Realtors Guide to Bellingham Massachusetts Real Estate
Learn all there is to know about the Bellingham Massachusetts Real Estate market, as well as the community itself by top Bellingham MA Realtor, Bill Gassett of RE/MAX Executive Realty. If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Bellingham, please get in touch as I have been selling Bellingham real estate for the past thirty-four years!
There are very few Realtors in Bellingham that have the track record of being a top producer year after year. As a Bellingham Real Estate agent with nearly three decades of experience, selling here comes easy to me.
Located on the southwestern edge of Metropolitan Boston, Bellingham is a town that appeals to many people interested in living within commuting distance of the city while enjoying the relative peace and quiet of small-town life.
While it has grown considerably in recent decades, Bellingham still maintains a balance of convenience and charm – something that leads many to consider buying a home and settling down in the area.
Bellingham, MA Location
Bellingham is situated on the southwestern part of Norfolk County, found just north of Rhode Island’s northeast corner. Medway MA borders the town on the north, Woonsocket, RI, on the southern side, Wrentham on the southeast, and Franklin MA on the eastern side. The town is located in perfect commuting distance to both Worcester and Boston – 23 miles southeast of Worcester and 30 miles southwest of Boston. Providence, RI, is even closer, at only 20 miles south of Bellingham.
The United States Census Bureau says that Bellingham occupies a total area of 19 square miles, with just 0.5 square miles of that taken up by water. The town rises above sea level by 293 feet. The Bellingham zip code is 02019.
Bellingham is one of several towns located on the “outer belt” of Boston, found along Route 495. It is considered to be a part of both the Providence metropolitan area and the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy metropolitan statistical area. Most real estate agents covering Bellingham understand this is one of the many attractive features.
Real Estate Bellingham, MA
With all Bellingham’s economic growth, there has never been a better time to buy a home here. There is a wide range of residential options to choose from, ranging from luxury homes and estate homes to condominiums and townhouses. A great deal of single-family homes is available in a range of prices as well.
Whatever you are looking for in a home, chances are you can find it in Bellingham, especially with an experienced Bellingham MA real estate agent. There are condominiums available for under two hundred thousand dollars, and the upper end of Bellingham’s price range is around $700,000.
There is no question you will get more bang for your buck buying real estate in Bellingham! The average sale price for a Bellingham home is around $260,000, but the price can vary substantially depending on the size of the property and the home features.
Bellingham home values have gone up quite a bit in just the past year, with just over a 5% rise in the preceding twelve months. They are projected to rise almost another 4% over the next year, meaning that now is the time to purchase if you are interested in living here.
While it is possible to shop on your own for a house in Bellingham, it is worth noting that typically the best deals on the best properties are found through a knowledgeable real estate agent.
Bellingham Realtors, including myself, are well-connected with all the channels that residential properties are usually found on, meaning that they are the first to learn about new listings. This information network allows a Realtor to discover the homes that are most likely to meet your criteria.
All of this means that a skilled Bellingham real estate agent is capable of finding you a home within your budget that offers what you want – important when you consider the growth seen in the real estate market. Competition is likely to increase for desirable properties over the coming year, making it harder and harder to find the right home for the right price.
An excellent Realtor covering Bellingham will be able to guide you on what is going on in the market, so you are well informed to make a smart decision.
Housing and Population Statistics
- The median value of homes occupied by owner – $282,100
- Median property tax – $1,932
- Homes occupied by owner – 87.9%
- Homes occupied by renters – 12.1%
- Town population – 15,314
- Population density – 827.8 people per square mile
- Percentage of households with children under 18 – 37.9%
- Percentage of households that are married couples – 64.6%
- The median age of residents – 36
From 2000 to 2010, the town saw a population growth of 6.6%, solid growth for a town this size and demonstrative of why residential real estate prices continue to rise.
History of Bellingham, Massachusetts
Norfolk County – of which Bellingham is a part – sprang up from a swampy area near the Charles River. Much of it was not considered usable by the first settlers due to the swampland’s challenges. It took some time for the area to draw enough settlers to create a proper community, but by the early 1700s, it had attracted several residents.
