The Hopkinton Homes For Sale Market Report

OK, on to Hopkinton as we start to look at the middle of my geogrpahic area.

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

Let's see. Chart shows it was a good spring. But the key line to watch is the number of homes for sale. It's up, and up quite a bit. Sales transaction volume is very, very good - so the HSI remains high, at 132, but the market is far more balanced, then it was say, about 13 months ago. With the pressure off, prices are flatlining, (although still up marginally). A normal, rising market.

What should active home buyers do in Hopkinton?

Buyers have choices - but many of those choices are at the upper levels in Hopkinton. The more inexpensive properties are well picked over, and good values are harder to find. Buyers looking under 500K are going to find few real gems, as that market is getting tougher east of 495 all the time now. There are still nice homes, to be sure, but they are smaller, older, and some will have other issues.

What should potential home sellers do in Hopkinton?

Knowing where you fit in the market is key to your success! Prices are up - at $218 a square foot - but the sellers that are on the market are asking $237/ a square foot. That's why they aren't sold - as a group, they're asking too much, and are way ahead of where this market is. Buyers know it, and aren't chasing them. If you position yourself in a competitive range for where you belong, you can sell - while they sit.

Hopkinton Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Hopkinton‘s “Home Seller Index” (HSI): 132 Last Report: 112
• There are 73 homes listed as For Sale.

  Markets don't go up like crazy for long; they find balance, and prices stabilize, which we see in Hopkinton.

• There have been 167 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 113 homes sold in the last 3 months in Hopkinton.
• The Average number of Days on Market was 72 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 176 days of the Hopkinton homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $218 (vs. $217 )
• Current sellers are looking for 237 $/sq foot
• There was an Average Sold Price of $631504 for sold homes.
• Hopkinton, MA, has 1 properties advertised as lender owned or foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• There are 0 properties advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by the lender.

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Matt’s HSI is proprietary, and is designed to offer town-by-town information, instead of large scale trends. (That means you won’t find it anywhere else. Take that, Case-Schilling!).

Most Googled Postings!!

• Quick reference guide for buyers and sellers
• Current Massachusetts Smoke Detector Laws Explained. Read -before - you go to the hardware store.
• How do I calculate true mortgage closing costs?
• What should I know before buying a new construction house or condo?
• What exactly is the state of Massachusetts 40B zoning?
• A look at some of the hottest towns to buy real estate in Massachusetts.
• What is a mortgage commitment letter and why is it important?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Homes are places to live - but also investments

Paying a mortgage for most people is way better than paying rent. But that doesn't mean that all the associated costs that we get from home ownership are equally embraced. There are lots of costs in owning and running a home. Here are my top ten tips for controlling those costs.

#1 - Get MassSave out to your home ASAP. MassSave is structured on an interesting concept. Get the utility companies to pay a fee into a general fund that is then used on home consultants and processes to save that homeowner money. How much does it cost to have MassSave out to your home for an energy audit? NOTHING. And you'll almost certainly get free light bulbs out of it. I got over $70 in light bulbs (that will probably save me $10/month) for free, plus $1500 in discounts for certain upgrades on my equipment. They'll also come out -again, for free - and plug up holes in your house, and weatherstrip doors and windows. There is generally no cost to the homeowner for the basic service, and the savings add up every year.

#2 - Get good at yard work. Having the pros come to your house will help your lawn looks its best - but that cost comes at a price. A few years of doing it yourself can add a lot to the bottom line, even after you've bought all the tools for the job. Of course, lawn and leaf clean up is another story - the cost/value matrix is more favorable here for those who have a lot of leaves and not a lot of time.

#3 - Learn to paint. Buy nice brushes, good quality paint, and you are halfway to being a successful painter.

Learning how to be a good painter can keep your house looking fresh, and it's a fairly easy skill set to pick up, with inexpensive tools to help do the job. With a cost that can be $300-900/room, a little practice painting can make your house more valuable, and save on expenses. I don't recommend complicated paint jobs for homeowners, like painting cabinets and changing from oil paint to latex paint, but room colors and the exterior painting is pretty easy.

