Single-family home sales in Massachusetts went up nearly 7% last month after a lengthy period of relatively flat sales.
“It is a glimmer of hope, and we’re all very excited to hear that,” Norton said in an interview with GBH News.
Last year, 2,902 single family homes were sold in April compared to 3,100 in 2024.
“I didn’t expect to see the numbers go up quite that much because mostly what we’ve been seeing lately is that the number of sales has been dropping or holding very, very close to the line from the month or the year prior,” Norton said.
Another piece of encouraging news: the median single-family home price went up about 10%, a slower increase than years prior when prices climbed upwards of 20%, Norton noted. The median cost in Massachusetts was $610,000 this past April, up from $555,000 last year.
April condo sales also increased 8% since last year, with the median price creeping up just 3.4%.
It’s too soon to know whether this will become a trend into May and beyond, according to Norton, although April figures are often a good predictor of the months to come.
Susan deRosas, a real estate broker with deRosas Realty Group in Boston, said the spring market in Greater Boston never disappoints.
“It is very competitive,” DeRosas said.
Home sale reports in April often spike, she said, as they reflect properties from January and February that are just starting to close.
“I see no reason for it not continue,” DeRosa said of the market. “I think the market is incredibly resilient and the demand for housing remains very high, and the inventory just does not seem to meet that at all.”
But when it comes to the right time to buy, deRosas’ answer was: “When you are able.” Speculating about interest rates and prices is difficult, she said, but “I’ll never bet against the Greater Boston market.”
