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Article Source: State House News Service
Article By: Michael P. Norton
DEC. 15, 2020…..Low interest rates and the work from home shift are contributing to a continuing “frenzy” of home-buying in Massachusetts and sales activity and prices both set new records in November.
Sales rose nearly 25 percent last month and the median sale price of a single-family home increased 17.6 percent compared to last November, to $460,000, The Warren Group reported Tuesday morning.
After a pause when the COVID-19 crisis hit in March, the market roared back in the summer and the sales pace has held up through the fall as buyers, sellers and the industry have adjusted to conditions in the pandemic.
Sales in November exceeded sales in June, reversing the traditional pattern in which home-buying picks up in the spring and slows down in the fourth quarter, said Tim Warren, CEO of The Warren Group.
“Buyers are taking advantage of rock-bottom interest rates and the ability to work from home to set their sights on communities further and further from their offices now that community is less of a factor for many prospective buyers,” said Warren.
Sales in April were down nearly 14 percent. They fell off 30 percent in May and were down 24 percent in June, before beginning to rebound in June and July and then spiking 27 percent in September.
While a record 5,773 sales were recorded last month, sales dipped by 11 percent in Suffolk County, but were “especially strong” on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Warren said.
There were 41 home sales on Nantucket last month, compared to 12 in November 2019, and the median home sale price on the island in November was just under $2 million, according to the Warren Group’s data.
Home sales last month in Barnstable County were up more than 52 percent over November 2019, and sales out west in Berkshire County last month rose 43.5 percent over-the-year.
Single-family home sales are up 1.5 percent over the first eleven months of 2019. The median single-family home sale price this year is $445,000, an 11.3 percent increase compared to last year.
The condo market has not been as strong, but sales in November were up more than 11 percent compared to November 2019, and the median condo sale price last month rose 8.5 percent to $410,000, a record for the month.
Year-to-date, condo sales are down 3.5 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2019, with a median price of $415,000, a 9.2 percent increase. Median condo prices fell last month in Suffolk and Middlesex counties.
Thanks to the internet, consumer behavior has dramatically shifted over the past decade – especially when it comes to searching for local businesses.
According to a recent survey by BrightLocal, 97 percent of consumers searched online for a local business in 2017, with 54 percent searching at least once per month, and 12 percent searching daily for local services, shops, and suppliers.
A key aspect of this growth in online searches for local businesses is the widespread ownership of ‘smart’ mobile devices like smartphones and tablets that allow users to connect to the internet anywhere, at any time. The Pew Research Center reports that 77 percent of Americans now own a smartphone, up from 35 percent in 2011.
Location-Based Search Results Drive Local Traffic
Because smart mobile devices have built-in GPS trackers, Google and other search engines have adapted their algorithms to ensure that consumers who search for a business on their phone or tablet are automatically directed to verified companies that are located nearby.
If you’ve ever used the ‘near me‘ feature on Google’s search engine or Google Maps, you’ve already discovered how an online search can help drive traffic towards local businesses, and chances are good you actually visited one of the businesses you searched for – and made a purchase. According to Google, “76 percent of people who search for something nearby on their smartphone visit a related business within a day, and 29 percent of those searches result in a purchase.”
The Most Searched-For Local Businesses on Google
Consumers tend to turn to localized searches when they need a product or service right away – categories like restaurants, coffee shops, and bars rank among the top local searches, while real estate agents, contractors, and gyms are also popular.
Other businesses that benefit from local search traffic include farms, dog walkers, and food trucks, as well as daycare services, clothing retailers, lawyers, dentists, and doctors. Simply put, the same kinds of businesses that used to see significant traffic from ads in the Yellow Pages and local newspapers 25 years ago are now benefiting from location-based internet searches.
If your business caters to consumers and clients in your neighborhood, focusing your marketing efforts on local online search could provide a great return-on-investment for your company.
Dr. Sam Alkhoury, DMD is the self-proclaimed “market disrupter” when it comes to his field and specialty with orthodontics.
Dr. Alkhoury started his business in 2005 and hasn’t looked back since. In 2007, he was awarded #1 Orthodontist in Worcester two years in a row. He developed and implemented a unique approach to orthodontics and designed an efficient and repeatable business model that has led to the successful acquisition or launch of 15 Simply Orthodontics locations, , located primarily in the Central MA area, but expansive to New England.
“I noticed that other orthodontists were more ‘traditional,’ and no one was using any outside the box methods to help patients in non-extraction treatment,” Alkhoury said.
“Patients love it when you tell them you don’t have to take any teeth out!” he laughed.
Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, which is a part of Simply Dental Management, opened in Fitchburg in July 2018. They are a one-stop shop that is perfect for your family and pediatric needs, from the first time at the dentist or when it is time for braces.
They service all community members, including Medicaid so that they can provide treatment and orthodontic care to all who need it, including an Orthodontics Discount.
“It is important to note that the orthodontics discount is designed to help those families who have been denied the benefit through MassHealth,” said Dr. Alkhoury. “On March 25 of this year, Massachusetts changed its eligibility criteria for those under 18. We’ve seen a 50% reduction in case acceptance by the state since then, making it really difficult for families to get the treatment they need.”
Because of this reduction, Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry of Fitchburg provides $550 off of traditional braces or Invisalign, and $59 Pediatric Dentistry exam, cleaning, and x-rays, with some restrictions that may apply.
“Since we are in the medical field, we have very strict guidelines,” stated Dr. Alkhoury. “We’ve implemented precautions like pre-screening questions before they come in and when they come in, social distancing, keep number of patients in the office as low as possible, calling from cars before coming in. One challenge that we faced was acquiring personal protection equipment (PPE) for all team members.”
