Real Estate Blog

Why Today’s Housing Inventory Shows a Crash Isn’t on the Horizon

 You might remember the housing crash in 2008, even if you didn't own a home at the time. If you’re worried there’s going to be a repeat of what happened back then, there's good news – the housing market now is different from 2008.

One important reason is there aren't enough homes for sale. That means there’s an undersupply, not an oversupply like the last time. For the market to crash, there would have to be too many houses for sale, but the data doesn't show that happening.

Housing supply comes from three main sources:

• Homeowners deciding to sell their houses
• Newly built homes
• Distressed properties (foreclosures or short sales)

Here’s a closer look at today's housing inventory to understand why this isn’t like 2008.

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Beginning with Pre-Approval

If you’re looking to buy a home this fall, there are a few things you need to know. Affordability is tight with today’s mortgage rates and rising home prices. At the same time, there’s a limited number of homes on the market right now and that’s creating some competition among buyers. But, if you’re strategic, there are ways to navigate these waters. The first thing you’ll want to do is get pre-approved for a mortgage. That way you’ll know your numbers and can set yourself up for success from the start of your home search.

What Pre-Approval Does for You

To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to know what pre-approval is. As part of the homebuying process, a lender looks at your finances to determine what they’d be willing to loan…

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BPDA Unveils New Plan To Guide Revitalization, Growth Of Downtown

Downtown Boston, the vibrant heart of this historic city, has faced unprecedented challenges in the wake of the pandemic. However, hope is on the horizon as the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) unveils its final draft of PLAN: Downtown. This comprehensive plan not only aims to facilitate the downtown's recovery from the pandemic's impacts but also presents innovative solutions to transform it into a thriving hub for residential, mixed-use development, historical preservation, and enhanced public spaces.

**Four Pillars of Transformation**

PLAN: Downtown is structured around four key areas of focus: growth, transportation, public space, and climate resiliency. These pillars serve as the foundation for a comprehensive revitalization effort…

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Boston's New Apartment Construction is Drying Up

In a recent report, it's been revealed that Boston is anticipating the addition of approximately 5,593 new apartment units this year. While this is may seem like a significant number, it's worth noting that it represents just over half of the apartment units constructed in 2020. The real estate landscape in Boston is undergoing some interesting shifts, and here's what you need to know.

**A Decline in Construction**

Over the last three years, Boston has experienced a steady decline in new apartment construction, as indicated by a RentCafe analysis of data sourced from Yardi Matrix. This trend is part of a broader issue: a housing shortage that's impacting the entire United States. The scarcity of available housing has led to rising costs for…

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What Experts Project for Home Prices Over the Next 5 Years

If you're planning to buy a home, one thing to consider is what experts project home prices will do in the future and how that might affect your investment. While you may have seen negative news over the past year about home prices, they’re doing far better than expected and are rising across the country. And data shows, experts forecast home prices will keep appreciating.

Experts Project Ongoing Appreciation

Pulsenomics polled over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts in the latest quarterly Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES). The results show what the panelists project will happen with home prices over the next five years. Here are those expert forecasts saying home prices will go up every year through 2027 (see…

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Rezoing being considered in Bulfinch Triangle to create more housing

A group of commercial property owners in Bulfinch Triangle are working to rezone the under-the-radar neighborhood to allow for taller buildings that will create more housing.  Led by the RMR Group, the focus is on revamping office properties in the neighborhood whose use have been altered by the post-Covid market.  The current zoning, which was last updated in the early 90s, caps building height at 100 feet.  RMR has hired a planner and envisions a more walkable and bike-friendly space that would generate activity all time time, not just dependent on the events at the TD Garden.

Read more about it here.

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$5B mixed use project approved in Columbia Point

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) approved a $5 billion mixed-use project last week in Dorchester's Columbia Point.  The 21-building project will include lab space, office, commercial, community and residential space that will be home to 1,967 apartments. 

The site is currently a parking lot for the most part, owned by UMass Boston.  Part of the project stipulation is that a certain part of the development's resources will go towards supporting their educational programs.  It will turn the parking lot into open green spaces and also include flood protection with the Dorchester Shores Reservation.  The construction will be done in 3 phases.

Click here to read more.

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Are More Homes Coming onto the Market?

An important factor shaping today’s market is the number of homes for sale. And, if you’re considering whether or not to list your house, that’s one of the biggest advantages you have right now. When housing inventory is this low, your house will stand out, especially if it’s priced right.

But there are some early signs that more listings are coming. According to the latest data, new listings (homeowners who just put their house up for sale) are trending up. Here’s a look at why this is noteworthy and what it may mean for you.

More Homes Are Coming onto the Market than Usual

It’s well known that the busiest time in the housing market each year is the spring buying season. That’s why there’s a predictable increase in the volume of newly listed…

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Mortgage Rates: Past, Present, and Possible Future

If you’re hoping to buy a home this year, you’re probably paying close attention to mortgage rates. Since mortgage rates impact what you can afford when you take out a home loan – and affordability is a challenge today – it’s a good time to look at the big picture of where mortgage rates have been historically compared to where they are now. Beyond that, it’s important to understand their relationship with inflation for insights into where mortgage rates might go in the near future.

Giving Context to the Sticker Shock

Freddie Mac has been tracking the 30-year fixed mortgage rate since April of 1971. Every week, they release the results of their Primary Mortgage Market Survey, which averages mortgage application data from lenders across the…

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How Inflation Affects the Housing Market

Have you ever wondered how inflation impacts the housing market? Believe it or not, they’re connected. Whenever there are changes to one, both are affected. Here’s a high-level overview of the connection between the two.

The Relationship Between Housing Inflation and Overall Inflation

Shelter inflation is the measure of price growth specific to housing. It comes from a survey of renters and homeowners that’s done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The survey asks renters how much they’re paying in rent, and homeowners how much they’d rent their homes for, if they weren’t living in them.

Much like overall inflation measures the cost of everyday items, shelter inflation measures the cost of housing. And for four consecutive months, based…

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