Massachusetts taxes property sales through its deeds excise, does not require an attorney at closing and imposes only limited seller disclosures. It allows both court and out-of-court foreclosure and is not a community property state.
Massachusetts in short
Is there a real estate transfer tax in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has no tax called a transfer tax but charges a deeds excise under G.L. c. 64D of $2.28 per $500 of price outside Barnstable County and $3.24 per $500 in Barnstable County. It is paid by the person who signs the deed, usually the seller.
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What closing costs does Massachusetts law set?
Massachusetts has no official typical closing-cost total. The seller pays the deeds excise of $2.28 per $500 of price outside Barnstable County ($3,648 on $800,000), and recording a deed costs $100 plus a $50 surcharge.
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How is property tax calculated in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts property tax is set city by city. In Boston the fiscal 2026 residential rate is $12.40 per $1,000 of assessed value, and owner-occupants can claim a residential exemption worth up to $4,353.74.
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What is the deadline to appeal a property tax assessment in Massachusetts?
In Boston, Massachusetts, file an abatement application with the Assessing Department after the third-quarter bill and no later than February 1, 2027 for fiscal 2027. If it is denied, you have three months from the decision to appeal to the Appellate Tax Board, and filing does not delay payment.
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Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Massachusetts?
None of the Massachusetts General Laws sections read for this article says a lawyer must attend a home closing, but only members in good standing of the Massachusetts bar may practice law (M.G.L. c. 221, 46A).
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What must a home seller disclose in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts does not require a general property condition form. A seller must give the buyer the state lead notice before the purchase and sale agreement is signed (M.G.L. c. 111, 197A), with a penalty of up to $1,000 for failing to do so.
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How does foreclosure work in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts allows non-judicial foreclosure: the lender sells the home at auction under a power of sale in the mortgage, after a 90-day right to cure for a primary residence of four units or fewer, available once in any 5-year period.
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What first-time home buyer programs does Massachusetts offer?
In Massachusetts, MassHousing offers eligible first-time buyers down payment assistance of up to $30,000 in every city and town, paired with its mortgage. In Boston, the city's First-Time Homebuyer Program adds up to $50,000 for households under 100% of area median income.
Massachusetts guides
- Closing costs in Massachusetts: what buyers and sellers pay
- Massachusetts transfer tax: the deeds excise, rate and payer
- Massachusetts property tax: how Boston's bill is figured
- Seller disclosure requirements in Massachusetts
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Massachusetts?
- Foreclosure process in Massachusetts: notices and timeline
- Home prices in Massachusetts and Boston: median value, trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Massachusetts and Boston
- How to verify a real estate license in Massachusetts