Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO), a private, non-profit community development corporation, has completed the construction of six affordable single-family homes on Get-Away Drive in Swannanoa, adjacent to the new Habitat for Humanity community. The homes were built under the auspices of the federal Self-Help Homeownership Program. MHO will begin construction of an additional six single-family homes on the same site this coming February.

The Self-Help Homeownership Program makes owning homes affordable by allowing families to contribute “sweat equity” construction hours to reduce the cost of their homes. A group of future homeowners work together as a team to build their homes under the guidance of an MHO construction supervisor. All the homes are built simultaneously, and no family moves in until every home in the group is complete.

In addition to the Self-Help Homes, the Swannanoa development will also include two supported-purchase market rate homes under MHO’s Turn-Key Homeownership Program. The supported-purchase homes include built-in financial assistance — 0% interest deferred financing in amounts up to 30% of the purchase price of the homes. To be eligible for supported-purchase homes, households must earn less than 80% of the area median income (AMI), currently $40,250 for a family of three.

MHO is currently looking for applicants for these two affordable homes. If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact MHO at 828-254-4030 or visit www.mtnhousing.org.