How to use Oliver Reports
The goal of Oliver Reports is to help buyers and sellers (and owners) of real estate to have a better understanding of what is happening in the market. As such, we produce reports every quarter on several of the 34 cities and towns of Essex County as well as for Essex County overall and also for Massachusetts. We believe that statistics can be helpful to understanding a market, but they can also be dangerous if taken out of context. Read the comment on the Beverly condo market to appreciate the importance of having informed commentary in addition to the basic numbers.(Market reports include the option to download a pdf of the report.)
As my colleague Kathleen Murphys says: “Not everyone likes numbers and statistics but if you are thinking about buying or selling a home, information on local real estate sales and inventory is a great benefit. A good Realtor will use this data to effectively develop a pricing and marketing strategy to support your goals.”
In addition to data about the market, Oliver Reports writes on real estate related topics such as mortgage rates, property taxes (we publish a map showing property tax rates every year) and flood insurance. A new feature will be devoted to topics such as staging and design,, as well as tips for both buyers and sellers.
We also publish New Listings and Open Houses each week for several cities and towns.
Beyond statistics, we also publish some lighter articles. We have published posts about Hugh Hefner, Elvis Presley, student housings that looks like a Ritz Carlton, the smallest castle in England, the largest palace in France – in other words, short articles (most posts can be ready in under a minute) that make interesting reading.
Oliver Reports is structured so that all the posts written in a 24 hour period go out in one email at 8 a.m. When you received the email, you can quickly scan to see if there is an article you are interested in. If so, click on it. If not, ignore the email.
If you have any interest in real estate (who doesn’t want to know what her home may be worth?) or any real estate related matters (an article is pending about shipping container homes – made from the thousands of surplus containers that sit on docks around the world, these homes can be an eco-friendly alternative to traditional building materials: one can even be ordered on Amazon), please try Oliver Reports. You should find something you enjoy reading.
Finally, all the posts are available on the website www.OliverReports.com with the market reports collected under Market Reports at the top right.
Happy – and we hope, informed – reading.
Salem Q3 2017 Housing Market: Condo prices surging
The SFH market in Salem continued its steady rise in 2017, with the median price in the first 9 months increasing by 3%, while sales were down slightly from the 2016 level.
The Salem condo market has been very active for some time, and in terms of unit sales is one of the two largest in Essex County. In the first 9 months of 2017, the median price increased 12%, breaking through the $300,000 level for the first time. Sale were down 15%, reflecting the shortage of inventory. (more…)
Beverly Q3 2017 Housing Market Report
Click here to download a pdf of this report.
Beverly has been a hot market in recent years. The median price of a Single Family Home (SFH) first broke through $400,000 in 2015 and in the first 9 months of 2017 increased by 6%. Sales were down a little from last year but in line with the average of the last 5 years. (more…)
Facebook is having a Marblehead Day
Facebook has decided to show a photo of Marblehead Harbor in all my posts today. I have checked my blog and all the Essex County posts have a map of Essex County as the featured image; my Swampscott report has a Welcome to Swampscott sign and my Open House post has a Harborside Sotheby’s International realty sign.
Marblehead Oceanfront Open House: “Bring me an Offer”
Breathtaking views all the way down to the South Shore from this gracious, restored (1998-2006), 1870s oceanfront home. The open floor plan offers an easy flow for entertaining. The house sits on a private beach, high above the Atlantic, in a wonderfully protected location (no flood insurance required.) VIEWS and VIEWS and VIEWS.
Open House Sunday 12-1:30 at 11 Crown Way. And here’s a link to the Video.
Carriage house believed to be a stop on the Underground RaiIroad. Property featured by Massachusetts Historical Commission.
Listen to the sound of the ocean, while looking out over the rocks which provide a sanctuary for wildlife.
Just 13 miles north of Boston’s Logan Airport, while enjoying all the charms and delights of the “Yachting Capital of America”, and “New England’s Best-Kept Seaside Secret.” Huge price reduction allows for any further updating required.
Owner says “Bring Me An Offer.”
Swampscott Q3 Housing Report: prices break through $500,000 – at last
The startling decline in inventory at lower price levels over the last two years has contributed to a 9% increase in the median price of SFHs sold in the first 9 months of 2017 to a record level of $530,000. It is likely that 2017 will see the old 2005 record median price of $517,300 broken – finally.
Median Price
6 of the last 8 quarters have seen median prices above $500,000.
Marblehead Q3 Housing Report: prices break through $700,000
The median price of a Single Family Home (SFH) exceeded $700,000 for the first time in the third quarter. YTD the median price increased 7% to a new high of $656,000. With most of Q4 sales already under agreement, it is quite likely that the median price will exceed $700,000 for the second half of the year. Sales were down slightly YTD, a consequence of the low inventory all year.
Median Price
After a sequence in which the median exceeded $600,000 in 8 of 11 Quarters, the median price broke through $700,000 in Q3.
Essex County Third Quarter Report: A Strong Market
After passing $400,000 for the first time in 2016, the median price of the Single Family Homes (SFH) sold in Essex County increased 7% in the first 9 months of 2017 to a new record of $440,000. Sales were flat, a reflection of continuing low inventory.
The median price of the condos sold in Essex County increased by 10% over 2016 to a new high of $286,250, while sales were up 11%. The condo market has seen a significant volume of new construction which, in general, occurs at higher prices, and these higher prices help to increase the median price overall.
Total inventory of SFH as of October 1 was down 14% from a year ago (and 33% from 2015), while condo inventory was down 25% (and also down 33% from 2015).
