Steve Oates

New Massachusetts Home Inspection Law 2025 | What Buyers & Sellers Need to Know

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🏠 What You Need to Know About the New Massachusetts Home Inspection Law

Buying or selling a home is a big deal — and now Massachusetts has a new rule that aims to protect buyers and make the process fairer. Let’s break it down in plain English.


What’s new?

As of October 15, 2025, a new regulation called 760 CMR 74.00 goes into effect. It’s sometimes called the

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Buckley's Market & Café Coming to Downtown Portsmouth

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Buckley’s Market & Café Coming to Downtown Portsmouth

Exciting news for downtown Portsmouth! Michael Timothy’s Dining Group—the team behind local favorites like Surf in Portsmouth, Buckley’s Market & Café in Hollis, Buckley’s Great Steaks in Merrimack, and MT’s Local in Nashua—is bringing their popular specialty market concept right into [...]

Mortgage Rate Outlook 2025–2026 | Payment Examples & Equity Benefits

Interest Rates: Outlook for 2025 & 2026

As of September 2025, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is around 6.5%. Most forecasts, including Fannie Mae, expect rates to stay in the mid-6% range through the end of 2025, then gradually ease toward 6.0% or slightly below in 2026.


How Rates Impact Monthly Payments

Here’s what different rates mean for typical 30-year fixed

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“Struggling with Payments? Your Home Equity Could Be the Answer”

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Why We’re Not Seeing a Wave of Foreclosures – and What It Means for You

One of the most common questions I hear is: “When are all the foreclosures coming?” The reality is, despite headlines and speculation, foreclosure activity remains very low. Why? The answer comes down to one major factor: homeowner equity.

Over the last several years, [...]

Steve Oates Joins Aland Realty in Portsmouth

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Steve Oates Joins Aland Realty In Portsmouth

 

I’m excited to share that I have joined Aland Realty, a locally owned and independent real estate brokerage with offices in Portsmouth, Dover, Kittery, York, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, and Boston.

With over 17 years of experience in real estate and broker licenses in New Hampshire, Maine, and [...]

Portsmouth's Condo Boom: How New Developments Are Reshaping the NH Seacoast City's Downtown

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How New Condo Developments Are Changing the Landscape in Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth's condominium scene is bustling with exciting new condo developments that are shaping the city’s urban fabric and appealing to a diverse range of homebuyers. These developments are bringing fresh energy, modern design, and a new wave of lifestyle-focused [...]

“Maine ADUs 2025: Size Limits, Tiny-Home Opportunities & What's Coming in NH”

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The New ADU Policies in Maine

Maine has overhauled its accessory dwelling unit (ADU) framework under Title 30-A, §4364-B, effective January 7, 2025. Under the updated law, any municipality must allow at least one ADU on a lot zoned for a single-family dwelling, in any residential zone, as a permitted use—no conditional-use or variance

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Behind the Sold Sign: The Real Truth About Life as a Realtor

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Being a Realtor is an extraordinary journey filled with both rewarding highs and challenging lows. Unlike many traditional careers, working in real estate means operating entirely on commission—there's no guaranteed salary, no paid vacation days, and no company-provided benefits. My success, and livelihood, depends solely on my ability to [...]

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