of 5,498 single-family homes sold in June, up from 4,368 the previous year. This marks the best month for sales since June 2010, when there were 5,662 sales. That year the federal government's homebuyer tax credit spurred home sales. Second quarter home sales totaled 13,560, a 28 percent increase from... Continue reading

The following is the latest press release from the Massachusetts Association of Buyer Agents (MABA), a non-profit organization of select real estate agents dedicated to the highest ethical standards of buyer agency. Less than one percent of the buyer agents in the state qualify for MABA membership. ---------- Boston, MA – July 31, 2012 – As with single-family homes, sales of condominiums in Massachusetts remain strong; some recent reports show June condo sales up nearly 30 percent over the same period last year. While many of these buyers understand the nature of condominiums and the distinct differences they present to... Continue reading

First-time buyers hoping to take advantage of continued low interest rates and purchase a new home or condominium this spring are starting to take more risks – some of them potentially costly – when competing for “hot” properties in and around Boston, according to the Massachusetts Association of Buyer Agents (MABA). Across the state, but even more so in the Boston area, MABA agents say they are seeing first-time buyers in competitive situations abandoning the kind of standard practices that protect buyers both during and after a real estate transaction. “The sort of risks that these buyers are taking in... Continue reading

Single-family home sales in Massachusetts increased almost 22 percent in April compared to April 2011 while median home prices statewide rose last month, reversing a seven-month long trend of decreasing home prices, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported May 22, 2012. In April, there were 3,505 single-family home sales, up from 2,877 in April 2011. April marks the fourth consecutive month and ninth month in the past 10 that sales volume increased year-over-year. April sales reached the highest level so far this year, surpassing the 3,203 sales recorded in March. The lowest monthly single-family sales total was... Continue reading