Georgia's Affordable Housing Crisis!

Signs of a state housing crisis:

To pay fair market rent in the more rural areas of  Georgia, an individual must earn $8.35 per hour and work 40 hours a week.

The 19 percent of Georgians in non-metro Georgia who work in retail or agriculture earn less on average.  Someone earning $30,000 a year can afford a home costing no more than $86,800. The average sale price of a new home in Georgia is $157,801.

Georgia households with combined yearly incomes of less than $30,000 number 1.05 million.  About 86 percent of the employees surveyed had no knowledge of numerous programs for poor and first-time home buyers.  Source: UGA Housing and Demographics Research Center

What to do about it in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia?
   A study conducted by the Athens-Clarke County Department of Human and Economic Development recommends these steps to make housing more affordable for people with low incomes:

•     Find private and public funds to leverage with federal dollars to subsidize construction costs.
•     Subsidies for developers who agree to set aside a certain number of units in each development for low-income families.
•     More education to prepare low-income citizens for home ownership.
•     More job training & job-related educational opportunities so families can increase household incomes.

At Success Realty in Athens, Georgia, we believe in becoming part of the solution.  Therefore, we support the following:

•             Encouraging "infill" building
•             Renovation of existing urban housing areas
•             Greenspace preservation and land trust development
•             Encouraging "cluster" housing with reasonable density and preserved land
•             Allowing smaller, new commercial & retail development with housing included
•             Encouraging research into alternative transportation, especially in urban areas

At Success Realty, we believe in participating in forums which influence key decisions and research into affordable housing issues.  Michelle DeRepentingny, Broker, has been involved in the following:

•  research conducted by The University of Georgia Housing & Demographics Research Center
•  has endorsed the National Housing Trust Fund Campaign
•  is a certified facilitator for low income & 1^st time buyer homeownership counseling
•  is a member of the Smart Growth Network
•  continually searches for grants & programs which support affordable housing
• Offers 1st Time Home Buyer Seminars

For more information about real estate in Athens, GA or to request a Relocation Package for Athens, GA and the surrounding areas, please visit our website at Success Realty or email Michelle DeRepentigny at Michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com to find out the date for our next HomeBuyer Seminar or English as Second Language Homeybuyer Seminar!  Space is limted at both of these seminars, please contact us today to reserve your seat!

Michelle DeRepentigny, Broker - Success Realty

706-543-1553  office      706-207-2502  cell

Michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com       Success Realty website

1069 Baxter Street, Athens, GA  30606

All information believed accurate, but not guaranteed.