Launching in Greater Boston

Own a home
in Boston.
Zero down.

We buy the home. You move in and pay like a mortgage, with every dollar accounted for on your monthly statement. When you've built 20% equity, the title is yours.

$0
Down payment required
5–7 yr
Typical path to ownership
0%
Interest rate markup

How it works

A mortgage without the bank

We act as your lender and hold title as collateral, just like a bank would. The difference is we don't need a down payment or credit score from you upfront, because we own the home until you're ready to refinance.

Step 01

Find a home you want

Browse listings in our target neighborhoods. When you find one you love, let us know. We review it and make the offer if it qualifies.

Step 02

We buy it. You move in.

We purchase the home and you move in immediately. Your monthly payment is set at the same interest rate we pay, no markup added on top.

Step 03

Equity builds every month

Every payment reduces your principal, exactly like a real mortgage. You can see exactly where each dollar goes on your monthly statement.

Step 04

Hit 20% equity, refinance

Once your balance drops to 80% of the home's value, from payments and appreciation together, you take out a conventional mortgage and the home is yours.

Total transparency

Every dollar, shown every month

We send you a plain-language statement each month. No bundled fees. No buried markup. Just three lines.

Example monthly statement · Greater Boston
$2,850 / month
Home costs — mortgage, taxes, insurance $1,995
Admin fee — how we keep the lights on $150
Principal reduction — your equity this month +$705
$705 reduced your outstanding balance this month. That's equity — yours to keep.

You see this every month

A clear breakdown, emailed on the 1st. No login required. No digging through an app.

Your balance falls automatically

Just like a mortgage, every payment chips away at what you owe. You can also pay extra principal at any time to speed things up.

Same rate we pay

We don't mark up the interest rate to make a spread. Our only charge is the admin fee on the statement above, visible, named, and fixed.

Appreciation works in your favor

As the home value rises, the equity gap narrows faster. In a normal Greater Boston market (2–4% appreciation), most participants can refinance within 5–7 years.

How the math compares — 2BR in Greater Boston

Renting

$2,800 / mo
  • Zero equity — every dollar is gone
  • Rent can rise each year
  • No path to ownership
  • No down payment needed

OwnBoston

$3,050 / mo
  • ~$260 equity built every month
  • Payment stays fixed
  • Own your home in 5–7 years
  • No down payment required

Traditional mortgage

$2,400 / mo
  • ~$210 equity built monthly
  • Payment stays fixed
  • Own from day one
  • Requires $70,000 down first
Most Greater Boston renters can't clear this hurdle

Based on a $350k home at 7.5% in Greater Boston, where OwnBoston monthly costs are closest to market rent. East Boston condos (median mid-$500s) and multi-family properties run significantly higher. The payment math works best in Everett, Revere, Malden, and Lynn, our primary launch neighborhoods. Traditional mortgage assumes 20% down ($70k) on a $350k home at 7.5% for 30 years, plus taxes and insurance.

Who it's for

You can afford it. You just can't save $80k first.

Greater Boston's homeownership gap isn't about income. It's about the impossible math of saving a down payment while paying rent.

Stable income, no savings

Your household income can support a mortgage payment, you just haven't been able to accumulate a $60–80k down payment while covering rent.

Credit that's improving

Your score isn't mortgage-ready yet, but it's moving in the right direction. We don't have a minimum score to start, and we'll report your on-time payments monthly to help you get there.

Rooted in Greater Boston

You want to own in the communities you already live in — East Boston, Everett, Revere, Malden, Lynn, or Brockton — not move somewhere cheaper to afford a home.

Ready to commit

You're not looking for a short-term rental. You're ready to put down roots and build equity in a neighborhood you plan to stay in for years.

Common questions

What you're probably wondering

Is my monthly payment close to what I'd pay in rent?

Yes, that's by design. Because the payment is calculated on the full home price at the same interest rate we pay, it comes out close to market rent for comparable homes in our target neighborhoods.

What if I need to leave before I reach 20% equity?

The equity you've built through principal reduction is yours. We'll work through a clear exit process that returns your accumulated equity minus a small exit fee to cover transaction costs. No penalties beyond that.

Do I need a minimum credit score to join?

No minimum score to start. We evaluate your income and payment stability. We'll also report your monthly payments to the credit bureaus, so your score improves while you're in the program.

How is this different from traditional rent-to-own?

Traditional programs charge above-market rent and apply a small "rent credit" toward a separate down payment fund. Ours is closer to a mortgage: every payment reduces real principal. No gimmick, no credit that evaporates if you leave.

Which neighborhoods do you serve?

Our launch target is East Boston, Revere, Everett, Malden, Lynn, and Brockton — neighborhoods where home prices and rents align well enough to make the payment math work without burdening participants.

When exactly can I exercise my option to buy?

Once your outstanding balance reaches 80% of the home's current appraised value, typically 5–7 years in a normal market, you can refinance through any lender (including Massachusetts Housing Partnership's ONE Mortgage program) and we transfer title to you.

Join the waitlist

Ready to stop paying rent with nothing to show?

We're accepting early interest for our first homes in Greater Boston. Leave your info and we'll reach out as soon as something in your area is ready.

East Boston Revere Everett Malden Lynn Brockton

Request early access

Takes 90 seconds. No commitment required.

No spam. No commitment. We'll only reach out about availability.

You're on the list.

Thank you. We'll be in touch as homes become available in your target neighborhood.