Plymouth County Register of Deeds John R. Buckley Jr. said that real estate sales in November confirmed a continued, but gradual slow-down in real estate activity from last year in Plymouth County.
“We have recorded fewer deeds and fewer mortgages during each of the past five months compared to the corresponding months in 2020,” Buckley said. “I expect that this gradual drop-off will continue through the holidays.”
Plymouth County recorded 912 deeds in November, 5 percent fewer than the 957 deeds recorded during November 2020, but more than the 893 deeds recorded in October 2021. Overall, Plymouth County has recorded 9,833 deeds through the first 11 months of the year. During the same period last year, the registry recorded a similar amount of documents 9,537. This represents a 3 percent increase in sales.
Plymouth County recorded 2,653 mortgages in November. This is less than the 3,161 mortgages recorded last November, but more than the 2,294 mortgages recorded in pre-pandemic November 2019.
Year to date, Plymouth County recorded 34,499 mortgages through November 2021, a 13 percent increase over the 30,577 mortgages recorded a year ago at this time.
With the end of the foreclosure moratorium, lenders appear to be re-activating their foreclosure departments, Buckley said. The number of foreclosures being recorded still trail the numbers pre-COVID-19, but the notices to foreclose filings are returning to pre-COVID-19 numbers. Plymouth County recorded eight foreclosure deeds in November, compared to five recorded in October. Through November, Plymouth County recorded 63 foreclosure deeds, representing a 60 percent decrease from the 157 foreclosure deeds that were recorded through this time last year.
Plymouth County recorded 38 notices initiating a new potential foreclosure in November. This number is the highest number of monthly recordings since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020.
