Register Ashe Speaks at 26th Annual Polanie Club Fashion Show

Recently, Register Ashe spoke at the Polanie Club's 26th Annual Fashion Show and presented a proclamation to this year's scholarship award recipients, Ashley Meunier and Ewelina Deszcz.  The Polanie Club works tirelessly to give back to its community and prides itself on its involvement in numerous organizations, such as the Baystate Breast Cancer Program, March of Dimes, Shriner's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, just to name a few.  All money raised from this event goes towards the scholarship fund, which is bestowed upon young individuals who give back to others, just as they do.  Congratulations, Ashley and Ewelina!

Register Ashe reads a proclamation with Kamila Wnuk and Loretta Goyette.

Register Ashe speaks at the Polanie Club Fashion Show with Loretta Goyette, Kamila Wnuk, and Stacy Laskiewicz.

Register Ashe with Ashley Meunier, Loretta Goyette, and Stacy Laskiewicz.

Register Ashe presents a proclamation to scholarship winner Ashley Meunier with Loretta Goyette and Stacy Laskiewicz.

 

Westfield Hours: Friday 12/23

The Westfield satellite office will be closing at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23.


 

Christmas and New Year's Hours

In observance of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, both our Springfield and Westfield offices will be closed on Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2. Register Ashe and the staff of the Hampden County Registry of Deeds would like to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season!

Westfield opening at 11am

PLEASE NOTE THE REGISTRY OF DEEDS, LOCATED IN WESTFIELD, WILL BE OPENING AT A 11AM DUE TO THE WEATHER.  THE SPRINGFIELD OFFICE IS OPENED ITS NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED.



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THANKSGIVING HOURS

THANKSGIVING HOURS -

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, both our Springfield and Westfield offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24th.

Due to the closing of the Westfield City Hall, our Westfield satellite office will be closed on Friday, November 25th, while our Springfield office will remain open for normal business hours.

Register Ashe and the staff of the Hampden County Registry of Deeds would like to wish each of you a very happy Thanksgiving!

50 year-old postcard found at the Registry of Deeds

In 1966, while on a trip to Ireland, Registry employee Philomena sent a postcard to her friend and former coworker Bessie, which Tony found in our mailbox this October. Nobody knows how it reached the mailbox in the new building, or why it was delayed for so long.

 

Happy Halloween from the Hampden County Registry of Deeds

Yesterday, several of the Registry staff brought a little Halloween spirit to the office. Our Westfield Satellite Office even saw a few trick-or-treaters!

Lindsay and Brie dressed up for work at the Springfield office.

Gwen handed out candy at the Westfield office.

A group of trick-or-treaters stopped by the Registry office on their tour of the Westfield City Hall.

Register Ashe Attends the Annual Agawam Senior Fair

This week, Register Ashe attended the Agawam Senior Center’s Annual Senior Fair. The Registry staff was on hand to answer any and all questions pertaining to real property in Hampden County.  This is an event that we participate in each year, and we always enjoy getting an opportunity to speak with area residents.

Register Ashe met with and answered questions for dozens of attendees at the Agawam Senior Fair

 

Register Donald Ashe with Atty. Abbe McLane and Ryan at the Agawam Senior Center

 

Register Donald Ashe with Carol at the Agawam Senior Center

Register Donald Ashe visits an information booth for Greater Springfield Senior Services Incorporated

Register Donald Ashe and Assistant Register Donna answer questions from attendees at the Agawam Senior Center's Annual Senor Fair

Register Donald Ashe and Assistant Register Donna answer questions from attendees at the Agawam Senior Center's Annual Senor Fair

Register Donald Ashe with Assistant Register Donna at the Agawam Senior Center

Register Donald Ashe with Assistant Register Caitlin at the Agawam Senior Center

Register Ashe Attends Gala for the Willie Ross School for the Deaf

Honorees State Representative Brian Ashe and 

Constance Gleason Furcolo with President and CEO Robert Carter 

of the Willie Ross School for the Deaf

State Representative Brian M. Ashe and 

Hampden County Register of Deeds Donald E. Ashe

Last week, Register Ashe attended the Annual Gala & Testimonial Dinner for the Willie Ross School for the Deaf held at the Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. This year's event honored both Constance Gleason Furcolo and State Representative Brian Ashe.

Established in 1967, the Willie Ross School for the Deaf's mission is to "provide deaf and hard-of-hearing students access to comprehensive, evidence-based education and support services in the classroom and in the greater community. We strive for excellence and innovation. We work to maximize each individual's intellectual, social, and emotional growth."

