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WALTHAM, MA - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that single-family home sales were up over 17 percent compared to October 2008 as buyers made sure to take advantage of the first-time homebuyer tax credit before it was set to expire. Condominium sales also were up 17 percent. Median prices were down 2.6 percent compared to last year, while condominium median prices were down 4.0 percent. October pending sales (homes put under agreement) were up 27 percent from the same time last year. This is the fifth straight month of increases.

BOSTON, MA - November 25, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the Bank) has awarded $3.0 million in the form of grants, loans, and interest-rate subsidies through its Affordable Housing Program (AHP). These funds will be used to finance 79 units of affordable rental and ownership housing for households earning at or below 80 percent of area median income in three New England states. Of that amount, $2.6 million will be awarded as a grant or subsidy

WALTHAM, MA - November 24, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that single-family home sales were up over 17 percent compared to October 2008 as buyers made sure to take advantage of the first-time homebuyer before it was set to expire. Condominium sales also were up 17 percent. Median prices were down 2.6 percent compared to last year, while condominium median prices were down 4.0 percent. October pending sales (homes put under agreement) were up 27 percent from the same time last year. This is the fifth straight month of increases.

$28M Mixed-Use Project to Transform Neighborhood Landmark, make Available New Affordable Homeownership and Rental Housing. November 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) Director Evelyn Friedman today joined the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC), New Atlantic Development Corporation (NADC), and community members to celebrate the completion of the first 16 new units of housing on the site of the former Blessed Sacrament church. The completed $28 million development, expected for the end of 2010, will yield a total of 118 units of housing, the majority of which will be available to low and moderate income households.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement today after the House of Representatives voted to stimulate the local economy by extending unemployment benefits and the first-time homebuyer tax credit. Additional tax relief will be targeted to military families and businesses. The House passed H.R. 3549, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, by a vote of 403-12.

WinnResidential top performer for seventh year; Maloney Properties, United Housing Management and Peabody Properties also cited for multi-million dollar efforts. BOSTON, MA - November 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing recently recognized the efforts of 89 property management companies that make a concerted effort to do business with Minority and Women-Owned Businesses (M/WBEs). WinnResidential Management, which manages 85 MassHousing-financed properties, was the top performer for the seventh year in a row.

October 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Bank of America Corporation today announced a first-of-its-kind in the nation initiative to prevent tenants from being displaced out of foreclosed homes. The initiative marks the latest expansion in the City’s on-going efforts to meet all of the challenges presented by the foreclosure crisis

Funds to Help Homeowners at Risk of Losing Homes. WASHINGTON, DC - October 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt today announced the award of $115,823 in Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants to Quincy Community Action Programs (QCAP) and the Plymouth Redevelopment Authority.

Roosevelt School the gold standard in sustainability October 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Menino today celebrated the Franklin D. Roosevelt K-8 School in...

U.S. Treasury’s tax credit exchange funds to restart 10 projects, create jobs. BOSTON, MA - October 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the state will utilize $50.3 million in federal recovery funds to create hundreds of jobs and revive affordable housing developments stalled throughout the Commonwealth due to the lack of equity available in low-income housing tax credit markets.Ten projects in Amherst, Charlton, Chelmsford, Lunenburg, Plymouth, Wareham, Watertown, West Boylston, Westfield and Worcester will receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to fill the financing gaps created in projects where tax credits could not leverage the equity needed to support construction costs.

Latest HUD Grant Emphasizes Boston’s Continued Success of “Lead Safe Boston” Program. October 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Menino today announced that the City will be awarded over $3M in federal Lead Based Paint Hazard Control funds to reduce the hazards of lead-based paint in homes located in the City’s low and moderate income neighborhoods. The award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) is the tenth competitive federal funding award that the City’s Lead Safe Boston program has received since 1993. The funding, totaling more than $30 million, has enabled Boston to provide lead abatement services to more than 2000 homes citywide.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John W. Olver (D-1st District) announced that Franklin County DIAL SELF, Inc. will receive $285,000 annually in grant funds over the next 3 years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The funding will be used to provide a comprehensive array of outreach, prevention, and safe shelter services for homeless and at-risk youth through the DIAL/SELF TeenLine and North Quabbin programs.

Recovery Act funding will provide “green”, energy efficient renovations for Old Colony, Cathedral, Heath and Amory public housing developments. Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has given the City of Boston $40 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funding will go toward renovating several public housing developments in the Boston Housing Authority’s (BHA) portfolio using “green” technology to increase energy efficiency and decrease overall costs to the City of Boston. The $40 million worth of projects will create nearly 400 new jobs.

August home sales at 2008 levels. WALTHAM, MA - September 29, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that the number of pending sales (homes put under agreement in August) was up 6.0 percent from the same time last year – the third straight month of year-over-year gains. Sales of single-family homes were virtually the same compared to August of last year (up 0.4 percent), while condominium sales were down 3.5 percent. Median prices continue to be at their highest point in 2009.

September 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Fields Corner branch of the Boston Public Library will temporarily close for building improvements beginning Saturday, October 10. The building improvements include roof restoration, select insulated window installation, and the replacement of the storefront and doors. The construction and building improvement work is expected to last 4-6 weeks. In order to avoid health and safety issues during certain critical phases of the work, it is necessary to temporarily close the branch to the public and the staff. The Fields Corner Branch Library, located at 1520 Dorchester Avenue in Dorchester, will reopen to the public in November 2009.