Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide

Wilmington, MA Market Report - Median Price Declined

During the first six months of the year, the median price for a single-family home in Wilmington, Massachusetts has declined 9 percent compared to the same period in 2006, according to data I researched using the MLS Property Information Network, Inc.

Median Sales Price for Single-family Home in Wilmington, MA:

• Median Price January Through June 2006: $420,000
• Median Price January Through June 2007: $381,750
• Median Price Decline of 9 percent in First Six Months of 2007

• Median Price June 2006: $445,250
• Median Price June 2007: $385,000
• Median Price Decline of 13.5 percent in June 2007

Average Days on the Market for Single-family Homes in Wilmington, MA:

• Average DOM January Through June 2006: 125 days
• Average DOM January Through June 2007: 170 days
• Average DOM Increased 36 Percent in First Six Months of 2007

• Average DOM June 2006: 102 days
• Average DOM June 2007: 103 days
• Average DOM Increased Less Than 1 Percent in June 2007

Sales of single-family homes have increased in Wilmington (obviously due to the decline in prices), but clearly the data above indicates that the pressure still is on sellers to lower prices for a quick sale.

Community Profiles: Saugus And Rockport

The Boston Globe real estate section recently profiled Saugus, MA and Rockport, MA.

Nine miles from Boston, Saugus was just shy of 27,000 residents in 2005 and currently has a median home price of $316,000. Its property tax rate is $8.28.

Read more about Saugus, Massachusetts.

Rockport, a seaside community, is 37 miles from Boston. It had 7,763 residents in 2005, and its tax rate is $8.05. Settled by Europeans in 1690, the small town now has a median home price of $400,000.

Read more about Rockport, Massachusetts.

Search For Homes In Saugus and Rockport

Chelmsford, MA 2nd Most Affordable Northeast City

REALTOR® Magazine Online reported May 1, 2007 on the most affordable cities in the Northeastern section of the United States.

The story identified suburbs that offer better-than-average schools and lower-than-average crime rates, a manageable commute, and "a price tag that isn’t shocking."

The top 10, along with their median home prices and proximity to the nearest big city, are as follows:

• Arden-Brandywine, Del. (Philadelphia, 26.9 miles): $355,500
• Chelmsford, Mass. (Boston, 27.1 miles): $412,100
• Columbia, Md. (Baltimore, 18 miles): $350,800
• Coraopolis–Moon Township, Pa. (Pittsburgh, 13.7 miles): $165,500
• East Islip, N.Y. (New York, 50.4 miles): $496,400
• Fruitville, Pa. (Baltimore, about 55 miles): $139,200
• Gaithersburg, Md. (Washington, D.C., 21 miles): $353,400
• Getzville, N.Y. (Buffalo, 9 miles): $207,000
• Kendall Park, N.J. (New York, 48.6 miles): $433,000
• Livingston, N.J. (New York, 28.3 miles): $552,300

Read This Article

Boxford, MA Resists Urbanization

With a two-acre lot minimum and only 7 percent of its land zoned for commercial use, Boxford, Massachusetts has crushed any thoughts of urbanization.

An April 29, 2007 profile in The Boston Globe chronicles the town's efforts to maintain its small-town roots and exclusive feel.

"And to preserve the rural look of the town, nearly every street is officially considered a scenic road and town rules require homeowners to seek approval before they can dislodge a rock wall or a tree."

"It has more than 1,000 acres of open space -- preserved with the help of residents by the Boxford Trails Association with the Boxford Open Land Trust. Green space includes Boxford State Forest, and residents also have access to Stiles Pond, a 60-acre freshwater pond."

As of May 5, 2007, Boxford had 87 properties listed on the MLS Property Information Network ranging in price from $259,000 (the only house listed for less than $300K) to $3.6 million. Take a look at what $3.6 million buys you.

Facts About Boxford, MA (Source: The Boston Globe)
Miles from Boston: 25
Population: 8,177 (2005)
Median house price: $620,000
Tax rate: $10.46
Average single-family property tax: $7,059 (State average, $3,799)
Transportation: Routes 97, 133, Interstate 95.
MCAS: Boxford high schoolers attend the Masconomet Regional High School where 10th-graders ranked 67th in English and 57th in math among 280 systems, according to a Globe analysis of 2006 results. Sixth-graders ranked 24th out of 305 systems in English and 23d in math. Third-graders ranked 23d out of 298 systems in reading and 23d in math.
Census facts: Median family income is $119,491 compared to the national rate of $50,046; 63 percent held a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 24 percent nationally.
Website: www.town.boxford.ma.us

Read This Article

Tranquil Living In Middleton

Despite its close proximity to major travel routes, Middleton, MA remains a tranquil rural community just 19 miles from Boston, according to a March 11, 2007 article in The Boston Globe.

"First settled by Europeans in 1659, Middleton was incorporated in 1728 and is the home of a North Shore favorite, Richardson's Ice Cream, a family-owned dairy in operation for some 300 years."

The following additional information from the Globe article:
Population: 9,723 (2005)
Median house price: $480,000 (2006)
Tax rate: $9.81
Average single-family property tax: $5,179 (2006 state average, $3,799)
Census facts:Median family income is $87,605 compared to national rate of $50,046 and 29 percent held a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to national rate of 24 percent.

