Open Affordable Housing Lotteries You Can Apply for Now
This page lists verified open affordable housing lotteries , income-restricted rental opportunities, open waitlists, and below-market-rate homes with active application periods. The listings below were checked through official city housing portals on August 3, 2026. This is a curated national index, not a complete list of every affordable housing opportunity in the United States. Confirm the project status and deadline again before submitting your application.
Quick answer: Verified opportunities are currently available through San Francisco DAHLIA and Boston Metrolist. The earliest confirmed deadline in this update is August 4, 2026. Some listings use a lottery, while others use an open waitlist or first-come, first-served process.
Affordable housing lotteries are usually operated through local agencies rather than one national application system. The broader inclusionary housing system in the United States explains why eligibility rules, application portals, deadlines, rents, and purchase prices differ by city and project.
Open Affordable Housing Opportunities in San Francisco
The following San Francisco opportunities were verified through DAHLIA, the official housing portal operated for the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development.
Last verified: August 3, 2026 at 6:48 a.m. Pacific Time.
1101 Fairfax Avenue
- City: San Francisco, California.
- Opportunity type: Income-restricted rental units and a four-bedroom rental waitlist.
- Application deadline: August 4, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
- Selection method: Review the DAHLIA listing to confirm whether the unit type uses a lottery or waitlist process.
- Official route: Search “1101 Fairfax Ave” on San Francisco DAHLIA.
36 Amber Drive
- City: San Francisco, California.
- Opportunity type: Three-bedroom below-market-rate homeownership unit.
- Application deadline: August 5, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
- Important requirement: Applicants must review the financing, household, income, and homebuyer requirements in the official advertisement.
- Official route: Search “36 Amber Drive” on San Francisco DAHLIA.
1075 Market Street, Unit 503
- City: San Francisco, California.
- Opportunity type: Below-market-rate studio condominium for sale.
- Application deadline: August 5, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
- Important requirement: A buyer must satisfy the listing’s income, financing, occupancy, and program restrictions.
- Official route: Search “1075 Market St Unit 503” on San Francisco DAHLIA.
626 Mission Bay Family Housing Waitlist
- City: San Francisco, California.
- Opportunity type: Income-restricted rental waitlist.
- Application deadline: August 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
- What the waitlist means: Joining the waitlist does not mean that an apartment is immediately available or that admission is guaranteed.
- Official route: Search “626 Mission Bay Family Housing Waitlist” on San Francisco DAHLIA.
1235 McAllister Street, Unit 223
- City: San Francisco, California.
- Opportunity type: One-bedroom below-market-rate homeownership unit.
- Application deadline: August 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
- Important requirement: Applicants should confirm homebuyer education, mortgage preapproval, household occupancy, and income requirements.
- Official route: Search “1235 McAllister Street Unit 223” on San Francisco DAHLIA.
400 Beale Street, Unit 407
- City: San Francisco, California.
- Opportunity type: Two-bedroom below-market-rate homeownership unit.
- Application deadline: August 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
- Household requirement: The official listing states that at least two people are required for this two-bedroom unit.
- Official route: Search “400 Beale Street Unit 407” on San Francisco DAHLIA.
San Francisco rental and ownership opportunities have different financial and program requirements. Review the differences between affordable rental and homeownership lotteries before applying for a home that requires mortgage qualification or closing funds.
Open Boston and Greater Boston Housing Opportunities
Boston Metrolist includes income-restricted opportunities in the City of Boston and nearby Massachusetts communities. Check the municipality carefully because a listing on Metrolist is not necessarily located within Boston city limits.
Last verified: August 3, 2026 at 9:48 a.m. Eastern Time.
Deadline warning: The Metrolist pages reviewed for this update published application due dates but did not display one uniform cutoff hour. Submit early and confirm the exact deadline time with the listing agent.
Merrimac Condominiums
- Municipality: North Andover, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: Homeownership lottery.
- Unit: One three-bedroom income-restricted condominium.
- Income tier: 80% of Area Median Income.
- Listed price: $277,468.
- Application due date: August 4, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Official route: Search “Merrimac Condominiums” on Boston Metrolist.
7 Dana Avenue
- Municipality: Boston, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: Income-restricted rental lottery.
- Unit types: One-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.
- Income tier: 70% of Area Median Income.
- Application due date: August 5, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Official route: Search “7 Dana Ave” on Boston Metrolist.
Atwood Saugus
- Municipality: Saugus, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: Open income-restricted rental waitlist.
- Income tier: The displayed unit is restricted at 80% of Area Median Income.
- Application due date: August 6, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Important limitation: An open waitlist does not mean that a unit is available for immediate move-in.
- Official route: Search “Atwood Saugus” on Boston Metrolist.
Lawrence Place Condominium
- Municipality: South Boston, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: First-come, first-served homeownership opportunity.
- Unit: One two-bedroom condominium.
- Income tier: 100% of Area Median Income.
- Listed price: $515,000.
- Application due date: August 6, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Official route: Search “Lawrence Place Condominium” on Boston Metrolist.
