By Scott MacKeen
Times Staff
9/25/08

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“You’re listening to a lot of doom and gloom out there right now,” he says. “But it’s really not that way here.”
“In comparison to some other communities, we’ve actually weathered the financial storm quite well,” adds Beth Rooney of Coldwell Banker Residental Brokerage.
Rooney says Milton has fared better and it has kept its median selling prices high while other towns have not.
Freeman attributes the town’s continued real estate strength to its unique and advantageous location.
“It just shows we’re still a very attractive location for people,” he says. “Our proximity to Boston is what brings people here.”
Tom Mullen of Milton Homes Inc. agrees.
“It’s nice to have that geography where you’re right next to the city,” he says. “You can jump on the bus or the trolley and you’re right there.”
Mullen says the sale of homes at top listing prices remains strong in town, similar to when the national economy was more robust.
“Last year was actually a little slower (in town) than we’re seeing now,” he says. “We’re doing really good in that $700,000 and above price range. Across the board, Milton is still pretty strong.”
Aside from the close proximity to city life, Freeman says the town’s market continues to be driven on by fundamental real estate principals.
“A house is still going to sell well if you position it right,” he explains. “If it’s priced well and marketed well to the client, that’s what’s going to be attractive regardless.”
“It all really goes back to the home being priced well,” Laura Cahill agrees. “If a family walks into a home and feels that it has value, there’s a good chance they’re going to buy that home.”
Cahill, of RE/MAX Landmark, credits some of the town’s housing success to the new schools and the library.
“A lot of great thing are happening in town right now,” she says. “People see we’re growing and improving and they respond to that.”
Cahill says she has seen some foreclosures in town recently, but very few compared to other towns such as Quincy and Brockton. She says the average selling price this year (around $455,000) has dipped only slightly since last year.
“It still affects our market,” she says about foreclosures. “If a person can’t sell his house in Randolph, for example, or can’t sell an apartment in Dorchester, they won’t be able to able to buy property here.”
Regardless, Freeman says he remains positive and upbeat about Milton’s real estate promise.
“I have a passion for it,” he says. “You have to.”