Because all agents have access to MLS, the best approach to selecting real estate representation is to allow one agent to get to know you and your needs. Ive always believed that the better I get to know you and to truly understand your needs, the better chance I have of helping you find the right property.

One of the biggest fears in potential homesellers' minds is that they will list their home with a real estate agent who doesnt bring any buyers to view their home. The reality is thats actually the best-case scenario.

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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.

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.