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Norfolk County Real Estate Sees Growth in May 2025 |
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Monday, June 9, 2025
Norfolk County Real Estate Sees Growth in May 2025
Monday, May 26, 2025
Register O'Donnell Reveals Norfolk County's Top Real Estate Sales of 2025's 1st Quarter (2 in Franklin)
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell reported that during the first quarter of 2025, ten properties, a mix of commercial and residential, sold for total of $272.4 million, with an average price of $27,240,000. These high-value transactions highlight the strength and diversity of the local real estate market, reflecting continued economic activity across various sectors.
Top Real Estate Sales of 2025's 1st Quarter (2 in Franklin) |
The following prices pertain to real estate sales from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025.
The ten properties were:
- 44 Vanderbilt Avenue, Norwood – A 44,406-square-foot industrial manufacturing facility built in 1980, sold in March for $7,875,000.
- 20 Sears Road, Brookline – A 7-bedroom, 9-bath, 9,300-square-foot mansion built in 1930, sold in March for $8,000,000.
- 121 Grove Street, Franklin – A 6-bedroom farmhouse and 26.26 acres of land, sold in January for $9,100,000.
- 1199 West Central Street, Franklin – In March, Dairy Farmers of America bought the 300,000-square-foot milk processing facility, formerly owned by Garelick Farms, which sold for $9,611,188.
- 9 Andem Place, Brookline – Extra Space Storage purchased a six-floor self-storage facility, the oldest full-service self-storage property in Brookline, in January for $11,250,000.
- 40 Industrial Drive, Canton – A 59,400-square-foot industrial warehouse renovated in 2005, sold in February for $11,775,000.
- 200 Grossman Drive, Braintree – In February, the 34-acre shopping plaza known as The Marketplace at Braintree sold for $29,900,000.
- 2 Presidential Drive, Quincy – The 276-unit Garden-style apartment complex, built on 12 acres of land and known as Presidential Estates, sold in March for $74,000,000.
- 200 Trotter Road, Weymouth – In January, the 298-unit apartment community known as The Commons at SouthField sold for $103,100,000.
These transactions reflect a combination of apartment complexes, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and residential properties, emphasizing Norfolk County's attractiveness to investors across multiple industries. The state and county collected excise taxes totaling more than $1,242,195 from these ten sales.
"The variety in these real estate transactions bodes well for the Norfolk County economy, with high-value properties selling in both commercial and residential sectors," stated Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell. "This indicates that Norfolk County is not only a desirable place to live and work but also a magnet for business, industry, and trade. Overall, the dynamic real estate market in Norfolk County underscores its attractiveness and potential for continued growth and prosperity."
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/norfolkdeeds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @norfolkdeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High St., Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website, www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101 or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.
Monday, May 12, 2025
Norfolk County Real Estate Recordings Show Continued Increase in April 2025
Monday, April 28, 2025
Register O'Donnell Delivers 2025 First Quarter Real Estate Activity Report
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell reported that Norfolk County real estate recordings for the first quarter of 2025 (January–March 2025) indicate an increase in overall real estate activity, with increases in both the total number of deeds and mortgages recorded as compared to the first quarter of 2024.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds recorded 22,752 documents during the first quarter of 2025, representing a 4% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Register O'Donnell Delivers 2025 First Quarter Real Estate Activity Report
The number of deeds for the first quarter of 2025, which reflect both commercial and residential real estate sales and transfers, was 3,409, up from 3,262 deeds in the same period of 2024, marking a 5% increase.
"This rise in deed recordings reflects a healthy level of activity in the real estate market, indicating continued interest and transactions despite economic pressures," stated Register O'Donnell.
The total volume of commercial and residential sales for the first quarter of 2025 reached $1,663,020,938, a 9% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024. The average sale price for commercial and residential properties climbed to $1,146,911, reflecting a 12% increase from the same time period in 2024.
"I can understand the frustration some homebuyers may be feeling because right now it is a more complicated process for individuals, especially first-time homebuyers, looking to purchase a home," said Register O'Donnell. "It is more expensive for homebuyers because prices are still high relative to past home values, and to add to this difficulty, there may be multiple people competing for the same property as well as increased costs due to higher interest rates on monies borrowed."
