More affordable units on open market

Because of the housing downturn, homes in the city’s affordable housing programs — which are normally in such great demand that buyers are chosen through lotteries — have not sold out, and developers are putting the units on the open market. At least 45 affordable units are available at market rate, which is more than in past years, according to Seth Donlin, a spokesperson for the city’s Development of Housing Preservation and Development. City officials and brokers say the units are lingering on the market because the thousands of people who entered lotteries for the homes either decided not to buy or could not find lenders who would give them mortgages. City programs generally allow buyers to make a down payment as little as 5 to 10 percent of the purchase price, but most banks are requiring down payments of 20 percent or more for mortgages.