Somerville - Lottery Pre-Screening Homeownership Application Logo
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  • For more information or reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, please contact us using the information provided on the property website or email that you received.

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  • Lottery - Homeownership Pre-Screening Application

  • First-Time Homebuyer Preference

  • Where Can I Enroll in a First-Time Homebuyer Course?

    Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) provides a directory of MHC approved First-Time Homebuyer training courses in the Greater Boston Region. Up-to-date date listings are on their website: www.chapa.org. Online and in-person classes are listed there at various prices, dates, times and languages.  https://www.chapa.org/housing-courses/homebuyer-education-agencies

    MHC-approved First-Time Homebuyer courses are taught monthly at the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) in Union Square. You can view course schedules and register at https://www.somervillecdc.org/first-time-homebuyers/ or register for classes by contacting Renee Taylor at (617) 410-9907 or by email at rtaylor@somervillecdc.org or Jose Cedanio at (617) 410-9908 or email at jcedanio@somervillecdc.org

    Completion of a Previous First-Time Homebuyer Course

    Certificates of completion dated within three (3) years of the deadline date from a Massachusetts Housing Collaborative (MHC) approved First-Time Homebuyer’s course are accepted. Certificates dated older than three (3) years of the deadline date will NOT be accepted.

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    *Households must be First-Time Homebuyers.*

    A First-Time Homebuyer cannot own a home or an interest in a home in the preceding three years, including a trust.

    Exceptions to this include:

    (i)  Any individual who is a displaced homemaker may not be excluded from consideration as a First-Time Homebuyer under this definition on the basis that the individual, while a homemaker, owned a home with his or her spouse or resided in a home owned by the spouse.

    (ii)  Any individual who is a single parent may not be excluded from consideration as a First-time Homebuyer under this definition on the basis that the individual, while married, owned a home with his or her spouse or resided in a home owned by the spouse.

    (iii)  Any individual who is a member of a Household in which one member is aged fifty-five (55) years or older may not be excluded from consideration as a First-Time Homebuyer under this definition.

    (iv)  An individual may not be excluded from consideration as a First-Time Homebuyer under this definition on the basis that the individual owns or owned, as a principal residence during the 3-year period before the purchase of the an Affordable Dwelling, a dwelling unit whose structure is (x) not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with local or other applicable regulations; or (y) not in compliance with State, local, or model building codes, or other applicable codes, and cannot be brought into compliance with such codes for less than the cost of constructing a permanent structure.

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    We allow households to meet the First-Time Homebuyer requirement at any point prior to the lottery. We do not require households to provide a First-Time Homebuyer’s Certificate in order to participate in the lottery.

    Proof of having enrolled in a course that will end prior to the lottery date, which can include an email or screenshot that demonstrates having purchased/enrolled in a course, is all that is required to participate in the lottery.

    The actual certificate is required at the time of an income certification, should you be ranked high enough on the sorted and ranked lottery lists to be called forward for the verification process.

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  • Mortgage Pre-Approval Letter

  • The lottery application will require a mortgage pre-approval letter. A valid pre-approval letter has the following:

    (i) Approval for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

    (ii) Includes either an interest rate or a range of interest rates.

    (iii) The amount should cover the sales price of the desired unit minus the minimum required 3% downpayment.

    (iv) The lender you received the pre-approval from should have a physical location in Massachusetts.

     

    Please upload a valid (not expired) pre-approval letter with the above criteria that is at least for the purchase price or greater.

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  • Local Preference

  • Local Preference is defined as a household that, at the time of application for an affordable housing unit, falls into the following category:

    • Current residents of the town: A household in which one or more members are living in the city or town at the time of application. Documentation of residency should be provided, such as rent receipts, utility bills, street listings, or voter registration listings.
    • Municipal Employees of the town: Employees of the municipality, such as teachers, janitors, firefighters, police officers, librarians, or town hall employees.
    • Employees of Local Businesses: Employees of businesses located in the
      municipality. (20+ hours a week)
    • Households with children in Somerville Public Schools or Somerville charter schools.

     

    If “Yes”, please provide the appropriate supporting documentation.

     

    For Current residents of Somerville, one (1) of the following must be provided:

    • A Current Signed Lease Agreement
    • Voter Registration
    • A Utility Bill dated within the past 30 days (electricity, gas, oil, water/sewer, cable, internet, landline phone, or cell phone bill)
    • Current Bank Statement
    • Letter from a Somerville-based shelter
    • If a lease cannot be provided, a signed & dated letter by the landlord identifying the applicant, address & proof of ownership may suffice in some instances.
    • Notarized letter signed under the pains and penalties of perjury from leaseholder verifying sub-tenancy and including lease of leaseholder.

    For Municipal Employees or Employees of Local Somerville Businesses:

    • The paystub provided for the income information would suffice if it shows a Somerville-based address and is dated within 30 days.
    • If a paystub cannot be provided, a letter of employment by the applicant’s Human Resources Director or Payroll Director on company letterhead with contact information may be provided. The letter must state the employee’s name, location of employment & the number of hours working in Somerville per week. The letter must be dated within 30 days from the date the completed pre-lottery application is submitted. Somerville work preferences may not be granted for households providing co-working spaces as verification of employment in Somerville.

    For Households with children in Somerville Public Schools or Somerville charter schools:

    • School record for child/children (22 years of age and under) with current address.
    • Current letter or school transcript from SPS or a charter school in Somerville.
    • During the summer break period:
      • Documentation must include proof of most recent year enrollment and should be provided prior to the beginning of the new school year as well as notice of intent to re-enroll.

    Important

    Please note you can still apply even if you do not qualify for the local preference. 

  • Income Information

  • Pay Stubs

  • Self Employment

  • Profit and Loss Statement

  • Social Security, Child Support, Alimony, Other Income

  • Assets

  • Acknowledgment

  • Please note that this is a preliminary homeownership lottery application and in no way insures occupancy. Once you submit the application by the deadline provided, then your name will be entered into the lottery.

     

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