The Massachusetts real estate market is experiencing a major shift. The median sale price increased by 0.3% in April 2023 year-on-year, and the number of homes sold dropped by 27.2%. New buyers are starting to enter the market as mortgage rates are stabilizing, currently at 6.79%.
While the housing market in Massachusetts is showing signs of warming up, it is still threatened by a possible rise in interest rates and a housing market recession.
Massachusetts Housing Market Update 💣
- Buyers Have More of an Upper Hand: With a significantly slower market compared to the post-pandemic highs, Massachusetts is expected to see a decrease in home prices by 20%.
- Mortgage Rates Have Almost Doubled: Mortgage rates increased 33.13% from May 2022’s 5.10% to 6.79% for the month of May, 2023.
- Sellers are Slowly Coming Back: The number of listings decreased by 111.9% in April 2023. From 5,283 in January 2023.
- It’s Taking Longer to Sell: Massachusetts homes stayed on the market for an average of 21 days, 7 days more than last year.
MA Real Estate Market: At a Glance
Real Estate Market Updates
Massachusetts
- Median Sale Price: $586,200 (+0.3 % YoY) 🟢
- # of Homes Sold: 4,250 (-27.2% YoY) 🔴
The Massachusettsreal estate market shows signs of declining buyer demand.
- Mortgage Rates at 6.79%: Mortgage interest rates are slowly coming down, currently standing at 6.79%.
- 0.3% Increase in Median Sale Price: The median sale price has increased by 0.3% YoY.
- 17.6% Longer Median Days: As buyers face affordability issues, homes are staying on the market longer. The median time to contract increased to 25 days, 3 days up YoY.
- 101.9%% Sale-To-List-Price: The number of buyers paying above the asking price has decreased. Currently, it is at 101.9%, down 3.2 points year over year.
- 111.9% Increase in Housing Inventory: The number of listings decreased by 111.9% in April 2023. From 5,283 in January 2023.
👉 Our Take: Massachusetts’ expanding housing inventory has led to a 3% YoY increase in median sale prices. Increased affordability and favorable tax policies are drawing more buyers. Favorable real estate market conditions make it an ideal time to sell and save on commissions through MO Flat Fee MLS.
» Housing Market Predictions: Here are 13 predictions for 2023’s soft real estate market.
Short answer, no.
Several economists believe the housing market will slow down in 2023, but not crash. The Fed will play an important role in the housing market’s future, as it tries to lower inflation by increasing mortgage rates.
- Banking Turmoil & Fed’s Decision: Recent decision by Fed to skip the interest rate hikes has helped bring down the mortgage rates over the past 3 weeks.
- Stabilizing Mortgage Rates: Mortgage rates falling from record highs of 7.08% have helped buyers enter the housing market.
- Buyers Are Entering the Market, Albeit Slowly: Most buyers are still reluctant to enter the market, as mortgage purchase applications were down by 31% YoY. However, applications during the week ending April 7 increased 8% from a week earlier, seasonally adjusted.
Compared to Other States, Massachusetts Still Won’t Fall as Much: Massachusetts has distinct advantages.
- Relatively Low Inventory: As per April 2023 data, we have only 1.0 months’ supply available. Also, there were 4,257 homes for sale in Massachusetts, down 27.2% year over year
- Lack of New Listings: The number of newly listed homes was 6,559 and down 29.5% year over year.
- Low Foreclosure Rate: A majority of homeowners own significant equity in their homes.
- Strict Lending Standards: Lenders have high standards for borrowers today, which require most homebuyers to maintain a high credit score for buying homes.
» How to Buy a House in Massachusetts with Bad Credit: Check out how you can buy a home with credit scores of 500 or lower.
Should I Sell Now or Wait?
Only 10% of homeowners believe that now is a good time to sell a home. Home prices are rising steadily as the market warms up. Median home prices were up by 0.3% YoY in April 2023.
However, sellers can benefit from selling a house in Massachusetts now, if:
- Mortgage Interest Rates Predicted to Rise: Mortgage rates are relatively high at 6.79%, and may continue to rise. It may be a good time to sell now before this happens.
- You Need to Relocate or Downsize: If you’ve got another job, decided to retire, or downsize, then this might be the right time to sell.
» Best Time to Sell a House in Massachusetts: Check out the times when you can get the best deal on your home!
Should I Buy Now or Wait?
Due to the relatively stable mortgage rates in the past few weeks, more and more buyers are entering the housing market. According to statistics, 23% of people think that now is a good time to buy a house in Massachusetts.
You can buy a house if you are financially stable and meet the following conditions:
- You have an Excellent Credit Score: High credit scores (740+) will get you the most favorable mortgage deals, as you are a low-risk borrower with a history of on-time payments.