Jade
- Municipality: Maynard, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: First-come, first-served income-restricted rental opportunity.
- Income tier: The listed units include apartments restricted at 80% of Area Median Income.
- Application due date: August 7, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Selection warning: Because this is a first-come process, applying earlier may matter more than it would in a randomized lottery.
- Official route: Search “Jade” on Boston Metrolist.
440 Broadway
- Municipality: Chelsea, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: Income-restricted homeownership lottery.
- Unit types: One-bedroom and three-bedroom condominiums.
- Income tiers: 80% and 100% of Area Median Income.
- Listed prices: Approximately $266,000 to $385,000, depending on the unit and income tier.
- Application due date: August 8, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Official route: Search “440 Broadway” on Boston Metrolist.
The Maximillian
- Municipality: Watertown, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: Income-restricted rental lottery.
- Unit types: Studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.
- Income tiers: 65% and 80% of Area Median Income.
- Application due date: August 10, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Official route: Search “The Maximillian” on Boston Metrolist.
Newton Crossing
- Municipality: Newton, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: Income-restricted rental lottery.
- Unit types: Studios and one- and three-bedroom apartments.
- Income tiers: 50% and 80% of Area Median Income.
- Application due date: August 11, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Official route: Search “Newton Crossing” on Boston Metrolist.
841 Columbia
- Municipality: Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: Income-restricted rental lottery.
- Unit: One one-bedroom apartment.
- Income tier: 120% of Area Median Income.
- Listed rent: $3,166 per month.
- Application due date: August 12, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Official route: Search “841 Columbia” on Boston Metrolist.
Charles River Landing
- Municipality: Needham, Massachusetts.
- Opportunity type: Open income-restricted rental waitlist.
- Unit: Two-bedroom apartment.
- Income tier: 80% of Area Median Income.
- Listed rent: $2,476 per month.
- Application due date: August 31, 2026, Eastern Time.
- Official route: Search “Charles River Landing” on Boston Metrolist.
Why New York City and Washington, DC Are Not Listed Here Yet
NYC Housing Connect and the Washington, DC affordable housing systems remain important official application routes. However, this update does not include a specific New York City or Washington, DC project because a complete current project record, including a verified active deadline, was not confirmed during this review.
This page does not add an opportunity based only on an aggregator, social media post, old advertisement, or undated search result. A project will be added only after its open status and deadline are confirmed through the responsible official portal or agency.
How to Check Whether You Qualify
Do not apply based only on the project name, rent, or sale price. Each advertisement may use a different income tier, household-size range, occupancy standard, minimum-income requirement, asset limit, residency rule, or financing condition.
- Open the official city portal and search the exact project name.
- Confirm that the opportunity is still marked open.
- Check the deadline and its time zone.
- Read the household-size and bedroom requirements.
- Compare your household income with the listing’s exact income range.
- Check whether the opportunity is a lottery, waitlist, or first-come process.
- Review all required documents before submitting the application.
- Save a copy of the completed application and confirmation.
The percentage shown in a listing is not a national dollar limit. Read how Area Median Income affects housing eligibility and check how household size changes income and bedroom eligibility .
A household may also be rejected for earning below a project’s minimum requirement or above its maximum limit. The explanation of minimum and maximum income rules can help you identify this issue before applying.
Documents to Prepare Before Applying
The exact document request depends on the property, but applicants commonly need records showing identity, household membership, income, employment, benefits, bank accounts, assets, tax filings, and any claimed preference.
Use the affordable housing lottery document checklist to prepare, but follow the property advertisement when it requests a different document or more recent statement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the wrong time zone: A 5:00 p.m. Pacific deadline is not the same as a 5:00 p.m. Eastern deadline.
- Waiting until the final minutes: Technical problems do not necessarily extend an application deadline.
- Applying twice: Some programs may reject duplicate applications from the same household.
- Using an old income table: Use the table attached to the current project advertisement.
- Confusing a waitlist with an available apartment: A waitlist may remain active even when no unit is ready.
- Ignoring purchase requirements: A BMR home may require mortgage qualification, approved financing, or homebuyer education.
- Paying an application fee without verification: Confirm the official portal, project, and authorized application agent before sharing money or sensitive documents.
Follow the full affordable housing lottery application process and do not assume that submitting an application guarantees selection or final approval.
Recently Closed Listings
Expired opportunities are removed from the open list rather than left online as active applications.
- 3544 Taraval Street, San Francisco: Applications closed July 31, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
- 1780 Bancroft Avenue, Unit 354, San Francisco: Applications closed July 31, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
These projects are shown only as a recent archive record. Do not submit an application unless the official portal announces a new application period.
Check the Deadline Before You Apply
This national index of open affordable housing lotteries is updated from official local housing sources, but listings can close, change, or be removed without advance notice. Search the exact project name through DAHLIA, Boston Metrolist, NYC Housing Connect, or the responsible local housing agency before applying. The safest step is to confirm the listing status, eligibility rules, application method, and time-zone deadline directly through the official administrator.