Residential Real Estate
Multiple Offers Stay Steady in Boston into December
Redfin’s monthly report on demand for home sales in the country’s biggest metro areas found the prevalence of multiple offers on residential properties stayed steady into December, a month that typically saw a significant drop-off in buyer interest pre-pandemic.
Personnel File – No. 269
From new VPs to fresh project managers, see who’s been hired, promoted and honored: it’s The Personnel File.
Study Pegs ‘Millionaire’s Tax’ Haul at Only $1.3B
A new tax on Massachusetts millionaires up for a vote on this fall’s ballot would add much less revenue for the state than originally predicted, according to a new report.
The Next Challenge at Mass & Cass: Follow-Through
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Wu and her team deserve credit for first pouring so much effort into outreach at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. But Beacon Hill and business owners need to step up to help build longer-term solutions.
What Would MLK Say About Your Equity Effort?
MLK Day is always a hard one for me because the celebration presents as performative and highlights our continued hypocrisy with race. Take some time to learn about the evolution of his leadership in civil rights and how his journey evolved into being a movement dominated by concepts of economic justice and equity.
Hate Tenant Right of First Refusal? Consider Who’s to Blame
Think single-family prices have gotten out of hand in Greater Boston? Well, wait till you see what’s happened with the backbone of the local apartment market, small rental properties. Now, an inevitable backlash is building.
Triple Whammy Slows Homebuilders
Homebuilders are an optimistic bunch. They normally purchase land or finished lots, spend thousands on lumber and myriad other materials, and start putting up houses – often before the first customer walks in the door. That’s not the case now, though, and hasn’t been for months.
Boston Will Hardly Be the Nation’s Hottest Housing Market this Year
Boston home prices may be headed for serious growth this year, but the city will be far from the hottest housing market in the country.
Landlord Group Sues State for Eviction Data
A prominent group representing small landlords has sued state officials for access to data on the state’s pandemic rental aid program it says could show discrimination against renters of color and their landlords.
Banker & Tradesman Still Strong at 150 Years Old
Banker & Tradesman turns 150 in 2022. I marvel at the fact that the very germ of the idea that propelled my great-grandfather into this business is exactly what we do today.
Report Calls for End of Commission ‘Price Setting’
Real estate commission rates are just one step below fixed, according to a new report from the Consumer Federation of America. And rising home prices are handing ammunition to those who say that has to change.
Why MassLandlords Has Sued DHCD Over Rental Assistance Records
We are asking the court to order DHCD release records on rental assistance applications, so we can see whether problems in the application process discriminated against renters of color and their landlords.
Demand for Second Homes Stays Strong Heading Into 2022
A new analysis of mortgage rate-locks by online brokerage Redfin has found that, nation-wide, demand for second homes was up 77 percent in December over 2019 levels.
Tax Credit for Student Debt Relief Pitched on Beacon Hill
State lawmakers pitched a new tax exemption Tuesday that they say could address both the crushing levels of student loan debt carried by many residents and the perennial concerns that businesses have around being able to find and keep the types of workers they are looking for.
Banker & Tradesman Marks 150 Years
Paper executives say a gala celebration is expected to be held this fall, but special coverage is planned throughout the year in honor of its anniversary.
Expect New Homes to Keep Getting Bigger
Square footage always increases in slow markets when the only people buying new houses are middle- and upper-income earners. But when the market speeds up, builders try to go smaller in an attempt to capture a larger share of sales.
Boston’s Luxury Market Returns
Pauline Bennett has a good perch to watch the urban luxury market grow as Coldwell Banker’s New England regional president. A recent company report recently named Boston as one of the top destinations for luxury homebuyers nationwide.
Lawyer Convicted of Using Fraud to Get $8M in Loans
An attorney accused of lying to obtain millions of dollars in loans has been convicted of bank fraud and other charges in New Hampshire.
Will Inflation Hurt Spring Demand for Homes? One Survey Says Yes
Inflation is the big story in the American economy right now, but experts have been divided on its ultimate impact on the housing market.
Rental Aid Changes Likely to Hurt the Needy, Landlords, Advocates Warn
Massachusetts renters who seek state aid to avoid eviction will face new requirements and a revised application process in less than a week, a sudden shift that prompted dozens of housing advocates to demand lawmakers intervene and stave off a “disgraceful and unnecessary outcome.”
This Week’s Newspaper
Daily Registration
Subscribe
Advertisement