Officially incorporated in 1719, Bellingham was originally known as Westham but had its name changed when it became incorporated. Richard Bellingham – a Massachusetts Bay Colony governor – was where the town’s newly incorporated name came from.
The town originally had a Pilgrim meeting house, much like other towns at the time. This was eventually replaced with a Baptist church – one where a major supporter of the First Amendment and James Madison would be baptized, a Baptist minister named John Leland.
There was also another citizen of the town that is considered historically interesting – a woman named Deborah Sampson. She decided to enlist in the military during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, women were not allowed in the military at the time. This meant she had to dress as a man and enlist under the name Robert Shurtlieff – becoming the first female American soldier.
The town got off to a slow start due to limited resources the challenges presented by the natural terrain in the area. It did not really begin to take off until the early 1990s when Walmart and other businesses began to establish themselves in the northern part of the town along I-495. The northern part of Bellingham is now part of an economic boom, while the southern part of the town remains a suburban area – where many fantastic residential real estate options can be found.
Climate in Town
Bellingham gets an average of 48 inches of rainfall each year, with an average of 46.1 inches of snowfall. The town gets an average of 112 days of measurable precipitation and an average of 200 days of sunshine per year. The average high in July is 84 degrees, while the average low in January is 13.7 degrees.
Economy & Household Income
The median income for Bellingham households is $64,496, while the median income for a family is $72,074. Per capita income – a measure of income averaged out over both adults and children – is $25,047.
The town has seen a considerable rise in commerce since 1993 when retail giant Wal-Mart set up shop on route 126 (Hartford Avenue) near the town’s interchange with 495. Now there is an impressive number of major businesses in the area, including:
- Chile’s
- Home Depot
- Gap
- Whole Foods Market
- Outback Steakhouse
- Regal Cinemas
- Michael’s
- Staples
- Old Navy
This growth continues today, with the developers proposing many new shopping options in town – all designed to take advantage of Bellingham’s growing reputation as a place to shop.
The town is also working to develop Bellingham’s southern part into a downtown area complete with shops, condos, and homes. The process is ongoing and demonstrative of the town’s commitment to growth and a strong economy.
Bellingham, MA Schools
Bellingham has a strong commitment to the education of its young people. The school district has a stated mission to provide the best education possible. You can learn from this terrific resource on Bellingham MA schools. Schools in town include:
- Stallbrook Elementary School
- South Elementary School
- Clara Macy Elementary School
- Bellingham Memorial Middle School
- Bellingham High School
- Paul J. Primavera Educational Center
Transportation and Commuting Options
One of the great appeals of Bellingham is its location. Close enough to the three major cities in the area – Providence, Boston, and Worcester – you can easily live in Bellingham and work in a major city without any loss of convenience.
You can continue to earn a good income in any of the area industries while still enjoying the small-town feel that Bellingham is known for.
Most people choose to commute using their own vehicles along I-495, but it is also possible to travel by rail from the nearby Forge Park/I-495 MBTA rail stop in Franklin.
It is possible to travel by regional aircraft from Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, 28 miles away. However, the most popular air travel center is Boston’s Logan International Airport, located 35 miles from Bellingham.
A Great Place to Buy a Home
As the Boston Metropolitan Area continues to expand, Bellingham is one of several towns that is seeing a rise in popularity – both locally and from out of state. Its balance of affordability, small-town feel, and ease of commute makes it a draw for people from all over the country.
Fortunately, while the town has seen tremendous growth in its commerce sector and a respectable increase in population, it also seeks to maintain the qualities that make it so appealing to so many. Realtors servicing Bellingham understand what really makes it an ideal location to buy a home is the affordability factor. Most of the towns bordering 495 and the commuter rail are much more expensive.
Why Hire a Top Bellingham MA Realtor?
If you’re thinking about selling your home, investment property, or other Bellingham Massachusetts Real Estate, allow me to help make the transaction a smooth and pleasant experience. My thirty-four years as a Real Estate agent working in the Bellingham real estate market give me a complete understanding of the town.
