Boston, MA Homes for Sale & Real Estate

The citywide median list price sits around $850,000, but neighborhood pricing varies widely. Back Bay and Beacon Hill run well above it, while Dorchester, Mattapan, and Hyde Park offer more accessible entry points into the market.

Yes. Massachusetts law mandates that a licensed attorney handle the closing and represent the lender. While that attorney represents the lender's interests, buyers standardly hire their own independent real estate attorney to review the purchase contract, title work, and closing disclosures.

If the home serves as your principal residence as of January 1st, Boston's residential exemption reduces your assessed taxable value each fiscal year. The discount does not apply automatically, you have to apply with the Assessor's office yourself, typically by April 1st.

Proposition 2½ limits the annual growth of a municipality’s total property tax levy to 2.5%, plus new growth. It is a citywide revenue cap, not a ceiling on individual bills. Property reassessments and municipal tax-rate shifts mean your specific bill can still rise over 2.5%.

A triple-decker is a traditional three-story, three-unit wood-frame building style that's especially common in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and East Boston, often dating back over a century. Many buyers buy one to live in one unit and rent out the other two, making them a popular entry point into house hacking within city limits.

It depends on your lifestyle and budget. Back Bay and Beacon Hill feature historic brownstones with high walkability. South Boston and the Seaport cater to newer construction and dining scenes, while Jamaica Plain and Roslindale provide green spaces. Dorchester offers relatively accessible pricing near downtown.

Many Boston condos are inside converted historic brownstones and rowhouses. These properties usually incur higher monthly HOA fees to cover maintenance on aging systems, roofs, and facades. Review the HOA’s reserve study, master insurance policy, and recent meeting minutes before making an offer.

Yes. Areas built on reclaimed tidal land (including Back Bay and parts of the Seaport) face distinct hazards. Many historic Back Bay buildings rest on wood pilings that rot if groundwater tables fall, while low-lying locations contend with increased seepage and coastal flood exposure.

Boston's sub-freezing winters make heating system age, pipe insulation, and roof vulnerability to ice dams critical inspection points. For condos and multi-family homes, clarify snow removal obligations within the HOA or master deed, as municipal regulations impose daily fines on owners who fail to clear adjacent sidewalks.

Yes. Boston's extensive inventory of two- to four-family properties makes multi-family investing common. Buyers frequently secure low-down-payment FHA or conventional residential financing, live in one unit, and use the rental income from the remaining units to qualify for the mortgage and offset their monthly payments.