#4 - Check your assessment. Make sure you aren't over assessed. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, those tax dollars are coming from you unnecessarily. Keep an eye on your assessed value, and make sure you know what your biggest asset is truly worth.

#5 - Refinance. If there's a drop in rates and you can take advantage of a re-fi, you should.

Anything more than 1/3 of a point should be considered, or anything with a 6-9 month payback after charges.

#6 - Drop PMI. With home prices going up, many people will be able to shed their PMI payment. My clues as to how the system works will help you drop it as soon as you can. With PMI payments often hundreds of dollars a month, shedding it as quick as possible can be very helpful.

#7 - LED Bulbs. Prices are dropping every six months now, and these bulbs are game changers when it comes to electricity consumption. Buy 'em during sales when they are less than $10 a bulb, and put them in the highest use areas first. Here's why!

#8 - Pre-pay 65% of your oil in August, when prices are low. Right now, I see oil prices at almost 20% cheaper than they were in February last year. Pre-paying for oil can save you hundreds of dollars if you time it right. No caps, no contracts - all of which are pretty expensive right now for the protection they offer.

#9 - Stay on top of water damage. Don't ignore wood that needs paint, or places where you know the flashing isn't working. Wood that gets wet rots, and the more it rots, the more it costs to fix it. This is a cost that grows exponentially over time - so don't ignore it.

#10 - Bid, Bid, Bid. Time to get some work down? I know Joe the plumber is a good guy, but just to be sure, call four of his plumber friends and compare estimates.

It is common for contractor charges to vary as much as 100%, and while I'm not a fan of picking the lowest bid (in the 'too good to be true category'), multiple bids gets you a chance to meet the person who'll stand by the work, and learn about the problems your job may entail. You work hard for you money - and so do they - so keeping the dialogue open in the beginning is huge to control costs AND getting what you want the first time.

In this post, we're going to address several topics.

1) What does it mean to be pre-approved?

2) Should I look at houses before being pre-approved?

3) What do I need to do with my pre-approval before writing an offer?

Onward!

What does it mean to be pre-approved for a mortgage when buying a house?

Regrettably, pre-approvals take many forms. Ideally, a pre-approval will examine the following.

1) Income! Not a look at what you THINK you make, but what you make. Hello, Tax return.

2) Credit. Credit is more than just a score people! But scores matter

3) Debt-to-income. The level of debt-to-income that you have is probably the most important indicator of what you can afford. But most people stop looking after they get the score, which is related to - but not a copy of - the debt to income (or DTI for short).

4) Ways to improve your loan status - by increase credit scores, fixing DTI, and solving other issues.

5) Understand your leverage options. 96.5? 95%? 90%? There are big differences in loan programs, and you should be aware of the different costs and problems you will have as the leverage goes up or down.

5) Cash-on-hand. It takes cash to buy a house! If you haven't had your cash position discussed, you may not be able to do what you think you can do.

6) Other issues: H1B visas can be harder to finance in certain situations. Condos or Condexes could be a problem.

When you've reviewed all these items, you truly have a pre-approval. More importantly, you are aware of where you might be "tight", and what you might do to improve it.

If you have a pre-approval already, did you examine all these items? No? I thought not. But you will need to if you then proceed to get a mortgage. And in this environment, there are more than a few snakes in the grass that could turn your home buying dream into a nightmare, if you're not prepared. We'll talk more about this in the last section.

Should I look at houses before being pre-approved?

Sure! No law against that yet! Let's get out there and look. One problem though: What if you see something you like? Then what do we do? Hmmm. Well we have to go get a pre-approval, but that takes time, and the less time it takes the less thorough it is, and the more risk you are taking on! So you can go looking, but you should really get a pre-approval - a COMPLETE one - as soon as you think you might move. Here's some good news. You don't have to committ to a lender when you get a pre-approval, so you can shop around later. Rates and programs change all the time, so there's no point in worrying about that just yet.  Think of the pre-approval process as a lender interview. You don't have to hire them, if you find a better deal elsewhere, but its good to have one relationship out there.

