The Massachusetts State Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salesperson recently enforced actions against 20 local real estate brokers and salespeople. Those disciplined include:
• Idelie Jean Baptiste of Brockton
• Debra Blais of Middleborough
• Luis A. Castillo of Springfield
• Aderonke Lipede of Quincy
• David Gass of Lynn
• Elias C . Eleyi of Boston
• Edwin Duprevil of [...]

A Univerisity of Arizona professor is urging homeowners under water to pull a ‘walkaway’ on their mortgages, allowing foreclosures and hits to credit scores.
He apparently believes homeowners have been brainwashed by corporate America into thinking there’s something morally wrong with abandoning a home.
But it sure looks like the good professor is fueling the same [...]

The recession is already difficult to live through, but it may also have everlasting effects.
Cemeteries are having trouble expanding because of the high cost of real estate and a drop in revenues as strapped families increasingly turn to cheaper cremations.
Communities struggling with budget deficits have also had to curtail spending on public cemeteries, [...]

1/1/09 – 11/29/09
Boston Condos Sold: 276
Boston Condo Avg. $: $518,438
Boston Condo Median $: $315,500
Boston Condo Avg. $/SF: $533
1/1/08 – 11/29/08
Boston Condos Sold: 259
Bosron Condos Avg. $: $418,148
Boston Condos Median $: $319,000
Boston Condos Avg. $/SF: $447
What are your thoughts on the Boston condo sales data?

Excerpt by Scott Van Voorhis from the Boston Courant:
They might not be priced like Candy Spelling’s $150 million Beverly Hills mansion, but Boston now boasts an array of mansions, penthouses and condos on the market for well over $10 million.
The 10 most expensive listings in Boston, culled from MLS and brokers, range from a 23.5 [...]

A new survey released by Citi found Boston-area residents are more optimistic about their own personal finances and local business conditions than the nation as a whole.
In response to current economic concerns, however, Boston-area residents continue to make dramatic changes in their personal behavior and financial planning, including 51 percent who have postponed the purchase [...]

Scott is closely monitoring the renovation market — and there are signs of stabilization, he reports.
The Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies’s most recent report also showed signs of stabilization in Massachusetts.
In some ways, the renovation market is a better barometer of activity in Boston area compared with new-home sales data. The reason: There’s [...]

Bay State condo sales have been dragging for the last four years.
Condo sales peaked in 2005, when 32,907 condos traded. About half that amount – only 15,308 condos – have been sold in the first 10 months of 2009, according to The Warren Group.
The last two months have offered some hopeful news. [...]

A week ago, the local news reported on $52,000 per month rental at the Mandarin. Well today, I looked up the penthouse listing and I found out that it was withdrawn after four days on the market. What’s up with that?
On another note, two of the Bryant auction condos are now listed for rent. 303 [...]

Starting next month, Fannie Mae is raising minimum credit scores and limiting debt ratios for borrowers. The money graf:
“The changes are the latest in a series of crackdowns by the mortgage industry and could surprise some prospective home buyers. The industry is rolling back loose lending standards that led to the mortgage meltdown and the [...]