Help in finding affordable units

In return for development approvals, builders include affordable units in their projects for sale to low- and moderate-income homebuyers. The challenge for these qualified buyers is finding out where those units are.

Help has arrived.

The Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership launched a website, www.massaffordablehomes.org, last week with listings of housing being sold at discounted prices to qualified buyers.

I tried out the site's search function by looking for units within one mile of Boston's Chinatown. Chinatown listed three one-bedroom units, priced at $141,400 to $179,200. In the South End were five one bedrooms, $159,300 to $244,900.

Within a mile of Barnstable, the search yielded two three-bedrooms in Schooner Village for $156,400 and $170,000.

Searches can also be performed by price, number of bedrooms, household size, or household income. The website also will email listings as the come up for sale.

"The website will make it easier for homebuyers across the state to find a home that they can afford," said Tom Callahan, MAHA's executive director.