What do I need to do with my pre-approval before writing an offer

The question here is truly, "How do I get ready to make an offer on the credit side?" Here are the things you need to consider.

1) Credit improvements. Credit scores qualify you for different "levels" of programs, and those levels have different rates. So if your composite score is 710, you might be able to get a loan at 4.25%. But if it's 720, you might be able to get a loan at 4.0%. Folks, 4.0% is a lot better - and you only need 10 little points. Many lenders are very good at this type of credit clean up, BUT it can take time - up to a month or more - and that is not time we have when we are writing offers and buying houses! (Typically you only have a month to get a loan, and you'll need every day of it). Also, if you are doing it "in process" you don't know that you will be successful, and that can create serious problems.  The best thing to do is get that score fixed before you find the house!

2) Explore your leverage

I've had many buyers set on getting FHA loans at 96.5% Loan-to-Value (or LTV). But guess what? Loans at 95% are often easier to get, and have better rates and costs. All you need is 1.5% more. On a $300,000 house, 1.5% is $4500. It's a lot, but it's often doable, especially if the better program saves you $4500 every year! Many times you can avoid PMI at 90% with certain lending programs.  That can save you serious dough! If you're close to getting a better mortgage with a slightly bigger down payment, it's good to know how much you'll need - and when you'll need it. Banks don't like "unexplained" deposits to show up at the last minute, so calling your buddy at the last minute isn't going to work! Figure out how to get there - ahead of time - and the process will be much less stressful.

3) Watch your income! Self-employed? These are harder loans to do - so make sure your lender knows that's the case.

Once you've done these things, you're ready to write that offer. And the mortgage process won't freak you out as much. And that's a good thing.

**Notes: The Author is not a mortgage lender, but he plays one on TV.

Every Year for the past 10 plus years, Southborough wraps up the summer with a good old fashioned community event. This year the fireworks were surprising good. It doesn't happen without the sponsors, and I looked for a list to link to but didn't see one.

Anyway, there's a nice write up here:

And a great picture of two very fun loving children.

Make your Home Purchase Dollars go Further

I've noticed that a lot of new buyers are coming in the market - but with the rise in prices, finding something has gotten decidedly tougher for everyone.

Here are the towns that I track most closely on the blog. But if you're looking for a town that's not here, just ask! I'll tell you where you stack up.

Spring 2015

And for Comparison:

2014

And for Comparison:

2013

Commentary on the changes in the two reports

• It's worth noting, that the ORDER of the towns doesn't change much. Buyers are smart - if one town gets expensive, sooner or later they'll find the town that is more bang for the buck, and they'll buy property there until it's an even trade off again.
• Everyone is higher - real estate truly is a rising tide that lifts all boats.
• Natick has extended it's lead over everyone - making me think that prices are due to stall.  But you Knew that already, right?
• This chart doesn't tell you who's changed the most on a percentage basis though. For that, you need to go here!

The Holliston Homes For Sale Market Report

The Holliston market couldn't be looking any better for sellers. But if that's the case, what's up with the sharp drop in the HSI? Let's look:

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

Yikes. That looks ugly. But it was at fairly silly high (249) and has just sort come back to a "pretty good" market at 123. But things are still tight, and buyers like what they see. How do I know? Well prices are up 5% over the last report, so that's how I know. And sellers are still feeling pretty optimistic, as they are asking for another 7% on top of that currently.

What does that mean? Well, it looks to me like the pace of prices is going to moderate. We're starting to see an inventory build (the main reason the numbers are coming down on the HSI), and that will start to take the pressure off. Perhaps some level-pricing over the next 6 months or so.

What should active home buyers do in Holliston?