Overall lending activity was up in the first quarter. The total number of mortgages recorded was 3,279, marking an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. However, total mortgage indebtedness declined significantly, falling 41% to $3,082,620,534.
"The increase in mortgage recordings is likely due to first-time homebuyers securing loans to step into homeownership and existing homeowners refinancing to take advantage of more favorable mortgage rates," noted Register O'Donnell.
The foreclosure market in Norfolk County saw notable improvements during the first quarter of 2025. There were 18 foreclosure deeds recorded as a result of mortgage foreclosures taking place in Norfolk County, a 38% decrease from the first quarter of 2024. Notices to foreclose also declined by 23%, with 69 notices recorded compared to 90 during the same time period last year.
"The reduction in foreclosure activity is an encouraging sign. With that said, we cannot forget that foreclosure activity has a human face associated with it, and there are still a number of our neighbors who have lost their homes, and even more are dangerously close to losing their homes," said Register O'Donnell. "I would urge anyone struggling to pay their mortgage or who knows someone who is struggling to contact one of the non-profit organizations listed on our website, www.norfolkdeeds.org."
For the past several years, the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds has partnered with Quincy Community Action Programs (617-479-8181 x376) and NeighborWorks Housing Solutions (508-587-0950) to help anyone facing challenges paying their mortgage. Another option for homeowners is to contact the Massachusetts Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy and Response Division (CARD) at 617-727-8400.
"Norfolk County remains a highly desirable location for both residential and commercial real estate," noted Register O'Donnell. "However, affordability challenges and limited inventory continue to create hurdles for prospective buyers. As we move into the spring homebuying season, we hope to see a continued increase in activity that reflects the strength and resilience of our local communities."
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/norfolkdeeds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @norfolkdeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High St., Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website, www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101 or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.
Monday, April 7, 2025
Norfolk County Real Estate Activity Shows Mixed Results in March 2025
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Mixed Results in March 2025 |
Monday, March 10, 2025
Positive Trends Continue in Norfolk County's Real Estate Market
Monday, February 24, 2025
2025 Real Estate Market Off to a Promising Start in Norfolk County
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
MassBudget: "Local Revenue is a Key Tool to Advance Housing Affordability"
"All residents of Massachusetts deserve access to affordable, safe, and stable housing. However, the Commonwealth currently faces a severe shortage of housing that is affordable to households earning lower incomes. Additionally, home prices have dramatically outpaced inflation, while renters, especially renters of color, continue to face high housing cost burdens.Cities and towns have the potential to make significant contributions toward meeting affordable housing needs, but they need the resources to do it. Real estate transfer fees, which assess a fee on specific real estate sales, can create or preserve thousands of affordable housing units. Transfer fee revenue from high-end sales could fund local affordable housing trusts, which are often underfunded.Transfer fees direct some of the economic gains from those who have most benefited from real estate appreciation to those who have most acutely felt the negative impacts of the housing affordability and displacement crises. In doing so, they are a tool for economic and racial equity.In a new report, MassBudget Housing Analyst Victoria DiLorenzo discusses how municipal affordable housing trusts create and preserve affordable housing locally, and how local revenue can be a key tool in addressing the Commonwealth’s housing affordability crisis. The report focuses on the 19 communities that have filed home rule petitions seeking state permission to enact a real estate transfer fee."
