“Right Family” Sought

A beautiful home was just renovated in Fair Haven and is up for sale. Even though the price is aimed at working families, it may be a tough sell.

That’s because the economy is still struggling, mortgage defaults just hit a high, and many families who could be eligible based on their income can’t qualify for credit.

The home, at 36 Clay St., is the first building of Phase II of the Fair Haven Revitalization Project by NeighborWorks/New Horizons (formerly Mutual Housing). (Click here for a previous story.) Two dozen people attended the ribbon-cutting on the back porch Tuesday morning.

Executive Director Seila Mosquera put the situation in context. (Pictured, left to right, are Erik Johnson, head of the Livable Cities Initiative, Nichole Jefferson, head of the city’s Commission on Equal Opportunities, Mosquera and her board chairman Edward Seibert.)

“It has been an effort and a collaboration, because, as you know, the market tanked last year and we didn’t have all the resources, [but] we were able to put it together with all the partners,” Mosquera said. Those partners included the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, the City of New Haven, and her own organization.

The gut-rehabbed four bedroom home has all new heating and electrical systems and energy-efficient appliances. It has an open floor plan, a back deck, and other amenities like resilient, non-wood flooring that looks like mahogany. It’s surrounded by dozens of rental units and a few owner-occupied homes in a few square block area all built by NeighborWorks.

Another partner was New Haven’s Commission on Equal Opportunities’ Career Development School.

“It was amazing to watch, week in and week out, a group of students start learning the trades from plumbing, electric, carpentry, and to really just get involved in learning a skill and help us develop affordable housing in the neighborhood,” said Gloribell Lopez, director of real estate development for NeighborWorks.

The house is for sale at the below market price of $135,000 for eligible first-time buyers. Marilyn Rosa of Rosa Realty said she’s already shown the house a couple of times, but the potential buyers ​“are not ready.” They must attend a class for first-time buyers. ​“Credit scores have gotten a lot tighter,” she added. ​“They have to have a good income.” Then she uttered the refrain heard from Realtors and would-be home sellers the world over: ​“It just takes the right family.”

This is the first of four homes on the block being rehabbed and sold as affordable homeownership properties by NeighborWorks/New Horizons. Mosquera said her organization has secured the funding necessary for the next three homes from the same funding sources.