To learn more about the Willie Ross School for the Deal, visit their website at http://www.willierossschool.org/

(photos courtesy of Masslive - http://www.masslive.com/…/seen_willie_ross_school_for_th.ht…)

NO PARKING? NO PROBLEM!

Anyone who has driven in downtown Springfield within the past year can attest to the trouble in finding a parking spot. With the closing of several lots, the quest to find one open or an available meter can be challenging. No longer is it easy to zip in and zip out of downtown. No one knows this better than you – the public – who oftentimes encounter a stressful experience when trying to conduct your business in this area.

Today, Lisa, who had an appointment with our office to be sworn in as a notary public, circled the Hall of Justice for over 45 minutes in an attempt to find a parking spot. Rather than simply telling her to keep looking, Register Ashe offered his services – curbside. That’s right, folks! Mr. Ashe took his office on the road! Lisa was asked to wait in her car while we came down to retrieve her paperwork, prepared it back in our office, and returned down to State Street to administer her oath.

Register Ashe swears in Lisa for her notary oath

Though the setting was a bit different than the Register is used to, he made it work and was very happy to help Lisa out. Register Ashe values customer service above all else and as our environment evolves, so will we! The Hampden County Registry of Deeds will always strive to make conducting business with our office as efficient and pleasant as possible.

Register Ashe poses for a photo with Lisa after swearing her in as a notary public

The Hampden County Foreclosure Crisis on WWLP

22 News picked up Register Ashe's segment on foreclosures. Watch his exclusive interview here!

Real Time with Donald Ashe: The Hampden County Foreclosure Crisis

Watch as Register Ashe discusses some of the key reasons behind the recent rise in foreclosure recordings.

Affordable Housing Awards Bring More Homes to Springfield

On Monday, August 15, Governor Charlie Baker announced the Commonwealth’s latest endeavor to provide affordable housing to its communities in need, awarding over $90 million dollars in funding for 26 different affordable housing projects throughout the state.

The awards from the Department of Housing and Community Development include $31 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits (which will generate over $218 million in equity for these projects), as well as over $59 million in housing subsidy funds (including federal HOME funds and state capital funds).

With these awards, the Commonwealth seeks to provide affordable housing opportunities, with specific focus on the elderly, disabled, and homeless. The 26 funded projects consist of development projects, renovations, and preservations of older buildings, including three preservation projects here in Springfield. In Springfield alone, these preservations will create 276 rental units, with 43 units reserved for families with household incomes less than 30% of the area median.

The Springfield housing projects sponsored by the grant include:

·         Henry Twiggs Phase II: 61 units of fully rehabilitated affordable housing, with 16 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI, sponsored by Home City Housing

·         Maple Commons Apartments: 173 fully rehabilitated affordable housing units, with 18 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI, sponsored by First Resource Companies.

·         St. James Commons Apartments: 42 affordable units for families, with 9 units reserved for families earning than 30 percent of AMI, sponsored by Valley Real Estate.

As of 2013, nearly 38% of Springfield residents live below the poverty line, and 5.8 in every thousand were homeless. According to a 2012 study, nearly half of all households in the city were considered cost-burdened, contributing more than 30% of their income to housing costs. Despite the fact that Springfield was once known as the “city of homes” only 29% of homes were designated as “affordable.”

A 5-year investment plan released by the Governor’s office shows plans in place to continue increasing housing production throughout the Commonwealth, including an 18% increase in funding for mixed-income housing. Though specific plans have not yet been released, it is our hope that the proposed changes to the local economy will revitalize the market and allow more people access to affordable housing.

Brexit and the U.S. Real Estate Market

A major topic in the recent media is Britain’s controversial decision to leave the European Union. The referendum, which was announced on June 24, sent a shockwave throughout the global economy.

But how does this impact the real estate market here in the United States?

When the vote was announced, stocks plummeted to their lowest rate in the past year, but recovered after a few days.  U.S. real estate, however, seems to be holding up amid the chaos. In fact, some sources claim that Brexit could actually benefit the national real estate market.

To start, mortgage rates are historically low at 3.32% for a 30-year fixed rate and 2.62% for a 15-year fixed rate. After the announcement, the Federal Reserve decided not to raise interest rates, and experts claim that there is no likely plan to do so at the July 26-27 meeting. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, claims that these lower rates “could provide a boost for lower-income U.S. buyers,” which could mean good news for millennials and other groups struggling to enter the market. These low interest rates also present a golden opportunity for current mortgage holders to refinance.

