Brookline ranked 16 in Fortune’s Top 25 Best Places to Live for Families

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.