Massachusetts RealEstateRama

QUINCY, MA - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- 2011¡XSouth Shore residents in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure will soon have access to expanded foreclosure prevention counseling services through a joint initiative sponsored by the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, Neighborhood Housing Services of the South Shore and the South Shore HOME Consortium.

Boston, MA - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Menino announced today that Boston, already a national leader in green building, will launch the Energy Positive "E+" Green Building Demonstration Program, a residential design and construction initiative to bring energy, environmentally, and equity positive green homes to Boston's neighborhoods. The program seeks to promote the future generation of home construction - combining high quality living space with clean energy production that helps power the neighborhood. E+ Green Buildings produce more energy than they use on an annual basis, giving energy back to the grid and saving homeowners money.

BOSTON, MA - March 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing announced today that it has approved $2.2 million in loans for the Greenway Apartments in East Boston, which will feature 27 new affordable apartments for low-income families

Miami Beach, FL - March 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federated Companies has recently acquired the land asset located on 191 Beach Road, Salisbury, Massachusetts. The land is a 13.2 acre development site in the Town of Salisbury. The property is located within walking distance to the beach, approximately 500 yards to the east. It has 900 feet of frontage along Route 1A at the entrance of Salisbury Beach and the seacoast.

BOSTON, MA - March 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing has closed a $1 million loan for the Forest Park Apartments in Springfield, which have revived a vacant, crime-plagued property with more than 100 new apartments.

BOSTON, MA - March 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A real estate investor has pled guilty in connection with participating in a complex scheme in which fraudulent documents were used to defraud homeowners and mortgage lenders in real estate transactions involving 26 distressed properties in the Greater Boston area, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has announced.John Sweetland, age 29, of Yorba Linda, California, pled guilty in Suffolk Superior Court this week to charges of Larceny over $250 (33 Counts), Making or Publishing False or Exaggerated Statements (11 counts) and Attempt to Make or Publish a False or Exaggerated Statement (3 counts).

Washington, DC - March 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the nation’s foreclosure crisis continues, Congressman John Tierney (MA-06) yesterday joined a select group of his congressional colleagues at a meeting with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan to demand answers for the Administration’s failure to assist homeowners facing foreclosure through the plagued federal Making Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

Boston, MA - March 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced new funding that will put the city one step closer to his goal of ending long-term homelessness. With an investment from the Citizens Bank Foundation, the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA) has pledged $50,000 to help expand the Boston Public Health Commission’s High Utilizers of Emergency Services (HUES) to Home program, which provides housing and support services for chronically homeless people who are frequent users of the city’s emergency departments.

BOSTON, MA - February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A receiver has been appointed to operate and manage the Pocasset Mobile Home Park under an order obtained by Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office. The manufactured housing community located in Bourne has experienced ongoing sewage overflows from its septic system in the last year.

BOSTON, MA - February 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's ongoing commitment to build strong communities by increasing affordable housing options, creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity, Governor Deval Patrick today pledged $71.37 million in resources from various affordable housing programs to support the construction of 31 rental developments in 21 communities across the Commonwealth. These funds will create an estimated 2,000 construction jobs."By investing this targeted blend of funds to spur housing development, we are actively strengthening our communities across Massachusetts," said Governor Patrick. "Creating affordable housing helps to generate jobs, grow local businesses, and build a better, stronger Commonwealth."

BOSTON, MA - February 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Metro-Boston property owner has been sued for violating state anti-discrimination, lead paint, consumer protection, and housing laws, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced today.The complaint, filed this week, in Suffolk Superior Court against Keith L. Miller of Newton, alleges that Miller—who owns and manages at least 24 residential rental units in Chelsea, Newton, Arlington, and Brighton—engaged in a variety of discriminatory and retaliatory practices against tenants with young children in order to avoid his obligation to comply with state lead paint laws.

BOSTON, MA - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- MassHousing has awarded $171,963 in financing to help create or preserve affordable sober housing in Boston, Hingham and Northampton.

SOMERVILLE, MA - February 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT) today announced that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) board voted to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Federal Realty and the MBTA -- another significant milestone in Massachusetts’ largest development project.

North Reading, MA - February 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday Congressman John Tierney met with North Reading Housing Authority staff and residents for an update on the more than $160,000 in federal Recovery Act funds currently supporting an ongoing project to replace the heating system at its Peabody Court complex. According to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, energy efficiency improvements such as the one taking place at Peabody Court are estimated to reduce heating costs by anywhere between 15 and 25 percent.

Boston, MA - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that results of last month’s 31st Annual Homeless Census show a 4% decrease in the overall homeless census count from 2009, including a 7% decrease in the number of individual homeless adults. The December 6, 2010 Census brought together business, civic, state, and city leaders, and more than 330 volunteers to count homeless residents on city streets, in shelters, and domestic violence, transitional and treatment programs across Boston. Beyond the overall decrease, results show some promising signs and significant challenges, including:

Peabody, MA - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As the Commonwealth deals with another bout of bitter cold temperatures, Congressman John Tierney today announced that Massachusetts is expected to receive an additional $8,672,501 in emergency contingency funding to help seniors and working families around the state heat their homes this winter. In total, the state will receive $182,246,823 in necessary energy assistance between October 2010 and March 4, 2011. These new funds come less than two weeks after Congressman Tierney announced $72,765,243 in LIHEAP funds.

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).