State Senate Seeks Harsher Penalties for Rental Discrimination
A Massachusetts Senate bill is looking to increase enforcement of the state’s housing discrimination legislation, with support from the state’s two biggest Realtor trade groups.
Real Estate’s Wins and Challenges in 2025 – and What’s to Come
This year did not bring half the success we wanted, but the successes we did see brought hope to build upon at the state and local level.
Mass. Real Estate Agents Confront Climate Risk
When Massachusetts homebuyers and sellers aren’t too worried about climate risk, despite increasingly severe floods, where does that leave their real estate agents?
Rent Control Backers Report Huge Signature Haul
The campaign behind a proposed 2026 ballot measure to establish rent control across the state says it has cleared the highest signature-gathering hurdle in the initiative petition process well ahead of deadline.
After Tough Summer, Mass. Makes Progress Against Housing Crisis
Prospective homebuyers were likely filled with dread this past summer as headline after headline reminded hopefuls of the harsh reality that is the Massachusetts housing market.
Rent Control Measure Triggers Ballot Eligibility Debate
The months ahead could feature court battles, a hefty signature-gathering effort and a bruising campaign to sway voters.
A Close Inspection of Home Inspections in Massachusetts
Through the advocacy of GBREB and our partners, state housing officials made key revisions to the original regulations in order to make this new policy less restrictive and more feasible.
Personnel File – No. 412
From new VPs to fresh project managers, see who’s been hired, promoted and honored: It’s our weekly Personnel File roundup.
Three Big Ideas for Fixing Boston’s Housing Production Problem
The decline in housing production in Boston, a city already beset with some of the nation’s highest prices and rents, has gone from bad to worse to simply catastrophic.
Outreach Begins as Eviction-Sealing Deal Takes Effect
Thousands of Massachusetts residents gained a new tool in the search for stable housing Monday, as a compromise between tenant advocates and the real estate lobby took effect allowing eligible tenants to have their past eviction records sealed.
Drastic Changes Needed to Balance Emissions Reductions and Housing Production
The costs of meeting the state’s energy policies are showing up as a stealth tax in the form of higher housing ownership costs and higher rents. A lot of that has to do with town and city policy.
Wu Hits Out Over Tax Deal’s Collapse
“We don’t have time at the city level to play games,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” on Wednesday.
Spilka Confirms Boston Tax Bill’s Dead
Despite compromises struck between the city and stakeholders, Spilka said she has “heard clearly that there currently is not sufficient support for this proposal.”
Mayor’s Tax Plan Hits Wall in Senate as Top Dem Calls Time
Sen. William Brownsberger, who represents parts of Boston and is the number-three Democrat in the Senate, called for the bill to be laid aside and for Boston to finalize its property tax rates without any shift.
Biz Groups Waver on Boston Tax Deal
Business organizations urged Beacon Hill legislators to pause approval of a new property tax structure raising rates on commercial properties in Boston following the release of new assessment data.
New Data Shows Boston Homeowners Face Smaller Tax Increase
A Boston senator delayed action on a controversial home rule petition for the second time this week, pushing consideration off after new data emerged about the city’s property tax outlook.
Senate Must Act by Monday on Tax Rate Deal, Boston Says
Boston City Hall’s assessing chief on Tuesday voiced an ever-tightening timeline for Beacon Hill to act on the city’s property tax plan, while also declining to share data that some skeptical officials have said could be key to moving the needle on the controversial bill.
Boston Tax Bill Delayed Amid Fears Towns Could Copy City’s Ask
A senator from South Boston delayed action Monday on a controversial, time-sensitive Boston property tax reclassification bill, which is now on ice until after the deadline for action recommended by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
House Vote Sends Boston Tax Bill to Senate
The House of Representatives on Monday approved the city of Boston’s request to temporarily reconfigure the way it splits property taxes between commercial and residential taxpayers.
Breaking Through the Noise on Office-to-Residential Conversions
Converting an office space to housing has big benefits, but can be even more expensive than building housing from scratch. Political and business leaders must come together to find feasible solutions.
