Berkshire Hathaway real estate broker Cliff Potts stated housing for middle class workers, like police officers, firefighters and medical technicians may soon be tough to find.
“Our community base has grown some in the past few years and we need workforce housing,” he said. “It is one of the areas that we really need to pay intense attention to and find solutions.”
Bob Hamer, who owns several rental properties in Payson, said rents for a three-bedroom house have increased from $850 a month four years ago to $1,300 now, and that few rental properties have been built in recent years in this town northeast of Phoenix.
Hamer met with town officials last week with plans to site four manufactured homes on property he owns, built around a central courtyard. He adds they look like site-built homes with double pane windows and decorative trim, and he intends to keep existing trees and boulders, and add landscaping to give the feel of an open, park-like area. MHProNews understands the three-bedroom, two-bath homes would rent for $1,000.
Hamer said the city needs to agree by altering some provisions, as well as change the zoning to higher density. “We want our school teachers to live in nice neighborhoods in a safe, clean home,” he said. ##
(Photo credit: trulia–manufactured home in Arizona)
