Thanksgiving is upon us.  Soon, it will be winter.  Like the weather, Stoughton MA home sales tend to chill a little this time of year.  Here is your October 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Update to break down last month's sales.October 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales UpdateThe MLS Property Information Network reported that a total of 28 Stoughton MA homes were sold in October 2015.  That was the third highest monthly sales in 2015.  Stoughton MA home sales hit their peak in July with 32 and were followed up with 29 in August.  However, it was 6.7% less than the same time last year.The average sale price for a Stoughton MA home last month was $347,400.  This was actually 1.2% lower than the same time last year.  It was also the second highest monthly average for the year.  Only April's $365,... 11/25/2015

How is the Stoughton MA real estate market performing?  According to the 3rd Quarter 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Report, prices are down slightly while sales have skyrocketed.  Now is a great time to jump into homeownership.3rd Quarter 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales ReportThe MLS Property Information Network reported that a total of 82 Stoughton MA homes were sold in the 3rd quarter of 2015.  That is 49.1% higher than the same time last year.  It is also the highest quarterly sales this year.  Fifty-three homes sold in the 2nd quarter and only 32 sold in the 1st quarter.  Of course, you need to remember that we were hit really hard by the especially low temperatures last winter.  That had a huge impact on home sales.According to the 3rd Quarter 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Report, prices... 10/22/2015

Another Satisfied Buyer: Congratulations to my clients who closed in August on their purchase of 76 Ralph Mann Drive in Stoughton MA These clients came to me from a first time home buyer class I had taught in early spring. Like many of my buyers, they had spent a fair amount of time in advance preparing to purchase their first home. Educated buyers are the best and have the best chance of a successful home purchase. These first time home buyer was looking for a house in the Canton MA area.  We targeted Canton and Stoughton as the main search areas.  Like the other spring and summer 2015 home buyers, this buyer encountered limited inventory and increasing prices. These buyers were also able to do some renovations so were willing to look at properties needing some updating.Stoughton MA of... 10/06/2015

The August 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Report showed an increase in sales and prices from last year.   However, Stoughton remains one of the most affordable communities in the area.  Here is the breakdown of August's housing statistics.August 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales ReportAccording to the MLS Property Information Network, a total of 29 Stoughton MA homes were sold in August 2015.  This was a slight dip from the previous month.  However, it was a 16% increase from August 2014.The average sale price for a Stoughton MA home in August 2015 increased 12.7% from the previous year.  However, it is still 5.8% lower than two years ago and slightly lower than August 2011.  A 3 bed/1 bath, 931 square foot Bungalow sold for just $225,000.  Another happy homeowner purchased a 3 bed/2 bath, 179... 09/24/2015

I've got the news that Buyers are going to be happy to hear.  The July 2015 Stoughton MA Market Report is in.  Prices are down from last year.  But, at these prices, they aren't on the market for very long!July 2015 Stoughton MA Market Report RundownThe MLS Property Information Network recently reported that a total of 32 Stoughton MA homes were sold during July 2015.  This is a 68.4% increase from the same time last year.  It's also a 33.3% increase over June 2015.Now THIS is the news that will make Buyers happy.  The average sale price for a Stoughton MA home sold in July 2015 was $312,447.  That is 15.4% lower than the same time last year.  A saavy Buyer was fortunate enough to snag a 3 bed/2 bath, 1922 square foot Colonial for only $149,000 in just 15 days.  They paid $40,900 below ... 09/04/2015

Stoughton MA Market Update by Michael Mahoney of RemaxYou can reach Michael Mahoney @617-980-9025 or via email at mike@mmahoney.com  You can see more about the Stoughton real estate market @  http://www.StoughtonMassHomes.com 08/10/2015

Your 2nd Quarter 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Report is here.  Total sales and average sale prices were both down from last year.  However, they have increased significantly from the 1st Quarter of 2015.Summary of the 2nd Quarter 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales ReportThe MLS Property Information Network is reporting that there were a total of 53 single-family homes sold in Stoughton MA between April 1 and June 30, 2015.  That is a 14.5% decrease from the same time last year.  However, that is also a 41.5% increase from the dismal 1st quarter of this year.  It is important to keep in mind that the huge snowfall that hit our area this winter had a serious impact on sales.  Each month of this quarter has steadily increased.  We saw 12 total sales in April 2015, 17 in May and 24 just last mont... 07/16/2015

