Maine RealEstateRama

USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Lisa Mensah announced today that 13 Maine businesses have been selected to receive grants under the USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

According to Maine Listings, 1,335 single-family existing homes changed hands last month, leading to a 2.53 percent increase in sales overall. The median sales price (MSP) for those homes reached $185,000—a rise of 8.86 percent. The MSP indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.

Today the U.S. Department of Treasury allocated $55 million in New Markets Tax Credit capacity to CEI Capital Management. The firm will deploy the award to economic development projects that create opportunity in rural, low-income communities across the nation

On Thursday June 18, 2015, the Maine Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold a public witness hearing to hear citizen views on the Maine Natural Gas (MNG) proposed increases in rates. The public witness hearing will take place in the Multi-Purpose Room at Brunswick High School located at 116 Maquoit Rd., Brunswick, ME and will begin at 6:30 p.m.

During a hearing today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) said the United States must better prepare the electricity grid for cyber-attacks, particularly in the wake of last week’s announcement about a cyber-breach at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management

U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Pleasant Point Reservation Housing Authority $410,710 to support the protection of the waste water treatment plant at the Passamaquoddy Tribe Pleasant Point Reservation.

MaineHousing will honor 28 exceptional property owners and landlords who participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program during the agency’s first Owner Excellence Program ceremony on Tuesday, June 9, in Augusta

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) relies on the generous support of its volunteer officers and Board of Directors to fulfill its mission of promoting an environment for responsible development and ownership of real estate throughout Maine. Many have distinguished themselves by making significant contributions to the real estate industry and to MEREDA over many years. Two of MEREDA’s longtime Board members will be retiring from the organization and were recently recognized at MEREDA’s Board Meeting on May 27.

According to grantee estimates, this project will enable the expansion of an existing industrial area, creating 325 jobs in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and business services, and generating $34 million in private investment.

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recently announced winners of its 2014 Notable Projects Awards at its annual Spring Conference in Portland last week. Each of the selected seven projects fulfill MEREDA’s mission of responsible development, but also involved a significant investment of resources and job creation statewide. All of these “noteworthy and significant" real estate projects were completed in 2014 and are fully tenanted

At Veterans Inc. today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) renewed his commitment to ending veteran homelessness and working to support veterans of recent conflicts as they transition back into civilian life. Senator King, who last year supported a major overhaul of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, today toured Veterans Inc.’s new facility in Lewiston, which provides housing and support services to homeless veterans, where he talked with staff and held a roundtable discussion with veterans on the challenges they face overcoming homelessness and transitioning back to civilian life

Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, voted today to approve the Energy and Water Development spending bill for the 2016 fiscal year. The bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate.<

Motivated buyers and sellers led to an increase in existing home sales in April. Realtors sold 1,032 single-family existing homes during the month of April 2015, up 1.67% over April 2014. The median sales price (MSP) for those homes rose 5.33 percent last month to $178,000. The MSP indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senators James Inhofe (R-OK) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), to request that the transportation reauthorization bill include investment in innovative technologies that will address “our rapidly aging transportation infrastructure.”

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $124,797 in Capital Fund Emergency Safety and Security Program grant funding to the Fort Fairfield Housing Authority