Spring is officially here, and the Boston real estate market certainly is heating up like the weather! Nick gives tips for sellers looking to make a move this spring - and how to best prepare your home for sale, as well as pricing their home competitively. He also offers an important suggestion for buyers navigating the common bidding wars we are seeing in the market today.

As the spring market fully gets underway, we see a vast amount of activity, especially in suburban markets. What can sellers in these areas do to make their homes more appealing to buyers?

Even though inventory is low in the suburbs and homes fly off the shelves, it still doesn’t mean that a seller shouldn’t position their property in the best possible way.  My recommendation

If you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move. Here’s why this season is the ultimate sellers’ market around Boston and the optimal time to make sure your house is available for buyers who are looking for homes to purchase.

The latest Existing Home Sales Report from The National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the inventory of houses for sale is still astonishingly low, sitting at just a 2-month supply at the current sales pace.

Historically, a 6-month supply is necessary for a ‘normal’ or ‘neutral’ market in which there are enough homes available for active buyers (See graph below):

When the supply of houses for sale around Boston is

As we head into the spring market, Nick discusses how this year compares to years past in terms of the Boston real estate market. With housing inventory down over 25% nationally, it is a seller’s market in many areas. Nick gives tips for those looking to make a purchase during this time and also advises how sellers can best take advantage of this market.

According to the National Association of Realtors latest report, housing inventory across the country is down by 25.7% year-over-year. What are you seeing specifically in the Boston area?

We are really looking at two entirely different real estate markets when it comes to Boston vs. the suburbs.  In Boston, our condo inventory is actually up 32.85% YoY (as of 3.15.21) yet, in the suburbs,

Spring is almost here, and many are wondering what it will bring for the Boston housing market. Even though the pandemic continues on, it’s certain to be very different from the spring we experienced at this time last year. Here’s what a few industry experts have to say about the housing market and how it will bloom this season.

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, realtor.com:

“Despite early weakness, we expect to see new listings grow in March and April as they traditionally do heading into spring, and last year’s extraordinarily low new listings comparison point will mean year over year gains. One other potential bright spot for would-be homebuyers, new construction, which has risen at a year over year pace of 20% or more for the last few

Last year, many homeowners thought twice about selling their houses due to the onset of the health crisis. This year, however, homeowners are beginning to regain their confidence when it comes to selling safely. The latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) by Fannie Mae shows that 57% of consumers believe now is a good time to sell.

Doug Duncan, Vice President and Chief Economist at Fannie Mae, explains:

“Overall, the index’s monthly increase was driven largely by a substantial jump in the share of consumers reporting that it’s a good time to sell a home, with many citing favorable mortgage rates, high home prices, and low housing inventory as their primary rationale.”

Normally, spring is the busiest season in the Boston housing

In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy, especially in the Boston area. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale. When many homeowners delayed their plans to sell at the same time that more buyers aimed to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates and purchase a home, housing inventory dropped even further. Experts consider this to be the biggest challenge facing an otherwise hot market while buyers continue to compete for homes. As Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, explains:

“With buyers active in the market and seller participation lagging, homes are selling quickly and the total number available for sale at any point in time continues to

There are so many great reasons to purchase a home in the Boston area, and over the past year, we’ve realized more of them than we ever thought possible. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, having a home of your own can give you a greater sense of security and accomplishment in a time that’s largely uncertain. If you’re a repeat buyer looking for your dream home, making a move might give you the space or features you need to find greater success and happiness in a new normal way of life. Whatever your motivations are, here are three reasons why becoming a homeowner now may help you win big in the long run.

1. Buying a Home Is a Great Investment

Several recent reports indicate that real estate is still a good investment, topping other options

Buying a home in the Boston area can be confusing - especially if it is your first time. There are a lot of questions and misconceptions out there. Nick discusses some of the questions he is asked most often as a Boston real estate expert. If you are thinking about buying this year, you don’t want to miss this blog post!

Does a buyer really need 20% down to buy a home in the Boston area?

No, they definitely don’t.  There are plenty of programs from lenders that allow buyers to put less than 20% of the purchase price down.  However, there are restrictions that come with lower downpayment loans such as minimum credit scores and maximum loan amounts which could affect someone’s ability in getting that type of loan.  

The other factor to consider

Is the idea of saving for a down payment holding you back from buying a home in the Boston area right now? You may be eager to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, but the thought of needing a large down payment might make you want to pump the brakes. Today, there’s still a common myth that you have to come up with 20% of the total sale price for your down payment. This means people who could buy a home may be putting their plans on hold because they don’t have that much saved yet. The reality is, whether you’re looking for your first home or you’ve purchased one before, you most likely don’t need to put 20% down. Here’s why.

According to Freddie Mac:

“The most damaging down payment myth—since it stops the homebuying process

If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase. It’s also a different step in the process from a home inspection, which assesses the condition of the home before you finalize the transaction. Here’s the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home.

Home Appraisal

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:

“A home purchase is typically the largest investment someone will make. Protect yourself by getting your investment appraised! An appraiser