Massachusetts RealEstateRama

The BHA issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting developers to submit proposals to preserve and rebuild existing affordable housing at the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments public housing development in Jamaica Plain.  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.

Multiple individuals will receive monetary damages and several property owners and management companies across the state will strengthen their anti-discrimination and fair housing policies after three separate settlements were reached over claims of disability-based housing discrimination against tenants, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that the 2017 real estate market started strong with the most closed home sales in a January since MAR began recording the data in 2004. Continuing buyer demand pushed closed sales up more three percent over last year. Single-family median prices also saw a hike over last year. Condominium sales and median price closed up in January as well.

Responding to unprecedented vacancies on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Congressman Joe Kennedy III today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to immediately appoint at least one nominee to fill one of the three vacant slots. Along with 13 of his Congressional colleagues mostly from the Northeast region, Kennedy wrote a letter outlining concerns that the FERC’s inability to reach a quorum will leave the country’s energy sector at a standstill.

A Boston man was charged yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with robbing a branch of the Mansfield Bank in West Bridgewater on Nov. 22, 2016. Stephen D. Williams, 54, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of bank robbery, and was detained following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Chief Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal. A probable cause and detention hearing is scheduled for Feb. 28, 2017

The Massachusestts House of Representatives and Senate made their legislative committee assignments this week. Rep. Kevin Honan was reappointed as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing. Sen. Joseph Boncore was appointed as the new Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing. Other members of the Legislature assigned to the Housing Committee include

The Baker-Polito Administration is filing “An Act Financing Improvements to Municipal Roads and Bridges,” which requests $200 million in Chapter 90 funds for local transportation infrastructure projects across Massachusetts

Framingham Public Works is pleased to announce that four (4) Neighborhood Meetings have been scheduled in March, 2017 to provide an opportunity for residents to preview upcoming construction projects in and around their neighborhood

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that ongoing buyer demand pushed pending home sales up in January more than 10 percent compared to the same time last year. Realtors® confidence both in the market and in home prices was positive in January. This month’s “Hot Topic” question finds that the majority of Realtors® in Massachusetts are not yet using 3-D, virtual or augmented reality technology in marketing homes. However, a significant portion (35 percent) have tried the technology on some of their listings, indicating that this is a burgeoning trend among agents

First-time homebuyers are finding it increasingly difficult to locate a home in Massachusetts as home prices and low inventory have significantly increased competition in the market according to the 2016 Massachusetts Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. The study found that the share of first-time homebuyers dropped to a low of 35 percent, which is the lowest share of first-time buyers since the Profile began collecting Massachusetts data in 2003.

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III (MA-04) responded to the results of Independent System Operator - New England’s (ISO-NE) eleventh Forward Capacity Auction (FCA 11) for electricity generating capacity in the region in the coming years. While the total cost to consumers of this most recent auction has dropped to $2.4 billion, down from roughly $3 billion for last year’s auction, these prices remain significantly higher than the roughly $1 billion total value of the auctions a few years ago

New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) appointed Town of Framingham Public Works Assistant Director-Engineering Water and Wastewater, James Barsanti as President during their Annual Conference and Exhibit at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel on January 25, 2017. Barsanti has 31 years of experience in the water and wastewater field and recently served as president-elect of NEWEA. NEWEA’s mission is to promote education and collaboration and offers members a wide range of resources including education, training, leadership skills and technical journals for wastewater professionals

On June 2, 2016, the Planning Board granted a decision for the construction of the RCS Learning Center located at 82 Edmands Road. The decision regulates the hours of construction and development related activities for the project. Pursuant to condition 12, the RCS Learning Center and its contractors are required to abide by the following hours of construction:

Senior citizens living at the 198-unit Essex Towers in the Gateway City of Lawrence will have affordable rents extended through 2036 and see some moderate property improvements as a result of $15.8 million in MassHousing financing

On Wednesday night, Mayor Martin J. Walsh led a group of 400 volunteers, including City of Boston cabinet and department heads, State officials, community and civic leaders, and homeless providers in conducting the street count for the City's 37th annual homeless census. The street count is part of a larger census of homeless adults and families in emergency shelters, transitional housing and domestic violence programs