Monthly Register's Report

For more information, please contact Lorna Green at Register Buckley’s office (508) 830-9298

 

JOHN R. BUCKLEY, JR., REGISTER OF DEEDS

PLYMOUTH COUNTY REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY FOR

AUGUST 2023

SALES AND REFINANCES PICK UP SLIGHTLY DESPITE RATE INCREASE

             Plymouth County Register of Deeds John R. Buckley, Jr. reports, “With last month’s Federal Reserve’s increase in interest rates, it should come as no surprise that refinance activity has remained low.  However, we did see a slight increase in mortgage recordings in August compared to July.  There were 1,280 mortgage recordings in August, compared to the 1,067 mortgages recorded in July.”  Through the first eight months of 2022, Plymouth County recorded 14,515 mortgages.  During the same period this year, that number fell 40%, to 8,653.  While mortgage volume is down, the average mortgage amount has held relatively steady.  The average mortgage amount of $344,059 through August of this year is just 2% lower than the $350,847 average mortgage amount at this point last year.

             As with mortgages, the volume of sales recorded in Plymouth County also rose slightly in August.  Register Buckley said, “Plymouth County recorded the second highest monthly amount of recorded sales this year.  In August Plymouth County recorded 739 deeds, trailing only the 815 deeds recorded in June.”  With 4,879 deeds recorded thus far in 2023, volume is down 20% compared to 2022, when 6,066 deeds had been recorded through August.

            While prices have fallen in some areas of the country, Plymouth County has seen a stabilization of prices, but not a decline. The average sale price of $616,718 through the first eight months of 2023, represents a 2% increase from the average sale price of $607,435 during the same period last year.

            As Register Buckley noted last month, foreclosure activity in Plymouth County has remained relatively modest.  In July, 8 foreclosure deeds were recorded.  In August, that number increased slightly to 10.  At this point last year, Plymouth County had recorded 64 foreclosure deeds.  This year, that number has increased 31% to 84 recordings.  Considering that there were 1,423 foreclosure deeds recorded by this time in 2008, a peak foreclosure year, our numbers of troubled properties remain quite low. 

            Notices initiating new foreclosures dipped slightly, from 36 in July to 34 in August.  With 375 foreclosure notices recorded so far this year, Plymouth County has seen a 29% increase in the number of notices over the 291 notices that were recorded during the same period last year.

            As part of our ongoing effort to share with the public some of America’s oldest land records, we are attaching a law passed almost 400 years ago that is relevant even today, as voting access and restrictions are being debated by many of the states.  “Wheras in regard of age disability of body vrgent occations and other Inconveniencyes that doe accrew sundry of the ffreemen … that they cannot appear att Courts of election: in consideration wherof; It is enacted by the Court … that any freeman … shall haue libertie to send his voate by proxey … that those that Intend not to make theire psonall appearance att the Court of election are now to giue in theire voates Sealed vp … the which voates soe brought in to be … deliuered in open Court by the said deputies.”  Laws, Part III, p. 19, 1651. 

            On Friday, September 29th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., we will display this historic document in the Plymouth Colony Records Reading Room on the second floor at the main office of the Registry of Deeds at 50 Obery Street, Plymouth.  If you would like to receive a copy of our monthly report by e-mail, please contact Assistant Register of Deeds Timothy H. White at white@plymouthdeeds.org.

 

 

REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY THROUGH AUGUST 2023

COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 2022

 

All figures are based on sales or mortgages between $25,000.00 and $3,000,000.

 

2023 sales volume: 4,879

2022 sales volume: 6,066

(20% decrease)

 

2023 total sales value: $3,008,966,992

2022 total sales value: $3,684,701,876

(18% decrease)

 

2023 average sales price: $616,718

2022 average sales price: $607,435

(2% increase)

 

2023 mortgage volume:  8,653

2022 mortgage volume: 14,515

(40% decrease)

 

2023 average mortgage amount: $344,059

2022 average mortgage amount: $350,847

(2% decrease)

 

2023 foreclosure deeds:   84

2022 foreclosure deeds:   64

(31% increase)

 

2023 foreclosure notices: 375

2022 foreclosure notices: 291

(29% increase)

 

 

Foreclosures and Orders of Notice

 August 2023

Town

Foreclosure Deeds

Orders of Notice

ABINGTON

0

0

BRIDGEWATER

0

3

BROCKTON

3

10

CARVER

0

2

DUXBURY

0

0

EAST BRIDGEWATER

0

0

HALIFAX

0

0

HANOVER

0

2

HANSON

0

1

HINGHAM

0

0

HULL

0

2

KINGSTON

0

1

LAKEVILLE

0

0

MARION

1

0

MARSHFIELD

0

2

MATTAPOISETT

0

0

MIDDLEBORO

2

1

NORWELL

0

0

PEMBROKE

0

1

PLYMOUTH

0

1

PLYMPTON

0

0

ROCHESTER

0

1

ROCKLAND

2

4

SCITUATE

1

1

WAREHAM

1

1

WEST BRIDGEWATER

0

1

WHITMAN

0

0