Inherited Homes on the Rise as Housing Costs Squeeze Massachusetts Families

5 articles · Updated · Boston.com · Apr 13

A record 7% of U.S. homes were transferred through inheritance in 2025, reflecting a growing trend amid housing affordability challenges.
In Massachusetts, lack of inheritance tax and estate tax rules influence decisions to keep, sell, or gift family homes.
Inherited or gifted homes offer stability but come with financial, legal, and emotional complexities, especially as home prices and mortgage rates rise.

How does Massachusetts' $2M estate tax shape generational wealth transfer decisions for families?

How does the "Great Wealth Transfer" impact wealth inequality and housing access for non-inheriting residents?

Is inheriting a home becoming the primary path to ownership in Massachusetts' affordability crisis?

Beyond inheritance, what innovative strategies can truly solve Massachusetts' severe housing crisis?

Does the "step-up in basis" rule create an unfair tax advantage for inherited versus gifted properties?

Could "aging in place" ultimately deepen Massachusetts' housing supply shortage for future generations?