The most important website for first time and Veteran homebuyers
For many first time home buyers the process can seem intimidating, but information available on the internet can help the buyer become well informed and able to be in control of the process.
This website North Shore Home Programs provides a remarkable amount of information, ranging from a step-by-step guide to home buying, to a list of programs available to help with down payments.
The greatest gift of the internet is the way it empowers the consumer through knowledge. Spending a little time on this website, and then googling “first time home buyer”, will go a long way to giving power to you, the buyer.
Knowledge helps to remove intimidation from the process of buying your first home.
Foreclosure activity in Massachusetts continues to drop
Foreclosure petitions down 30%
Foreclosure deeds down 63%
Foreclosure auction announcements down 80%
The Warren Group; March 5, 2013
Read article
“Local housing market, packed with eager buyers, is desperately seeking home sellers”
If you have been reading my articles in the last couple of months it will come as no surprise to read today’s front page article in the Boston Globe about the severe shortage of homes for sale. While this article is written about Boston it applies just as much to our North Shore communities.
The message is clear: if you have been waiting to sell, wait no longer! And if you have been thinking of buying or trading up, wait no longer! (more…)
Home ownership in MA exceeds national average for first time ever in 2012
It came as a shock to me to discover that home ownership in MA had trailed overall numbers for the US ever since 1900 – until 2012 that is.
First look at this table from 1900 to 2010:
Source: US Census Bureau (more…)
There is no housing bubble. Really?
When I saw this headline I wondered if I had done a mini Rip van Winkle and fallen asleep for a few years. But no, it was a headline this week in an article read here referring to Southern California.
As America appears to be ready to go on a national diet after many years of super-sizing I found myself wondering if housing terminology were going through a similar metamorphosis. (more…)
Is it time to trade up?
Last Sunday, as you may recall, was a cold, snowy, stormy day. Harborside had a new listing and planned an open house, but the broker wondered whether anybody would venture out in the snow. Should he cancel the open house? He decided to go ahead and see if anybody would show up.
Um. Some 30 people “showed up” and the result was multiple offers for the property. (more…)
Boston condo sales booming
There were just 500 condos for sale in Boston at the end of January, yet 421 condos had accepted offers in the last 30 days. That means supply is not much more than one month! Read this article to find out what is going on.
David Bates Bates By the Numbers www.batesrealestatereport.com
Full Story
January Pending Home Sales up again in Massachusetts
Properties under agreement in January increased 18% from a year ago for SFHs and 22% for condos. In both cases January was the 21st straight month of year over year increases.
Massachusetts Association of Realtors; February 12, 2013
Full Story
Boston Condo Market Soars
According to LINK, a firm that analyzes Boston real estate, sales rose 29% in 2012 while the median price reached a record high.
Boston Globe February 2, 2013
Bston condo market soars
National Year End Housing Data
Last week’s publication of year end confirmed that 2012 was the year of recovery in the nation’s housing market. Here are the key data:
Existing home sales reached 4.65 million, up 9.2% from 2011, and the highest volume since 2007
Total inventory, or houses for sale, fell to 1.82 million, or 4.4 months of supply, the lowest since May 2005. Inventory is down 21.6% from a year ago, when the supply was 6.4 months.
The median price was $180,800 in December, up 11.5% from a year ago: 10.9% for SFHs and 16% for condos. For the year overall the median price increased 6.3%.
Distressed sales – foreclosures and short sales – accounted for 24% of sales in December, down from 32% a year ago. Foreclosures sold at an average discount of 17% and short sales 16%, according to NAR.
New homes sales: 367,000, up 19.9% from 2011.
The median new home price was $243,600, up 7.2% from 2011.
30 year mortgage rate: 3.35% in December, down from 3.96% a year ago.
Sources: National Association of Realtors; Commerce Department; Freddie Mac
Marblehead 2012 housing review and 2013 outlook
People often ask: how’s the market? Well, there rarely is one “market”. The answer can vary by price (the under $500,000 market may be active while another price range is less so) and location (quiet wooded cul-de-sac versus busy main road).
This review of 2012 SFHs will follow my usual pattern of breaking down 2012 sales by price range, as well as looking forward to 2013.
And as so often, detailed analysis of the data reveals some surprising conclusions. Let’s get started. (more…)
Mortgage Rates forecast to rise 1% by end of 2013
In my November 27 article Refinancing – don’t make just the minimum payment I wrote: “Don’t assume that rates will either go lower still or that they will necessarily stay this low for as long as the Federal Reserve is currently saying. If the economy does strengthen from here, interest rates my move up sooner than expected.”
The Mortgage Bankers Association has just issued a forecast that mortgage rates will increase gradually as the economy improves and finish around 4.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013.
MBA_December_Commentary_82991
More reason to consider buying NOW!
Massachusetts pending home sales up 25% in 2012
Another indication of the recovery in the housing market in 2012 comes with the release of pending sales for Massachusetts. For the year pending sales of single family homes rose 25% and of condos 26%.
December was the 20th consecutive month of year over year increases.
Massachusetts Association of Realtors January 8, 2013
Full Report
Fannie Mae Housing Survey shows expectations of rise in home prices and mortgage rates in 2013
Consumer confidence in the housing sector grew last month, marked by continued positive attitudes toward home price, rental price, and mortgage rate expectations, according to Fannie Mae’s December National Housing Survey results. The growing belief held by Americans that these housing indicators will climb in 2013 may inspire a boost in home purchase activity during the coming months.
Listen to a podcast:Fannie Mae housing-survey-podcast-010713
or read the surveyFannie Mae December 2012 national housing survey
Good news, bad news for North Shore condo market in 2012
First, the good news: sales were up 23% in 2012.
Now the bad news: sales are still 47% below the peak in 2005.
Unlike SFHs which are, for the most part, built singly, condo developments often bring a large number of new units to the market, causing a spike in sales, followed by a sharp decline. Look at the figures for (more…)
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