--- title: Are We Headed Towards a Housing Bubble? description: Recent gains in home sales and home prices have led some real estate industry observers to wonder whether we are entering another housing bubble. image: http://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/hs-fs/hub/213639/file-21383005-jpg/images/arrow_up_sales.jpg --- (978) 835-5906             [![Search Icon](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Search%20Icon.png?width=30&height=30&name=Search%20Icon.png)](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/search-results-page) [![Buyers Brokers Only, LLC – Real Estate Buyer Agents](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2023%20BBO%20Logo%20800x170.png?width=1600&height=340&name=2023%20BBO%20Logo%20800x170.png "Buyers Brokers Only, LLC – Real Estate Buyer Agents")](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/) # Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide ![smaller-dotted-line.png](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/298849/file-263826832-jpg/true_gray_line_websites.jpg?width=1175&name=true_gray_line_websites.jpg "smaller-dotted-line.png") ## [Are We Headed Towards a Housing Bubble?](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/are-we-headed-towards-a-housing-bubble) Aug 2, 2015 11:26:00 AM We all have heard the talk about the housing recovery and rapidly rising home prices, especially in the Greater Boston Area, and many real estate industry analysts question whether we are headed towards another housing bubble.  ![Are we entering a real estate housing bubble?](http://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/hs-fs/hub/213639/file-21383005-jpg/images/arrow_up_sales.jpg?width=425&name=arrow_up_sales.jpg "Are we entering a real estate housing bubble?")The chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS, Lawrence Yun, recently addressed in a column in the [July/August 2015 REALTOR magazine](http://realtormag.realtor.org/news-and-commentary/economy/article/2015/07/no-housing-bubble-in-sight) the question of whether we are entering a new residential real estate market bubble.   There's no doubt housing is strong in the United States. Nationally home sales through May were up 6.3 percent and 7.9 percent in May compared to May 2014. The above statistics don't even include sales of new construction. The strong market raises questions of affordability and a housing bubble that has the potential to burst.  According to Yun, "Underlying conditions today are fundamentally different from the bubble of a decade ago. Back then, credit was easy to obtain and home sales were running at more than 8.5 million a year (existing and new homes combined). New-home construction volume topped 2 million annually. "By comparison, credit today is extremely tight, which has led to an unusually high level of all-cash sales. Home sales are barely over 5 million and new-home construction is barely scratching 1 million units. Meanwhile, for the past eight years, total mortgage balances have fallen. The reasons show what's changed from 10 years ago: Home owners are paying their mortgages on time and few are seeking cash-out refinances." Of course not every real estate market is the same. The Greater Boston Area real estate market has seen sales gains and prices increases for more than two years now. Some cities, such as Cambridge, Brookline, Arlington and other communities close to Boston, with ample public transportation, have had significant price increases over the last couple of years. Tight inventory is in large part the reason for the recent price increases.  Despite low interest rates, an improving economy and tight inventory, [the median price of a single-family home has only increased 1.6 perent in Massachusetts through the first half of 2015](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/strong-massachusetts-home-sales-in-june-2015-inventory-remains-tight), according to the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS. Single-family home sales through June increased 1.8 percent compared to the same six-month period last year. Statewide in 2014 the median price of a single-family house increased 2.5, according to The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman. Home price increases ***statewide*** are actually quite modest, so will there be a bursting bubble just in Boston and some surrounding communities? Maybe home buyers will continue to purchase homes, but refuse to keep paying higher prices in communties that have already seen significant increases?  [![Search the Latest Home Listings. Register for your free MLS account today. ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/213639/5a55ac41-7c26-49a3-88e2-c1f2cb71bdba.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/213639/5a55ac41-7c26-49a3-88e2-c1f2cb71bdba) Topics: [Real Estate Market](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/real-estate-market), [Massachusetts Home Prices](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/massachusetts-home-prices), [Massachusetts Association of Realtors](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/massachusetts-association-of-realtors), [The Warren Group](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/the-warren-group) [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.buyersbrokersonly.com%2Fblog%2Fare-we-headed-towards-a-housing-bubble%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.buyersbrokersonly.com%2Fblog%2Fare-we-headed-towards-a-housing-bubble%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.buyersbrokersonly.com%2Fblog%2Fare-we-headed-towards-a-housing-bubble%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.buyersbrokersonly.com%2Fblog%2Fare-we-headed-towards-a-housing-bubble%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Are%20We%20Headed%20Towards%20a%20Housing%20Bubble%3F) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Finfo.buyersbrokersonly.com%2Fblog%2Fare-we-headed-towards-a-housing-bubble%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Finfo.buyersbrokersonly.com%2Fblog%2Fare-we-headed-towards-a-housing-bubble%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ### [Blog Home](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog) ### Subscribe to this Blog ### Learn the Steps to Buying a Home in Massachusetts ### [![The Steps to Buying a Home](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/213639/25735662-3637-4a46-8885-47ad1de2687d.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/213639/25735662-3637-4a46-8885-47ad1de2687d) ### Search Homes For Sale [![Search the latest home listings. Sign up for property alerts. ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/213639/4dbb4a3b-98e1-4dc2-9535-a0b7593b45c5.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/213639/4dbb4a3b-98e1-4dc2-9535-a0b7593b45c5) ### Are You Ready to Learn Some Home-buying Tips?  ### [![Request a personal home buyer consultation with a buyer agent](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/213639/de2d74bb-c501-40f3-baf8-cbdb0e2dde74.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/213639/de2d74bb-c501-40f3-baf8-cbdb0e2dde74) ### Learn About Buyer Agents ### Favorite Topics • [Community Information](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/community-information) • [Home-buying Tips](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/home-buying-tips) • [Massachusetts Relocation](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/massachusetts-relocation) • [Mortgage Tips & News](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/mortgage-rates-news) • [Real Estate Market](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/topic/real-estate-market) ### Most Popular Posts ### **Home Buyer Resources** [Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/guide-to-the-home-buying-process-massachusetts) [New Hampshire Home Buyer Guide](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/guide-to-the-home-buying-process-in-new-hampshire) [Rhode Island Home Buyer Guide](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/buying/how-to-buy-a-home-in-rhode-island) [Wants v. Needs Worksheet](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/wants-needs-worksheet) [Home Buyer House Scoring Tool](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/homebuyer-house-scoring-tool) [103 Home Buyer Terms Download](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/home-buying-terms-for-the-home-buyer) [Greater Boston Home Buyer Blog](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog) ### **Company** [Home ](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/) [About](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/about) [Terms of Service](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/services) [Privacy Policy](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/privacy-policy) [Disclaimer](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/disclaimer) [Press Room](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/press-room) [Careers](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/careers) [Coverage Area](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/coverage) [Site Map](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/site_map) ### **Contact Us** [Schedule a Consultation](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/personal-home-buyer-consultation) Call / Text (978) 835-5906 [info@buyersbrokersonly.com](mailto:info@buyersbrokersonly.com) [Contact Form](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/contact) [Our Agents](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/brokers) [Reviews](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/testimonials) [![Fair Housing Matters to Buyers Brokers Only, LLC](https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/hs-fs/hubfs/equal-housing-opportunity-logo-1200w.png?width=100&height=107&name=equal-housing-opportunity-logo-1200w.png)](https://naeba.org/naeba-celebrates-fair-housing-month-promotes-homebuyer-protection/)   ### **Popular Searches**  [Acton, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/acton-ma-homes-for-sale) [Andover, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/andover-ma-homes-for-sale) [Arlington, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/arlington-ma-homes-for-sale) [Belmont, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/belmont-ma-homes-for-sale) [Burlington, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/burlington-ma-homes-for-sale) [Haverhill, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/haverhill-ma-homes-for-sale) [Lexington, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/lexington-ma-homes-for-sale) [Lynnfield, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/lynnfield-ma-homes-for-sale) [Melrose, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/melrose-ma-homes-for-sale) [Needham, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/needham-ma-homes-for-sale) [North Andover, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/north-andover-ma-homes-for-sale) [Salem, NH Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/salem-nh-homes-for-sale) [Somerville, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/somerville-ma-homes-for-sale) [Walpole, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/walpole-ma-homes-for-sale) [Westwood, MA Homes](https://www.buyersbrokersonly.com/westwood-ma-homes-for-sale) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rich Rosa", "url" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/author/rich-rosa" }, "datePublished" : "2015-08-02T15:26:00.000Z", "headline" : "Are We Headed Towards a Housing Bubble?", "image" : [ "//info.buyersbrokersonly.com/hs-fs/hub/213639/file-21383005-jpg/images/arrow_up_sales.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog/are-we-headed-towards-a-housing-bubble", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/hubfs/2023%20BBO%20Logo%20800x170.png" }, "name" : "Buyers Brokers Only, LLC" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "about" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Boston Real Estate" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Home Buying Tips" } ], "description" : "Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide provides first-time homebuyers and those experienced in purchasing real estate with tips, advice, and news.", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/image.jpg" }, "inLanguage" : "en-us", "isPartOf" : { "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Buyers Brokers Only", "url" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com" }, "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog", "name" : "Blog", "position" : 2 } ], "keywords" : [ "Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide", "time Homebuyer Tips", "Advice MA" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog", "mentions" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Massachusetts Housing" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Real Estate Market" } ], "url" : "https://info.buyersbrokersonly.com/blog" } ```