Monthly Archives: December 2013

Massachusetts Home Sales Down in November as Prices Continued to Move Up

WALTHAM, Mass. - December 30, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that November home sales declined compared to last year as prices still continued to go up. The condominium market experienced similar results. The lack of inventory of homes for sale impacted closed sales results

2014 Qualified Allocation Plan for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has scheduled a public hearing to solicit comments on the 2014 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). The hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. on January 3, 2014 in second floor conference room 2B, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114. At the hearing, interested members of the public will be afforded the opportunity to present data, views or arguments orally relative to the proposed 2014 plan for allocating the low income housing tax credit in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ocwen to Provide $2.1 Billion in Relief to Homeowners in State-Federal Settlement Over Loan...

BOSTON - December 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The nation’s fourth largest mortgage servicer has agreed to provide Massachusetts homeowners with an estimated $80 million in principal reduction and cash payments to homeowners as part of a national settlement to resolve claims of loan servicing misconduct and unlawful foreclosures, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.

Average Family to Pay $63 Less in Property Taxes Next Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Boston today announced the property tax rates for Fiscal 2014. The Fiscal 2014 tax rate for residential property is $12.58 per thousand dollars of valuation. The rate for business properties is $31.18 per thousand. Last fiscal year’s rates for residential and business properties were $13.14 and $31.96, respectively. The City’s total assessed value for Fiscal 2014 is $99.8 billion, an increase of 8.3 percent from last year.

“Shelter for all Genders” Report Released

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), is pleased to announce the release of “Shelter for All Genders: Best Practices for Homeless Shelters, Services and Programs in Massachusetts in Serving Transgender Adults and Gender Non-Conforming Guests.” This guide provides recommendations to agencies working with transgender and gender nonconforming persons in emergency and transitional shelters or services throughout the Commonwealth.

Funding Announced to Modernize and Preserve the State’s Public Housing Stock

BOSTON - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Friday, December 13, 2013 – The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) today announced a new initiative, the High Leverage Asset Preservation Program (HILAPP), that will support the comprehensive modernization and preservation of the state’s public housing stock. The Program will provide competitively bid grants to local housing authorities that are able to secure matching funds from local and or other non-DHCD sources

MassHousing Closes $16.1 Million Loan for the Acquisition and Rehabilitation of River Place Towers...

BOSTON - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- December 10, 2013 – MassHousing announced today that it has closed a $16.1 million construction and permanent loan for the acquisition and renovation of the 448-unit River Place Towers in Lowell.

GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES WORCESTER HOUSING COURT CLERK-MAGISTRATE NOMINATION

BOSTON - December 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Deval Patrick today announced the nomination of experienced attorney Nickolas W. Moudios as Clerk-Magistrate of the Housing Court, Worcester Division.

Recent

AG Healey Secures $2 Million in Restitution for 20,000 Massachusetts Homeowners...

One of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers will pay $2 million in restitution to resolve allegations that it violated state law and committed unfair and deceptive practices by charging Massachusetts homeowners for unnecessary fees and overpriced force-placed insurance policies, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today