Tagged: Real Estate

NEWTON, MA – Mark Development is partnering with Erland Construction and Prellwitz Chilinski Associates to build a new 299,000-square-foot property at the corner of Walnut Street and Washington Street in Newton, Mass. The new mixed-use development, Washington Place, will accommodate 41,960 square feet of commercial space, 140 apartments, 309 parking spaces (including underground parking), retail, […]

Pending home sales grow in December despite Wall Street turbulence Pending home sales throughout Massachusetts grew in December, but the sudden volatility seen in U.S. and international stocks near the end of 2018 may have had a negative effect on buyer and seller behaviors, according to a poll from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. The […]

Cover story: Housing and the Economy The start of a new calendar year is welcomed with parties, well-wishing and an eye toward new beginnings. But in the business and finance world, most people rang in 2019 fixated on endings. The business cycle, the bull market, home sales, price growth — so many economic indicators and […]

In reversal, FEMA will fund new NFIP policies during shutdown The ongoing shutdown of parts of the federal government will have a minimal impact on home sales that require flood insurance, thanks to the reversal of a decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency issued a statement Dec. 26 which said that as […]

20 percent down payments are rare in many cities Saving for a down payment remains among the biggest hurdles to homeownership, especially for young or first-time buyers. But more data released recently shows that down payment expectations are changing, including the long-held 20 percent standard. A recent report from Zillow estimated that across the U.S., […]

Real Estate in Brief: Best days to close, new renter data and more The holiday season is all about finding the best deals on gifts for friends and family, but it may also be one of the best times to find a bargain on the biggest purchase most of us will ever make. According to […]

Freddie Mac warns housing supply problem is compounding One of the biggest threats to the U.S. real estate market next year will be a familiar one, according to Freddie Mac economists: a lack of inventory due to sluggish building activity. In its latest Insight Report, Freddie Mac put that oft-repeated statement into new perspective. Assuming […]

First-time homebuyer activity hit post-recession highs this year First-time homebuyers made up the largest share of the U.S. home purchase market since 2005 during the first nine months of 2018, according to a recent report from Genworth Mortgage Insurance. That means despite persistent concerns about housing affordability and its impact on younger buyers, stronger economic […]

This Week in Boston real estate: Boston among America’s most profitable housing markets, and more Realtor.com’s data analysts recently studied the markets where home sellers get the biggest returns — and Boston figured prominently on the list. In the largest 100 U.S. metros, the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, saw the highest annual return at 14 percent. In […]

Fannie, Freddie loan limits increase for third-straight year The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees the federally owned mortgage corporations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, announced Nov. 27 it will increase its conforming loan limits for the third consecutive year in 2019. After not changing the limits between 2006 and 2016, the FHFA has reversed […]