Kalkaska townhomes target income-squeezed working families

Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region is building an eight-unit townhome complex in Kalkaska aimed at working families priced out of the Northern Michigan housing market. The first four units of the Court Street Station project are expected to be finished by the end of the year.

To qualify, applicants must earn roughly $24 an hour, or about $4,100 a month. Instead of a traditional down payment, the program requires 200 hours of sweat equity, including construction work alongside community members and education on property maintenance and financial budgeting.

Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region CEO Wendy Irvin said the organization partners with lenders to offer mortgages tailored to a family's income, aiming to build long-term equity for residents. The project comes as local business owners report trouble finding employees because of rising housing costs, and Habitat representatives said middle-income earners are often squeezed out of the mortgage market.

An open house at Court Street Station is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where staff will offer tours to community members interested in homeownership.

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