Mayor Ballantyne Announces Inclusionary Homeownership Opportunities at 125 Lowell Street

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) are pleased to announce the upcoming sale of three deed-restricted condominiums to eligible, first-time homebuyer households at a below market price through the City’s Inclusionary Housing Program. The units will be offered to households with a yearly gross income at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) at price tier P1 and to households between 80% and 110% AMI at price tier P2. The deadline to apply is Monday, September 22, at noon. 

Building & Unit Descriptions 

125 Lowell is a seven-story building in the Spring Hill neighborhood with a deeded parking space for each Inclusionary unit included in the sales price. Units feature new, state-of-the-art appliances, oversized windows, and other modern finishes. After closing of the sale, the new residents of these units should be able to move in their new homes this fall/winter 2025.  

The affordable units are Deed Restricted, and the sale prices are set by formula. Buyers of these units will be subject to equity and resale provisions and annual compliance monitoring. These units may not be used for Airbnb, Vrbo, or other short-term rentals platforms or services and cannot be leased or subleased. The units must be used as the primary and principal residence of the household.   

How to Apply 

Pre-lottery applications are available until Monday, September 22, at 12 p.m. (noon) electronically on the City of Somerville Inclusionary Housing Program website (somervillema.gov/inclusionaryhousing). Paper copies of the application may be requested at City Hall Annex (50 Evergreen Ave.) or by contacting 311 (617-666-3311). 

To be considered complete, applications must include the following three (3) items:  

a) Completion of the multi-page application signed by all household members age 18 and up. 

b) Proof of first-time homebuyer training: a valid Massachusetts Homeownership Collaborative approved first-time homebuyer’s training class certificate or verification of current enrollment in a first-time homebuyers course that is scheduled to be completed by Tuesday, September 30, 2025.  For information on courses, visit somervillema.gov/inclusionaryhousing and scroll to “First-Time Home Buyer Education”. 

c) Mortgage pre-approval by 9/30/25: a valid mortgage pre-approval letter for a 30-year fixed-rate standard mortgage including an interest rate or interest rate range that is valid through Tuesday, September 30, 2025.  

Completed applications must be delivered to the Housing Division by 12 p.m. (noon) on Monday, September 22, 2025 (must be received by this date; the post-mark date is not relevant).  

Applications may be sent via U.S. mail, email, or fax: 

• Mail to:
• Inclusionary Housing Program (Housing Division)  
• City Hall Annex
• 50 Evergreen Ave.
• Somerville, MA 02145  
  
  
• Email to:
• inclusionary@somervillema.gov  
  
• Fax to:
• 617-591-3235

For more information or questions, please contact inclusionary@somervillema.gov or visit somervillema.gov/inclusionaryhousing to access the application packet. 

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.  

If you need assistance translating or understanding this information, please call 311 (617-666-3311) or contact us at somerviva@somervillema.gov. The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter for free.