Homes in Partnership, an affordable housing nonprofit based in Lake County, started last week on the latest phase of their affordable home community in Zellwood, according to a report in GrowthSpotter.

The nonprofit had already completed construction on 62 homes in previous phases of the Holly Creek community at 7375 Holly Creek Road in Zellwood. The third phase includes an additional 29 homes ranging in size from about 1,200 to 1,500 square feet, bringing the total to 91.

The homes, which will be complete next year, will be available for qualifying applicants for about $250,000, made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development loan program. The monthly mortgage on the homes, which will be set aside for very-low and low-income individuals and families, will be $1,200 or less, including taxes and insurance.

The median sales price for a single-family home in the Orlando metro area was $472,500 in February, a 17.7% year-over-year increase, data from Redfin shows.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guideline from 2023, a family of four in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area with a household income of $43,900 qualifies as very-low income, while a family of four with a household income of $70,200 qualifies as low-income. For individuals, an income of $30,750 qualifies as very-low and $49,150 is considered low-income.

Representatives from Homes in Partnership, in a call with GrowthSpotter, said that they were excited for the latest phase of the Holly Creek community.

Dori Madison, who serves on the organization’s board, said that the project has been at least a decade in the making.

“It’s funny, driving through [Holly Creek]…you see homes where people have lived there, I would say 10 years, maybe plus. So we’ve had this property for a while. I don’t know how long, but there’s established homes,” she said. “It just takes a little time when you have to bank your resources to get things done like we do”.

Executive Director Gloria Nelson said that the USDA loans aren’t a handout program. Instead, they are designed to include homebuyers in the construction process in exchange for a more affordable mortgage.

“So the expectation is that families participate through sweat equity, and they help in building their homes,” she said. “The idea is that through the program, you can get lower interest rates, as well as reduce the cost of labor, obviously, because they’re doing part of the labor. It’s not a handout program…it’s a hand-up program”.

Homes in Partnership also offers HUD-certified housing counselors to prospective homebuyers to help them navigate the homebuying process from start to finish.

Director of Housing Marta Castellano said financial literacy is a huge part of the housing counseling program.

“We help them with the financial part of it, their personal budgeting, and make sure that they are able to keep all of their finances in order before, during, and after purchasing their home.” she said.

The housing nonprofit plans to break ground on more homes for low-income people this year. Additional houses are planned for Owen’s Landing in Umatilla and Christian Preserve in Leesburg.

“Homes in Partnership is always looking for developable lots in order to create this affordable housing opportunity for people,” Madison said.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at (407)607-8160 or TyWilliams@GrowthSpotter.com. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.