Asbury Common Housing Lottery: 30% and 60% AMI Apartments
The Asbury Common housing lottery in Hamilton, Massachusetts is open through September 1, 2026 for 45 income-restricted apartments. The development includes 16 units at 30% of Area Median Income and 29 units at 60% AMI, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom options. The 30% AMI units have income-based rent and no minimum income, while the 60% AMI units have published minimum-income requirements. Harborlight Homes is administering the lottery.
This is a deadline-driven affordable housing lottery, not an open-ended waiting list. Applicants comparing multiple North Shore and Greater Boston opportunities can also check the current Boston-area housing lotteries, including the Wakefield affordable housing lottery and Weston affordable housing lottery.
Asbury Common Housing Lottery Units at 30% and 60% AMI
Asbury Common has 45 affordable apartments in the current lottery. Sixteen are in the 30% AMI tier and 29 are in the 60% AMI tier. The mix matters because the two affordability levels do not use the same rent and income structure.
- 30% AMI: three one-bedroom units, eight two-bedroom units, and five three-bedroom units.
- 60% AMI: seven one-bedroom units, 17 two-bedroom units, and five three-bedroom units.
Applicants should not treat the two tiers as interchangeable. The 30% AMI apartments are subsidized units with rent based on household income, while the 60% AMI apartments use published minimum-income requirements and advertised rent amounts. If AMI terminology is unfamiliar, the Boston-area income and rent limits guide explains how household size, AMI percentage, minimum income, and rent fit together.
What Does Variable Rent Mean for the 30% AMI Units?
Boston Metrolist displays the 30% AMI units as having variable rent. That does not mean the apartments are free, and it does not mean every household will pay the same amount. Harborlight Homes states that rent for these units is based on annual gross household income and determined under the applicable subsidy rules.
There is no minimum income for the 30% AMI tier. The published maximum-income limits are $36,000 for one person, $41,150 for two people, $46,300 for three people, $51,400 for four people, $55,550 for five people, and $59,650 for six people. Household size still has to fit the selected bedroom size.
This distinction is important because “income restricted” can describe several different housing structures. The broader guides to inclusionary housing and below-market-rate housing explain why an affordable apartment does not always use an income-based tenant rent.
60% AMI Apartments Have Minimum-Income Requirements
The 60% AMI units operate differently. Harborlight Homes lists a minimum annual income of $49,189 for a one-bedroom apartment, $59,007 for a two-bedroom apartment, and $68,187 for a three-bedroom apartment. Maximum income then depends on household size.
- One bedroom: households of one or two people; maximum income of $72,000 for one person or $82,320 for two people.
- Two bedrooms: households of two to four people; maximum income of $82,320 for two people, $92,580 for three people, or $102,840 for four people.
- Three bedrooms: households of three to six people; maximum income of $92,580 for three people, $102,840 for four, $111,120 for five, or $119,340 for six.
Meeting the minimum income does not by itself establish eligibility. The household must also remain within the applicable maximum, satisfy household-size rules, complete the application correctly, and pass final income and asset certification. The Boston Metrolist housing guide can help applicants interpret these property-specific listings without substituting one development’s limits for another.
Published Rents for the 60% AMI Apartments
Boston Metrolist currently displays monthly rents of $1,929 for a one-bedroom, $2,314 for a two-bedroom, and $2,674 for a three-bedroom at the 60% AMI level. Harborlight Homes provides additional detail and describes estimated rent ranges of $1,639 to $1,929 for one bedroom, $1,966 to $2,314 for two bedrooms, and $2,272 to $2,674 for three bedrooms.
Because the official sources present the 60% rents at different levels of detail, applicants should confirm the final contract rent with Harborlight Homes during certification and leasing. Most importantly, do not use the 30% AMI income-based rent concept to calculate the rent for a 60% AMI apartment.
Utilities Are Included at Asbury Common
The current Asbury Common materials state that heat, air conditioning, electricity, and water are included. Boston Metrolist also lists gas, electric, water/sewer, heat, and hot water as included utilities. Residents remain responsible for personal services such as phone, Wi-Fi, and cable.
Utilities matter when comparing affordable apartments because a lower advertised rent can still produce a higher monthly housing cost when more utilities are tenant-paid. Applicants comparing other developments can review the Newton Crossing lottery and The Maximillian housing lottery as separate examples whose rents and utility treatment must be checked independently.
September 1, 2026 Is the Application Deadline
The completed application deadline for the Asbury Common housing lottery is September 1, 2026. Harborlight Homes states that mailed applications must be postmarked by September 1. Applications submitted by email or fax must also be sent by that date, while in-person applications must be delivered by 5:00 p.m. on September 1.
Applications became available June 1, 2026. They can be obtained through Harborlight Homes and at designated local pickup locations. Applicants should use the current Asbury Common application packet rather than an older application or a form created for another Harborlight property.
For the broader sequence of application, drawing, ranking, and certification, see how Boston-area affordable housing lotteries work. The U.S. affordable housing lottery guide provides national context, but the Asbury Common application controls this property-specific opportunity.
Choose One Bedroom Size on the Application
The current application asks households to select one unit size. It lists one-bedroom apartments for households of one to two people, two-bedroom apartments for households of two to four people, and three-bedroom apartments for households of three to six people.
Household size and occupancy requirements therefore matter before the drawing. A household should not choose a larger apartment simply to gain an extra bedroom, and it should not select a smaller apartment that would leave the household under-housed. Harborlight Homes states that applicants must meet the occupancy guidelines shown in the application.