Be cautious! Prices are moving very aggressively, and it may be wise to widen your search area to make sure the trade off is still rational. Things are probably going to get easier than they have been, although prices are higher now.

What should potential home sellers do in Holliston?

Might be a good time to sell if you're thinking that way. I'm not sure that prices are going to be up 5% next year. Odds are, probably not.

Holliston Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Holliston‘s “Home Seller Index” (HSI): 123 Last Report: 181
• There are 57 homes listed as For Sale.
• There have been 114 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 77 homes sold in the last 3 months in Holliston.
• The Average number of Days on Market was 86 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 88 days of the Holliston homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $210 (vs. $200 )
• Current sellers are looking for $225/sq foot
• There was an Average Sold Price of $511,259 for sold homes.
• Holliston, MA, has 0 properties advertised as lender owned or foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• There are 3 properties advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by the lender.

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Matt’s HSI is proprietary, and is designed to offer town-by-town information, instead of large scale trends. (That means you won’t find it anywhere else. Take that, Case-Schilling!).

Most Googled Postings!!

• Quick reference guide for buyers and sellers
• Current Massachusetts Smoke Detector Laws Explained. Read -before - you go to the hardware store.
• How do I calculate true mortgage closing costs?
• What should I know before buying a new construction house or condo?
• What exactly is the state of Massachusetts 40B zoning?
• A look at some of the hottest towns to buy real estate in Massachusetts.
• What is a mortgage commitment letter and why is it important?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

The Grafton Homes For Sale Market Report

Grafton continues it's bounce off the bottom. With prices in Shrewsbury and Westborough staying strong, Grafton has continued to strengthen, as buyers willing to look one town further have seen deep value.

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

With sales at over 2x the amount of active property - and much of that new construction - the buyers are under pressure, and sellers have been the beneficiaries. The numbers would be even better, but the new construction marketing is bogging down the stats a bit.

What should active home buyers do in Grafton?

Home buyers should be aware the good stuff is going very quickly; The early bird gets the worm! You'll have to hustle to get the most desirable housing. And bid wars are cropping up, so be prepared for those. There's still good value in Grafton, but it'll start to fade if prices keep moving.

What should potential home sellers do in Grafton?

Sellers have options. If today's prices work, the fall market could be a good time to sell. But more gains are probably in store, so it's safe to stay put as well. As we've seen in other towns, once the run starts, it stays for 12-18 months, and prices move about 12-15%. They've moved about 10, so there should be another 5% or so in there.

Grafton Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

Grafton‘s “Home Seller Index” (HSI):118 Last Report: 109

There are 76 homes listed as For Sale.

There have been 160 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 102 homes sold in the last 3 months in Grafton.

The Average number of Days on Market was 88 days for just SOLD homes.

There is an Average Market Time of 234 days of the Grafton homes For Sale (currently for sale).

The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $182 (vs. $177)

Current sellers are looking for 185 $/sq foot

There was an Average Sold Price of $398,404 for sold homes.

Grafton, MA, has properties advertised as lender owned or foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .

There are x properties advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by the lender.

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Matt’s HSI is proprietary, and is designed to offer town-by-town information, instead of large scale trends. (That means you won’t find it anywhere else. Take that, Case-Schilling!).

Most Googled Postings!!

• Quick reference guide for buyers and sellers
• Current Massachusetts Smoke Detector Laws Explained. Read -before - you go to the hardware store.
• How do I calculate true mortgage closing costs?
• What should I know before buying a new construction house or condo?
• What exactly is the state of Massachusetts 40B zoning?
• A look at some of the hottest towns to buy real estate in Massachusetts.
• What is a mortgage commitment letter and why is it important?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

Red Sox create Options and Flexibility - Trading probably not done

Thanks to my cousin Brad for sparking an overdue conversation about what the lineup might look like. He had his reasons, and suggested this:

CF - Castillo (R)

2B - Pedroia (R)

DH - Ortiz (L)

