Open Houses weekend January 16/17
Here are this weekend’s Open Houses. Be aware that with such low inventory, many new listings receive offers before the weekend Open Houses. (more…)
Essex County Housing Market 2020 Review
The median Single Family Home (SFH) price increased 8.9% in H1 and then by 14.4% in H2, breaking decisively through the $500,000 level.

Every one of the 34 cities and towns in Essex County say Year-over-Year price increases, while only 8 now have a median price below $500,000.
For a more detailed report go to Team Harborside’s website: Essex County Review (more…)
Marblehead Housing Market 2020 Review
2020 was a year of two halves: in H1 the median SFH price was $678,500, in H2 $839,900, as demand from buyers from Boston and beyond drove up prices.

For a more detailed report, go to Team Harborside’s website: Marblehead 2020 Review (more…)
Marblehead house receives over 30 offers
Perhaps you are hoping that the housing market will slow down in the winter months, or that new inventory will help to meet the demand.
Well, as they say, not so fast.
A house was listed in Marblehead recently for $445,000. A Cape on an 8,600 sf lot overlooking a wooded area.
There were more than 30 offers submitted. Yep, 30. (more…)
Old Airliner Transformed into a Spectacular Home
With the chronic shortage of housing inventory, perhaps more people will follow the example of Oregon man Bruce Campbell, who purchased a retired plane for $100,000. He had a vision. He had the imagination and the skill to set about turning the passenger jet into a home. And the result of this flight of fancy is a piece of real estate that really is something else.
New Listings mid-week January 13
A trickle of New Listings in a market with an ever smaller inventory. (more…)
Open Houses Sunday January 10
As usual, there are rather more Open Houses today than were shown in yesterday’s list (apart from Marblehead, where the number is unchanged at zero – but there are only 10 SFHs and 3 Condos for sale in the whole town at the moment): (more…)
Are mortgage rates about to rise?
Following the Georgia Senate election results, which gave control of the Senate to the Democrats, along with the House of Representatives and the White House, the yield on the 10-year Treasury Note (10T) – the most sensitive to increased Government spending – jumped from 0.93% on Monday to 1.13% on Friday, based upon the expectation that increased Government spending would lead to more borrowing which would need higher interest rates to attract investors.
Why does this matter for mortgage rates? Because the rate on the 30-year Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM) is based upon an extra yield – spread – that investors require over that available on 10T. The national average reported on Thursday ( based on rates from Monday-Wednesday) was a record low of 2.65%, but next week will almost certainly see an increase.
Here are three charts:
The FRM since the beginning of 2020:

The 10T yield:

And the Spread between the two (this chart starts in 2005):

For most of the last 15 years the spread has been in the 1.6-1.8% range. The major exceptions have occurred during times of financial stress – in the Great Recession of 2008 and in 2020.
I will add links at the bottom of this article to previous ones describing the relationship between 10T and FRM in more detail.
Meanwhile, note that the FRM is a national average based on rates from Monday-Wednesday, when the yield on 10T was 0.93%, 0.96% and 1.04%; that the yield used in my spread calculation was Thursday’s 1.08%, and that on Friday it was 1.13%. That means that the spread between the latest reported FRM – 2.65% – and Friday’s 10T- 1.13% – was just 1.52%, well below the average in recent years of 1.7%.
A number of factors will influence the course of interest rates in the coming months, but at this point it looks as though 2.65% may represent the low point for the FRM.
Mortgage Markets Return to Normal
Essex County 2021 Residential Property Tax Rates: Town by Town guide
Andrew Oliver
Market Analyst | Team Harborside | teamharborside.com
REALTOR®
Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
One Essex Street | Marblehead, MA 01945
m 617.834.8205
Licensed Sales Agent in Florida
www.OliverReports.com
Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
“If you’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of OliverReports.com. 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, Salem, Beverly, Lynn and Swampscott.”
New Listings January 9
Trickle gets another week to describe the latest New Listings:

Click on these links for the New Listings:
Marblehead New Listings
Swampscott New Listings
Salem New Listings
Beverly New Listings
Lynn New Listings
These tables show that inventory is greatly reduced from a year ago, when levels were already low:

And read these recent articles:
Marblehead record $7 million sale
How Marblehead’s 2021 Property Tax Rate is Calculated
Essex County 2021 Residential Property Tax Rates: Town by Town guide
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’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of Oliver Reports . 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®
Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
One Essex Street | Marblehead, MA 01945
m 617.834.8205
www.OliverReports.com
Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
Open Houses weekend January 9/10
Here are this weekend’s Open Houses. Be aware that with such low inventory, many new listings receive offers before the weekend Open Houses.
This list will be updated on Sunday morning (because of the quirks of MLS some of the Sunday Open Houses don’t show up on Saturday.)

