The bottomline: open houses serve their purpose of introducing a home to the market, but the data shows they'll likely not bring your buyer.

So when selecting your real estate agent, pay no attention to who is running the most house ads. Agents who tell you theyll advertise your house are only serving their own needs, not helping you. If at the listing presentation the agent promises to advertise your home, theyre doing so primarily for their own personal gain, leaving less time to focus on doing the most effective things to get your house sold.

August closings were another example of buyers reacting to the market and the ongoing concern of rising interest rates in the spring and early summer.

Heres Augusts 2013s Monthly Multifamily Housing Activity Report from the Greater Boston Association of Realtors.

Some buyers are waiting to see if interest rates will come back down before making a decision about buying a home. Though no one can guarantee where rates will be in a few months, we dont believe waiting is a good strategy.

The MSPCA Walk for Animals is September 8th! Together with our pals at Fish & Bone, we've formed a fundraising team for the walk (The Fish & Bone/Unit Unit Realty Group Team) and we want YOU to join us!

Heres Julys 2013s Monthly Multifamily Housing Activity Report from the Greater Boston Association of Realtors.

Following a modest 4 percent decrease in condo sales in June, which marked the first annual decline in condo market activity in 18 months, sales volume surged in July, climbing 18.6 percent over the past 12 months to 1,236 units closed in July 2013. Its the largest percentage increase in monthly condo sales on an annual basis since January, when sales rose 22 percent from January 2012.

Heres Junes 2013s Monthly Multifamily Housing Activity Report from the Greater Boston Association of Realtors.

What going on in the greater Boston multifamily housing market?

Concerns about interest rates rising helped push activity higher in the spring, which resulted in an increase in closed sales in June. Prices continue to move up because demand for available homes to buy is outpacing supply. Sellers are gaining confidence as new listings continue to be added to the market.