What Higher Mortgage Rates Mean for the Housing Market
The recent uptick in mortgage interest rates is having a chilling effect on home buyers at the moment, but Wharton real estate professor Benjamin Keys doesn’t expect that to last.
Mortgage interest rates have increased across all categories in the last several weeks, following the Federal Reserve’s first rate hike since 2018 to fight inflation. The interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage topped 5% last week, compared with less than 3% a year ago. The jump corresponded with a 40% drop in mortgage applications from a year ago.
“Aside from a few days in 2018, we haven’t seen rates this high persistently since around 2011,” Keys said. “Mortgage rates are the real focus among a lot of people right now, and trying to understand what impact [that is] going to have on housing markets.”
Sky-high rents have been spiraling faster than home prices in the last decade, which will continue to push many Americans toward home ownership. With a fixed-rate mortgage, they can budget a stable monthly housing expense for the next 15 or 30 years. (more…)
New Listings before Easter and Passover
A modest number of New Listings:

Click on these links for details:
Marblehead New Listings
Swampscott New Listings
Salem New Listings
Beverly New Listings
Lynn New Listings
And inventory remains chronically low: (more…)
Open Houses Saturday April 16 – none tomorrow
A few Open Houses today, none on Easter Sunday :

Click these links for details: (more…)
Naples First Quarter Housing Market Summary
The trends evident as 2021 progressed – persistent demand meeting lower inventory leading to fewer sales at higher prices – continued into Q1 2022. As always, caution should be exercised when looking at small numbers of transactions. Also note that the percentage changes are from Q1 2021 – in most cases the change since Q4 2021 is less dramatic. Following the table, which shows numbers for each of the 5 areas of Naples, are definitions of the different property types in Southwest Florida.
5 Crafting Ideas Perfect for Spring

Spring is the season of renewal, and it’s the perfect time to get a fresh start. Whether your home needs some updated decor or you are looking for a new hobby to help you pass away those April showers, you may want to think about taking on a craft project this spring.
Here are a few unique spring craft ideas for adults:
Wood Slice Bunny Rabbit Decorations
If you have some leftover firewood after a long and cold winter, you can put some of those logs to use with a springtime craft. You can slice various pieces of wood in order to craft bunny decorations that are both seasonal and cheerful. Full circular and oval logs can be used for the bunny’s tummy and head, while slices cut in half can be creatively placed to become ears and feet. Finish off the craft with a pastel colored bow, and you can instantly bring spring inside your home with this piece of festive decor.
Cup and Saucer Bird Feeders
Some of the best things to craft during the springtime are outdoor decor items such as bird feeders. Not only are bird feeders a decorative element for your yard, but they also help take care of the birds who call your neighborhood home. One of the simplest springtime crafts is the cup and saucer bird feeder. You can use an old tea cup and saucer to craft a unique bird feeding station. Simply turn the cup on its side and use a strong glue to attach it to its saucer. A large piece of twine can be tied around the cup handle, and once it’s dry you can hang this creation in your yard to feed the birds. (more…)
New Listings mid-week April 13
A modest number of New Listings – again:

Click on these links for details:
Marblehead New Listings
Swampscott New Listings
Salem New Listings
Beverly New Listings
Lynn New Listings
And inventory remains chronically low: (more…)
Old North Festival Chorus Concert TONIGHT!
It is with great joy that the Old North Festival Chorus will present its Lenten Concert this Sunday, April 10 at 7:30 PM at Old North Church, 35 Washington Street, Marblehead, singing together for the first time in 28 months:

There will be a freewill offering, and proof of vaccination will be required, along with the wearing of a well-fitted mask.
Flash First Quarter 2022 Numbers
The shortage of inventory is reflected in these Q1 numbers:

As always, small numbers need to be treated with caution. This chart shows the cyclicality of sales in New England:
Open Houses Sunday April 10
A few more Open Houses::

Marblehead Open Houses
Swampscott Open Houses
Salem Open Houses
Beverly Open House
Lynn Open Houses
And read these recent articles:
Why are Mortgage Rates so high?
Time to Consider an Adjustable Rate Mortgage
The Federal Reserve and Mortgage Rates
Earth to Federal Reserve: What are you waiting for?
How Marblehead’s 2022 Property Tax Rate is calculated
Essex County 2022 Property Tax Rates: Town by Town guide
Guide to Buying and Selling in Southwest Florida
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 ajoliver47@gmail.com.
“If you’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of Oliver ReportsMA . He’s assembled the most comprehensive analysis of Essex County we know of with market data and trends going back decades. It’s a great starting point for those looking in the towns of Marblehead, Sale, Beverly, Lynn and Swampscott.”
Andrew Oliver
Market Analyst | Team Harborside | teamharborside.com
REALTOR®
m. 617.834.8205
www.OliverReportsMA.com
————————–
Andrew Oliver, M.B.E., M.B.A.
Real Estate Advisor
Andrew.Oliver@Compass.com
www.TheFeinsGroup.com
www.OliverReportsFL.com
Compass
800 Laurel Oak Drive, Suite 400, Naples, FL 34108
m: 617.834.8205
First Old North Festival Chorus Concert since 2019
It is with great joy that the Old North Festival Chorus will present its Lenten Concert this Sunday, April 10 at 7:30 PM at Old North Church, 35 Washington Street, Marblehead, singing together for the first time in 28 months:

There will be a freewill offering, and proof of vaccination will be required, along with the wearing of a well-fitted mask.
Open Houses weekend April 9/10
Here are this weekend’s Open Houses (an updated list will be posted at 8 am tomorrow for Sunday’s OHs):

Click on these links for details: (more…)
New Listings week ending
A rush of New Listings, in Salem:

Click on these links for details:
Marblehead New Listings
Swampscott New Listings
Salem New Listings
Beverly New Listings
And inventory remains chronically low: (more…)
New Listings mid-week April 6
Just a few New Listings:

Click on these links for details:
Marblehead New Listings
Swampscott New Listings
Salem New Listings
Beverly New Listings
And inventory remains chronically low: (more…)
Open Houses Sunday April 3
A few more Open Houses and a large percentage of properties available for sale:

Click on these links for details: (more…)
Open Houses weekend April 2/3
Here are this weekend’s Open Houses (an updated list will be posted at 8 am tomorrow for Sunday’s OHs):

Click on these links for details: (more…)
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