| |
|
Mike Hughes
Residential & Luxury Real Estate | Serving Greater Boston
|
|
|
|
Hi there,
You've probably heard that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, and if you follow the stock market, you've heard Warren Buffett's phrase "buy when everyone is selling and sell when everyone is buying."
Similarly, the best time to buy a house is when others cannot. Unfortunately, high interest rates are blocking some buyers, but those who can buy at a higher rate are in a great position to buy now and refinance later. Ultimately, a rising tide lifts (and lowers) all boats. As we've seen several times over the past six years, each time interest rates decrease, more buyers flood the market, and prices rapidly accelerate. If you're able to buy, now could be a great time to take action before the next market frenzy.
As always, let me know if you ever need anything.
Best regards,
Mike
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trivia - Answer at the Bottom
In Norfolk County, MA, what was the average home sale price across all 28 municipalities for the full year 2025?
Hint: Think north of $900K... but just shy of a million. You are closer than you think!
|
|
|
|
October 2026 Market Update
Greater Boston - Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk & Essex Counties
Single-Family Homes
Across the Norfolk County market, the average sale price stands at $1,114,139 with homes averaging 34 days on market... and with 614 active listings, 504 pending, and 1,398 closings on record, buyer and seller activity remains notably steady. Visit our website to see how these numbers could shape your next move.
| Metric |
7/1/2026 - 10/1/2026 |
vs. Last Month |
| Average Sale Price |
$1,114,139 |
▼ 5.6% |
| Number Pending |
504 |
▼ 46.9% |
| Number of Closings |
1398 |
▼ 51.2% |
| Active Listings |
614 |
▼ 35.0% |
| Average Days on Market |
34 |
▲ 13.3% |
| Inventory vs. Last Year |
-- |
|
Source: Multiple Listing Service (10/1/26)
|
|
|
October 2026 Community Spotlight
Dedham
|
|
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
|
Dedham, Massachusetts sits on Boston's southwestern border and carries more than three centuries of New England character. First settled in 1635, it is home to nationally recognized landmarks, a walkable historic square, and a dining scene that ranges from colonial-era heritage to modern trattoria. Whether you are drawn to wooded hilltop trails or a booth at a beloved local diner, Dedham rewards every kind of explorer. Living here means trading the rush of the city for a community with deep roots and genuine warmth ... right at Boston's doorstep.
Read the full Dedham community spotlight →
|
Single-Family Homes
|
| Avg Sale Price |
$830,749 |
Sold: 76 | DOM: 31 |
| Active - Avg List |
$1,333,834 |
Active: 43 | DOM: 99 |
|
Multi-Family Homes
|
| Avg Sale Price |
$775,000 |
Sold: 3 | DOM: 43 |
| Active - Avg List |
$1,199,500 |
Active: 1 | DOM: 23 |
|
Condominiums
|
| Avg Sale Price |
$792,278 |
Sold: 9 | DOM: 86 |
| Active - Avg List |
$629,709 |
Active: 11 | DOM: 59 |
Source: Multiple Listing Service (10/1/26)
* DOM = Days on Market
|
Notable Places
|
|
What to See
The Fairbanks House
Built circa 1637, the Fairbanks House is the oldest known timber-frame house still standing in North America and a designated National Historic Landmark | visitors can explore nearly four centuries of American history through guided tours of the original structure and its period collections.
|
|
What to Eat
50's Diner
A Dedham institution serving the community since 1993, the 50's Diner at Legacy Place dishes out fluffy pancakes, 100% beef burgers, and thick frappes in a retro 1950s setting open daily from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
|
|
|
|
October 2026 Mortgage Update
|
30 Year Fixed Rate*
7.28%
|
|
15 Year Fixed Rate*
6.60%
|
*Source: freddiemac.com (10/1/26)
|
Planning to purchase your first, next, or second home? Get in touch with our trusted lender, Jason Evans. He's available to discuss available options for your unique situation. His firm also handles refinancing and home equity lines, so consider him your mortgage resource.
Jason Evans
Mortgage Professional
Rate
C: 315-569-7338
[email protected] |
Loan Officer Website
|
|
|
|
Luxury Market Update
The luxury market is generally defined as the top 10% of all home sales by price in a given area.
The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing's September 2026 North American Luxury Market Report found that single-family luxury sales increased 1.72% year over year in August, while the median sold price rose 4.5% and days on market fell 25.7% : signals of continued buyer conviction even as sales volume approached parity with 2025 levels. The attached luxury segment reflected a balanced market with a 16.97% sales ratio, and attached homes sold at an average of 98.34% of list price. New listings picked up after trailing 2025 levels for much of the year, suggesting sellers across the broader luxury landscape are beginning to respond to sustained demand, a dynamic directly relevant to Norfolk County's competitive high-end submarkets.
Source: luxuryhomemarketing.com (10/3/26)
Current National Luxury Market Report
|
|
|
Worth a Read
Curb Appeal Upgrades That Actually Move the Needle for Greater Boston Sellers
Selling in Newton, Waltham, or Watertown? These curb appeal upgrades deliver real ROI for Greater Boston homeowners ready to list.
Read the full post →
|
|
|
Looking for Something Fun
Around Town - November 2026 Events
|
Topsfield Fair 2026
America's oldest county fair returns to the Topsfield Fairgrounds (207 Boston Street, Topsfield, Essex County) from October 2 through October 12, 2026, open daily from 4:00 PM on opening night and 10:00 AM most other days, featuring livestock shows, a giant pumpkin weigh-off, carnival rides, rodeo, live concerts, and classic fair food.
|
|
Newton Harvest Fair 2026
The City of Newton's free annual Harvest Fair takes over Newton Centre Green (Centre Street at Langley Road, Newton, Middlesex County) on Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (carnival and kiddie rides) and Sunday, October 18, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with 100+ crafters and vendors, live music on two stages, a GreenEXPO, and free pumpkin decorating.
|
|
|
|
Know Someone Thinking About Buying or Selling?
I'd love the introduction. A quick call or text with their name is all it takes - I'll take it from there.
|
|
|
Quick Links
|
|
|
Trivia Answer
The Answer
The average home sale price in Norfolk County for full-year 2025 was $943,929 : a 3.3% increase over 2024's average of $914,044. A total of 7,129 homes sold across the county that year.
|
|
|
|
|
As a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), I'm among the top 4% of agents nationally - advanced training in marketing, technology & negotiation.
|
|
|
|
This email was sent to [email protected] by Mike Hughes, [email protected].
I'd love to stay in touch, but if you do not wish to receive this newsletter,
click here to unsubscribe.
361 Newbury Street, 5th Floor · Boston, MA 02115 · eXp Realty
© 2026 Mike Hughes · All Rights Reserved
|
|
