Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide

The median price of a single-family home in Haverhill, Massachusetts stood at $276,000 through the first nine months of 2014, an increase of 6.6 percent from $259,000 during the same period in 2013, according to data from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. 

Through the first three quarters of 2014, the median price of a single-family home in Cambridge, Massachusetts increased 34.4 percent to $1,250,359 compared to $930,500 during the same nine-month period in 2013, according to data from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.  

Whether they were looking for condominiums or single-family houses, home buyers shopping for a home in Arlington, Massachusetts have seen real estate prices increase throughout the year. Both single-family home and condominium prices have risen by double digits. 

Cash sales made up 24 percent of all residential real estate sales in Massachusetts, according to a report by real estate information provider CoreLogic, Banker & Tradesman reported November 13, 2014.  

The median price of a condominium in Somerville, Massachusetts increased in September to $455,000, a 7.7 percent increase compared to the $422,500 median price in September 2013, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. 

Through the first nine months of the year, Somerville, MA condo prices increased 17.3 percent. The median condo price through September was $488,000. During the same period last year, the median condominium price was $416,000. In September, home buyers paid 102.2 percent of the original list price for condos, and they paid 103.1 percent of the original list price through the first nine months of 2014. Bidding wars and offers for more than list price for condominiums have been the norm recently in Somerville.

The number of single-family homes on the market in September 2014 in Lexington, Massachusetts increased 3.8 percent to 83 from 80 in September 2013, and new listings increased 15 percent, according the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

The months of supply in September increased to 2.8 months, an 11 percent increase from 2.5 months in September 2013; however, 2.8 months of inventory is still quite low. New listings increased to 46 from 40 in September 2013. 

Massachusetts saw the number of "zombie" foreclosures decline 46 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared to Q3 2013, according to the "Zombie Foreclosure Report" released by RealtyTrac on October 30, 2014.  

RealtyTrac defines zombie foreclosures as residential properties in the process of foreclosure that have been vacated by the owners, but these properties have not gone through the entire foreclosure process yet. In Massachusetts – it is different from state to state – the recording of a foreclosure deed is the final step in the foreclosure process.

The number of zombie foreclosures nationwide totaled 117,298 in the third quarter, a 17 percent decline from the second quarter and 23 percent decline from Q3 2013 (152,033). Zombie properties comprised 18 percent of all active foreclosures in the United States during the third quarter. Not all of these properties will reach final foreclosure. Some will sell as short sales.

Although home prices fluctuate from town to town in Massachusetts, statewide home buyers finally got a break from rising home prices. The median price of a single-family home in Massachusetts decreased 1.5 percent in September 2014, marking the first year-over-year price decline since September 2012, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported October 28, 2014. 

Massachusetts single-family home sales declined 6.6 percent in August compared to August 2013, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported September 23, 2014. August was the sixth month in 2014 that single-family home sales decreased on a year-over-year basis. 

A total of 5,417 single-family homes sold in Massachusetts in August, down from 5,797 sales in August 2013. August was the third month in 2014 with more than 5,000 in sales. Through August, sales were down 3.1 percent at 32,382, compared with 33,399 during the same eight-month period last year.

As Massachusetts home prices continue to rise, homeowners are waking up to the opportunity of selling their homes for a good price.

Through the first half of 2014, single-family home sales and median home prices increased in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, according to data compiled by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

There were 64 single-family homes sold from January to June, an increase of 18.5 percent compared to the 54 closed sales during the same period in 2013. Single-family home sales in Lynnfield, MA spiked in June 160 percent. There were 26 homes sold in June, an increase from 10 in June 2013. Pending sales were up 9.5 percent in June to 23, a slight increase from 21 pending sales in June 2013. 

Despite the recent rise in median home prices, a report released by Zillow August 21, 2014 found that buying a home in the Greater Boston Area was still more affordable in July than renting. 

Home prices have risen over the past two years, but that was after a significant decline in the Boston real estate market. Meanwhile, rents never really declined during the recession. Rents have just kept climbing.