HOMES ARE MORE than lumber, bricks and concrete sitting on land that used to be prairie.

    Where we call home, where we hang our hats, is often a telling and influential component of who we are.

    We aspire to live in a home that reflects our needs and our values. Some need a home that serves as testimony to their success. Some simply want a roof over their heads. Some strive to live simply and they convert a modest dwelling into a home that is efficient, interesting, hospitable and comfortable.

     There is not just one right reason to own a home; it’s more like a million different reasons to do so. And there are many who want a new home, whether it is their first or their last.

     In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a new and somewhat unique housing development in our city. It’s located west of South Fifth Street, in the area bordering Forest Acres, and just south of the federal Post Office. This new neighborhood provides new housing that is affordable to many, and that in itself is a valuable contribution to the community.

    HAPI (Homes Are Possible, Inc.), a non-profit, locally-run outfit formed to provide assistance to homebuyers unable to afford a down payment on a new home, is spearheading this development. HAPI can get qualified people into a new home with no down payment and low mortgage payments.

    Don’t expect to see the expansive, spendy mini-mansions that are springing up in other Aberdeen developments. Home styles in this particular development range from modest split-levels and one-story ramblers to compact, single-story units known as “Governor’s Homes.” There are at least 52 homes now occupied or sold. And another 16 are in various stages of development.

Not just first-time homebuyers
Let’s start with a common misconception about this development: Homes in this area are purchased by first-time homeowners. This is not true!

    Bob Husby’s construction company has built 14 homes in the HAPI development, plus was involved in siting nine so-called Governor’s homes. “I’ve sold a couple of houses to first-time buyers,” said Husby, “but mostly it’s people moving from their first house to their second house.” Of the nine Governor’s houses Husby has assisted with, only one of the buyers was purchasing their first home.

    On a recent tour of one home where construction is underway, Husby addressed the value of the HAPI development.

    “There is a need in this town for new homes in the $150,000 to $200,000 price range,” said Husby, as we strolled through a comfortable, nearly completed four-bedroom multi-level home with a triple garage. “No other builders in town are building homes in this price range.” Husby is not the only contractor in the development, but no one has embraced the HAPI concept with such enthusiasm.

    Husby explained that building homes in this price range isn’t as profitable as building in the more expensive categories, but that he makes up for that by building quickly. “I can complete one of these homes in eight weeks,” he said. Since mid-March, Husby Construction – with a crew of four – has completed three homes, and is working on a fourth.

A Neighborhood Appears
The development of a new neighborhood is no small and inconsequential matter.

    Aberdeen, particularly the southwest corner of the community and the two nearby schools – Simmons Elementary and Simmons Middle School – are especially impacted.

    Landscapes are altered. Playgrounds are busier on weekends and after school. School enrollments rise. There are more kids crossing streets, and motorists must be more alert. Water and sewer needs must be addressed. Police and fire protection must be adjusted. Residents living in a more established neighborhood, Forest Acres, see dramatic changes all around them.

    But this development fills an important role in the community. People living in their own homes tend to stay put. They tend to settle in and put down roots. Aberdeen needs more of that. Our community has often been viewed as a stepping stone community, as a place to build one’s resume or gain experience before moving on. Those are precisely the type of people who can contribute energy and ideas and vitality to our town. We need them to stay. The HAPI
development helps that happen.

Learn more about Homes Are Possible, Inc at their website.