Your questions, answered.

These homes are income-restricted: your household must earn at or under 100% of Area Median Income when you purchase (Phase 3 also includes homes for households at 80% AMI). The income test only applies at the time of purchase — if your income changes later, you keep your home. There is no asset limit, except you can’t simultaneously own another home you could live in.

Yes. The future resale price rises with Area Median Income, you build equity by paying down your mortgage principal, and if you itemize you save on the property-tax and mortgage-interest portions of your payment.

For a 3-bedroom (any household of 3 or more), everyone’s income is counted — even people not on the mortgage — because those homes were funded by MaineHousing’s AHOP program. For a 1-bedroom, only the income of the person(s) on the deed and mortgage counts; a partner who is not on the mortgage counts only if they contribute a fixed amount to household expenses. Seasonal and part-year income is annualized.

Gifts and family loans toward your down payment and closing costs are fine, and savings never count against you. A co-signer or guarantor who will not live in the home is not allowed, because everyone on the mortgage must be part of the income-qualified household.

It can pass to a spouse, children, or anyone who has lived in the household for three years, with no new income check. A transfer to family while you are alive works like a sale: the new owner must be income-eligible.

These are intended to be owner-occupied. You can have housemates, but you can’t rent out the whole unit.

Household size is set at closing based on who considers the unit their primary residence — an elderly parent or a college student who lives there counts. Children must live with you 50%+ of the time (183 days/year, with proof of the custody arrangement) to be counted.

For a 3-person or larger household, everyone’s income is counted — even members not on the mortgage. For a 1-bedroom, only the income of the person(s) on the deed and mortgage counts. A non-mortgage partner’s income only counts if they make a fixed contribution to household expenses.

Yes. Any combination of gifts, personal loans, and a mortgage is fine, as long as you can provide the full amount at closing. You just can’t have a co-signer who isn’t part of your household.

Yes. At Dougherty Commons dogs must be leashed outdoors and the owners’ association can add reasonable rules. At the Lambert Woods Cooperative dogs and cats are welcome with no breed restrictions; the members’ house rules include pet provisions (registration, leashed outdoors, a limit on the number of pets, and service and assistance animals always allowed).

Saco Falls Management (Portland) manages the Dougherty Commons condominium. The fee — $129/month for a 1-bedroom and $299 for a 3-bedroom in the larger building, $305 in the four-unit townhome building (set Sept 2026) — covers water and sewer, trash, grounds and snow removal, a replacement reserve, and the master insurance policy. You carry your own condo owner’s policy (about $35–40/month). Fees are set by the owner-run association and were raised in September 2026 to cover water; they can change again.

Every home is wired (Cat5 and cable in each bedroom and the living room). Fidium 1-gig internet is available for $55/month through the association, or bring your own provider. Rooftop solar is installed on the condo buildings; owners can opt in and typically save about 25% on the part of their electric bill above the minimum. Homes are all-electric heat pump, so there is no oil or gas bill.

Yes — a two-year builder warranty from Backyard ADUs, with scheduled check-ins at 1, 6, and 11 months after closing to catch punch-list items.

Six raised beds are coming to Dougherty Commons with Phase 3. In-ground food growing is not allowed there because the site was a former city landfill, capped and cleaned under Maine’s Voluntary Response Action Program — the raised beds use clean imported soil. Lambert Woods has community gardens and 15+ acres of woods and trails.

Very. They’re all-electric with heat pumps, achieve DOE Zero Energy Ready certification, and have a HERS index of 34–42 — 58–66% less energy than a standard new home. Estimated electric costs run $144–150/month for 1-bedrooms and $209–250/month for 3-bedrooms, covering all heating, cooling, and appliances.

Yes. The homes are built as precision modular boxes at the KBS factory in Poland, Maine and assembled and finished on site by Backyard ADUs, with advanced air sealing, continuous insulation, and high-performance windows.

Street parking on Douglass & St James Streets is free (Douglass is a designated snow-parking location). A parking-lot space is $150/month extra.

Yes — a day or two before closing you confirm everything is complete and functional. Any punch-list items are handled through the builder’s warranty, with check-ins at 1, 6, and 11 months.

Dougherty Commons is in the Rowe Elementary and King Middle School zones. Lambert Woods is in North Deering — confirm current school zones with Portland Public Schools.

Dougherty Fields is next door — playground, outdoor pool, skate park, playing fields, and basketball. The #1, #4, #5, #7 & #9 Metro bus lines and the Portland Transportation Center (Amtrak Downeaster & Concord Coach to Boston/NYC and north) are a short walk away.

With MaineHousing down-payment assistance (up to $5,000 Advantage, or $10,000 First Generation) plus possible FHLB grants, some buyers have purchased with under $3,000 in cash. MaineHousing loans are also exempt from the real-estate transfer tax, saving buyer and seller about $600 each.

The condo fee is $110 for 1-bedrooms and $255–259 for 3-bedrooms. It covers water and sewer, trash, grounds, a maintenance & replacement reserve, and condo insurance. Residents carry a small personal policy, typically $35–40/month.

One real buyer’s 1-bedroom with 3.5% down: mortgage (principal, interest, taxes & insurance) $1,771/mo, condo fee $110/mo, internet ~$55/mo, and winter electricity including heat ~$200–250/mo.

One buyer put 3.5% down and stacked the MaineHousing First-Time Homebuyer grant ($5,000) with the First Generation grant ($5,000) — and paid just $2,200 at closing.

Portland’s 2025 mill rate is $15.01 — about 1.501% of assessed value — adjusted modestly each year. Down-payment assistance grants are generally not counted as taxable income (per IRS guidance).