Even as the real estate market is showing signs of cooling and more and more sellers are dropping asking prices, national reports show median home prices increased by double digits from the previous year.

We recently took at look at some local towns like Beverly, Danvers, Ipswich and Topsfield and those increases ring true here on the north shore of Boston. Home prices remain high and competition is still steep. Read the full story from Boston Agent Magazine. Numbers for 2022 are coming in and predictions point towards another 15% increase in Boston real estate.

The Old House Life featured Bow Bank on the Rowley River in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Accessible only by boat, The Old House Life took notice of the property's unique 3 acre, Ipswich, MA waterfront, off-the-grid location and it's rustic charm. Thank you for noticing!

Will the future of remote work dictate the fundamentals of our real estate climate and produce a future dip? Or a cataclysmic crash?

Are people being over-optimistic about the demand for suburbia; will it last indefinitely?

What affects a home's fundamental value? 

Average home prices in America are the highest they have ever been and here in Boston, a so-called "superstar city", on par with San Francisco, Seattle and San Diego, demand is still high and supply is low. It's a fantastic time to sell! ...

There's a lot of speculation about the answers to these quesitons. Here's a look at "The 2000s Housing Cycle With 2020 Hindsight" and an informative story by Greg Rosalsky of Planet Money on home prices and housing bubbles.

Restored Gilded Age Estate in Beverly, Massachusetts $22 Million - The 28,000-square-foot waterfront mansion was once home to celebrated sportswoman and socialite Eleonora R. Sears.

A 100-year-old Massachusetts mansion formerly owned by one of the greatest female athletes of the early 20th century is listed for $22 million, told by Mansion Global...

Rock Edge Estate in Beverly, Massachusetts, is a commanding 28,000-square-foot Georgian-revival residence with 11 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms on what was once considered the region’s “gold coast,” according to the listing.. As the name suggests, the 3-acre property sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, and includes 400 feet of water frontage with a private beach. 

Downtown Ipswich, MA will be home to another movie filming in the fall!

George Clooney was on Central Street (feels like yesterday) filming for 'The Tender Bar' and now we have a remake of Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot' (hello 1970s!) rumored to be starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Both chose Ipswich for their on-location scenes; is this a new trend? I hope so!

Have you seen Netflix's new show yet? "Marriage or Mortgage"? Being in the biz, we love the concept! No surprise that millennials lean towards putting off buying a home, which is especially understandable in the current market. The really interesting component of the show is for the guests who choose mortgage, the negotiating powers of an experienced real estate professional are on full display. The entire industry is cheering because for every seasoned full-time pro, there's someone out there with a newly acquired real estate license who just came on the scene. These are the moments that put us to the test! We thrive in these familiar waters! Going to bat for our clients is what we've been doing for years. It takes experience to work your way around 33 offers in bidding war, whether you are representing the buyer or the seller! It's a skill set that ends up being priceless... for both buyers and sellers. In my 30+ years, this is the riskiest market for a FSBO (for-sale-by-owner) and for unrepresented buyers. Thank you NAR for pointing out Marriage or Mortgage and the critical role of real estate professionals!  And I quote, "Find yourself a good agent that you trust - a good negotiator, find an agent who has lots of experience." We agree! 

Thank you for the 'pandemic poetry' Elena Cox, in your well-written article for realtor.com! Our local real estate market has definitely been rocked by Covid-19, as you say, and your story rings true here on the northshore of Boston, MA. 

My favorite line: "Frenzied, take-no prisoners bidding wars might even quiet down into mere skirmishes." Our team of well-seasoned REALTOR professionals wholeheartedly hopes that will come to fruition, soon, really soon!

Despite the hardships these conditions have manifested, real estate, or what we call "HOME", has always been the centerpiece of our lives. We are proud to have been considered essential since the beginning of the pandemic; we are. 

Read Elena's full article here: How the U.S. Housing Market Was Rocked by COVID-19—and Where We Go From Here.

Must be within 45 minute drive of Ipswich!  Own a farmhouse on the North Shore of Boston that needs some major renovations? High Noon Entertainment wants you to get in touch.

The production company behind Fixer Upper is now casting New England farmhouse owners for a national show on a major cable network. The ideal candidate must live within a 45-minute drive of Ipswich and have an existing renovation budget of $150,000.

The team is looking for homes built before 1940, and in need of a large-scale renovation—ideally a renovation of four to five rooms. The family also must be willing to vacate the house for the duration of the build. And they’ll have to let the show’s design team take the reins!

Renovations will start this spring and summer, to be finished by early fall at the latest.

If you think you and your home are a good fit, head to newenglandcastingcall.castingcrane.com to apply. For more information, visit highnoontv.com.