LF - Cespedes (R)

1B - Napoli (R)

RF - Craig (R)

SS - Boegarts (R)

3B - leaning Brock Holt (L)

C - Vazquez (R)

I noted some issues here. I think it's unlikely that Castillo will play CF and/or bat leadoff. He's never seen a major league pitch, and typically the Sox don't throw people to the wolves like that. There's too many right-handers, forcing you to go four deep at one point - that won't fly. Cespedes has a cannon that is unused in LF. You went from not having enough outfielders to having too many. That tells me that a trade is on the way. One problem in figuring out who can get traded is almost everyone has value,  but this is a guess:

Best Trade Candidates:

1. Pitchers: They are showcasing guys right now.
2. Napoli - totally tradeable.
3. Nava - strong second half, totally tradeable. Lefty (not really switch anymore).
4. Craig. Solid player, still worth something to someone.
5. Victorino - 1 year deal).
6. Middlebrooks

Most Unlikely Trade Candidates:

1. Cespedes (why trade for him if not to keep him)
2. Castillo (ditto)
3. Pedroia (contract is untradeable)
4. Boegarts (too much upside, too cheap)
5. Ortiz (contract)
6. JBJ (lefty, stellar defense, near worthless on the market right now)

It looks to me like Cherrington wants to make sure he's got a surplus of power, and he thinks he get "Enough" pitching either by developing assets or trading for it.

Anyway, I tried to take my concerns with the his lineup and the current roster and proposed this:

3B - Holt (L)

SS - Boagerts (R) This is preparation for him batting leadoff.

DH - Ortiz (L)

RF - Cespedes (R) (his arm is wasted in LF. Clearly he's headed for RF)

1B - Napoli (R)/Craig - one gets traded

CF - Victorino (l)

2B - Pedroia (R) (yes, down here, if Boegarts progresses).

LF - Castillo (R)

C - Vazquez (r)

This line up has an OK leadoff hitter, and too many righties down the bottom, and Victorino in CF is a concern, but it gives time to groom Castillo for CF (if that's the goal), and you should keep JBJ in case of injury anyway.

So here's what I think:

Trades are in store. They need lefties. Don't have enough. The lefties that they do have aren't perfect: Holt has zip for power, and Ortiz keeps getting older, so you can't be this unbalanced. And it's not out of the realm of possibilities that they go looking for a SS (Mookie?), and move Boegarts back to 3B.

Too hard to project because there's clearly a trade coming, but we both had fun taking a shot.

The Framingham Homes For Sale Market Report

Framingham had a good Q2. With over 400 sales, buyers kept the pressure on. Framingham has seen extended price pressures, as a result, we have seen prices move up, and they continue up in this report.

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

What's really cool here is how the HSI looks at the complete market. At first glance, the Home Selling Index only move up 4 points. But when you dig deeper, sales almost doubled from the last report, so why didn't it move higher? The answer is because inventory is higher. There are more houses on the market. So the more aggressive activity is offset by the fact that there are more choices.  That reduces pressure on buyers to make a choice, which decreases bidding wars, and will set the stage for a cooler market. Assuming, of course, homes continue to come on the market.

What should active home buyers do in Framingham?

I've noted for a while that buyers should be exceedingly careful in Framingham, and should really look elsewhere, as the market is getting very pricey relative to some of it's neighbors. Prices have climbed 5% on that evaluation, so it's definitely frothy to say the least. It is clear though, that many of those home buyers are not reading this blog. Buyers have pushed prices up so high that what's left in Framingham - like in Clinton - is actually priced lower in aggregate than the recent sales. That likely means prices have moved too far, too fast, and there will be a pause or even a pull back here. With the slower season in front of us, the stage is set. So if you are a buyer, you may want to wait a little bit, as things look like they are settling out. It's still a very, very tough market though, and caution about overpaying can't be mentioned too many times!! The average home is on the market just 59 days, so bidding wars have been common. It looks less likely to continue at the same pace though.

