Study: Rent Control Could Cost Massachusetts $300B in Property Values

Study: Rent Control Could Cost Massachusetts $300B in Property Values
News| March 13, 2026| Paul Bubny
Boston & New England + Apartment Buildings

A rent-control measure that would cap annual rent increases in all cities and towns in Massachusetts at the rate of inflation could cost the state $300 billion in declining property values over a 10-year period, according to a study from the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and the Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis. “The hit to urban areas and college towns would be especially acute, with projected declines of 15-20%,” according to the Tufts Center.

The Boston Business Journal reported that rural areas would face tax increases averaging 8.2% due to lower revenues, with projected increases climbing to 10% in suburban areas and 19% in urban areas. Boston in particular would be hit hard, as the city has already faced property tax shortfalls caused by office buildings losing value after the pandemic.

The rent-control initiative may appear on ballots statewide in November. Massachusetts voters banned rent control measures in 1994.

Other News

RK Investors Lands $81M Construction Loan for 299-Unit Charlotte Rental Community

Atlanta & Southeast + Apartment Buildings

An RK Investors-led team obtained an $81 million construction loan for Sutherland at Piper Glen, a 299-unit multifamily development underway in Charlotte’s Piper Glen neighborhood. The financing was provided by Western-Southern Life Insurance Company. The financing was arranged by Nate Sittema, Kristen Reilley and Elliott Voreis with CBRE’s Debt & Structured Finance team. Currently under...

Learn more

Pasadena Offices Sell for Residential Conversion

California & West + Apartment Buildings

NAI Capital Commercial EVPs John S. Archibald and Guillermo Olaiz, alongside senior associate Stephen Lam of the Investment Services Group in the Pasadena office, represented the seller, Star Horizon, LLC, in the sale of ZK Plaza, a 41,586-square-foot office building in Pasadena. The property sold for $13,400,000, representing a 3.5% premium over asking. Located at...

Learn more

Berkadia Negotiates Student Housing Property Sale in Kansas

Chicago & Midwest + Student Housing

Berkadia announced the sale of Orchard Corners & Suites, a 139-unit, 264-bed, garden-style student housing property serving The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Berkadia’s Student Housing and Kansas City investment sales teams collaborated to facilitate the transaction on behalf of the seller, Utah-based Redstone Residential. The Berkadia team included Senior Managing Directors Travis Prince...

Learn more
New call-to-action

Brokers

View All

Lenders

View All