ARMSTRONG FIELD REAL ESTATE BLOG

with !important, never . ========================================================================== --> What a 55+ Community Actually Is (and What It Isn't) Buying · Downsizing · North Shore, MA · Jim Armstrong Two assumptions come up almost every time a client asks me about 55+ communities. The fir

North Shore Massachusetts Buyer Update Is September 27–October 3 Really the Best Week to Buy a Home in 2026? A new Realtor.com analysis points to one especially buyer-friendly week—but North Shore buyers should understand what the national headline does and does not mean locally. By Jim Armstrong, R

North Shore Buyer Guide · Mortgage Rates · September 2026 Mortgage Rates Are Back Near 7%: Should You Buy Now or Keep Waiting? Buy now, buy now and refinance later, or wait for rates to fall? I ran the actual numbers for a North Shore purchase so you can see what each path really costs — including t

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

Artificial Intelligence · Technology & Society Is AI Really Planning to Take Over the World? There's a lot of talk about artificial intelligence becoming too powerful, escaping human control, or even deciding that people are no longer necessary. How much of that is science fiction, and how much shou

Massachusetts Home Buyers · North Shore, MA How to Make a Competitive Offer on a Massachusetts Home Without Waiving Your Home Inspection Massachusetts changed the rules surrounding home inspection waivers in 2025. Buyers can still write strong, competitive offers, but the strategy has changed. Oct.

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,

A LOCAL GUIDE FOR HOME BUYERS Moving to Beverly, Massachusetts An honest look at Beverly's neighborhoods, commute, schools, and housing market — from a North Shore REALTOR® who has called this city home for years.Beverly, MA  ·  Essex County  ·  Updated September 2026 Beverly sits right where the No

A LOCAL GUIDE FOR HOME BUYERS Moving to Salem, Massachusetts An honest look at Salem's neighborhoods, commute, schools, and housing market — from a North Shore REALTOR® who knows the city block by block.Salem, MA  ·  Essex County  ·  Updated 2026 Salem is one of those North Shore communities that ma

First-Time Buyer Guide 10 Questions to Define Your First Home Priorities A little self-reflection before your first showing saves you months of second-guessing later. Here's how I help North Shore buyers figure out what actually matters. 10 Questions to Answer 3 Priority Categories 1 Clearer Home Se

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 Gloucester, Massachusetts: What to Know Before You Move to Cape Ann A working harbor, a 400-year fishing history, and a stretch of coastline unlike anywhere else on the North Shore. 1623 Founded Cape Ann Location MBTA Rail Direct to Boston Gloucester doesn't try to

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 Living Guide Living in Ipswich, MA: What to Know Before You Make the Move A first-hand look at the town's history, its beaches, its commute to Boston, and what buyers ask me most about Ipswich real estate. 1634 Town Founded 59 First Period Homes 29 mi To Boston's North Station 4 mi Cra

  National Dog Day on the North Shore: What Dog Owners Look For in a Home Celebrating August 26 with a practical look at fenced yards, walkable neighborhoods, and finding a home that works for the whole family — four legs included Aug 26 National Dog Day, since 2004 65.1M U.S. Households With a Dog

☕ Daily Briefing | Sunday, August 23, 2026 Today's five stories have a useful common denominator: the cost of money and the cost of doing business are both under pressure. For North Shore real estate, demand remains remarkably strong, but tariffs, oil and Treasury yields are all capable of keeping a

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