Affordable Housing Lotteries MA
Understand How They Work and How You Can Apply
MA Affordable Housing Lottery Overview
MGL 40B “ANTI-SNOB ZONING ACT” Overview
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Permit Law M.G.L. c. 40B §§ 20-23, enacted as Ch. 774 of the Acts 1969, also known as the Comprehensive Permit Statute, Ch. 40B or the “Anti-Snob” Zoning Act, encourages the Construction of Affordable Housing using locally granted permits.
It was enacted to help address the shortage of affordable housing statewide by reducing unnecessary barriers created by the local approval process, local zoning and other restrictions. A “Comprehensive Permit” is an all-encompassing permit which subsumes all permits and approvals normally issued by other local boards.
The permit typically allows a developer to build at a higher density than is normally allowed under a municipality’s zoning laws. The law enables a Local Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), in consultation with other local boards and officials to grant a single permit to an eligible developer pursuing a development of low-or moderate-income housing.
The Act requires all communities to use a streamlined review process to develop such housing, including request for zoning and other regulatory waivers.
Upon receipt of a “Project Eligibility Letter,” a developer can submit an application to the local Zoning Board of Appeals for a comprehensive permit in accordance with MGL 40B and regulatory agreement. The Board must convene a hearing within 30 days of the application’s receipt.
Affordable Housing Lottery
Once approved a date will be scheduled for a lottery for the availabl homes for sale, held in conjunction with the local housing authority.
First Come First Serve
Once the lottery is conducted, if there are not enough applicants to fill the homes allotted, the development will be opened on a first come first serve basis.
Who Qualifies for MA
Affordable Housing
Lotteries
- Displaces Homemakers
- Households where at least one household member is 55 or older
- Persons within a household who have not owned a home in three years
In addition to being a “First Time Home Buyer” the buyer must meet the income and asset limits. That is, the buyers total household income cannot be too high, yet they must earn enough to meet the lenders underwriting standards. In addition, they usually require a credit score of not less than 660 as well as not exceeding the asset limit. We call this the 10% window which makes the task of finding Qualified First Time Home Buyers most difficult.
Timber Crest – Medway, MA
Timber Crest A private developer, Timber Crest, LLC and officials of the Town of Medway have collaborated to provide this affordable housing opportunity in Medway. The development is situated on 71.40 acres of land off of Winthrop Street in Medway and will...
Mendon, MA – Brookview Estates
Brookview Estates | Mendon, MA A private developer and officials of the Town of Mendon have collaborated to provide this affordable housing opportunity in Mendon. The development will consist of 16 Townhouse duplex homes of which 4 will be designated as affordable....
Norwell, MA – Tiffany Hill
Tiffany Hill - Norwell, MA A private developer, Tiffany Hill, Inc. and officials of the Town of Norwell have collaborated to provide this affordable housing opportunity in Norwell. The development is situated on 18.4 acres of land on Tiffany Road...