Affordable Starter Homes in Ashville

Completed | Asheville, NC

Started: 2013 | Completed: 2015

Starting Price of Homes: $200K

4

# of Homes

Mountain Housing Opportunities

Mission-Driven Partner:

Clayton

Our Design & Build Partner

Project Summary

Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO), a local nonprofit developer, partnered with Next Step to deliver four ENERGY STAR®-certified modular homes on land MHO was developing in Mars Hill, just north of Asheville. Next Step provided technical assistance, the factory connection, and homebuyer education to help MHO expand affordable homeownership in a market where existing homes had become scarce and prices were rising quickly.

Slide 1
Slide 1

“I knew that ENERGY STAR® houses were supposed to be really good, energy-efficient houses, but I didn’t realize how energy efficient. We’re coming from having to pay $300-$400 a month for the electricity bill and we come here, and we’ve not spent over $70.”

Robert Woody
Next Step Homeowner

Four new modular homes gave families priced out of Asheville’s tight existing-home market a new path to affordable, energy-efficient homeownership.

  • Homebuyers completed homebuyer education and secured loan preapproval before beginning their home search.
  • MHO connected families with a factory-built home option after the existing-home market proved unaffordable, customizing colors, design features, and layout to fit each family’s needs.
  • Homes were built indoors using engineered, precision construction methods, resulting in a tighter building envelope and ENERGY STAR® certification for each home.
  • One family, Robert and Chasity Woody, saw their utility costs drop more than 75% — from $400 a month to under $80 — after moving in.
  • A 2022 appraisal showed the Woodys’ home had appreciated from $179,500 to $315,000, building $135,500 in equity in six years.