The Basin Waitlist: Rents from $2,176 at 80% AMI in Wakefield

 The Basin Affordable Housing Waitlist in Wakefield: Studios, 1BR and 2BR

The The Basin affordable housing waitlist gives Wakefield applicants more bedroom choices than many current income-restricted listings. Boston Metrolist currently shows studios, one-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom apartments at 80% of Area Median Income, with rents starting at $2,176 per month. The application deadline is October 13, 2026.

The Basin is at 200 Quannapowitt Parkway in Wakefield, beside Lake Quannapowitt. Maloney Properties manages the affordable-housing process and states that applications are handled first come, first served as apartments become available. This is not a random housing lottery.


The Basin apartment community beside Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield Massachusetts


Four Affordable Rent Levels Are Currently Listed

The current affordable listings cover three apartment sizes but four rent levels because two different one-bedroom prices are being advertised.

  • Studio: $2,176 per month, with a published minimum annual income of $57,446.
  • 1BR: $2,301 per month, with a published minimum annual income of $60,746.
  • 1BR: $2,350 per month, with a published minimum annual income of $62,040.
  • 2BR: $2,720 per month, with a published minimum annual income of $71,808.

All four categories are listed at the 80% AMI level. Minimum income is not the same as the maximum income allowed for affordable-housing eligibility. A household generally has to satisfy both sides of the income test.

The Area Median Income rules explain why the upper limit changes with household size rather than apartment size alone.

This Is a First-Come Waitlist, Not a Lottery

Maloney Properties says The Basin applications are processed in the order received as affordable apartments become available. When there is no matching vacancy, the application is added to the waiting list in that same order.

That makes the timing of your application relevant. There is no random drawing that resets everyone into a lottery order.

The initial review is mainly used to make sure the application is complete and has the required documentation. Full eligibility review occurs when the household is reached for an apartment.

Boston Metrolist describes the current opportunity as an open waitlist. That should not be read as a promise that every apartment category shown is immediately vacant when you apply.

What the 80% AMI Limit Means for Your Household

The Basin uses the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy HUD Metro FMR Area income limits. Maloney currently publishes these 2026 maximum household incomes at 80% AMI:

  • 1 person: $96,000.
  • 2 people: $109,700.
  • 3 people: $123,400.
  • 4 people: $137,100.
  • 5 people: $148,100.
  • 6 people: $159,050.

The property also publishes minimum-income thresholds for each current rent level. Maloney notes that the usual minimum-income rule may not apply in the same way when a household receives qualifying mobile rental assistance such as Section 8, VASH or MRVP.

Income is reviewed using gross household income and can include wages, overtime, bonuses, Social Security, pensions, child support, recurring gifts, interest and other regular payments received by household members.

The Basin Has 79 Income-Restricted Apartments

The development contains 440 apartments overall, with 79 designated as income-restricted for households at or below 80% AMI. The affordable inventory includes studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

The current waitlist is therefore broader than a property listing tied to one single apartment. Bedroom size still matters, however, because a household must ultimately qualify for the specific apartment it is offered.

The Basin is a Massachusetts Chapter 40B property, and Maloney currently states that there is no asset limit under this affordable-housing program. Income and other eligibility rules still apply.

How to Get on The Basin Waitlist

The practical first step is to request the current rental application from Maloney Properties. The property says completed applications are handled first come, first served.

  1. Confirm that The Basin still appears as an open waitlist on Boston Metrolist.
  2. Choose the apartment size or sizes that fit your household.
  3. Compare your income with the published minimum for the rent level and the applicable 80% AMI maximum.
  4. Request and complete the current Maloney rental application.
  5. Submit the application before October 13, 2026 rather than waiting until the final day.
  6. Monitor your email after submission because Maloney sends notices when an application is received and reviewed.

The current affordable-housing contact listed by Maloney is TheBasin@MaloneyProperties.com. The phone number is (617) 639-3064, extension 755.

Accessibility Differs by Apartment Type

Maloney identifies accessible income-restricted apartments within The Basin, including mobility-accessible and deaf/hard-of-hearing configurations. The current studio listing includes one mobility-designated unit that is open to all applicants.

An accessibility designation should not be assumed for every studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment on the list. If you need a specific feature or a reasonable accommodation, confirm that requirement with the housing agent as part of your application.

Parking and Utilities Can Change the Real Monthly Cost

The affordable rent is not the household's only possible housing cost. Maloney currently says tenants are responsible for utilities, including electricity, heating and cooling, hot water, cooking, laundry and water/sewer.

Most parking is offered separately on a first-come basis. Current published parking charges range from $110 to $125 per month for a surface space and $125 to $150 for garage parking. Maloney currently notes one free parking space for the one-bedroom units.

Pets are allowed under the property's current policy for an additional monthly charge, while documented service animals are not charged a pet fee.

Those charges can change. Confirm the actual parking, utility and pet terms attached to any apartment you are offered rather than assuming today's fees will remain unchanged throughout a wait.

The October 13 Deadline Is an Intake Deadline, Not a Move-In Promise

Boston Metrolist currently lists October 13, 2026 as the application deadline for this open waitlist. Applying by that date puts your application into the property process; it does not guarantee that a studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment will be offered immediately.

Maloney does not publish a guaranteed waiting period. Timing depends on apartment turnover, bedroom size, application order and whether your household qualifies when it reaches final review.

Applicants who want to keep more than one option active can also compare other current Greater Boston opportunities. The Prynne Hills waitlist in Canton currently includes one- and two-bedroom options, while the Dedham Washington Street waitlist is focused on a one-bedroom category.

The Basin stands out because the current affordable intake covers studios, two separate one-bedroom rent levels and two-bedroom apartments under the same 80% AMI program. If one of those categories fits your household, submitting the current application early preserves your place in the first-come process.

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