Archives

BOSTON, MA - August 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced a loan closing today of $5.9 million to preserve affordability for low-income families at the 86-apartment St. Michael’s House in Northampton.

BOSTON, MA - August 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today that her office has obtained a consent judgment and filed two lawsuits against multiple real estate companies and their agents for allegedly violating state anti-discrimination, lead paint, and consumer protection laws by posting advertisements mentioning the lead status of rental properties and thereafter refusing to rent to families with young children.Under Massachusetts law, it is illegal to refuse to rent or steer families away from rental properties because they have young children whose presence triggers an owner’s duty to eliminate lead hazards that pose serious health risks. The judgment and lawsuits are the result of a partnership with the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston (“Fair Housing Center”) and part of an ongoing statewide investigation into reports of widespread discriminatory Internet advertising on Craigslist.org.

August 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- "The new space will provide the Asian American Lawyers Association (AALAM) with a place to call home. Equally important, it will go a long way toward fostering ever closer relationships between AALAM, other affinity bar organizations, and the BBA for the benefit of the members that we serve.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a longtime champion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), today received an award from the National Fuel Funds Network (NFFN), a national organization representing local non-profit community action agencies, fuel providers, utilities and local government agencies. The NFFN presented Rep. Markey with their 2010 Extra Mile Award at the annual LIHEAP Action Day for his continued advocacy for increased funding for LIHEAP and for his call for the expansion of LIHEAP to include more American families who may find themselves in need of home heating assistance.

NEW BEDFORD, MA - July 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A consent judgment has been obtained against a South Dartmouth landlord resolving allegations that he made discriminatory statements in rental advertisements posted on the popular classified advertising website Craigslist.org (“Craigslist”), Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today

Lynn, MA - July 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman John Tierney (D-MA) announced that Bridgewell, a Lynnfield-based nonprofit, received a $1,715,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to build ten units of housing for local seniors and residents with developmental disabilities in Lynn. The program and apartments are designed to allow residents to live independently.

July 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) has recently been awarded a Permanent Housing Funding Bonus grant of more than $1 million by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will provide for permanent housing for 22 homeless families who are currently living in emergency shelter, or in hotels or motels

BOSTON, MA - July 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Deval Patrick today announced that MassHousing had its single greatest lending year in the agency's 44-year history by providing more than $838 million for affordable housing in fiscal year 2010.This landmark year shattered MassHousing's previous record of $753 million in overall lending set just last year. MassHousing has posted four consecutive record years for home mortgage lending and more than doubled its lending in fiscal 2010 for affordable rental housing.

DEDHAM, MA - July 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bank of America Home Loans has opened a new customer outreach center in Dedham to serve customers in the Boston area and surrounding region. Bank of America homeownership retention specialists will be meeting face to face with financially troubled mortgage customers who are having difficulty making their monthly payments. Dedicated associates also are available to help customers facing hardship with their auto, credit cards and personal loans.

Bedford, MA - July 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- An independent, full-service real estate brokerage specializing in the suburbs north of Boston, MA, Clayton Realty Group was started with a vision that buying and selling real estate should be a wonderful experience, accessible to everyone and without any smoke and mirrors

WASHINGTON, DC - July 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department today announced that it has reached an agreement resolving its lawsuit against the Fitchburg, Mass., Housing Authority and its executive director, Robert W. Hill. The lawsuit alleged that the Fitchburg Housing Authority and Hill violated the Fair Housing Act by adopting and implementing policies that denied tenants with disabilities other than mobility impairments the opportunity to transfer between apartments within Fitchburg’s public housing neighborhoods.

MEDFORD, MA - June 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden) announced Monday that over $6 million in combined federal and state funding will soon be released for the preservation of 272 rental housing units, 251 of which will be set aside as affordable housing, for the City of Malden. The maintenance and restoration of these rental units will boost the availability of affordable housing in Malden, while creating jobs and fostering economic growth

BOSTON, MA - June 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's ongoing commitment to boost affordable housing production, create jobs and foster economic growth, Governor Deval Patrick today pledged more than $189.9 million in resources leveraged from various affordable housing programs and private investment to support the construction of 32 rental developments in 19 communities across the state which will yield an estimated 2,400 construction jobs."By investing this targeted blend of public and private resources to spur housing development, we are creating jobs, boosting local businesses, strengthening communities and building a better, stronger Commonwealth," said Governor Patrick.

NEW BEDFORD, MA - June 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A vacant industrial site along the Acushnet River contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) and solvents will be cleaned up and prepared for redevelopment under an agreement Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) reached with AVX Corporation (“AVX”).

BOSTON, MA - June 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Saugus based Eastern Property Management Group, Inc. (“Eastern Property”) is being sued by Attorney General Martha Coakley for allegedly posting discriminatory rental advertisements on the popular classified advertising website Craigslist.org (“Craigslist”). This latest filing stems from the Attorney General’s ongoing statewide investigation into reports of widespread discriminatory Internet advertising in housing. The Attorney General’s Office is seeking an order prohibiting Eastern Property from engaging in housing discrimination, requiring fair housing training for its employees, compensatory and punitive damages, civil penalties, and attorney’s fees and costs.