Homes

Houses worth a closer look, what they cost to keep, and what living in them is like.

6 articles

Massachusetts is the only New England state where sellers do not have to disclose flooding.

Buying in a Flood Zone on the South Coast: What Flood Insurance Really Costs and What the Seller Does Not Have to Tell You

Massachusetts sellers are not required to disclose past flooding or a FEMA flood zone, so the homework is yours. Here is how to check the zone for free, what NFIP and private flood coverage cost in 2026, and the questions to ask before your inspection window closes.

By Molly Armando9 min read

August 24, 2026

The state transfer tax jumped 63 percent on October 1, 2025, and a second tier now starts at $824,000.

Rhode Island's Conveyance Tax Went Up. What Selling in Newport County and the East Bay Costs in 2026

Rhode Island's conveyance tax is now $3.75 per $500 of the sale price, up from $2.30, for closings on or after October 1, 2025. Homes selling above $824,000 in 2026 pay a second $3.75 per $500 on the amount over that line. On a $1.2 million sale, the state collects $11,820, and the seller pays it.

By Molly Armando7 min read

August 23, 2026

Three real paths to closing, and a state tax credit worth up to $18,000.

Your Septic Failed Title 5. Can You Still Sell Your Massachusetts House?

Yes, you can still sell a Massachusetts home after a failed Title 5 inspection. Sellers in Westport, Dartmouth, Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett have three real paths: fix it first, escrow the repair, or sell as-is on the open market. The expanded state septic credit now returns up to $18,000 of the cost.

By Molly Armando9 min read

August 22, 2026

About 4 in 10 Cape and Islands homes now carry the state's insurer of last resort.

What Coastal Home Insurance Really Costs on the South Coast and Cape Cod, and How to Line It Up Before You Buy

Homeowners insurance on a coastal South Coast or Cape Cod home now runs into the thousands per year, and about 4 in 10 Cape and Islands homes sit on the state's FAIR Plan. Treat it like a closing cost: get quotes during the inspection window and ask early about an elevation certificate.

By Molly Armando8 min read

August 21, 2026

State and city programs can stack past $40,000 for first-time buyers

How Much Down Payment Help Can You Get in New Bedford and Fall River?

First-time buyers in New Bedford and Fall River can combine MassHousing down payment assistance of up to $30,000 with city programs worth up to $25,000 in New Bedford or up to $10,000 in Fall River. The state's cheapest option sold out early this summer, so this is what's actually available as of August 2026, and how the stack works on a real purchase.

By Molly Armando8 min read

August 20, 2026

The 2% closing cost unique to the Islands

How Much Is the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Fee?

The Martha's Vineyard Land Bank charges a 2% fee on island purchases, paid by the buyer at closing. What it funds, how the first-time buyer exemption works, and why the threshold changes every year.

By Molly Armando6 min read