Massachusetts RealEstateRama

Congressman Richard E. Neal, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Holyoke Soldiers Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh gave an exclusive tour of Union Station today for a group of Western Massachusetts veterans and residents of the Soldiers Home. Since its construction in 1926, the iconic train station in downtown Springfield has played a significant role in the lives of countless members of our Armed Forces. It’s the place where they departed for their military service, and the setting for their return home to loved ones. Today’s tour is an expression of appreciation and gratitude to our local soldiers for their honorable service. The renovated and restored Union Station will open to the public this year

“These CCRI grants are helping dedicated nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts provide the housing and services these individuals and families require to become successful in beating addiction and leading stable, productive lives.’

As New England prepares for an upcoming energy auction that will impact future energy prices, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) reintroduced the Fair Ratepayer, Accountability, Transparency and Efficiency Standards (RATES) Act. The legislation would ensure that consumers can protest any energy rate change filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The general public has an avenue to protest a rate change filed with FERC through the Federal Power Act (FPA), which allows new rate changes to take effect if FERC approves them or fails to issue an order either approving or denying filed rates.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that 2016 closed out in December with single-family home sales essentially at the same pace as last year. Eleven of the 12 months of the year saw an increase in home sales over 2015. Median prices were also up for 10 straight months as home values reached new highs. Condominium sales were down in December, after a year of mostly increases. Overall, 2016 was a positive year for home sales in Massachusetts as both year-end single-family and condominium sales and median prices were up over 2015.

Governor Wolf attended the VFW’s 53rd Annual Mid-Winter Conference in Pittsburgh. The governor discussed issues faced by veterans in our communities, progress in veterans’ services, and thanked the VFW for working to ensure that veterans across the Commonwealth are getting the support they deserve.

Under new leadership, 2016 was a year of multiple successes for MassHousing. The state’s affordable housing bank had its best lending total in its history; received three bond rating upgrades from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s; and created the first-in-the-nation statewide loan program to spur the new production of housing that is more affordable to middleincome renters.

United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and her colleagues, including Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), hosted a forum with Americans from across the country who were victimized by Department of Treasury nominee Steven Mnuchin.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary-Designate, Dr. Ben Carson, raising questions about Carson's experience and priorities for the agency. This letter comes in advance of Dr. Carson's appearance before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on Thursday

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that holiday cheer wasn’t the only thing in abundance in December as both the number of homes put under agreement and prices were up in the final month of the year. This was also true for condominiums put under agreement. This trend was mirrored in the year-end totals for 2016 compared to 2015. Realtors’® confidence in the market was positive again in December as their confidence in prices was down slightly.

The Baker-Polito Administration announced $17.8 million in grant funding to four local housing authorities, to preserve and modernize affordable public housing units for elderly and disabled residents. The funding is being awarded from the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Modernizing Public Housing and Supporting Elders (ModPHASE) Program, in collaboration with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that buyers didn’t let the presidential election season keep them from buying homes this past fall as closed home sales were up nearly 20 percent in November compared to the same time in 2015. Both sales and median prices for single-family homes reached their highest levels for November since 2004. Inventory continued its downward trend dropping to its lowest level since January 2004. Median prices and sales both rose for condominiums this month.

Residents living at the 120-unit Berkshire Peak Apartments in Pittsfield will see the extension of affordability in perpetuity and moderate property improvements as a result of $10 million in MassHousing financing.

The Public Building Commission of the Town of Scituate, Massachusetts will issue periodic public updates about the construction progress for the Town Library project. Groundbreaking occurred on September 1, 2015. The project remains on budget.Completion is anticipated for Spring 2017

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MASS) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced that Senate Democrats have launched a new website inviting Americans to share their personal stories of being impacted by the foreclosure practices of Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary nominee, foreclosure king Steve Mnuchin.

Existing-home sales are forecast to muster only a small gain in 2017 because of incre the charitable affiliate of the Boston Bar Association – announced today that it will provide $380,000 in grants to eight community organizations that work to provide legal services to those in need. The funding – which was distributed to the BBF from the Massachusetts Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) – stems from Bank of America’s (BOA) 2014 settlement for the bank’s involvement in residential mortgage-backed securities and other unlawful conduct that contributed to the housing/financial crisis