Yearly Archives: 2011

Concord, MA - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Laurie Cadigan, broker/owner of Barrett & Company in Concord, MA was installed on November 30, 2010 as president of the 19,000-member Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR) for 2011

Boston, MA - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that results of last month’s 31st Annual Homeless Census show a 4% decrease in the overall homeless census count from 2009, including a 7% decrease in the number of individual homeless adults. The December 6, 2010 Census brought together business, civic, state, and city leaders, and more than 330 volunteers to count homeless residents on city streets, in shelters, and domestic violence, transitional and treatment programs across Boston. Beyond the overall decrease, results show some promising signs and significant challenges, including:

Peabody, MA - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the Commonwealth deals with another bout of bitter cold temperatures, Congressman John Tierney today announced that Massachusetts is expected to receive an additional $8,672,501 in emergency contingency funding to help seniors and working families around the state heat their homes this winter. In total, the state will receive $182,246,823 in necessary energy assistance between October 2010 and March 4, 2011. These new funds come less than two weeks after Congressman Tierney announced $72,765,243 in LIHEAP funds.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Malden), a longtime champion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has released an additional $200 million in emergency funding to states for the critical home-heating program. The $200 million in emergency contingency funds released yesterday are in addition to the basic LIHEAP funding made available to states under the continuing resolutions since October 1 totaling $3.9 billion for Fiscal Year 2011. These additional emergency funds bring Massachusetts LIHEAP funding to a total of $182 million.

WORCESTER. MA - January 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A former mortgage broker has been sentenced to serve time in State Prison in connection with creating false or misleading bank documents that were then used to obtain fraudulent mortgage loans in the millions of dollars, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced today.“This case paints a clear picture of the abuse and fraud that was perpetrated in the banking industry by individuals who sought to take advantage of the housing market to make some fast cash,” AG Coakley said. “We are pleased that the court recognized the serious nature of these crimes, and our office will continue to prosecute those who try to game the system.

BOSTON, MA - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (d-Malden), along with Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, and Representatives John Olver, Jim McGovern, Niki Tsongas, and Richard Neal, today announced that Massachusetts will receive $56,550,634 to provide housing and services to the homeless throughout the state.

BOSTON, MA - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- During testimony in Brockton today, Patrick-Murray Administration Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Barbara Anthony outlined proposed regulations and legislation that would increase notification of mortgage ownership by lenders to homeowners and the Land Court.The testimony came at the first of three public hearings on regulations being drafted by the Division of Banks regarding foreclosure right-to-cure notices and reverse mortgages. The regulations are mandated as part of legislation signed by Governor Deval Patrick in August 2010 that increases consumer protection for homeowners facing foreclosure

BOSTON, MA - January 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the Patrick-Murray Administration's Division of Banks puts into place new rules regarding right-to-cure foreclosure notices and reverse mortgages, public informational hearings will be held to gather input on the regulations in late January.The upcoming regulations on the right-to-cure notices and reverse mortgages are part of legislation signed by Governor Deval Patrick in August 2010 as part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's response to the foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Malden), a longtime champion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services will release $1.6 billion in additional funding to states for the critical home-heating program through March 4. The release of these additional funds will allow for states to receive virtually the same level of funding as in FY 2010. Massachusetts will receive more than $173 million during that time period. The LIHEAP funding comes as a result of the recently passed Continuing Resolution that will keep the federal government funded for the next 7 weeks

Washington, DC - January 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) responded to today’s ruling of the Massachusetts Supreme Court in the Ibanez case, in which the court ruled that US Bancorp and Wells Fargo did not have standing to foreclose on a borrower because they failed to follow proper legal procedure in the mortgage transfer and securitization process

BOSTON, MA - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Boston real estate management company, its agent and property owner have been sued for violating state anti-discrimination law, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced. The Attorney General’s Office filed a housing discrimination complaint on January 3, 2011, against Mediate Management Company (“Mediate”), its agent Deborah Kooring, and Fenway Buttrick, LLC, in Suffolk Superior Court alleging that the defendants refused to renew the lease of a family because they reside with a young child whose presence required the defendants to comply with state lead paint laws.