Yearly Archives: 2015

A Norwell-based mortgage broker, one of its loan originators, and an outside insurance agent have been sued for sales tactics that convinced elderly homeowners to apply for reverse mortgages and invest their proceeds in risky financial products, including variable annuities, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Wastewater discharged by a glass manufacturing company in Milford, Mass. into wetlands adjacent to the Charles River will be cleaner as a result of a recent settlement between the manufacturer and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Ardagh Glass Inc. agreed to pay a $103,440 penalty and to fund three environmental projects costing a total of about $121,700 to settle claims it was discharging wastewater in violation of its permits

As vacation-goers get ready to fly out of Logan, more than 100 non-union contracted airplane cleaners and baggage will go on strike to protest unfair labor practices committed by their employer, airline contractor G2 Secure Staff. G2 is currently under federal investigation by the National Labor Relations Board for violation of workers’ rights. This contractor provides services for Delta, American and other airlines.

The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that the summer market has remained strong as pending home sales went up over 37 percent from the same time last year. The REALTOR® Market Confidence Index was up 20 percent from July 2014. This month’s “Hot Topic” question finds that a third of REALTORS® who responded reported an increase in the use of seller contingencies because of the low number of homes for sale.

TIAA-CREF, a leading U.S. financial services organization and the nation’s largest manager of U.S. institutional tax-exempt real estate assets*, today announced it has agreed to acquire a 70% stake in 225 Binney Street in Cambridge, MA from Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc

SunLight General Capital, a New York City based solar finance and development company, recently broke ground on a new 568 kW solar project in Westminster, Massachusetts. The project is being financed and built by SunLight’s investors, at no cost to the town itself.

A Revere attorney and his two businesses have been ordered to pay more than $625,000 for targeting homeowners with deceptive advertisements and demanding thousands in illegal advance fees for mortgage modification and foreclosure relief services they failed to deliver, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today

Today, in an effort to expand upon the success and continued growth of Massachusetts’ solar industry, the Baker-Polito Administration filed legislation to establish a long term, market-predictable, sustainable framework for further solar development in the Commonwealth.  The proposal seeks to achieve the administration’s goals of reducing costs to ratepayers while strengthening the clean energy economy in Massachusetts and meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements set forth under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA).

MassHousing, the Massachusetts Division of Banks and the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® will host two free home buying fairs on Saturday, August 22 at the Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough and the Northshore Mall in Peabody

A Springfield landlord, property management company, and condominium trust have agreed to attend fair housing training, implement a reasonable accommodation policy, and pay $15,000 to resolve allegations that they failed to timely grant requests for a wheelchair ramp and easier building access for a tenant whose young son is severely disabled, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and co-Chair of the Senate Climate Clearinghouse, released the following statement on President Obama’s Clean Power Plan

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources this week adopted three amendments introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as part of the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. The amendments support research efforts to protect against higher domestic energy prices, improve energy efficiency, and enhance national security. Specifically, the amendments authorize a study into the state and regional economic impacts of exported liquefied natural gas (LNG); ask the Department of Energy to conduct a study into cost savings associated with the use of energy efficiency technology in order to increase its use; and support research into critical minerals alternatives in order to help reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources.

MassHousing provided $1.1 billion for affordable housing and served more than 9,000 families in fiscal year 2015, which ended June 30, 2015. It was the second-best lending year in the Agency's 49-year history.

United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, and Representatives Jim McGovern, Stephen F. Lynch, Niki Tsongas, and Bill Keating announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a total of $19,237,879 in grants to seven Massachusetts fire departments and the Quincy-based Fire Protection Research Foundation. The grants, which will support equipment acquisition, training, and staffing, were awarded to the Upton Fire Emergency Medical Services, Duxbury Fire Department, Halifax Fire Department

The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting developers to submit revitalization proposals for the West Newton/Rutland Street public housing properties in Roxbury.