Massachusetts RealEstateRama

Three Massachusetts construction companies have been cited more than $600,000 in total in restitution and penalties for failing to pay the proper prevailing wage rate to employees for work performed on public projects as well as other violations of state wage laws, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito joined Assistant Secretary for Communities and Programs Juan Vega, Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella, Senator Jennifer Flanagan, Representative Natalie Higgins, and other community leaders to break ground on Leominster’s downtown revitalization project.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that the number of closed single-family home sales were up more than two percent over March 2016, with median price also seeing a hike. This is despite the month seeing the lowest number of homes for sale since MAR began recording the data in 2004. Condominium sales and price also rose over last year.

The unique sound of spring in the Charlestown public housing development is a chorus of chirping birds and smoke detectors chirping for new batteries. Residents there also complain of poor ventilation and long stretches without hot water. The Boston Housing Authority has only $6 million a year to put toward a growing $750 million maintenance backlog across its entire stock of 12,623 public housing units.

The Baker-Polito Administration filed a housing bond bill seeking $1.287 billion in additional capital authorization, to allow the Commonwealth to continue state support for the construction and preservation of affordable housing, and provide funds for public housing maintenance and improvement

United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), calling on the agency to revoke its authorization for Kinder Morgan to begin construction on its Connecticut Expansion Project in Western Massachusetts until FERC is able to consider pending challenges to the project. The Senators also note that FERC is allowing construction to begin even when it cannot currently consider pending requests for rehearing on this project because it lacks sufficient commissioners to constitute a quorum

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that the spring market is off to a good start with pending sales up over six percent from this time last year. Pending sales have been up 48 of the last 49 months. Condominiums put under agreement also saw a hike over last year, with an increase of over 14 percent from 2016.

Massachusetts seniors will receive more than $130,000 in refunds as a result of a settlement with a mortgage broker, its employee and an insurance agent that resolves claims they induced elderly clients to take out reverse mortgages and invest the proceeds in unsuitable variable annuities, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that ongoing buyer demand pushed pending sales up three percent over last year. Pending sales have been up 47 of the last 48 months, marking almost four years of positive gains in single family homes put under agreement. Realtors® confidence both in the market and in home prices was positive in February. This month’s “Hot Topic” question finds that the conversation of "tiny" houses has never come up between the majority of Realtors® and their clients

Continuing her commitment to advance the economic opportunity of Massachusetts residents, Attorney General Maura Healey today announced a new grant program aimed at providing opportunities for women and minority workers and small business owners in the public construction industry

Senior citizens living in four affordable housing communities in Boston, Framingham, Newton and New Bedford will see the preservation of affordability and extensive property renovations as a result of $102.7 million in MassHousing financing

Congressman Joe Kennedy III today released the following statement after Republicans on the House Energy & Commerce Committee voted to move forward with repeal of the Affordable Care Act

U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement after voting against Republican’s proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the Energy and Commerce Committee

As part of her office’s ongoing efforts to improve quality of life, economic revitalization, and public safety in Massachusetts neighborhoods, Attorney General Maura Healey today toured a Worcester property rehabilitated through her Abandoned Housing Initiative (AHI).

The BHA issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for developers to preserve and rebuild existing affordable housing at the Mary Ellen McCormack public housing development in South Boston.  The issuance of the RFP comes as BHA is seeking ways to upgrade and sustain its affordable housing communities in the wake of historic federal budget cuts.