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First-Time Home Buyers

Your first home is a big step, and the North Shore market does not have to be intimidating. These posts answer the questions first-time buyers ask most, from what to save to how the whole process works.

Stories in First-Time Home Buyers

6 stories

A stately historic brick building with a slate roof and central cupola on Boston's North Shore

First-Time Home Buyers · October 29, 2026 · 11 min read

The First-Time Buyers' Guide to Massachusetts Condominiums: Master Deeds, Association Budgets, Reservations, Special Assessments, and What You Actually Own

Buying a condominium in Massachusetts is different from buying a house, and the difference starts with what you actually own. Under the Massachusetts Condominium Act, M.G.L. Chapter 183A, a condo unit is real estate, and the master deed, the association budget, the reserve fund, and the 6(d) certificate all shape what that ownership really means. This guide walks first-time buyers through those documents, special assessments, and the recent changes in Massachusetts condo law, so you know what to review and what to ask before you make an offer.

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A craftsman-style first home with light grey siding, navy shutters, and a white front porch

First-Time Home Buyers · October 2, 2026 · 4 min read

How Much Do You Need to Save to Buy a First Home on the North Shore?

The honest answer is that it depends on the program you use, but a useful planning number is a down payment of 3% to 10% plus closing costs of roughly 2% to 3% of the purchase price. On the North Shore, where the median home price has been around $860,000, that gap is real, and Massachusetts programs exist to close it.

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First-time home buyer topic illustration

First-Time Home Buyers · September 25, 2026 · 4 min read

Massachusetts First-Time Home Buyer Programs in 2026: Where the Down Payment Help Really Is

Massachusetts has two official programs built for first-time buyers: MassHousing, which offers qualifying buyers up to $30,000 in down payment assistance, and ONE Mortgage, which offers a 3% down payment with no private mortgage insurance and below-market rates. Together they take the hardest part of a first purchase, the down payment, and make it reachable on the North Shore.

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