The tight housing market is beginning to slacken, if only slightly.

Driving the news: Realtor RE/MAX's October report showed 30.7% fewer closings around the country than in the same time period in 2021, with 36.8% more homes on the market.

• The average home took 35 days to sell, nearly a week longer than last year.
• Every month of 2022 has seen fewer home sales than in 2021, according to RE/MAX.

Zoom in: Data from the Massachusetts Association of Realtors shows the Boston area going along with the national trend.

• The median sale price of a single-family home in Massachusetts dropped over 4% to $547,000 in October compared to September.
• New listings are down nearly 19% in Massachusetts, and closed sales went down nearly 18% for single-family homes since September.

Why it matters: A cooling housing market means consumers have more choice and can explore multiple homes instead of being rushed to close on one of a few available ones.

• Higher interest rates are partly responsible for the softening market.

What they're saying: "The historic pace and magnitude of interest rate increases have created a reset and softened the housing landscape as intended," said RE/MAX president Nick Bailey in a statement accompanying the report.

• Bailey said most buyers are more concerned with affording a down payment and a monthly mortgage than they are with climbing interest rates.

The big picture: The state's lack of housing inventory is what causes sky-high prices and is still the most daunting problem for those looking to buy their first home.

The average sale price for a home in greater Boston is trending downward, but lower costs aren't uniform across the area, according to data provided to Axios from Zillow.

• Peabody has seen the area's biggest dip in home prices with a 2.4% decline.
• North Reading prices were down 2.2%.

Yes, but: Some areas bucked the trend.

• Homes in Needham jumped up 3.1% while neighboring towns like Dover and Wellesley saw increases over 1%.
• Crossing the state line into New Hampshire, prices continued to climb. Newton, N.H., saw prices increase 2.1% while Durham was up 3.8%.

⚖️ Former Natick town official Suzanne Ianni will serve 15 days in jail for participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol. (WBUR)

🍽 Eastern Standard plans to return as part of the upcoming Fenway Center development. (Restaurant Talk)

🏥 A barrage of threats and hoax bomb threats at Boston Children's Hospital over transgender health care have made it harder for hospital workers to do their jobs. (Globe)

Here's a bargain house near Inman Square in Cambridge.

• It's got everything: plenty of natural light from all the holes in the roof, a breezeway where the back wall used to be and a unique split-level design because half the house collapsed.
• And it's only $1.8 million. A steal!

Yes, but: Realtor William Senné says the building will be removed and the 4,360-square-foot lot could fit up to four new units for a developer looking for a good location.

Be smart: Prices like this for tear-downs aren't even that uncommon. The six-bedroom firetrap at 127 Western Ave. in Cambridge, also listed by Senné, sold recently for $2.3 million for some lucky developer to renovate or demolish.

💼 Check out who’s hiring around the city.

1. Production Associate - Entry Para-Professional at Schneider Electric.
2. Deaf Communications Access Specialist - Per Diem at Boston Medical.
3. Communications and Development Specialist at Roca Inc.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

Time Out Market's vendors start selling seasonal items today, from holiday-themed gelato to the chocolate and peppermint-bark adorned drink pictured above.

• The hot peppermint white chocolate mocha from Say Coffee Co. and several other items will be available through Jan. 5.

Steph's thought bubble: Some of you might want to skate in the ice rink at 401 Park while you're at the market, which is celebrating the rink's return 7pm-9pm on Dec. 7. 

• Personally, I prefer to stay inside with an espresso drink when the cold sets in.