Blog: Buying

An offer folder, pen and calculator on a dining table

August 25, 2026

Escalation Clauses in Boston Home Offers: What Buyers Need to Know

Escalation clauses can reveal your max price to sellers and push your price above the appraisal. Here's how Boston buyers can limit the risk.
Person weighing rent or buy a house 2026 decision while viewing Boston triple-deckers through a window

July 30, 2026

Rent or Buy a House? The Real Math for Boston

Should I rent or buy a house in 2026? A Boston framework built on your timeline, full monthly cost, and upfront cash, with a worked example.
Contract papers and house keys on a Boston stoop illustrate whether you need a real estate agent

July 29, 2026

Do You Need a Real Estate Agent? The Honest Answer

No, you're not legally required to use a real estate agent. Here's when going without one works in Boston, and when representation tends to help.
Home inspector examining a Boston triple-decker, a key step in things to consider buying a house

July 28, 2026

Things to Consider When Buying a House in Boston

The things to consider in buying a house: budget, inspection, location data, hidden costs, and red flags, explained by a 30-year Boston broker.
Triple-decker homes on a Roxbury, Boston MA street reflect the neighborhood's classic architecture

July 26, 2026

Roxbury, Boston MA: What to Know Before You Buy or Sell

Roxbury Boston MA had a median sale price of $700,500 over the past year, with new housing coming to Nubian Square. Here's what buyers and sellers should know.
Loan estimate papers on a Boston dining table illustrate what a 2/1 buydown means for homebuyers

July 20, 2026

What Does a 2/1 Buydown Mean for Boston Buyers?

A 2/1 buydown lowers your payment as if the rate were 2 points lower in year one and 1 point lower in year two. Here's what that means for Boston buyers in…
Front stoop of a Boston triple-decker with property tax mail on the steps

July 18, 2026

Boston Residential Tax Exemption: How to Save on Property Taxes

The Boston residential tax exemption saves qualifying owner-occupants up to $4,353.74 in FY2026. Here's who qualifies and how to apply before April 1.
Boston brownstone street view through a window, illustrating whether to buy a home in Boston now or wait for lower rates

July 14, 2026

Buy a Home in Boston Now or Wait for Lower Rates?

In a 2026 national survey, 62% of planned buyers said they were waiting for mortgage rates to fall. Here is how to weigh that choice in Jamaica Plain and…
A three-story wood-frame triple-decker with stacked front porches, slate blue and cream siding, double-hung windows, and mature trees along the sidewalk.

July 13, 2026

Should You Buy a Triple-Decker in Dorchester Now?

The Massachusetts rent control ruling, recent MLS prices, and FHA and conventional financing rules for buying a triple-decker in Dorchester in 2026, explained…
Renovated Shaker-style kitchen and dining area lit by daylight.

July 9, 2026

How To Buy Your First Home In Roslindale

Learn how to buy your first home in Roslindale with smart tips on budget, condos, taxes, and market timing. Start planning with confidence today.
Close-up of paper currency

July 3, 2026

How to Win a Bidding War in Jamaica Plain Without Waiving Your Inspection

Massachusetts limits inspection waivers for contracts signed after October 15, 2025. Here's how Jamaica Plain buyers can compete without giving up that right.
A three-story Boston triple-decker on a tree-lined street in autumn, with an Offer to Purchase on a clipboard, a pen, and house keys on a table in front.

June 18, 2026

Appraisal Came In Low? A Boston Home Seller's Guide

When your Boston home appraises below the agreed price, you have four options. What you can do depends on the appraisal language in your Massachusetts P&S.