Workforce Housing

The bright side of the real estate decline is that homes are getting to be affordable again.  As of July 1, 2010, there were 367 properties in Buncombe County listed for under $130,000, and there were 112 properties in Asheville listed for under $130,000.  This is excellent news for people who work in Buncombe County and have been priced out of the housing market.  With interest rates at very low levels, home ownership is within reach for many people who could not have afforded it earlier. 

We have some great tools in Buncombe County for people who are entering the housing market.  Buying a home is a very large decision, and it is best to know the pros and cons of home ownership before deciding to purchase a house.  Fortunately, there are experts who can give you unbiased advice.  The best place to start is at OnTrack Financial Services.  OnTrack is a non-profit dedicated to helping people in Western North Carolina manage their money and credit.  OnTrack Financial Services has many programs to help home buyers, including a home buyer education course.  To learn more about OnTrack's services, visit http://ontrackwnc.org/homebuyer_ed.htm.

If you decide to purchase a home and you don't have unlimited income, it is important to remember that homes have life cycle costs in addition to the upfront costs.  The main life cycle costs are utilities and maintenance.  Frequently, homes that are inexpensive have high life cycle costs, so it is important to have a real estate agent who can give you real advice about the life cycle costs of homes.  At MOSAIC Community Lifestyle Realty, we make sure that our clients purchase homes that they can afford to buy and maintain.  Give us a call and we'll be happy to explain to you how we work with first time home buyers to protect them against purchasing homes that they cannot afford.