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When U.S. News & World Report released its latest “Best Places to Live for Quality of Life” rankings, Brookline, Massachusetts, claimed the #1 spot in the entire country. For residents, this comes as welcome validation of what they experience daily: a town where excellent schools, cultural vitality, and walkable streets create a lifestyle that consistently outshines national peers. For homebuyers and sellers, the ranking adds another layer of urgency to an already competitive housing market.

Brookline’s affordable housing share has slipped below the state’s 10% threshold, giving developers new leverage under Chapter 40B. “We’re likely going to get three or four, maybe even six, new 40B applications this fall,” warned Planning Director Kara Brewton. Already, Oak Hill has revived its six-story plan at 429 Harvard Street, a 103-unit Chestnut Hill project is tied up in court, and City Realty has floated a massive Route 9 40B if commercial talks stall. With local control weakened, Brookline’s development battles are shifting from zoning boards to the state—and, in some cases, to the courts.

Brookline’s inclusion among the top 50 safest and wealthiest communities in the U.S. validates what residents already know — this is one of the most desirable places to live in the country.

A seismic shift is coming to the Massachusetts rental market. On August 1, 2025, a new law, championed by Governor Maura Healey, will fundamentally change how real estate brokers are paid. The long-standing practice of tenants paying the fee for the landlord’s agent will end. The new rule is simple: whoever hires the agent, pays the agent.

For a high-cost market like Brookline, where renters already face immense financial pressure, this change is monumental. This definitive guide deconstructs the new legislation, offering a strategic playbook for listing agents, tenant representatives, landlords, and renters. We’ll explore the critical compliance deadlines, the new “rules of the road” for representation, and the likely market impacts, from rising rents to the end of “co-broking” as we know it. This is your essential resource for navigating the new era of renting in Massachusetts.

Beginning September 2, 2025, Massachusetts landlords will be subject to new regulations requiring full transparency in rental pricing. Under the state’s expanded consumer protection rules, all advertised rents must clearly disclose the “Total Price” a tenant will pay—including all mandatory fees and charges—before collecting any personal information. While originally designed to curb hidden fees in hotel and ticketing industries, the rules explicitly apply to rental housing. Brookline landlords should review their advertising and lease practices now to ensure compliance and avoid potential penalties under Chapter 93A.

I am pleased to share that – for the third year in a row – as of the end of 2023, Compass remains the LARGEST

Discover the latest real estate trends of 2023 with insights from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) in our article.

The proposed operating override has high stakes for Brookline’s schools. If approved, the tax increase will raise $11.98 million, phased in gradually over three years. Failure to pass the override will result in an unprecedented $3.25 million budget reduction in fiscal year 2024 for the schools, potentially leading to the loss of 43 positions across various programs.

The Massachusetts State Sanitary Code has been updated with significant changes to the existing provisions, renumbering of certain sections, and the addition of new ones. The new version of the code will come into effect from April 1 after several years of debate, seeking input from state and local officials, landlord, and tenant groups.