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Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity opened its newest homes for sale. The two three-bedroom homes are located on Murphy Place.
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Habitat for Humanity Selling Pittsfield Condos for $1,700/Month

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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The homes are being offered as condominiums with a homeowners association fee. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is selling two homes to income-eligible families who can afford about $1,700 per month. 

On Friday, an open house was held for the newly built condominiums at 21 and 23 Murphy Place, and another will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 10 to noon. The each of the homes offers three bedrooms and one bathroom over 1,200 square feet.

Homebuyers services representative Chris LaPatin reported that there have been "quite a few" applications that are being reviewed.

The condos will be sold to families earning between 50 percent and 65 percent of the area median income, which ranges between $49,150 and $63,895 for a family of two and $66,350 and $86,255 for a family of five. A monthly payment of $1,673 will cover the principal and interest, property taxes, and home insurance. There's a monthly HOA fee on top of that. 

Murphy Place is a dead-end street off Upper North Street, and the homes have yard space, parking, laundry, and a crawl space for storage. The washer and dryer are Whirlpool Energy Star, and the homes have energy-saving mini-split heat pumps for cooling and heating.

LaPatin pointed out that one way Habitat connects people to homeownership is through partnership hours. This program provides $2,000 toward a home purchase and an affordable mortgage from a third-party lender for completing financial and homeownership training and build site hours.

For one person, 275 hours are required, and 425 for a couple.  Friends and family can help with partnership hours, according to Habitat's website



Current income eligibility for families earning between 50 percent and 65 percent of the AMI: 

• Family of 2: $49,150 – $63,895
• Family of 3: $55,300 – $71,890
• Family of 4: $61,400 – $79,820
• Family of 5: $66,350 – $86,255

On Feb. 21 and Feb. 26, Habitat will show six houses in Housatonic to households earning between 70 percent and 100 percent of the AMI. The affordable housing development at 385 North Plain Road will be called the Prosperity Way Community. 

The first phase of construction includes six three to four bedroom homes. The complete development will include 20 single-family homes. 


Tags: affordable housing,   habitat for humanity,   

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Combined No-HItter Lifts Pittsfield Babe Ruth Team to Regional Tourney

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Kevin Smith was dominant, and the Pittsfield Babe Ruth 16-year-old All-Stars offense gave him just enough support to secure a 2-1 win over Westfield in the Western Massachusetts Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.
 
Smith struck out 11 in six innings before Cooper Reed delivered a scoreless seventh as the pair combined on a no-hitter and Pittsfield claimed a berth in next weekend’s New England Regional Championship in Stamford, Conn.
 
“I felt pretty good,” Smith said after his second outing of the three-team tournament. “I was mainly throwing fastballs until they started hitting it, and then I went with the off-speed.”
 
Smith threw two innings in Pittsfield’s five-inning win over Southern Berkshire in the tournament opener.
 
Sunday afternoon, when the game was in the balance on every pitch, was more his speed.
 
“I love it,” he said of the one-run game. “I like feeling the pressure on me and I’m getting the job done. It feels good afterwards.”
 
Smith struck out eight of the first 10 batters he faced, pitching around walks in the first and second innings and facing just two over the minimum through three.
 
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