Mayor Walsh signals support of transfer fee on real estate sales to generate additional funding for affordable housing

Following months of collaboration with the Boston City Council, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today signaled his formal support of a proposal to implement a transfer fee up to 2 percent on the purchase price of any private real estate sale over $2 million in the City of Boston, as a means to generate additional funding to create and preserve affordable housing. The Home Rule Petition was passed this afternoon at the Boston City Council's final meeting of the year. 

"There is no question that in Boston we need to do everything we can to support the creation of homes that are affordable, while also preserving our existing housing stock," said Mayor Walsh. "I am proud to support this proposal that gives Boston the ability to impose a modest fee on the sale of private property, which will collectively do a world of good towards our efforts to make Boston a more affordable place to live."

The Home Rule Petition would authorize the City of Boston to impose a fee of up to 2 percent of the purchase price upon the transfer of property valued at over $2 million, with one percent paid by the seller and one percent paid by the purchaser. The funding generated would be dedicated to the Neighborhood Housing Trust or appropriated through the annual budget process to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing in the City.

Once signed by the Mayor, the proposal will move to the Massachusetts Legislature for approval. If approved by the state, the City would have the ability to determine the final rate for the fee, collection method and any exemptions that would exist. 

"Housing is a public good and common responsibility, and those who generate wealth in our communities must be part of ensuring residents can remain in the neighborhoods they love," said Councilor Edwards, Chair of the Council's Committee on Housing and Community Development. "Today, Boston joins a growing coalition of municipalities asking the state for the power to ensure that the housing we build truly meets our residents' needs."

"It is absolutely imperative that we enact policies that will ensure our residents will have a safe and affordable home to live in for many generations," said Councilor Kim Janey, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development. "When passed by the state legislature, this home rule petition will help curb speculative real estate practices and stands to bring as much as $169 million in revenue annually that can be invested in affordable housing."

According to an analysis conducted by PFM Group Consulting, real estate sales in Suffolk County have ranged from approximately $3 billion to over $12 billion in the last decade. The City of Boston accounts for the vast majority of the county's population (86 percent) and real estate activity. From 2009 through year-to-date, total private real estate sales have averaged $8.4 billion. Based on average sales in Suffolk County, estimates show that a 1 percent fee on all private-market sales would have raised $84 million per year over the last decade, and a 2 percent fee would have generated over $168 million, a significant increase on the City's existing robust affordable housing investments. This analysis assumes inclusion of all properties sold, and not just those with a value in excess of $2 million. 

The transfer fee proposal is another example of how the City is working to raise dedicated revenue to support specific initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for residents. Earlier this year, the City of Boston updated parking meter fees in an effort to reduce congestion, increase the availability of parking and reinvest funding into transportation infrastructure, which has resulted in more accessible sidewalks, improvements to Blue Hill Avenue, and new funding for protected bike lanes. Also earlier this year, the City committed to using funds generated through the Commonwealth's new Room Occupancy Excise Law to support our housing goals, including the creation of 50 new units of permanent supportive housing, and pathways to housing for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.

The Mayor's support of the transfer fee proposal builds on his commitment to build and preserve housing that is affordable to residents. Since the release of the original Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030 plan in 2014, this administration has spent over $200 million to develop income-restricted housing. This income-restricted housing stock, designed to increase affordable housing, has grown along with overall new production: nearly 20 percent of housing units are income restricted, and 25 percent of rental units are income restricted. In total, after creating an additional 15,820 units of income-restricted housing, Boston will have nearly 70,000 units of income-restricted housing by 2030.

Mayor Walsh's 2019 housing security legislative package focuses on expanding upon the work that Boston has done to address the region's affordable housing crisis and displacement risks for tenants by proposing new and strengthening current tools to leverage Boston's prosperity and create sustainable wealth opportunities that make Boston a more inclusive and equitable city. The housing security bills proposed seek to help existing tenants, particularly the elderly, remain in their homes, and creates additional funding for affordable housing.

For more information on the City's work to create more housing, please visit: Housing A Changing City: Boston 2030.