WASHINGTON, DC - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Malden), a longtime champion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has released an additional $200 million in emergency funding to states for the critical home-heating program. The $200 million in emergency contingency funds released yesterday are in addition to the basic LIHEAP funding made available to states under the continuing resolutions since October 1 totaling $3.9 billion for Fiscal Year 2011. These additional emergency funds bring Massachusetts LIHEAP funding to a total of $182 million.

WORCESTER. MA - January 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A former mortgage broker has been sentenced to serve time in State Prison in connection with creating false or misleading bank documents that were then used to obtain fraudulent mortgage loans in the millions of dollars, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced today.“This case paints a clear picture of the abuse and fraud that was perpetrated in the banking industry by individuals who sought to take advantage of the housing market to make some fast cash,” AG Coakley said. “We are pleased that the court recognized the serious nature of these crimes, and our office will continue to prosecute those who try to game the system.

BOSTON, MA - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (d-Malden), along with Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, and Representatives John Olver, Jim McGovern, Niki Tsongas, and Richard Neal, today announced that Massachusetts will receive $56,550,634 to provide housing and services to the homeless throughout the state.

BOSTON, MA - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- During testimony in Brockton today, Patrick-Murray Administration Undersecretary for Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Barbara Anthony outlined proposed regulations and legislation that would increase notification of mortgage ownership by lenders to homeowners and the Land Court.The testimony came at the first of three public hearings on regulations being drafted by the Division of Banks regarding foreclosure right-to-cure notices and reverse mortgages. The regulations are mandated as part of legislation signed by Governor Deval Patrick in August 2010 that increases consumer protection for homeowners facing foreclosure

BOSTON, MA - January 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the Patrick-Murray Administration's Division of Banks puts into place new rules regarding right-to-cure foreclosure notices and reverse mortgages, public informational hearings will be held to gather input on the regulations in late January.The upcoming regulations on the right-to-cure notices and reverse mortgages are part of legislation signed by Governor Deval Patrick in August 2010 as part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's response to the foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Malden), a longtime champion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services will release $1.6 billion in additional funding to states for the critical home-heating program through March 4. The release of these additional funds will allow for states to receive virtually the same level of funding as in FY 2010. Massachusetts will receive more than $173 million during that time period. The LIHEAP funding comes as a result of the recently passed Continuing Resolution that will keep the federal government funded for the next 7 weeks

Washington, DC - January 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) responded to today’s ruling of the Massachusetts Supreme Court in the Ibanez case, in which the court ruled that US Bancorp and Wells Fargo did not have standing to foreclose on a borrower because they failed to follow proper legal procedure in the mortgage transfer and securitization process

BOSTON, MA - January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Boston real estate management company, its agent and property owner have been sued for violating state anti-discrimination law, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced. The Attorney General’s Office filed a housing discrimination complaint on January 3, 2011, against Mediate Management Company (“Mediate”), its agent Deborah Kooring, and Fenway Buttrick, LLC, in Suffolk Superior Court alleging that the defendants refused to renew the lease of a family because they reside with a young child whose presence required the defendants to comply with state lead paint laws.

BOSTON, MA - December 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston announced that three Massachusetts initiatives will receive more than $6.2 million in grants, loans, and interest-rate subsidies through its Affordable Housing Program. These funds will be used to finance 139 units of affordable rental housing for households earning at or below 80 percent of area median income.

BOSTON, MA - December 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Melrose-based realty trust and its manager violated Massachusetts law by allegedly posting a discriminatory rental advertisement on the popular classified advertising website Craigslist.org (“Craigslist”), according to a lawsuit filed by AG Coakley’s Office. The complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court against Mt. V.M. Realty Trust (“Mt. V.M.”) and Nicholas Keramaris, alleges that they violated state anti-discrimination, lead paint, and consumer protection laws by placing an advertisement on Craigslist which referred to the lead status of an apartment and refused to rent it to families with young children

BOSTON, MA - December 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced a $2.2 million loan closing today for the acquisition and preservation of affordability of the 125-unit Lincoln Woods in Lincoln.

December 16, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the Boston City Council approved a proposal by Mayor Thomas M. Menino to encourage the use of solar technologies by reducing building permit fees for building owners implementing solar photovoltaic rooftop technologies. The new solar permitting fees are the latest initiative in the mayor’s plan to make Boston one of the greenest cities in America. The City has also developed an online Solar Map and released a comprehensive Solar Permitting Guide that aim to streamline the design and permitting process and motivate property owners to install solar systems.

BOSTON, MA - December 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced $7.7 million in loan closings today for the acquisition, rehabilitation and preservation of affordability of the 144-unit Harborview Towers in New Bedford.

BOSTON, MA - December 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing was honored with an All Inclusive Award in the category of Supplier Diversity by Color Magazine for the Agency’s dedication and success in promoting the use of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 1, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today led a letter, cosigned by 62 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives, calling for funding the Low-Income Home Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through September 30, 2011 at least at the FY2010 levels of $5.1 billion – the highest funding level in the history of the program.