LowellDeeds

The registry was busier than usual on Friday. It was the last day of the month and a Friday which usually means an increase in recordings. Lately, however, things have been quite slow, especially compared to last year. In February 2003, for instance, we recorded 12,353 documents. This February, the total was only 6,588. The reduction is due almost entirely to the collapse of the refinance market that began last fall. Property sales remain constant. Despite a nearly 50% reduction in overall recordings from February 2003 to February 2004, the number of deeds recorded remained almost the same with 406 in 2003 and 385 in 2004.