Today’s Top News: Housing starts climb in Boston

News / Features

First hotel since revolution sets up shop in Cuba – developers to follow?

It was a big weekend for tourism in Cuba, as two American companies inked special deals sanctioned by the U.S. government to extend their business in the Caribbean island. And it could have big implications for developers hoping to

Why Boston is the Nation’s Hottest Millennial Market

Greater Boston has the best Millennial housing market in the country, according to a new analysis from LendingTree. Per LendingTree’s numbers, 52.46 percent of purchase requests in Greater Boston come from Millennials, with the average age of the buyers being 28 years; that market

A Quick Reference Guide to Spring Buyers

Real estate is a seasonal business – transactions rise and fall with the weather. And now it is officially spring. If agents want to capitalize on the sales bump, they’ll need to be prepared. Earlier this week, Redfin released an

Hispanics will Drive Housing’s Future. Here’s Why

New research reaffirms how important Hispanic consumers are for the future of housing in America The numbers speak for themselves: in 2015, the number of Hispanic-owner households saw a net increase of 245,000, accounting for 69 percent of the total

3 Shocking Facts on Inequality in Boston – and How it Harms Housing

Just how unaffordable is Boston for average city residents? Boston’s affordability issues have been well documented, but a new analysis by the Boston Redevelopment Authority has raised awareness on just how unaffordable Boston truly is. We’ve taken a look at the

Where Boston Ranked in the Latest ‘Worst Traffic’ Study

Intrix, Inc. released its 2015 Traffic Scorecard, which names Boston the No. 7 city in the U.S. with the worst traffic. Intrix’s Traffic Scorecard is a benchmark for governments and agencies in the U.S. and Europe to measure progress

Are Boston “Bargains” Really Bargains?

Homebuyers are shoppers like any other, which means that certain words appeal to them more than others: “deal,” “affordable” …and “bargain.” But not every sale is a deal; not every home is affordable; and according to a report from

Why Foreign Buyers are Losing Their Love for American Real Estate

A strong dollar and rising home prices leave foreign investors cold on buying in the U.S. The post-boom U.S. housing market has benefitted immensely from foreign consumer demand. According to the National Association of Realtors, foreign homebuyers accounted for 209,000

New Residential Developments Drive Banking in Chinatown

Bank of America and the East Boston Savings Bank have opened up new branches in the Chinatown neighborhood, making it a premier destination for banking. According to the FDIC, deposits at the five banks in Chinatown grew 40 percent

7 Surprising Ways Homebuyers’ Generation Affects Their Purchase

New, or used? Detached, or townhome? Environmentally friendly? Close to work? Near shopping centers and entertainment venues? The number of options available to homebuyers in our real estate market is limitless, and NAR’s latest Home Buyer and Seller Generational

TRID Gets More Blame – Is It Deserved?

The debate over TRID’s true impact on mortgage markets is ongoing, but according to a new survey from the American Bankers Association, lenders are still grappling with longer processing times and delays in mortgage closings, which many are attributing

On Target – Why Homes Near This Big-Box Store are More Valuable

Home value sees noticeable changes near stores of certain persuasions Homeowners living near a Target have experienced better home value appreciation since their purchase than homeowners near a Walmart, but also pay higher property taxes, according to a RealtyTrac

The 5 Big Reasons that Consumers Buy Homes

Why do consumers buy homes, nowadays? There are many reasons that someone may want to purchase a home, but among America’s homebuying public, which reasons are the most common? According to the new Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends

What Modern Homes Say About Modern Homebuyers

Modern homes favor efficiency and space Just as the average American homebuyer has changed over the years, so too has the average American home. According to a new analysis from the National Association of Realtors, new homes are characterized

Boston Homeowners Enjoy Slow but Steady Gains in Equity

Homeowner equity made big year-over-year gains in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to a new analysis from CoreLogic, which found borrower equity increased by $682 billion, or 11.5 percent – to put it into perspective, that’s more than

Mayor Walsh’s New Plan for Boston’s Affordability Crisis

The Walsh administration will announce new steps to combat the affordability crisis Mayor Martin J. Walsh is set to announce new solutions from the Housing Innovation Lab on lowering housing and construction costs for middle-income consumers, as part of