MA Ballot Question 7, which would have barred local ordinances against single-family homes built on residentially zoned lots that have at least 5,000 square feet, 50 feet of frontage and access to public water and sewer service, narrowly lost at the polls by 50.6% to 49.4% (a difference of less than 3,000 votes). The measure…
Read MoreThe Boston City Council’s Government Operations Committee announced it will review President Liz Breadon’s “bad landlords list” ordinance at a work session on November 23 at 10am. The ordinance proposes a public listing of “scofflaws” determined by a point system including code violations, inclusion on the city’s Problem Property List, and failures to register rentals.…
Read MoreLess than two weeks before the midterm elections, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) with measures to ease mortgage burdens amid rising rates. The EO directs the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to create a pilot program proactively canceling mortgage insurance for eligible borrowers with government-backed home loans. It also directs FHFA to expand…
Read MoreCommonwealth Beacon reported that the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC) commissioned a study on “innovative approaches to improve the electric distribution system” in 2021 but has yet to release the results it received in 2024. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which prepared the study, reports it identified investments needed to increase solar connectivity,…
Read MoreBoston City Council President Liz Breadon (who represents Allston-Brighton) introduced a proposal for the city to publish a biannual “bad landlords list” of “scofflaws,” determined by a point system including code violations, inclusion on the city’s Problem Property List, and failures to register rentals. The City Council co-signed the proposal unanimously, referring it to the…
Read MoreFor the 18th consecutive month, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) indicates a sentiment that market conditions for new housing development are “more poor than good.” The study cites supply-side constraints like increasing materials costs, as well as mortgage rate increases and reduced consumer confidence. Additionally, the study notes that…
Read MoreThe MA Department of Revenue (DOR) proposed a regulation implementing a statutory increase in lead paint removal tax credits. The regulation proposes increasing the maximum credit amount from $1,500 to $3,000, and from $500 to $1,500 for bringing residential premises under interim control pending full compliance, per dwelling unit. The increases are effective for taxable…
Read MoreAs described in a recent Commonwealth Beacon article, the MA General Court is considering Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA) policies in its economic development bills (S3228/H5576). The Senate version would allow up to 5 cities/towns to launch a five-year TOPA pilot. The House version would implement a statewide local option. GBREB has led a coalition…
Read MoreIn recent days, the Cities of Boston and Chelsea announced plans to discuss the elimination of minimum parking requirements in their respective zoning codes. These cities join Somerville and Cambridge, which removed such requirements in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Discussions center around the need to incentivize housing supply and the exorbitant costs per parking space,…
Read MoreIn a recent social media post, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell reminded renters of her office’s efforts to enforce restrictions on “illegal renters fees,” citing examples like lease renewal or roommate addition charges and recounting her office’s recent $500,000 settlement against a property management company for illegal fees. Campbell encouraged tenants to report such fees…
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