PAGE 8 July 25, 2007
THE NEWSCASTER - Nature Coast News
Real Estate Today
How Important is Affordable Housing?
A Guest Commentary by Darryl Diamond
problem with many factors involved. One fac-
tor is that impact fees some-
As small towns throughout Florida grow,
times go up suddenly and sub-
the affordable housing problem always seems
stantially as has happened re-
to rear it's ugly head.  Affordable housing
K
cently in citrus county from
as I see it is specifically the housing required
$9,300 to approximately.
by the average working person for a hus-
$17,000.
band, wife and their "2.3" Children. These
As a response, most build-
buyers are usually in their 20's and 30's and
ers seem to have the same idea which is to
need a solid, basic roof over their heads.
stop building less expensive homes, and they
These are two and three bedroom homes, no
start to build homes starting at $200k and up.
more than 1,200 sq ft living area, small car-
This is smart for them as they may be able to
port or garage, and no pools typically found
make more money on a more expensive home,
on a basic lot in a subdivision. They are not
and they can "lose" the $17,000 impact fee in
second homes for the wealthy on the water,
the price easier than a less expensive home.
they are not on acreage, and they are not on
If all builders do this, there ends up being no
a golf course.
homes for the affordable market. As for my-
Based on the incomes of the school teach-
self, when Levy County advertises for an
ers, and other municipal government paid
increase in impact fees, I plan on going up to
workers in this area of the state these homes
Bronson with as much documentation as I
need to be in the $125k to $150k price range
can, in order to plead that they leave the
tops. This means that you could offer these
present impact fee of $1,400 on new construc-
buyers a 5 bedroom 2,000 sq ft home for $190k
tion of any "small starter home" in order to
and they could not afford it no matter what.
protect the affordable market. At the same
When these workers are just starting out, they
time, they can bring impact fees up to what
may be renting for a period of time. These
ever they need to for the richer folks in their
workers also need housing they can afford.
waterfront mansions around the county.
Predicated on their incomes, the maximum rent
This would be a land mark decision for
they can afford is $700 per month. Land lord's
Levy County, and could lead to many other
such as myself that rent these homes can not
counties using this template of thinking in
pay more than $125k in order to rent for $700
order to tackle the affordable housing crises
per mo. Then we have the bare bones work-
across the state. How important is this af-
ers who work locally for minimum wage.
fordable housing? If a school teacher accepts
These workers can not afford a million dollar
a position at a local school, but can not find
waterfront mansion. They need a modular
a home they can afford for rent or purchase,
home for the $35k price range or a rent of
they will go elsewhere to teach. Same with
$300. Per mo. Well that was just peachy a few
our police, and other municipal workers.
years ago when we had mobile, and modular
Make no mistake we need affordable hous-
homes available for sale at $35k, but now most
ing desperately. I'll see you all around "the
lots are going for that amount. Now even the
campus" Darryl Diamond can be reached at
older mobiles are starting to go for a lot more
447-4442.
in this area.
Know Something
I recently sold two double wide mobiles
We Don't? CrimeStoppers
in Inglis. Each sold for $90k. How to solve
Levy: 1-877-349-8477
affordable housing ends up being a complex
Citrus: 1-888-ANY-TIPS
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