Buyers will be happy.  The May 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Report continued the downward trend we have seen this year.  Total sales were lower than last year.  But so were prices.May 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Report ExplainedAccording to statistics compiled by the MLS Property Information Network, a total of 17 Stoughton MA homes were sold in May 2015.  This is 15% lower than the same time last year.  This continues the lower year-over-year sales we have been seeing all year long.The average sale price for a Stoughton MA home sold last month was $304,929.  That is a 16.6% decrease from April 2015.  It is also 7.1% less than May 2014.  April 2015 was the only month this year that saw prices increase from the previous year.  One Stoughton MA Buyer purchased a 3 bed/1.5 bath, 1514 squa... 06/18/2015

The first quarter of the year saw a decrease in both total home sales and prices.  While total sales continued to be lower than last year, the April 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Report showed that prices were back up.  Here is the rundown of what happened in Stoughton MA real estate last month.The MLS Property Information Network reported that a total of 12 Stoughton MA homes were sold between April 1st and April 30th, 2015.  That is a 25% decrease from the same time last year.  A 2 bed/1 bath, 750 square foot property sold at the list price of $169,900 in just two weeks.  At the same time, a 4 bed/3.5 bath, 3488 square foot custom Colonial in Tanglewood Estates sold for $555,000, $14,000 under list price.The average price paid for a Stoughton MA home sold in April 2015 was $365,438.  T... 05/21/2015

This past winter was one of the harshest ones that has hit the Northeast in years.  Its impact has sent ripples around the local economy.  Home sales definitely appear to have been affected.  Read more about it in my Stoughton MA Home Sales Report - 1st Quarter 2015.According to the MLS Property Information Network, a total of 31 Stoughton MA homes were sold during the first quarter of 2015 (January 1st to March 31st).  That is 24.4% less than the first quarter of last year.  It also marks the lowest total 1st quarter sales since 2011.  Of course, that happens to be the last time we saw significant snowfall in our neck of the woods.  Of the 31 homes that sold at the beginning of this year, one was a 3 bed/2 bath, 1195 square foot antique home that was in need of some serious TLC.  It wa... 04/16/2015

Is it just me or has Mother Nature been especially brutal this winter season?  According to the National Weather Service, Boston has already surpassed its highest annual snowfall record by 1".  And there appears to be more coming.  While that has hindered some Stoughton MA Buyers a bit, homes are still being purchased.  Here is your Stoughton MA Home Sales Update for February 2015. According to the MLS Property Information Service, a total of six Stoughton MA homes were sold in February 2015.  That is a 40% drop from the same time last year and the lowest since 2011, which also happens to be the last time we were hit with record amounts of snow.  One Buyer braved the winter weather to purchase a 3 bed/1 bath, 1424 square foot ranch-style home near Crescent Ridge Dairy Farm for just $254... 03/19/2015

The total Stoughton MA home sales for 2014 ended lower than the previous year.  However, that is not the case for the beginning of 2015.  According to the January 2015 Stoughton MA Home Sales Report, prices increased slightly while sales remained steady. The MLS Property Information Network reported that a total of 16 Stoughton MA homes were sold in January 2015.  That is the exact same amount that were sold at the same time last year.  It also ties for the highest total homes sold in January over the last five years.  A two bed, one bath, 1050 square foot Cape-style home was purchased for $160,000.  Another fortunate Buyer was able to buy a nine bed, four bath, 4455 square foot split entry home for just $488,000.  As you can see, Stoughton MA homes remain quite affordable for Buyers. T... 02/19/2015

Another Satisfied Buyer: Congratulations to my clients who closed at the beginning of February on their purchase of 217 Willow St., Stoughton, MA   These clients contacted me last summer at the recommendation of their mortgage broker. They were first time buyers looking to buy a home in the Stoughton and Canton area. They were pre-approved by a great mortgage broker so they were off on the right foot.   We looked at a number of homes over the summer.  They told me that they would not mind making renovations and were willing to put in some sweat equity.  We found a great opportunity in Canton at the end of the summer.  However, other buyers recognized it as a great opportunity and with multiple offers, they lost out on the first house.  We continued looking off and on through the fall an... 02/18/2015

Last quarter's statistics for Stoughton MA home sales were down from the previous year.  However, it would appear that there was a bit of a rebound last month.  Here is a quick rundown of what happened in Stoughton MA home sales for October 2014. According to the MLS Property Information Network, a total of 30 homes were sold in October 2014.  That is a 36.3% increase over the same time last year and the largest total of October home sales in the last five years.  At the lower end of the spectrum, a 3 bed/1 bath, 1537 square foot Colonial sold for $155,000 in October.  That was $8200 over list price.  And, it only spent 15 days on the market before going to contract!  On the upper end of the scale, a 4 bed/3.5 bath, 3795 square foot Contemporary Colonial sold for $522,000.   The average... 11/20/2014

