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New Homes Cost Less Than Resale Nationally. In Central Middlesex, 2.4 Times More.
The new-build premium is about 2.4 times. The median new home sold for $1.66 million more than the median older home.
Older homes sell faster and above asking price. New homes sold just under list price.
New homes are a small slice. They were about 2% of sales, but about 10% of active listings.

Bob Wiltse
1 day ago4 min read


Septic or Sewer? What It Means When You Buy a New Home in Massachusetts
Most buyers ask about kitchens, closets, and commute times. Few ask where the wastewater goes. For new homes with septic, that question matters. It can limit how many bedrooms a builder can add, whether you can build an ADU later, and whether the state's Question 7 ballot measure applies to your street.

Bob Wiltse
3 days ago4 min read


Needham Votes Oct. 19 on Rules for Big New Homes
Needham's Special Town Meeting will vote on two zoning changes targeting very large new houses. It will also vote on a new tree bylaw. All three mostly affect the same kind of project: tearing down an older house and replacing it with a bigger one.

Bob Wiltse
4 days ago4 min read


Acton Real Estate Market Report — 30 Homes for Sale
Thirty (30) single-family homes are listed for sale in town today, and the newest closed sale went under agreement in just 3 days and sold for 105% of its asking price. Both point to a market that still favors sellers in Acton. Here's what the numbers show, what's happening around town, and what it means if you're buying, selling, or investing here.

Bob Wiltse
4 days ago5 min read


Mortgage Rates Hit 7.4%. Here's what it means for New Homes Near Boston
Mortgage rates rose again this week, marking the seventh consecutive week. For anyone shopping for a new home, Massachusetts mortgage rates are at their highest in almost three years. Here is what changed and what to do.

Bob Wiltse
Oct 94 min read


Sudbury, MA Real Estate Market: Buyers Gain Room to Negotiate
The Sudbury, MA real estate market is clearer now. New MLS numbers show 41 single-family homes for sale in Sudbury, the exact count buyers and sellers need to judge how competitive the market is.
This week, four sellers cut their prices by about 7 percent on average. The two homes that went under agreement took, on average, more than a month to get an offer. One home closed at the full asking price.

Bob Wiltse
Oct 95 min read


First-Floor Suites, Mudrooms and Porches: What New Homes Look Like Now
A new national survey of architects shows where the industry is headed. It tracks new home design trends Massachusetts buyers want: a bedroom suite on the main floor, a real mudroom, and more outdoor space.

Bob Wiltse
Oct 84 min read


Small Lots, Big Prices: What Question 7 Could Mean in the Boston Suburbs
I pulled MLS PIN data for single-family homes built in 2026 in Middlesex County, on lots of 5,000 to 10,000 square feet, sold in the past six months (frontage was not specified). There were 27 sales in 12 communities, led by Arlington (6), Billerica (4), Natick (4), and Medford (3), plus Burlington, Stoneham, Bedford, Concord, Newton, Waltham, Wilmington, and Winchester.

Bob Wiltse
Oct 74 min read


$6 Heating Oil Puts New-Home Heating in the Spotlight
On Monday, Gov. Maura Healey declared an "energy emergency" as winter heating costs climb. For anyone shopping for energy-efficient new homes Massachusetts builders are putting up now, it is a timely reminder: how a home is heated can swing your winter bills by hundreds of dollars.

Bob Wiltse
Oct 64 min read


More New Homes Are Coming to Massachusetts. Just Not Enough Yet
More new construction homes in Massachusetts got building permits this year than last. A permit is the green light a town gives a builder to start work. So permits are an early sign of how many new homes will be for sale in the next year or so.
But the full picture is mixed. The state's total housing pace has slowed. In Middlesex County, builders are pulling far fewer permits than a few years ago.

Bob Wiltse
Oct 54 min read


Massachusetts Duplex Zoning Could Expand New-Home Choices
Massachusetts duplex zoning is back in focus as lawmakers work on a final economic development bill. The proposal matters to buyers because it could allow two homes on some lots that now support only one. This could create more new-construction options in Middlesex County and suburbs north, west, and south of Boston. It could also raise questions about price, design, utilities, parking, and ownership.

Bob Wiltse
Oct 14 min read


Tariffs Add Thousands to New Homes. A New Bill Aims to Cut That Cost.
If you are shopping for a new home, tariffs add to the price. Tariffs are taxes on goods imported from other countries, like Canadian lumber or imported steel. A new bill in Congress aims to reduce that cost. Here is what it means for new construction costs Massachusetts buyers face and why the impact is bigger for small local builders.

Bob Wiltse
Sep 304 min read


New Zoning Rules Are Reshaping Home Building in the Boston Suburbs
Massachusetts zoning law changes signed on July 9 are now showing up in real town hearings. The changes make it easier to expand or rebuild an older home on a small lot. They also make it easier to get a "variance," which is permission to break a local zoning rule. If you plan to buy, build, add an in-law unit, or replace an older home, these rules matter.

Bob Wiltse
Sep 295 min read


Massachusetts Home Insurance Jumped 43%. A New Home May Soften the Hit.
Massachusetts home insurance became much more expensive this year. A study from Insurance.com, shared by Boston 25 News on September 25, found the average premium rose 42.9% from 2025 to 2026. That was the largest percentage increase of any state.
If you are thinking about buying, this matters. Insurance is part of your monthly payment, like your mortgage and taxes. The age of the home you buy can make a real difference in what you pay.

Bob Wiltse
Sep 273 min read


How to Ease the 7% Mortgage Rate When You Buy a New Home: Builder Incentives
Mortgage rates crossed 7% this week. That hasn't happened since January 2025. Here is what it means if you want to buy a new home, townhouse, or condo in Massachusetts. Builder incentives.

Bob Wiltse
Sep 254 min read


The Zoning Law is Here to Stay. Here's What It Means for Your Next Deal.
On September 18, 2026, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) made a final ruling.
The case involved the town of Marshfield, which sued the state over the MBTA Communities Act. The law requires towns near MBTA transit to allow multifamily housing by right, meaning no special permit is needed in the right zoning district.

Bob Wiltse
Sep 213 min read


More Listings, Slower Sales: What the 2026 Massachusetts Multifamily Market Means for Investors
The 2026 market looks more attractive for buyers than the 2025 market did.
Inventory is up sharply. Properties are taking longer to sell. Price cuts are much more common. Sellers are receiving less compared with their original asking prices.
Yet prices have not crashed. Rental demand remains strong. Massachusetts still has a serious housing shortage.

Bob Wiltse
Sep 186 min read


Selling Your House for Cash: Is It Right for You or Your Family?
Selling your house for cash to an investor is one option. It’s not the only option. It’s not always the best one. But for the right person, at the right moment, it can be a smart move. Here are the pros and cons, along with who this option is for.

Bob Wiltse
Aug 75 min read


Same Five Towns, Same Week, Very Different Outcomes
Homes averaged 21 days on market and 8 days to receive an offer. This quick turnaround suggests buyers are making prompt decisions. If you are considering selling, your home will likely attract strong interest within the first two weeks.

Bob Wiltse
Jul 13 min read


Is Your Home Ready for a Heat Wave?
When heat turns deadly, it usually does not happen outside. It happens indoors, at home....So what protects you most? Air conditioning. Not a fan or an open window. A working air conditioner that you actually run. This is the heart of it.

Bob Wiltse
Jun 225 min read
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