Massachusetts RealEstateRama

BOSTON, MA - November 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing recently recognized the efforts of 100 property management companies that make a concerted effort to do business with Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs).

Washington, DC - October 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Tierney urged Acting Director Edward DeMarco of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to continue to take critical steps to prevent foreclosures and to push private lenders to provide relief. Earlier this week, the Administration announced that the FHFA would implement a series of policy changes that would allow more homeowners to access the Home Affordable Refinance Program ("HARP") to refinance their home mortgage.

Washington, DC - October 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman John Tierney released the following statement in response to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) decision to enact a series of changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) that will help more eligible borrowers refinance their home mortgage.

October 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Metro Credit Union was recently approved as a lending partner for the Boston Home Center. Metro will collaborate with the Boston Home Center to develop and enhance mortgage programs aimed at placing homeowners in the most sustainable mortgages

Boston, MA - October 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today joined Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, the Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA), Pine Street Inn, and a number of state and local officials to celebrate the grand opening of 18 apartments for formerly homeless individuals in Boston’s South End.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the Department of Energy (DOE) reporting an increase in the price for most heating fuels this winter, Congressmen Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), James P. McGovern (D-Mass.), Steven C. LaTourette (R-Ohio), John B. Larson (D-Conn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to immediately release as much LIHEAP funding as possible under the current continuing resolution which expires November 18, 2011. With continued uncertainty over the final FY2012 funding levels for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), release of these funds means states will have the opportunity to help those with greatest needs now.

October 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two preservation projects on property overseen by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department were recognized with 2011 Preservation Achievement Awards at the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Boston Preservation Alliance at the Paramount Center on October 6.

October 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the winter months are fast approaching, the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) would like to remind homeowners and tenants to prepare for the winter early. According to the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code, the heating season officially begins on September 15 and runs through June 15^th, at which time landlords and property managers must supply functioning heating systems. These facilities must heat habitable spaces at a minimum temperature of 68° during the day, 7a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 64° in the evening 11:01p.m. to 6:59a.m.

Washington, DC - October 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Tierney (MA-06) will join a group of lawmakers in a meeting with Acting Director Edward DeMarco of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to discuss President Obama's proposal to allow more American families to refinance their mortgages at historically low interest rates. The meeting is the result of increased pressure from Tierney and a group of his Democratic colleagues on the FHFA to discuss quick implementation of the proposal President Obama mentioned during his recent address to Congress.

BOSTON, MA - September 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Foreclosure initiations spiked in all the New England states during the recent economic downtown, ranging from a peak of less than 3.0% of outstanding mortgages in Vermont in 2010 to a peak of 5.5% of outstanding mortgages in Rhode Island in 2009. Across the entire New England region in 2010, more than 7% of all mortgage holders– nearly 133,000 homeowners – were seriously delinquent in making payments. In response, state and local policymakers have created their own foreclosure prevention programs to supplement those available nationwide.

BOSTON, MA - September 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it has closed a $45 million loan for the acquisition and preservation of the 432-unit Westminster Village Arms apartments in Lowell.

BOSTON, MA - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it provided $792.5 million for affordable housing in fiscal year 2011, helping to drive the Agency to its second-best lending year in its 45-year history.

Washington, DC - September 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Tierney joined Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Co-Chair of the Housing Stabilization Task Force, and dozens of lawmakers in sending a letter to Edward DeMarco, Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), renewing their request for a meeting to begin discussing a plan to allow more American families to refinance their mortgages at historically low interest rates.

Boston, MA - September 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today joined Evelyn Friedman, Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), and 12 first-time homebuyers of formerly foreclosed properties for a housewarming celebration on Rockwell Street in Dorchester.

Boston, MA - September 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- For the second year in a row, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank made more affordable MassHousing home mortgage loans than any other Barnstable County lender.