Three affordable Habitat for Humanity houses are currently available for purchase in Perry for qualifying homebuyers.
“It’s very unusual that we have three houses that are not spoken for,” third-ward Perry City Council member Barb Wolling told her fellow council members Monday night. “So this is a great opportunity for people who are looking to buy and have never been able to afford a house before. If you’re looking to buy a home and are a low- to moderate-income family, it’s an opportunity.”
Wolling told the council she attended a Habitat for Humanity meeting last week with Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh and learned about the process for low-income and moderate-income people to become homeowners, including investing 120 hours of sweat equity on another house or even working at a Habitat ReStore retail outlet in Des Moines and Urbandale.
Lindsey Rawson Van Wyk, director of the Dallas County Habitat for Humanity, said applications are currently sought from potential homebuyers for the three houses in Perry.
“These homes are available through Habitat’s affordable homeownership program, which offers a pathway to owning a home for qualifying Dallas County residents,” Rawson Van Wyk said.
To qualify, applicants must meet income guidelines, have a need for affordable homeownership and be willing to partner with Habitat, she said. The Habitat mortgage plan allows a qualifying homebuyer to purchase a home with a monthly mortgage payment of no more than 30% of their income at the time of purchase and an interest rate well below the market average.
Rawson Van Wyk said Habitat’s Homeowner Services team helps Habitat homebuyers work to navigate the homebuying process, including financial counseling and homebuyer education.
She briefly described the three houses in Perry:
A three-bedroom house at 1802 Dewey Ave. is “gorgeous and spacious,” she said. It is 1,200 square foot with two bathrooms, three bedrooms and the possibility to add an additional bedroom depending on family size and need. The house is on a quiet corner across from Perry Elementary School and features a large front and back yard and two big trees in the front for shade to help with cooling costs in the summer. It has an attached deck and features many windows, allowing for beautiful natural light to fill the home.
The two-bedroom house at 1823 Lucinda St. is a “charming newly renovated home” on a corner lot of Lucinda Street. This home is 1,068 square feet and features two bedrooms, one bath and a detached garage complete with an electric garage opener. “A beautiful, covered patio, perfect for hosting summer BBQs, adds to the cozy and adorable feel of this home,” she said. It is located within walking distance of the Perry Middle and High Schools.
Lastly, Habitat has “a spacious new build” at 780 Graceland Ave., Rawson Van Wyk said. This house is 1,200 square feet with two bathrooms and with three to six bedrooms, depending on family size and need. There is a large yard, “surrounded by an adorable neighborhood with lots of trees and greenery.” It also has two attached wooden decks and includes a spacious shed for storage in the backyard.
For more information, contact Rawson Van Wyk at lrawsonvanwyk@gdmhabitat.org or visit the Dallas County Habitat for Humanity website.