What should potential home sellers do in Framingham?

With recent sales hitting a record price rise, you should get out while the getting is good! Prices look like they are not going to continue to climb, as it we are seeing elements that the run is over, and selling could be much more difficult sooner than you think. The market is very good, it's a great time - but the next report may not be as rosy for sellers.

Framingham Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Framingham‘s “Home Seller Index” (HSI): 172 Last Report: 168
• There are 128 homes listed as For Sale.
• There have been 409 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 319 homes sold in the last 3 months in Framingham.
• The Average number of Days on Market was 59 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 91 days of the Framingham homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $202 (vs. $193 )
• Current sellers are looking for 201 $/sq foot
• There was an Average Sold Price of $377,208 for sold homes.
• Framingham, MA, has 3 properties advertised as lender owned or foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• There are 5 properties advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by the lender.

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Matt’s HSI is proprietary, and is designed to offer town-by-town information, instead of large scale trends. (That means you won’t find it anywhere else. Take that, Case-Schilling!).

Most Googled Postings!!

• Quick reference guide for buyers and sellers
• Current Massachusetts Smoke Detector Laws Explained. Read -before - you go to the hardware store.
• How do I calculate true mortgage closing costs?
• What should I know before buying a new construction house or condo?
• What exactly is the state of Massachusetts 40B zoning?
• A look at some of the hottest towns to buy real estate in Massachusetts.
• What is a mortgage commitment letter and why is it important?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.

The Clinton Homes For Sale Market Report, 2014 Summary

August.

Just when you think you've got a pretty good read on things, I'll do a report on an outlier. Clinton, it's your time to shine:

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

Clinton has all sorts of good stuff here. First off, there's a big jump in the HSI, to a record, at 125. This happened because of a frenetic late spring of home buyers buying, as we see transactions up, time on market down, and prices make a big jump. Prices jumped so much, that the homes that are still for sale in Clinton are actually being marketed UNDER the existing sales number. Haven't seen that before!!

What does it all mean? Well it means that Clinton - long overdue for a run - has finally been discovered by buyers looking for good deals. They are finding them in Clinton, and are purchasing accordingly. When you see a sharp rise in prices, and a big jump in the HSI, it's not a co-incidence. Value is there. Or was! Clinton was off the lows, but really has moved very little since we've been doing these reports, but now the recovery is well on the way.

What should active home buyers do in Clinton?

Well, you need to be more careful now. The fact that prices are moving up so quickly means that some buyers are getting in front of the way and paying a bit too much. There's not much risk in that at this stage of Clinton's recovery - prices are sure to go higher. Maybe not a lot, maybe not fast, but down seems pretty unlikely, since the neighbors certainly aren't getting any cheaper.

What should potential home sellers do in Clinton?

It's not too soon to get a valuation and start thinking about 2015. As we've seen, these property runs can last a year or more, so we'll probably continue to see things move. With prices up - substantially - you might be able to take advantage of some new found equity. Buyer are still going to be condition sensitive, so getting your property just right - to get top dollar - is still important.

Clinton Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Clinton‘s “Home Seller Index” (HSI): 125 Last Report: 96
• There are 36 homes listed as For Sale.
• There have been 81 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 58 homes sold in the last 3 months in Clinton.
• The Average number of Days on Market was 106 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 112 days of the Clinton homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $148 (vs. 135)
• Current sellers are looking for $144/sq foot
• There was an Average Sold Price of $244,994 for sold homes.
• Clinton, MA, has 2 properties advertised as lender owned or foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• There are 2 properties advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by the lender.

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Matt’s HSI is proprietary, and is designed to offer town-by-town information, instead of large scale trends. (That means you won’t find it anywhere else. Take that, Case-Schilling!).

Homes For Sale in Clinton Market Report,

April, 2014

The first report for April has some interesting data in it; data that should get Clinton home owners excited. Clinton has been a bit of a laggard, but it's shaping up to have a strong season, and I'll show you why!