View the Middleton Public Schools 2006 MCAS results online.

See Middleton single-family home sales data for 2006 as reported by the MLS Property Information Network, Inc.

See Middleton condominium sales data for 2006 as reported by the MLS Property Information Network, Inc.

Visit the official Web site of the Town of Middleton.

Find Middleton, MA real estate for sale.

 

Read The Boston Globe Article About Middleton, MA

Please contact me (attyrosa@gmail.com), if you're interested in homes sales data for any other Massachusetts community.

Haverhill, MA Mayor's Email Newsletter

If you're interested in purchasing a home in Haverhill, MA, or you are not sure and want to know more about what is going on in the City of Haverhill, Mayor Jim Fiorentini's email newsletter is a good source. Simply use the sign-up form below.

The latest issue is usually available online.

 

Sign up for Mayor Fiorentini's email update newsletter

Email:

Also check out BuyHaverhill.com for more information about the City of Haverhill.

Groveland Practices Fiscal Conservatism

Groveland, Massachusetts maintains a rural feel and emphasizes preventive maintenance and fiscal conservatism rather than freely spending on new buildings, according to a Boston Globe article published November 19, 2006.

"There has been steady growth in single-family homes . But with nearly one-third of the town part of the Crane Pond Wildlife Management Area, and another 47 acres preserved as Veasy Park, 'There are still a lot of trees, a lot of the feeling of wooded areas . . . even with the building that's going on,' [administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen Nancy] Lewandowski said."

Incorporated in 1850, Groveland's northern border is the Merrimack River, and the town is adjacent to Haverhill, Georgetown, Boxford, and West Newbury. Groveland was a part of Rowley from 1630 to 1675 and a part of Bradford from 1675 to 1850.

The town maintains a rural atmosphere, but enjoys the benefits of an urban lifestyle with Haverhill, MA nearby. Town residents also have easy access to Interstate 95 and Interstate 495.

Groveland is part of the Pentucket Regional School District.

Check out Groveland's official Web site.

Obtain information on Groveland's public schools.

Find out MCAS results for 2006.

Search for Groveland Homes For Sale.

Read The Boston Globe Article

Haverhill Committee Focuses On Land Conservation

The mayor of Haverhill, Massachusetts has formed a 19-member committee to write an open space plan to deliver to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, according to a February 26, 2007 article in The Eagle-Tribune.

The report will help the city obtain state grants to buy and preserve land.

The city presently owns about 2,000 acres of open space, and 2,800 privately owned acres also are maintained as open land.

Read This Article

Haverhill, MA Schools Profile

Georgetown Looks To Maintain Rural Feel

Georgetown, Massachusetts plans to hold on to its rural feel over the next 15 years, according to a February 25, 2007 article in The Boston Globe about the community approximately 40 minutes north of Boston.

"First settled by Europeans in the 1600s, Georgetown had a variety of industries in succeeding centuries but is now primarily a bedroom community.

"Some 25 percent of the town is public land , including the 1,100-acre Georgetown-Rowley State Forest, with trails for walking, biking, and horseback riding, part of the Crane Pond Wildlife Management Area, and Pentucket Pond."

Check out the latest home listings in Georgetown.

Visit the official Georgetown, MA Web site.

Georgetown Community Profile

Georgetown Public Schools Profile

Georgetown 2006 MCAS Scores

Read This Article About Georgetown, MA

Where Can You Find Affordable Homes?

The Boston Globe has compiled a list of the Massachusetts communities with the highest percentage of affordable homes.

The cities and towns are ranked by share of owner-occupied housing units affordable to four-person households earning 80 percent of the Boston metropolitan area's median income.

There are a few affordable communities in the top thirty I would not have expected, such as Wilmington (2), Burlington (10) and Saugus (28).

The most affordable community is Avon, with more than 50 percent of the homes affordable to four-person households earning 80 percent of the Boston metropolitan area's median income.

The least affordable community according to the data is Brookline. There are zero, yes zero, affordable homes in Brookline using the above criteria.

What communities surprised you as being affordable? Leave a comment.

The data comes from MIT's Center for Real Estate.

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Hudson, NH Considers New England's Largest Shopping Center

The Telegraph, a Nashua, NH newspaper, reported February 8, 2007, that Hudson, NH town officials are considering the development of a "lifestyle center" on the site of a 375-acre, privately-owned golf course.

Some community groups oppose the development, which would be called Riverplace. That's not a big surprise.

"At full build-out, Riverplace would be home to the largest shopping center in New England, with more than twice the retail space of New Hampshire’s largest mall, The Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester."

Read This Article

Not All Of Boston's Neighborhoods Are Experiencing Falling Real Estate Prices

The following chart published in The Boston Globe shows real estate price changes in Boston's neighborhoods through June 2006. The data is a bit dated, but it likely continued throughout the rest of 2006.

Everett, Lowell Lead Surge In Foreclosures

Everett and Lowell lead Massachusetts communities in the rise in 2006 foreclosures, according to the Boston Herald.

 

Graphic from the Boston Herald.

Read This Article.