Massachusetts Real Estate

MA real estate

Click on your town of interest from the list below to visit a community website.

When visiting a community you may:

  • Access various MLS (Multiple Listing Systems)
  • Take a "virtual tour" of Massachusetts communities
  • Find school and demographic information
  • Request Home Buyer, Home Seller and Relocation Guides

Local real estate professionals will provide additional community information that you may request.


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Through this site you will find comprehensive facts about MA real estate, as well as extensive information on buying or selling real estate in Massachusetts. If you are looking to invest in real estate you will find a variety of opportunities available to you.  Massachusetts offers residential, new construction, condominiums (condos), adult living communities (55+ communities), retirement and facilities, land, waterfront properties and multi-family investment properties. MA and the surrounding areas offer vacation properties, farms, equine and country properties. To search the Massachusetts MLS (multiple listings service) also referred to as MA MLS, for properties in Massachusetts based on a keyword search, click on the following:

Massachusetts Real Estate
Massachusetts realty, MA landed property, MA real estate

Massachusetts Homes
MA homes - MA residences, Massachusetts dwellings

Massachusetts MLS (MAMLS)
MA multiple listing service, Massachusetts MLS

Massachusetts Condominium
MA condominiums - MA condos,  Massachusetts condominiums

Massachusetts Adult Living communities
MA 55+ communities - MA senior housing,  Massachusetts adult living communities

Massachusetts Farms, Land and View Property
MA farms - MA ranches,  Massachusetts country properties,  MA horse properties

Massachusetts New Homes and Homes for Sale
MA new construction - MA new homes,  Massachusetts home building

Massachusetts Investment Property
MA investment properties - MA investment,  Massachusetts multi-family properties, duplexes, triplexes, and quadraplexes

Massachusetts Waterfront Property
MA Waterfront - MA lake properties,  Massachusetts riverfront properties

Visit other states and towns in the the Virtual Homes network by clicking on any of the town links below.

Massachusetts: The Past, Present & Future of Our Country

Massachusetts has about 200 miles (322 km) of coastline. But if you count all its bays and inlets and tidal waters, the shoreline is ten times longer. Glaciers from the North shaped the state's many bays. Cape Cod and the offshore islands are terminal moraines, sandy ridges piled along the leading edges of the ice.

Inland, the valley of the Housatonic and Connecticut Rivers were scoured out and deepened by glaciers. Fertile soils later deposited on the floodplains attracted farmers, and the rivers themselves provided power to run miles. Manufacturing; machinery, scientific instrument, electronics, transportation equipment, metal products, food products, rubber and plastics, chemicals, paper products.

Mining and Quarrying; stone, sand, and gravel. Agriculture; greenhouse and nursery products, cranberries, milk, eggs and apples. Cranberries spread a crimson carpet on a bog flooded for harvest. Shaken from low growing vines, the berries bob to the surface and are skimmed into holiday pens with long-handled scrubbers.

Cape Code, named by navigator Bartholomew Gosnold after he explored the area in 160, present and arm of glacial sand and gravel to pounding Atlantic waves. Snow dust the evergreen ridges of Mount Greylock in the Berkshire Hills while autumn lingers on lower slopes and valleys.

Harvard spread out on mossy hillside are the four structures known collectively as the Fruit lands Museums, once a utopian commune founded by the transcendentalist Bronson Alcott, father of Louisa May. Exhibits in Fruit lands Farmhouse trace this movement, which espoused self-sufficiency and asceticism. The Picture Gallery displays Hudson River School art, while the c. 1790 Shaker Museum contains examples of sturdy Shaker furniture and handicrafts. View Henry Thoreau's arrowhead collection at the American Indian Museum. Museum are open from spring to October. Massachusetts is filled with historic towns and cities.

Salem: This City isn't shy about admitting to the hysteria that gripped its citizenry in 1692.A sound-and-light show at the Salem Witch Museum tells the sorry tale of the witch-hunts that resulted in the deaths of 20 people. Fortunately, Salem's past is more than witchcraft, and its pedigree vital seaport is understood at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, where the Custom House crowned by splendid gilded eagle once numbered Nathaniel Hawthorne among its employees. His office looks much as it did in the 1840's.

The 1762 Derby House is a typical example of a prosperous merchant's home. Elias Derby's belongings here include an ornate ivory fan from China. Nearby stands the spellbinding House of the Seven Gables, a dark romantic structure that inspired he Hawthorne novel of the same name. When visiting Salem, Happy witch hunting!

Marblehead is a lovely cobblestone seaport, founded by fishermen and shipbuilders in 1629, has a harbor much revered by yachtsmen. Don't miss Marblehead's annual Christmas walk, the first weekend in December, when Santa arrives by lobster boat and the city celebrates with tree lighting, music, and free trolley service. Marblehead and Salem are located on the North Shore of Boston along with the ragged edge of Ipswich Bay to Newburyport at the mouth of the Merrimack River. Here old families, old money and the purest of Massachusetts accent prevail.