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

The first metric that we look at is the HSI. It's actually down, to 96 from 112, so what is to get excited about? Well, prices are up, for one, to a record. Also though, since this time last year, the days on market of the for sale houses has fallen steadily from over two hundred to just over one hundred, showing sellers are not in a hurry to cut prices, and also that some of the "tougher" sales are selling - which means the bottom pickers are finding value and that is good in any market.

We'll see if the data holds, but I think these trends bode well for sellers in the months ahead.

Clinton Recent Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Clinton‘s “Home Seller Index” (HSI):96 Last Report: 112
• There are 37 homes listed as For Sale.
• There have been 57 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 31 homes sold in the last 3 months in Clinton.
• The Average number of Days on Market was 151 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 102 days of the homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $135 (vs. $131 )
• There was an Average Sold Price of $232301 for sold homes.
• Clinton ,MA, has 3 properties (vs. 3) advertised as lender owned or foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Clinton has 2 properties (vs. 2) advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by lender.

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Matt’s HSI is proprietary. (That means you won’t find it anywhere else. Take that, Case-Schilling!).

Homes For Sale in Clinton Market Report

August, 2014

Clinton doesn't show any signs of slowing down in this report; everything is holding pretty steady. A small two point slip in the HSI and 2 dollars on the $/sq foot is not very much.

Can’t see the chart? You can find it Here .

I'm sure home sellers would like to see prices moving up more quickly, but they are holding their own, and with the number of homes for sale at an all time low, (28) things are certainly poised for price increases. Lots of that will be determined by when the buyers start making decisions though, and that remains unknown.

One small point of interest is the falling stat on days on market. It's near a low at 120 days, and shows that there are not too many worried home sellers on the market. Price cuts are probably not coming!

Clinton Houses For Sale and Sold Market Statistics - Raw MLS Data

• Clinton‘s “Home Seller Index” (HSI):112 Last Report:114
• There are 28 homes listed as For Sale in Clinton.
• There have been 60 houses sold in the last 6 months, and 35 homes sold in the last 3 months.

  Clinton remains a good value for home buyers, but the stage is set for price increases this spring.

• The Average number of Days on Market was 135 days for just SOLD homes.
• There is an Average Market Time of 127 days of the homes For Sale (currently for sale).
• The amount that was paid in Dollars per Square Foot averaged $131 (vs. $133 )
• There was an Average Sold Price of $214,402 for sold homes.
• Clinton, MA, has 3 properties (vs. 21 in the last report) advertised as lender owned/foreclosure (typically foreclosure) .
• Clinton has 2 properties advertised as a short-sale is going to be needed by lender.

*All statistics are for Single Family Houses and based on data in MLS. Matt’s HSI is proprietary. (That means you won’t find it anywhere else. Take that, Case-Schilling!).

Most Googled Postings!!

• Quick reference guide for buyers and sellers
• Current Massachusetts Smoke Detector Laws Explained. Read -before - you go to the hardware store.
• How do I calculate true mortgage closing costs?
• What should I know before buying a new construction house or condo?
• What exactly is the state of Massachusetts 40B zoning?
• A look at some of the hottest towns to buy real estate in Massachusetts.
• What is a mortgage commitment letter and why is it important?

About Matt Heisler

Matt Heisler is a real-estate professional and owner of this website. He has been selling homes in MA for buyers and sellers for over 20 years. He is an expert in foreclosure purchases, short-sale purchases, short-sale sales, buy and hold investing, fix and flip investing, and of course traditional residential home sales. He is happy to take questions as they pertain to real estate on Title V, Radon, Termites, Sump Pumps, Roofs, Foundations, Wells, Septic Systems, Cash-Flow, Staging, and a host of other housing issues. As a Vanderbilt University alumnus, he is proud to serve his local community.

*All information is posted in good faith and is assumed to be reliable, but may rely on third party information sources.