---
title: Boston Pending Sales Rise 22% in 1st Quarter of 2012
description: The Boston real estate market is active this year. Boston pending sales are up 22% compared to 2011. Here are 3 reasons why and whether it will continue.
---

[CHARLESGATE Blog ](https://www.charlesgate.com/blog)

# [Boston Pending Sales Rise 22% in 1st Quarter of 2012](https://www.charlesgate.com/blog/2012/04/11/boston-pending-sales-rise-22-in-1st-quarter-of-2012)

 Written by [Michael DiMella](https://www.charlesgate.com/blog/author/michael-dimella) | Apr 11, 2012 4:00:00 AM

On the heels of a story in the Boston Herald about [Massachusetts pending home sales rising 40%](http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view/20220410mass_pending_home_sales_rise_40_percent/), here are the numbers a little closer to home.  Overall, in the first quarter of 2012, Greater Boston pending sales* came in at 4734, compared to 3868 in Q1 2011 – a jump of 22%.

Following January’s increase of 16%, and February’s increase of 25%, March settled in at a 24% increase over 2011.

That’s some whopping Boston real estate market activity so far this year – and these stats have only confirmed what we’ve seen on the ground.  [Open Houses](https://charlesgaterealty.com/open-houses-in-boston/) and showings have been up, [multiple offer situations](https://charlesgaterealty.com/2012/buying-advice/negotiating-multiple-real-estate-offers-does-the-highest-offer-always-win/) have become more common, and [closed sales are up](https://charlesgaterealty.com/2012/market-trends/boston-real-estate-sales-up-prices-up-in-february/).

There are a number of factors at play in the market right now that are driving sales in Boston:

- Historically [low interest rates](http://blog.charlesgaterealty.com/mortgage-rate-quotes/Default.aspx) on top of signs of [economic recovery](https://charlesgaterealty.com/2012/market-trends/boston-real-estate-sales-flat-for-4-years-prices-on-the-rise/) have certainly helped get buyers off the fence
- The unseasonably nice weather through the winter has helped get buyers out looking early
- The [tightening Boston rental market](https://charlesgaterealty.com/2012/charlesgate-news/tight-boston-rental-market-makes-apartment-hunting-more-difficult/) has led to it being [less expensive to buy than rent](https://charlesgaterealty.com/2012/charlesgate-news/another-shot-fired-in-the-boston-real-estate-rent-vs-buy-debate/) in many cases

 I expect these factors and trends to continue into the the 2nd quarter.

 

**Pending Sales are those homes which go Under Contract in a given time period (in other words, have an offer accepted).*

 

<http://blog.charlesgaterealty.com/trends>

 

[View full post](https://www.charlesgate.com/blog/2012/04/11/boston-pending-sales-rise-22-in-1st-quarter-of-2012)

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