Real Estate

In an 8-3 roll call vote Tuesday night, Worcester city councilors inched closer to a single-tax rate, setting the fiscal 2015 property levy for businesses at $31.73 per $1,000 assessed valuation.

Pending home sales in Massachusetts rose for the 21st consecutive month after a 20-percent jump in November for homes placed under agreement, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR).

While it maintained its split real estate tax rate, the Framingham Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to shift some of the tax burden off commercial and industrial property owners in a bid to make the town appear more business-friendly.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized Jamaheja, Inc. of Worcester $10,312 for allegedly violating the Wetlands Protection Act on property located in Southbridge.

Foreclosure starts across Massachusetts in October reached their highest level in nearly two years and marked eight consecutive months of year-over-year monthly increases, according to The Warren Group.

Construction spending across the United States rose 1.1 percent in October, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, continuing an upward trend for the year.

The Marlborough City Council unanimously approved a new downtown zoning district Monday night that would expand business options while encouraging a more pedestrian-friendly area. The Marlborough Village District changes zoning downtown to allow different business uses while easing parking requirements for new businesses and changing the standards for new buildings, according to a statement released by the Marlborough Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), which helped push for the zoning change.

Sales of single-family homes in Massachusetts increased slightly in October, marking the first year-over-year jump since June, according to The Warren Group.

Sixty-six percent of midsize business owners said they're optimistic the national economy will strengthen in the next six months, and they'll likely invest in technology, operations and new staff as a result, according to The Hartford, a Connecticut-based insurance group.

A Worcester developer of business property has bought an office complex in Hudson for nearly $3 million, the company announced.