Massachusetts RealEstateRama

Boston, MA - September 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today joined U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan as HUD announced that Boston is receiving $20.5M to redevelop the Woodledge/Morrant Bay Apartments and revitalize Dorchester’s Quincy Corridor.

Boston, MA - August 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Boston Bar Foundation (BBF) today announced grants totaling $1.1 million to 25 Massachusetts community organizations providing a wide variety of core legal services -- from domestic violence and immigration to housing and homelessness. The $1.1 million represents an almost $50,000 increase in core legal services grants, compared with F.Y. '10.

BOSTON, MA - August 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing has honored NE Moves Mortgage for being the Agency's top retail producer of first mortgages in 2010, an award the Waltham-based lender has won for the third consecutive year. NE Moves originated 150 MassHousing first mortgages for a total of $34.5 million in financing during calendar year 2010. In addition to being MassHousing's top retail producer in 2010, 2009 and 2008, NE Moves was MassHousing's top overall producer of first mortgages in 2006 and 2007.

BOSTON, MA - August 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing has honored seven of its 2010 top-producing home mortgage lending partners for their commitment to affordable homeownership.

BOSTON, MA - August 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it has closed $28.9 million in loans to renovate and preserve nearly 500 public housing apartments in East Boston and Dorchester.

BOSTON, MA - August 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced a loan closing today of $7.1 million to preserve affordability for senior citizens at the 80-apartment Lamplighter Village in Canton.

BOSTON, MA - August 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, along with Representatives Edward Markey, Jim McGovern, John Tierney, Stephen F. Lynch, and Niki Tsongas announced that 18 Massachusetts cities and towns will receive more than $63.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support economic development projects, increase affordable housing opportunities, improve area homeless shelters, and expand support services for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

BOSTON, MA - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, along with Congressmen Jim McGovern and Michael Capuano, today announced that two organizations that help homeless veterans in Massachusetts will receive two million dollars from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to improve housing and expand support services for those with very low incomes.

WALTHAM, MA - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that June sales were down from the same time last year, but up from this past May. Median prices for single-family homes were down less than two percent on a year-over-year basis, but continue to go up from the month before. While condominium sales were also down on a year-over-year basis, median prices were up for the third straight month. Condominium month-to-month sales and median prices were both up as well.

Washington, DC - July 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- During this morning's Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, Congressman John Tierney, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security, called on Chairman Darrell Issa to refocus his attention on efforts to protect our servicemembers from illegal foreclosures, rather than standing up for the big banks responsible for these egregious actions. He also entered into the record a report compiled by the Democratic staff entitled "Fighting on the Home Front: The Growing Problem of Illegal Foreclosures Against U.S. Servicemembers." The report describes in detail the systemic nature of these problems.

Boston, MA - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced a $30 million improvement project for the Heritage Apartments in East Boston and Lower Mills in Dorchester, both serving the disabled and elderly communities. The funding will provide energy efficient capital improvements and increased supportive services at both developments.

BOSTON , MA - July 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it has closed a $1.759 million loan for the Homes at Easthampton Meadow, the third and final phase of a mixed-income, multi-generational housing community for seniors and families with foster or pre-adoptive children.

Boston, MA - July 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On June 20, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) made funding available to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. The funding program – the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP) – will provide much-needed funds for homeowners who have lost their job or experienced an involuntary decline in income. Homeowners who have received a foreclosure notice may be eligible for a deferred payment loan that will allow them to pay loan arrearages, back taxes and up to 24 months of mortgage payments. The EHLP loans will be two-year, no interest, forgivable loans. Eligible families must make less than 120 percent of the median income.

BOSTON, MA - July 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it has closed $106.2 million in loans for the redevelopment of the Charlesview Apartments in Brighton, making the transaction the second-largest in MassHousing’s 45-year history for a single rental housing development.

Boston, MA - July 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Menino will declare a longstanding problem property and known site of drug use and prostitution as the first target of his Problem Properties Task Force.