Archives

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) announced today that Barb Davis-Hassan, president of Barb Hassan Realty, Inc. in Pittsfield is the Massachusetts Realtor® of the Year for 2017. Davis-Hassan was presented the award at MAR’s Professional Awards Reception, which was held September 14 at the DoubleTree Hilton in Milford.

Realtor® clients showing some concern with interest rates increasing  WALTHAM, Mass. – December, 14, 2016 – The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that...

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that home sales remained essentially flat over in September compared to the same time last year. Inventory continued to fall this month, dropping to its lowest level since February 2015. The median price in September continued its upward trend. Condominium sales closed slightly higher with median prices up almost 10 percent from 2015.

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 late 2016/early 2017

In an effort to help young people in Boston involved in the justice system find jobs and housing, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) joined City of Boston Mayor Martin Walsh to announce $100,000 for the Boston Housing Authority and the Greater Boston Legal Services Inc.  to address the challenges justice-involved individuals face when trying to find work and a place to call home.

Sarah Gustafson, a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential Broker in Sturbridge, has been appointed vice president of government affairs for the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) in 2016

Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) hosted the second of a series of meetings with his 2015 Congressional Youth Cabinet at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in Westborough. The event included a presentation about, and tour of, the new Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife net zero field office and a roundtable discussion on the effects of climate change and the possibilities presented by renewable energy sources

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

Governor Charlie Baker announced today a $5 million investment in the Regional School Transportation Reimbursement Fund (RTR Fund) that supports student transportation efforts of 85 regional school systems throughout the Commonwealth. The Baker-Polito administration made the appropriation through a supplemental allotment to the RTR Fund for Fiscal Year 2015.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh joined Governor Charlie Baker, elected officials, local dignitaries, school representatives, and family members and friends of the late Bruce C. Bolling to officially dedicate the new central offices of the Boston Public Schools in the name of the former city councilor and first African American president of the Boston City Council.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh will recognize National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week the week of October 20th. The Mayor’s Office of Fair Housing and Equity, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), and the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) are partnering to present several community lead awareness events. During the course of the week, programming will include an in depth discussion on lead discrimination in housing, a look at the health effects of lead, home de-leading workshops, and a seminar on lead for Boston landlords. All events are free and open to the public.

Springfield, MA - June 18, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Domenic J. Sarno will be on hand to showcase a home completely restored by Springfield high school students as an outcome of collaboration between the City of Springfield and Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy. Several classes of students worked hands on to rehabilitate a vacant, dilapidated property that was foreclosed for the non-payment of taxes by the City of Springfield. The opportunity has provided students a unique, hands-on, educational experience.

WALTHAM, Mass. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Massachusetts REALTORS® applauded U.S. Senate passage today of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, S. 1926. In a 67-32 bi-partisan vote, the bill would require a four year delay in implementation of costly flood insurance rate increases resulting from the 2012 Biggert-Waters Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Boston-area housing providers have agreed to pay $12,500, attend fair housing training, and implement new policies to avoid future fair housing violations to resolve allegations of discrimination against families with children as well as violations of the lead paint laws, Attorney General Coakley announced today.

WALTHAM, MA - June 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that more homes were put under agreement in the month of May than in any month since January 2004 when MAR began tracking this data. Condominium pending sales also hit their highest point in the nine years of tracking. Pending sales figures (also called homes under agreement) are a leading indicator of actual housing sales in Massachusetts for the following 2-3 months.