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As we move into 2026, home design isn’t swinging wildly in a new direction — it’s maturing. After years of hyper-minimal gray interiors, pandemic-driven home offices, and fast cosmetic flips, the housing market is settling into something more intentional. National data from Zillow, Houzz, and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) suggests that homeowners and buyers alike are prioritizing warmth, personalization, and long-term livability over short-lived design stat

Massachusetts just took a huge step forward in tackling two of the state’s thorniest challenges at once: housing affordability and under-used commercial real estate. On Tuesday, February 17, 2026 , Governor Maura Healey announced a more than $140 million  investment aimed at creating new housing and breathing new life into rundown buildings across the Commonwealth. Why it matters: the state isn’t just building units — it’s targeting affordability and vitality in downtown area

For the first time in several years, buyers are regaining meaningful negotiating leverage. According to a recent 2025 housing analysis from Redfin, buyers who negotiated below asking price secured an average discount of 7.9% off the original list price  — the largest markdown since 2012. On a median list price of $399,900, that equates to approximately $31,592 in savings . Nationally: 62.2% of homes sold below asking price 26% of buyers who negotiated below list received 10%

Recent reports have described Providence Place  as “endangered.” It’s a strong word — and when a major downtown landmark carries that label, it naturally raises concern. In commercial real estate, though, “endangered” usually signals financial pressure tied to debt — not an imminent closure. Providence Place, like many malls built in the late 1990s and early 2000s, was financed under a very different interest-rate environment. As those loans approach maturity, refinancing at

I’m writing this from Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara , where the New England Patriots are set to take on the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. It’s a powerful reminder of how preparation, timing, and a little unpredictability shape both football and the current Massachusetts housing market. Both involve strategy, competition, and moments you don’t always see coming — and in both cases, you don’t win every play . 📉 You Don’t Win Every Offer A lot of buyers in Mass

A Time-Travel Look at Sports Glory and Real Estate This week I found myself taking a little trip down memory lane. Not in a DeLorean — but through Boston’s biggest sports moments and what was happening in the housing market around those same years. It started as a fun thought exercise and turned into a question I hear from time to time: Do championship teams actually impact home values? Boston has lived through some unforgettable sports eras. The early 2000s especially stand

Two Broken Shovels, a Two-Foot Storm, and the Question of Whether All Snow Shovels Are Created Equal Somewhere between clearing the driveway and wondering how much snow was still coming down, I realized I had officially entered that familiar New England headspace — cold, tired, halfway done, and quietly questioning my life choices. That’s also when it happened: two different snow shovels broke in the span of one storm . Same snowfall. Same conditions. Different designs. Same

As I’m getting ready to cover a colleague’s open house this weekend in Dedham  — a hot market  — it got me thinking about a question I hear from homeowners every winter: Is it a bad idea to list your house in winter? The honest answer: it depends — and the type of property you own matters more than the season itself. The winter listing myth (and where it breaks down) The idea that winter is “dead season” for real estate is outdated. Yes, there are fewer listings and fewer cas

If you’ve been following local headlines—or caught the update on WBZ News recently—you may have heard that Massachusetts home sales and prices are up slightly. That’s accurate, but like most real estate headlines, the real story lives in the details. Here’s a clear, no-fluff look at what’s happening in the Massachusetts housing market right now, and what it actually means for buyers and sellers heading into 2026. 📈 Home Sales Are Up — Modestly Recent data shows that Massachu

In the coming decade, the largest transfer of wealth in U.S. history is already underway — and real estate sits right at the center of it. Across the country, Baby Boomers and older generations are beginning to pass down trillions in assets — especially homes and property — to Gen X, Millennials, and beyond. In fact, estimates suggest tens of trillions of dollars in wealth will change hands over the next 20+ years  as heirs inherit assets previously accumulated over decades.

If Part 1 of this series got homeowners thinking, the last several days have made one thing clear: this conversation is no longer theoretical. A recent WCVB Channel 5 story highlighted how homeowners near Gillette Stadium are already exploring short-term rentals — and even home swaps — ahead of the 2026 World Cup . Since sharing the first installment, I’ve heard from homeowners and local contacts asking the same question: “Is this actually going to be worth it?” Based on what

If you’ve driven to or from Cape Cod lately, you already know the Sagamore Bridge  isn’t just another bridge — it’s the  gateway. And right now, it’s also the center of one of the largest infrastructure projects Massachusetts has seen in decades. Let’s break down what’s happening, what it means locally, and why you may be hearing the phrase “eminent domain”  tied into the conversation. What’s Happening With the Sagamore Bridge? The Sagamore Bridge, originally opened in the 19

Last week was one of those moments where a handful of separate headlines, taken together, told a much bigger story. None of them guarantee an instant surge in activity. But collectively, they suggest that several long-standing pressure points in the housing market may finally be easing at the same time. That’s often how strong real estate years begin — quietly, before the broader narrative catches up. Earlier Access to Cash — and the Potential for Larger Refunds The IRS will

There’s been a lot of talk about whether the U.S. economy is slowing, stalling, or heading for a “soft landing.” But some of the most recent data suggests something different may be happening. According to the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model , economic growth in 2025 has been stronger than many forecasts anticipated—and it appears to be accelerating as the year goes on. What is GDPNow? GDPNow is a real-time economic model  published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. It updat

With winter heating bills top of mind for many Massachusetts households, there’s some encouraging news heading into the 2025–2026 heating season  — along with important resources for anyone who may still need assistance. According to the latest winter fuels outlook from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) , approximately three-quarters of Massachusetts households  are expected to see lower heating costs this winter  compared to last year. That’s welcome re

For the past few years, one idea has dominated real estate conversations: “Homeowners are stuck because they’re locked into ultra-low mortgage rates.” That theory — often called mortgage rate lockdown  — helped explain tight inventory and limited movement following the rapid rise in interest rates. But new data shows that narrative is starting to break down. Today, more homeowners carry mortgage rates above 6% than those with rates under 3% , and the shift has been building s

Truflation Says U.S. Inflation Has Dropped Below 2% Happy first Monday back! After the holidays and New Year’s celebrations, most of us are trading weekend mode for spreadsheets and inboxes — but there’s an upbeat economic data point worth your morning coffee. According to Truflation , an alternative real-time inflation tracker, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index  — the inflation gauge the Federal Reserve cares most about — is now reported below 1.9% . Th

I’ll be totally honest — I thought I’d be relaxing between Christmas and New Year’s  this week. Instead, I’m en route to a home inspection , putting together a listing packet for a condo slated for early 2026 , and getting asked the same question over and over: “How’s the market?” And it’s not just casual small talk. People actually want  to know. That tells me something right out of the gate — there’s real interest building , not just idle curiosity. But Here’s the Thing: th

As we get toward the end of 2025, it’s worth pausing for a quick reminder: The FIFA World Cup is right around the corner, and Massachusetts is officially on the map. Gillette Stadium will be hosting World Cup matches in 2026, and the scale of preparation is already becoming very real. Just the other day, Gillette held a two-day, on-site hiring event  focused solely on staffing for the tournament. That alone tells you this isn’t just another summer event — it’s a global one. T

There’s a big housing policy conversation brewing in Massachusetts right now — and it’s one that could directly impact renters, landlords, and the broader housing market. Across the state, advocates for rent control have made a serious push to get a rent control measure on the 2026 ballot . So what’s the latest, and what might  be coming next? Let’s break it down. 🗳 Why This Matters Now Massachusetts has not  had rent control statewide for decades. After being banned by vote