In the elate 19th century all of the fishing ports emerged as summer havens. Trains, ferries, and trolleys linked the shore of Boston. Beaching and yachting came into vogue. Blue-collar workers flocked to the boardwalks at Salisbury Beach and Salem Willows, and millionaires built summer mansions on Marblehead Neck and Gloucester's Eastern Point. Summer cottages mushroomed on Plum Island, and on Little Neck in Ipswich. Hotels appeared along the length of the North Shore--from Swampscott to Salisbury. The 750-room Oceanside in Magnolia billed itself as the largest resort hotel in New England.

By the middle of this century most of the hotels had vanished, summerhouses were winterized, and the North Shore communities, many of them connected by commuter trains and buses with Boston's preferred summer spot. Quietly, however, North Shore has been evolving again as tourist destination, one of the most interesting in the Northeast. Many miles of ocean side walks and inland beauty spots have been opened to the public, water excursions have multiplied, the area's outstanding museums- -notably the Peabody Essay Museum in Salem and the Cape Ann Historical Society in Gloucester.

A summer resort area is also Lenox, is filled country estates from the 19th and the early 20th centuries. Most notable among them is The Mount a sprawling American classical mansion that was the home of Edith Wharton, the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize; it stands amid formal Italian gardens designed by the author herself.

Massachusetts Climate

Massachusetts’ weather changes from season to season and from one side of the state to the other. The sprawling coastline, the Cape and the islands tend to be much milder than the mountainous western side of the state.

Winter in MA

Winters in Massachusetts range in average temperatures depending on in which part of the state you are. Highs range from the low to high 30s, and lows are anywhere from the low teens to the mid 20s. The season usually begins in December and goes through the end of February, with snow attracting visitors to the western region of the state to ski, snowshoe and snowmobile, and to the Boston area to see a show in the theater district or to simply revel in the hustling and bustling beauty of the holiday season.

Temperatures tend to be a bit warmer on the coast then they are inland. Although there are some periods of mid-40 degree temperatures and sunshine, temperatures are generally hovering around freezing or below, so make sure you are prepared with plenty of extra layers of clothing when enjoying the New England Patriots football team at Foxboro Stadium!

Spring in MA

Temperatures begin to rise in March, meaning spring is right around the corner! Average temperatures from March to May range from lows in the 30s to highs in the 50s, creating a perfect environment for spring skiing, biking or hiking. In Boston, spring signals the return of the Swan Boats in Boston Common, and in the rest of the state, birds return from winters in the south, leaves begin to appear on trees and flowers pop up from their winter slumber.

Snow is still a possibility, but there’s just a good a chance of being able to finally air out your home and your car with temperatures in the high 60s or low 70s. Lighter jackets or sweaters are appropriate attire for enjoying the Boston Red Sox’s opening day at Fenway Park or the Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village.

Summer in MA

June marks the beginning of summer in Massachusetts. Temperatures range from lows in the 50s to highs in the high 70s or 80s. The ocean breeze tends to keep the coast and islands a bit cooler than the rest of the state, which can be refreshing as the temperatures begin to soar. This being the case, the coastline, the Cape and the Islands are extremely popular vacation spots in the summer. The Berkshires are also a bit cooler, providing the perfect temperatures for exploring mountain streams and trails and for camping.

Lightweight clothes or shorts are usually quite comfortable during the day, and you may find it handy to have a light sweater after the sun goes down.

Fall in MA

In September and October, temperatures begin to drop and Mother Nature creates a masterpiece with some of the most gorgeous foliage in the country. Average temperatures range anywhere from lows in the high 30s or low 40s to the 60s. Leaf-peepers travel from all over the country to see the foliage in the fall, and one Massachusetts town in particular is a Mecca for tourists around Halloween – Salem, MA, home of the Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century.

At night you will start to see smoke coming out of chimneys, as the air can get quite brisk. Sweaters or long sleeve shirts are quite often perfectly comfortable during the day, but you will probably want to have a jacket on hand at night, and an ice scraper for your car nearby in preparation for the first frost!

http://www.weathercentral.com/weather/us/states/MA/
http://www.bostonusa.com/visitor/seasons.htm
http://boston.citygo.info/boston/weather/
http://www.forecastweather.com/US/MA/
http://www.forecastweather.com/US/MA/
http://www.maineharbors.com/ma/mazone.htm

Massachusetts Population:

Massachusetts’ population is just under 6.5 million people. Almost 10% of the entire population of the state resides in the largest city – and state capital – Boston. As a matter of fact, the population of Boston alone is larger than the entire populations of nine of Massachusetts’ 14 counties.