Monday, February 17, 2025
Register O'Donnell Reveals Norfolk County’s Top 10 Real Estate Sales of 2024
(10) 23-25 Bridge Street, Quincy, the 6-story, 60-unit apartment complex known as Hillside Residences, sold in March for $25,450,000;(9) 2 Kay Way, Stoughton, a 118,200-square-foot manufacturing and warehouse facility built on 5.92 acres of land, sold in September for $26,100,000;(8) 1 Richard A Stratton Way, Quincy, the five-floor, 89,507-square-foot Holiday Inn hotel, sold in May for $30,498,000;(7) 1280-1300 & 1330 Boylston Street, Brookline, a 5.34-acre office park comprised of four commercial buildings totaling nearly 120,000 square feet, sold in May for $41,000,000;(6) 122 & 130-132 Granite Street, Quincy, the 100,000-square-foot retail shopping plaza known as Granite Place, sold in May for $41,500,000;(5) A multibuilding manufacturing facility totaling more than 212,000 square feet of space located at 10 & 20 Dan Road, Canton, sold in May for $50,000,000;(4) 655 Washington Street, Weymouth, the 4-story, 160-unit luxury apartment complex known as Helix Apartments, sold in May for $62,645,000;(3) 170-180 Main Street, Walpole, the 3-story, 161-unit Senior Living Community, known as New Pond Village, sold in August for $66,000,000;(2) 33-39 Main Street, Medway, the 5-story, 190-unit high-end apartment complex built on 12.32 acres of land known as the Hathon, sold in December for $75,600,000;
(1) Upland Road, 1 Moderna Way, and 10 Forbes Drive, Norwood, Moderna purchased the 200,000-square-foot clinical development manufacturing facility they were renting from Alexandria Real Estate Partners in December for $369,439,000.
Monday, February 10, 2025
Register O’Donnell Reports on 2024 Annual Real Estate Activity in Norfolk County
In 2024, there were 103,165 documents recorded at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, a 1% increase from 2023. July was the busiest month in 2024 for real-estate activity with a total of 9,827 documents recorded. It also tied August with the highest increase in document volume compared to their respective months in 2023, up 14%.
“In 2024 we began to see some positive trends in real estate recording activity, with nine out of twelve months showing a rise in document recordings compared to 2023,” stated Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell. “This higher volume of activity in 2024 is largely due to an increase in the number of deeds and mortgages recorded compared to 2023.”
The number of deeds recorded in 2024, which reflect real estate sales and transfers, both commercial and residential, was 15,795 an increase of 4% from 2023. The number of property sales was also up increasing 1% from the previous year. With a total of 899 transactions in one month, July had the highest number of property sales in 2024. Comparing months in 2023 to months in 2024, August showed the largest rise in property sales with an increase of 20%.
“The overall number of deeds recorded monthly in 2024 compared to 2023 reveals a consistent positive trend, with only two months out of the twelve showing fewer deed recordings than the previous year,” noted Register O’Donnell. “This indicates that the real estate market is performing decently, particularly in certain neighborhoods and property types in area communities.”
Property sale prices for 2024 appear to have increased slightly compared to 2023. The average sale price for all of Norfolk County, both commercial and residential, this year was $1,149,809 a 6% increase from 2023. December 2024 saw the largest increase from the same month in 2023, up 39%. The total dollar volume of commercial and residential sales for 2024 is also up, increasing by 7% from one year ago.
Follow this link to the Registry of Deeds website to watch this short segment on December 2024 real estate statistics that aired on Norwood Community Media: https://www.norfolkdeeds.org/news-event/december-2024-real-estate-stats-ncm
“There is no doubt that Norfolk County is a desirable place to live and work, a credit to all the communities and the municipal staff and leaders who have created such a vibrant area,” stated Register O'Donnell. “While many Norfolk County communities increased construction of new homes in 2024 the inventory of available property remains out paced by the demand, which can make it a difficult market for buyers, especially first-time home buyers.”
In 2024, Overall, Norfolk County’s lending activity increased compared to 2023. A total of 15,461 mortgages were recorded in 2024, up 6% from 2023. October had the largest increase in mortgage recordings compared to the same month in 2023, up 30%.
“2024 saw the average mortgage interest rate come down slightly, especially in late September and early October, and while rates may not have decreased as much as some would have liked, many individuals took advantage of the opportunity to refinance or take out new property loans resulting in a net increase in mortgage recordings in 2024 compared to 2023,” stated Register O'Donnell.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds has been closely monitoring the foreclosure market. In 2024, there were 87 foreclosure deeds recorded, as a result of mortgage foreclosures taking place in Norfolk County, whereas in 2023, there were 73 recorded. Also concerning is in 2024, there were 380 notices to foreclose, the first step in the foreclosure process, compared to the 339 recorded in 2023.
