Don’t Get Spooked by the Real Estate Market

Every October, the headlines creep in like fog: ghosted buyers, vanishing listings, a chilling slowdown. This year, even Fortune joined the séance, calling it “spooky season” for sellers. But here’s the thing: while some parts of the country are feeling haunted, Greater Boston’s market is still very much alive.

Fear vs. Facts

Yes, mortgage rates are high. Yes, inventory is climbing a little. But context matters. In many U.S. cities, a surge in listings signals trouble. Around here, it signals finally. After years of microscopic inventory, we’re seeing a healthier flow of homes hitting the market. It’s still far below pre-pandemic levels, but there are finally enough listings to give buyers more options without sending sellers into hiding.

The Local Reality Check

In Middlesex County*, homes are taking only a few extra days to sell. The average time to offer this year is 29 days, compared to 26 days last year. Prices keep climbing, too. The average sale price jumped from $539,000 in 2024 to $624,000 in 2025, a nearly 16% increase. For all the talk of a “spooky” slowdown, that doesn’t look very haunted. Sellers who price strategically and present well are still attracting serious buyers. And those buyers are focused, pre-approved, and far less likely to “ghost” after offer acceptance.

Why Fear Makes Bad Decisions

Scary headlines make people freeze. But real estate isn’t about timing the market. It’s about timing your life. Maybe you need to move for a job. Maybe your family is growing, or your investment strategy is shifting. Waiting for “perfect conditions” is like waiting for a full moon to buy a house. It’s never perfect, but the right move at the right time can still build wealth over the long run.

I’ve fallen for this trap myself. Hudson encouraged me to buy any investment property between 2020 and 2021, but I hesitated. The market felt too competitive, decisions had to be made too fast, and I told myself I would wait for things to “cool off.” In 2023, I regretted not buying in 2021. Now, in 2025, I regret not buying in 2023, when prices were lower than today. The lesson is simple: if your finances are ready and the move makes sense for your life, action beats paralysis every time.

Tricks, Treats, and Smart Moves

For buyers, the “treats” right now include less competition, more negotiating power, and a chance to inspect homes without a bidding war. For sellers, motivated buyers mean fewer showings but stronger offers. And for anyone still reading the national horror stories, remember that markets aren’t one-size-fits-all.

Greater Boston is the kind of haunted house you want to own: sturdy, historic, and only slightly creaky when the wind blows.

Disclaimer: Market conditions change over time. Data cited reflects October 2025 year-to-date trends in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Towns included in Middlesex County:
Acton, Arlington, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Boxborough, Burlington, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Everett, Framingham, Groton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Newton, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Sherborn, Shirley, Somerville, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Weston, Westford, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn.

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