Hamilton Local Preference Can Affect Initial Ranking
The Asbury Common application includes a local preference for applicants who live or work in the Town of Hamilton or have children attending public school in the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District. Applicants seeking that preference must provide documentation supporting the claimed connection.
Examples listed in the application include a lease or rent receipt, a current utility or property-tax bill, voter registration, employment records, or qualifying school-registration records. Local preference can affect initial lottery ranking, but it does not guarantee selection or final eligibility.
Accessible Units and Accommodation Requests
The application asks whether a household requires a mobility-accessible unit, a unit supporting hearing impairment, or a unit associated with the MassAbility/EOHHS Community-Based Housing program. Applicants who need an accessible apartment or reasonable accommodation should identify that need accurately and provide required certification where applicable.
Boston Metrolist identifies the building as wheelchair accessible. Applicants should still confirm the specific features of any apartment they are offered because building accessibility and unit-specific accessibility are not necessarily identical.
Asset Limits Apply to Some 30% AMI Units
Harborlight Homes states that asset limits apply to the 30% AMI subsidized units based on the underlying subsidy program. Its current Asbury Common guidance lists an asset limit of $105,574 for Section 8 units and $25,000 for MRVP units, while certain retirement and education accounts are exempt from those limits.
The 60% AMI unsubsidized apartments do not use the same asset cap, although income generated by assets can still affect financial certification. Applicants should disclose assets as required rather than assuming that an exempt account or lack of a general asset cap means financial assets do not need to be reported.
Full-Time Student Households Need to Check LIHTC Rules
Harborlight Homes states that Asbury Common participates in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. Full-time student households can therefore face additional eligibility restrictions, although specific exceptions exist for certain household situations.
If every household member is a full-time student, do not assume that meeting the income limits is enough. Follow the current application instructions so Harborlight Homes can determine whether the household satisfies an applicable LIHTC student exception.
How the Asbury Common Lottery Process Works
For the Asbury Common housing lottery, the process begins with a complete application submitted by the September deadline. Harborlight Homes has scheduled the drawing for October 6, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. The lottery will be available by Zoom and in person at the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, and attendance is optional.
- Get the current application. Use the Asbury Common packet distributed by Harborlight Homes.
- Select the appropriate bedroom size. Follow the household-size guidelines stated in the application.
- Review the affordability level. Understand the difference between the 30% and 60% AMI requirements.
- Claim only preferences that apply. Provide documentation for local or accessibility preferences when required.
- Submit the complete application by September 1. Follow the correct deadline for mail, email, fax, or in-person delivery.
- Wait for the October 6 drawing. The lottery creates an ordering mechanism but does not itself certify eligibility.
- Complete final certification if selected. Harborlight Homes can require updated income, asset, household, and program documentation before final approval.
A Lottery Number Is Not Final Approval
For the Asbury Common housing lottery, receiving a lottery number is only one stage of the selection process. Applicants can still be reviewed for household size, income, assets, subsidy requirements, local preference documentation, student status, and other property rules before an apartment is offered.
That principle applies across many income-restricted lotteries. The 841 Columbia rental lottery and 1060 Main Street housing lottery have their own eligibility and certification rules even though they use the broader affordable-housing lottery model.
What Happens After the October 6 Lottery?
Harborlight Homes states that an open application period will follow the lottery. That means the September 1 deadline controls entry into the initial drawing, but it does not necessarily mean Asbury Common will never accept another application after the lottery.
The property status should be checked again after October 6 because Asbury Common may move from an initial lottery into an open-application or waiting-list phase. That later status should not be confused with the initial lottery. The Boston housing lottery vs. open waitlist guide explains the difference.
Other Current Affordable Housing Opportunities Work Differently
Some income-restricted properties use continuing waitlists instead of a one-time drawing. The Union Place affordable housing waitlist and Oriole Landing waitlist are examples of a different application structure.
That distinction matters when deciding where to apply. A household interested in Asbury Common should meet the September 1 lottery deadline while also applying separately to other open affordable housing opportunities for which it qualifies instead of waiting for the result of one development.
What to Verify Before You Submit the Application
- Deadline: September 1, 2026, with in-person applications due by 5:00 p.m.
- Bedroom size: one bedroom for 1–2 people, two bedrooms for 2–4 people, or three bedrooms for 3–6 people.
- AMI tier: determine whether your household fits the 30% or 60% income requirements.
- Rent structure: 30% AMI rent is income-based; 60% AMI units use published rents and minimum-income requirements.
- Utilities: confirm which utilities are included and which personal services remain your responsibility.
- Local preference: provide documentation if you live or work in Hamilton or have qualifying children in the local public school district.
- Accessibility: request the appropriate accessible-unit consideration or reasonable accommodation when needed.
- Assets: disclose required financial information, particularly for the subsidized 30% AMI units.
- Student status: check LIHTC student rules if the household consists entirely of full-time students.
- Proof of submission: keep a copy of the completed application and evidence that it was sent or delivered by the deadline.
The Asbury Common housing lottery stands out because it combines deeply affordable 30% AMI subsidized apartments with 60% AMI income-restricted units in the same 45-unit development. The immediate task is to identify the correct bedroom size and affordability tier, understand whether the applicable rent is income-based or published, document any preference, and submit a complete application by September 1, 2026. Selection remains subject to lottery ranking and final certification.