Q&A with CHAPA Homeownership Staff

Maritza Crossen is the Director of Real Estate Services at CHAPA.

Please share your role and responsibilities at CHAPA.
At CHAPA, I have the privilege of working with the sellers and buyers upon resale of an affordable home in CHAPA’s monitoring portfolio. I ensure that a robust marketing plan is created, promoting a fair and equitable chance for all households to apply for the affordable housing opportunity. I also serve as the liaison between the buyer and seller throughout the sale process. It is a joy to be able to help so many first-time homebuyers achieve their dream of homeownership and assist the sellers in passing along the incredible benefit of this program created by our state to new homeowners.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Making the phone call to inform a potential buyer that's been selected in an affordable housing lottery, without having to deal with the burden of a bidding war, is the highlight of my day. Giving potential buyers hope that they could actually attain their goal of being a homeowner one day by sharing the many resources we have in our state through MassHousing and MHP’s products, down payment assistance, and affordable homeownership opportunities is very fulfilling.

How do diversity and access play a role in your work?
Diversity and access are the driving force for all of our homeownership work. As a CHAPA team, we're determined to help make a difference, both big and small, in closing the racial homeownership gap. We do this through our outreach, education, as well as with our ongoing advocacy for the production and preservation of affordable housing for all across the state.

What are the gaps you see needing to be filled in the field?
There is so much more than can be done to close the racial homeownership gap and increase Black and Brown first-time and first-generation homebuyers in Massachusetts! We need more housing for all income levels in communities across the Commonwealth but particularly for households of low and moderate incomes. We need more down payment assistance, assistance to lower student debt, and additional methods to prove a buyer’s ability to pay a mortgage beyond their credit score.

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with future homeowners?
Education on this process can help you feel so empowered and prepared. There are over 50 incredible homebuyer education agencies throughout Massachusetts that offer first-time homebuyer courses that will give you the tools and tips necessary to ensure you are well prepared to make what will most likely be the largest investment you’ve ever made!

Ron McCormick is the Program Manager at CHAPA.

Please share your role and responsibilities at CHAPA.
I was hired in October 2021 as a Program Manager. I'm responsible for assisting the owners of affordable homes in CHAPA's monitoring portfolio and any income-eligible persons and families with resales and refinances as well as explaining how the state's 40B program works.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Notifying an income-eligible buyer that they’ve been selected to purchase a home. You become immediately aware that the lives of families can change because of the work we do at CHAPA.

How do diversity and access play a role in your work?
CHAPA is able to track the families who are applying to purchase affordable homes and use that information to expand the awareness of the 40B program in communities often left out by traditional outreach methods.

What are the gaps you see needing to be filled in the field?
Awareness and erasing stigma. The more people we can bring to the table, the better. People can incorrectly perceive affordable housing as "less-than,"  but no one is "less-than" just because they don’t earn a six-figure income. Affordable homes in all communities are what everyone — and our state as a whole — needs to thrive.

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with future homeowners?
I think it really helps to network and find out what’s out there. Find out who's doing what and where and when. Throw your hat into the proverbial ring again and again, if need be.