- You Have Saved Enough For Down Payments: If you have saved a considerable amount for a down payment, lenders will feel more confident in lending you money.
» Best Time To Buy a House in Massachusetts: Take a look at when you should buy a home!
iBuyers will Likely Not Survive Past the Next 24 Months:
- Opendoor lost $1.35 billion in 2022, compared with $662 million in 2021. Following this incident, Opendoor laid off 560 employees in April 2023, impacting 22% of the workforce.
- Offerpad reduced its staff by 7% in November 2022.
- Zillow, Ribbon, and Redfin have shut down their iBuyer services, and the remaining players reported huge losses in 2022’s last quarter.
Real Estate Giants Announced Major Layoffs:
- Compass announced layoffs in January 2023, September, and June 2022, which impacted more than 15% of the employees.
- Redfin laid off 862 employees in early November, reducing almost 13% of its workforce.
- Anywhere Real Estate, Inc. laid off 10% of its workforce in January 2023.
- Flyhomes laid off 40% of workers in November 2022.
- Homeward laid off 25% of employees in November 2022 and 20% in August 2022.
- Orchard cut down 25% of its workforce, affecting about 180 employees.
- JPMorgan Chase laid off more than 1,000 mortgage employees in June 2022.
- Knock reportedly laid off 46% of its staff in March 2022.
Real Estate Commissions Will Decline:
The DOJ is investigating commission structures and how they limit competition. Buyers may pay their agents, resulting in reduced commissions.
Several antitrust lawsuits have been filed against NAR lately. Here are the latest updates:
- Moehrl v. NAR: The Bombshell Lawsuit that Could End Buyer Agent Commissions
- Sitzer/Burnett v. NAR: The Second Bombshell Lawsuit that Could End Buyer Agent Commissions
- REX v. NAR: Check out why Jack Ryan’s REX Real Estate is suing NAR and Zillow in this video
Massachusetts Real Estate Market Trends
| Housing Market Metrics | Current Housing Market Trend 2023 | Comparison YoY |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Median Sale Price | 🟢 +0.3% YoY | |
| 2. Number of Homes Sold | 🔴 -27.2% YoY | |
| 3. Homes Sold Above List Price | 🔴 -16.2 pt | |
| 4. Homes Sold With Price Drops | 🟢 +3.0 pt | |
| 5. Homes Sold Sale-to-List Price | 🔴 -3.2 pt | |
| 6. Median Days on Market | 🟢 +3 days YoY |
Source: Redfin.com
The current Massachusetts housing market statistics reflect the national trend of high demand and low supply. As home sales declined across the state, home prices ascended.
After a decade of steady home price gains, the market has reached the affordability limit for many homeowners.
Massachusetts Housing Market Statistics
- Average Home Prices: The average median home price in Massachusetts is $586,200, up by 0.3% YoY. In 2023, experts predict the median sale price growth to drop by roughly 4%, the first annual drop since 2012. Currently, the sale-to-list price ratio is at 101.9%, with a decline of 3.2 pt YoY as of April 2023.
- Home Sales: As per April 2023 data, home sales are at a low of 4,250 a 27.2% YoY decrease.
- Average Rent Prices: An average Massachusetts tenant pays median rent of $3,200 as rent in 2023.
- Pending Sales: Pending home sales grew in February by 0.8% for the third consecutive month. There are currently 2,651 pending listings for sale in Massachusetts.
- Median Days on Market: The median days on the market for homes for sale was 20 days, up by 3 days YoY.
Will Home Prices Drop in the Second Quarter of 2023?
No! In the second quarter of 2023, NAR experts predict an 8.08% rise in the median sale price, which is down 2.5% YoY. The housing market will continue to warm up between high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty.
As per Zillow’s Massachusetts housing market forecast, the national Zillow home value index rose by 4.4% in March 2023. Over the next year, it is expected to rise by 0.6%. NAR predicts 4.78 million existing home sales in 2023.
Will the Housing Market Crash in Massachusetts?
Several economists believe the housing market will slow down in 2023, but not crash. As the mortgage rates are stabilizing now after the recent bank crisis, more buyers feel confident to enter the housing market.
Let’s look at why most experts believe that the Massachusetts housing market will not crash.
5 Reasons Why the Housing Market is Unlikely to Crash
- Low Months of Supply: As per May 2023 data, only 2.6 months’ supply is available. This scarcity of inventory explains why many buyers need to bid over the listing price. According to the law of supply-demand, it is predicted that home prices will remain stable for now.
- Low Newly Constructed Housing Supply: The supply of newly constructed houses has yet to return to pre-2007 levels. Also, there’s no way for homebuyers to buy land, get regulatory approval, and increase the supply quickly.
- New Buyers Entering the Market: There’s a strong demand for homes across various demographics. Millennials and Hispanics are in their prime buying years. As a result, there’s still a limited amount of inventory available.
