December in Norwell was the definition of tight: buyers stayed active, spreads stayed tight, and the market punished any listing that missed on value. The month-end snapshot showed zero active single-family listings, which doesn’t mean “no homes existed” — it means that by the last day of December, nothing remained on the shelf. Inventory has been chronically scarce, and December’s snapshot made that scarcity obvious.

You can see the discipline show up in price behavior. Only two properties cut price in December, but the message was loud: reductions clustered where buyers were most sensitive — $800–899K and $2.5–2.99M — with an average -6.76% total reduction (≈-$125,000). Sellers who launched too high had to realign to the market; those who came out sharp didn’t need to chase the number.

On the demand side, pendings tell the speed story. Two homes went under agreement with an average 11 days to offer, both under $900K — a clear signal that well-priced properties in the sub-$900K bands still move quickly, even in a holiday month. If you’re buying in those lanes, assume competition and prepare to write quickly.

Closings confirm that buyers and sellers are meeting near the ask when value is clear. December logged nine sales with an average sale-to-list of 99% and sale-to-original list of 96% — tight spreads that reflect disciplined buyers and realistic sellers. The median sale landed at $859,000, with a top sale at $2.325M. Those headline numbers mask a healthy range: from $590K at 62 High St up through $1.1M at 348 Main and $1.215M at 110 Parker, capped by the luxury close at 37 Tara Dr. ($2.325M). The takeaway: every price tier can transact — if it’s positioned correctly.

There was also a caution light: four expired listings between $800K and $2.65M, averaging 166 days on market. In a town where end-of-month inventory hit zero, an expiration isn’t a market failure — it’s a miss on pricing, presentation, timing, or all three. If you “leave room” at the list price, the market often takes it back later with a bigger discount and more days on market.

What this means if you’re selling: December’s data says price into the band, not above it. Below $900K, speed favors sharp listings; clean condition, pro photos, and a comp-anchored ask create urgency and minimize concessions. In the upper tiers, luxury still sells — see 37 Tara Dr. — but buyers scrutinize condition, land, and updates; align your price with the most recent success stories and support it with top-tier marketing.

What this means if you’re buying: Expect thin selection and tight spreads. For sub-$900K, have underwriting locked, be decisive, and use appraisal-ready comps to justify your number. For $1M+, negotiate on terms and timing more than on headline price; strong homes aren’t giving up big percentages, but you can win on occupancy, repairs, or closing flexibility as inventory reloads in Q1.

Bottom line: December in Norwell was lean on supply, efficient on demand, and unforgiving on overpricing. The right homes — at the right number — moved fast and closed near ask. If you want to sell into that momentum or buy without overpaying, calibrate to the bands and the comps,

Jim Aldred is a Realtor serving Boston's South Shore and can be contacted via his Links below.
https://linktr.ee/SellingSouthieToSagamore
www.KWMASS.com

Email me at JimAldredRealtor@yahoo.com

cell: 339-987-0382

PODCAST INTRO

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

PODCAST OUTRO

LURKING SLOTH

By: Alexander Nakarada