Archives

BOSTON, MA - March 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason was recently presented with the 2010 Friend of the Elderly Award by the California-based Retirement Housing Foundation for his longstanding efforts to preserve affordable housing for the elderly, economically disadvantaged families and people with disabilities.

WALTHAM, MA - March 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) today announced that for the second month in a row members reported solid improvement in market conditions over February 2009 according to results of the February 2010 Massachusetts REALTOR® Market Index (RMI). REALTOR® members also feel that prices are trending in a positive direction.

Boston, MA - March 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Each year, thousands of people needlessly die or are injured in home fires. Tragically, many of them would be alive or unharmed today had their home been equipped with working smoke detectors.

BOSTON, MA - March 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Friday, March 5, 2010 – Furthering the Patrick-Murray Administration's commitment to improve communities hard hit by foreclosure, Governor Deval Patrick today announced that $5.1 million in federal funds will be allotted to boost neighborhood stabilization programs underway in Framingham, Leominster, Lynn, Marlboro and Worcester. Those funds can be used to acquire, and rehabilitate foreclosed properties and get them reoccupied with new renters or homeowners."Foreclosed and vacant properties lessen the quality of life for entire neighborhoods," said Governor Patrick. "This influx of additional funds to those communities will enhance the good work they are already doing to revitalize neighborhoods and create new affordable housing opportunities for hard-working individuals and families who earn modest wages."

Boston, MA - March 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Ira Leighton along with state and local officials and the town of Fairhaven broke ground on a wastewater treatment facility in Fairhaven, Mass. The wastewater infrastructure project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is helping create green jobs, boost the local economy, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment.

BOSTON, MA - March 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing has approved $150,000 in funding to help create 11 new units of affordable sober housing for women with children in New Bedford.

WALTHAM, MA - March 2, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that the number of single-family homes put under agreement in February was up 16 percent over the same time last year, while condominiums were up 25 percent. February marks the eighth straight month that the number of both single-family homes and condominiums put under agreement had increased over the year before

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) --Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a longtime champion of providing assistance to low-income families to heat their homes, today began an effort to request full funding for this critical program for the next fiscal year. Markey joined with other key lawmakers to circulate a letter to all 435 House Members seeking signatures on a joint letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, urging that at least $5.1 billion be provided to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program in 2011, as well as nearly $600 million in additional emergency funds for 2011.“

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 24, 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 Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA) for his continued support of the program. Rep. Markey recently introduced legislation that would increase the funding available for the vital energy assistance program and expand those who are eligible to receive aid, and today called for the Obama administration to release the remaining emergency funds from this year’s pool.

WALTHAM, MA - February 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) reported today that median prices of single-family homes were up 14.1 percent compared to January 2009 while condominiums experienced 26.5 percent increase compared to the same time last year. The jump in median condo prices in January is the largest annual increase since MAR has been tracking median prices. Home sales were up 9.1 percent compared to the same time last year while condominium sales were up 35 percent.

WALTHAM, MA - February 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) today announced that members reported solid improvement in market conditions over January 2009 according to results of its new Massachusetts REALTOR® Market Index (RMI). The monthly Massachusetts RMI quantifies the opinions of members who are working with buyers and sellers each day in the Massachusetts real estate market.

BOSTON, MA - February 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- February 16, 2010 – As part of an ongoing effort to make it easier for the rental housing industry to interact with the Agency, MassHousing launched masshousingrental.com, a new website that consolidates information, documents, and applications for the Agency’s rental housing business partners to one location. Masshousingrental.com is part of a larger effort to make it easier and more efficient for property owners and managers, rental housing developers, general contractors, auditors and other rental housing partners to do business with MassHousing. Previously, MassHousing’s business partners had to visit one of four Agency websites to conduct different types of business.

BOSTON, MA - February 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thursday, February 11, 2010 – As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Massachusetts Recovery Plan, Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the state will utilize $7.06 million in federal weatherization recovery funds to replace old, inefficient heating systems with new state-of-the-art units for 19 local public housing authorities across the Commonwealth.Those upgrades will mean lower energy costs for tenants of family developments in Bedford, Belmont, Brockton, Clinton, Dedham, Easthampton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Marblehead, Mattapoisett, Medford, Methuen, North Andover, North Attleborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Uxbridge and Westfield. The improvements will also lead to an improved living environment through the delivery of smart, clean, energy-efficient warmth to their homes (award details below)

Washington, D.C. - February 4, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Boston-based State Street Bank and Trust Company with misleading its investors about their exposure to subprime investments while selectively disclosing more complete information to specific investors.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today hailed the release of over $490 million in emergency home heating assistance from the federal government under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including more than $16.8 million for Massachusetts. Last week, Markey, the dean of the Massachusetts congressional delegation and a leading advocate of the LIHEAP program, helped organize a letter signed by 113 House members, calling upon President Obama to immediately release these critical funds