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Markey Hails Decade of Success for Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Marks the 10-year anniversary of the bipartisan Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), when seven states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic originally came together and proposed the framework for the regional program that would cut carbon pollution from power plants by 37 percent while saving $395 million on customer utility bills thus far. In Massachusetts, since the RGGI market started in 2009, power plant emissions have gone down 34 percent, while Massachusetts’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 25 percent.
Massachusetts Home Buyers Pushed Sales to Another Record for the Month of June
The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that home buyers pushed home sales to another record for the month of June. While year-over-year increases were more modest compared to previous months, single-family home median prices hit $380,000 for the first time. Condominium sales also closed higher with median prices up from 2015.
Mayor Walsh Announces Support for Community Preservation Act
Further affirming his commitment to ensuring access to quality housing and open space, in a city that values and preserves its history, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced his support for the Community Preservation Act (CPA), which could provide a significant revenue stream to support affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space initiatives. The proposal, which is currently pending before the City Council, could potentially be placed on the ballot in Boston in November 2016.
Cummings and Warren Release GAO Report Highlighting Dramatic Growth of Nonbank Mortgage Servicers
United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that documents the dramatic growth of nonbank mortgage servicers and details the need for stronger regulatory oversight of the industry. GAO produced the report in response to a request from Cummings and Warren.
Another Record Month as February Home Sales Close Up Again
The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that February proved to be another record month for closed home sales, as buyer activity pushed closed sales to its highest levels for the month since 2004. While single-family closed sales were up by more than 24 percent, median prices went down for the first time in nine months. Condominium sales also closed up with median prices down almost three percent
More Warm Weather Allows for a Strong Start to the Year in Pending Sales
The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that buyers benefited from a mild-weather month in January to push pending home sales up almost 40 percent from last year. Realtors® confidence in the market was positive again in January. This month’s “Hot Topic” question finds that the majority of listings Realtors® saw in the past six months did not have any “smart home” features, like a thermostat or security system controlled via internet-connected devices.
Massachusetts Closed Home Sales Reached New December Highs 2015 was strong year for sales...
The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that 2015 closed out with seven straight months of sales increases with December having the most closed sales of any December since 2004. Median prices were also up for seven straight months as home values neared pre-recession peaks. While condominium sales were up in December, prices were flat from 2014.
Memphis-area home sales for October decreased 3.5 percent from a year ago, with 1,336...
The City of Boston is committed to connecting Boston's military families with the resources and assistance they are entitled to. Earlier this year, Mayor Walsh released "An Action Plan to End Veteran and Chronic Homelessness In Boston: 2015 - 2018", which outlines the City's strategies to transform Boston's homeless response system in order to end veterans homelessness by 2015 and chronic homelessness by 2018.
Massachusetts Home Buyers Did Not Slow Down as Pending Homes Sales Up Significantly in...
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that very strong buyer activity in August pushed pending home sales up over 40 percent from the same month last year. REALTORS® showed growing confidence in the market again in August as the REALTOR® Market Confidence Index was up over 20 percent from August 2014. This month’s “Hot Topic” question finds that “boomerang buyers” are not as active in Massachusetts
Active Spring Market Pushed Massachusetts Closed Home Sales Up in July
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that ongoing buyer activity in the spring pushed single-family home sales up in July over 19 percent compared to the same time last year. This is the biggest year-over-year increase since September 2013. The median price of single family homes was also up for the 11 time in the last 13 months. New listings added to the market were up almost seven percent over last year. Both condominium closed sales and median prices were up.
Massachusetts Buyers Keeping Market Active in July by Pushing Pending Home Sales Up
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.
Massachusetts Closed Home Sales and Median Sales Price Down in May
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.
Boston Housing Authority awarded $2 Million from HUD and more than $1 Million from...
In an effort to help low-income residents find higher-paying jobs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a $2 million grant for the next four years to the Boston Housing Authority. BHA competed with 57 other applications across the nation to be one of nine agencies awarded a Jobs-Plus grant. The HUD funding comes with more than $1 million in matching funds through the City of Boston aimed at increasing education levels, job search and placement and financial literacy assistance for public housing residents.
MassHousing Loan Closings of $9.1 Million will Extend Affordability and Help Renovate Wareham Apartment...
Residents at the 100-unit Woods at Wareham will see affordability there extended along with substantial improvements to the property as a result of $9.1 million in MassHousing loans
REALTORS® Felt Confident about Prices in January, but Not as Positive about the Market
WALTHAM, Mass. - February 19, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that the January REALTOR® Market Confidence Index (RMCI) was down for the third straight month in January. The REALTOR® Price Confidence Index (RPCI) continued its streak of positive months as it was up again compared to the same month in 2013. The results of the January “Hot Topic” question showed that the thefts of valuable metals from homes are impacting the sales of those homes.