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Existing-home sales are forecast to muster only a small gain in 2017 because of incre the charitable affiliate of the Boston Bar Association – announced today that it will provide $380,000 in grants to eight community organizations that work to provide legal services to those in need. The funding – which was distributed to the BBF from the Massachusetts Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) – stems from Bank of America’s (BOA) 2014 settlement for the bank’s involvement in residential mortgage-backed securities and other unlawful conduct that contributed to the housing/financial crisis

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Nani Coloretti, the Boston Housing Authority, Department of Neighborhood Development, Preservation of Affordable Housing, Madison Park Development Corporation, elected officials, and Whittier Street housing development residents to announce a $30 million federal grant to support the revitalization

Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oreg.) today introduced a Senate resolution calling for generating 100 percent of the electricity consumed in the United States from clean and renewable energy resources by 2050. The resolution points to the enormous job creation potential of transitioning to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal, particularly in communities with high rates of unemployment or underemployment

Downtown Framingham has experienced $56 million in investment from both public and private sources in the past few years, the Town of Framingham announced today. Those numbers include transportation and utility infrastructure upgrades as well as expansion by private businesses and nonprofit organizations. Last year, Special Town Meeting members approved new zoning plans, which has driven some of the new investment.

Rita Coffey, Carver resident and associate broker at CENTURY 21 Tullish & Clancy in Weymouth, was installed on December 5, 2016 as president-elect of the 24,000-member Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) for 2017.  The event took place at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston, Mass. and included the installation of the MAR Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Coffey’s term officially begins on January 1, 2017

Annie Blatz, broker-manager at Kinlin Grover Real Estate in Brewster, will serve as Immediate Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) in 2017

Anne Meczywor, broker/associate at Roberts & Associates Realty Inc. in Lenox, was installed on December 5, 2016 as the Secretary-Treasurer of the 24,000-member Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) for 2017. The event took place at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston, Mass. and included the installation of the MAR Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

A Haverhill-based real estate company has agreed to pay up to $70,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to accommodate two tenants with disabilities at an Andover apartment complex, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that home sales fell in October compared to the same time in 2015, during a year that has otherwise mostly seen an upward trend in sales. Inventory continued to dip this month, dropping to its lowest level since January 2005. Median prices increased again for both single-family homes and condominiums.

Senator Edward J. Markey joined U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to restore a ‘Buy America’ provision in the Water Resources Development(WRDA) Act that would require the use of American-made iron and steel products in infrastructure projects. The Buy America rule already passed in the Senate version of the bill with broad bipartisan support. But it has been pulled from the compromise package reached between leaders in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives

The Massachusetts State Department of Revenue has approved property values and tax rates for the Town of Framingham for Fiscal Year 2017. The new values and new tax rates can be found on the Assessing Department website

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today sent the Jim Brooks Stabilization Act, a proposed home rule petition, to the City Council for its consideration. Once approved by the City Council and enacted by the State legislature, this law would help protect residential tenants and former homeowners living in their homes post-foreclosure against arbitrary, unreasonable, discriminatory, or retaliatory evictions, and help ensure that tenants and former homeowners are aware of their rights under state law.

Informa Exhibitions, USGBC and the Boston Society of Architects/AIA announced that Greenbuild and ArchitectureBoston Expo (ABX) will be co-located for 2017. The events will take place the week of Nov. 6–10 and both will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), creating one of the largest events for the building community in North America.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® Charitable Foundation recently announced the 2016 recipients of its spring Housing and Homeless Assistance Grants.  The following four charities were nominated by local Realtor® Associations and selected to receive a share of $5,500 in grants based on their initiatives to provide affordable housing, shelter and other emergency care services within Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that the number of homes put under agreement in October were up 15 percent from last year. Condominium pending sales were also up almost nine percent as prices for both property types continue to go up. The strong market was reflected in high Realtor® Market Confidence Index, while the Price Confidence Index remained essentially the same over last year