Your Complete Guide to Buying a Home in Greater Boston

Before you start touring homes, get pre-approved by a lender. This tells you exactly what you can afford and makes your offer competitive in Boston's fast-moving market. Paying cash? A proof of funds letter is your equivalent and carries serious weight with sellers.

• Choose a local lender familiar with MA transactions
• Get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified
• Cash buyers: have a proof of funds letter ready

Work with our team to clarify your must-haves vs. nice-to-haves. Location, school district, commute, home size — we'll map out your ideal community and property type.

• Consider commute to Boston/major employers
• Research school districts in advance
• Think about 5-year plans, not just today

Access the full MLSPIN database with our team's guidance. We'll schedule private showings and open houses and provide candid, honest assessments of every property.

• Visit at different times of day
• Ask about utility costs and HOA fees
• Look beyond staging to the bones of the home

Our team analyzes comparable sales, advises on price and terms, and helps you craft an offer that wins. A good-faith deposit (typically $1,000 or more) is submitted with the offer to bind it — this is usually refundable if a contingency such as the home inspection or mortgage contingency is exercised.

• Escalation clauses in hot markets
• Key contingencies protect your deposit
• Personal letters can make a difference

Once your offer is accepted, you'll have a due diligence period to conduct inspections. Our team reviews the findings with you and advises on which items to address before moving forward.

• Always get a home inspection
• Consider radon, oil tank, and sewer scope
• Use this period to make informed decisions

The P&S is Massachusetts' second step — the binding contract that replaces the original offer. Your attorney prepares and reviews it; our team coordinates to get it signed by all parties. A larger deposit of typically 5% of the purchase price is due at signing. Both deposits are applied toward your down payment at closing.

• Work with a MA real estate attorney
• 5% deposit due at P&S signing
• Deposits apply toward your down payment

After the P&S is signed, the baton passes to your lender. They'll request documents, order an appraisal if needed, and issue your mortgage commitment — a process that typically takes 2–4 weeks. Our team works in the background to make sure everything stays on track.

• Respond to lender document requests quickly
• Avoid major financial changes during this period
• Our team monitors the timeline throughout

Before heading to the closing table, Will walks through the home with you to confirm it's in agreed-upon condition and any negotiated repairs are complete. Our team will also send you utility transfer contacts and mailing address change info ahead of time so you're ready from day one.

• Confirm all agreed-upon repairs are done
• Check utilities are on and functioning
• Our team sends utility and mailing contacts in advance

This is what you've been working toward! Your attorney handles the closing table while Will and his team are with you to make sure everything goes smoothly. Sign the final documents, hand over your funds, and get the keys to your new home. Time to celebrate! 🎉

• Attorney handles all closing documents
• Bring a certified check or wire funds in advance
• 🎉 Celebrate — you're a homeowner!