Each year, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) meets with state legislators to discuss policies that affect housing affordability, homeownership opportunities, and the overall health of our housing market. While REALTORS® support many initiatives designed to increase housing supply and expand access to affordable housing, there are also proposals that we believe could have unintended negative consequences for homeowners, renters, and communities.
For 2026, two key legislative issues that MAR opposes are:
• Transfer Taxes
• Rent Control
Opposition to Transfer Taxes
Massachusetts homeowners already pay a deed excise tax when a property is sold. Proposed transfer taxes would add another layer of taxation to real estate transactions, increasing the cost of buying and selling homes.
REALTORS® believe transfer taxes can discourage homeowners from selling, reduce housing inventory, and make homeownership even more difficult for first-time buyers. At a time when Massachusetts continues to face a housing shortage, adding costs to real estate transactions could further limit housing opportunities for families seeking to buy a home. Municipalities face financial challenges, but REALTORS® believe there are better solutions available that do not place additional burdens on homeowners and prospective homebuyers.
Opposition to Rent Control
Rent control is a topic that generates strong opinions and passionate debate on both sides of the discussion. Everyone agrees that housing costs in Massachusetts are a serious concern, and REALTORS® share those concerns. We support efforts to improve housing affordability and create more opportunities for both renters and homeowners.
However, we do not believe rent control is the solution.
One of the biggest concerns surrounding rent control is the unintended consequences that often follow. While the goal is to make housing more affordable, policies that limit what property owners can charge for rent can discourage investment in multifamily housing and reduce incentives to build new rental units.
Over time, property owners may choose to convert apartments into condominiums or move units into short-term rental markets, reducing the supply of long-term rental housing. Housing studies conducted in communities that have implemented rent control have shown that these policies can slow housing production and create additional challenges for renters seeking available housing.
Rent control can also impact local communities by reducing property values and shrinking municipal tax revenues that support essential services.
Because this issue is expected to move before voters, it's important that residents educate themselves on the potential impacts. A resource that provides research, studies, and information about rent control policies is:
www.HousingForMass.com
Supporting Housing Solutions
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® remains committed to addressing housing affordability through policies that increase housing supply, encourage responsible development, and create pathways to homeownership.
While housing affordability remains one of the Commonwealth's most pressing challenges, REALTORS® believe that expanding housing opportunities—not adding barriers to housing production—is the most effective path forward.
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