- Strict Lending Standards: There were several cases of liar loans in 2007 where anyone could get a mortgage without a credit check. Today, mortgage lenders in Massachusetts place high standards on borrowers, and most home buyers are required to have an excellent credit score.
- Fewer Foreclosures: A majority of homeowners own significant equity in their homes. The personal balance sheets of homeowners are much stronger today than they were 15 years ago. As a result, the threat of rising foreclosures in Massachusetts is low.
Is 2023 a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market?
2023 is unusual compared to previous housing market trends. That’s why, it’s difficult to gauge whether it is a seller’s or a buyer’s market.
Due to relatively high mortgage rates, buyers entering the market are few. Likewise, low inventory and a reduced number of listings indicate sellers’ reluctance to sell.
In the wake of Silicon Valley Bank’s fall, daily average mortgage rates fell from 7% to 6.5%. Likewise, home prices across the nation fell by 1.8% over the span of a weekend, which saw a sudden spike of 7% in mortgage applications.
After Fed’s recent announcement, the average weekly mortgage rates increased from 6.57% to 6.79%. Further, mortgage purchase applications grew by 17% in February-March.
Massachusetts Housing Market Predictions 2023
The housing market majorly depends upon the economy’s health. As economies slow, the money supply becomes limited. It becomes difficult to borrow money, fewer home buyers enter the MA housing market.
The national unemployment rate remains at 3.7% in May 2023. The private sector in various states also shows positive job growth, says ADP.
Here are a few real estate housing market predictions for 2023 based on the experts’ forecast.
- Mortgage Rates Stabilizing: The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.79% for the month of June 2023, up from 6.57% previously. However, these rates are still lower than last year’s peak of 7.08%.
- Fewer Home Sales: Reports predict far fewer home sales for the remainder of 2023. Compared to last year, number of homes being sold plunged by 27.2%.
- Low Home Prices: Home prices will remain low compared to last year, falling by 2.5% in most markets.
- Stable Housing Affordability: According to NAR’s chief economist, rates will remain stable for existing homes during 2023, and approx 4.78 million existing homes will be sold.
- iBuyers Likely to Buy Homes Below Market Value: During the past year, house flipping profits have fallen by 18.4%. Top iBuyers like Opendoor reported huge losses last quarter. Lastly, Zillow and Redfin shut down their iBuyer services in 2021 and 2022.
Are We in a Housing Bubble Now?
Experts would agree that a housing bubble does exist. A housing market bubble refers to a steep incline in prices with increasing demand and limited supply. Home prices have been steadily rising for the last two years. Inventory is still low, standing at 2.6 months’ supply.
Mortgage interest rates touched a record high, and there’s a sharp decline in the number of home sales by 27.2% YoY. Lastly, there has been a gradual decline in homebuyer interest.
Massachusetts Housing Market Predictions for the Next 5 Years
Home prices have risen by 40.8% in the past 5 years. This constant growth is expected to reduce gradually.
As mortgage rates continue to increase, homebuyers will delay their purchase. There will be low demand for housing, and the home value growth rate will decrease.
Should I Sell My MA Home Now or Wait?
10% of homeowners believe that now is a good time to sell a home. Home prices are still at record highs, but some experts predict that many markets will decline by 5% to 10%.
If you are in a market where home prices are still high, this might be a good time to sell a house in Massachusetts. You can sell your house in the following circumstances:
- Before the Mortgage Rates Touch Record Highs: Mortgage rates may touch 7.8% in the coming year as the Fed tries to control inflation. Compared to 1971, the present rate could reach an average of 8% for a 30-year fixed mortgage. As interest rates are still low, many prospective buyers may enter the market now rather than later.
- You Need to Upsize or Downsize: Significant changes in family dynamics may require you to sell your property and move to a different one.
- You Need to Relocate: If you’ve got a new job or have decided to retire, or relocate to a new state, there is no way around selling. The best time to sell a house is when you’re ready to move.
» For Sale By Owner Homes in Massachusetts: Are you relocating to Massachusetts? Check out homes for sale near you.
Now is the Time to List Your Home!
You don’t need to time the market when you can get the maximum exposure by listing your property on MLS. Sell FSBO, Sell your home now!
START YOUR MLS LISTING NOW
Tips to Sell Your MA Home in a Slow Market
- Price Your Home Competitively: Inventory starts to rise in a slow real estate market. It is better to price your home competitively and get the best deal and quick offers.
- Offer Incentives & Seller Credit: You can offer to pay the buyer’s closing costs, reduce repair costs, or provide a transferable home warranty as an incentive. If you can’t afford any of these, you can sell your house as is in Massachusetts.
