A perfect example of what co-buying can do
547 Dudley St is a two-family, three bedrooms and a bath in each unit, with commercial space on the first floor, currently used as a church. Six co-buyers here would each carry a total monthly cost of ownership of $1,011, about $200 under market rent for the area, and that number assumes the ground-floor commercial space brings in nothing.
Six locals living affordably, who could then offer that ground-floor space to a tenant like this church at a rate it can actually afford, instead of pricing out the kind of business the neighborhood depends on.
New to co-buying? A small group buys a multifamily together, splits the down payment, and each person holds a legal ownership stake. Own a unit instead of renting a room.
What it costs you
- Down payment
- $28,333
- Mortgage
- $716/mo
- Tax
- $95/mo
- Insurance
- $30/mo
- Repairs reserve
- $104/mo
- Per person, monthly
- $1,011
$200 under market rent, monthly. A comparable unit in the area rents for about $1,211. Six owners here pay $1,011, and unlike rent, that payment builds equity in the building.
The commercial space is upside, not a requirement
Every figure on this page assumes the first floor earns $0. Any rent a commercial tenant pays comes off the top of what the six owners carry, which is also what makes it possible to offer that tenant a rate they can actually afford.
Help with the down payment
Boston has a co-purchasing down payment assistance program. Reaching 20% means $28,333 per buyer, and that program exists to close part of that gap. We'll walk you through eligibility on a call.
Group totals: $170,000 down, $6,066/mo. Assumes 6 buyers, 20% down, 6.5% rate, 30-yr term. Commercial income excluded.
Three floors, three uses
- First floorOpen floor plan, currently used as a church. Office, hall, and two half baths.
- Commercial
- Second floorKitchen, pantry, full bath, and a study currently used as classroom space.
- 3 bed / 1 bath
- Third floorKitchen, full bath, and a living room also in use as a classroom.
- 3 bed / 1 bath
- Total living area
- 4,020 sf
- Lot
- 2,460 sf
- Built
- 1899
Street-level views. Interior photographs to come.
Dudley Street, Roxbury
A working commercial corner between Nubian Square and Grove Hall, with storefronts on both sides and heavy bus service along Dudley. Storefronts here depend on landlords willing to keep rents affordable instead of chasing market rate.
What's nearby
- Nubian Square
- 0.5 mi
- Boston Medical Center
- 1.3 mi
- Northeastern University
- 1.6 mi
- Longwood Medical Area
- 2.2 mi
- Downtown Boston
- 2.6 mi
Distances approximate.
Who this fits
Groups who want commercial space as well as somewhere to live, and small business owners looking for an office, studio, professional service, or neighborhood business location. Six people who don't all know each other yet can meet at our free monthly drop-in hours.
- Groups of 6
- Small business owners
- Faith & community organizations
- Two households sharing
- Studio or office users
What to know
- Sale is contingent on the owner finding housingThe listing is subject to the owner securing suitable housing, which can stretch the timeline. Plan for patience, or look at a sale that lets the owner stay on.
- Mixed-use financing is its own processA commercial ground floor changes which lenders will look at the deal and what they'll ask for. Worth starting early.
- Four baths across six bedroomsTwo of the four are half baths on the commercial floor. Each residential unit has one full bath shared by three bedrooms.
- Built in 1899Expect the systems and surfaces of a building that age. Budget for it before closing, not after.
- Rooms are in institutional use todayThe study and living room currently serve as classrooms. Returning them to residential use is straightforward but not free.
Estimates from list price and public data, August 2026. Not an offer, appraisal, or financial advice.
