ARMSTRONG FIELD REAL ESTATE BLOG

Salem, Massachusetts · 1626–2026 The History of Salem, MA: 400 Years on the North Shore From a fishing outpost at Naumkeag to the richest port in America, the story behind the city many of us are lucky to call home. Derby Wharf Light Station, at the end of the half-mile wharf that once served Salem'

Salem, MA · Buyer & Seller Guide · October 2026 Buying or Selling a Home in Salem During Haunted Happenings A million visitors, weekend road closures, and a Saturday Halloween. Here's how to keep a Salem real estate deal on track in October, and why this month isn't all bad news.   by Jim Armstrong

Buyer & Seller Guide · Massachusetts · North Shore Deeds and Title in Massachusetts: What You're Really Getting at Closing Quitclaim deeds, title searches, tax stamps, and title insurance, explained the way they actually work here on the North Shore. By Jim Armstrong · Armstrong Field Group at Aluxe

Seller Guide · Home Value · North Shore, Massachusetts Your Home Doesn't Have Just One Value Market value, appraised value, assessed value, replacement cost, and that online estimate (AVM, or Automated Valuation Model) all answer different questions. Here's what each one means for Massachusetts home

Mortgage & Credit VantageScore 4.0 Is Reshaping Mortgage Credit Scores — What North Shore Buyers and Sellers Should Know A federal regulator just opened the door for lenders to score your mortgage application differently. Here's what actually changed, who it helps, and what it means if you're buying

North Shore Seller Guide · 2026 What It Really Costs to Sell a Home on the North Shore in 2026 Commissions after the rule changes, the Massachusetts costs nobody warns you about, and an honest look at what actually lands in your pocket. $4.56 MA deed excise tax, per $1,000 of sale price $50 Smoke &

North Shore Massachusetts Real Estate · 2026 The $1 Million Home Isn’t a Mansion Anymore What buyers actually get for seven figures in Beverly, Salem, Danvers, Marblehead, Gloucester, and other North Shore communities—and why the answer can change within a few miles. By Jim Armstrong, REALTOR® · Arm

Massachusetts Estate & Probate Real Estate Guide Selling an Inherited House in Massachusetts: What Heirs Need to Know Probate, taxes, mortgages, siblings, cleanouts and as-is sales—explained in plain English so your family can make informed decisions. By Jim Armstrong, REALTOR® • Armstrong Field Gro

North Shore Market Update · Fall 2026 North Shore Fall Housing Market 2026: More Balanced, but Not the Same in Every Town A town-by-town look at Beverly, Salem, Danvers, Peabody, and Gloucester — with single-family homes and condominiums kept where they belong: in separate columns. By Jim Armstrong,

North Shore Seller Resources How to Prepare Your Home for Sale: A Step-by-Step Checklist for North Shore Sellers A practical, room-by-room guide to getting your Massachusetts home ready for the market — without the guesswork. Every home I walk into before it's listed has its own story — a kitchen so

  North Shore Real Estate Explained How Do Real Estate Commissions Work Now? The rules around who pays commissions changed in 2024 — but not in the way most headlines make it sound. Here's what actually happens now, for buyers and sellers on the North Shore. Aug. 17, 2024 When the New Rules Took Eff

North Shore Living Guide Living in Beverly, Massachusetts: A Local's Guide to Every Neighborhood I grew up one town over in Danvers, lived in Salem for thirty years, and now call North Beverly home. Here's an honest look at Beverly's eight neighborhoods, the real commute picture, and what buyers and

Move-Up Buyers · North Shore, MA Moving Up? 6 Questions to Ask Before You Fall in Love With a Bigger Home A practical guide for Massachusetts North Shore homeowners weighing whether — and when — to upsize. 2 Transactions Happening at Once 6 Questions Every Upsizer Should Ask 1 Plan That Covers Both

North Shore MA Home Sellers & Buyers What Do Appraisal Condition Ratings C1–C5 Actually Mean — And Can They Sink Your Financing? A plain-English guide to how appraisers grade your home's condition, and why it matters more than most buyers and sellers on the North Shore realize. C1–C6 Full UAD Condit

North Shore Real Estate Can AI Really Replace Your Real Estate Agent? What ChatGPT, Zestimates, and automated valuation tools get right — and where they run into trouble on the North Shore's historic and coastal housing stock. 91% Sellers who used an agent 5% FSBO sales — all-time low $65K Median pr

Pricing Your North Shore Home: Why You Should Price to Tomorrow's Market, Not Yesterday's Comps A practical guide for sellers navigating a Massachusetts market that's still strong — but changing If you've talked to a neighbor who sold their house on the North Shore a year ago, you probably heard som

North Shore Massachusetts Real Estate AI in Real Estate: What It Actually Means for North Shore Buyers and Sellers Home value estimates, chatbots, AI-written listings — the tools are everywhere. Here's what's genuinely useful, what to be careful of, and where a local agent still earns their keep. 3–

Historic Homes · Essex County, MA Selling a Historic Home in Essex County: What Buyers Ask (and What Sellers Should Know First) A straight-talk guide for owners of pre-1900 homes in Salem, Beverly, Danvers, and across the North Shore — from an agent who also teaches this material. 25+ Years in North

  North Shore Downsizing Guide Is Now a Good Time to Downsize? A straightforward look at timing, market conditions, and what actually matters when you're thinking about a smaller home on the North Shore. 36 Days Avg. Days on Market (Sold) 102.2% Sale Price vs. List Price +19% Single-Family Inventory

  Flood Zones, Flood Insurance, and the Future of Beverly Cove & Lynch Park What waterfront and near-waterfront homeowners in these two Beverly neighborhoods should actually know — separating real news from rumor. If you own a home near Beverly Cove or Lynch Park, or you're thinking about buying one