When you are selling your home, you don’t want to hire just anyone! Hiring the wrong Realtor is one of the biggest mistakes people make when selling real estate. When choosing a Bellingham real estate agent, you should consider things like their past track record of success, statistical data such as list price to sale price ratios/average days on the market, as well as their communication and marketing skills.
While displaying a SOLD rider on your lawn is my #1 goal, I also expect the experience of selling your home is a memorable one. Part of what I expect is you to be comfortable referring your friends and family because you were delighted.
I can honestly say there are no other Realtors in Bellingham, MA, who provides the level of online exposure found here by utilizing proper search engine optimization (SEO) and social media integration! When selling your home, internet marketing a crucial aspect of getting a property sold and happens to be one of my specialties. Not many Realtors will go out of their way to make your home seem like it is “featured” everywhere.
Your property will be found in all the top places that most buyers would be searching for Bellingham homes for sale, including this website, which is highly indexed by Google and other search engines. The idea of great real estate marketing does not stop at putting a for sale sign in your yard and listing it on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is what “post and pray” Realtors do to sell homes.
We leave no stone uncovered when it comes to marketing our client’s homes. As far as Real Estate advertising, you will find that I do things that other Realtors do, not including spending time on social media exposing your property. Seeing your home featured on Facebook, Google Plus, Linkedin, Pinterest, and Twitter, to name a few, is the norm, not the exception.
Additional things that help us stand out to include exceptional photography from a high-end camera, vivid descriptions describing all the best features of your home, along with a video tour from the real estate shows that will be found in Youtube, Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and MLS.
A few of my accomplishments that I am proud of include:
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Graduated with B.S. in Marketing and Management Northeastern University Boston, MA. An active participant in the Cooperative Education Program. - Full-time Realtor for past 30 years servicing all of Metrowest MA and beyond.
- Member of National Association of Realtors & Greater Boston Real Estate Board.
- Before joining RE/MAX in 1996, I was one of the top agents in MA for the Prudential Real Estate.
- I have been ranked one of the top 5 RE/MAX agents in Massachusetts each year for thirteen out of the past fourteen years.
- #1 agent at RE/MAX Executive Realty – a seven office company with over 160 agents. RE/MAX Executive Realty is one of the largest RE/MAX companies in Massachusetts, with offices in Hopkinton MA, Holliston MA, Medfield, Grafton MA, Franklin, and Marlborough.
- Elected to RE/MAX Hall of Fame.
- RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement award.
- Have been ranked as high as #19 RE/MAX agent in the United States.
- Featured in Who’s Who In Real Estate.
- Top Bellingham MA Realtor.
- In 2012 was the #1 RE/MAX Realtor in all of New England.
- In 2013 was the #3 RE/MAX Realtor in all of New England.
- In 2015 was the #5 RE/MAX Real Estate agent in New England.
- In 2016 was the #3 RE/MAX Real Estate agent in New England.
- In 2017 was the #6 RE/MAX Real Estate agent in New England.
- 1n 2018 was the #1 RE/MAX Real Estate agent in Massachusetts.
I have been listing and selling homes throughout the Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 34+ years. Call or send me an email to discuss how I can best serve your Bellingham MA Real Estate needs!
Bill Gassett ~ Realtors Bellingham MA
RE/MAX Executive Realty
308 West Central Street, Suite E
Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: 508.435.5356
Fax: 508.435.5550
Email: billgassett@remaxexec.com
Other Bellingham Real Estate Resources:
- Bellingham MA Real Estate Assessor – see Bellingham real estate information relating to assessments.
- Wikipedia page for Bellingham Massachusetts – see additional data points on the town.
Map of Bellingham
See a sample of available Bellingham MA homes for sale below.
[idx-listings city=”Bellingham” statuses=”1″ propertytypes=”163″ orderby=”Price” orderdir=”ASC” count=”5″ showlargerphotos=”true”]
See any homes for sale in Bellingham you would like to look at? Do you need a good buyer’s agent? Give me a call and let me be your Bellingham real estate agent!