Nine income-restricted condos for first-time buyers in Dorchester, from $228,280. How to apply, and the council's homeownership debate

The City of Boston has opened sales of nine new income-restricted condominiums for first-time homebuyers at 56 Glenway Street and 142 and 154 Erie Street in Dorchester, according to a city listing updated Nov. 3. Units are offered first-come, first-served to applicants who qualify, rather than by lottery.

For a household earning up to about $137,000 for a family of four, the listing offers a two-bedroom home for under $270,000, well below market prices in Boston.

Prices

| Bedrooms | Income level | Price | |---|---|---| | 1 | up to 80% of area median income (AMI) | $228,280 | | 1 | 81–100% AMI | $298,896 | | 2 | up to 80% AMI | $268,840 | | 2 | 81–100% AMI | $348,088 | | 3 | up to 80% AMI | $309,088 | | 3 | 81–100% AMI | $393,120 |

The listing says one two-bedroom and one three-bedroom unit are accessible units. Monthly condo fees apply; the listing doesn't give the amount.

Who qualifies

Household income must be at or below these limits, according to the listing:

• 80% AMI: $96,000 for one person; $109,700 for two; $123,400 for three; $137,100 for four; $148,100 for five; $159,050 for six.
• 100% AMI: $120,000 for one person; $137,150 for two; $154,300 for three; $171,400 for four; $185,150 for five; $198,850 for six.

Buyers must be first-time homebuyers and complete an approved homebuyer education course before closing. Boston residents get preference, and there is a preference for one person per bedroom. The homes are deed-restricted, and owners must live in them.

How to apply: online through the city's homebuyer portal at housing.boston.gov, linked from the listing. The listing does not give a deadline.

What our records add

The council is debating how to pay for more homes like these. On Oct. 21 the council's Community Preservation Act committee took up City Councilor Brian Worrell's order on raising the share of CPA money that goes to affordable housing (docket 1601). Worrell said construction costs keep rising while funding for affordable homeownership "isn't keeping pace." He also said that "in our last CPA round we didn't directly fund construction of any new affordable homeownership units" (watch at 55:18).

Worrell said the CPA now targets 50% for housing, 20% for parks, 20% for historic preservation and 10% that is flexible, and asked why the flexible 10% couldn't go to housing. He also contrasted the roughly $31 million in future property tax relief the planning agency's board approved for largely market-rate projects. "You can't keep waiting for Washington," he said.

The order has 10 sponsors. It remains in the CPA committee. Our Oct. 23 story previewed that hearing.

Related. Tuesday's Question 6 will create a state conservation fund. Before the vote, Worrell said a dedicated source for green space could free more CPA money for housing (watch at 1:44:06). Our Oct. 30 story covers other recent CPA-backed housing openings.

The listing does not say whether CPA or other city money helped build the Glenway and Erie street homes.

What's next

• Interested buyers can check eligibility and apply through the city's portal now.
• The CPA committee chair decides whether docket 1601 comes back for a vote or a working session.