We are equally proud of both our large cities and our small, quaint, New England villages, and everything in between. County populations range from the largest – Middlesex County, to the northwest of Boston – at almost 1.5 million residents, to the smallest county – Nantucket County, consisting solely of the island of Nantucket – at just over 10,000 residents.

The areas with the largest populations are in the eastern half of the state, which is logical, as Boston in on the seacoast. Other areas with high populations include the city of Fall River and surrounding towns in the southeast part of the state and the city of Worcester and the surrounding towns in the center of the state.

Massachusetts population estimates by county for 2003 are as follows:
Barnstable, MA - 229,545
Berkshire, MA - 133,310
Bristol, MA - 547,008
Dukes, MA - 15,601
Essex, MA - 737,848
Franklin, MA - 72,204
Hampden, MA - 461,190
Hampshire, MA - 155,101
Middlesex, MA - 1,471,724
Nantucket, MA - 10,724
Norfolk, MA - 654,331
Plymouth, MA - 487,521
Suffolk, MA - 680,705
Worcester, MA - 776,610
(Courtesy of the Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau, April 9,2004)

http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2003-01-25.pdf
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000lk.html
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/25001.html
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/2507000.html
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000.html
http://www.cityrating.com/citystats.asp?city=Boston&state=MA
http://www.npg.org/states/ma.htm

Massachusetts Government

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

“The Massachusetts Constitution was ratified in 1780 while the Revolutionary War was still in progress, nine years before the United States Constitution was adopted. It is the oldest written Constitution now in use in the world.” – Citizen Information Service: Politics, Massachusetts Facts

Massachusetts’ capitol is Boston, situated on the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern border of the state.

The MA state government has three branches:

Executive

  • The Massachusetts Executive Branch is headed by the Governor.
  • Executive Offices are each headed by a Secretary appointed by the Governor, like the president's Cabinet.
    • The Governor's Council (also called the Executive Council) is composed of:
      • The Lieutenant Governor who acts as governor in the event that the governor cannot perform his or her duties.
      • Eight councilors elected from councilor districts for a two-year term.
    • Constitutional Officers of Massachusetts - elected for four-year terms and are as follows, in order of their succession:
      • The Secretary of the Commonwealth, Keeper of the Great Seal and custodian of the records of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
      • The Attorney General
      • The Treasurer and Receiver
      • The Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Legislative

  • "The Great and General Court," elected every two years, is made up of:
    • A Senate of 40 members
    • A House of Representatives of 160 members
  • Joint committees of the General Court are made up of:
    • Six senators
    • 15 representatives.
      • Each committee has a Senate and House Chair

Judicial

  • Massachusetts judicial appointments are held to the age of seventy.
    •  The Supreme Judicial Court consists of:
      • A Chief Justice
      • Six Associate Justices.
      • It is the highest court in the Commonwealth
    • The Superior Court consists of:
      • A Chief Justice
      • 66 Associate Justices.
      • It is the highest department of the Trial Court.
    • Other departments are:
      • District Court
      • Housing Court
      • Juvenile Court
      • Land Court
      • Probate Court

Local

  • Cities are governed by Mayors and City Councils.
  • MA Towns are usually governed by Selectmen:
    • Usually elected for a one-or-two-year term.
    • Town meetings, a tradition from Colonial times, are still held regularly.
Massachusetts Taxes

MA Personal Income Tax

  • A 5.3% income tax is due on such sources as:
    • Wages and salaries
    • Unemployment compensation
    • Alimony
    • Massachusetts bank interest;
    • Rents & royalty income
    • Taxable pensions & annuity income IRA/Keogh distribution
    • Profit or loss from a business or profession
    • Winnings & prizes
    • Unearned income such as dividends & interest (except Massachusetts savings deposit interest).
  • A 12% capital gains tax is due on:
    • Current-year short-term (including collectibles or long-term collectibles)
    • Pre-1996 installment sales.
  • If you are expecting to receive income in excess of $500 that is not subject to Massachusetts withholding, you must file a declaration of estimated tax
    Personal Tax Guides

MA Sales and Use Tax

  • A 5% sales tax is charged unless exempted by statute.
  • A 5% tax on tangible personal property that has not been taxed already and is used or stored in Massachusetts must be paid.
    • Exemptions include:
      • Food
      • Clothing up to a value of $175
      • Fuel for heating
      • Newspapers
      • Prescription drugs.
  • In addition, there is a sales tax on;

MA Sales Tax on Meals

MA Gasoline Tax

Cigarette Tax

  • There is a 5% sales tax on cigarettes.
  • In addition, the Health Protection Fund provides money for existing health programs and to create new smoking prevention projects and is supported by the following surtax:
    • $1.51 for a package of 20 cigarettes
    • $15.31 for a ten-package carton of cigarettes
    • 30% of the price retailers pay for cigars & smoking tobacco products
    • 90% of the price wholesalers pay on smokeless tobacco products.
      http://www.dor.state.ma.us/cigarette/cigarette.htm

