Scott Steele Realtor

Open house at 177 Anthony St, Fall River! 🏡

Tonight: 6- 7 pm
Sunday: 11am-12pm

Fully renovated in 2022 with solar panels, an updated kitchen, and modern systems throughout. Now $424,900. No appointment needed — stop by and see it in person.

🏠 BIG HOUSING NEWS OUT OF PROVIDENCE

Providence voters just sent a pretty clear message.

State Rep. David Morales defeated incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley in the Democratic mayoral primary — and one of the biggest issues separating the two candidates was housing and rent control.

Morales has been a vocal supporter of rent stabilization and has said he would support the 4% rent stabilization proposal that Mayor Smiley vetoed earlier this year.

That proposal would have limited annual rent increases on certain Providence rental properties to 4%, with exemptions and other provisions.

The important thing to understand:

⚠️ Providence does NOT currently have a 4% rent cap.

The ordinance passed the City Council earlier this year, was vetoed by Mayor Smiley, and the Council did not have enough votes to override the veto. (Providence City Council)

But with Morales winning the Democratic primary — and Providence being a heavily Democratic city — the conversation around rent stabilization is definitely not going away. Morales will still need to win the November general election before becoming mayor. (Ocean State Media)

For homeowners, landlords, renters and anyone buying multifamily property in Providence, this is something worth watching closely.

Why?

Because changes to how much rents can increase — and potentially what happens to rent when a tenant moves out — can have a very real impact on:

🏢 Multifamily property values
💰 Investment returns
📊 Projected rental income
🏗️ New housing development
🏠 Housing affordability

Regardless of which side of the rent-control debate you’re on, housing policy can directly affect real estate values and investment decisions.

I’ll be following what happens between now and November — and, more importantly, what happens with the rent stabilization proposal if Morales ultimately becomes mayor.

🏡 MASSACHUSETTS ADU UPDATE

Just when everyone thought we were starting to figure out the new ADU rules… Massachusetts is proposing some changes. 👀

The state is looking at revisions to the regulations governing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and this is something homeowners, buyers, investors AND real estate professionals should be paying attention to.

Why?

Because ADUs are no longer some obscure zoning conversation.

In just the first half of 2026, Massachusetts saw:

🏠 2,824 ADU applications
✅ 2,084 ADUs approved

That's a LOT of homeowners exploring additional living space, rental opportunities, multigenerational housing, and ways to get more use out of their property.

The state is holding an informational webinar on September 10, followed by a formal public comment period from September 11 through October 9.

And as ADUs become more common, they're also creating some important questions during real estate transactions:

👉 Is that apartment actually a legal ADU?
👉 Was it properly permitted?
👉 Can it legally be rented?
👉 Does it have the required approvals?
👉 How should it be marketed when the property is sold?
👉 What could an ADU potentially mean for the property's value?

These are exactly the kinds of details that can become VERY important when buying or selling a home.

The rules around Massachusetts real estate continue to change quickly, and part of my job is making sure I'm paying attention to those changes before they become an issue in the middle of a transaction.

I'll keep following the proposed changes and share another update once we know what the final regulations look like.

Price update on 177 Anthony St, Fall River. 🏡

Now $424,900.

Fully renovated in 2022 with solar panels, an updated kitchen, and modern systems throughout, this one just got even more attractive.

DM me or call/text to schedule a private showing.

Keep an eye out for upcoming open houses this week!

🏡 LOOKING FOR A CAREER CHANGE? WANT TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL STREAM OF INCOME? ALREADY LICENSED AND WONDERING IF THERE’S A BETTER FIT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

Come to our Real Estate Career Night and learn what a career in real estate can look like... and what it looks like to build that career at Keller Williams South Watuppa, the #1 real estate brokerage in Bristol County! ❤️ Whether you’re thinking about getting your real estate license, exploring real estate as an additional source of income, or you’re already a Realtor® and want to see what our brokerage can offer you, this night is for you!

📅 Tuesday, September 8th
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 275 Martine Street, Suite 109, Second Floor
Fall River, MA

Come learn about the opportunities, training, support, technology, culture, and growth available at Keller Williams South Watuppa. Your next opportunity could start with one conversation. Come see what’s possible! 🎉🎉

📞 508-677-3233

Big news for buyers who've been told "not yet."

FHFA Director Bill Pulte just directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to let all lenders use VantageScore 4.0, not just the initial group of 50.

Why it matters: VantageScore counts on-time rent and utility payments that traditional FICO models often ignore. If you pay your bills but don't have a long credit card history, this could open the door.

What it doesn't change: you'll still go through the same tri-merge credit pull and underwriting process, this isn't a shortcut, it's an additional path to qualify.

If you've been sitting on the sidelines because of your credit score, now's a good time to talk. DM me or give me a call — happy to walk through what this actually means for your file.

📍 Scott Steele | Keller Williams South Watuppa

🏡 OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY — 177 Anthony St, Fall River

Sunday, September 6 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

With the recent price improvement, this one is priced to move — make sure you see it before it’s gone. 4 beds, 2 baths, fully renovated in 2022, garage + fenced-in backyard.

Stop by, no appointment needed.

📍 177 Anthony St, Fall River, MA
📲 DM or call if you can’t make it and want a private showing

🚨 **RHODE ISLAND REAL ESTATE UPDATE**

This is definitely one to keep an eye on…

More than 40 Rhode Island homeowners have filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s new tax on certain non-owner-occupied residential properties valued over $1 million.

But here’s the important part 👇

⚠️ **The lawsuit does NOT mean the tax has gone away.**

The law is currently still in effect, and depending on how a property is classified, it can potentially impact more than just high-end vacation homes — certain 2, 3 and 4-family properties may be affected as well.

For anyone buying or selling a higher-value property in Rhode Island, this is something that should be identified **early in the transaction**, not a few days before closing.

And while the courts will ultimately determine what happens with the challenge, for now the existing rules still need to be followed.

🏡 If you own property in Rhode Island and aren't sure whether this could affect you, it's worth having the conversation with your REALTOR®, attorney and/or tax professional.

I'll definitely be watching this one and sharing updates as it develops.

PRICE IMPROVEMENT — 32 Westminster St, Pittsfield 📉

Now $249,900 (down from $264,900).

3-family, 15 rooms, 6 beds, 3 full baths, 3,510 sq ft. Updated electric, fresh paint, new flooring, new bulkhead already done. Heating, roof, and cosmetics are still needed, so bring your contractor or your 203 (k)/HomeStyle lender.

Live in one unit and rent the other two, or run it as a full investment. Public water and sewer, full basement, 0.17 acres.

Won't last at this price. DM or call for a private showing.

🌭🥪 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘!

Time to settle one of the great debates of our time… 😂

𝐈𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐡?

Technically, it’s meat between bread… but calling it a sandwich still feels a little illegal. 😆

And just so we’re clear… 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫. 😂

So where do you stand?

🌭 𝐘𝐄𝐒 — a hot dog is absolutely a sandwich
🥪 𝐍𝐎 — a hot dog is its own category, and we need to stop this nonsense

👇 Cast your vote in the comments — and feel free to make your case. I have a feeling this one could get heated. 😂