Massachusetts RealEstateRama

Marks the 10-year anniversary of the bipartisan Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), when seven states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic originally came together and proposed the framework for the regional program that would cut carbon pollution from power plants by 37 percent while saving $395 million on customer utility bills thus far. In Massachusetts, since the RGGI market started in 2009, power plant emissions have gone down 34 percent, while Massachusetts’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 25 percent.

Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced awards to fund the development, renovation and preservation of affordable rental housing across the Commonwealth. This award round builds on the Administration’s commitment to expanding affordable housing options for Massachusetts families

Governor Charlie Baker has signed legislation supporting major new investments in the Commonwealth’s local transportation infrastructure, including a $50 million Municipal Small Bridge Program, the broadening of the Complete Streets Funding Program to support projects in more municipalities, and a $750 million authorization for federal highway aid

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that there was no slowing down in the number of accepted offers being made in July as pending home sales rose again over eight percent from last year, while condominium pending sales were also up. Prices for both property types continue to go up. The strong market was reflected in a high Realtor® Market Confidence Index, while Price Confidence was essentially flat

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), House author of the Independence at Home (IAH) program in the health care reform law, hailed savings of $10 million for the second year of the pilot program, an average of $1,010 per beneficiary. Independence at Home is an innovative, team-based model that is bringing measurable, high-quality care directly into the homes of patients suffering from multiple debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, congestive heart failure, diabetes and Parkinson’s, while significantly lowering costs for the Medicare program

Earlier this evening the Board had a meeting in executive session with Town Counsel to discuss issues relative to the Ellis Estate. This discussion was precipitated by recent activities by a small group of individuals who contacted the Office of the Attorney General regarding the Town’s Public Safety Complex on land formerly under the care and custody of the School Committee

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) and its 22,000 members applaud the decision of the Massachusetts Legislature to do no harm to homeowners by not including mandatory energy inspections and scoring provisions in the conference committee report on energy diversity. If passed, these mandates would have been detrimental to the Massachusetts real estate market, especially low- and moderate-income homeowners.

The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (FAIR Plan) has agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that it impermissibly cancelled homeowners insurance policies between January 2010 and February 2014, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that home buyers pushed home sales to another record for the month of June. While year-over-year increases were more modest compared to previous months, single-family home median prices hit $380,000 for the first time. Condominium sales also closed higher with median prices up from 2015.

Boston Housing Authority has been awarded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes. Boston Housing Authority (BHA) has been committed to Healthy Housing for over 15 years through its many policies and program initiatives including Integrated Pest Management in 2008, a Non-Smoking Policy in 2012, and a Strategic Sustainability Plan in 2014.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the extension of the Senior Citizen Property Tax Work-Off Abatement program. The tax work-off abatement law allows a city or town to establish a program giving property owners 60 years or older the opportunity to volunteer services to their city or town in exchange for a reduction in property tax

The 22,000-member Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) formally oppose several sections of Senate Bill S.2400, An Act to promote energy diversity, that is currently before the House-Senate Conference Committee. While MAR continues to support energy efficiency programs, Realtors say that several provisions of the bill would be harmful to the Massachusetts housing market and would disproportionately hurt low- and moderate-income homeowners. The Conference Committee must report its reconciled bill to both houses for up and down votes by July 31st.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today pending home sales rose again over six percent from last year, while condominium pending sales slowed for the first time in 15 months. Prices also rose incrementally over last year. The strong market was reflected in a high Realtor® Market Confidence Index, while Price Confidence ticked down

Governor Charlie Baker was joined by active duty service members and veterans of the United States Armed Services, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Secretary of Veterans' Services Francisco Ureña and members of the legislature as he signed An Act relative to housing, operations, military service, and enrichment, (H. 4285) or "The HOME Act," into law. The omnibus legislation provides additional support for members of the Armed Services, veterans, gold star families, and the Commonwealth's two Soldiers’ Homes.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh is pleased to announce the submission of a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods federal grant application to revitalize the Boston Housing Authority’s Whittier Street public housing development in Roxbury. The application follows a lengthy community process that culminated in an ambitious plan for the site and surrounding neighborhood