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Federal COVID Relief Bill
December 22, 2020
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
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
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
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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Skeleton Disclosure
December 1, 2020
If the walls could talk, what would they say? What about the foundation? With some of the oldest housing stock in the country, Massachusetts homeowners have made some interesting discoveries when remodeling their homes. Recently, while doing demolition work at a Winchester home, contractors unearthed multiple human skeletal remains. Thankfully,… -
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December 2020 Notes from the Legal Hotline
December 1, 2020
What is my obligation as a REALTOR® for snow removal at listed properties? Unless there is an agreement with the property owner that requires the REALTOR® to be responsible for snow removal, that responsibility lies with the property owner. Massachusetts requires property owners to use reasonable care for the protection… -
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Why & How to Unplug Around the Holidays
December 1, 2020
The holiday season is magical — it’s a time dedicated to family, friends, and giving. And every December, I like to give myself the gift of more time with the people I love, which means spending less time in front of a screen. Every year, I unplug from social media… -
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Thompson v. JP Morgan Bank Case
November 30, 2020
You may recall a writeup from March of last year about a case that was quite controversial for creating a new and amorphous standard in foreclosure procedures. Today, the state’s highest court issued a ruling on a key element of that case, essentially upholding the status quo for an already highly regulated area – the language required for… -
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With FHFA Release of 2021 Loan Limits, NAR Urges Improved Access to Safe, Affordable Financing
November 24, 2020
National Association of REALTORS® President Charlie Oppler issued the following statement after the Federal Housing Finance Agency today unveiled 2021 loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. GSE loan limits now sit at $548,250, while an announcement from the Federal Housing Administration is expected in the coming weeks. NAR’s… -
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5 Questions on the House FY2021 Budget, H.5150
November 11, 2020
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. The state enacted a series of short-term budgets in the interim, with the latest set to expire at the end of this month. Lawmakers are…
