Boston, MA Real Estate & Homes for Sale

Boston’s waterfront neighborhoods—Seaport, East Boston, Dorchester waterfront—are part of the Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District (CFROD). This zoning requires elevated ground floors, floodproofing, and future climate-adaptive design for properties in mapped flood-prone areas. Buyers need to review parcel-specific maps from Climate Ready Boston to understand long-term flood risk and added construction or insurance costs

Boston’s Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO 2.0) applies to residential buildings over 35,000 sq. ft. or with 35+ units. Condo associations in these buildings must meet emissions targets, which can mean future assessments for energy retrofits (HVAC, insulation, solar). Before buying into a condo, ask for the building’s BERDO compliance plan and any anticipated capital projects

Boston’s 2018 ordinance severely limits investor-owned short-term rentals. Units can only be listed if they are the owner’s primary residence, with capped nights in certain cases. If you are buying for investment or plan to use platforms like Airbnb, understand that Boston enforces strict registration and taxes. This is very different from other cities where investor STRs are widely allowed

Boston has multiple historic districts (Beacon Hill, Back Bay, South End) with commissions that regulate exterior changes down to paint color, windows, and landscaping. Owning in these neighborhoods offers prestige and architectural character, but renovations require review and can add both time and cost. Buyers should confirm if a property sits in a landmark or district before planning upgrades.

Boston’s massive student population drives a unique annual rental cycle: leases begin and end on September 1. For multi-family or condo investors, this creates predictable turnover, peak moving chaos, and seasonal pricing. “Allston Christmas” (the unofficial moving day furniture swap) highlights how tightly Boston’s housing market is tied to universities—something rarely seen outside the city.

Boston offers a Residential Exemption that reduces property taxes for owner-occupied homes, lowering annual costs by thousands of dollars. Investors and second-home buyers don’t qualify, making occupancy status a key financial factor. Combine this with high condo fees in luxury buildings and potential BERDO assessments, and total cost of ownership in Boston has nuances you won’t encounter in most other U.S. markets.