Click on these links for details:
Marblehead Open Houses
Swampscott Open Houses
Salem Open Houses
Beverly Open House
Lynn Open Houses
Essex County 2021 Property Tax Rates: Town by Town guide
Marblehead record $7 million sale
Mortgage Markets Return to Normal
Conforming Mortgage Loan Limits raised for 2021
“If you’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of OliverReports.com. 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®
Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
One Essex Street | Marblehead, MA 01945
m 617.834.8205
www.OliverReports.com
Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
Marblehead Median Price Soars in Second Half of 2021
Here is the summary for 2021.
A full report will be published on Team Harborside’s website next week
Andrew Oliver
Market Analyst | Team Harborside | teamharborside.com
REALTOR®
Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
One Essex Street | Marblehead, MA 01945
m 617.834.8205
Licensed Sales Agent in Florida
www.OliverReports.com
Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
“If you’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of OliverReports.com. 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, Salem, Beverly, Lynn and Swampscott.”
A trickle of New Listings
A trickle of New Listings in a market with an even smaller inventory.

Click on these links for the New Listings:
Marblehead New Listings
Swampscott New Listings
Salem New Listings
Beverly New Listings
Lynn New Listings
These tables show that inventory is greatly reduced from a year ago, when levels were already low:

And read these recent articles:
Marblehead record $7 million sale
How Marblehead’s 2021 Property Tax Rate is Calculated
Essex County 2021 Residential Property Tax Rates: a Town by Town guide
Conforming Mortgage Loan Limits raised for 2021
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’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of Oliver Reports . 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®
Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
One Essex Street | Marblehead, MA 01945
m 617.834.8205
www.OliverReports.com
Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
Essex County 2021 Commercial Property Tax Rates: Town by Town guide
While most of us look at residential tax rates, fewer are concerned with commercial tax rates. Yet a healthy commercial business environment can contribute significantly to the attractiveness of a town. The map below shows commercial rates in each of Essex County’s 34 cities and towns, followed by a table comparing residential and commercial rates.
(Click here to download a copy of this map and here to download the table)



There is a bigger variation in commercial rates than in residential rates
The lowest rate for both residential and commercial rates is Rockport’s $9.74, but while the highest residential rate is Wenham’s $19.68, there are 11 towns with commercial rates over $20, with the highest being $28.09 in Andover. 20 towns set the same rate for both residential and commercial, while in 4 towns the commercial rate is twice or more times the residential one.
Why do some towns have different residential and commercial tax rates?
Cities and towns have the ability to increase the percentage of the total tax bill paid by commercial (and industrial and personal) property owners. The percentage of the value of property classified as commercial varies enormously from town to town.
In Marblehead, for example, where residential property is 95% of the total, a 50% tax shift to commercial would increase the median commercial tax bill from $7,322 to $10,979, while reducing the median residential tax bill by only $190.
Towns with a higher percentage of commercial property are more likely to shift an increased share of the tax bill to commercial owners.
Essex County 2021 Residential Property Tax Rates: Town by Town guide
Andrew Oliver
Market Analyst | Team Harborside | teamharborside.com
REALTOR®
Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
One Essex Street | Marblehead, MA 01945
m 617.834.8205
Licensed Sales Agent in Florida
www.OliverReports.com
Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
“If you’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of OliverReports.com. 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, Salem, Beverly, Lynn and Swampscott.”
Has Elvis FINALLY left the building?
American Luxury Magazine reports: “The nuptial Palm Springs retreat of Elvis and Priscilla Presley sold this winter after over six years on and off the market. The so-called ‘Honeymoon House’ modern shared by the couple on a rental basis in 1966-67 was initially listed by its now most recent former owner in 2014, asking $9.5 million; it was subsequently reduced to $5.9 million and by January of this year, it was asking $3.2 million. It closed this month for $2.6 million.”




Do you get the impression that the current owner was, maybe, trying, you know, just a little, very subtly, to mention the link with the King?
Essex County 2021 Property Tax Rates: Town by Town guide
Are you thinking of moving to Southwest Florida?
Andrew Oliver
Market Analyst | Team Harborside | teamharborside.com
REALTOR®
Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
One Essex Street | Marblehead, MA 01945
m 617.834.8205
Licensed Sales Agent in Florida
www.OliverReports.com
Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
“If you’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of OliverReports.com. 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, Salem, Beverly, Lynn and Swampscott.”
Essex County Housing Inventory: how low can you go?
A picture is worth a thousand words:


Comment
The market in recent months has been characterised by the twin challenges of reduced inventory and increased demand, with buyers from Boston and beyond adding to local demand; and both aided by record low mortgage rates.
We are back to the most basic economic equation: when demand exceeds supply, prices rise. In housing, that often results in bidding wars, as we are seeing frequently now.
Goodbye Boston, Hello Marblehead
Essex County 2021 Property Tax Rates: Town by Town guide
How Marblehead’s 2021 Property Tax Rate is Calculated
Are you thinking of moving to Southwest Florida?
Andrew Oliver
Market Analyst | Team Harborside | teamharborside.com
REALTOR®
Sagan Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty
One Essex Street | Marblehead, MA 01945
m 617.834.8205
Licensed Sales Agent in Florida
www.OliverReports.com
Andrew.Oliver@SothebysRealty.com
Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
“If you’re interested in Marblehead, you have to visit the blog of Mr. Andrew Oliver, author and curator of OliverReports.com. 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, Salem, Beverly, Lynn and Swampscott.”
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