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$620 Million for Housing in First ARPA Funds Bill
December 3, 2021
On December 3rd, the Legislature passed its first American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds bill, H.4269, An Act relative to immediate COVID-19 recovery needs, sending it to the Governor for his signature. The federal ARPA law allocated billions of dollars to states in one-time payments to assist in COVID recovery efforts. Massachusetts received $5.3 billion. H.4269 spends a little… -
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Notes From the Legal Hotline: December 2021
December 3, 2021
Q: I heard there is a new Mandatory Licensee-Consumer Relationship Disclosure. Is that true and when does it need to be presented? A: The Relationship Disclosure must be presented to a consumer at the first personal meeting in which specific property is discussed. Recent changes to the Mandatory Licensee-Consumer Relationship… -
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New MA Mortgage Assistance Program
December 1, 2021
The Department of Housing and Community Development announced the creation of a new, $178 million Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) to provide financial assistance for homeowners behind on mortgage payments due to COVID-19. Homeowners who have already applied through the Housing Assistance Central Application prior to December 1 will continue to have… -
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Court Strikes Down Boston Eviction Moratorium
November 30, 2021
The Boston eviction moratorium, enacted on August 31, 2021, five days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal eviction moratorium, was struck down by a Massachusetts Housing Court judge yesterday... -
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Update to Massachusetts Mandatory Licensee-Consumer Relationship Disclosure
November 24, 2021
The Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons has released an updated Mandatory Licensee-Consumer Relationship Disclosure. The updated disclosure clarifies that, in the absence of a personal meeting between the licensee and consumer, the form must be presented no later than the licensee entering into a contract with… -
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Notes From the Legal Hotline: October 2021
October 5, 2021
Q: What tasks may an assistant perform in a real estate office? A: The tasks that may be performed by an assistant in a real estate office are going to depend on whether the assistant is licensed or unlicensed. A licensed assistant may perform any tasks permitted of licensees in… -
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Local Mask Mandates
September 16, 2021
As the Delta variant continues to cause COVID-19 cases, some Massachusetts cities and towns are implementing their own mask requirements for public indoor spaces. It’s a good idea to check the various communities you work in before hosting or attending an open house. -
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MAR 2021 REALTOR® Conference
September 9, 2021
We are just a couple of weeks away from the MAR 2021 REALTOR® Conference! Get ready to have the time of your professional life at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, CT on Tuesday, September 28th and Wednesday, September 29th. We are so excited to see you all back in person… -
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Local MA Eviction Moratoriums
September 1, 2021
On August 31, the City of Boston joined the cities of Somerville and Malden in issuing its own local eviction moratorium. All three local moratoriums go beyond the now terminated CDC moratorium, prohibiting serving notice on residents regardless of COVID impacts... -
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Notes from the Legal Hotline: September 2021
August 30, 2021
Q: May a landlord use COVID vaccination status in screening prospective tenants? A: While vaccination status itself is not a protected class, the reason an individual is unvaccinated may be because of a protected characteristic...
