Monthly Archives: May 2023

Rent to Own Program for Low-Income Seniors

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This is a great program.

My development team and I built a similar project in Kansas City several years ago. Residents could purchase their units in 15 years at up to a 45% discount. We targeted 55+ renters who, in 15 years, will have the opportunity to purchase their duplex unit and have as much as $150,000 of equity already built into their home.

What we put together is more than a homeownership program – it’s an estate planning tool for lower income seniors.

From the piece:

“A new affordable housing unit is going up in Phoenix where those who qualify will be able to buy the homes. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday for new housing units.”

A link to the piece is found here

The Effect of Government Regulations on Construction Costs

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A recent study conducted by the Washington Policy Center found that as much as 24 percent of housing price increases may be attributed to the government policy. Indeed, the study found that state and local laws, permitting, building restrictions and regulations add on average $144,000 to the cost to construct a new, median priced home.

Reminds me of the old saying “No society in the history of the world taxed and/or regulated itself into prosperity.”

A link to the piece is found here

Rent Control Revisited

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This is a great example of how rent control actually hurts the very people it is intended to help. Fact is, rent control is actually the enemy of affordability.

From the piece:

“Nearly all residents of the R.V. Park of San Rafael received eviction notices this week after the property owner lost a rent battle [with the residents] in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.”

A link to the piece is found here

The Root of the Workforce Housing Problem

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Cities that spend millions of dollars on technical schools and incentives to attract employers while simultaneously denying workforce housing proposals are essentially saying “Learn here, take your skills elsewhere. Work here, spend your paychecks elsewhere.”

From the piece:

“Millions of dollars for workforce training will go to naught if we don’t have enough housing where workers can afford to live,” he said. “In addition to increasing investments in affordable housing, our budget proposes an additional $200 million for workforce housing.”

A link to the piece is found here

The difference between “Affordable Housing” and “affordable housing”

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In reality, there’s a difference between “Affordable Housing,” “workforce housing,” and “affordable housing.”

“Affordable Housing” consists of rental units targeting households earning 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) or less and is typically financed with scarce government resources.

“workforce housing” consists of renters and owners earning between 60% and 120% of AMI and is typically financed with a mix of government and private financing.

“affordable housing” refers to housing that costs renters and owners 30% or less of their income. That said, “Affordable Housing” can be unaffordable. Same goes for “workforce housing.”

That said, there’s a clear distinction between “Affordable Housing” and “workforce housing” – the 60% of AMI line.

A link to the piece is found here.

Workforce Housing: A Wise Investment Choice

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“Indeed, certain types of investment real estate—especially multifamily housing—tend to perform better during downturns. And within the category of multifamily housing, workforce housing is fast becoming a wise investment choice for high-net-worth investors during volatile economic periods.”

A link to the piece can be found here.

Cities: The Largest Employers of America’s Workforce

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Cities themselves are one of the biggest employers of people seeking workforce housing. Although they have all of the necessary tools (Planning & Zoning, Economic Development, Community Development, Housing Authority) they typically lack the technical expertise to address their growing workforce housing problems. Indeed, I have seen cities where as many as 70% of their employees are forced to commute to work each day because they cannot afford to live in the very town they serve.

My company offers the technical expertise to help cities address this growing problem. Visit our website at tartanresidential.com for more information.

From the piece:

“The Myrtle Beach City Council voted in favor of two resolutions on Tuesday that they hope will help solve the lack of housing options for city employees.”

A link to the piece can be found here.