The Stoughton MA real estate market experienced a bit of a slow down last month.  While August 2014 saw more sales than July did, the total number sold was much lower than the same time last year.  Good news for Buyers, though.  The average home price came down significantly from last year.  Here is a brief synopsis of what we saw last month: According to the MLS Property Information Network, a total of 25 homes were sold in Stoughton MA.  That was a 31.5% increase from the total sold in July 2014 but a 34.2% decrease from the same time last year.  At the lower end of the spectrum, a 3 bed/1 bath 990 square foot Cape-style home sold for $170,000 after just one day on the market.  This was $5100 over the list price, too.  At the upper end of the spectrum, a 3 bed/2 bath 2500 square foot ... 09/18/2014

It has become increasingly clearer that the Stoughton MA real estate market is still feeling the impact of the unseasonably cold weather from earlier this year.  Even though the total home sales for the month are lower, prices have continued their steady climb.  Here is a rundown of the July 2014 Stoughton MA home sales report. A total of 19 Stoughton MA homes were sold in July 2014.  That is a 32% decrease from the same time last year.  This continues the year-over-year decrease in sales we have been experiencing for most of 2014.  July's home sales ranged from a 3 bed/2 bath, 2013 square foot English Cape-style home that sold for $223,000 in just six days (original list price was $209,900) all the way up to a 4 bed/4 bath, 4394 square foot Contemporary Colonial in The Preserve at Plea... 08/20/2014

The unusually cold weather we experienced late into the new year in the Northeast definitely had an impact on the 2nd quarter 2014 sales of Stoughton MA homes.  Even so, buyers still seem pretty eager to own a property in this affordable neighborhood.  There were a total of 60 Stoughton MA homes sold from April 2014 to June 2014.  That's a 6% decrease from the same time last year.  These homes ranged from a 2 bed/1 bath, 1320 square foot Bungalow that went under contract after just five days on the market and sold for $101,000 ($1,100 over list price) all the way up to a 4 bed/2.5 bath, 3357 square foot Colonial that sold for $570,000.  The average sale price for a Stoughton MA home sold in the 2nd quarter of 2014 was $324,956, a 5% increase from last year.  Of the 60 homes sold, 24 of ... 07/17/2014

There continues to be a marked improvement in Stoughton MA home sales in May 2014 when compared to last year.  This is good news for both buyers and sellers.  Prices remained almost the same.  However, the days a home spent on the market was much less than the same time last year.  Here's a quick recap of the Stoughton MA home sales report for May 2014. There were a total of 18 Stoughton MA homes sold in May 2014.  This is the exact same amount as was sold in May 2013.  The average sales price increased by a slight 1.5% (from $315,627 in May 2013 to $320,375 last month).  These homes ranged from a 3 bed/1 bath 1304 square foot Cape-style fixer upper that sold over list price for $179,100 in just nine days to a 4 bed/2.5 bath 3364 square foot Colonial in Stoughton's premier The Preserve ... 06/19/2014

It would appear that the Stoughton MA home sales market is continuing its hot streak into April 2014.  Sales prices are up slightly from last year while the average days a home spends on the market before it closes is significantly down.  This is good news for buyers.  Let's talk numbers. A total of 16 Stoughton MA homes were sold in April 2014.  While this was down 15.8% from the same time last year (19 homes sold in April 2013), the average sales price went up 7.4% (from $287,936 in April 2013 to $309,302 in April 2014).  Some homes even sold for at or slightly above the listing price.  The types of Stoughton MA homes that sold in April 2014 ranged from a 2 bed/1 bath 1320 square foot Bungalow that sold for just over listing at $101,000 after just five days on market to a 4 bed/2.5 ba... 05/14/2014

The author Brigitte von Weiss of VON WEISS LAW OFFICE is an estate planning lawyer and elder law attorney in Easton, MA. Website:  vonweisslaw.com There are several non-tax reasons for utilizing trusts such as asset protection; avoiding probate; creditor protection; protection for the surviving spouse and children in the event the surviving spouse remarries; control and management of assets for spendthrifts, minors and those disabled; and avoiding ancillary probate for real estate owned in another state.  Moreover, living trusts are private (not public) documents and notice of the trust assets and accountings need be given only to the interested parties.   Example:  Mr. and Mrs. Stoughton have "I love you" wills whereby they leave everything to each other and they each have a taxable es... 05/02/2014