Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide

Although pending home sales in Massachusetts were positive for the 22nd straight month compared to the previous year, the strong pending single-family home sales numbers seen in previous months were absent in February 2013, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported March 12, 2013. 

Real estate professionals blame two stormy weekends in February and a lack of inventory for the slow growth in pending home sales, which are a leading indicator of actual home sales in Massachusetts for the following 30 to 60 days. Massachusetts home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, are well aware of the current lack of inventory. 

Home buyers searching for single-family homes in Wakefield, Massachusetts in 2012 witnessed an improving real estate market, with both sales and median price rising. 

The median price of a single-family house in Wakefield, MA increased 3.4 percent in 2012 compared to 2011. The median price stood at $391,000 in 2012, up from $377,988 the previous year. The most expensive single-family home sold for $1,300,000 in 2012. 

March has arrived, and we'll move the clocks forward an hour next week. It sounds like warmer temperatures and longer days are around the corner, but Massachusetts home buyers are wondering whether the spring real estate market will ever arrive.

The number of Massachusetts homes for sale has continued to decline over the past year. As of January 31, 2013, the inventory of single-family homes in the Bay State decreased 27.3 percent compared to January 2012, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported February 26, 2013.

Despite the lack of inventory, Massachusetts home buyers continue their quest for homes. 

Both single-family home sales and median price increased in January compared to January 2012, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported February 26, 2013.

Massachusetts real estate prices have increased four straight months, and single-family home sales have shown positive results in 19 straight months.

Brookline, Massachusetts home buyers took part in a real estate market that saw sales increase for both single-family homes and condominiums in 2012.

Single-family home sales increased 7.5 percent in 2012 on 172 sold properties, up from 160 sales in 2011. The median price of a single-family home in Brookline was $1,247,250 in 2012. The median price increased 3.5 percent from $1,205,000 in 2011. The most expensive home sold in 2012 set someone back a cool $10,500,000, more than double the most expensive home sold in 2011 ($4,900,000). 

Sales of existing homes in the United States increased 0.4 percent in January while the supply of homes on the market declined to its lowest level in 13 years, Reuters reported February 21, 2012. 

The National Association of Realtors provided the data. 

January was the second highest rate of sales since November 2009 when the federal home buyer tax credit was set to expire.

Massachusetts isn't the only state where the real estate market has perked up.

Overall, it doesn't appear the New Hampshire real estate market has turned the corner as fast as the Bay State, but New Hampshire home buyers drove residential home sales up 21.2 percent in January compared to January 2012, the New Hampshire Business Review reported February 21, 2013. 

The New Hampshire Association of Realtors provided the data, which also showed that median home prices decreased 2.7 percent despite the jump in sales. 

There were 800 residential NH home sales in January, up from 660 sold in January 2012; however, the 800 unit sales were 23 percent lower than the 1,037 units sold in December 2012.

So how much house could you afford, if you ditched your $1,825 per month rent payment for a mortgage? Property taxes vary from town to town, and so do condo fees, but home buyers could probably afford about a $300,000 single-family home or condominium for $1,825 per month, give or take about $15,000.

Using today's interest rates – about 3.5 percent – you can calculate the cost of principal and interest on our simple mortgage calculator.

The Boston Businnes Journal reported February 8, 2013 that one sector of the economy is great. That's Boston's rental housing market, and landloards in the Greater Boston Area are making a killing. 

New Hampshire saw a dramatic increase in home sales in 2012 while median prices were flat last year, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported January 24, 2013.  

For Boston condo buyers and buyer agents serving the Downtown Boston condo market, including the luxury condo market, it probably isn't news that condo sales soared in 2012.