M-RCBG Associate Working Paper No. 122
Building the American Dream: First-Time Homeownership for Middle-Income Bostonians
Anna Ponting
Anisha Vachani
2019
Abstract
When someone mentions affordable housing, one often thinks of units built to serve households at the lowest rung of the income ladder. After all, these individuals have lower earnings to put towards their monthly rent or mortgage payment. While creating affordable housing for this segment is and should remain a critical priority, policymakers risk overlooking the middle-income housing gap. In cities across the United States, individuals and families earning between 80% and 120% of area median income (AMI) struggle to find housing at prices they can afford.