Massachusetts RealEstateRama

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) announced today that Gary Rogers, a Realtor® and broker of RE/MAX on the Charles in Waltham, has been named recipient of the Milton H. Shaw Distinguished Service Award for 2017. The award was presented at MAR’s Professional Awards Reception, which was held September 14 at the DoubleTree Hilton in Milford.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren today raised concerns that certain companies may be aggressively and misleadingly marketing the refinancing of mortgages backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), generating fees for themselves at the expense of veterans and American taxpayers.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® Charitable Foundation announced today that the group is donating $20,000 to the National Association of Realtors® Realtor® Relief Foundation to fund rescue and recovery efforts underway in the areas of Texas most affected by Hurricane Harvey. All funds go to help Realtors® and others in need with temporary housing, mortgage payments and related expenses

Attorney General Maura Healey joined attorneys general from Maryland, New York and California in issuing the following statement in response to yesterday’s release of the Department of Energy (DOE) study on the U.S. electric grid

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that the median price for a single-family home hit the $400,000 mark for the second month in a row in July. Single-family homes saw a dip in sales over last year, while condominiums sales rose slightly. Inventory also reached the lowest level for the month of July since MAR began recording the data in 2004.

Governor Charlie Baker announced $72 million in housing subsidy funds and additional state and federal tax credits to 25 projects in 17 communities for the creation, rehabilitation, and preservation of 1,970 housing units across the Commonwealth, including 402 units reserved for very low-income families and families making the transition out of homelessness, building on the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to increasing the production and preservation of affordable housing for all residents

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has identified a limited amount of federal and state Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and state bond funds that could be made available competitively to certain highly ready projects before the end of 2017. Because of the great demand for new, family housing, projects must represent affordable or affordable/mixed-income family housing that meet the definition of production in the 2017 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). Also, in order to best leverage state resources, projects must be supported by significant levels of local matching funds.

Following an investigation and audit by Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office, a major Massachusetts insurance company is paying more than $6.3 million in refunds to more than 4,500 homeowners who were improperly charged for property insurance.

WinnDevelopment Company, LP has been selected by the Boston Housing Authority to redevelop the first and one of the largest public housing development in New England.  Built in the 1930s, Mary Ellen McCormack consists of 1,016 deeply subsidized apartments and row houses. The proposed plan is to rebuild the site into a vibrant mixed-income community with a thoughtful design that embraces the existing residents and connects with the surrounding neighborhood.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that single-family pending home sales fell almost six percent in July from last year. Pending condominium sales were also down more than 10 percent. The median price for both single-family homes and condos saw a hike over last year, with the single-family median price rising over the $400,000 mark for the second month in the row. Realtors® confidence in the market and in home prices were both up in July after a dip in June.

United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey along with Representatives Jim McGovern, Mike Capuano, and Bill Keating announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded five fire departments in Massachusetts nearly $2.2 million in federal grants.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that the median price for a single-family home hit an all-time high and went over $400,000 for the first time. Both single-family homes and condominiums saw a drop in sales in June from last year. Inventory also reached the lowest level for the month of June since MAR began recording the data in 2004.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in comments and oral testimony urged the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to make several changes to its proposed new solar incentive program to ensure the Commonwealth protects solar jobs. The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program proposed by DOER would replace one of the state’s central solar policies, and is expected to be implemented next year.

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced their effort to repeal the Clean Water Rule

The Baker-Polito Administration announced awards to preserve three affordable housing developments in Worcester and Franklin. The $42 million in tax credit equity and subsidy from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will fund the purchase and rehabilitation of the three developments and will maintain affordability of nearly all 559 housing units. These awards are part of the administration’s strategy to ensure the continuation of existing affordable housing across the Commonwealth