News
RIFLE, COLORADO - What started out as an affordable housing lottery in Rifle, Colo. is now a first-come, first-served application process aimed at providing qualified residents with homes they can afford.
"We're not doing the lottery because we're not getting a high response in Rifle," said Garfield County Housing Authority Executive Director Geneva Powell. "And I don't know why. But this was a volunteer pilot program to test the water."
The Workforce Housing program, a pilot effort for the city, began in July with approval by Rifle City Council. The program started with two single-family homes at 951 and 953 E. 17th St., both located in the North Pastures subdivision. The homes were built by Savage Land Co. of Rifle, who were instrumental in starting the program to promote "attainable" housing in the city.
Both houses are two-story, 1,400-square foot homes with three bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms, with attached one-car garages and other amenities.
The first lottery drawing was held in late July and only one home sold. Winners of the second home withdrew their application for unknown reasons.
A second lottery drawing for the home at 951 E. 17th St., which is selling for $227,500, was scheduled for Sept. 8. But the lottery wasn't held due to a lack of qualified buyers, according to Powell. The housing authority oversees the Workforce Housing program.
A third lottery for the house at 951 E. 17th St., along with three units in a tri-plex on the same street was slated to take place on Oct. 24, but there were no applicants, Powell said. The tri-plex units are selling for $199,550.
The homes - one single-family and the three units in the tri-plex - will now be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, based on when qualified applications are received.
"We'll take the applications as they come in and the qualified buyers can choose from whichever units haven't been chosen," Powell said.
John Savage, vice-president and broker of Savage Land Co., said he thought people were unsure of what's happening in the housing market these days.
"Nobody knows what's going to happen, so they're not doing anything," Savage said. "For the lower-priced market - particularly down here - down payment, credit history and mortgage payments is always an issue."
Powell said she's received a lot of phone calls from people interested in the lottery, but not a lot of applications. She speculated that some people may shy away from the deed restriction, but pointed out it was only for ten years, then the owner would be able to sell it for market price.
If the available homes do not sell, Savage said they will sell at market price, but would probably get creative with the financing. As far as the Housing Workforce program, he said the pilot program is something new for Rifle.
"Affordable housing is a new concept down here and it will take a while for it to catch on," Savage said.
"We're not doing the lottery because we're not getting a high response in Rifle," said Garfield County Housing Authority Executive Director Geneva Powell. "And I don't know why. But this was a volunteer pilot program to test the water."
The Workforce Housing program, a pilot effort for the city, began in July with approval by Rifle City Council. The program started with two single-family homes at 951 and 953 E. 17th St., both located in the North Pastures subdivision. The homes were built by Savage Land Co. of Rifle, who were instrumental in starting the program to promote "attainable" housing in the city.
Both houses are two-story, 1,400-square foot homes with three bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms, with attached one-car garages and other amenities.
The first lottery drawing was held in late July and only one home sold. Winners of the second home withdrew their application for unknown reasons.
A second lottery drawing for the home at 951 E. 17th St., which is selling for $227,500, was scheduled for Sept. 8. But the lottery wasn't held due to a lack of qualified buyers, according to Powell. The housing authority oversees the Workforce Housing program.
A third lottery for the house at 951 E. 17th St., along with three units in a tri-plex on the same street was slated to take place on Oct. 24, but there were no applicants, Powell said. The tri-plex units are selling for $199,550.
The homes - one single-family and the three units in the tri-plex - will now be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, based on when qualified applications are received.
"We'll take the applications as they come in and the qualified buyers can choose from whichever units haven't been chosen," Powell said.
John Savage, vice-president and broker of Savage Land Co., said he thought people were unsure of what's happening in the housing market these days.
"Nobody knows what's going to happen, so they're not doing anything," Savage said. "For the lower-priced market - particularly down here - down payment, credit history and mortgage payments is always an issue."
Powell said she's received a lot of phone calls from people interested in the lottery, but not a lot of applications. She speculated that some people may shy away from the deed restriction, but pointed out it was only for ten years, then the owner would be able to sell it for market price.
If the available homes do not sell, Savage said they will sell at market price, but would probably get creative with the financing. As far as the Housing Workforce program, he said the pilot program is something new for Rifle.
"Affordable housing is a new concept down here and it will take a while for it to catch on," Savage said.
