This bill authorizes the Town of Eastham to charge a 3% fee on real estate transfers exceeding $1, paid by the buyer at closing. The fee funds Eastham's Affordable Housing Trust Fund or Wastewater Stabilization Fund, as determined by the Select Board. Exemptions include first-time homebuyers (who must live in the home for 5 years), government transfers, family transfers, and certain charitable or affordable housing transactions. The fee is a personal debt of the buyer, with interest accruing on unpaid amounts at the same rate as real estate taxes.
HD 4947 amends Provincetown's Year-Round Market Rate Housing Trust Fund (formerly called "Rental") to expand its purpose to include year-round housing ownership opportunities, not just rentals. The bill updates the fund's name, revises the governing board structure to include 5 trustees and 2 alternates, and modifies language throughout to replace "rental" with "housing" or add "or ownership." These changes directly affect how the trust fund operates in Provincetown, enabling it to support both rental and ownership housing options. The amendments take effect upon the bill's passage.
HD 4101 imposes a 2% real estate transfer fee on property sales in Cambridge exceeding $1 million (adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index for Boston-area urban consumers). The fee applies to sellers of high-value properties, including controlling interests in entities holding Cambridge real estate, and is paid at the time of property recording. Revenue collected flows directly into the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing initiatives. Exemptions include transfers involving government entities, properties with long-term affordable housing restrictions, and certain non-monetary transfers.
HD 1763 requires real estate agents, brokers, and mortgage brokers in Massachusetts to provide first-time homebuyers with a standardized homebuyers' guide developed by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) before key steps in the home purchase process. The guide must cover essential topics like home inspections, lead paint disclosure, environmental regulations, mortgage terms, and the roles of agents, attorneys, and associations. Real estate professionals and mortgage brokers who fail to provide the guide face fines of up to $100 per violation. The bill directly affects first-time homebuyers and the real estate/mortgage industry by mandating this information to help buyers make informed decisions. The MHFA must create and publish the guide online, including specific resources about home buying processes and legal disclosures.
HD 4278 authorizes Cambridge to charge a 2% fee on real estate transfers exceeding $1 million, applying to property sales or major ownership changes in Cambridge. The fee is paid by sellers (not buyers) and excludes government transfers, affordable housing properties, and certain corrections to prior transfers. Collected by the Middlesex South registry of deeds at the time of property recording, all fees fund Cambridge's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The exemption threshold automatically adjusts yearly based on Boston-area inflation data.
Somerville would impose a 2% fee on most real estate transfers (1% paid by the seller, 1% by the buyer), with exemptions for transfers between family members, government entities, and certain vulnerable seniors or qualifying residential property owners. The fee funds the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which must support programs like community land trusts and purpose-built housing for current or recent residents. The city must track who pays the fee and report annually on how funds are used to support housing stability and affordability. This applies to residential properties (excluding those with four+ units) and requires documentation with property deeds before recording.
HD 3381 establishes a transfer fee on property sales in Dukes County towns (Martha’s Vineyard) to fund year-round affordable housing preservation. The bill requires purchasers to pay a fee of 0.5% to 2% on the portion of a property’s sale price exceeding a set threshold, with rates potentially varying by property type or price. The collected fees will support a regional housing trust fund managed by member towns to maintain properties as permanently affordable for low- and moderate-income households. This directly affects property buyers and sellers in Dukes County, with the fee applying to most real estate transactions to generate dedicated funding for housing.
This bill imposes a 1% real estate transfer fee on residential property sales in Concord exceeding $1 million, paid by the buyer. It directly affects high-value homebuyers and entities owning residential property in Concord, with exemptions for government transfers, affordable housing, family transfers, and low-value sales. The fee funds the Concord Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which supports affordable housing programs, and requires buyers to submit affidavits verifying the purchase price and fee payment with property deeds. The Town must annually report fee collections and program impacts to ensure transparency.
HD 815 establishes the Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives within the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The center will provide education, outreach, and research to expand resident-owned cooperative housing, particularly for low-to-moderate income residents, and coordinate resources. The bill allocates $100 million in fiscal year 2026 specifically for acquiring, rehabilitating, and preserving cooperative housing properties through agencies like the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. It also requires the center to issue annual reports on cooperative housing activities and fund distribution. This creates a dedicated state infrastructure to support cooperative housing development and preservation.
This bill authorizes the Town of Nantucket to impose a 0.5% fee on the sale of real estate within Nantucket County. The fee is paid by the seller (not the buyer) and funds must be deposited into a dedicated Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The money will directly support affordable and workforce housing projects and related capital improvements. Exemptions include transfers to government entities, but the seller must prove exemption claims to avoid the fee.