MA Alcoholic Beverages Tax

MA Automobile Excise Tax

  • The annual state tax is collected at the local level.
  • The rate is $25/$1000 of the car manufacturer’s list price (without options) in the year it was manufactured.
  • The tax is figured according to the percentage of the list price. The percentages are as follows:

MA Estate Tax

For more information on taxes in general, contact:
Department of Revenue
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 887-MDOR (6367)
1-800-392-6089 (In MA)
www.dor.state.ma.us/help/taxhelp.htm

Massachusetts Licenses

MA Driver’s License

  • The cost to get a Massachusetts license is $75, and it is valid for 5 years.
  • If you have a valid driver’s license to drive from any U.S. state or Canadian province, you do not need to take a written or driving test to obtain a Massachusetts license, unless your license has been expired for over a year.
  • If you do need to take the test, you can fill out an application and make an appointment for the exam at a branch office of the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A photo license is issued when you pass the exam and an eye test.
    http://www.mass.gov/rmv

MA Vehicle Registration

  • Registration costs $36 for two years.
  • Application for a Massachusetts title ($50) must be also made at this time.
  • All vehicles and motorcycles must be registered at any branch of the Registry of Motor Vehicles in Massachusetts
    • Proof of ownership must be presented at the time of registration, such as:
      • The title to your car
      • A bill of sale
      • A past registration.
  • You will also need insurance certification issued by a licensed Massachusetts insurance company prior to registration, indicating that your car is insured in accordance with Massachusetts laws.
    http://www.mass.gov/rmv/regs

MA Vehicle Inspection

  • After registering your vehicle, you must have it inspected within seven days at any official Massachusetts inspection station.
  • An inspection requires both a yearly safety and emissions level inspection of motor vehicles. Exemptions for the emissions level inspection include any vehicle that:
    • Is over 15 years old
    • Has a maximum speed of no more than 25 m.p.h.
    • Has a diesel engine
    • Weighs at least 8,500 pounds
    • Are motorcycles
    • Are new vehicles being registered for the first time.
  • A combined safety and emissions inspection or a safety only inspection is $29.
    http://www.mass.gov/rmv/stations

MA Marriage

  • The minimum age to marry in Massachusetts is 18.
  • Anyone marrying in Massachusetts must have a marriage license issued by any city or town clerk in the state.

MA Fishing/Hunting

MA Boats and Recreational Vehicles

  • All motor boats and other motorized recreational vehicles must be registered with the Division of Law Enforcement.
  • Registration can be done in the Boston office or at one of the regional offices. www.mass.gov/dfwele/dle/elereg.htm

MA Gun Permits

  • New residents have 60 days to obtain proper licenses.
  • Gun permits can be obtained through your local police department. These include:
    • Licenses to carry (L.T.C.):
      • Class A license - License to purchase, possess and carry large-capacity handguns, rifles, shotguns and feeding devices. License to carry a concealed and loaded firearm
      • A Class B license – License to purchase, possess, and carry non-large capacity handguns and large-capacity rifles and shotguns.
      • Firearm identification cards (F.I.D.):

Massachusetts Boards of Registration

  • Massachusetts state licenses for certain professions and trades are issued by the following Boards of Registration:
    • Allied Health Professions (Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists)
    • Allied Mental Health and Human Service Professionals (Marriage and Family Therapists, Rehabilitation Counselors, Mental Health Counselors)
    • Architects
    • Barbers
    • Chiropractors
    • Cosmetologists
    • Dieticians and Nutritionists
    • Dispensing Opticians
    • Drinking Water Supply Facility Operators
    • Electricians
    • Electrologists
    • Embalming and Funeral Directors
    • Engineers and Land Surveyors
    • Health Officers
    • Hearing Instrument Specialists
    • Home Inspectors
    • Landscape Architects
    • Medicine
    • Optometry
    • Physician Assistants
    • Plumbers and Gasfitters
    • Podiatry
    • Psychology
    • Public Accountancy
    • Radio and Television Technicians
    • Real Estate Appraisers
    • Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
    • Sanitarians
    • Social Workers
    • Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
    • Veterinary Medicine.
      http://www.mass.gov/dpl
    • Dental Examiners
    • Nursing
    • Nursing Home Administrators
    • Perfusionists
    • Pharmacists
    • Physician Assistants
    • Respiratory Care Therapists
      www.mass.gov/dph/boards/index.htm
    • Teachers and other professional education personnel
      www.doe.mass.edu/educators/e_license.html

MA Lawyers

  • You can be sworn in by the Supreme Judicial Court if you have been practicing in another state for at least five years and have a Massachusetts lawyer vouch for you.
  • You will have to take the bar exam if you have been practicing for less than five years.
    http://www.mass.gov/bbe/