Frequently Asked Questions

When you work with the Santana Team, you have your own dedicated real estate agent who guides you through buying or selling your home. The difference is that your agent also has an entire team behind them. Our agents bring their own local knowledge and experience, but they also benefit from the collective expertise of other agents on the team. Plus, we have dedicated staff handling things like marketing, staging, paperwork, and coordinating the many details that go into a successful closing. That means you still have one person you know and trust, but with more resources and support behind the scenes. Whether you're buying or selling in Greater Boston, you get the personal attention of one agent, with the advantages of a full team.

Yes. You will have a dedicated agent who knows your search or your sale, answers your questions, and represents you. The rest of the team is there to support that work, not to hand you off to a new person every week. You may also hear from operations teammates at certain points, especially between an accepted offer and closing, so deadlines and documents stay organized. Your agent remains the person leading your relationship.

It depends on whether you are buying or selling, but the idea is the same: your agent is not doing every task alone. Operations help keep inspections, appraisals, attorney paperwork, and closing dates on track. Our in-house stager can help get a listing ready. Marketing support helps with photos, the listing, and getting the home in front of buyers. That backup is often what people mean when they say a team feels different from hiring one person who has to do all of it themselves. If you want a closer look at the closing side, we wrote about how our operations team supports a sale or purchase: https://www.santanateam.com/blog/ops-team-spotlight-closing-coordination-boston

The easiest way is to connect with our team and tell us whether you are thinking about buying, selling, or both: https://www.santanateam.com/connect We will match you with an agent, talk through your timing and goals, and go from there. There is no pressure to be ready this week. Since 2014, the Santana Team has helped 1,600+ clients in Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Medford, and across Greater Boston, and we are glad to help you think through the next step.

The Santana Team helps buyers and sellers throughout Greater Boston and beyond. Since 2014, we've completed more than 1,600 closings across 105 Massachusetts cities and towns. While Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, and Arlington are our core markets, our experience extends well beyond those communities. Here's a look at some of the towns where we've helped clients buy and sell homes: - Somerville (https://www.santanateam.com/blog/somerville-real-estate-experts): 570+ closings - Cambridge (https://www.santanateam.com/blog/cambridge-real-estate-experts): 155+ closings - Medford (https://www.santanateam.com/blog/medford-real-estate-experts): 150+ closings - Arlington (https://www.santanateam.com/blog/arlington-real-estate-experts): 145+ closings - Boston (https://www.santanateam.com/blog/boston-real-estate-experts) (including its neighborhoods): 115+ closings - Everett: 35+ closings - Watertown: 30+ closings - Melrose (https://www.santanateam.com/blog/melrose-real-estate-experts): 25+ closings - Malden: 25+ closings - Hingham (https://www.santanateam.com/blog/hingham-real-estate-experts): 20+ closings - Weymouth (https://www.santanateam.com/blog/weymouth-real-estate-experts): 20+ closings And those are just some of the communities where we've worked. When we say we serve Greater Boston, we mean it. Our agents aren't limited to a handful of towns. We're willing to go where our clients need us, whether that's helping a longtime Somerville resident move to the suburbs or finding the right home for a first-time buyer outside the city. Massachusetts cities and towns where the Santana Team has closed sales (105 as of November 6, 2026): Abington, Acton, Arlington, Attleboro, Auburn, Barnstable, Bedford, Belmont, Beverly, Billerica, Boston, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Concord, Danvers, Dedham, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Everett, Fitchburg, Foxborough, Framingham, Gloucester, Groveland, Hanson, Harwich, Haverhill, Hingham, Holliston, Hopedale, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Kingston, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Marblehead, Marlborough, Marshfield, Mashpee, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Methuen, Milford, Millbury, Millis, Milton, Nahant, Natick, Needham, Newton, North Andover, North Reading, Northborough, Northbridge, Norwell, Norwood, Peabody, Plymouth, Provincetown, Quincy, Randolph, Reading, Rehoboth, Revere, Rockland, Salem, Saugus, Scituate, Shrewsbury, Somerville, Southborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sudbury, Swampscott, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Westford, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Worcester, Yarmouth. Closing figures represent completed buyer-side and seller-side deals by Santana Team agents through November 6, 2026. Pending sales are excluded.