- List on the Open Market: When you list on MLS, your property gets the best market exposure. And that means inviting offers from all types of buyers, investors and cash home buyers. A Flat Fee MLS Massachusetts listing service is the fastest way to list on the MLS.
- Sell to Cash Home Buyers: Cash home buyers in Massachusetts will make instant cash offers on your house. Although these companies can help you sell your home fast, they offer a lot less than your home’s fair market value.
Tips to Sell Your MA Home in Hot Market
- Find the Best Way to Sell: Even if you’re selling your house yourself in Massachusetts or through an agent, we recommend listing on the MLS with MA Flat Fee MLS listing services. The best For Sale By Owner websites in Massachusetts can help you market your house, either for a small fee or even for free.
- Make Quick Repairs: Clean and de-clutter your home, and make small fixes like repairing a leaky faucet or fixing a shattered window. Know more creative ways to market your house.
- Stage Your Home: Preparing your home for sale, with or without the help of a professional home stager, is home staging. It mainly involves cleaning, depersonalizing, and making your home appealing visually.
Should I Buy a Home Now or Wait?
According to statistics, 77% of people think that now is a bad time to buy a house in Massachusetts. This is mainly because of the relatively high mortgage rates in the past few weeks, which allow only a few buyers with strong financial conditions to enter the market.
If you’re planning to buy now, plan your finances well and make sure you have 5 to 6 months of savings after you put your down payment.
Tips for Buying a MA Home in a Slow Market
- Consider the Value of the Property: A slow market is the buyer’s market. There is a high chance that the home values may decrease before it starts to increase again.
- Don’t Buy at the Lowest Price: Sellers can conceal major defects and sell a Massachusetts house fast or for cheap. Get a home inspection report before you buy any house that’s too cheap to be true. Otherwise, you can end up with a bad investment.
- Don’t Invest in Properties for the Short Run: If you’re not planning to stay in a real estate property for a long time, do not buy it. Buying a home solely for selling will only increase inventory. This won’t be beneficial in a slow real estate market.
Should you buy or rent in 2023’s slow housing market?
A detailed break down of the costs of buying vs. renting to help you decide what’s best!
Tips for Buying a Home in a Hot Market
- Research Local Market: The Massachusetts real estate housing market is highly localized, as market trends vary from region to region.
- Lower Your Debt: Lowering your debt-to-income ratio will help you easily qualify for a mortgage preapproval when applying for a loan.
- Increase Your Earning Potential: 60% of workers who switched jobs last year earned more money in their new positions, beating inflation. Despite the economic downturn and rising mortgage rates, you must look for opportunities to boost your income.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Houzeo Corp., its affiliates, or its employees. The information set forth herein has been obtained or derived from sources believed by the author to be reliable. However, the author does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the information’s accuracy or completeness, nor does the author recommend that the attached information serves as the basis of any investment decision. It has been provided to you solely for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation of an offer, or any advice or recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the housing market going to crash in Massachusetts?
Most probably, no. Here are 5 reasons why the housing market is unlikely to crash in Massachusetts: (1) Low months of supply. (2) Low newly constructed housing supply. (3) New buyers are entering the market. (4) Strict lending standards. (5) Fewer foreclosures.
2. What are the real estate housing market 2023 predictions?
The predictions for 2023's Massachusetts housing market are: (1) Mortgage rates may stabilize between 6% to 6.5%. (2) Number of home sales may be less. (3) Home prices may stay low. (4) Housing affordability will remain stable. (5) iBuyers are likely to buy homes for lower than the market value.
3. Are home prices dropping in Massachusetts?
Yes. Based on year-on-year changes in home prices, home prices in Massachusetts were up by 0.3% in April 2023.
Also Read
- How Much are Closing Costs on a Home in Massachusetts: The seller and the buyer both pay closing costs. Know them before closing.
- Massachusetts Closing Costs for Seller: Fees and taxes can vary from one county to another. Learn them here.
- Seller Closing Costs Massachusetts Calculator: Want to get an estimate of your net proceeds estimates? Calculate here.
- Closing Cost Calculator Massachusetts Buyer: This calculator gives you an estimate of the closing costs while buying a house.
- Real Estate Market Analysis: Market research is the first step any investor must take before entering the market. Read more to know about it.
- Massachusetts Seller’s Disclosure Statement: Check out our quick and easy guide to seller disclosures in your state.
- Best Real Estate Websites in Massachusetts: Real estate websites will help you sell or buy a house from the comfort of your home. Check out the best ones.
- Flipping Houses in Massachusetts: Read our blog on how to flip and maximize your profits.
- Wholesale Real Estate Massachusetts: Discover how real estate wholesaling laws work.
- Real Estate Agents in Massachusetts: Check out the best agents in Massachusetts to assist you in your next real estate transaction.
Eager to Know How Houzeo Works?
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