Assembly Reviews Draft Real Estate Transfer Fee as Funding for Housing Program Approved
October 9, 2025 (Barnstable, MA) – Barnstable County delegates continued their focus on housing this week as the Assembly of Delegates’ Economic Affairs Committee reviewed a draft Luxury Real Estate Transfer Fee petition to the Massachusetts Legislature, and funding approved by the Assembly for a regional shared housing program received final approval.
The proposed Home Rule Petition would allow individual Cape Cod towns to opt into a locally controlled transfer fee on high-end real estate sales to fund attainable year-round housing. Participating towns could set their own rate between 0.5 and 4 percent on sales above at least $1 million, define exemptions such as for first-time buyers or year-round residents, and direct 90 percent of revenues to local housing trusts. The remaining 10 percent could support regional housing initiatives and administrative costs, with no funds allowed for general county operations.
“Housing is critical and we need as a region to start somewhere,” said Yarmouth Delegate Susan Warner. “The county has an obligation to try and come up with something that will bring a funding stream for housing. Continuing to talk about it with no action is simply ludicrous. Some may not consider this the best way, but it’s the only way right now we have been afforded that could make a huge difference in the region and in the communities themselves. But the process was moving too fast. It’s important that all delegates know that their voices and their communities matter, and they can shape the final petition.”
“I think every community is concerned about being able to tailor it to their individual needs,” said Bourne Delegate Wayne Sampson. “If we’re able to sit down and really come up with a plan of action which gives a lot of leeway and discretion to our individual communities, then we have a very good chance of getting majority support.”
Committee Chair Elizabeth Harder said the draft aims to balance “regional coordination with local flexibility,” ensuring that towns maintain full control over participation and spending.
Earlier in the day, $157,250 in spending adopted by the Assembly to continue the Shared Regional Housing Services Program received final approval from the County Commissioners, to be offset by town contributions at no net cost to the County. The program provides critical regional and local support to address housing challenges efficiently by pooling resources and providing consistent, high-quality support across municipalities.
“This is a perfectly good example of shared services where the County works with towns to accomplish something together at no net cost,” said Delegate O’Malley of Provincetown. “It’s a revenue-neutral model that shows regional cooperation done right.”
“This program is a great example of how regional collaboration can make real progress on housing,” said Deputy Speaker Daniel Gessen. “Even when local control remains central, there are times when it just makes sense for our communities to work together, and this shows how effective that can be.”
The full Assembly will next discuss the draft petition at its meeting on October 15.
A recording of the Assembly Economic Affairs Committee can be found here – Link
ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATES
The Assembly of Delegates is the legislative branch of Cape Cod Regional Government. It is composed of 15 delegates—one elected from each town—with votes weighted by population, who make laws, set policies, and approve spending.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Owen Fletcher, Assembly Clerk | owen.fletcher@capecod.gov | 774-327-3564
Dan Gessen, Deputy (Acting) Speaker | daniel.gessen@capecod.gov | 508-208-1760