Hudson Santana started working in real estate in 2009. The Santana Team came later, when Hudson and his wife, Lisa, officially started the team and brought on admin support and agents to work alongside them. The numbers we share on this page and across our site, including the 1,600+ clients we have helped, come from our team's transaction records, which begin in 2014. That is why you will often see "since 2014" next to our sales figures. Since then, the team has grown to include agents, operations, marketing, and in-house staging support, while keeping the same idea at the center: you work with a dedicated agent, and the team makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.

No. It is a common assumption, and we are glad to clear it up. We have sold a lot of new construction, and we work with a number of local builders, so that side of our business gets noticed. But the bigger share of our work is helping people buy and sell the homes they already own or want to own: condos, single-family homes, multi-families, and older homes with plenty of character. We like to put it this way: we don't get listings, we sell homes. The goal is not to collect signs on lawns. It is to get your home sold well if you are selling, or to get you into the right home if you are buying, whether it was built last year or a hundred years ago. If you own a home and are thinking about selling, or you are buying anything from a first condo to a multi-family, we would be glad to help: https://www.santanateam.com/connect And if you are a builder or investor, we can help with that side too.

Our relationships with investors and developers never take priority over our responsibility to the clients we represent. When we're representing a homeowner, our job is to protect their interests, help them understand their options, and negotiate the best possible outcome for them. We take our fiduciary duties seriously. We don't favor an investor simply because we've worked with them before, and we don't steer sellers toward particular buyers for our own benefit. Our clients make the decisions, and our responsibility is to give them the information and advice they need to make those decisions confidently. In fact, our investment and development experience can be an advantage for homeowners. We understand how builders and investors evaluate properties, what opportunities they see, and how that can affect a home's value. That knowledge helps us advise sellers, whether their most likely buyer is someone who wants to live in the home, or a developer looking for their next project.

No. It is another common misconception. Some people assume we only work with $1M+ homes, and others assume we only work with homes under $3M. We do it all. We have helped clients buying or selling everything from $300k condos in the suburbs to homes well over $5 million, including in Back Bay. Two of our values are treating everyone with respect and dignity, and integrity at all costs. We will support you and do our very best, no matter your price point. That means the same approach every time: a dedicated agent with the team behind them, pricing grounded in real local sales, staging and marketing that fit the home, and discretion when privacy matters to you. That includes higher-end sales in Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Hingham, and Boston, and sales with more moving parts, like multi-families, condo conversions, or a move on a tight timeline. Wherever your home falls, we would be glad to talk it through: https://www.santanateam.com/connect

Yes. It is one of the more common situations we help with, and it is where having a team behind your agent really shows. Selling and buying at once means two sets of dates, inspections, attorneys, and often a mortgage that depends on the sale. Depending on your finances and the market, the right plan might be selling first and negotiating time to stay in the home after closing, buying first with financing that allows it, or lining up both closings close together. Which path makes sense depends on your numbers, your lender, and how much flexibility you need, so we usually start by talking through timing with you and your lender before either home is on the market.

We start by getting clear on your goals, budget, and must-haves, so your search stays focused on homes that actually fit. From there, we help you see what is on the market and, through our network, opportunities that are not listed yet. Whether you are looking at a Cambridge condo or a single-family home in Arlington, your agent brings local knowledge and honest advice to every step. The Santana Team has helped 1,600+ clients buy and sell homes, and we bring that experience to your search.

Start by getting clear on what matters most, including your budget and the features you do not want to give up. Once your priorities are set, we can connect you with trusted local lenders for mortgage pre-approval. In Greater Boston, where multiple offers are common, strong financing helps you move quickly and confidently when the right home comes along.

Winning an offer in Greater Boston usually takes more than price. We advise you on every part of your offer, including financing, contingencies, and timing, so it lines up with what the seller needs while still protecting you. Our experience and relationships with local agents help position you as a strong buyer, and we negotiate with your interests first.

In Massachusetts, an accepted offer is usually the first step, not the final contract. After your offer is accepted, there is typically a home inspection period, then a Purchase and Sale Agreement that your attorney reviews and negotiates. From there, your lender orders an appraisal and works toward a mortgage commitment. If you are buying a condo, you will also review the condo documents and budget. Real estate attorneys are part of almost every Massachusetts closing, for buyers and sellers alike. The exact deadlines are set in your offer and Purchase and Sale Agreement and vary from deal to deal, so confirm the details with your attorney. Your agent and our operations team track those dates together so nothing slips between the accepted offer and the day you get the keys.