Several sources also speculate that the U.S. should see an influx of foreign investors moving their capital into U.S. real estate in response to the destabilization of the British and European markets. This could produce mixed results. On one hand, new infusions of capital could revitalize metro centers like New York and San Francisco, improving the value of properties including office spaces, hotels, and rentals. However, sources also indicate that the influx in foreign investors would drive up commercial real estate prices, as well as rent prices as investors turn their residential purchases into rental properties.

Overall, most sources agree that we shouldn’t experience the same turmoil as Britain and Europe in the real estate sector. The stock market, on the other hand, has seen some turbulence as a result of the vote, which could have a negative impact on homeowners with investments. As always, the process of buying a home and opening a mortgage should be treated thoughtfully and given careful weight. In lieu of the low interest rates, buyers are advised to carefully weigh their options and consider their short- and long-term financial situations before purchasing.

Read the article covering Register Ashe's Release and Forecast for FY16 written by Jim Kinney of The Republican

Mortgage foreclosures up in Pioneer Valley, 42% increase in Hampden County

By Jim Kinney | jkinney@repub.com 
Follow on Twitter
on July 21, 2016 at 6:51 AM

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE

SPRINGFIELD — The number of completed mortgage foreclosures in Hampden County was up 42 percent for the fiscal year just completed, according to statistics released Wednesday by Hampden County Register of Deeds Donald E. Ashe.

There were 629 mortgage foreclosures completed in Hampden County in fiscal 2016, meaning from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016. That is compared with 442 completed foreclosures in fiscal 2015, which was from July 2014 through the end of June 2015.

There are likely more foreclosures on the horizon as well. Foreclosure orders of notice, a document filed in the early stages of a mortgage foreclosure, are up 41 percent from 942 in fiscal 2015 to 1,329 in fiscal 2016.

More foreclosures may be in indication, ironically, that the real estate market is improving, Ashe said. For years banks held off on foreclosing on loans even if borrowers were in arrears. One reason was that state and federal regulations were changing. 

Another reason was that banks were not sure they would be be able to find buyers once they took control of the homes, Ashe said. Now, with real estate sales up, bankers know there will be buyers.

"Will there be more foreclosures? Sure," Ashe said. "One other reason is that, while the unemployment rate for Hampden County is 5.2 percent, many of these jobs don't pay as well as the jobs that people lost in the recession. A lot of people are not making the same kind of money they made when they got their mortgage."

Overall, buyers spent nearly $1.39 billion on Hampden County real estate during the fiscal year. That figure includes housing, commercial property and vacant land. It's a 5.3 percent increase from the $1.32 billion spent in fiscal 2015.

That 2015 figure was up 14 percent compared with fiscal 2014, largely because of the $28.7 million MGM Springfield spent on real estate in Springfield's South End in the second half of calendar year 2014.

In neighboring counties:

Hampshire County: Completed foreclosures were up 50.7 percent to 113 for fiscal 2016 from 75 in fiscal 2015, according to Beth Callahan of the Hampshire County Registry of Deeds. A year ago, foreclosures were up 25 percent from 60 in fiscal 2014 to 75 in fiscal 2015.

The total amount spent on all real estate in Hampshire County in fiscal 2016 was $652.3 million. That was a 12.9 percent increase from $578 million in fiscal 2015. That $578 million itself was a 16 percent increase  from $497 million in fiscal 2014.

Franklin County:  Completed foreclosures were up 66.1 percent to 103 for fiscal 2016 from 62 in fiscal 2015, according to Jennifer A. Wood, deputy assistant register in Franklin County. Last year, they were up 5.1 percent from 59 in fiscal 2014.

The total amount spent on Franklin County real estate in fiscal 2016 was $241.4 million. That was a 4.7 percent decrease from the $253 million spent on Franklin County real estate in fiscal 2015. Last year, that amount was up 33.4 percent from $190 million in fiscal 2014.

In the forecast part of his report, Ashe said the real estate market's future in large part depends on millennials. As the largest generation in history, they could have a big impact.

But they are delaying the purchase of their first homes, pushing the average age of a new home buyer up to 31 years of age, the highest its been in years, Ashe said.

"More and more 18- to 35-year-olds are choosing to rent or cohabit with their
parents to save money, a result of a deadly combination of low wages, high education costs and student loan debt, and increased housing prices. Though the volume of millennial homeowners is still low for their population size and capability, it is expected that they will make a significant impact on the market once they have the means and confidence to purchase."

Hampden Register's Forecast FY16 by Jim Kinney on Scribd