Halloween is almost here, and towns throughout the Patriots’ Trail are getting ready with plenty of ways to celebrate. From downtown trick-or-treating and costume parades to trunk-or-treats, skating and community festivals, there are lots of opportunities to get into the Halloween spirit with the whole family.

Fall has long been an important selling season in New England, bringing a second wave of real estate activity after the busy spring market. The weather is still favorable, homes and neighborhoods show beautifully, and buyers who are active at this point in the year are motivated to make a move before the holidays or year-end.

With fall underway, September’s closed sales offer a useful look at the market heading into the final months of the year. Across the towns we track, the numbers continue to show significant differences from one community to the next, but one message stands out: buyers are still responding to homes they perceive as offering good value, [...]