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Resale process for owners and buyers

A guide to reselling or purchasing property developed or built with funding from the City's Public Facilities Department or the Mayor's Office of Housing.

Things to Remember About your Affordable Property
  • Maintain the property as your principal residence as long as you own it.
  • Sell the property to a qualified buyer who has been certified by the Mayor's Office of Housing, following the steps below.
  • Comply with requests for information from MOH, including certifications and inspections.

If you want to refinance your property, call 617-635-LOAN (5626) and ask for Loan Monitoring.

Information on resale process

Information on resale process

You should keep these documents in a safe place so that they are available should you decide to sell or refinance your property.

  1. Unit Deed
  2. The Deed Rider or Covenant for Affordable Housing
  3. Note/Mortgage
  4. Resale process brochure
Submitting a Notice of Intent to Sell and Obtaining a Certificate of Maximum Resale Price:

In order to sell your home, you must submit a Notice of Intent to Sell to the Boston Home Center. You may use this form to do this.

After you submit your Notice of Intent to Sell, MOH will issue a Certificate of Maximum Resale Price (MRP). The MRP is calculated according to the conditions in your Deed Rider or Covenant for Affordable Housing. The certificate will be mailed or emailed to you and is good for six (6) months.

Questions about this process? This brochure outlines the process.  

Buyer Income Certification and Executing Your Purchase and Sales Agreement:

Your buyer must meet the guidelines outlined in your Certificate of Maximum Resale Price. After accepting an offer from a qualified buyer they must contact MOH to begin the buyer income certification process.

Once the qualified buyer is certified by MOH, you will receive a Prospective Buyer Certification from the Boston Home Center. You can then execute a Purchase and Sales Agreement with the certified buyer at or below the MOH determined Maximum Resale Price. To make sure all the conditions in the Deed Rider or Covenant for Affordable Housing have been met, all closing documents must be sent to MOH prior to the closing.

Obtaining a Certificate of Compliance and Finalizing Your Closing:

MOH must approve the executed Purchase and Sale Agreement, the buyer's Commitment Letter, and Good Faith Estimate. The City will then provide the following closing documents.

  • Discharge of the City of Boston mortgage (if required)
  • Certificate of Compliance, and
  • a new Note and mortgage to the City will be prepared and transmitted to the closing attorney for the lender.

The Certificate of Compliance indicates that the transfer of ownership from the current owner to the new owner meets the conditions in the Deed Rider or Covenant for Affordable Housing. A copy of the certificate will be provided to you or your attorney. This certificate is valid for six (6) months.

You or your attorney may arrange for the closing only after you have received a Certificate of Compliance from MOH. If more documents are needed, you or your attorney should notify MOH as early as possible.

  • Contact the listing agent or home owner selling the property to make an offer on the home.
  • After your offer has been accepted, you will need to contact the Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH) to begin the buyer income certification process.
  • Once you have been qualified as a buyer, MOH will provide you and the seller with a Prospective Buyer Certification letter.
  • All closing documents must be transmitted to MOH prior to the closing.
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