From inspections to the final walkthrough, we help manage the moving parts. We coordinate with your lender, attorney, and inspector so deadlines are met and nothing is overlooked, and our operations team tracks the dates alongside your agent. We also help you prepare for practical details, like setting up utilities and learning your trash pickup schedule, so move-in feels smooth.

We start by listening to your story and goals, then build a plan around them. We use current market data to price your home competitively, and we showcase it with professional photography, floor plans, and video tours. Our in-house stager helps your home look its best before it goes on the market. Then we run showings and open houses, negotiate offers carefully, and coordinate inspections, disclosures, and closing details so the sale stays on track.

Pricing is one of the most important decisions in a sale. We look at current market data and recent comparable sales to recommend a price that positions your home well, and we explain what is driving buyer interest so you understand the strategy. You always have the final say. Our job is to help you land on a price that balances value with competition.

First impressions usually happen online, so we hire professional photographers and create floor plans and video tours that show your home at its best. We then promote the listing on the major real estate sites, search engines, and social media, and through our network of local agents, so it reaches as many serious buyers as possible.

It does not mean your home will not sell. Often a few thoughtful changes make the difference: adjusting the price to match how buyers are responding, improving the staging or marketing, or relisting at a better time of year. We will look at what happened with you, talk through your options, and build a fresh plan.

Yes. We only provide staging to our own clients, not as a standalone staging business. Every seller who works with us gets a staging consultation, where your agent and our in-house stager walk through the home and build a plan for it. Because staging is in-house, we can be flexible, and our prices are typically much lower than a staging company, since we are not trying to make a profit off of it. If your home is vacant, we can also fully stage it. Keeping staging in-house makes coordination simpler and helps your home look its best from the first day it is on the market.

Vacant staging is for empty homes. We bring in furniture, rugs, and artwork scaled to the rooms, so buyers can picture how the space works and how they might use it. Occupied staging is for homes you are still living in, and it is mostly about editing rather than adding. That usually means removing extra furniture to open up the flow, clearing kitchen counters, taking down personal photos and bold decor, and decluttering closets and storage. The goal is a neutral, easy-to-read space where buyers notice the home, not the contents. Either way, staging helps buyers see the layout, scale, and potential of a home, which is why we treat it as part of our selling process rather than an extra.

Yes. We work with local builders on homes that are being built, including some that are not on the market yet. If you are looking for new construction, we can share what is in our pipeline, help you get in early, and walk you through timing, pricing, and whether a given home is the right fit. Some of these opportunities never get a public listing, so it helps to be in touch before you need to move tomorrow. If you want to be considered as new homes come up, get in touch: https://www.santanateam.com/connect

Yes. We regularly list new homes for local builders across Greater Boston. We are the listing team, not the developer. Our job is to market and sell the finished homes, and to represent our clients in those transactions. If you are a builder looking for a listing partner, or a buyer who wants to see new construction we have coming up, we would be glad to talk: https://www.santanateam.com/connect

Yes. If you own a lot, or a home you are thinking of replacing, we can help you think through what the property may allow, connect you with builders we work with, and talk through timing, cost, and whether building is a better path than selling. We help you evaluate the opportunity and work with the right partners. Permitting in Massachusetts usually takes 6 to 12 months, and construction typically takes another 12 to 14 months. All in, plan for roughly 18 to 26 months from start to finish, and build in some cushion for local approvals, trade availability, weather, and site surprises. Every project and town is a little different. If you want to explore this, get in touch: https://www.santanateam.com/connect

Yes. Some people prefer a quieter sale, and we respect that. We can reach developers and other off-market buyers through our relationships, walk you through how that offer compares with listing on the open market, and you decide which way to go. There is no pressure to put a sign in the yard. This is not a one-way door. If you don't get the offers you want, or you simply change your mind, we can shift to a traditional listing and put the home on the open market. If a quieter sale is what you have in mind, we would be glad to talk it through: https://www.santanateam.com/connect