In Search of Housing Solutions
As part of its commitment to supporting innovative policies that will create more homes and make housing more affordable, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB) partnered with the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University to conduct detailed analyses of existing proposals and identify possible alternatives. Through this partnership, GBREB and the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University established the Housing Solutions Annual Audit. Released each year beginning in 2023, the audits focus in on existing or proposed policies and their efficacy in addressing the housing crisis.
Our Reports
Untold Threat: Rent Control Ballot Question Will Imperil Municipal Budgets
March 2026
Cities and towns are facing a significant untold threat to their bottom lines and the vital public services they provide if the proposed rent control ballot question is approved by voters this fall.
To understand the full extent of this fiscal tsunami, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board partnered with the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts on a comprehensive model that maps the state and local impact of rent control.
Empowering Cities and Towns to Tackle the Housing Shortage
Several Massachusetts cities and towns are petitioning the state Legislature for the right to impose new real estate transfer taxes, which would allow them to tax the sale of high value properties and dedicate the proceeds to affordable housing. This report highlights the problems with transfer taxes and proposes more effective alternatives.
Missed Opportunities: Funding Housing Through the Community Preservation Act
To better understand the real-world impact — and future potential — of the Community Preservation Act (CPA), we at the Greater Boston Real Estate Board partnered with the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University on a thorough assessment of the program, with a particular focus on affordable housing.
© 2026 The Greater Boston Real Estate Board.