Massachusetts RealEstateRama

MassHousing recently honored 10 of its top lending partners as well as four nonprofits and two individual loan officers for their efforts to deliver MassHousing home mortgage loans in 2014

The Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library at 12 Sedgwick Street in Jamaica Plain will undergo major building improvements beginning in August. The building renovation necessitates a temporary closure of the branch while work takes place. The temporary closure period will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015, and is expected to last 18-24 months

assHousing has awarded $275,000 to support affordable sober housing programs for men, women and veterans in Brockton, Shrewsbury and Worcester. The MassHousing grants will come from the Center for Community Recovery Innovations, Inc. (CCRI), a nonprofit subsidiary corporation of MassHousing that supports non-profits that create or preserve affordable sober housing in Massachusetts for recovering substance abusers.

Hyde Park-based bank and preferred lender in the City of Boston now offering no or low-interest loans to remove lead paint BOSTON - March 18,...

To further prevent unnecessary foreclosures, Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office sent a letter supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) proposed amendments to its mortgage servicing rules to protect homeowners who acquire property following a divorce or the death of a family member, and also urged CFPB to expand certain protections to others who acquire an interest in property

Following record breaking snowfall throughout the Commonwealth, Attorney General Maura Healey cautions homeowners to do their homework when selecting contractors to remove snow and ice from their roofs and to take actions to avoid becoming victims of scams

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today filed a Home Rule Petition to raise the amount of fines that can be levied for snow infractions against property owners, and increase the cap on fines for these offenses to be from $300 to $1,500. Under the petition, unpaid fines will be added to property tax bills if they go unpaid. If the state grants this authority, the Mayor will file an Ordinance updating the City’s snow fine structure. The potential change would consider both commercial and residential property owners

Congressman Joe Kennedy (MA-4) and Congressman Bill Keating (MA-9) today announced that Fall River will receive $226,000 in federal grants from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The grants will be provided to the Fall River Housing Joint Tenant Council to support public housing programs throughout the city

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that the Court of Appeals of Massachusetts ruled in Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.’s (MERS) favor, finding that an assignment by MERS was vali

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has agreed to implement fair housing training and adopt new antidiscrimination policies to resolve allegations that it discriminated against families with children in housing rentals, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. Coldwell Banker will also pay up to $17,500, including $5,000 to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

The facilities director of two non-profits which provide support services for developmentally disabled adults and their families was sentenced today in connection with soliciting bribes.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced two contests, hosted by the Office of Fair Housing and Equity, to raise awareness about fair housing. The Fair Housing Art Contest calls for young Bostonians grades 1-12, to submit art work depicting the theme, “Boston Opening Doors for All.” The second contest, the Fair Housing Landlord Award, will recognize landlords and housing providers who not only provide safe, healthy housing, but who also provide housing that is affordable and accessible to all. Winners of the contests will be announced in April, which is Fair Housing month.

Governor Deval Patrick today announced the launch of a Massachusetts Pay for Success (PFS) initiative that will leverage philanthropic and private capital investments to reduce chronic individual homelessness, creating a new model of sustainable state support for chronically homeless individuals. The initiative will provide 500 units of stable supportive housing for up to 800 chronically homeless individuals over 6 years, improving the well-being of individuals while saving taxpayer dollars by reducing the utilization of costly emergency resources like shelter and Medicaid payments

MassHousing has awarded $292,200 to support affordable sober housing programs for men, women and veterans in Framingham, Holyoke, Leeds, Tewksbury and Worcester.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh will recognize National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week the week of October 20th. The Mayor’s Office of Fair Housing and Equity, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), and the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) are partnering to present several community lead awareness events. During the course of the week, programming will include an in depth discussion on lead discrimination in housing, a look at the health effects of lead, home de-leading workshops, and a seminar on lead for Boston landlords. All events are free and open to the public.