The Homekey project at 1237 San Antonio Road has been in the works since fall 2023, when city and state leaders touted its importance in addressing the local and regional housing crisis.
I never expected to own a home. I wasn't born into generational wealth. I grew up poor. There was-and is-no big family inheritance coming my way. Not property. Not cash. Not stocks or bonds or whatever financial instrument one might trade or sell or leverage to join the landed class.
The MoveDetroit coalition launched 'Make Detroit Home,' offering up to $15,000 to entrepreneurs, creatives and small business owners willing to relocate. Over 300 participants will split more than $500,000 in benefits covering home down payments, renovations, rent, or business expenses.
Good urbanism should transcend politics. Socialists and capitalists can walk the same neighborhood and agree it's a pleasant place to live. They can each appreciate the tree canopy, the corner café with people spilling onto the sidewalk, the mix of ages on bikes and on foot, the architectural details of older buildings, and so on.
Many buyers assume homeownership is out of reach if they earn less than the area's median income - but that's not always true. From FHA and USDA loans to down payment assistance programs, there are real pathways to homeownership - even if you have little savings.
My friends and I are early 30s professionals living in one of America's most expensive cities and making middle-class incomes. None of us can afford to buy or save for a home here. We all rent, but we're not broke. We save for kids and retirement and illness, but a home isn't in the cards. But recently, we think we might have found an unconventional loophole.