Residential Real Estate
Unlocking Homeownership: Webster First FCU’s Guide to Mortgage Solutions
The process of buying a house may seem foreign to someone who is doing it for the first time. Without knowing all the mortgage lingo or documents, it can feel scary signing your name to something. That’s why Webster First has tried to break down the process in a simple way that first time buyers can understand.
ICE Reports Record Home Equity; Boston in Top 5 Markets
Existing homeowners continue to reap the benefits of historically strong price gains.
Redfin Agrees to Pay $9.25M to Settle Real Estate Broker Commission Lawsuits
Redfin has agreed to pay $9.25 million to settle federal lawsuits that claim U.S. homeowners were saddled with artificially inflated broker commissions when they sold their home as a result of longstanding real estate industry practices.
Praise, Not Punishment, Highlighted In New MBTA Zoning Pitch
Gov. Maura Healey and AG Andrea Campbell have recently focused more on the towns doing what is expected of them rather than warning of the punishments on the table.
Participatory Budgeting Puts the Money Where People’s Mouths Are
Participatory budgeting is putting money where the community’s mouths are. It is an investment, particularly in working-class communities of color across our city, which too often see a lack of investment and deterioration of neighborhoods.
Small Developers Are Key to Building More Homes, But They Need Help
Empowering more small, local developers can create the multifamily housing we need, build local wealth and close equity gaps in the process.
Rejected for a Home Loan? Don’t Give Up Yet
Nothing is more devastating to homebuyers than to search for months and finally find the place they want, only to be rejected by their chosen lender. But it happens to 1 in 10 applicants.
Open Permits Open the Door for Legal Complications in a Sale
What many project developers consider a minor component of the transaction can significantly alter the dynamics of buying or selling commercial properties.
Survey: RE Agents Open to Changing Affiliations
The latest report from Coldwell Banker found that 67 percent of real estate agents plan on staying with their current company this year, a significant drop from the 75 percent who said the same last year.
Federal Reserve Declines to Cut Interest Rates, Cites Continued Inflation
As expected, the Federal Reserve did not reduce the benchmark lending rate at its meeting yesterday, maintaining the rate at a 23-year high.
Guv Appeals to Biz to Join Housing Fight
As more communities in eastern Massachusetts show a willingness to defy the state’s new multifamily zoning law, Gov. Maura Healey on Tuesday tried to draft business executives into her efforts to shore up support for measures meant to spur badly-needed housing production.
Funding Secured for Multifamily Development in Wakefield
JLL Capital Markets has arranged capitalization for a new, 440-unit development to be built on the shore of Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield.
Powell Likely to Signal Lower Inflation Is Needed Before Fed Will Cut Rates
After three straight hotter-than-expected inflation reports, Federal Reserve officials have turned more cautious about the prospect of interest rate cuts this year.
Court Rulings May Force Action On Home Equity Theft
After a state judge ruled this month that Massachusetts law governing municipal home equity takings “requires Legislative correction,” a state senator who has filed a related bill for years said Monday that he was ready to start demanding roll call votes on his proposal.
Douglas Elliman Settles Commission Lawsuits
Luxury brokerage Douglas Elliman has become the latest brokerage to join in the National Association of Realtors’ commission lawsuit settlement.
Mass. Climate Bank Launches First Homeowner Loan Product
The product will make $20 million in loans available over the next two years to help homeowners cover the costs of things like heat pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, weatherization, and more.
Insurance Is the Wild Card for Some Buyers
When it comes to buying a house, the elephant in the room is not the price. It’s not the mortgage rates. It’s not even the property tax. It’s the insurance.
Report: HomeServices to Settle Commission Lawsuits
The last major brokerage still locked in a court battle over real estate agent commissions appears to be waving a white flag.
NAR Settlement Gets Preliminary OK
The judge in the lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors over real estate agent commissions has given his preliminary approval to a settlement in the case, signalling that a new future for how agents are compensated is clearly on the horizon.
Company Behind Big New Listings Portal Buys Matterport
CoStar Group, the real estate information company behind Homes.com, has inked a deal to buy the 3D camera company many real estate agents rely on to promote their listings.