Invitation for Applications for Town of Osoyoos Affordable Housing Program

The Town of Osoyoos is inviting interested families to apply under Council’s approved Near-Market Affordable Housing (NMAH) Program.  The first designated area for applying to the Program is the Town’s Richter property subdivision south of the new Fire Hall.  The Program requires that builders who purchase subdivision lots set aside 15% of their completed homes as affordable units and sell each of them at a 15% discount below appraised value to eligible households, as approved by the Town’s citizen-volunteer Affordable Housing Authority (AHA).  Preference will be given to younger working families especially those with school-age children, and depending upon the number of applicants a waiting list may be generated.  Program recipients can only resell their homes at a controlled profit within a 30-year time period to keep them in the affordable housing pool.  

Servicing of the 26-lot Richter subdivision is near completion ready for lot sales to the private sector, including four affordable housing lots (i.e.15%) to be interspaced among the full-market housing. The Town has signed an option to purchase agreement with Hart Buckendahl of Osoyoos-based, Ellcar Construction for up to 20 lots to build their “Meadowlark Place” housing development, with their first phase consisting of four single-family homes including two affordable units, and one duplex.  All single-family homes will be built on narrow frontage lots to save land and servicing costs but are ample-sized to accommodate two-storey, 2400 sq. ft. homes for family living.  A tot lot will be included in the subdivision.

An affordable home application form can be accessed on the Town’s website " Affordable Housing Meadowlark Place" and may be submitted digitally or by hand to the undersigned.  The site also contains Council’s NMAH program guidelines, the subdivision plan including the first two affordable home locations, and architect-designed house examples from Ellcar Construction.  All affordable home exteriors will be identical to comparable market units though some interior details may differ. All affordable homes will be reasonably priced and in addition the Town will gift 15% of the appraised value, with the program recipient being responsible for the remainder. 

This exciting new public-private enterprise will expand home choices for current and possibly future Osoyoos families to assist community, social and economic sustainability, and return taxpayer value for use of public lands.