LIHU‘E — Five affordable homes are now available for purchase by eligible participants in the county’s Homebuyer List Program, a county news release says. These homes were recently acquired by the county with federal funds for resale at prices affordable
LIHU‘E — Five affordable homes are now available for purchase by eligible participants in the county’s Homebuyer List Program, a county news release says.
These homes were recently acquired by the county with federal funds for resale at prices affordable to households earning from below 80 percent and up to 140 percent of the Kaua‘i median household income (KMHI), which is currently $70,500 for a family of four.
The Homebuyer List Program was established three years ago to provide a mechanism for homebuyer-ready residents to be given the first opportunity to buy affordable and workforce housing units that are built by the county or by private developers as a requirement for their projects. Currently there are 362 participants in the program, the release states.
“We are very pleased that five Kaua‘i families will soon be able to realize their dreams of owning a home,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in the release. “Providing more affordable housing for our low- to moderate income families is one of our priorities, and we are focusing a lot of effort on moving forward with several other housing projects.”
Funding for the five recently purchased homes was provided through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Development Block Program.
Also available are 29 multi-family units at the Kaua‘i Lagoons’ Kamamalu project in Lihu‘e. Fee simple sales are underway to income qualified, first-time homebuyers. Preference is being given through Oct. 22 to employees of Kaua‘i Lagoons and the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club, along with participants in the HL program.
The Kamamalu units are priced at $176,500 and $225,000 for households earning up to 140 percent of the Kaua‘i median household income. After Oct. 22, the unsold units will be available at the same prices for 60 days to first-time homebuyers without income restrictions.
In December, the rehabilitation of five more affordable homes is scheduled for completion. These homes will be available to HL Program participants with household incomes from below 80 percent and up to 120 percent of KMHI.
The Housing Agency has also hired Shioi Construction to build two affordable homes in ‘Ele‘ele Nani and one near Waimea High School, which are scheduled for completion later this year. Prospective buyers for these homes will be selected from the HL Program with household incomes of up to 120 percent of KMHI.
Other affordable housing projects that are underway on Kaua‘i include:
— Pa‘anau Village, phase two – Site work for 50 rental units is expected to begin by the end of this year.
— Puhi Self-Help Project – The third and final phase of 13 units is scheduled for completion by year’s end.
— Pi‘ilani Mai Ke Kai – Of the 80 lots in this Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Anahola subdivision, 36 turn-key homes were completed in April, 15 owner-builder lots are in various stages of development, 12 self-help homes are in the permitting phase and the remaining lots are in the planning phase.
— ‘Ele‘ele I Luna, phase two – Site construction on the first increment of phase two is expected to begin this year. Site development and homebuilding for the second and third increments, 45 and 27 lots respectively, will continue through 2019.
— Kukui‘ula employee housing – This 75-unit project is in the pre-development stage.
“What I would suggest to anyone interested in buying or renting a home is to sign up for homebuyer education classes,” said County Housing Director Eugene Jimenez. “This will give them an introduction to home ownership, assess their readiness to buy a home and provide them with an understanding of the home-buying process.
“As these projects come on-line, they’ll know what’s involved with purchasing a home and will be ready to apply,” Jimenez said.
Currently, there are two nonprofit agencies that offer homebuyer education and counseling services on Kaua‘i – Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) and Hawai‘i Homeownership Center (HHOC).
The next homebuyer orientation session presented by Hawaiian Community Assets is 5 to 7 p.m., Oct. 6, at the Lihu‘e Civic Center in the Pi‘ikoi Building.
To register, call HCA at 1-866-400-1116 or 632-2070.
The Hawai‘i Homeownership Center will be offering their next orientation on Saturday, Oct. 16, 3 to 4 p.m., in their Lihu‘e office located at 2970 Haleko Rd.
To register for the HHOC orientation, call 1-877-523-9503. For more information about affordable housing, call the Housing Agency at 241-4444.