ESSEX COUNTY SFH
Through 9 months of 2017 the rate of increase in median prices has quickened compared with recent years.
Quarterly numbers in NEW England often show fluctuations. Note that Q4 has shown a drop in the median price from Q3, not just in the last few years, but in every year since 2000.
ESSEX COUNTY CONDOS
After three years of flattish prices, 2017 has seen a sharp increase of 10% YTD.
While quarterly fluctuations are the norm, the median price of condos sold in Essex County has increased for 7 quarters in a row.
INVENTORY
Total inventory of SFH as of October 1 was down 14% from a year ago (and 33% from 2015), while condo inventory was down 25% (and also 33% from 2015
Source: MLS, Oliver Reports
COMMENT
There is little new to say about the overall market in Essex County: strong demand and low inventory have led to rising prices. There are, however, wide variations from town to town as shown in this guide to Essex County town by town median prices.
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, please contact me on 617.834.8205 or Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com.
If you are looking to buy, I will contact you immediately when a house that meets your needs is available. In this market you need to have somebody looking after your interests.
Are you thinking about selling? Read Which broker should I choose to sell my house?
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
@OliverReports
Essex County Town by Town SFH Median Prices
This table shows median prices for the full years 2015 and 2016, and median prices and sales for the first 9 months of 2017. Note that a small number of sales can lead to price fluctuations, as in Nahant and Essex Town. In general, the larger the number of sales, the more reliable is the median price.
While the overall median price in Essex County was $440,000, only 10 of the 34 cities and towns had median prices below this level, while 24 had median prices above $440,000. The reason for this is that the median price for the the County is calculated by taking all individual property sales, and many of the towns with a large number of sales were in communities with lower prices.
If I calculated the median price for Essex County using towns rather than individual sales, the median price would be $511,750. Click Essex County Town by Town SFH Median Prices to download a copy of this report.
Andrew Oliver
Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
Open Houses Sunday October 15
Here are the Open Houses for a gloriously warm October day:
Marblehead Open Houses
Swampscott Open Houses
Salem Open Houses
Beverly Open Houses
Lynn Open Houses
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, please contact me on 617.834.8205 or Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com.
If you are looking to buy, I will contact you immediately when a house that meets your needs is available. In this market you need to have somebody looking after your interests.
Are you thinking about selling? Read Which broker should I choose to sell my house?
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
@OliverReports
NEW PHOTOS NEW PRICE: Marblehead Oceanfront
Breathtaking views all the way down to the South Shore from this gracious, restored (1998-2006), 1870s oceanfront home. The open floor plan offers an easy flow for entertaining. The house sits on a private beach, high above the Atlantic, in a wonderfully protected location (no flood insurance required.) VIEWS and VIEWS and VIEWS.
Open House Sunday 12-1:30 at 11 Crown Way. And here’s a link to the Video.
Carriage house believed to be a stop on the Underground RaiIroad. Property featured by Massachusetts Historical Commission.
Listen to the sound of the ocean, while looking out over the rocks which provide a sanctuary for wildlife.
Just 13 miles north of Boston’s Logan Airport, while enjoying all the charms and delights of the “Yachting Capital of America”, and “New England’s Best-Kept Seaside Secret.” Huge price reduction allows for any further updating required.
Owner says “Bring Me An Offer.”
If you are considering selling your home please contact me on 617.834.8205 or Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com for a free market analysis and explanation of the outstanding marketing program I offer.
Read Which broker should I choose to sell my house?
If you are looking to buy, I will contact you immediately when a house that meets your needs is available. In this market you need to have somebody looking after your interests.
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
@OliverReports
New Listings week ending October 13
Another slow week for new listings:
Source: andrewJoliver.com
Marblehead new listings
Swampscott new listings
Salem new listings
Beverly new listings
Lynn new listings
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, please contact me on 617.834.8205 or Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com.
If you are looking to buy, I will contact you immediately when a house that meets your needs is available. In this market you need to have somebody looking after your interests.
Are you thinking about selling? Read Which broker should I choose to sell my house?
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
@OliverReports
Marblehead Q3 market hits new record high
Here is a summary of the market in Marblehead – a full report will be published shortly. Click Marblehead_Q3_2017_summary to download a printable copy of this summary.
Single Family Homes(SFH)
The median price of a SFH exceeded $700,000 for the first time in the third quarter. YTD the median price increased 7% to a new high of $656,000. With most of Q4 sales already under agreement, it is quite likely that the median price will exceed $700,000 for the second half of the year. Sales were down slightly YTD, a consequence of the low inventory all year.
Condos
Marblehead has a small condo market and one which varies from waterfront purpose-built condos to conversions of former apartments. As such, the median price can and does fluctuate. What is notable is that nearly half the sales this year to date have taken place at or above the list price.
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, please contact me on 617.834.8205 or Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com.
If you are looking to buy, I will contact you immediately when a house that meets your needs is available. In this market you need to have somebody looking after your interests.
Are you thinking about selling? Read Which broker should I choose to sell my house?
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
@OliverReports
Open Houses Sunday October 8
Here are today’s Open Houses – without competition from the Patriots.
Source: andrewJoliver.com
Marblehead Open Houses
Swampscott Open Houses
Salem Open Houses
Beverly Open Houses
Lynn Open Houses
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, please contact me on 617.834.8205 or Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com.
If you are looking to buy, I will contact you immediately when a house that meets your needs is available. In this market you need to have somebody looking after your interests.
Are you thinking about selling? Read Which broker should I choose to sell my house?
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
@OliverReports
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