Lowell Deeds

A story in the Business Section of today’s Globe regarding declining home values and their relationship to assessed values mentions the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds and some of the figures that we have compiled over the past few weeks. Here’s the relevant paragraph:

In Lowell, where housing values rose faster than Newton’s, more than 20 percent of its residential and commercial properties sold below assessment in recent months, according to an analysis of property deed records by Richard Howe, head of the Registry of Deeds for Northern Middlesex County. In May through June 2005, less than 10 percent sold below assessments, he said.