On the effective date of Feb. 1, 2016, Fitch Ratings will downgrade the long-term rating to 'AA+' from 'AAA' and affirm the short-term rating at 'F1+' assigned to the $26,238,000 Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MassHousing) bonds consisting of $14,230,000 housing bonds, 2009 series A and $12,008,000 housing bonds, 2009 series B (Federally Taxable) (the bonds). The Rating Outlook is Stable for the long-term rating. The rating action is in connection with the substitution of the two irrevocable direct-pay letters of credit (LOCs) currently provided the Bank of New York Mellon (BNYM; rated 'AA/F1+', Stable Outlook) supporting each respective series of bonds with two substitute LOCs to be provided by T.D. Bank, N.A. (rated 'AA-/F1+', Stable Outlook). The substitution date and effective date of the substitute LOCs is Feb. 1, 2016.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

The long-term rating will continue to be determined using Fitch's dual-party pay criteria and will be based jointly on the underlying rating assigned to those bonds by Fitch (currently rated 'AA-', Stable Outlook), and the rating assigned by Fitch to T.D. Bank, N.A. (rated 'AA-/F1+', Stable Outlook), which will provide the substitute LOCs as support for each series of bonds. The short-term 'F1+' rating will be based solely on the substitute LOCs. For information about the underlying rating see the press release 'Fitch Rates Massachusetts HFA's $98MM Hsg Bonds 2015 G, H, and I 'AA-'; Outlook Stable', dated Dec. 8, 2015 available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

Fitch's dual-party pay criteria consider the likelihood of the failure of both a rated obligor and a bank LOC provider. The methodology results in a long-term rating that is up to two notches higher than the stronger of the two credits if the following conditions are met: (1) both entities have a rating of 'A' or higher; (2) the transaction is structured such that payments from both the municipal issuer and the bank are in the flow of funds and both entities would have to fail to perform before the bonds defaulted; and (3) the credit of the bank and the rated obligor have no more than a medium degree of correlation. Fitch has determined a low degree of correlation between T.D. Bank, N.A. and MassHousing's housing bonds which results in a rating of 'AA+' for the bonds. If either the underlying bond rating or the bank rating were downgraded to 'A-' or lower, the dual-party pay criteria could no longer be applied, and the long-term rating assigned to the bonds would then be adjusted to the higher of the bank rating and the underlying bond rating.

Pursuant to the substitute LOCs, the bank is obligated to make regularly scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the bonds in addition to payments due upon maturity, acceleration and redemption, as well as purchase price for tendered bonds. The substitute LOCs have stated expiration dates of Feb. 1, 2021, unless extended or earlier terminated. The substitute LOC for 2009 series A provides full and sufficient coverage of principal plus an amount equal to 55 days of interest at a maximum rate of 12% based on a year of 365 days. The substitute LOC for 2009 series B provides full and sufficient coverage of principal plus an amount equal to 55 days of interest at a maximum rate of 15% based on a year of 365 days. Each substitute LOC also provides for the purchase price for tendered bonds while in the weekly rate mode. The Remarketing Agent for the bonds continues to be Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

The long-term rating is tied to the long-term rating assigned to MassHousing's housing bonds and the long-term rating that Fitch maintains on the bank providing the substitute LOC. Changes to one or both of these ratings may affect the long-term rating assigned to the bonds.

The short-term rating is exclusively tied to the short-term rating that Fitch maintains on the bank providing the substitute LOC and will reflect all changes to that rating.

Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

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