Yearly Archives: 2016

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the extension of the Senior Citizen Property Tax Work-Off Abatement program. The tax work-off abatement law allows a city or town to establish a program giving property owners 60 years or older the opportunity to volunteer services to their city or town in exchange for a reduction in property tax

The 22,000-member Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) formally oppose several sections of Senate Bill S.2400, An Act to promote energy diversity, that is currently before the House-Senate Conference Committee. While MAR continues to support energy efficiency programs, Realtors say that several provisions of the bill would be harmful to the Massachusetts housing market and would disproportionately hurt low- and moderate-income homeowners. The Conference Committee must report its reconciled bill to both houses for up and down votes by July 31st.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today pending home sales rose again over six percent from last year, while condominium pending sales slowed for the first time in 15 months. Prices also rose incrementally over last year. The strong market was reflected in a high Realtor® Market Confidence Index, while Price Confidence ticked down

Governor Charlie Baker was joined by active duty service members and veterans of the United States Armed Services, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Secretary of Veterans' Services Francisco Ureña and members of the legislature as he signed An Act relative to housing, operations, military service, and enrichment, (H. 4285) or "The HOME Act," into law. The omnibus legislation provides additional support for members of the Armed Services, veterans, gold star families, and the Commonwealth's two Soldiers’ Homes.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh is pleased to announce the submission of a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods federal grant application to revitalize the Boston Housing Authority’s Whittier Street public housing development in Roxbury. The application follows a lengthy community process that culminated in an ambitious plan for the site and surrounding neighborhood

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren today sent a letter raising concerns that the recent draft of the revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (UUPA) makes it too difficult for consumers to recover billions of dollars in unclaimed property. She called on the drafting committee to make several changes to the UUPA to better protect consumers.

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development is the designated allocating agency for the new federal affordable housing program – the National Housing Trust Fund, or HTF. At the federal level, the HTF will be administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In accordance with HUD directives to the state allocating agencies, DHCD has prepared a draft plan describing its method for distributing the first-year allocation of HTF from HUD.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today revealed a new 32-inch solar-powered E Ink® screen on City Hall Plaza. The sign uses ePaper technology and will provide visitors to City Hall Plaza with information on local events and help residents and visitors locate nearby landmarks. Through a partnership between the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM), E Ink and Global Display Solutions (GDS), the prototype sign is the first of its kind in the nation.

2017 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax bills are being mailed on Thursday, June 30. These are three part bills with stubs for Quarter 1 due August 1st, and Quarter 2 due November 1st , plus a receipt for your records.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) and its 22,000 members formally oppose several sections of Senate Bill S.2372, An Act to promote energy diversity. As drafted, the bill would be extremely harmful to the Massachusetts housing market and would disproportionately hurt low- and moderate-income homeowners. The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to vote on S.2372 this Thursday.

New listings added to the market down for the second month in a row WALTHAM, Mass - June 28, 2016 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts...

A Weston property owner and his son have been sued after allegedly altering and filling large areas of protected wetlands, and keeping farm animals in close proximity to brooks that flow into a public water supply, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today

Mayor Martin J. Walsh joined representatives from Boston's utility companies and other city officials to present local design and development firm Urbanica with a green building award and a $10,000 prize for the company's successful creation of Boston's best performing energy positive homes. The three-bedroom townhomes at the corner of Highland and Marcella Streets in Roxbury produce more energy than they consume in a year, and they are certified as LEED Platinum, the US Green Building Council's highest marker for sustainable design

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston's Home Center has been awarded a $158,475 grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Division of Bank. The grant is part of $1.3 million in statewide grants that will fund first-time homeownership counseling programs and foreclosure prevention education centers throughout the Commonwealth

Over 400 Massachusetts Realtor® -members traveled to the State House on Tuesday to participate in the 31st annual “Realtor® Day on Beacon Hill.” The Realtors® discussed key issues that impact consumers, housing and the economy. The 2016 keynote address was provided by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito