Around the country many agents talk about the real estate market all but coming to a halt during the "triple h" days of summer but locally the Franklin, MA real estate market remains active.

Although the Franklin, MA housing market is not currently at full tilt like it was during the busier spring months my office posted 16 closings last week--one of which was mine.  MLSPIN, the Multiple Listing Service, shows that during the past month there were 26 homes that went under contract and another 28 that closed.  The average sales price was $409,835 with an average of 84 days on the market.  The list to selling ratio was 97% which means that homes are selling within 3% of their asking price.

The phones are still ringing and buyers are still stopping to view open houses so if you are considering buying or selling, don't rule out these summer months.  Real estate does get very busy in September but as a seller you will be competing with many more other sellers!

Give me a call at 508-369-5131 or email franklinmahomes@comcast.net if you have real estate questions.  I'll give you the honest answers with the data to back it up...

Residents of the Bay State have long heard that we live in "tax-achusetts”.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has always been viewed as a highly taxed state to reside.  I am pleased to report that recent findings seem to suggest this may no longer be the case.  24/7Wall Street.com reported on the Tax Foundation study which analyzed the ten highest and ten lowest taxed states in the nation and Massachusetts did not show up on either list!  In fact, several other New England states such as Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island did make the highest taxed list-- but not Massachusetts.

It is noteworthy that the amount "varies widely as not all states have the same sources of revenue. Some get more from business levies than others. Some have a statewide sales tax. Some cities and towns tax property based on value, while others don't. The issue of what people are taxed at the state and local level is complex, among other reasons, because states often receive a large amount of their tax receipts from sources other than the simple payments of state residents.”

The Tax Foundation report, "State-Local Tax Burdens Fall in 2009 as Tax Revenues Shrink Faster than Income," shows the extent of the differences. The most important reason for the variation is that some states generate a significant amount of their tax revenue from businesses and out-of-state residents, thereby minimizing the burden of taxes borne by residents.

The Ten States with the Highest Tax Burdens:

10. Pennsylvania
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.1%

9. Maine
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.1%

8. Vermont
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.2%

7. Minnesota
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.3%

6. California
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.6%

5. Rhode Island
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 10.7%

4. Wisconsin
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 11%

3. Connecticut
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 12%

2. New York
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 12.1%

1. New Jersey
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 12.2%