It seems that as I get older, summers pass by at a greater speed. When I was younger I would stress all summer long about the business. Real estate sales volume in July and August is the slowest of the year. Houses close during these months but those deals were put together 60 – 90 days earlier. Putting homes under agreement during the summer is a tough task. Most Concord buyers take advantage of the summer by traveling or visiting coastal communities, the woods or lakes. One thing is certain: they rarely house hunt. This translates to sellers having fewer showings than usual. Summertime offers some wise or lucky buyers a great opportunity to swim against the current. By taking advantage of the market’s slowed pace, buyers can find good deals. Fewer showings can lead to better negotiated deals for buyers if sellers are anxious and ill-prepared for the slowdown by their representatives. When I was younger and had young kids at home the slow down was so challenging. The financial stress would overwhelm me as I experienced sleepless nights thinking about the bills, mortgage and general cost of living in our town. Early on I would spend the summer wondering if the business would even start up again. Would there be a fall market? Would my phone ring again? I tried to run my business and myself at my normal speed but no matter how hard I tried the real estate treadmill was simply off during July and August. After nearly three decades and countless transactions not only am I prepared for the summer, but the firm’s buyers and sellers are as well.

This summer I had an amazing time with family. My brother founded what is now a world-renowned artist residency program. It has been his passion for the past decade and will continue to be his passion for the rest of his life. I am so proud of him. I often quote my father when I speak about business and rarely mention the rest of my tribe. My mother, brother and sister are artists. My brother started this residency with a dollar and a dream and from the ground up (Instagram: @Chateau Orquevaux residency). The beauty experienced during the visit was healing. The farm country in France is beautiful and the accommodations were authentic and special. This is the third year we managed to gather most of the family together and the one week visit is becoming a tradition. Grateful for the memories created and the relationship with my brother. That relationship has certainly had ups and downs over the years. I am hopeful it will be all ups from here on out. One of the benefits of maturing. I had additional downtime and enjoyed the summer as much as possible.

We are in season now. The market is gearing up. We are bringing on a lion’s share of inventory in the coming weeks so I am grateful for that. We average a home sale every 48 to 72 hours throughout the year thanks to decades of hard work and a reputation built.

I want to be clear that the market is changing and my work will get harder by the day for years to come. I am preparing my clients for the days ahead. Year to date, Concord has 13% fewer homes closed than it did in 2025 in the same time period. On average, it is also taking 20% longer to get homes under agreement. These two data points signal the direction of the market. Less international work visas being issued, fears about AI and its impact on the job market and other factors are driving this market transition. That said, prices seem to be holding up and people locked into low-interest mortgages contribute to a market that is balancing supply and demand. It’s tough to sell when you have an amazing mortgage rate in place. This is the best market for buying that I have seen in years. Inspections are back by right in Massachusetts so the home buying process seems a lot more civilized. The best purchases are made at the market’s pivot point. Once everyone acclimates, getting a great deal is more difficult.

If you need purchasing or selling guidance please reach out to us. No pressure…just happy to share what I know and apply it to your circumstances. Always confidential.

Go Pats!