Special Affordable Housing Opportunities

Through a variety of housing development programs, the City, in collaboration with private and non-profit developers, occasionally markets affordable opportunities for rental and ownership of homes in Somerville for income-eligible households. Our Program is called the "Inclusionary Affordable Homeownership Program".  The special affordable housing opportunities are available to first-time homebuyers only. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Purchasers must live or work in Somerville, except for when purchasing a "Resale" unit.
• Purchasers must be first-time homebuyers.
• The units must be used as the buyers' primary residence.
• Deed Restrictions regarding equity and re-sale of the unit will apply.

Applicants must have a certificate from a MHC homebuyer training class by the date of CLOSING.  IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED you will need to sign up for the next available class. =  Please visit Citizens Housing and Planning Association to view a homebuyer education schedule that includes first time homebuyer classes. For more information, follow the link - First time homebuyer classes. 

The Somerville Housing Authority offers First-time Homebuyer Training Classes. Please contact SHA directly for further information at 617-625-1152 ext 318 or by e-mail at Blancab@sha-web.org. You may also call the Somerville Housing Authority at 617-625-1152 to find out when their next available class will be held.

• Applicants must be "ready buyers" and must obtain a mortgage pre-approval for the appropriate amount.

Lottery Drawing & Post-Process: 

• Our Lottery Drawings are held at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA or the Somerville City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Avenue, Somerville MA.
• Each name entered shall be drawn and assigned the appropriate number.
• The name drawn 1^st shall have 1-week to certify income with SPCD.
• Once certified, the buyer will enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the current owner.
• The buyer formally applies for a mortgage loan with their chosen lender.
• The buyer and owner agree to a mutually convenient closing date.

Deed Restrictions Overview:

Please Note: The following is only a summary of the important resale/equity restrictions. A draft copy is available upon request. The lottery winner will be given a completed copy for review during the P&S process.

• Units are subject to a City of Somerville Deed Restriction that limits equity and contains re-sale provisions that requires the City to recalculate an affordable sale price when you decide to sell the unit in the future.
• It requires you to maintain the unit as your primary residence, however you can choose to sell the unit at any time. The City will perform annual residency certifications.
• Once you have been income certified, the City will not perform any additional annual income verifications.

For more information, please contact our offices at 617-625-6600 ext. 2577.