December is bringing a better selection of homes on the market for buyers, say local Realtors, with many deciding to change their housing after spending more time indoors due to the colder weather.

Andover, North Andover

Andover is an upscale suburb of Boston, about 20 miles north at Routes 93 and 495, says Realtor Susan Rochwarg. "North Andover borders Boxford, Middleton and Haverhill," explains Rochwarg, "a growing family oriented community with beautiful winding streets graced by traditional and transitional styled homes with landscape buffers, greenery, and open space prevalent to enhance the New England feel.

"December brings a good selection of homes for sale with the $300-400K range and the $1,000,000+ category with the heaviest inventory. Prices may have settled in a bit from peak spring pricing, about 5 percent. People are spending more time inside with colder (brrrr) weather and with holiday parties, etc., they discover their space is just not right for them. For some, too small is the clue, while for others it's too big, and the echoes feel lonely. January welcomes the spring market!"

Boxford

"Boxford currently has approximately 53 homes for sale at an average list price of $825,000," says Realtor Deborah McManus. "This year, we are finding homes are taking longer to sell than the same time period last year, and we are not seeing the kind of price increases that we had seen in prior years.

McManus suggests, "For both buyers and sellers this is good news though! Since the real estate market has settled down a bit, the buyers and sellers are more realistic about their expectations for pricing. The upper ranges are still getting some activity, and certainly the lower ranges in town will go under agreement, if priced fairly."

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Published: December 10, 2002

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