• MAR Advocates For Development, Against Transactional Burdens

    January 15, 2021

    - By The MAR Legal Team

    On January 14, 2021, standing at a dangerous precipice, Massachusetts took a significant step forward with the signing of the economic development bill including Housing Choice, one of MAR’s top advocacy priorities...
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  • Setting Up Your Social For 2021

    January 13, 2021

    - By Teah Hopper

    The new year is officially underway, and if you’re like me, some of your goals are social-media related. Whether you’re looking to spend less time on social media, have more fun, or just get more out of your social accounts, I have some tangible steps you can take towards your…
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  • Economic Development Bill – A Step Forward for Housing Development

    January 8, 2021

    - By Jonathan Schreiber

    On January 6, the Massachusetts Legislature passed one of MAR’s top advocacy priorities, the Housing Choice bill as part of the economic development package, An Act enabling partnerships for growth...
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  • New Eviction Rules: What You Need to Know

    January 6, 2021

    - By Jonathan Schreiber

    On December 31, Governor Baker signed into law Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2020 which makes important changes to eviction rules and procedures that will be in effect until the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency...
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  • Notes from the Legal Hotline: January 2021

    January 4, 2021

    - By The MAR Legal Team

    Is requiring a full year’s worth of rent legal? No, prepaid rent is a violation of the Massachusetts security deposit statute, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 186, Section 15B. The statute prohibits a lessor from requiring a tenant to pay any amount in excess of: First month’s rent; Last month’s rent…
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  • Beyond Love Letters

    January 4, 2021

    - By Stephen M. Perry

    Many articles and blogs have been written concerning the potential perils to brokers and their seller-clients under the Fair Housing Act of accepting so-called love letters from prospective buyers. The FHA...
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  • Federal COVID Relief Bill

    December 22, 2020

    - By Jonathan Schreiber

    On December 21, Congress passed the latest COVID-19 relief bill. NAR has worked hard advocating for several of the key provisions of the bill and has a detailed breakdown of the bill available online. Here are brief explanations on some of the key elements...
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  • Fair Housing Microsite is Live!

    December 15, 2020

    - By Sabrina Lapointe

    MAR recently partnered with Suffolk Law to launch a Fair Housing consumer awareness campaign targeting renters and landlords with information to educate them on their rights, Section 8 housing...
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  • Marketing Trends Going into 2021

    December 14, 2020

    - By Sabrina Lapointe

    2020 was a year of many firsts. Regardless of the industry, we were all forced to rethink the way we conduct our business. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in the way of real estate as we know it.  Suddenly open houses, meeting with potential buyers, signing paperwork among…
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  • 3 Questions on the FY2021 Budget

    December 7, 2020

    - By The MAR Legal Team

    1. Why are you working on the budget now? Isn’t that due by June 30th?  Yes, it is! However, due to the pandemic, a lot of issues were delayed, including the FY2021 budget. The state enacted a series of short-term budgets in the interim, with the latest set to expire around…
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