AMHERST — More than 300 households in the area, including 115 families who live in Amherst, are expressing interest in becoming first-time homebuyers at Amherst Community Homes, the 30-condominium development under construction in North Amherst.
Yet even with significant demand for the 15 affordable duplexes, each with a passive house design to reduce energy consumption, Laura Baker, real estate project manager for developer Valley Community Development, told the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust at a recent meeting that it has been difficult getting applications for the 20 homes being set aside for people who earn up to 100% of the area median income.
“I think one of the challenges we have, both with home ownership and rental housing, is folks in this income category don’t always tune in when they see affordable housing is advertised, because they think it’s not them,” Baker said.
Baker explained that 100% area median income for a two-person household is a little over $96,000 in annual earnings and for a four-person household is a little over $120,000 in income. Baker said there are misperceptions from these families about how they can benefit from the $20.5 million development.
The second challenge, Baker said, is the window of qualifying, where families can’t make too much or make too little.
A marketing strategy includes setting up a website at ownamherst.com, where Valley CDC can work with families, and also doing outreach to local workers, such as those who work for UMass Dining. There are also participants in Valley’s home ownership program to speak with.
Valley CDC is also putting on training sessions throughout the fall so families can be ready for opportunities.
The 80% area median income applications are coming in more steadily, but only 10 of the homes will be set aside for these families.
Of all the applications, 62 are “mortgage ready,” or expect to be ready, by the time the homes are ready for sale, with 29 of these applicants from Amherst. This means that they should be able to make down payments and cover costs of being homeowners, and sets the stage for a lottery to be held later this year or by early spring 2026,
Bordered by Ball Lane, Pulpit Hill Road and Montague Road/ Route 63, the development, with a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes, is being constructed by the Keiter Corp. of Florence and is about 25% complete, four months ahead of schedule, Baker said. Baker said the hope is for the homes to be finished in spring 2026 and site work to be completed in summer 2026.
A major source of funding is MassHousing’s CommonWealth Builder program, which aims to make single-family homes and condominiums affordable for communities of color. The CommonWealth Builder program provides a subsidy for first-time homebuyers, looking to increase homeownership for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities and enhance generational wealth.
Meanwhile, other affordable developments underway are being coordinated by the with Amherst Community Land Trust, with five units proposed at the 174 Amity St. property.
Land Trust President Linda Slakey said the plan is to partner with Habitat for Humanity to produce homes for five low- and moderate-income families on that site.
Other Land Trust work includes acquiring homes at 61 Fearing St. and 277 Lincoln Ave. and being deeded land at 20 Beston St.
Also in the pipeline around town are the Way Finders development that will use the former East Street School and properties on Belchertown Road, apartments and a shelter at the former VFW site on Main Street and possible redevelopment of the former South East Street School.
