Massachusetts RealEstateRama

WALTHAM, MA - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that June sales were down from the same time last year, but up from this past May. Median prices for single-family homes were down less than two percent on a year-over-year basis, but continue to go up from the month before. While condominium sales were also down on a year-over-year basis, median prices were up for the third straight month. Condominium month-to-month sales and median prices were both up as well.

Washington, DC - July 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- During this morning's Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, Congressman John Tierney, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, called on Chairman Darrell Issa to refocus his attention on efforts to protect our servicemembers from illegal foreclosures, rather than standing up for the big banks responsible for these egregious actions. He also entered into the record a report compiled by the Democratic staff entitled "Fighting on the Home Front: The Growing Problem of Illegal Foreclosures Against U.S. Servicemembers." The report describes in detail the systemic nature of these problems.

Boston, MA - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced a $30 million improvement project for the Heritage Apartments in East Boston and Lower Mills in Dorchester, both serving the disabled and elderly communities. The funding will provide energy efficient capital improvements and increased supportive services at both developments.

BOSTON , MA - July 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it has closed a $1.759 million loan for the Homes at Easthampton Meadow, the third and final phase of a mixed-income, multi-generational housing community for seniors and families with foster or pre-adoptive children.

Boston, MA - July 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On June 20, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) made funding available to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. The funding program – the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP) – will provide much-needed funds for homeowners who have lost their job or experienced an involuntary decline in income. Homeowners who have received a foreclosure notice may be eligible for a deferred payment loan that will allow them to pay loan arrearages, back taxes and up to 24 months of mortgage payments. The EHLP loans will be two-year, no interest, forgivable loans. Eligible families must make less than 120 percent of the median income.

BOSTON, MA - July 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it has closed $106.2 million in loans for the redevelopment of the Charlesview Apartments in Brighton, making the transaction the second-largest in MassHousing’s 45-year history for a single rental housing development.

Boston, MA - July 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Menino will declare a longstanding problem property and known site of drug use and prostitution as the first target of his Problem Properties Task Force.

Salem, MA - June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman John Tierney and Professor Elizabeth Warren, Assistant to President Obama and a Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), met with a small group of local community bankers, mortgage bankers, and realtors yesterday. Congressman Tierney invited Professor Warren to our area to continue her conversation with community bankers as the CFPB begins its mission to protect consumers with reforms to the mortgage process.

Boston, MA - June 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today launched Renew Boston’s Residential Solar Pilot program to encourage Boston homeowners to invest in clean renewable energy. The program is possible due to a $140,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) for small residential solar photovoltaic (PV) installations by providing matching rebates to Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Commonwealth Solar II program.

BOSTON, MA - June 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing has awarded $75,000 to the Mel King Institute for Community Building, which will help Community Development Corporations and their partners build and preserve affordable housing, create jobs and foster opportunities for Massachusetts residents

BOSTON, MA - June 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Addressing a group of 200 real estate agents, mortgage brokers, attorneys, home inspectors, and property managers, Attorney General Martha Coakley highlighted today her proposed legislation to address the ongoing mortgage foreclosure crisis that has gripped the Commonwealth.An Act to Prevent Unnecessary and Unreasonable Foreclosures, which is sponsored by Senator Karen Spilka and Representative Steven M. Walsh, requires that creditors take reasonable steps to avoid foreclosure and prohibits foreclosures without appropriate documentation.

BOSTON, MA - June 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following up on concerns from tenant-rights groups in Western and Central Massachusetts, the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation is urging tenants of tornado-damaged homes to make careful decisions when deciding whether or not to break their lease.

BOSTON, MA - June 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason has been selected to speak at a national housing summit in New York City on June 9 sponsored by Standard & Poor’s that will cover a broad range of topics influencing the United States housing market

BOSTON, MA - June 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Residents of areas impacted by this week’s tornadoes and storms should be aware that out-of-state entities often pour into an affected region offering repair assistance, and homeowners should instead rely on Massachusetts-licensed contractors, electricians, plumbers, sheet metal workers and other tradesmen to do work.The Patrick-Murray Administration’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation registers home improvement contractors, and the Division of Professional Licensure licenses electricians, plumbers, and sheet metal workers. Both agencies offer online systems to check a licensee’s status.

BOSTON, MA - June 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With tornado damage covered by homeowners’ insurance, the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Division of Insurance is offering tips on the best way to file a claim with an insurance company to families who suffered damage in yesterday’s tornadoes and storms.

May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the arrival of summer finally upon us, The City of Springfield will, once again, team up with Daniel J. Flynn & Co., of Quincy, to hold its second auction of 2011. The portfolio for this auction includes twenty-seven (27) properties in tax-title possession and is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21, 2011. Registration begins at 5:00 P.M., and the auction will begin promptly at 6:00 P.M. The ballroom-style Auction will be conducted at Springfield City Hall located at 36 Court Street, Springfield, MA.

May 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- It's one of the most vexing -- yet explainable -- questions homeowners/property taxpayers face: How can it be that my home's value has gone down but my property tax bill has gone up?

BOSTON, MA - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing has awarded $150,000 in financing to help create or preserve affordable sober housing in Sandwich and Tewksbury.