What's Happening in My Town? Locals Want to Know, Every Week
The quick answer: Locals Want to Know is a weekly update on what town boards decided in North Andover MA, Andover MA, Amesbury MA, Haverhill MA, Salem NH and nearby towns. Each item says what happened, what it means for your home and where to read or watch it yourself.
Locals are asking what happened at town hall this week. Here's the plain answer.
You hear bits of it everywhere. A neighbor says taxes are going up. A post says 300 apartments got approved. It's hard to know what's true, and that can feel unsettling when it's about your home.
If you want the real story, you aren't alone. Each week I read the town boards and local news for you and write it down in plain words, with links so you can check it yourself.
Town meetings don't make headlines until they change your street. This is where you hear it first.
In this guide
What's the newest Locals Want to Know update?
Week of November 5, 2026: Rocky Hill, Minuteman Park and tax bills
North Andover MA held its tax split hearing. The Andover MA Select Board backed 334 apartments at Minuteman Park. Amesbury MA approved the Rocky Hill site plan for 381 homes. Haverhill MA turned down three townhouses. Boxford MA and Georgetown MA have news too. Salem NH raised its tax break for owners 65 and up.
Which towns does Locals Want to Know cover?
We start with North Andover MA, Andover MA, Amesbury MA, Haverhill MA and Salem NH every week.
Then we add any nearby town with news that matters to you, like Newburyport MA, Boxford MA, Windham NH or Derry NH.
For prices and sales, read each town's monthly update: North Andover MA, Andover MA, Amesbury MA and Haverhill MA.
How do we pick what goes in?
One question: would you want to know this if you own a home here or hope to buy one? That means new housing, tax rates, zoning, schools, roads and big town projects.
Every item links to the town, the meeting video when it's posted, or the local paper that reported it. No rumors. No opinions about who's right.
Why does town news matter for your home?
A new project can change how many homes buyers have to choose from. A tax decision changes your monthly cost. A school vote can change which homes buyers look at first.
If you're thinking about selling or buying, these are the things I watch for you. Our seller guide and Massachusetts vs New Hampshire comparison go deeper.
Locals Want to Know, every week
Want the town news that matters, in plain words?
Sign up and I'll send you each week's Locals Want to Know: what your town boards decided and what it means for your home.
About Lisa Sevajian
Lisa Sevajian is a Realtor with the Lisa Sevajian Group at eXp Realty. The Lisa Sevajian Group is licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She has guided almost 2,000 families through buying and selling and has ranked in the top 1.5% of over 1.4 million Realtors nationwide, verified by RealTrends. She serves the Andovers, the Merrimack Valley, Seacoast MA and NH, Southern NH and the North Shore. Buying, she makes sure you don't overpay. Selling, she makes sure you don't say yes to too little. Call Lisa Sevajian at 978-457-3406.
Home, for me, is here
This is home for me. I grew up north of Boston. I raised my two daughters here as a single mom while I built my business. When they were little, they hosted open houses with me.
We lived at Mill Pond in North Andover MA. I hiked Weir Hill with my dogs. I launched my kayak on the pond. A lot of my mornings started at Good Day Cafe.
So when you ask me about a town, you get more than numbers. Ask me about a school, a street or your commute, and you get someone who has lived it. If you're making a move here, you won't make it alone.
Lisa is an expert negotiator and we were able to get everything that we wanted for our offer.
Kevin Liu, bought a home in Georgetown MA, verified Zillow review
She listened to me and understood what I needed in this home sale.
Elizabeth Reifsnyder, sold a home in Andover MA, verified Zillow review
Read real client storiesSee all reviewsMore about Lisa Sevajian
Featured by HGTV, Forbes, HousingWire, Boston magazine, RealTrends Verified and Boston Agent Magazine, syndicated by The Globe and Mail and Yahoo Finance, among many others.
Questions people ask
What's Locals Want to Know?
A weekly update on what town boards in Northern MA and Southern NH decided, written in plain words, with what it means for owners and buyers.
What's happening in North Andover MA this week?
The North Andover MA Select Board held its tax split hearing on November 2, 2026. Read this week's update for the details and links.
What's new in Andover MA housing?
The Andover MA Select Board backed a plan for 334 apartments at 300 Minuteman Park. It still needs state review and a Zoning Board of Appeals permit.
What was approved in Amesbury MA?
The Amesbury MA Planning Board approved the Rocky Hill site plan for 381 homes on Elm Street on October 26, 2026.
What did the Haverhill MA City Council decide?
The Haverhill MA City Council turned down three townhouses at 27 Marshland Street on October 20, 2026, by an 8 to 1 vote.
Did Salem NH change its tax break for seniors?
Yes. The Salem NH Town Council raised the elderly exemption on October 19, 2026, after the townwide revaluation, when the town updated every home's value.
Which towns does Locals Want to Know cover?
North Andover MA, Andover MA, Amesbury MA, Haverhill MA and Salem NH every week, plus nearby towns in Northern MA and Southern NH when there's news.
How often is Locals Want to Know updated?
Every week. The newest update is always at the top of this page.
Where does the news come from?
Town websites, meeting notices, meeting videos when they're posted and local papers. Every item links to its source.
Can town news change my home's value?
It can change how buyers shop. New homes give buyers more choices, and tax decisions change monthly costs. Ask for the numbers on your own street.
How do I get Locals Want to Know by email?
Sign up on this page. You'll get each week's update in your inbox.
This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Check with your attorney, lender and CPA before you decide.
I'll guide you home.
Lisa Sevajian