The American Dental Association (ADA) website states that their guidance calls for the highest level of PPE available—masks, goggles and face shields.
With local businesses facing the current ongoing pandemic, Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry sees a bright future ahead and is looking into acquiring business in the Fitchburg area to add to their existing location. They are looking to organically grow their existing practices with patients, and to continue to open new practices where their services are needed in New England.
According to Dr. Alkhoury, the price of orthodontic treatment has been trending down, regardless of COVID-19, but he urges patients to invest in it while they are able to do so, as the cost of treatment might go up in the near future.
““If you’re thinking about it, come and do it before it’s too late!” he said.
Simply Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry is a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and is currently welcoming new and previous patients to their practice who want to boost their self-esteem through their beautiful smiles. The practice is located at 50 Whalon Street in Fitchburg, and can be contacted via phone at 978-424-4255 or online at https://www.simplyorthopedo.com/
As Reported by the Sentinel & Enterprise

The meal-packing event was held in conjunction with AIS’s annual sales meeting, which brings national sales leaders together at AIS’s headquarters each December. This was the third year that AIS participated in the Combat Hunger event, and the second year AIS devoted a portion of the annual meeting to packing meals for people served by the United Way of North Central Massachusetts.
“As a board member of UWNCM, my eyes are continually opened to how so many community members are struggling to make ends meet. We’re proud to partner with the United Way and support the work they do to help local families in need,” AIS President and CEO Bruce Platzman said.
According to 2019 statistics compiled by the Worcester County Food Bank in Massachusetts, one in 12 people and one in nine children face food insecurity in the region. The USDA’s 2019 Household Food Insecurity Report states that more than 37 million people in the U.S. struggle with hunger and live in poverty.
In addition to being part of the United Way Combat Hunger initiative, AIS supports the UWNCM’s Partnering for Literacy program, with seven AIS employees volunteering in the program.
Partnering for Literacy was established in 2017 with a focus on academic mentoring to support the United Way’s Early Childhood Initiative. School administrators and teachers work hand-in-hand with the academic mentors who are assigned to one or two mentees and then work with these students throughout the year to help improve their reading and socialization skills.
The Leominster Public Schools became the first community partner, and AIS became the first corporate partner. AIS continues to be instrumental in volunteer engagement and program success.
AIS supports a number of other local organizations. This past holiday season, AIS spearheaded a toy donation drive for Team Thiago. Thiago Molinari is a friend of AIS and a leukemia survivor. He and his family organize local charity events and toy drives for children who are battling life-threatening illnesses. The toys were donated to children who are receiving treatment at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
Some of the other non-profit organizations that AIS supports include Make-A-Wish™ of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the American Red Cross, Catie’s Closet and the Worcester Animal Rescue League.
In 2019, AIS received the Boston Business Journal’s Corporate Citizenship Award for its work in supporting charitable organizations and community causes.
AIS, headquartered in Leominster, is a leading manufacturer of commercial office furniture and boasts one of the most impressive stories of growth and success in the furniture industry. Founded in 1989, the company is known for offering market-relevant, feature-rich product lines that entice designers and support the diverse needs of end-users while offering exceptional value.
AIS has permanent showrooms at its Leominster headquarters and also in Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.ais-inc.com.
HQ expansion project includes critical operations and branch in Fitchburg

The Main Street Fitchburg facility will continue to be a hub of activity housing Workers’ mortgage division, operations department, training staff, and full-service branch. Over the past few years Workers has upgraded the building with energy efficiencies, renovations and structural repairs to make it a pleasant and safe environment for its staff.
“Workers Credit Union continues to demonstrate a solid collaborative partnership with the City of Fitchburg and the region,” said Mayor Steven DiNatale. “The Fitchburg Operations Center exemplifies the ever changing banking model and Workers’ ability to evolve and meet the needs of its customers.”
Workers Credit Union has experienced unprecedented growth and is preparing for its future with the opening of a new headquarters in Littleton. The Fitchburg and Littleton locations will allow the credit union to consolidate operations, which are now spread across five locations, to just two.
“Our commitment to the Fitchburg community goes beyond our physical location,” said Workers Credit Union CEO Doug Petersen. “We will remain steadfast in our support of local organizations, events and nonprofits that improve the quality of life in Fitchburg and the surrounding area. We have many employees and thousands of members who call Fitchburg home so this location will remain an integral part of our operational network.”
The expansion office space will allow the credit union to accommodate its rapid growth well into the future while freeing space in the Fitchburg office for operational departments to expand. Workers has owned the Fitchburg building since 1979.
Workers Credit Union, home of the $3 million GiveBack program, is headquartered in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. With assets of $1.8 billion, the credit union serves over 103,000 members from 15 offices in Athol, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Orange, Townsend, Westford and Workers Online at www.workerscu.com.
When the workday ends and the lights go down, Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody, Inc. gets to work. “We operate as our clients’ silent partner after business hours,” says Adam Paicos, of Templeton, who now serves as Director of Operations and oversees the company’s expansion into North Central MA. “We are not often seen, but we ensure facilities are clean, secure, and ready for business each day while serving as the eyes and ears for our clients when they are not on site.”
Discover local business stories through our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast series. Listen as Chamber members share their journeys, insights, and contributions to our thriving regional business community.
Looking for your next opportunity? Explore current job openings from employers across North Central Massachusetts on our Jobs Board. Whether you’re starting a new career or making a change, you’ll find a variety of local positions available to help you take the next step.
CapEx Facility Services & Construction · Leominster, MA
TaraVista Behavioral Health Center · Harvard, MA
DRS Power Technology, Inc. · Fitchburg, MA
AIS · Leominster, MA