robinslist is a consulting service, not a real-estate brokerage company. Upon receiving an application, we search, mail away and track affordable housing lists in the 5 boroughs, for our clients.

Since 1991, we have focused on available housing of Mitchell-Lama, Section 421-a, 80/20, J-51 and The New Housing Marketplace buildings in the 5 boroughs.

The Mitchell-Lama housing program was created in 1955 and offers thousands of quality co-ops and rental units. However, strict maximum income limits are in place for prospective tenants and waiting lists can range from months to years. The 80/20 programs, which are newly constructed buildings, have to rent 20% of the apartments to low income residents in order for the landlords to get tax exemptions.

Section 421-a was established for new construction and J-51 is for entirely refurbished properties. These two programs are the two most widely used programs which give landlords tax incentives to establish affordable housing.

During Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 3 terms, 165,000 units of housing were preserved or built at an investment of more than $5.3Billion.

In May, 2014, Mayor Bill De Blasio announced a new, hugely ambitious housing plan, with the goal of creating or maintaining 200,000 affordable units through 2024, which would consist of 80,000 new units + preserving 120 existing ones. The Mayor is estimating that it will take $2.9Billion in State & Federal money, and more than $30Million in private funds to achieve this.

Moreover, De Blasio, wants a % of these units to be made available to households with extremely low incomes—under $25,000 a year, a category that’s been left out in the past.

The new administration wants to invest more in affordable housing than Bloomberg did, and in less time. However, new resources will have to be found to make up for cuts in federal subsidy programs.

It remains to be seen, if this works out.

If the applications are free, we will do the mailing for you and immediately inform you that we have requested an application for you on your behalf.

Few housing lists are free to get on. If a processing fee is required, usually in the form of a money order, we will advise you of the address, amount of the money order, where to mail it, the deadline and any other regulations for getting on each list.