“We cannot begin to know all the causes that have contributed to these foreclosures and notices to foreclose, but what we do know is that a number of our neighbors have lost their homes, and even more are dangerously close to losing their homes,” said Register O'Donnell. “We all experience unforeseen events in our lives, and sometimes events beyond our control can have devastating emotional and financial effects, so I would urge anyone struggling to pay their mortgage or who knows someone who is struggling to contact one of the non-profit organizations listed on our website, www.norfolkdeeds.org.”
For the past several years, the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds has partnered with Quincy Community Action Programs (617-479-8181 x376) and NeighborWorks Housing Solutions (508-587-0950) to help anyone facing challenges paying their mortgage. Another option for homeowners is to contact the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy and Response Division (CARD) at 617-727-8400.
“Over all the real estate market remained steady in 2024 with a slight rise in activity in the second half of the year compared to 2023.” O'Donnell continued, “As we move into 2025 we hope to see real estate activity continue to rise as we wait to see how mortgage interest rates and the inventory of available property impact the real estate market.”
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, “like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/norfolkdeeds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @norfolkdeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High St., Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website, www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101 or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Franklin home prices surge during 2024
"The median sale price of single-family homes in Franklin, MA hit a record high of $727,000 in 2024. In the last 4 years, the median sale price of Franklin single-family homes has surged 44%, a value gain that was completely unforeseen by real estate experts at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020.The gain is all the more impressive given the sharp rise in mortgage interest rates that began in 2022. The current 30-year fixed-rate mortgage stands at an average of nearly 7%, more than double the 3% rate average last seen in January of 2022."
Monday, January 20, 2025
Norfolk County Register of Deeds sees Increase in Property sales for December 2024
Monday, December 9, 2024
Norfolk Country Registry: Total Deed and Mortgage Recordings up in November, 2024
Monday, November 25, 2024
Register O'Donnell Reveals Norfolk County's Top Real Estate Sales of 2024's 3rd Quarter
The following prices pertain to real estate sales from July 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024.
The ten properties were:Top Real Estate Sales
- A series of 4-unit apartment buildings constructed in 1941 across nine separate lots on Summit Avenue and Bishop Road in Quincy sold for $10,000,000 in September;
- The Canton Ice House, a 58,000-square-foot ice skating arena located at 65 North Street in Canton, sold for $10,000,000 in August;
- 63 Kendrick Street, Needham, a two-floor, 105,000-square-foot office building with a mix of conference rooms, cubical space, and private offices, sold in August for $13,500,000;
- 25 Sears Road, Brookline, an 11,786-square-foot, six-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion built on 3 acres of land, was sold in August for $14,844,000;
- The well-regarded wedding venue, The Lantana banquet hall, and popular Night Club Vincent's, both located near 43 Scanlon Drive, Randolph, sold in August for $20,714,881 as part of a multi-property deal;
- 81 King Street, Cohasset, a 68,507-square-foot self-storage facility, sold in August for $25,100,000;
- 2 Kay Way, Stoughton, a 118,200-square-foot manufacturing and warehouse facility build on 5.92 acres of land, sold in September for $26,100,000;
- A multibuilding manufacturing facility totaling more than 212,000 square feet of space located at 10 & 20 Dan Road, Canton, sold in May for $50,000,000;
- 170-180 Main Street, Walpole, the 3-story, 161-unit Senior Living Community, known as New Pond Village, sold in August for $66,000,000.
The top sales appear to have been a combination of private homes, apartment complexes, recreational, manufacturing, and office space. The state and Norfolk County collected excise taxes totaling more than $1,122,700 from these 10 sales.
"The variety in these real estate transactions bodes well for the Norfolk County economy, with high-value properties selling in both commercial and residential sectors," stated Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell. "This also indicates that Norfolk County is not only a desirable place to both live and work but is also a magnet for business, industry, and trade."
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/norfolkdeeds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @norfolkdeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High St., Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website, www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101 or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.