News / Features

Boston’s pending sales, listing count grows in January

Growing inventory levels and falling interest rates did take hold soon enough to move the needle in Boston’s housing market in January, according to the latest reports from local and statewide Realtor associations. But with listings and pending sales

Case-Shiller: Home price growth trending downward

One of the most widely cited barometers of the U.S. housing market showed home price growth continuing a downward trend at the close of 2018, an positive sign for buyers. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index registered a

What’s ahead for FHFA nominee Mark Calabria?

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, the Senate Banking Committee voted to confirm Mark Calabria as the new head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Assuming he makes it through the full Senate vote, which has yet to be scheduled, Calabria

This Week in Boston Real Estate: The next Kendall Square, preventing evictions and more

Searching for ‘the next Kendall Square’ Kendall Square is the envy of real estate developers the world over: an area concentrated with top-tier science and tech companies competing for very limited space and access to highly educated talent from

Real Estate in Brief: Selling in spring, odd lots and more

Early May named the best time to list a home Plenty of Americans are getting anxious about the arrival of spring, particularly those who are homeowners looking to sell in the near future. As it turns out, spring may

Jan. existing-home sales leave room to grow

Evidence of slower price appreciation, growing inventory and falling interest rates have boosted economist expectations for U.S. home sales at the beginning of 2019. However, these trends that should entice buyers haven’t yet made an impact when it comes

Homebuilder hopes improve on rate outlook

U.S. homebuilders haven’t seen quite the same gains as the broader real estate market in recent years, but signs are beginning to point in the industry’s favor this year. A new report from LEK Consulting and Wells Fargo’s U.S.

For-sale inventory snaps 5-year losing streak

Changing tides in the national real estate market are leading to the most widespread inventory increases seen in at least five years. According to data collected by Zillow, for the first time since 2014, the U.S. housing market posted

This Week in Boston Real Estate: Traffic, team players and more

Boston traffic: It’s the worst It seems like residents in almost every major city make a point of complaining about local traffic congestion. But now Boston may be able to claim total, national authority over traffic tantrums: A new

The lowdown on Title 5 and mortgages

At this time of year, many buyers are staying indoors and surfing websites for homes with attractive style, fresh upgrades and open floor plans. When investing in any property, these and many other practical and structural considerations are huge

Real Estate in Brief: Aging in place, ARM growth and more

  Millennials face fewer housing choices as seniors age in place More senior citizens around the U.S. are choosing to age in place rather than sell their homes and move to a retirement community, and those decisions could be

Amazon drops plans for HQ2 in NYC

Only a week after speculation arose that Amazon was reconsidering its plans to build part of its second U.S. headquarters campus in New York City, the company released a statement Feb. 14 confirming it was pulling out of the

Pending home sales rise statewide as buyers enjoy low rates

While the housing market in Boston and much of the U.S. got off to a slow start in 2019, the first full month of sales data for the year shows ample promise. The Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported that

Above-list home sales fall as supply pressures ease

By the end of 2018, far fewer homes across the U.S. were selling for more than their list price, according to a recent report from Zillow. However, a close examination of the data shows that may not be a

NAR releases proposal for Fannie, Freddie reform

Amid new leadership and a pending class-action lawsuit, big changes at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac appear to be close at hand. The question now for U.S. lawmakers and stakeholders in the mortgage industry is how to carry out

Development restrictions proposed to protect Boston wetlands

Members of Boston City Council as well as Mayor Marty Walsh are considering new regulations to protect local wetlands from overdevelopment. The Boston Globe reported Feb. 11 that officials were looking into enacting a local Wetlands Protection Act that