Yearly Archives: 2015

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced $96,000 in grants to 12 community-based organizations through the Mayor's Office of New Bostonians (MONB) Mini-Grants Program to support their immigrant integration and empowerment efforts in the City of Boston.

It will be a busy day for the volunteer leaders of the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) as they will be appearing today before two separate hearings at the Massachusetts State House. The outcome of these proposed bills could both negatively impact home values in two separate ways.

MassHousing's financing includes a $3.7 million permanent loan and $1 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), which MassHousing manages on behalf of the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Island Creek Village North is being developed by Beacon Communities LLC of Boston and will be built adjacent to the existing 58-unit Island Creek Village East and the 48-unit Island Creek Village West that were financed by MassHousing in 1982

Hammond agent Matt Montgomery of The Matt Montgomery Group recently represented the seller client in connection with the $2,500,000 sale of 32 Lakewood Road in Newton, Massachusetts, one of Boston’s premier suburbs

Saul Cohen, Founder and President of Hammond Residential Real Estate in Chestnut Hill, recently announced the significant $2,768,000 sale of 90 Holland Road in Brookline, a premier suburb located just four miles from the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. Holly Wyner of Hammond’s Brookline/Newton office represented the seller in the transaction, and Faye Fu of Hammond’s South End office represented the buyer.

The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that single-family home sales in May were down over five percent compared to the same time last year. The median price of single family homes was also down for the first time in eight months. New listings added to the market were up almost eight percent over last year. Condominium closed sales and median prices were both up.

Lisa Kraus, the Western Massachusetts Vice President and Mortgage Sales Manager at United Bank in West Springfield has been named the 2015 Affiliate of the Year by the Realtor® Association of Pioneer Valley (RAPV). The announcment was made during the association’s annual awards banquet held June 11 at The Log Cabin in Holyoke

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today officially opened the City's new homeless shelter at 112 Southampton Street and announced the release of An Action Plan to End Chronic and Veteran Homelessness, the result of the Mayor's Task Force on Individual Homelessness.

Attorney General Maura Healey today issued this statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Texas Dep’t of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc., that recognizes disparate impact claims under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA)

NOAA recommended over $25 million in funding to be awarded to 88 projects under the FY14-15 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants Program. Of that amount, the greater Atlantic region would receive over $8.8 million. Massachusetts would receive approximately $3 million from the greater Atlantic portion. These funds go toward increased research and development for the fishing industry.

Each summer, residents of the Old Colony Housing Development host an annual Unity Day, a well-attended block party hosted by and for its residents in conjunction with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA). This year, City agencies, including the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) and Greenovate Boston will join residents to encourage consumption of healthy food and beverages, particularly tap water, and to promote smoke-free homes. Giveaways, raffles and fun, kid-friendly activities will appeal to all members of the family.

The fledgling U.S. housing recovery lost momentum last year as homeownership rates continued to fall, single-family construction remained near historic lows, and existing home sales cooled, concludes The State of the Nation’s Housing report released today by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. In contrast, rental markets continued to grow, fueled by another large increase in the number of renter households. However, with rents rising and incomes well below pre-recession levels, the U.S. is also seeing record numbers of cost-burdened renters, including more renter households higher up the income scale

Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced a $200,000 grant for Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, Inc. in Peoria. The grant is awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). HVRP is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of homeless veterans.

The Commonwealth’s Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC) approved 16 projects for participation in the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP). These projects are expected to create 606 new jobs and retain 879 jobs throughout Massachusetts, while leveraging approximately $197.8 million in private investment

The Boston Bar Foundation – the charitable affiliate of the Boston Bar Association – announced today that it will provide $950,000 in grants to 23 community organizations that work to provide legal services to those in need. Approximately 40% of the funding is comprised of proceeds from the BBF's annual John & Abigail Adams Benefit and BBF reserves, with the remainder derived from Interest on Lawyer Trust Account (IOLTA) funds.