The Top 2 Things Massachusetts Homeowners Need To Know Before Selling

Here’s something every Massachusetts homeowner should know before putting their property on the market:

The sellers who win in today’s MA market aren’t the ones waiting for the perfect moment. They’re the ones who understand the market, set the right expectations, and position their home strategically from day one.

This year, many homeowners across the state didn’t get the results they hoped for. But the issue wasn’t the market—it was the mismatch between expectations and reality.

According to Realtor.com, 57% more homes have been taken off the market compared to last year. These sellers listed… but didn’t sell. And in most cases, it came down to two things: price and timing.

Here’s what MA sellers can learn from them:

1. Price It Right from Day One

Pricing is the #1 factor that determines how quickly (or if) your home sells in Massachusetts.

Today, 8 in 10 sellers expect to get their asking price or more—but that doesn’t match what’s actually happening locally.
Redfin reports that only about 1 in 4 sellers (25.3%) are getting over asking.

So what’s causing the mismatch?

A few years ago, Massachusetts homes were selling instantly—often with aggressive bidding wars. You could price high, and buyers would chase it anyway.
But today’s market is more balanced. Buyers have more inventory to choose from and are much more selective.

If a home in MA is even slightly overpriced, buyers move on quickly—to the next one in Woburn, Billerica, Lowell, Reading, or wherever they’re shopping.

Many homeowners end up taking their listing down rather than making a small price correction… when a tiny tweak might have changed everything.

HousingWire says the average price cut today is just 4%.
That’s it.
Four percent is often the difference between:

❌ No showings
✔️ Multiple offers

If those sellers had priced 4% lower from the start, they likely would’ve already sold—and for a stronger net outcome.

And here’s the advantage MA sellers often forget:
If you’ve owned your home for more than a few years, you’re sitting on substantial equity thanks to years of price appreciation across Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties.
That equity gives you room to price competitively and still come out ahead.

Before you list, talk to your local MA agent to determine the right price point for your neighborhood—one that’s attractive, realistic, and aligned with current buyer behavior.

2. Don’t Rush the Process

Another major misconception? Expecting your home to sell in a weekend.

Many Massachusetts sellers still remember the frenzy of 2020–2021—homes selling in hours, 20+ offers, waiving every contingency imaginable.
But that’s not the reality today.

Across most of Massachusetts, it now takes closer to 60 days from listing to sold.
And that timeframe is normal—not a red flag.

MA buyers are moving more intentionally now. They’re comparing options across North Shore, Greater Boston, and Merrimack Valley. They’re taking their time and making thoughtful decisions.

Sellers who enter the process expecting “instant” results often panic too early.
But a slower market isn’t a weak market—it’s a healthier one.

If you want to speed up your sale, your agent may recommend:

✨ Professional staging
📸 High-quality real estate photography
📍 Strategic pricing
🛠️ Simple pre-list updates to increase appeal
🏡 Boosting curb appeal for first impressions

A well-prepared MA home can still sell quickly—but it won’t happen by accident.

Bottom Line

If you're thinking about selling in Massachusetts, don’t let the headlines or market chatter discourage you.

Let the data and strategy guide you.

The listings that didn’t sell this year weren’t doomed—they just launched with the wrong expectations.

You can absolutely win in this market by:

✔️ Pricing your home right
✔️ Having patience
✔️ Working with a knowledgeable MA agent who knows how to position your home from day one

Because in today’s Massachusetts market, success isn’t about waiting for things to change.
It’s about setting the right strategy from the start.